Bi-Stone Medical Guide Winter 2023

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM

(254) 729-2014

Joshua Warren, MD, Adult & Child Psychiatrist

Cody McMahan, MD, Adult Psychiatrist

DIETITIAN (254) 729-3281 ext. 2148

Meradith Stein, RD

SPECIALTY CLINIC

(254) 729-3281 Ext. 2320

LMC CHF CLINIC (254) 729-3281 Ext. 2316

LMC WOUND CARE CLINIC (254) 729-4329

Erin Holland, FNP-C (254) 729-3281 ext. 2381

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Hanu Ancha, M.D.

(254) 729-3281 ext. 5034

CARDIOLOGIST (254) 399-5400

Sherwin Attai, MD, Second Tuesday

Veronica Rosalez, NP, fourth Tuesday

PODIATRIST Tyler Kearney, DPM, (979) 776-6060

DERMATOLOGIST (254) 537-1265

James Mason, MD, Second Monday

UROLOGIST (254) 741-6113

Stephen Stimson, MD, Third Tuesday

MEDICAL ARTS BUILDING

625 McClintic Drive, Groesbeck (254) 729-4330

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

Jeffrey Blasick, D.O., (254) 224-8062

Every Friday except the fourth Friday

NEUROSURGEON (800) 793-9106

Jonathan Friedman, M.D.

NEUROSURGEON Steven Zielinski, MD, (254) 732-3987

ONCOLOGIST/HEMATOLOGIST

First Wednesday Tom Harris, MD, (254) 399-0741

CHIROPRACTOR

Monday, Wednesday, Friday Steven Huffman, DC,(254) 729-4322

SLEEP MEDICINE Chris Matlock, MD, Thursdays (254) 537-6160

CARDIOLOGIST

J. Phillip Myatt, M.D., Abdul Keylani, MD (254) 235-9355

Third Thursday, Fourth Wednesday

PODIATRIST Eduardo Orihuela, DPM, (979) 776-6060

First, Third and Fifth Wednesdays

ENT & ALLERGY

Thomas A. Salzer, M.D., (979) 764-3090

Second and Fourth Mondays

ADVANCED PAIN CARE

Every Tuesday, (512) 244-4272

New Year’s resolutions for seniors

Resolutions can be made at any age. Seniors who may feel that they are past the point in life where trying something new or setting goals is relevant to them can reconsider, as it’s never too late in life to have aspirations big or small.

The golden years may be different from any other period in a person’s life, but seniors can still embrace making positive changes. In fact, according to studies by Rush University, people who view life with a sense of purpose are two to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The following are some potential resolutions for seniors.

• Focus on safety. Aging sparks certain changes to the body and mind. Recognizing that you can’t do all of the things you did when you were younger doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve upon those things you can do, especially if you make some safety-minded tweaks. Resolve to improve home safety, such as removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars, checking smoke alarms, and installing a security system.

• Find new and enjoyable workouts. The exercise routines you engaged in just a few years ago may no longer suit your physical abilities or interests. Investigate new fitness regimens or methods of movement. Tai chi, yoga, water aerobics, walking clubs, and more can be incorporated into your daily habits.

• Organize medical records. Seeing health pictured systematically and clearly can help you stay on top of appointments and wellness measures. There are many different organizing systems to embrace; find one that works for your needs.

• Declutter your home. Resolve to get rid of extraneous items that are no longer serving a purpose beyond collecting dust. Having more room to move around can be safer, particularly if you need a cane or another assistive device, and there will be less to clean if you remove some clutter. If you plan to downsize soon, clearing clutter can make the move easier.

• Learn something new. A language, skill, or hobby are all within reach when you map out the steps to achieving your goal.

• Make new social connections. Caring Places senior communities indicates socially active older adults have better cognition and lower risks for depression than those who do not consistently reach out to friends. Aspire to make some new companions or to get back in touch with those you haven’t spoken to in some time. Seniors can focus on key resolutions to make positive changes for the future.

