healthline
caremountmedical.com
MARCH 2016
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
Get the Facts About Concussion
As spring and warmer weather approaches, keep yourself and your loved ones safe by
learning the facts about concussion and how to prevent this common brain injury.
Omar N. Syed, MD, FAANS
Neurosurgeon at CareMount Medical
Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow
or jolt to the head. This trauma causes the brain to slam against
the skull, which can affect the brain’s normal functioning. While
concussion is considered a mild brain injury, it can have a serious
impact on one’s wellbeing and quality of life. Having a single
concussion makes a person susceptible to another one, and repeat
concussions can lead to long-term damage such as memory loss
and cognitive problems.
Everyone, from the very young to the elderly, is at risk for
concussion. Most cases of concussion occur in children and
teenagers ages 5 to 14, with the two most common causes being
competitive team sports, such as football, and cycling accidents.
Adults who participate in contact sports have a higher risk of
concussion. For older adults, falling and automobile accidents
are common causes of concussion.
People with a concussion need to seek medical help. Physicians
can diagnose a concussion in the medical office and can rule out a
serious head injury that may require hospitalization. Imaging with
CT scan or MRI may or may not be necessary.
Go to the emergency department right away if you or someone
in your care has been in a car accident that caused a severe
movement of the head, has fallen, or has been hit hard
on the head.
The symptoms of concussion can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms may include:
· Difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering
new information
· Nausea and vomiting
· Headache
· Fuzzy or blurry vision
· Dizziness
· Sensitivity to light or noise
· Balance problems
· Feeling tired or having no energy
· Changes in mood, such as irritability, sadness or nervousness
· Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping more or less
than usual
· Children may have the following symptoms in addition
to those listed above:
· Crying more than usual
· Changes in the way they play or act
· Changes in the way they nurse, eat, or sleep
· Lack of interest in their usual activities or favorite toys
· Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
The elderly are especially at risk for concussion because they
are more prone to falls. If you are caring for an older adult
who has had a fall, take him or her to a doctor right away to
rule out concussion.
On February 29th, Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG) announced
that it officially changed its name to CareMount Medical, P.C.
The new name reflects the growth of the group that now consists
of over 500 doctors caring for patients at over 40 locations across
the Hudson Valley.
“On behalf of all the employees who make this an award-winning medical group, I am proud to announce the
launch of the CareMount Medical brand,” said Scott D. Hayworth, MD, President, and CEO of CareMount
Medical. “Behind the new CareMount Medical brand is the same world-class talent, technology, treatments,
and convenience that our patients have come to expect.”
CareMount Medical is the largest, independent multi-specialty medical group in New York with offices
in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia and Ulster Counties.
Protect Your Kidneys
How well do you know the health of your kidneys? According to the National
Kidney Foundation, 26 million Americans have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Most of these people, however, aren’t even aware they have CKD.
This is because most people with CKD have no symptoms!
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped
organs located on either side of the spine
below the rib cage. They play an important
role in keeping people healthy. Kidneys
filter and clean the blood by removing
waste products and excess water, which
exit the body as urine. In addition, kidneys
regulate the body’s blood pressure,
chemical balance, and help keep bones
healthy. The kidneys also secrete a hormone
which stimulates bone marrow’s production
of red blood cells.
{
}
However, as people age, kidney filtration
begins to slow down. After age 40, kidney
function decreases slightly each year. Risk
factors for kidney disease include a family
history of kidney disease, diabetes, high
blood pressure, or heart disease. In fact,
heart disease and kidney disease often go
hand in hand; each is a major risk factor for
the other disease. Early detection and
treatment are crucial in preventing both
kidney failure and heart complications.
We have to “Protect the Kidneys to Save
the Heart!”
CareMount Medical is
Proud to Welcome the
Following Health Care
Professionals To Our Group
Diagnosis and Treatment
Two simple tests can diagnose CKD —
a blood test and a urine test.
· A blood test measures the level of
creatinine, a waste product of muscle
that the kidneys excrete. In a person with
reduced kidney function, creatinine builds
up in the blood. A formula is applied to
determine the eGFR (estimated
glomerular filtration rate). The eGFR
identifies how well the kidneys are
filtering waste products.
· Impaired kidneys may leak a protein,
called albumin, into the urine. A urine
test can detect albumin.
Left untreated, kidney disease can lead to
kidney failure. If that occurs, a person will
require dialysis (a treatment that replaces
some of the kidneys’ functions) or a kidney
transplant (an operation that replaces a
diseased kidney with a healthy one) to stay
alive.
“
The biggest myth is that patients do not
think anything can be done about their
kidneys until it’s time or close to the
time that they may need dialysis,”
says Dr. Michael Rosen, a nephrologist
at CareMount Medical. “Often, your
kidney function or impairment cannot be
reversed so the goal is preservation of
what function you have and protection
against the possible complications of
having kidney impairment.
”
Michael A. Rosen, MD
Donna Montalto, MPP
New Chief of Staff and
Senior Director of Special Projects
Robert Newborn, MD
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
and Chief Quality Officer
March 30th is
NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY
Natio nal
Doctors Day
We would like to celebrate
the essential role that our
physicians serve in our daily lives.
Join us in thanking them for their
contribution to our public health.
Primary Specialty: Nephrology
CareMount Medical
urgent care tip of the month
Eating Habits
Of your three meals a day, breakfast should be your
most substantial and dinner your lightest. This allows the body to properly
digest and use nutrition before you sleep, and prevents the body from
storing the nutrition, which can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
If you need urgent care, call 844-484-6564 or visit
caremountmedical.com/urgentcare FOR LOCATIONS
Healthcare That Revolves Around You.
caremountmedical.com