Patient Education

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.

With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Other things you can do to help:

• Take medicine as prescribed.
• Get diabetes self-management education and support.
• Make and keep health care appointments.

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html

There are a few signs and symptoms of colon cancer:

1. Change in consistency of stool such as diarrhea or constipation
2. Blood in stool
3. Rectal bleeding
4. Anemia
5. Abdominal pain, cramps or discomfort
6. Weight loss
7. Feeling that your bowels didn’t empty completely

Most cases of colon cancer are in people over the age of 50.
We begin screening for colon cancer at age 45-75.
If you have signs or symptoms of colon cancer, you can be screened earlier.

At Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc., we will test you for colon cancer with a FIT or fecal occult blood test or send you for a colonoscopy.

The FIT is a test that checks for hidden (occult blood) in your stool.
A sample of your stool is placed in a special collection tube and your clinician will send it to the lab.

If your FIT is negative, you will need to be screened every three years.
If your FIT is positive, this means that there is blood in the stool. This can be caused by colon cancer but also by other benign conditions such as polyps, hemorrhoids, or inflammation.

Your clinician will then send you to a local gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy.

For people at increased or high risk

People at increased or high risk of colorectal cancer might need to start colorectal cancer screening before age 45, be screened more often, and/or get specific tests. This includes people with:

• A strong family history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps (see Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors)
• A personal history of colorectal cancer or certain types of polyps
• A personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• A known family history of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (also known as hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC)
• A personal history of radiation to the abdomen (belly) or pelvic area to treat a prior cancer

Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network (CCPN) (Hyperlink-https://www.crcfacts.com/screening-program.htm) – The screening program offers colorectal screening for average risk patients. To ensure compliance to follow-up care, the screening program provides a follow-up colonoscopy at no cost to qualified patients when their FIT test is positive. 

Reference: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html 

Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are two of the most important strategies for preventing deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society has screening guidelines for women at average risk of breast cancer, and for those at high risk for breast cancer.

Screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease in people who don’t have any symptoms. The goal of screening tests for breast cancer is to find it early, before it causes symptoms (like a lump in the breast that can be felt). Early detection means finding and diagnosing a disease earlier than if you’d waited for symptoms to start.

Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and less likely to have spread outside the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis (outlook) of a woman with this disease.

American Cancer Society screening recommendations for women at average breast cancer risk:
These guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer. For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene), and has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. (See below for guidelines for women at high risk.)

• Women ages 40 and older should get mammograms every year.
• Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening – what the test can and cannot do.

Clinical breast exams are not recommended for breast cancer screening among average-risk women at any age.

American Cancer Society screening recommendations for women at high risk:

Women who are at high risk for breast cancer based on certain factors should get a breast MRI and a mammogram every year, typically starting at age 30. This includes women who:

• Have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of about 20% to 25% or greater, according to risk assessment tools that are based mainly on family history
• Have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation (based on having had genetic testing)
• Have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, or child) with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, and have not had genetic testing themselves
• Had radiation therapy to the chest when they were between the ages of 10 and 30 years
• Have Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or have first-degree relatives with one of these syndromes

The American Cancer Society recommends against MRI screening for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.

Best Chance Network-Women May Qualify For Free Cancer Screenings. For more information, please go to https://scdhec.gov/health/diseases-conditions/cancer/best-chance-network-women-may-qualify-free-cancer-screenings. 

Reference: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It’s measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure (HBP) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension.

Blood pressure is written as two numbers, such as 112/78 mm Hg. The top, or larger, number (called systolic pressure) is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom, or smaller, number (called diastolic pressure) is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. If you’re an adult and your systolic pressure is 120 to 129, and your diastolic pressure is less than 80, you have elevated blood pressure. High blood pressure is a systolic pressure of 130 or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 or higher, that stays high over time. High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms. That’s why it is so dangerous. But it can be managed. Nearly half of the American population over age 20, has HBP, and many don’t even know it. Not treating high blood pressure is dangerous. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly and treat it the way your health care professional advises.

Am I at higher risk of developing HBP?

There are risk factors that increase your chances of developing HBP. Some you can control, and some you can’t.

Those that can be controlled are:

• Cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
• Diabetes
• Being obese or overweight
• High cholesterol
• Unhealthy diet (high in sodium, low in potassium, and drinking too much alcohol)
• Physical inactivity

Factors that can’t be modified or are difficult to control are:

• Family history of high blood pressure
• Race/ethnicity
• Increasing age
• Gender (males)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea

Socioeconomic status and psychosocial stress are also risk factors for HBP. These can affect access to basic living needs, medication, health care professionals, and the ability to adopt lifestyle changes.