Tips to help student-athletes prepare for winter sports season

Winter sports season is wildly popular. Sports such as basketball, hockey, swimming, and track and field attract talented student-athletes each winter, making the season one of the most fun times of year for kids, their families and their classmates.

As the winter sports season approaches and begins, studentathletes can take various steps to ensure they’re ready to compete.

• Ensure your academics are in order. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average to be eligible to compete. The winter sports season tends to overlap semesters in many school districts, so students preparing for the coming season must make sure their grades are good enough to allow them to compete, even if their sport begins mid- to late-semester. Students can work with teachers, coaches and academic advisors to ensure their grades won’t compromise their eligibility.

• Schedule your physical. A preseason physical exam is mandatory to compete in may scholastic sports, so student-athletes or their parents should schedule their exams early so they can compete for a spot on the team and, if they make the team, play once the season begins. Physical exams also can shed light on any issues that may require medical treatment prior to the start of the season, so the earlier students get their exams, the more quickly they can address any issues that may compromise their ability to compete.

• Speak with the coaching staff. Coaches may or may not conduct exit interviews upon the completion of a season. Such interviews can be a great chance for studentathletes to learn about what they can do to improve during the offseason. Studentathletes who didn’t get an exit interview or those who simply want a refresher can contact their coaches in advance of the season to discuss what they need to do to make the team and/or improve on last season’s performance.

• Get in shape. Multi-sport athletes may already be in shape to compete, which can ensure the transition from fall to winter sports season goes smoothly. Student-athletes who don’t compete in fall sports can use fall as a time to get back in game shape. Start gradually to reduce your risk of injury, ramping up as the body reacclimates itself to physical activity.

Winter sports season is a fun time of year for student-athletes. Preparing before the season begins can ensure student-athletes compete at their highest level in the months ahead.

CORSICANA FOR OVER 70 YEARS

TMC Insurance Services LLC has served the Corsicana community since 1947. We take pride in providing our community with the insurance coverage they need to protect themselves and their families’ finances from the unexpected that life often throws. If you are looking for coverage of any kind, call us today or come by the office and see how we can serve you.

Factors that can adversely affect mood

No one is immune to the occasional bad mood. A bad mood can make a difficult day feel even more so, and multipleperson households can become uncomfortable places to be if one person’s mood is less than welcoming.

Bad moods can be easy to shrug off, and that may not inspire people to wonder why their generally upbeat outlooks can suddenly take a turn for the worse. Each person is different, so what triggers a mood swing in some individuals may not necessarily do so in others. However, various factors can adversely affect mood. Taking steps to avoid or minimize such factors can reduce the number of days when you feel as though you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

• Lack of physical activity: A 2019 study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression. That link is likely connected to the release of endorphins triggered by exercise. Endorphins are hormones that studies have shown contribute to a general feeling of well-being, which explains why a lack of physical activity can adversely affect mood.

• Chronic stress: Chronic stress has long been linked to a host of health problems. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic stress puts individuals at increased risk for heart disease and weight gain but also issues that affect mood, including anxiety and

depression. Individuals who find themselves routinely confronting bad moods may be dealing with chronic stress. Identifying the source of that stress and speaking with a health care professional about how to reduce and manage it may lead to improvements in mood.

• Hunger: A 2018 study from researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario found evidence that a change in glucose levels can have a lasting effect on mood. The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, found that rats injected with a glucose metabolism blocker experienced stress and depressed mood due to the resultant hypoglycemia. The study lends credence to the notion that many people have about feeling moody when they don’t eat.

• Weather: Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that adversely affects certain individuals’ moods during winter, when hours of sunlight are fewer than during spring, summer and fall and when temperatures outside can sometimes be so cold as to keep people indoors for extended periods of time. In addition, a 2013 study published in the journal Social Indicators Research found that individuals report greater life satisfaction on exceptionally sunny days than they did on days with ordinary weather. Bad moods come and go for most people. Identifying common triggers for bad moods can help individuals prepare for potential mood swings and navigate them in healthy ways.

An honest conversation could help prevent accidental falls

By Katecey Harrell news@themexianews.com

Limestone Medical Center, Emergency Management Services, responds to accidental falls involving the elderly almost every week, director Shelton Chapman said.

