TOVA Community Health
Primary Specialty Care I Neighborhood Medical Home
302-429-5870
www.tovacommunityhealth.org
Providing Culturally Responsive News and Commentary to build Healthy Families and Communities.

TOVA Health TV
on YOU TUBE
Primary Specialty Care
Neighborhood Medical Home
www.tovacommunityhealth.org
(302) 429-5870 ext. 120
The term “social distancing” has become a regular in all of our vocabulary. From reminders on the news, social media to signs in stores, it’s a fixture in all of our day to day lives. However, the World Health Organization and other health experts prefer that we stopped calling the practice "social distancing." Instead, they're opting for the term "physical distancing." The reason behind this shift? The term "social distancing" can imply a sense of disconnection from loved ones. Something that many Americans are really feeling as the stay at home order is extended in many places. Being physically isolated from others can take a toll on mental health, the World Health Organization wants to emphasize how critical it is for people to stay socially connected.Make your Appointment Today!
With our daily exposure to screens, increasing to over six hours a day, we are at risk for developing digitally induced ailments such as Screen Fatigue. Due to extended time in front of screens be it at work desks, smartphones, tablets or television, our bodies are taking the hit and becoming fatigued. While this may seem like a novel health condition, the impact has to potential to effect your day-to-day lives both short and long termed. Some symptoms of Screen Fatigue include impaired vision, strained eye muscles, inability to focus vision, neck and shoulder pain, poor posture, and painful headaches. If this condition is left untreated, symptoms will not improve and may likely get worse. Research also shows that too much blue-light exposure from various screens can interfere with the body’s sleep patterns.
Reckoning with COVID-19 and ensuring access to care at the right place and right time is evermore pressing! Did you Know, African-Americans are more likely to have underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity and are less likely to have a primary care provider. Another element of concern is that African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to suffer poor outcomes from the coronavirus and are less likely to be insured. Having a relationship with a primary care provider is important for access to preventative health care which can help manage medical conditions in order to help individuals live a healthy life. During the pandemic, our practice quickly mobilized and switched to telemedicine visits (virtually) with the aim to flatten the COVID-19 curve, use protective equipment judiciously, offer flu and coronavirus screenings and all the while continuing to keep office hours available. As we reckon with this historic pandemic, access to preventative health visits for blood pressure & weight (BMI) checks, diabetes and cholesterol screenings are ever more important. At the very least, Know your Numbers!
Reckoning with COVID-19 and ensuring access to care at the right place and right time is evermore pressing! Did you Know, African-Americans are more likely to have underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity and are less likely to have a primary care provider. Another element of concern is that African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to suffer poor outcomes from the coronavirus and are less likely to be insured. Having a relationship with a primary care provider is important for access to preventative health care which can help manage medical conditions in order to help individuals live a healthy life. During the pandemic, our practice quickly mobilized and switched to telemedicine visits (virtually) with the aim to flatten the COVID-19 curve, use protective equipment judiciously, offer flu and coronavirus screenings and all the while continuing to keep office hours available. As we reckon with this historic pandemic, access to preventative health visits for blood pressure & weight (BMI) checks, diabetes and cholesterol screenings are ever more important. At the very least, Know your Numbers!
Over the years, TOVA has hosted Sickle Cell Blood Donor drives to improve the diversity of the blood supply- especially for patients with blood disorders who need regular transfusions. One of my patients has severe antibodies and can only get genotyped matched blood. Otherwise, he may experience a life threatening transfusion reaction and his body might attack the donor’s blood as foreign. Though there are many reasons for which some communities such as Hispanics & African-Americans are hesitant to donate, many lives are saved every day. Though less than 1% of African-Americans donate blood, they are likely to be an ideal match for persons living with sickle cell anemia. Blood transfusions are life sustaining in chronically transfused patients. For every 1 unit of blood donated, 3 lives are saved! Blood donation is simply a practice of love. For more information about Blood
Owning a pet can bring on more responsibility, but the benefits for one’s overall health and wellness can be a game changer! Coming home from a busy day at work and getting greeted by a dog wagging its tail is like experiencing unconditional love everyday. When dogs and cats interact with humans the body releases a hormone called oxytocin– also known as the “cuddle hormone.” And the real benefit of owning a pet is that you just might live longer than people who do not own a pet. Drawbacks are that you will also have to clean animal hair off your clothes and your house more regularly. A study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, suggest that dog ownership was linked to a 21% reduction in the risk of death – over the 12-year study period for people with heart disease. Other studies also support the link of pet ownership to good health. Owning a dog can reduce blood pressure and improves one’s cholesterol levels-which may help improve cardiovascular (heart) health. One reason for this outcome is that owning a pet increases one’s physical activity. Regardless of the weather and other excuses for staying inactive, getting out regularly to walk the dog is simply good for your health. For those suffering from depression, walking the dog is a good way to socialize and meet with other people in your neighborhood.