List of Services
It is very important to establish a relationship with a primary care physician that can follow you throughout your adult years. By getting evaluated, as you age, if an abnormality presents itself it can be caught early and treated with a higher success rate. Also, by having a relationship with a primary care physician you can be assured your medications and your overall health will be managed.
What is it?
This type of evaluation is important for everyone to have at least once a year. All new patients can expect to receive this evaluation. Depending on the age of the patient one can expect to get a chest x-ray, EKG, blood pressure and basic blood work including: complete blood count and a multi chem to include checking your electrolytes, liver function and cholesterol. Females will receive their yearly breast exam and PAP test and males will receive a prostate exam. The physician will address any acute conditions and manage your medications.
This evaluation will focus on your heart. Our physicians will start with a blood pressure, chest x-ray and an EKG. Depending on the outcome of those tests our physicians could schedule you for a wide variety of testing to ensure proper performance of your heart. Such testing could include: Nuclear Stress Test, Regular Stress Test, Echocardiogram, Carotid Ultrasound, Abdominal Vascular. The above testing is all performed in-house at Seale Harris Clinic so you would not have to go across town to get this testing done.
What is your Cardiovascular System?
Your cardiovascular system pumps blood to your body. It is important to ensure you are in overall good health especially your heart. Your cardiovascular system consists of your heart and all blood vessels throughout your body. Cardiovascular disease is a broad term used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart or blood vessels.
Labs
There are a variety of lab tests that can show a physician that your cardiovascular system may need to be looked at. Cholesterol, blood sugar & triglycerides are some that could be ran to check out your heart health.
Prevention
Diet and exercise play a huge part in prevention or slowing heart disease. Life style changes can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol which in turn will help your heart. Our physicians may choose to control heart disease with diet and exercise and/or with medication.
Stats
Heart disease is the number one killer causing 29% of all US deaths and it is the most preventable.
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Evaluation of Hypertension begins with taking your blood pressure. The goal is 120 over 80. That is to say that your systolic needs to be equal to or less than 120 and your diastolic needs to be equal to or less than 80.
If you have high blood pressure our doctors will look at your Electrocardiogram (EKG) and your chest x-ray to see your heart size and heart function. It could be determined that your high blood pressure can be managed by you watching your diet and stress level or by putting you on medication for your blood pressure. Our physicians may want to send you on for more testing such as an Echocardiogram, Carotid Ultrasound or a Nuclear Stress Test to make sure there is no blockage that needs to be tended to.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension is just high blood pressure basically those with high blood pressure make their heart work harder to pump blood through the body. High blood pressure can lead to atherosclerosis and heart failure.
What are symptoms of Hypertension?
- Dizziness
- Severe Headache
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Chest Pain
- Blood in Urine
- Vision Problems
- Prevention
Diet and exercise is your best defense for preventing high blood pressure.
Stats
Hypertension among Americans is increasing due to the obesity epidemic. Hypertension leads to heart disease which is the number 1 preventable killer of Americans today.
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Stroke prevention starts with monitoring risk factors such as smoking, diet, exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol. Seale Harris Clinic physicians do this by getting an EKG and chest xray. Our physicians my set you up for a carotid Doppler or Nuclear Stress Test. This testing can help with stroke prevention.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. They are considered medical emergency due to the permanent neurological damage, complications and death they can cause. Strokes develop from a lack of blood supply (ischemia) caused by thrombosis or embolism from a hemorrhage. When this occurs the brain is unable to function properly ultimately resulting in the inability to move one or more limbs on the body, understand or formulate speech, and see one side of the visual field. Several risks factors lead to the increase risk an individual has to develop a stroke. Some risk factors include advanced age, hypertension (most important modifiable risk factor), transient ischemia attack, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and atrial fibrillation.
Labs
LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein shows the level of “Bad” Cholesterol that blocks up arteries with its plaque like substance.
HDL – High Density Lipoprotein shows the “Good” Cholesterol that seems to protect against heart attack and stroke.
VLDL – Very Low Density Lipoprotein is a bad protein that can lead to atherosclerosis.
Stats
On average a stroke occurs every 40 seconds. It is the #3 cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer.
