Are you an athlete or a physically active individual? Physical activity is critical as you endeavor to lead a healthier life. Unfortunately, it comes with injury risks, some that impact your activity level, such as Achilles tendonitis. An immediate visit to Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio for diagnosis and treatment is recommended when you experience symptoms such as pain, skin that is warm to the touch, stiffness or tenderness more so in the morning, tight calf muscles, swelling, and limited range of motion. This is because Achilles tendonitis worsens with activity, noting that overuse is the main culprit behind the injury.

The Achilles tendon is the longest tendon connecting your heel bone to the calf muscles. It is actively used as you run, jump, walk, or undertake activities that push your toes up. Its structure weakens with age, leaving you more susceptible to injuries, which is common with runners. Among the measures to help avoid Achilles tendonitis includes:

Proper footwear

The shoes you wear for dinner dates are not the best for morning runs, which goes beyond the practicality. You need to invest in appropriate footwear per activity undertaken. This ensures your foot, heels, arches, and ankles are cushioned and remain stable throughout your activity. The footwear facilitates proper pressure distribution, alleviating tension that can be excessive and result in injury. As you pick the footwear, look beyond your unique taste and style to ensure you invest in an option offering the needed support following the physical activities in mind.

Revise your technique

Your technique could be behind the recurring sprains and strains and could lead to Achilles tendonitis. Balance is among the critical aspects you need to master as you strive to minimize injury risks. Measures like warming up and cooling down are easily overlooked, yet they are crucial not just for muscle and joint injury prevention but also in preparing your heart and lungs.

Cross-training is advisable, which entails alternating between high-impact and low-intensity activities. As you think about increasing the intensity of your workouts, do it gradually. This helps prepare your muscles and joints, limiting the risk of overuse that leads to injuries. With the correct technique, you can efficiently manage the most strenuous activity without increased injury risk, making it easier to remain active.

Strength training

Strong and flexible muscles are at the center of all injury prevention measures. Strengthening your calf muscles improves the Achilles tendon and calf’s ability to handle stress from physical activities, minimizing overuse and injury chances. Exercises such as calf raises can help strengthen your lower leg muscles. It helps if you also take on strength training targeting the lower back and shoulders.

Rest

You want to keep going and hit your goals, but knowing when to take a break can’t be overlooked. If you experience pain or other signs of an injury, you must rest to avoid aggravating the situation. Overtraining does not just result in burnout. It increases injury risks which can force you out for a more extended period than it would take to rest to facilitate self-repair.

Right diet

Your diet is critical in sustaining your activity level and not just considering your energy levels. It also impacts injury risks, especially considering inflammation. Increasing anti-inflammatory-rich food items such as proteins in your nutritional plan helps lower injury chances. A healthy diet also facilitates the production of elements, including collagen and elastin, which strengthen your ligaments and tendons.

Achilles tendonitis and other injuries can stand between you and the physical activity strategy you have planned to lead a healthier life. The good news is that Achilles tendonitis is preventable and, with prompt diagnosis, easily manageable. Contact Marque Allen, DPM, FACFAS, today for more on Achilles tendonitis.

As a woman, getting a Pap smear is a crucial part of your preventive health care routine. A pap smear is a test that detects any abnormalities or changes in the cervical cells. Abnormal results from a pap smear can be a sign of an infection, precancerous cells, or cervical cancer. One of the most common causes of an abnormal pap smear is the human papillomavirus (HPV). If Atlanta abnormal pap smears and HPV results come out as abnormal, your doctor will order further tests.

Here is everything you need to know about abnormal pap smears and HPV.

What is an Abnormal Pap Smear?

An abnormal Pap smear is a test result that indicates the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix. The test is usually done during a pelvic exam and involves collecting cells from the cervix, which are then examined under a microscope. A Pap smear is considered abnormal if the collected cells show signs of precancerous changes or if any abnormal cells are present.

What is HPV?

HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that affects millions of people worldwide. There are more than 100 types of HPV, some of which can cause genital warts or cervical cancer. In fact, HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer in almost all patients.