“Tripping hazards at a younger age aren’t a problem, but as you get older, it can be,” Chapman said. “We may get three in one day and then go two weeks without one, but it’s frequent.”

As people age, their fall risk increases. Accidental falls are the leading cause of injury for people over 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fall risk increases during the cold winter months, when people are more sedentary, said Jennifer Brown, regional therapy director for AccentCare.

Illness and medical flare-ups, like arthritis, can affect mobility, Brown said.

“Anytime a patient is sick and not feeling well, you’re going to see fall risk increase,” she said.

Falls can happen indoors or outdoors, Chapman said.

“It depends on the severity of their injuries. We protect patients and bandage them if they’re bleeding and often have a fracture, and we mobilize and get them to a hospital,” he said.

He said people could slip on a loose rug, miss an unlevel step, or trip over shifting concrete.

Brown said that making sure

pathways are clear is perhaps the most crucial step to prevent accidental falls. Brown noted that people tend to shuffle their feet a little more as they age.

“It’s important to assess for trip hazards, such as rugs that aren’t properly attached to the floor or that a corner may be turned up that their foot may catch on,” she said. “Is there a change in flooring? Does it go from carpet to wood without a proper transition piece?”

Chapman said to keep debris out of indoor and outdoor pathways.

“Try to remove anything that’s a tripping hazard inside and outside their home. Anything to keep a good walk space,” he said. “Anything you can do in their normal pattern of life to help keep it clean and clear.”

Pets can get entangled around people’s feet and be a hazard for the elderly, Brown said.

“We often think it’s a great idea to get our loved one, who might be a little lonely, a pet, but a young, rowdy pet may not be the best choice for them,” she said.

Proper footwear with a sturdy back, sole and laces or velcro straps to secure people’s feet can also reduce shuffling and fall hazards, Brown said. Wearing shoes at home, even though people tend to take them off, is important as we age.

Side effects from different medications can also increase a person’s fall risk.

She said that vision changes are one of the most common factors for falls.

“When it’s dark in your home, or

there’s not proper lighting, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to see objects in your pathway,” she said.

Sensation also changes as we age, she said. Patients with diabetes may have neuropathy that significantly affects the feeling in their feet.

“Your ability to have proprioception, which is your sensation, and your baring in your environment,” she said. “That changes, and it gets worse as we age.”

Brown said it becomes more challenging to combat obstacles in the home environment.

“We suggest putting night lights in places, especially a pathway to the bathroom, so that loved ones can see to get up in the middle of the night,” Brown said.

She said people must ensure their loved ones have an appropriately lit pathway to the restroom at night. Brown said the most common location where at-risk age groups are susceptible to a fall is in the bathtub or shower.

“A wet slippery surface is always going to put that patient at increased risk,” she said.

Families can do things at home to prevent this, like installing handrails or using a shower or tub chair.

Brown said that physical therapists often see patients in the home health setting because of an injury resulting from a fall. Home health services assess safety hazards and where a patient may have weaknesses at home.

“We see patients with broken bones or limbs. Maybe a patient that just had to stay in the hospital because of a bad fall has had a head injury, and they became very weak,” Brown said. “One of the jobs we do in home health is to make sure those patients are safe at home and that we can keep them out of the hospital.”

Brown said older people have an increased risk, but a fall can happen to anyone. Many of the tips she recommends can be beneficial when implemented in the homes of anyone at any age.

It can be challenging to make aging adults understand the concerns of their loved ones, Brown said. Having honest conversations about avoiding injury and hospitalization is necessary.

Brown said one of the scariest things about aging is the fear of losing independence.

“Supporting them and knowing that you are making these changes to their home and suggesting these changes so that they can stay home and stay safe and independent can be impactful,” Brown said.

Skin cancer still poses a threat in winter

Skin cancer may be something on the minds of beachgoers and summer revelers frolicking around the pool. After all, when the sun is blazing hot and one’s skin reddens after mere minutes outside, it’s hard to ignore the potential for skin damage. But summer isn’t the only time of year that skin must be protected.