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When you come in for your diabetes evaluation you can expect to have lab work done consisting of a hemoglobin A1C, Urine microalbumine, and of course your blood sugar. Our physicians will follow you for your yearly eye exams to ensure no neuropathy, they will talk to you about your diet and possible diabetes education programs. Also, you will have access to free glucometers to help check your blood sugar.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is present when the body does not produce enough or properly use insulin, a hormone that converts sugar and starches into energy.
Symptoms of Diabetes?
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Unusual weight loss
- More tired than usual
- Prevention
Changes in diet and exercise can help prevent or slow type 2 diabetes
Labs
For more information on labs go to www.labtestsonline.org for an explanation of lab tests listed above.
Stats
23.6 million Americans have diabetes; however, 1 in 4 people with diabetes do not know it.
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A patient’s obesity level is based on BMI or Body Mass Index. This index computes your height and weight to come up with a number that measures the amount of fat in the body. The goal here is to stay under 30.
What is Obesity?
Obesity occurs when excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected. One can become obese by a combination of excessive caloric intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility. Obesity, excessive body weight, is associated with various diseases such as: cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type 2, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis as well as certain types of cancer.
Labs
Electrolyte Panel – consists of Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Glucose (important as obesity and elevated glucose can suggest diabetes), Calcium, Kidney Function (BUN [Blood Urea Nitrogen] and Creatnine)
Lipid Panel – consists of Total Cholesterol, HDL (Good) Cholesterol, LDL (Bad) Cholesterol, Triglycerides
Will also check CBC (Complete Blood Count), Liver Functions, and Urinalysis
Prevention
The main prevention mechanism for obesity is diet and exercise. In extreme cases medication or surgery may be suggested.
Stats
Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the US. See the links below for more statistical information
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Evaluation of patients cholesterol begins with lab work, we look at your LDL, HDL & Triglycerides. Sometimes we may get an NMR Profile. The results of this lab work help us determine your need for management of high cholesterol. Should you have high cholesterol, we would recommend you stop smoking & start a diet that is low in saturated fat and carbohydrates. We would also continue to check your cholesterol at maintenance visits to see if we need to put you on any medication. Certain tests such as a carotid ultrasound and a Nuclear Stress Test can be performed to see how your high cholesterol has affected your body.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy fat like substance that our bodies need to perform many functions. It is made by the liver as well as our diet. If our diet is too high in saturated fat our body produces too much cholesterol. Too much cholesterol leads to waxy build up on the walls of our arteries that are used to carry blood and oxygen throughout our body. Arteries that are totally blocked can lead to stroke or heart attack. Cholesterol can lead to diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Labs
LDL – Low Density Lipoprotein shows the level of “Bad” Cholesterol that blocks up arteries with its plaque like substance
HDL – High Density Lipoprotein shows the “Good” Cholesterol that seems to protect against heart attack and stroke.
VLDL – Very Low Density Lipoprotein is a bad protein that can lead to atherosclerosis.
Triglycerides – is a form of fat made in the body
NMR Profile – a specific cholesterol test that measures LDL particle size and number.
Prevention
Eating a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, getting plenty of exercise, managing your weight, and not smoking can help prevent high cholesterol.
Stats
High cholesterol affects over 42 million Americans and if not treated can lead to Heart Disease. Heart Disease is the number one killer of Americans today and it is the most preventable.
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The best way to screen for osteoporosis is to have a DEXA Bone Density Scan. Our doctors will look at your history and past fracture or broken bones you have had to see your risk of osteoporosis and from there may schedule you for a Dexa Bone Density Scan.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture. Most present in women after menopause, osteoporosis can occur in anyone at any time. There are no true symptoms of osteoporosis other than situations where a fracture occurs when the average healthy person would not usually break a bone. Osteoporosis can be prevented with lifestyle changes and sometimes with medication. Your doctor may schedule you for a DEXA Bone Density Scan to determine your risk of osteoporosis. Depending on the result of the DEXA or the severity of the osteoporosis, a patient may be sent for a Nuclear Bone Scan or an MRI.
Stats
An estimated 20% of non Hispanic Caucasian and Asian women age 50 and older have osteoporosis and as many as 52% have low bone mass.
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Our focus is your health. For that reason most all patients will have a chest x-ray during their first visit with us. It is possible to find nodules in the chest x-ray that may need to be addressed. Also, depending on the age and gender of the patient some lab tests may be ordered such as a CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen), CA 125, or a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). Also, pap tests for women and prostate exams for men aid in the cancer screening process. Depending on the age and family history women are sent for mammograms. CT and PET scans can be utilized for further diagnosis when necessary.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other areas of the body through blood and lymph systems.