HPV is usually passed from one person to another during sexual contact. In most cases, the body’s immune system can clear the HPV infection on its own, but in some cases, the HPV infection can persist and cause abnormal changes in the cells on your cervix. Most people with HPV do not have any symptoms and may not even know they have the virus.

What causes abnormal Pap smear?

Abnormal cells on your Pap smear results do not always indicate you have cancer. There are many reasons why your results came back abnormal. The most frequent reason for abnormal pap smears is HPV. When an HPV infection causes changes in the cervical cells, these changes can be detected during a pap smear. Some of these changes may resolve on their own, while others may progress to precancerous cells or cervical cancer.

If you have an abnormal Pap smear result, your healthcare provider will perform further testing to determine if you have an HPV infection and what type of HPV you have. This information is important for determining the best course of treatment for you.

What to do after an Abnormal Pap Smear

Don’t freak out if your Pap smear outcomes are abnormal. It does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. However, it does mean that you need to have further tests done to determine the cause of the abnormality and to determine the best course of action.

Your doctor may recommend a colposcopy, which is a procedure that allows for a closer examination of the cervix using a magnifying instrument. Also, your doctor may perform a biopsy during this procedure to determine if any precancerous changes are present. In some cases, further treatment, such as a LEEP procedure or cryotherapy, may be recommended to remove the abnormal cells and prevent the progression of the condition.

Call Ideal Gynecology, LLC, to learn more about abnormal pap smears and HPV.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that more than 15 million Americans experience at least a major episode of depression every year. Also, women are at a higher risk of depression San Diego than men. Also called clinical depression or major depressive disorder, depression is the leading cause of disability in the country, affecting mainly Americans aged 15-44.

The depression symptoms may vary from mild to severe, lasting about two weeks. Some of the common signs that may indicate you have depression are loss of interest or pleasure in regular activities or hobbies, increased fatigue, unusual change in weight, appetite changes, suicidal thoughts and attempts, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties.

If your symptoms occur almost daily and last for about two weeks, go to your doctor for a diagnosis. Remember that many mental health and medical conditions produce symptoms similar to depression.

Conditions that may trigger signs associated with depression may include anemia, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, vitamin D deficiency, thyroid problems, and brain tumors.

Once diagnosed with depression, your health provider will recommend a treatment plan. Consequently, below are the common treatment options for depression.

• Antidepressants

As a common medication, antidepressants like Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) stimulate the production of more neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical signals that the brain makes and releases. The chemical messengers carry messages from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, a muscle cell, or a gland.

Increasing the neurotransmitters in circulation in the body can help disrupt pain signals that nerves send. Therefore, the medication relieves long-lasting pain, which improves your mood and emotion.

Although antidepressants may relieve depression, they will not address the underlying cause. Therefore, your doctor may advise that you combine antidepressants with other treatments.

• Psychotherapy

Also called talk therapy, psychotherapy is a potential treatment for depression. It involves verbal communication and interaction with your psychotherapist.

Talking with a trained mental health care professional may help you identify and overcome destructive behavioral patterns or negative thoughts.

A popular approach your psychotherapist may utilize is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT involves identifying and changing incorrect perceptions about you and your environment. A therapist can assist you in avoiding making wrong or right assumptions about yourself and others.

Your treatment may take a few weeks or longer to get relief from your depression. You may often need several therapy sessions before witnessing significant improvements.

• Electroconvulsive therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy is done under general anesthesia, and it involves passing small electric currents through the brain. As a result, a short-term seizure trigger alters the brain chemistry to quickly reverse depression symptoms or symptoms of other mental health conditions.

Apart from depression, electroconvulsive therapy can also help treat other mental issues, such as bipolar disorder, catatonia, and schizophrenia.

• Coping mechanisms

You can reduce depression symptoms by adopting self-help and coping mechanisms. Some strategies that may make you cope with depression may include performing regular exercises, eating healthily, maintaining social connections, depending on others, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding alcohol.

Contact MindSet today to schedule an appointment with a depression specialist.