To continue with the heart awareness theme in the month of February, Paragon Orthopedic Center would like to remind you that CPR for the general public has changed to hands-only, or compressions without the mouth-to-mouth breathing. Our blog discussed matters of the heart on the first of the month, so be sure to check that one out if you missed it. Here is an article from the American Heart Association that gives more details about CPR. Learn about two step CPR, how children can do CPR, the gender differences, cardiac arrest VS. heart attack, and how to find a CPR course near you.
Grants Pass Surgery Center Is An Asset To Southern Oregon And You
The newspaper has reported that the local hospitals are full, which has impacted orthopedic surgeries. If there aren’t any beds, the surgeons cannot do their surgeries because there is nowhere to put the patient when the surgery is done. While the hospital cancelled surgeries that Dr. Bents and Dr. Van Horne have wanted to do, the Grants Pass Surgery Center has had its doors open and many of the surgeries that would have been cancelled have been successfully done there. Did you know there are many advantages to having a surgery done at a surgery center and that you have a choice? Surgery centers can be a cheaper option with less risks. Here are some of the advantages:
- Safety: The CDC states that surgery centers are safer and have less incidences of infections compared to hospitals.
- Lower cost: Your surgery could be 45-60% less at a surgery center because the smaller scale enables them to keep costs much lower than a large, less efficient hospital. The staff are still credentialed the same, providing the same care you would get at a hospital, just without all the fees and overhead.
- Reduced stress: Surgery centers allow you to go home, where you can be more comfortable, versus the unfamiliarity of the hospital and its routines. The smaller setting also allows for the staff to know you better, providing security and comfort.
- Convenience and time: You can usually schedule a surgery at a surgery center sooner than at a hospital. It has been shown that surgery centers take 26% less time than the same procedure done at a hospital. These centers are more efficient than a large hospital can be.
Here is a an article that has data for the statistics mentioned and more details about the advantages to surgery centers. Paragon Orthopedic Center wants you accommodate you. Ask Dr. Bents or Dr. Van Horne about whether the Grants Pass Surgery Center is an option for you.
5 ADVANTAGES OF AN OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER VS. HOSPITAL BASED PROCEDURES (FAST AND EASY GUIDE)
February is National Heart Awareness Month and Here Is What You Can Do!
The American Heart Association brings awareness to heart issues every February and Paragon Orthopedic Center would like to increase your awareness of hypertension. What is that you ask? It’s the medical term for high blood pressure. Extra points for you if you knew that! Did you know hypertension increases the risk for heart attacks and strokes? And did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in our nation according to the CDC? Here are some more facts that you might find surprising:
- You don’t have to be old to have this problem: nearly one in four adults between the ages of 20-44 has high blood pressure.
- High blood pressure usually does not have symptoms.
- One in three people don’t know they have hypertension.
- Women and African Americans are at higher risk for it.
- You are at higher risk of developing dementia if you have hypertension.
If you would like to read the details about these 5 facts from the CDC, click on the link below. We hope you’ve joined us in the Wall Street Journal step challenge to get healthier. It could also help your blood pressure if you join us to get more in shape. Check our blog from January 21st if you’re interested in joining. It’s not too late, requires no equipment or money, and takes only minutes. No excuses Southern Oregon! Better health equals a better, happier life!
What is Long COVID?
There is a curious phenomenon out there referring to some long-term effects after being infected with the coronavirus and they are naming it “Long COVID.” Some say enduring these effects for weeks and months is worse than when they initially fell ill with the virus. There is brain fog, where they cannot remember words or bits of information that were once easily retrieved from memory, such as a phone number or a name. Some experience exhaustion after being an active person before fighting Covid-19, a rapid heartbeat, coughing spells, and/or difficulty breathing. There have been enough people with these lingering symptoms and others to create a need for a larger study, and the CDC is taking notice. They want to figure out the mechanism behind the body’s responses. As it stands, the medical community is baffled. Are you or someone you know who has had Covid-19 still feeling unwell? If you have lingering symptoms and would like to be a part of the research, there is a spot in this article by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy where you can click on the word, “study” and be redirected to that information. The article can be found here:
Asante offering antibody treatment for Covid-19
The FDA has given emergency use approval of a monoclonal antibody treatment for the coronavirus and Asante is one of four providers in the state of Oregon to do so. It is only offered to newly diagnosed patients and there are other criteria that must be met in order to be a candidate. Ashland Community Hospital is set up to offer this potentially life-saving treatment thanks to community donations to the Asante Foundation that allowed them to fund this infusion center. This is very exciting news for our part of the state and could save many lives of those who are infected with Covid-19. To read more details, here is an article from KDRV:
Paragon Orthopedic Center Makes Visits Easy
Did you know Paragon Orthopedic Center has its own patient portal? It’s called MyChart and it gives you control of your appointment and information. You can manage your appointments, access test results, and even get answers to your questions. We make efforts to lessen your stress, especially during this pandemic, yet keep all of your information secure and private. You just go to the Patient Portal on the Patient Center portion of our webpage. If you prefer to speak with someone, our clinic is always happy to take your call and connect you with the help you need, Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm. Just call 541-472-0603.