What can I do about HBP?

• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated and trans fats and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Aim to consume less than 1,500 mg/day of sodium (salt). Even reducing your daily intake by 1,000 mg can help.
• Eat foods rich in potassium. Aim for 3,500 – 5,000 mg of dietary potassium per day.
• Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman or two drinks a day if you’re a man.
• Be more physically active. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, or a combination of both, spread throughout the week. Add muscle-strengthening activity at least two days per week for more health benefits.
• Take medicine the way your health care professional tells you.
• Know what your blood pressure should be and work to keep it at that level.

Reference: https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Answers-by-Heart/What-Is-High-Blood-Pressure.pdf

Heart health is of the utmost importance for the overall well-being and longevity of individuals. Poor heart health can lead to various illnesses, such as coronary heart disease and stroke, which can be life-threatening. Taking care of the heart through a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups can help to reduce the risk of these illnesses and ensure long-term good health.

One of the most important ways to maintain good heart health is to follow a balanced, nutritious diet. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help to reduce cholesterol levels and keep the body healthy. Choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium. As part of a healthy diet, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish (preferably oily fish-at least twice per week), nuts, legumes and seeds and try eating some meals without meat. Additionally, limit the intake of processed and fried foods, as well as salt and sugar, to help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Regular exercise is also important for heart health, as it helps to keep the heart and circulatory system strong and functioning properly. Exercise helps to reduce blood pressure, increase good cholesterol levels, and improve overall cardiovascular health. Even moderate exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes a day, can make a big difference. 

Quitting smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can also help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Smoking is known to significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, while excessive alcohol increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmias, heart failure,     and cardiomyopathy

Finally, It’s never too early or too late to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke. Not everyone experiences sudden numbness with a stroke or severe chest pain with a heart attack. And heart attack symptoms in women can be different than in men.

Find more in-depth information about how to prevent Heart Disease at any age visit our partner in health’s informational database HERE.

Reference: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/how-to-help-prevent-heart-disease-at-any-age

The American Cancer Society recommends that individuals with a cervix follow these guidelines to help find cervical cancer early. Following these guidelines can also find pre-cancers, which can be treated to keep cervical cancer from starting. These guidelines do not apply to people who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer or cervical pre-cancer. These women should have follow-up testing and cervical cancer screening as recommended by their health care team.

Cervical cancer testing (screening) should begin at age 25.

Those aged 25 to 65 should have a primary HPV test* every 5 years. If primary HPV testing is not available, screening may be done with either a co-test that combines an HPV test with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test every 5 years or a Pap test alone every 3 years. 

(*A primary HPV test is an HPV test that is done by itself for screening. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved certain tests to be primary HPV tests.)

The most important thing to remember is to get screened regularly, no matter which test you get.

Those over age 65 who have had regular screening in the past 10 years with normal results and no history of CIN2 or more serious diagnosis within the past 25 years should stop cervical cancer screening. Once stopped, it should not be started again.

People who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) should stop screening (such as Pap tests and HPV tests), unless the hysterectomy was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or serious pre-cancer. People who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (called a supra-cervical hysterectomy) should continue cervical cancer screening according to the guidelines above.

People who have been vaccinated against HPV should still follow these guidelines for their age groups.

Some people believe that they can stop cervical cancer screening once they have stopped having children. This is not true. They should continue to follow American Cancer Society guidelines. Despite the benefits of cervical cancer screening, not all American women get screened. Most cervical cancers are found in women who have never had a Pap test or who have not had one recently. Women without health insurance and women who have recently immigrated are less likely to have cervical cancer screening.

Best Chance Network-Women May Qualify For Free Cancer Screenings. For more information, please go to https://scdhec.gov/health/diseases-conditions/cancer/best-chance-network-women-may-qualify-free-cancer-screenings. 

Reference: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines.html#:~:text=Screening%20tests%20offer%20the%20best,turn%20into%20a%20cervical%20cancer

What are e-cigarettes?

• E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid.
• E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products—flavorings, and other chemicals that help to make the aerosol. Users inhale this aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in this aerosol when the user exhales into the air.
• E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”
• Some e-cigarettes are made to look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some resemble pens, USB sticks, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not resemble other tobacco products.
• Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping.”
• E-cigarettes can be used to deliver marijuana and other drugs.

E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant adults, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products.

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm