Mother’s Day is right around the corner. You could give her flowers and candy. Or, another way to express your love and appreciation would be to encourage her to have a mammogram.

Mammograms are a very powerful tool in the fight against breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women, except for skin cancer. Approximately one woman in eight has a chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time during her life.

At Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, women over the age of 40 can schedule their own screening mammogram without a referral from their primary care physician. The hospital is a Certified Softer Mammogram Provider that uses the MammoPad^®, a soft foam cushion that decreases overall discomfort and is designed to provide a softer, more comfortable mammogram. Convenient evening and weekend hours are available for appointments by calling 214-324-6220.

To learn more about screening mammograms and other recommended health exams, Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake is offering a free Women’s Health Tests & Screenings slideguide. This handy pocket guide also describes symptoms and treatments for a variety of conditions, and lists the latest American Cancer Society guidelines. Call 866-764-3627 for your free copy today.

MammoPad is a registered trademark of Hologic, Inc.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

Since penicillin was introduced in the 1940s, more than 150 antibiotics have been developed. These drugs have helped save many lives by fighting bacterial infections, some fungal infections and some parasites.

Through the years, though, certain bacteria have developed the ability to resist the antibiotics that were designed to kill them. Organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis are becoming world-wide problems.

We can take steps to prevent more bacteria from developing a resistance to antibiotics. Here are some things you can do.

Know when to take antibiotics. The first step in using antibiotics safely is to know when you should take them. Antibiotics won’t work against viral infections including colds and the flu. Viruses also cause most ear infections, coughs, sore throats, acute bronchitis and stomach flu. With a viral infection, the best thing you can do is try to relieve the symptoms.

Follow directions. If your doctor does prescribe an antibiotic, make sure you understand exactly how it should be taken. Some medications work best if taken with food while others should be taken on an empty stomach. You also should take all of the antibiotics in the prescription. Don’t stop taking them when you feel better or save some for the next time you feel sick.

Prevent infections. Proper hand washing remains our best defense against both bacterial and viral infections. Other ways to prevent the spread of infections include covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, keeping food preparation areas clean, and cleaning often touched surfaces such as door knobs.

To learn more about taking medications, take the free, online over-the-counter medicines quiz on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at www.DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/MedicationsQuiz.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

When you think of poisons, the first things that come to mind may be hemlock, antifreeze and pesticides. But, there are many more products lurking in your bathroom cabinet, hiding under your kitchen sink, or lying on your garage shelf that can cause harm if used improperly, by the wrong person, or in the incorrect amount. Seemingly innocuous items such as shoe polish, mouthwash, makeup or carpet cleaners can be poisonous when swallowed, inhaled, or enter the body through the eyes, ears or skin.

To help raise awareness and prevent accidental poisonings, Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake will recognize March 18 to 24 as National Poison Prevention Week. Each year more than 2 million poisonings are reported to the 57 poison control centers nationwide. In excess of 90 percent of these poisonings happen in the home and the majority of non-fatal poisonings involve children under six years of age.

Poison prevention begins with being aware of possible hazards around the house and taking the necessary precautions to prevent poisoning. Here are some precautions:

• Because “childproof” medicine bottles are really just child resistant, keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
• Keep all products in original containers.
• Store bottles of alcohol in a locked cabinet.
• Keep children away from poisonous house plants or buy nonpoisonous ones.
• Do not refer to medicines or vitamins as “candy” or other names that appeal to children.
• Always store food and cleaners in separate cabinets or rooms.

To learn more about how to make your home a poison-safe zone, take the free, online Household Poisons Quiz available on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website at www.DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/PoisonsQuiz.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

Colorectal cancer is a topic that most people would probably prefer not to have to think or talk about, but that could be a serious mistake. Did you know that your chances of developing colorectal cancer increases considerably at age 50? In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, more than 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people older than 50. Fortunately, colorectal cancer can be treated when detected early – you just need to be screened.

Other risk factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing colorectal cancer include:

• Having a personal history of colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease.
• Having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer.
• Eating a diet high in fat.
• Being physically inactive.
• Obesity.
• Smoking and heavy alcohol use.
• Type 2 diabetes.

People at increased risk for colorectal cancer should talk with their doctor about being screened for the disease before the age of 50.

Most people with early stage colorectal cancer will not experience any symptoms and they may not know they have the disease until it reaches an advanced stage. That is why screening for colorectal cancer is so important. When detected and treated at an early stage, the five-year survival rate for the disease is nearly 75 percent.

In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month in March, Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake is offering free EZ-detect take-home colorectal cancer kits* until March 31, or while supplies last. The kit is simple, sanitary, and can be done in the privacy of home. No lab processing or stool handling is necessary, and there are no dietary restrictions before or during the testing period. Call 866-764-3627 for your free kit today.

* $7.99 retail value. This test does not replace a colonoscopy. It serves as a preliminary screening designed to detect warning signs of colorectal cancer.

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com

There is truth to the old adage, “prevention is the best medicine.” You can avoid sunburn by putting on sunscreen. You can thwart the spread of the flu by washing your hands. And you can help prevent heart disease by committing to a heart-healthy lifestyle and keeping certain heart numbers in control before they get too high.

“Elevated cholesterol can increase your risk for not only heart disease, but also other cardiovascular problems,” says Melbert (Bob) Hillert, Jr., M.D., cardiology medical director at Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake. “A simple blood test can tell you if your total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL, or milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood, which is desirable. If that number is over 240 mg/dL, you have high cholesterol.”

High blood pressure can put you at risk for having a heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries (systolic or top number) and when the heart rests between beats (diastolic or bottom number). Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg; measurements consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure.

Excess fat in the abdominal area can increase health risks even more than fat located elsewhere on the body. In general, a waist circumference of greater than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women is considered an indicator for increased risk of obesity-related conditions, including heart disease.

To learn more about heart disease and your risk factors for high blood pressure, visit the free, online health library on the Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake website and take the Blood Pressure Quiz at www.DoctorsHospitalDallas.com/BloodPressureQuiz

Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake
214 324-6100

www.doctorshospitaldallas.com