According to the health and wellness resource Cancer Therapy Advisor, ultraviolet radiation is just as dangerous in the winter as it is in the summer, and people should continue to care for and protect their skin as the weather gets colder. In fact, sunscreen is something that should be worn year-round.

Various lifestyle choices increase a person’s risk for skin damage and even skin cancer.

• Spending time outdoors in high altitudes: MD Anderson Cancer Centers warns that UV rays are especially intense in higher altitudes. The risk for sunburn increases because the thinner atmosphere isn’t able to block many of the sun’s most harmful rays.

• Enjoying snow-related activities: Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays. Individuals may not realize that time spent

on the slopes can result in sun damage that is just as harmful as that caused after a day at the beach.

• Heading out on cloudy days: Fog and clouds will not deter UVA rays from reaching the surface of the Earth. UVA rays, which are present throughout the year, can penetrate fog and clouds and even glass, warns the Skin Cancer Foundation.

• Traveling to warm climates in winter: It’s common for people to try to escape the cold and snow by vacationing in tropical locales during the winter. Many may mistakenly think it’s a good idea to use a tanning bed to get a golden glow prior to departing. The Mayo Clinic reports that UV light from tanning beds is 12 times as intense as light emitted by the sun. Couple that with time spent in the tropical sun and severe damage can occur to unprotected skin.

Protecting skin from the sun is a yearround endeavor. When thinking about skin damage and skin cancer prevention, do not overlook the lips as well, as the skin on the lips is very sensitive. Use a lip moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 and sunscreen on the rest of the exposed parts of the body every day.

FOR NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORS caring

From wellness checks to specialist visits, the care you need is closer than you think. Our physicians and specialists go the extra mile to ensure your needs are being met, from diagnostic tests and treatments to follow-up procedures and appointments.

We’re proud to announce all 3 of our health clinics are Certified Rural Health Clinics!

Sunburn in the winter? It’s possible

It’s widely known that prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun can cause sunburn. Sunburn usually appears within a few hours after overexposure to ultraviolet light from sunshine or artificial sunlamps.

A sunburn is the skin’s response to UV damage. Sunburn may be minor and evident by redness and pain or, if severe, swelling and blisters may occur. Some people even feel like they have the flu and become feverish with chills.

Even though sunburn is a common occurrence in spring, summer and fall, people may be surprised to learn it is possible to get sunburn in the winter, too. It’s foolish to stop thinking about sun protection when bundled up in winter clothing. Complete Family Dermatology says the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be just as damaging to the skin when it’s cloudy or cold. In addition, snow and ice can reflect up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, that means that a person gets hit from two angles: first from the sky and second from the ground, as the rays rebound.

It is important to practice sun safety all year long. Wear sunscreen on the face and any portion of the skin that is exposed. Also, donning sunglasses protects not only the eyes, but also the delicate skin around the eyes. UV radiation is the leading contributor to skin cancer.

Even though the amount of UV rays decreases slightly in the winter because of the angle that they hit the Earth, the risk for UVrelated sun damage persists. Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30, and even higher when spending time in high altitudes.

Sunburn can occur at any time of the year. Precautions should be taken to protect the skin whether it’s spring, fall, summer, or winter.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite what people may believe, colds are not exclusive to the cold weather months and early spring. Although a person is more likely to catch a cold during the winter, it’s still possible to get a cold in the summer. During colder months, people tend to stay indoors in close proximity to others. That can make it easier for contagious cold viruses to spread. In addition, during the winter, the air is cold and dry, and these conditions are hospitable to cold viruses. In the summer, humidity can impede the common cold’s easy spread, but air conditioning units with recirculated air can reverse the protective nature of this humidity. Even though people may spend more time outdoors during the summer, on especially hot days they may retreat indoors to cool off. That’s when cold viruses can thrive. Symptoms of summer colds aren’t different from winter colds. However, the heat and humidity of the summer months can make a person feel miserable. Also, when cold symptoms keep people from fun summertime activities, it can seem more impactful than suffering in winter when there’s not much to do.

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