Lincoln Wellness and Family Care

One of the most influential factors that impacts your health is your diet. We’ve all heard the old adage “you are what you eat” and if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

Eating healthy foods that are unprocessed such as fresh vegetables, fruits, raw nuts and seeds along with whole grains and unsaturated fats is a great way to maintain optimal health.

If you have a medical condition, making better dietary choices may help you recover and if you are overweight a balanced diet coupled with adequate exercise will help you lose excess pounds safely.

Do you have questions or concerns about your diet?

Talk with Dr. Lincoln during your next office visit and learn how nutritional supplements can help in addition to the free resources listed below.

MyPyramid Food Charts
Download PDF MyPyramid for Kids
Download PDF MyPyramid for Adults

For help planning meals and tracking your dietary and weight loss progress visit MyPyramid.gov for free tools and resources.

According to the American Diabetes Association, most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States have Type II diabetes.

You are more likely to develop diabetes if it runs in your family, you’re overweight or you don’t get regular exercise.

Symptoms can include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased hunger or thirst
• Tingling in hands or feet
• Weight loss or gain
• Slow healing sores
• Flu-like symptoms, including fatique, weakness and loss of appetite
• Frequent infections
• Burning pain in arms, hands, legs or feet
• Blurry vision

Are you experiencing any of the above symptoms?

If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed above you should schedule an appointment for a full medical evaluation with Dr. Lincoln.

If you currently have diabetes Type I or Type II the American Diabetes Association is a great resource for understanding this disease and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your condition and quality of life.

Being overweight or obese is a known factor for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, arthritis, breathing problems and some forms of cancer.

The good news is that by eating healthy and getting regular exercise you can shed pounds safely, improve energy levels and reduce your risks for developing serious medical conditions.

Many people discover that they actually enjoy fresh foods and exercise. Being able to make simple (but challenging) changes in lifestyle also boosts self esteem and for many, becomes the gateway to setting new goals in life and achieving them.

Are you concerned about your weight?

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Lincoln to discuss your concerns, assess your risk factors and get direction on how to lose weight safely.

For additional information on obesity visit the American Obesity Association.

According to the American Heart Association, about one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don’t know they have it. In fact, many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. This is why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer.” The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked.

Have you had your blood pressure checked within the last year?

When you schedule your next annual exam we will check your blood pressure and let you know if there are any concerns.

Get the facts on high blood pressure and how to live a heart-healthier life. Find out how you can reduce your risks for heart attack and stroke with proper monitoring by a healthcare provider and simple lifestyle changes, even if you have high blood pressure.
For more information visit Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Heart disease is the number 1 cause of death for men and women in the U.S. and stroke is the number 3 cause.

Lifestyle and diet play a very important role in helping to reduce your risk and prevent a heart attack or stroke. If you have already had a heart attack or stroke it’s not too late to improve your health and prevent future damage to your heart and brain.

Risk Factors For Heart Attack or Stroke

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Family history of heart attack, stroke or heart disease
• Previous heart attacks or stroke
• PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease)
• Being overweight or obese
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise

Dr. Lincoln will help you assess your level of risk by doing a full medical evaluation to determine what preventive steps you can take to reduce your risk including a healthy diet and exercise.

If you experience sudden or slow developing chest pains or any of the warning signs mentioned by the American Heart Association, call 911 immediately or have someone take you to the closest hospital emergency center.

Additional Information Resources

American Heart Association

American Stroke Association (ASA)

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better.

Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the vast majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Intensive research into the illness has resulted in the development of medications, psychotherapies, and other methods to treat people with this disabling disorder.

Symptoms

• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
• Insomnia, early morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do no ease even with treatment

These symptoms can be indicators of other health issues so it’s important to make an appointment for a medical check-up to rule out other causes before seeking treatment for depression.

Visit the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for more information or get the NIMH Depression Guide now.