Health Matters: Managing the Stress of COVID-19

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 7, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

How we work, raise our families, and go out in public, in 2020 our way of life changed—and clinical psychologists at Lee Health say, those changes have taken a toll on our mental health. “The pandemic posed a different kind of stress that we were not expecting or even prepared for,” said Dr. Jacqueline Hidalgo, a clinical psychologist with Lee Health. Stress that doctors say triggered things like anxiety, depression, isolation, and fear. “The fear of the unknown is always a big thing so this presented a huge component about the fear of the unknown and what was going to happen,” said Dr....

Health Matters: Preparing for Surgery

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 7, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

Whether it’s minimally invasive, robotic, or open surgery—health experts say there are a few things patients need to do to prepare for the procedure. It’s very important to pay attention to your diet. A lot of fresh fruits and veggies, try to limit processed foods, eat a lot of lean proteins, chicken breasts, fish. Try to increase or at least maintain physical activity,” explained Andrea Berecz-Prewitt, a physician assistant with Lee Health. If patients smoke or drink alcohol—health experts say it’s also important to stop using before surgery. “Smokers have significant risk factors due...

Health Matters: Teens and Driving Safety

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 7, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

From speed to distractions, to inexperience—health experts say teenagers are three times more likely to have a crash than an adult. “They also get distracted too easily, so we don’t want them to have any other passengers in the car to start out with, they have to have adequate sleep. No alcohol or drugs before they get behind the wheel of that car,” said Syndi Bultman, Lee Health Trauma injury prevention coordinator. Memorial Day to Labor Day are the deadliest days on the road for teens. “From Memorial Day to Labor Day, typically we have 42 people that are killed in teen crashes each year....

Health Matters: A Life-Saving Donation

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 7, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

“I was driving home from teaching an exercise class at Lexington Country Club. I had just crossed Summerlin Road onto Bass Road and I was T-Boned. I had a significant loss of blood. My car was totaled. Multiple fractures.” Dennis Lock was transported to the Lee Health Trauma Center where he underwent several surgeries. “Blood needs are constant for this health system. There are always people receiving blood products and we need people out to donate for that need,” said Lee Health blood center supervisor, Jeremy Puckett. Lee Health uses about 800 units of blood products a week. “It makes...

Health Matters: Educating Patients of Diabetes

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

It can cause excessive thirst, frequent urination, and increased hunger. “Diabetes over the past 10 years is actually increasing and the numbers of new diagnosis, the estimate through the CDC now is one in 10 Americans are diabetic. Unfortunately, more and more children are getting that diagnosis as well,” said Amy Frantz, a nurse practitioner with Lee Health. Long-term complications of type two diabetes can include kidney failure, heart failure, blindness, and nerve damage. “We try to educate our patients on lifestyle changes and things that they can do in their day-to-day life to overcome...

Health Matters: Headaches Caused by Neck Pain

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

From how you sleep to how you sit, physical therapists say when it comes to headaches your posture can play a big role. “At the top of the neck are some very sensitive nerves and blood vessels, and when our head is slightly poking forward, which it tends to do when we are relaxed and we start to slump, our chin slightly starts to jump forward. It puts a lot of pressure on nerves and blood vessels,” explained Kath Kinross, a physical therapist with Lee Health. If your headache starts in the back of the neck and comes up over the top of the head, the pain is most likely starting in the neck....

Health Matters: Understanding Heart Failure

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

It happens when the heart can no longer pump enough oxygenated blood throughout the body. “It’s estimated that 5.7 million adults have heart failure with future diagnoses increasing to over 8 million,” said Vicki Hayes, a nurse practitioner with Lee Health. Things like a heart attack, a virus, or hypertension can cause heart failure. “The biggest thing with heart failure is realizing that the body is starting to hold on to fluid for whatever reason and we need to identify that early,” she said. Other things to notice are swollen ankles and weight gain. “The early signs the patient can...

Health Matters: How is COVID-19 Impacting your Mental Health

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

From isolation to anxiety, health experts at Lee Health say since the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve seen an increase in patients needing mental health care. “We have seen patients who before never had difficulties with mental health start to have difficulties. We have seen people who had mental health and this has made it worse,” said Dr. Jacqueline Hidalgo, a clinical psychologist with Lee Health. Dr. Hidalgo has worked with patients on feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, fear, loss, and substance abuse. “Missing family members, missing seeing friends, missing their coworkers. We...

‘Critically low’ supply: Lee Health seeks blood donations

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on May 27, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The home of the region’s only trauma center is in desperate need of blood. According to Lee Health, its centers are in urgent need of donors, as blood supplies are “critically low.” Lee Health requires approximately 800 units of blood per week and supplies blood and blood products in the trauma center, to treat cancer patients, premature babies, anemia and a variety of other conditions. It is vital that the health system’s blood supply remains at healthy levels in order to quickly care for patients needing an urgent transfusion, according to Lee Health....

Lee Health partners with School Board to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to students

Written by Cape Coral Mortgage Syndicated User on May 26, 2021. Posted in Cape Coral Mortgage, Mortgage Cape Coral.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Lee Health and the School District of Lee County are collaborating to provide COVID-19 vaccination to the county’s pediatric population, they announced at a Tuesday night meeting. Vaccinations are completely optional and are meant to serve as a convenience, the Lee County School Board said. Lee Health will create a mobile vaccination site using a pediatric ambulance and a team of healthcare professionals, including one emergency medical technician, one customer service representative, one pharmacist (or one pharmacy technician) and two registered nurses to administer...

Tag: Lee Health