Local physicians discussed various ways that individuals can be proactive about their health during a preventative health forum hosted by the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center Foundation at the SEK Impact Center on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
The event also featured an informational fair and vendor booths. Attendees could also enter drawings for door prizes and have refreshments.
The following health care professionals spoke on the panel: Dr. Jenifer Higgins, Dr. Mackenzie Wahl, Dr. Yi Ying Law, Dr. Jason Robinson, Dr. Bruce Lee, and Dr. Alexander Mih. Dr. Matthew Leroy moderated the Night Out for Wellness forum and was the master of ceremonies throughout the evening.
Due to having to leave the panel early to attend to a patient, Dr. Higgins began with a slideshow presentation on women’s health. She also highlighted a new piece of equipment that patients at NMRMC can soon utilize: an automated breast ultrasound.
“It is particularly useful to women who have a high risk of cancer, or denser breasts,” Higgins said. She said it can be used in conjunction with the regular mammogram. Higgins noted that providers can start scheduling scans with this machine after the first of the year.
“I think the really cool thing about that — we’re going to be the only facility in this area that has that,” Leroy added. “It’s really cutting edge. It is the top quality screening tool for finding breast cancers early, and that’s the key. We want to find them as early as we can, so we can treat them as quickly as we can.”
Higgins noted that regular screenings are important. Mammograms are recommended for women starting at age 40, up until age 75. Higgins noted that those with a family medical history of breast cancer — specifically those who may have the BRCA gene — should consider early testing, at least 10 years prior to the age at which a relative was when diagnosed.
According to Higgins, Pap smears are recommended starting at age 21, and typically occur annually, though Higgins said some can have them less often depending on their risk factors.
Higgins said even those who don’t get Pap smears still need regular pelvic exams.
In newer vaccines, Higgins highlighted HPV vaccines that can be given to both adolescent
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girls and boys to prevent several common types of Human Papillomavirus, which can cause cancer.
In other screenings, Higgins recommends Sexually Transmitted Infection screenings annually for all who are sexually active, even for those who think they may not need it.
“You know where you’ve been; unfortunately, we don’t always know where the other partner has been,” Higgins said. “Symptoms are not always present and certainly not until they are severe. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
Higgins said these tests can be conducted with a urine test or a Pap screening. Higgins also recommended colon screenings for women at age 45, which can be done with a colonoscopy or a stool sample.
Lung cancer screenings can be conducted annually after age 50 with a CT scan, according to Higgins.
Of reproductive health, Higgins said a regular menstrual cycle is the clearest indicator of health for women. Those with abnormal periods that are irregular or too heavy should speak with their providers.
Next, Robinson discussed common urological issues. He noted that while not all conditions can be prevented, as some individuals are predisposed to certain ailments, there are steps one can take to potentially improve their health outcome.
Robinson recommended that little habits can make a big difference, such as always using a clean loofah in the shower, and not soaking in bathtubs can prevent bladder infections. Robinson also recommended screening for prostate cancer and early screenings for those with a family history of the disease. Robinson highlighted that prostate cancer screening can be as simple as having one’s levels of PSA, or prostate- specific antigen, checked via bloodwork.
Robinson noted that smoking is directly linked to bladder cancer.
Next to speak was Dr. Wahl, who discussed family health and how what one puts into their body is a huge part of their health, including one’s diet, and the consumption of tobacco and alcohol products.
“Diet is probably the biggest thing that you can focus on,” Wahl said, to prevent and get ahead of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, which are some of the most common conditions she treats.
“With families, I think it’s really about setting good examples; talking about food and talking about things that nourish our bodies versus not nourishing our bodies,” Wahl said.
Wahl said that most schoolaged children and adults should get check-ups annually, with infants and toddlers being seen more frequently.
“Go get your check-ups. It’s worth it,” Wahl said.
Of screenings and vaccines, Wahl said the HPV vaccine can often be overlooked and thought of as only for young women. While HPV primarily is shown to decrease rates of cervical cancer, Wahl said that it also can prevent some types of anal cancers as well as some types of head and neck cancers.
She also said that many patients do not wish to have colon cancer screenings, but said that they are important. She said that a colonoscopy only has to be completed once every 10 years if the test comes back clear, and patients are typically put under anesthesia for the procedure, so patients do not remember the procedure itself.
Dr. Lee noted that diabetes and prediabetes are very common and often get overlooked. Some early symptoms may include being thirsty and increased urination, which may indicate elevated blood sugar. Other symptoms may include slowed healing, changes in vision, unexplained weight loss, and tingling in the hands and feet.
Lee said checking blood sugar levels during annual bloodwork is recommended after age 35. Lee also noted that high blood pressure can be a major health concern, particularly because it often has no symptoms, and it is a contributor to heart disease. He encouraged attendees to manage their blood pressure and not to be complacent about hypertension.
Dr. Law highlighted other ways individuals can prevent cancer, such as putting on sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. Law said sunscreens should be at least SPF 50.
Law noted that most individuals will have some form of cancer at some point in their life, so it is important to take measures to prevent cancer and catch it early.
When asked about how to improve surgical outcomes, Law said daily exercise before and after surgery is shown to improve surgical outcomes, along with having a protein-rich
diet.
These measures can decrease the risk of wound complications, infection, and blood clots.
Law also recommended that patients quit smoking ahead of and after surgery to prevent pneumonia.
Lastly, Dr. Mih gave a presentation on preventing osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density, which primarily impacts older women, and sarcopenia is the loss of muscle. Mih noted that bone mass can be increased up until age 40. After 40, one can decrease the rate of bone loss. According to Mih, diet can have a big impact on one’s bones. Calcium and vitamin D are essential to bone formation, and most vitamin supplements do not contain enough calcium.
“You actually have to put in a pretty big effort to take enough in,” Mih said.
He noted that vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium.
Another factor for preventing bone and muscle loss is weight-bearing exercise, Mih said. This can also help maintain one’s balance as they age, preventing falls. Such exercises include walking, pickleball, and stair climbing. He noted that resistance exercises are also important for preventing muscle loss as one ages.
“We want you to be as healthy as you can be as long as you possibly can be,” Leroy said.
For more information about Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, visit https:// www.nmrmc.com.
