Last updated 1 month ago
Excessive weight can bring on a host of other health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. This video offers some easy-to-follow tips for maintaining your weight and warding off obesity-related conditions.
First, you should start an exercise regimen. Physical activity is the best preventative measure for avoiding extra pounds and strengthening your cardiovascular system. To further safeguard your health, practice nutritious eating habits that focus on fresh produce, lean proteins, and whole grains. Another critical part of staying fit is stopping harmful behaviors such as smoking, which can contribute to excessive weight.
Would you like to learn more about how to avert the costs of obesity? If so, call Ocala Health at (866) 511-3768. You can also visit us online for more information about keeping fit and healthy.
Last updated 1 month ago
Long work hours, familial obligations, and the proliferation of fast food chains can subvert even the best intentions to keep off unwanted pounds. However, as current studies indicate, the fight to stay at a healthy weight is a battle that many Americans face. Approximately 30 percent of the adult population in the United States is overweight or obese. Many of these people also suffer from one or more health conditions that can result from too much weight. If you fall into this common demographic, help is available. Ocala Health’s team of bariatric surgery specialists can guide you to a weight solution that is right for your needs and preferences.
What is a healthy weight?
The first step toward stopping obesity is to understand what is a healthy weight for you. The easiest way to determine if you need to lose weight is to assess your BMI, or body mass index. Your BMI is an evaluation of both your weight and height. Based on your calculation results, you will learn if you need to address an overweight or obesity issue. In general, a BMI of 25 or more indicates a weight problem.
How can obesity affect your wellbeing?
Obesity can raise your risk for several potentially life-threatening conditions. Studies have found conclusive links between excessive weight and high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and even some forms of cancer.
What treatment options are available for obesity?
Most individuals suffering from obesity will be advised to alter their lifestyle habits. This includes eating healthier food options and increasing one’s daily level of exercise. However, some people may not be able to reach a healthy weight by these measures alone. In such cases, bariatric surgery can be a highly effective treatment option. If you have been unable to lose weight on your own, consult a bariatric surgery expert for further assistance.
Ocala Health provides bariatric surgery services for eligible patients in the Ocala area. With our safe and effective surgical options, you too can regain your wellbeing and outlook for a healthier future. Call (866) 511-3768 or visit our website for more information on our full range of services.
Last updated 2 months ago
The national nonprofit the Leapfrog Group today announced the
Hospital Safety Score app, now available for
iPhone, iPad and
Android devices, rating hospitals throughout the country on errors, accidents and infections. The app, which can be downloaded by visiting www.hospitalsafetyscore.org, locates and assigns letter grades to more than 2,600 general hospitals in the U.S., giving users an instant method of finding the safest hospitals in the vicinity. This is thought to be the first app of its kind devoted exclusively to patient safety ratings.
Calculated under the guidance of the nation’s leading experts in patient safety, the Hospital Safety Score is an A, B, C, D or F score assigned to U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. More than 2,600 general, acute care hospitals across the country are included in the app. The Hospital Safety Score is administered by the independent, national nonprofit organization, The Leapfrog Group, which for over a decade has been the standard for public reporting of patient safety for hospitals in the U.S.
The Hospital Safety Score app was built by Ringful Health, LLC. The Leapfrog Group suggests that consumers use the Hospital Safety Score app to:
- Research the safety of hospitals in their community
- Have easy access to the Hospital Safety Scores of hospitals in another area while traveling
- Instantly determine the safest hospital for care in the event of an emergency, which can be communicated to an ambulance driver or family member
- Consider the safety of hospitals in a new community when considering a move
- Learn about important precautions to take while hospitalized
- Talk to their doctor or nurse about efforts to improve health care
The Hospital Safety Score app features include:
- GPS-enabled search for all hospitals within 100 miles of the user’s geographic location
- Ability to search for hospitals by name, city or state
- Map display of all Hospital Safety Score letter grades in the user’s area
- Complete score details for each graded hospital
- Patient’s Guide to a Safe Hospital Stay, including questions to ask your doctor and precautions to take in the hospital
Device Requirements:
- Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later
- Requires Android 2.2 and up
Pricing and Availability:
- The Hospital Safety Score app is free in both the iOS and Google Play stores
Last updated 2 months ago
The flu can be a serious illness that may even result in fatality if proper treatment is not utilized. Still, most people will be able to make a complete recovery from the flu without needing to seek emergency care. Below are some indicators that you do need this higher level of care right away to reduce your chances of experiencing serious flu complications.
You have a chronic illness
If you have any illness that compromises your immune health, you should seek medical care right away. Chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD can also pose severe complications in flu patients, so it is best to go to the emergency room as soon as flu symptoms develop.
Your fever has exceeded 102 degrees
Fever is common with the flu, but it can be dangerous if it exceeds 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Children and the elderly are more prone to running a high fever as well as related complications. If you or a family member does have the flu, be sure to check body temperature throughout the day to ensure that the fever remains manageable.
You are showing signs of dehydration
Severe flu cases may cause diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. Signs that you are dehydrated include persistent thirst, headache, dizziness, and dryness of the skin. You might need to go to the emergency room if you cannot keep fluids down, because dehydration can cause severe damage to a body already weakened by the flu.
When you do decide it is time to go to the ER for flu relief this cold and flu season, visit one of the hospitals in the Ocala Health. Contact us through our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (866) 511-3768 to ensure that you are always connected with the appropriate department for your care. You can also explore all our hospital services by visiting us online.
Last updated 3 months ago
With flu activity on the rise, it is likely that you and your family may get sick this winter season. However, your stuffy nose and cough could be from a cold and not the flu, and knowing the difference is important when seeking the right type of care. If you have a cold, you will likely get better after a few days of home care. Alternatively, the flu could lead to a doctor’s visit or trip to the emergency room. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine whether or not your symptoms are actually caused by influenza.
Did symptoms come on suddenly?
Colds typically begin with a sore throat that subsides as other symptoms like congestion and sneezing begin to appear. Flu is different, because symptoms tend to arise all at once with greater severity than cold symptoms.
Do you have aches and pains?
Body aches and headaches are much more common with the flu than the cold, so it is likely that you have come down with influenza if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Do you have extreme fatigue?
If you have a cold, you might feel weak or tired, but you will not have the extreme exhaustion that accompanies the flu early on in the illness.
Are you running a fever?
Fever can occur in patients with the cold or the flu, but flu sufferers are likely to have a higher fever that runs between 100 and 102 degrees. Flu-related fever generally lasts about 3-4 days.
When you need prompt care for a flu or guidance to help you nurse your illness at home, you can rely on Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital, which are both within Ocala Health. Contact us for a look at our emergency care by visiting our website or calling (866) 511-3768. For more help managing seasonal illnesses in your family, download our iTriage Symptom Checker App for your smart phone.flu
