PatientGuide To Staying Well - Summit Medical Group · Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer

Summit Medical GroupLive well. Stay well.

www.summitmedicalgroup.com

PatientGuide ToStaying Well

Letterfrom the Medical Director

Welcome to Summit Medical Group! We are a multi-specialty groupof physicians prepared to provide you with compassionate, qualitymedical care in nearly every medical and surgical specialty. Webelieve that preventive medicine is an essential part of maintainingyour good health. Preventive medicine involves identifying risk factors and behaviors that can be changed before they cause disease.Therefore, one of the most important things you can do for you andyour family is schedule regularphysical exams with your primaryphysician.

We have consulted numerousorganizations, including theUnited States Preventive ServicesTask Force, American CancerSociety, American HeartAssociation, and several of ourown experts to provide you withup to date preventive healthguidelines. You can find theseguidelines on the following pages.You will find almost everything you need to know about schedulingimportant exams for you and your family - for immunizations, physi-cal exams, cancer screenings, and more. These guidelines are generalized and not meant to replace informed decisions you makewith your physician at the time of your examination.

We have also included a section for you to complete and bring withyou when you visit your physician. Please take the time to fill this outand periodically update it when you have changes in your medications, or have a screening test. We believe that if you worktogether with your physician, you can truly “Live Well. Stay Well.”

Robert W. Brenner, M.D., M.M.M.Medical Director, Summit Medical Group

Notes:

SummitMedical

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Preventive HealthGuidelines: W

omen

Preventive HealthGuidelines:Women

Important exams, testsand screenings recommended forwomen of all ages.

Notes:

Ages 18-40

Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examinationwith your physician every two years. Studies have shown that coun-seling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy.

Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive ServicesTask Force, the American Cancer Society, and the AdvisoryCommittee on Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers:

Other tests should be done on an individual basis and discussedwith your doctor:

Blood pressure, height and weight checks every two years

Cholesterol testing every five years

Yearly pelvic exam with pap test as recommended by your SMG

gynecologist

Breast examination every 1-3 years

Tetanus vaccine every ten years

Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine once in adulthood

Human papilloma virus vaccine for women under 26

Health risk assessment and counseling with your physician

Electrocardiogram

Blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems,

and anemia

Urinalysis

HIV testing

Preventive Health Guidelines:Women

Ages 40-50

Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examinationwith your physician every year. Studies have shown that counselingand screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy.

Based on recommendations of the United States Preventive ServicesTask Force, the American Cancer Society, and the Advisory Committeeon Immunization Practices, Summit Medical Group offers:


Yearly blood pressure, height and weight checks


Diabetes screening every 3 years over age 45


gynecologist

Mammogram every year

Breast examination every year




Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, liver problems, and anemia

Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing

Discussion of medication to prevent breast cancer

Discussion of aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease

Preventive Health Guidelines: Women

Ages 50-65






Diabetes screening every 3 years


gynecologist



Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer



Yearly influenza vaccine (flu shot)

Herpes zoster vaccine once over age 60



Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing




Over Age 65







Daily aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke


gynecologist



Colon cancer screening

Bone densitometry to check for osteoporosis at age 65



Pneumonia vaccine at age 65

Herpes zoster vaccine once over age 60



Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing



SummitMedical

Group

Preventive HealthGuidelines: M

en

Preventive HealthGuidelines:Men

Important exams, testsand screenings recommended formen of all ages.

Notes:

Ages 18-40

Summit Medical Group recommends a comprehensive examinationwith your physician every two years. Studies have shown that coun-seling and screening for risk factors is the best way to stay healthy.



Blood pressure, height and weight checks every two years





Electrocardiogram

Blood tests to screen for diabetes, thyroid disease, liver problems,

and anemia

Urinalysis

HIV testing

Preventive Health Guidelines:Men

Ages 40-50






Diabetes screening every 3 years over age 45




Blood tests to screen for thyroid disease, prostate cancer, liver

problems, and anemia

Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing


Preventive Health Guidelines: Men

Ages 50-65








PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to

screen for prostate cancer




Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine once over age 60



Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing



Over Age 65








PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to

screen for prostate cancer



Pneumonia vaccine at age 65

Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine once over age 60



Electrocardiogram

Urinalysis

HIV testing

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm



SummitMedical

Group

Resources onthe Internet

Resources on theInternet

Informative websitesto help you find thehealth and wellnessinformation you need.

Notes:

Resources on theInternet

Summit Medical Group: www.smgnj.com

General Health Information: www.healthfinder.gov

At Summit Medical Group caring about you is as important as caringfor you. We believe in giving comfort, as well as care. For over 70years we have been helping our patients and our community to livewell and stay well.