Labs and Tests
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) – A protein normally found in the tissue of a fetus. Blood levels of this protein disappear after birth. In adults CEA may be a possible sign of cancer.
CA 125 – Test used to evaluate ovarian cancer treatment. In a woman who has not been diagnosed with cancer an elevated CA 125 can mean a number of things such as ovarian or other types of cancer or endometriosis.
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) – Screening for prostate cancer. Other conditions can cause the PSA level to rise. A high level could put you at risk fo prostate cancer and you may need more tests.
Pap Test – Checks for changes in the cells of the cervix. This could show ovarian cancer.
Mammogram – This is a screening tool for breast cancer it is an x-ray of the breast and can show doctors lumps that may not be found during the breast exam.
CT Scan – Computed tomography is used to generate a three dimensional image of the inside of an object through two dimensional x-ray images. Revealing more detail than regular x-ray exams.
PET Scan – Positron Emission Tomography is a type of nuclear medicine imaging in which a small amount of radioactive material is used to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases.
In some cases a CT/PET is used together to better diagnose a disease.
Prevention
The best form of prevention is early detection. The following are recommended time frames in which various cancer screenings should be conducted:
Mammography should be done every one to two years for women ages 50 to 69.
Cervical Cancer (Pap Test) should be done at least every three years for women who have had sexual intercourse.
Colorectal Cancer should begin at the age of 50 with a fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) and a sigmoidoscopy every three to five years.
Stats
Cancer accounts for 22.8% of all deaths and is the 2nd leading killer of Americans, the first is heart disease. Cancer death is higher in men than women and affects African Americans more than any other population. There are expected to be over 1.4 million new cases of cancer this year the majority of the cases will be prostate for men and breast for women.
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Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Your physician at Seale Harris Clinic will do a full body exam for any moles or abnormal skin growths. Also, your physician will access your risk based on family history and exposure. Make sure to talk with your physician about your concerns about skin cancer and point out any abnormal moles or areas of concern.
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The effort it takes to stop the use of tobacco products is referred to as smoking cessation. Smoking cessation will almost always lead to a longer and healthier life. The longer in life an individual waits to stop smoking the fewer the years towards a healthier life they gain. Not only does smoking cessation add years to an individual’s lifetime it is also associated with better mental health.
Few smokers are successful with their very first attempt. However there are several short-term, 4 weeks to 3 months, effects of stopping smoking such as increased irritability, depression, anxiety, restless, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, constipation, mouth ulcers and increased susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infection.
At Seale Harris Clinic we understand how important it is for our patients to stop smoking. We can aid in the smoking cessation process through counseling and the prescribing of medications for you.
Stats
Every year over 400,000 American’s die of lung disease making it the #3 killer behind heart disease and cancer.
Seale Harris Clinic physicians can evaluate any gastrointestinal problems you may be having (vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, etc). They do this through lab work, x-ray and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. If the problem is more serious we do have 2 gastroenterologists on staff that can evaluate you further and schedule you for a colonoscopy or an EGD.
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Seale Harris Clinic has the full capability to perform minor office surgery with a local anesthetic. If you think you have a broken bone or a fracture your physician may get xrays to access your injury. Should you have a broken bone or need additional care that we cannot provide we are happy to refer you to a specialist or help with hospital admission. See Hospitalization/Specialty referral.
Seale Harris Clinic is focused on women’s health. Early detection is essential for treating breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer. Seale Harris Clinic can provide a full cardiovascular evaluation in addition to your yearly PAP test, lab work and breast exam. Your physician may schedule you for testing you may need based on your age, family history, risk factors and symptoms. Such testing could include mammograms, ultrasounds and cardiovascular testing.
Links
Seale Harris Clinic is happy to provide referrals to specialist for specific problems. Please refer to our Billing Information for how to properly secure a referral to a specialist as a requirement of your insurance plan.
As a benefit to our patients Seale Harris Clinic uses hospitalists to admit. We have relationships with hospitalists at the major hospitals in the greater Birmingham area. Hospitalists stay in constant contact with us so there is still exceptional continuity of care for our patients. By using hospitalists to admit we have more time available to see you in the clinic.