Tag Archives: womens health

Tired & Weak? You May Have an Iron Deficiency

by Andrea Cuniff, MD

Do you feel weak and tire easily? Are you short of breath? Look pale?

When I see patients with these symptoms, I suspect they may be suffering from anemia caused by an iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is due to too little iron in your body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the United States, especially among women.

Iron is important because your blood needs it to carry oxygen through your body. If you do not have enough iron, your body makes fewer and smaller red blood cells, and you cannot get enough oxygen.

In my practice, I’ve seen people develop iron deficiency for different reasons:

  • Adolescent girls and women of childbearing age due to menstruation
  • Young children and pregnant women because of rapid growth and higher iron needs
  • People with internal bleeding due to ulcers, hemorrhoids or cancer
  • Those with medical conditions that prevent absorption of iron, such as celiac disease or having part of their stomach or small intestine removed
  • People whose diets do not provide enough iron sources

You may not notice the symptoms of anemia at first because it develops slowly. But as anemia gets worse, you may:

  • Feel weak and tire out more easily
  • Feel short of breath
  • Feel dizzy
  • Have headaches
  • Look very pale
  • Have trouble concentrating
  • Have an inflamed tongue (glossitis)

Also, babies and small children with anemia may:

  • Have a short attention span
  • Grow more slowly than normal
  • Develop skills such as walking and talking later than normal

Left untreated, anemia may cause fatigue so severe that you can’t even complete everyday tasks. It may also lead to a rapid or irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and even congestive heart failure.

If you suspect you or someone in your family has anemia, see your MPCP doctor. We will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and your symptoms. We will also run some blood tests. These tests may include a complete blood count to look at your red blood cells and an iron test that shows how much iron is in your blood.

Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia will depend on its cause and severity. Treatments may include dietary changes and supplements, medicines or surgery.

I also recommend that people help prevent nutrition-based iron deficiency with a diet that includes good sources of iron. For a list of dietary sources of iron, see this article by the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.

Dr. Andrea Cuniff sees patients in MPCP’s Annapolis office. She is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Share the Warning Signs

A Q&A on Ovarian Cancer with Llyern Bartholomew, CRNP

Q: Isn’t Ovarian Cancer called the “silent killer” because it has no significant symptoms?

That’s a bad misnomer that we need to discard. Ovarian cancer clearly has symptoms; they are just more subtle in the early stages so it’s important that a woman listens to and knows her body. Ovarian cancer is the number one killer of all the reproductive-organ cancers so we need more education in terms of early warning signs.

Q: So what symptoms should women take note of?

The five most common symptoms are:

  • abdominal bloating or swelling
  • quickly feeling full while eating
  • changing bowel or bladder habits, particularly the need to urinate more frequently
  • discomfort in the pelvis area or low back
  • weight gain or loss

It’s not unusual to have one or two of these symptoms occur occasionally. But, if you have two or more of these symptoms daily for more than 2 weeks, it’s time to call your doctor.

Q: How do doctors diagnose Ovarian Cancer?

The first step is a pelvic exam. Then, your doctor may order a transvaginal sonogram or an ultrasound of your abdomen and pelvis. We can also use a blood test that detects a protein identified with cancerous cells. In some cases, a tissue biopsy and study of fluid from the ovaries will be recommended.

As with all cancers, earlier detection provides more treatment options and a higher cure rate, so please share this information with all the women in your life!

WPBartholomew

Llyern Bartholomew, CRNP practices at the MPCP Glen Burnie office.

Women’s Health: The Latest Screening Guidelines for Every Age

Ladies, when was the last time you had a mammogram, or had your blood cholesterol checked?  Have you had your annual Pap test?  If you have to think about the answers to these questions, it may be time to make sure you’re up to date on important health screenings.

“Now is a great time for women to make a resolution to take better care of themselves this year,” says MPCP Columbia physician, Cecily M. Agcaoili, M.D.   “We know women of all ages are busy—often taking care of everyone else in the family- but skipping screening exams is not beneficial.  Regular screenings help you and your MPCP team detect some diseases at their earliest stages, when they are clearly most treatable.”