Your guide to reliable health information, sponsored by the Office ofDisease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Information on Internal Medicine: www.doctorsforadults.com

Brought to you by the American College of Physicians – the world’slargest internal medicine society. Internists are physicians that focuson adult medicine.

Exercise Programs: www.shapeup.org

Founded in 1904, Shape Up America! Is a not-for-profit organizationcommitted to raising awareness of obesity as a health issue and toproviding responsible information on healthy weight management.

www.heart.org

By the American Heart Association, Start! is the movement calling on all Americans and their employers to live longer, moreheart-healthy lives through walking and other healthy habits.

Resources on the Internet

American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org

American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org

The American Heart Association is a national voluntary healthagency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."

Heart Healthy: www.deliciousdecisions.org

Brought to you by the American Heart Association, this is an online-only cookbook. It includes delectable American Heart Associationrecipes, cooking advice, and ways for satisfying and nutritious eating.

www.healthcastle.com/low-cholesterol-diet

HealthCastle.com is a comprehensive nutrition community run byRegistered Dietitians on the Internet. Their mission is to empowerpeople to manage their health through healthy eating. TheHealthCastle.com community places a main focus on preventativehealth - popular topics include diet tips to lower cholesterol, common diet myths, popular convenience food reviews and issuesrelated to women's health.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofithealth organization providing diabetes research, information andadvocacy. The mission of the Association is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

The NDIC was established in 1978 to increase knowledge andunderstanding about diabetes among patients, health care professionals, and the general public.


Diabetic Diets: www.diabetes.org www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

Diet for High Blood Pressure: www.dashdiet.org

People with hypertension (high blood pressure) or prehypertensionmay be told by their physicians to adopt the DASH diet. The DASHdiet eating plan has been proven to lower blood pressure in studiessponsored by the National Institutes of Health (Dietary Approachesto Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet involves eating more fruitsand vegetables, and low-fat or non-fat dairy.

Additional Websites (Write in your own):


Additional Websites (Write in your own):

Description ofScreenings

SummitMedical

Group


A simple glossary todefine and help you understand theseimportant screeningsand procedures.

Notes:


ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND FOR ABDOMINAL ANEURYSMThe aorta is an artery, meaning it carries oxygen-rich blood from theheart. Abnormal enlargement or bulging of the aorta is referred toas an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm occurs when a segment of thevessel becomes weakened. The pressure of the blood flowingthrough the vessel creates a bulge at the weak spot, much as anoverinflated inner tube can cause a bulge in a tire. The bulge maygrow with time. Aneurysms are dangerous because they can rupture, causing internal bleeding. They are most common in thearteries of the brain and in the abdominal aorta. An abdominal ultrasound may show abnormalities in the shape of your aorta.

BLOOD PRESSUREBlood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vesselscalled arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushingagainst the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps blood into the arteries. Yourblood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats. This is calledsystolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, yourblood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure -also called hypertension - is a major health problem in the worldtoday. Hypertension is sometimes called "the silent killer" because itdoesn't have any symptoms, yet it can cause serious damage. It is aprimary cause of stroke, heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease,and blindness. Hypertension triples a person's chance of developingheart disease, and boosts the chance of strokes seven times and thechance of congestive heart failure six times.

BLOOD SUGARBlood sugar tests measure how well your body processes sugar (glucose). Some blood sugar tests are used to diagnose prediabetes

or diabetes. Others determine how well you're managing your dia-betes. A fasting blood sugar test measures the amount of sugar inyour blood after you fast for at least eight hours or overnight. Normalfasting blood sugar result is lower than 100 milligrams of glucose perdeciliter of blood (mg/dL). If your fasting blood sugar level is 100mg/dL to 125 mg/dL, you have impaired fasting glucose — common-ly known as prediabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor mayrepeat the fasting blood sugar test several days to a week later.

BONE DENSITY SCAN FOR OSTEOPOROSISEarly detection of low bone mass (osteopenia) or osteoporosis is themost important step for prevention of osteoporotic bone fractures. Ifosteopenia or osteoporosis has occurred, a person can take action tostop the progression of bone loss. One way to test the strength andsolidness of the bones is with bone mineral density (BMD) tests.Bone mineral density tests measure the solidness and mass (bonedensity) in the spine, hip, and/or wrist, which are the most commonsites of fractures due to osteoporosis. Other tests measure bonedensity in the heel or hand. These tests are performed like x-rays.They are painless, noninvasive, and safe. The risk of radiation is veryminimal, much less than even having a chest x-ray film.

CHOLESTEROLCholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in allparts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to thewalls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow yourarteries or even block them. To travel in the bloodstream, choles-terol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins (lip-o-PRO-teens). The small packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside andproteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterolthroughout your body. It is important to have healthy levels of both:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is sometimes called badcholesterol.

High LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries.The higher the LDL level in your blood, the greater chance you haveof getting heart disease.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is sometimes called goodcholesterol.

Description of Screenings


HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver.The liver removes the cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDLcholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease.

COLONOSCOPYA colonoscopy allows a doctor to look inside the entire large intestine. The procedure enables the physician to see things suchas inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers. It is most oftenused to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. It isalso used to look for causes of unexplained changes in bowel habitsand to evaluate symptoms like abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, andweight loss. You will be given instructions in advance that willexplain what you need to do to prepare for your colonoscopy. Yourcolon must be completely empty for the colonoscopy to be thorough and safe. The doctor can remove most abnormal growthsin your colon, like a polyp, which is a growth in the lining of thebowel. Polyps are removed using tiny tools passed through thescope. Most polyps are not cancerous, but they could turn into cancer. The doctor can also remove tissue samples to test in the labfor diseases of the colon (biopsy). In many cases, a colonoscopyallows for accurate diagnosis and treatment of colon abnormalitieswithout the need for a major operation.

HIV TESTINGHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causesacquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV attacks thebody’s immune system and leads to AIDS. People with AIDS develop many diseases and “opportunistic” infections (such aspneumonia, tuberculosis, cancer, and skin infections). There is nocure for HIV/AIDS. If you have been exposed to the HIV virus in anynumber of ways, you can be tested to see if you have the HIV antibodies. Many reasons exist to have an HIV test performed:

• Take advantage of early treatment and monitoring.

• The life expectancy of a person infected with HIV has greatlyincreased over the past 10 years because of new treatments andprevention of opportunistic infections.

• Early medical attention can slow the growth of HIV. The slower thevirus spreads, the longer your body will be able to ward off the illnesses that often accompany AIDS.


MAMMOGRAMA mammogram is a safe test used to look for any problems with awoman's breasts. The test uses a special, low-dose x-ray machine totake pictures of both breasts. The results are recorded on x-ray film ordirectly onto a computer for a radiologist to examine. Mammogramsallow the doctor to have a closer look for breast lumps and changesin breast tissue. They can show small lumps or growths that a doctoror woman may not be able to feel when doing a clinical breast exam.

PAP SMEARThe Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in thecells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus thatopens into the vagina. The Pap test can tell if you have an infection,abnormal cervical cells, or cervical cancer. It can find the earliestsigns of cervical cancer - a common cancer in women. If caughtearly, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap testscan also find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can developinto cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing.

PROSTATE CANCERThe prostate is a glandular organ present only in males. Theprostate is normally about 3 cm long (slightly more than 1 inch) andlies at the neck of the bladder and in front of the rectum. Almost allprostate cancers arise from the secretory glandular cells in theprostate. Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced byboth normal and abnormal prostate tissues. It may be elevated inbenign conditions, such as prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)and benign prostatic hypertrophy, as well as in cancer of theprostate. PSA values may be more helpful over time in followingrecurrence of cancer and the response to therapy than in diagnosinga previously unknown cancer.

SOURCES:www.womenshealth.comwww.digestive.niddk.nih.govwww.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/www.nhlbi.nih.govwww.mayoclinic.comwww.emedicinehealth.com

Summ

it Medical Group

Contact Sheet

Summit Medical GroupContact Sheet

A helpful way to keep important contactinformation at yourfingertips.

SummitMedical

Group

Notes:

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Summit Medical GroupContacts

Important Contact Info

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Summit Medical Group Contacts

Summit Medical GroupLive well. Stay well.

www.summitmedicalgroup.com

1 Diamond Hill RoadBerkeley Heights, New Jersey 07922

(908) 273-4300

85 Woodland RoadShort Hills, New Jersey 07078

(973) 379-4496

Medical Arts Center33 Overlook Road

Summit, New Jersey 07901(908) 219-3000

34 Mountain BoulevardWarren, New Jersey 07059

(908) 769-0100

560 Springfield AvenueWestfield, New Jersey 07970

(908) 228-3600

Documents

PatientGuide To Staying Well - Summit Medical Group · Colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer PSA (prostate specific antigen) test and digital rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer