Author Archives: millennium medical

Holiday Stuffing- How to Eat Smart

Eating Healthy During The Holiday Season

The holiday season is rolling around and with that comes the notorious overeating at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Although it may seem impossible, eating healthy at these dinners can happen. It’s important that you do eat healthy during holiday dinners to help your blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Just keep your goal of eating healthy fresh in your mind and avoid the worst foods of Thanksgiving.

Helpful tips

Not sure if you can focus on your goal at dinner? Here are some tips to keep you healthy.

  • Don’t pig out on starter dishes. Most families put out candy or dips as appetizers before serving the turkey or ham. Just wait for the main course and enjoy time with your family instead of the unhealthy snacks.
  • Don’t sit near the candy dish. Why would you put yourself through that agony? Just sit near close friends, good tunes, and a warm fire. You’ll be much happier.
  • Bring a dish with you. If you find out that one of your favorite dishes is unhealthy, bring your own version. For example, if you love sweet potato casserole but know it’s really unhealthy when your mother makes it, bring your own. You can choose to use less butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows to cut some unnecessary calories out of your meal. Here is a list of the food you should avoid.
  • Fill your plate with a variety of food. Fill your plate half full of vegetables, one-quarter white turkey meat (It has fewer calories than dark meat), and the remaining quarter with a healthy carb such as roasted sweet potatoes, a baked potato, or a corn on the cob.
  • Savor every bite of the food. Eat slowly and savor each mouthful. This allows you to enjoy your holiday dinner without going overboard on calories.
  • Say ‘no’ to the food you don’t want. Some people think it’s rude to deny any of the host’s food, that it insults them. Just play it down. Just say, “No thanks, I’m full,” or “Maybe later”. Then, sit back and enjoy the rest of the dinner.

With these tips, you can stay healthy while also keeping your family and friends healthy as they eat too. For more information on eating healthy or best diets during the holiday season, contact Westland Clinic at 734.728.2130 today, we will help you to reach your goals.

The Benefits of Healthy Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is just as important as having a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Research has shown that a lack of sleep has immediate effects on your brain function, exercise performance and hormones. Poor sleep can also cause weight gain and even, increase disease risks for both children and adults. On the contrary, healthy sleep not only enhances your ability to function better, but it ultimately makes you a healthier person.

The Keys to a Healthy Sleep Healthy Sleep

Unhealthy lifestyle choices and daytime habits can leave you tossing and turning at night, thus affecting your mood the next morning. By simply experimenting and following tips, it’ll help you find which ones work the best for you.

Healthy sleeping habits can make a huge difference in your daily life. Having good sleep hygiene is of the utmost importance. Here are a few tips that will help you sleep better:

  • Stick to a sleep schedule-having a routine sleep schedule that consists of the same wake-up and bedtime each day will help regulate your body better. This will also help you stay asleep for the night.
  • Control the amount of light exposure-sometimes we can’t sleep effectively at night because of the amount of light that our body is exposed to. Our brain secretes more melatonin (a natural hormone that’s controlled by light) when it’s dark. Once this happens, it tends to make us sleepy.
  • Exercise throughout the day-people who exercise during the day seem to sleep better at night. Exercising regularly boosts your energy and improves the symptoms of insomnia.
  • Be wise about what you eat and drink-try to avoid caffeine, big meals and sugary foods before you go to bed. Your daytime eating/drinking habits play a role in how well you sleep during the night.

Looking for Primary Doctor Care?

Sleeping well affects your mental and physical health. Anything out of the norm can take a serious toll on your emotional balance, productivity and daytime energy. Making simple, but important changes to your daily routine can create a major impact on how you sleep. If you are looking for primary doctor care and consultation, Westland Clinic can help. Contact us today at 734.728.2130.

Keep Your Kids Hydrated This Summer

Athletics stay hydrated for sports

Are your kids staying healthy and hydrated this summer while competing in their athletics? This summer is a scorcher and the sun can be brutal. Here is some information on dehydration for you to use to ensure their safety on and off the field!

Proper Hydration for Sports is Essential

Sometimes children are so focused on winning or placing first in a race that they forget or even ignore the fact that they are thirsty. Because of this, it is the parent’s responsibility to pay attention to their child’s hydration. Here are some signs to tell if your child is starting to become or is already dehydrated:

  • Emerging Headache
  • Poor concentration
  • Lethargy
  • Dizziness
  • Confusion

High school teams are starting soon. Football, volleyball, golf, swimming, and tennis, just to name a few. It can be hard staying hydrated with two or more practices daily. To fight against dehydration in such busy times, make sure your child takes frequent water breaks. The water will keep their bodies cool and will protect them from heatstroke and other conditions. It will also give them more energy and they will be in better shape when it comes time to get their sports physical! Here are some more summer sun safety tips for your kids.

