Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 9) contents Contents Foreword From Rick Kellerman, M.D., FAAFP, 2006-2007 President, American Academy of Family Physicians 5 Introduction 6 Why you should choose a family doctor as your partner in health; how to use Family Doctor; and tips on how to find a new doctor Chapter 3: Healthy living Eating for good health How to eat a healthy, balanced diet, and avoid cakes and snacks Getting the skinny on dietary fats The difference between “good fats” and “bad fats” Striking a healthy balance Taking care of your heart Exercise: The elixir of life Improving your health and fitness with exercise Kicking the habit Dealing with addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco Small steps, big rewards The Americans in Motion initiative aims to improve your fitness levels 53 61 65 69 75 79 Chapter 1: Working with your doctor Why you need a ‘medical home’ Why a medical home is vital for good health care ‘Doctor, I have this pain’ How to describe your symptoms to your family doctor Health insurance: Are you covered? Tips for navigating your health insurance policy Do your part to prevent medical errors Why you should take an active role in your health care to help prevent mistakes A graceful exit Plan for your future health care with an advance directive 19 20 22 24 Chapter 4: Common conditions Waiting to exhale What causes asthma and how to deal with it Allergies: Common causes and ways to combat them Sneezing, itching and wheezing — How to keep your allergies under control Protect yourself from colds and the flu How to conquer those nasty bugs Living with chronic kidney disease How to prevent kidney failure Diabetes: Assessing your risk Avoiding diabetes with simple lifestyle changes 28 31 Living with diabetes How to deal with diabetes with our quick and easy steps Cholesterol: Keeping it low Managing your cholesterol levels Getting a grip on hypertension Controlling your blood pressure Dealing with the discomfort of heartburn Get rid of that burning feeling 82 86 92 97 99 103 107 113 117 25 Chapter 2: Feeling great Clean your house the natural way Keep your home clean and sparkling with natural products OTC safety as simple as 1-2-3 A guide to using over-the-counter medications Drug interactions: What you can do to be safe 32 Why it’s important to be careful when taking multiple medications The fight against resistance Knowing when and when not to take antibiotics Healthy traveling: Tips to make your air travel safer and more comfortable How to avoid common health problems when you are flying, from airplane ear to deep vein thrombosis Prevention — What you can do to stay healthy How to live a longer, healthier life Hitting a home run What you can do to prevent sports injuries Stay safe in the sun Protecting you and your family from the sun’s harmful rays 34 36 39 41 45 ‘The herbalist will see you now’ 48 The ins and outs of complementary and alternative therapies familydoctor 2007 9
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