Keeping Healthy with a Pet

Deciding to own a pet can take a lot of thought and planning. My German Shepherd, Theo is a high energy active dog who enjoys exercising and daily walks in the park. Theo has pushed me to get out of the house for daily walks in the park. After a long day of work, these walks help relieve stress, take in the beautiful neighborhoods’ surroundings and maintain a healthy weight. The National Institute of Health (NIH) found that our pets can help improve heart health, relieve distressed hospitalized patients coping with pain and life-threatening illness and reduce risk of obesity and depression. Another NIH study found that people who owned pets had lower heart rates and blood pressures at rest or when undergoing stressful tests than those without a pet. Most definitely, Theo has pushed me to get more exercise and socialize with the neighbors who all know him by name but not mine. On the other hand, owning a pet at times can get expensive because of vet doctor bills, shots, grooming and boarding. Ways to cut down the costs include: use vet clinics (SPCA), consider purchasing pet insurance, buy pet food in bulk and when going out of town get a friend or family member to check on your pet(s).

Overall, the physical and mental health benefits of the human-animal bond make owning a pet a great investment. Go to tovacares.blogsite.com to read the full article: Can Pets help keep you Healthy: Exploring the Human-Animal Bond.

3rd James Faucett III Sickle Cell Awareness 5K Run/Walk-September 13th on You Tube

Sign-Up and Register at www.races2Run.com

Did you know?

1:12 African-Americans carry the Sickle Cell Trait in the US &

1:100 Hispanics carry the Sickle Cell Trait in the US

Dr. Nina Thanks the Sickle Cell Advisory Committee for the Support at the Parks this Summer.

Sickle Cell Medical Home

The Sickle Cell Medical Home is an important mechanism for uniting many segments for compassionate holistic medical care including physical, behavioral (psychological and social) and oral health in an accessible community-based setting. Sickle Cell Disease is a debilitating complex chronic condition that does not just cause anemia. Adolescents, young adults and adults who live with sickle cell disease can overtime develop medical and non-medical problems such as: blindness, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, chronic deterioration of their shoulder and hip bones, kidney problems, iron overload, leg ulcers, chronic pain, depression, educational failure and unemployment. The complexity of providing high quality care for people suffering with sickle cell anemia intends to combat the barriers that prevent a person’s access to high quality health care. Our program aims to provide patient-centered care that is continuous, coordinated and culturally effective. In order to achieve this, we have an expert team of healthcare providers (medical director, physician extender, social worker and care coordinator) who provide routine and holistic preventative care individualized to each patients’ needs. We are also privileged to have an affiliation with Christiana Care and a partnership with Delaware State University, St. Francis Hospital and world renown Sickle Cell Program Director, Sophie Lanzkron, MD at John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland. Dr. Lanzkron provides world expert consultation as needed for our clients. The Sickle Cell Specialty Center aims to provide "One Stop Shop" where persons living with sickle cell anemia can establish our program as their Medical Home. Our goal is to improve the overall quality of pain management and access to ongoing care and disease modifying therapies in and out of the hospital. According to the Abell Report, “the lack of comprehensive medical and social services for adults compromises their health and quality of life .…. [and] leads to worse health outcomes and increased health-care costs.” To find out more information about the new community-based sickle cell program call (302) 762-0200 or visit our website www.tovacommunityhealth.org.

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Marijuana risks vs. benefits

Over 21 states have legalized the use of recreational and medical marijuana use-most recently in the state of Colorado and Washington. Healthcare providers question the safety of marijuana use and the long-term health effects on usage. Despite the increase in usage, especially among teenagers, marijuana could become more common than smoking tobacco. In the U.S., Emergency Rooms have seen a surge in accidental marijuana overdoses and car accidents in adolescents and young adults. The active ingredients in marijuana products today (cannabanoids) are more potent and stronger. Because the brain in young adults is not fully developed until the age of 25, teenagers who use pot may see a decline in their IQ as adults. The New England Journal of Medicine also reported that the main active concentrated ingredient in marijuana, (TCH-tetrahydrocannabinol) contains four times more active ingredient than it did 30 years ago (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Some edible products such as cookies, brownies and chocolates can be up to 10 times stronger than smoking a traditional marijuana joint. Despite the uncertainty of long-term marijuana use, about 9% of people who experiment and 17% who use marijuana as teenagers will become addicted. Since smoking marijuana increases inflammation in the airways, there is a link between heavy users and lung cancer. People who smoke also can have changes in blood vessels that may increase their risk of heart attack and stroke. Yet, the potential compassionate use of medical marijuana may ease the pain and suffering for people with life-threatening illness and debilitating chronic diseases. Smoking marijuana has been found to boost appetite and relieve nausea and vomiting caused by chemo therapy treatments, relieve chronic pain and reduce muscle spasticity (tightness). Delaware Division of Public Health is moving along with piloting a Marijuana Compassionate Center and decriminalizing the use of marijuana; joining other states around the country.

When Patients Read What Their Doctors Write

Re-Blogged from NPR "When Patients Read What Their Doctors Write" by Leana Wen.

Moving Access to Healthcare forward, it is important for clients to develop a good relationship with their healthcare provider. On a recent visit to my healthcare provider, I received an e-mail to sign-up for a link to review my patient records. I was completely impressed that the providers are embracing more transparency in services they deliver. But, I am also concerned about the 'parties' that have access to persons' medical records. In the world of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,(HIPPA) it seems there needs to be more oversight in what and how patient information stays protected as technology increases in healthcare care delivery.

All the best, Dr. Anderson

Don't miss August Quarterly in Delaware- August 24-31st

August Quarterly, an African American religious festival that filled Wilmington’s French Street with throngs of people for over 150 years, has deep roots in African Union Methodism. Peter Spencer organized the first gathering in Wilmington in August 1813, shortly before the Union Church of Africans was incorporated. The 1814 festival was the first in connection with the Union Church of Africans as an incorporated body. "A spectacular expression of both worship and culture," August Quarterly offered opportunities for preaching, singing, prayer meetings, love feasts, and other forms of worship. In antebellum times, it was a gateway to freedom for slaves from the upper South. Its social and cultural dimension was expressed through family reunions, feasts, storytelling, and deep and genuine laughter. Its political significance was revealed through protests against slavery, colonization, and segregation. Churches of various denominations participated in the festival, which attracted thousands of people from throughout the region. The Quarterly became primarily a founder's day celebration after Mother African Union Methodist Protestant Church, its focal point, relocated from French Street to North Franklin Street in 1969. Efforts to revitalize and update the festival continue as it celebrates its bicentennial (Delaware Historical Society).

A YouTube Video Is Doctor's Secret Weapon Against Back Pain

Re-blogged from NPR,by John Henning Schumann July 20, 2014 5:05 AM ET

Most patients do not like to hear this when it comes to treating a person with Back Pain,

Per Dr. Mike Evans,

Back pain is common. I see someone with back pain almost every day. Nearly all of us have at least one episode in our lives, and two-thirds of us will have it repeatedly. Prescription….Keep exercising, but try to take it just a little bit easy until she felt better. At a minimum, I said, she should be walking 30 minutes a day. Also, try some ibuprofen, which helps with inflammation and doesn't require a prescription. “In Evans' video about lower back pain, he cites a study in which 98 healthy volunteers got MRI scans. Two-thirds of the MRIs revealed some funky looking discs, even though the people felt fine.” Evans also points out that the most common mistake with low back pain is to stop being active. The other common problem is worrying that the pain will never get better. Evans, who is 50, teaches us that back pain is something we're all vulnerable to and for which it makes sense to have a coping strategy ready. All of which is to say that the longer I practice medicine, the more convinced I'm becoming that less is often more.