Screenings are usually advised at certain ages or life stages, however, it’s important to work with your doctor to determine when you should be screened for certain health issues.  “If you are at risk for specific conditions due to family history, ethnic background, or lifestyle risks, we may want you to be screened earlier, or to have more detailed screening tests that are available,”  says Rosemary Ayerle, Nurse Practitioner at MPCP Bowie.

Please use this chart as a general guide for screening and vaccine recommendations for healthy women at different life stages:

mpcp-screenings-vaccinations

 

Cecily M. Agcaoili, M.D.Dr. Agcaoili is a Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2007 and completed her residency program in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2010.

 

 

 

Rosemary H. Ayerle, CRNPRosemary Ayerle, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, joined Maryland Primary Care Physicians, LLC in 1997. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1982 and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University Of Maryland School of Nursing in 1989. Ms. Ayerle is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Adult Practice.

Womens Guide to Guys’ Health

– Key tips for his 30s-70s

We first thought of this article as a “Men’s Guide to Good Health.” But, as primary care doctors we know that many of our male patients would never even see us for a check-up if it weren’t for their wives, mothers or girlfriends. “Men notoriously underestimate their level of disease risk or sickness,” says MPCP physician, Dr. Garth Ashbeck. “They tend to ignore scheduling regular health exams, perhaps because they’re not as used to seeing the doctor on a regular basis as are women. However, it is through those regular check-ups and screenings that we can catch health problems early, often when they’re most treatable,” he adds.

That’s why we’re directing these health tips to women, (but we hope you men will read on…..)

In his 30’s– Men at this age should see the doctor for a baseline check-up and then at least every other year until age 40. A baseline gives the doctor a picture of where your health is now, and some important information about blood pressure, weight, disease risk and family history. Some guys don’t know their family history, so try to find out if cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or other disease runs in the family. While most screenings are done in a man’s 40s, some may need to be done early if he’s at high-risk. “Establishing a good relationship with a doctor early helps form a partnership in keeping the patient healthier throughout their life,” says Dr. Jonathan Forman of MPCP, “The focus can be on prevention versus treating disease after it’s already arisen.”

In his 40s– Men may start to feel their age more in their 40s, particularly if they’ve been ignoring their health up to now. “Often the 40s are the decade where men begin to see weight gain, high blood pressure or other problems creep up,” says Dr. Forman. The good news is that it’s a great time to turn your health around. Key screenings that should be done in men’s 40’s are for: high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood glucose for diabetes, PSA (prostate-specific antigen), and a skin cancer check. Dr. Ashbeck adds that staying active is crucial in this decade and beyond. “Many men have hectic work and family lives, but regular exercise is a key to staying heart healthy, keeping the weight off, and reducing stress,” he notes.

In his 50’s– The main screening to add at age 50 (for men & women) is for colorectal cancer. Men should also see an ophthalmologist for an eye exam to detect early signs for glaucoma or other vision issues. “This is a time to tell your man not to ignore any warning signs,” says Dr. Forman. “What might seem to be indigestion, can actually be early signs of a heart attack, or those frequent trips to the bathroom at night might indicate an enlarged prostate.” By now men should be getting a full yearly work-up that includes blood tests to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Some doctors may even suggest an echocardiogram or stress test if there are any cardiovascular disease symptoms.

In his 60s & Beyond– Research shows that people in their 60s and 70s are markedly happier than at other points in their lives. “If men have stayed on top of their health, these decades are usually very active and rewarding,” says Dr. Ashbeck. “Also, since it’s never too late to get healthier, proper diet, exercise and staying engaged socially are important habits to maintain.” Mixing in some strength training with regular aerobic exercise will help- remember senior does not mean sedentary. Men should also feel comfortable talking to their doctor about sexual function and health “below the belt.” Keeping on top of vision and hearing screenings is also important to staying active and social. Talk with your doctor about other important screenings, vitamin supplements, and recommended vaccinations, including an annual flu shot.

Jonathan Forman, M.D. Dr. Jonathan Forman, an MPCP partner who practices in our Glen Burnie office, is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed a residency program in Family Practice at University of Maryland Medical Center.
Garth Ashbeck, M.D.Dr. Garth Ashbeck is also an MPCP partner and he practices in the Pasadena office. Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, he received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed a residency in Family Practice at Memorial Medical Center.