Sports Physicals at Westland Clinic

Has your student-athlete gotten a sports physical yet? If not, make an appointment at our local medical clinic serving Wayne County including; Canton, Livonia, Garden City and others. The Westland Clinic is a great place to get a quick and complete sports physical this summer. We are familiar with local schools and have been doing sports physicals in Michigan for over 40 years.

If you would like more information on our sports physical prices, more tips on staying hydrated, or other more generalized information, contact us  or call 734-728-2130. Also, feel free to visit us Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 6149 N. Wayne Rd. in Westland. We take both walk-ins and appointments, whichever option is best for you. We look forward to meeting you and your child(ren)!

Importance of Wearing a Helmet

Now that we have had a break in the weather, kids are playing sports outside nearly every day. Bike riding, rollerblading, skateboarding, or hover-boarding are all activities that keep kids or teens active. If you have ever tried to get your child to wear a helmet, you have probably heard all of the excuses in the book. “I know what I’m doing!”, “It looks stupid!”, “Helmets are for babies.” Whatever excuse your kid has given you, it is crucial to teach them the importance of wearing a helmet.

Avoiding Head Injurieskids wearing helmets

Head injuries are not anything to play with. What seems like a small bump could actually be more serious than you may think. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of simple head injuries, such as scrapes or bruises. Helmets can also help eliminate the major injuries, such as goose eggs, concussions, cracked skulls, or major cuts or scrapes.

It is important to take the steps necessary to avoid head injuries in young children or teens. Especially since their brain function is still developing. More often than not, head injuries go underestimated, and what you think may just be a goose egg can end up being a concussion or even worse bleeding on the brain. Concussions are the most common result of children bumping their head, yet many parents are unaware of the symptoms. Properly wearing a helmet or protective headgear can drastically reduce your child’s risk of getting a concussion.

“I think my child has a concussion! What do I do?”

First off, what is a concussion? A concussion is an injury to the brain, that causes changes in the function of the brain, often temporary. There are things to look for if you think that your child has a concussion.

  • Loss of consciousness
  • a very painful headache
  • confusion or slurred speech
  • trouble or the inability to wake your child
  • fuzzy vision

If you think that your child has obtained a concussion as a result of not wearing a helmet, it is important to seek medical attention. After bumping their head, it is important to pay close attention to your child. DO NOT let your child fall asleep. It is important to keep your child awake and monitor their behavior for 24-72 hours. Concussions often to do immediately show signs, during this time frame, is typically when signs or symptoms progress or develop. It is okay to let your child rest, just be sure to wake them and check on them frequently.

For more information, or if you believe your child has suffered a concussion contact Westland Clinic immediately.

Lupus Awareness Month is May

The month of May is Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect any area of the body. Lupus is caused when the immune system can no longer fight off the bacteria and viruses anymore. This is due to the body having difficulty telling the difference between the body’s healthy tissues and the foreign attackers. Because of these viruses, the human body is not able to produce proteins, like antibodies, which causes pain, inflammation, and damage in certain areas of the body. This can lead to emotional issues, such as depression and stress, among people with lupus.

Dealing with Stress

Being diagnosed with lupus, symptoms can be made worse by daily stress and stressful life events. Illness and mental stress travel thLupus Awareness Monthrough the same pathways in the human brain, which activates inflammation. The more stress being produced, the more sickness that’s created. When the human body is under stress, a stress hormone called epinephrine is released. Once that hormone is released, it passes through different areas of the brain. This results in receiving certain symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, fatigue, and confusion.

It is normal for people who have lupus not to feel well physically and emotionally. Such feelings can cause one not to do the things they would like to do. It can also increase stress levels, making it harder for them to relax during a tough time.

Diagnosing, Testing and Treatment for Lupus

There is no one method to diagnose Lupus. The symptoms can appear randomly over a period of years. Other conditions may overlap and mask a positive diagnosis. Only after a series of signs, symptoms and tests, can a diagnosis it be made. This article on Lupus from the Mayo Clinic gives some very good information on:

  • Testing associated with Lupus
  • Medications used in the treatment
  • Home remedies and lifestyle recommendations
  • Alternative medicine
  • Coping & Support

The professionals at Westland Clinic can discuss symptoms and testing of your illness and make professional recommendations and referrals if need be. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We are here to help you.