Here is the link to the portal to manage your orthopedic care with Paragon:
This Is A Challenge You Can’t Miss!
The Wall Street Journal has opened their first national fitness challenge and it’s an offer you can’t refuse. It requires no equipment, takes only 6 weeks, can be performed almost anywhere, it’s FREE, and can help you feel stronger! All you’re doing is stepping up and down! Trying to increase the steps you can do, up and down, in 20 seconds assesses your core strength, balance response, coordination, reflexes, ankle flexibility, and movement efficiency. This program has been developed by veteran NBA sports performance coach Arnie Kander. He has trained many NBA teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons. With all the shutdowns and isolation we’ve experienced, this is the push you need to get up and move! You can compare your results to others across the nation, people your same age and maybe in the same occupation, including some very famous names. Look for your local friends and some of the employees at Paragon Orthopedic Center here in Grants Pass. Included will be songs that some pro athletes enjoy to get them moving, such as Greg Norman, Justin Tucker, and Megan Rapinoe. Here is the WSJ article with the link to sign up:
You only have to provide your email address and you’ll receive the weekly newsletter. They will have fitness tips to increase your steps every week and they even provide an email for any questions, struggles, or concerns you have about your progress. Twenty seconds, testing yourself once a week, taking only six weeks of your life to improve your overall health. Get moving Southern Oregon!
How’s That New Year’s Resolution Going?
We are almost 3 weeks into the new year and maybe you need a little encouragement to stick with your resolution to be a healthier person. Paragon Orthopedic Center wants good health for everyone. We even have a weight loss competition going on at Paragon right now to motivate employees. Losing weight, improving eating habits, and attaining personal goals are big boosters for good physical and mental health. Here we found an article that has 10 tips to help you keep those goals you made. You might find you need to reassess those goals, maybe make them smaller and attainable. That’s okay! Take it slowly and give yourself a break if you’ve set the bar too high. As this article points out, change is a process. Another good suggestion is that writing your progress in a journal can help you feel accomplished and help you assess overall success or setbacks. Check it out and you might find a renewed sense of excitement!
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions-2795719
When Do I Quarantine If I’m Covid-19 Positive? For How Long?
Have you had questions like these come up in your circles lately? There is some misinformation out there about isolation after testing Covid positive and Paragon Orthopedic Center has found an article that addresses practically every question about the subject. Josephine County Online has an FAQ page about quarantine and isolation. It provides you with all the information you need if you have tested positive or if you’ve been exposed to someone who has. Did you know you can leave your home after 10 days following the positive test if you’ve had no symptoms? Get the straight facts and inform others. Be safe out there Southern Oregon!
How Long Until I Am Immune?
Everyone is talking about when the vaccine for the Coronavirus is available to them. Now that the vaccine is here in Southern Oregon and more people are getting it, a question keeps popping up: how long before it works? Did you realize there is a lag time between getting the vaccine and full immunity? Right now, the only vaccine available requires two doses, spaced three to four weeks apart. After getting those two doses, it takes about a month before you have full protection against Covid-19. If you don’t get the second dose, your immunity will not be as high. It is also noted that other factors influence how quickly you develop immunity, such as being very young or very old, or being immunocompromised. Should you wear a mask after you get the first dose? Yes. Should you wear a mask after getting the second dose? Yes. Should you wear a mask after waiting a month? Yes. Just like with every vaccination, there are still people who will get sick from the virus after getting the shots. We need to have about 70% of the population immune, which is known as herd immunity, before it will be safe to ease protective measures. Get immunized and be safe.
Read more here:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-long-before-coronavirus-vaccine-works_l_5fd6c66fc5b6218b42ea3760
