Too Much Salt?

A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet.  Too much sodium increases a person's risk for high blood pressure. High blood pressure often leads to heart disease, stroke, and other vascular diseases.  What can you do about it?  The study also shows that 40% of the sodium in a typical diet comes from just 10 foods.  They are: breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats such as deli or packaged ham or turkey, pizza, fresh and processed poultry, soups, sandwiches such as cheeseburgers, cheese, pasta dishes*, meat mixed dishes such as meat loaf with tomato sauce, and snacks such as chips, pretzels, and popcorn.  While you don't need to stop eating all of these foods, you should know that 65% of the sodium consumed comes from food bought at retail stores.  Home prepared foods are usually lower in sodium and you can easily control the amount of sodium in foods you prepare yourself.  When you do purchase prepared foods you should check labels to compare the sodium content of your food choices and ask for lower sodium options when dining out.  For more information you can read the report from the CDC at: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/VitalSigns/Sodium/

Helping Kids Stay Tobacco-Free

Drs. Brian Johnson, Christina Marchion and Jeanette Walker each gave presentations this week to students at Summit Elementary School on the importance of being tobacco-free.  The presentations were given as a part of the Tar Wars program - a nationwide educational effort supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians.  The mission of the Tar Wars program (TarWars.org) is to educate students about being tobacco free, provide them with the tools to make positive decisions regarding their health, and promote personal responsibility for their well being. 

Flu Shots are Here

It's that time of year again - the weather is turning colder, football season has arrived, the home garden is winding down and it's time to get the annual flu shot.  The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot every year, and they are covered by most health plans - often with no co-pay.  We especially encourage patients who are at higher risk of complications from influenza to be vaccinated.  These include: 

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• Adults 65 years of age and older
• Pregnant women
• American Indians and Alaskan Natives seem to be at higher risk of flu complications
• People who have medical conditions including:
  • Asthma (even if it’s controlled or mild)
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]
  • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
  • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
  • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
  • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
  • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
  • People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] of 40 or greater)

You can come to the office for your flu shot anytime during regular office hours - no appointment is necessary.

Great Parenting Resources!

Are you interested in free, non-commercial, research based information on parenting that is geared specifically to the age of your child?  Check out the Just in Time Parenting resources!  You can sign up here for free parenting newsletters delivered to you by e-mail - monthly during your child's first 12 months, then every other month from ages 1 through 5.  If you have older children you can visit www.extension.org/parenting for a lot of other great parenting resources.

Dr. Irwin Named 2011 Idaho Family Physician of the Year

Family Care Physician's own Dr. James Irwin was recently named the 2011 Idaho Family Physician of the year by the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians.  He will be honored by the IAFP at their annual meeting in Boise on May 21.  See the press release here for complete details.