Understanding Your Care
Dispel the mystery and any confusion around common conditions. Our entire team at The Dedicated Care Center is committed to partnering with patients to ensure questions are answered and a plan is in place to improve your health and wellness throughout all the stages of life.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can increase your risk of health problems. Although diabetes has no cure, there are many steps you can take to manage your diabetes and stay healthy. Learn more
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being, and it can impact how we think, feel and even act. It also helps determine how we manage things like stress, interpersonal relations and even healthy lifestyle choices. Some of the common mental health conditions we work with our patients on include:
- Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how individuals feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. If you’re interested in more about the signs and symptoms, as well as the different resources available to support depression management, learn more. - Anxiety
Individuals that experience anxiety generally have feelings of tension, worried thoughts and even physical changes like increased blood pressure. Other symptoms like sweating, trembling, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat may also occur. Different from fear, which is a short-lived response to a trigger, anxiety is long-acting and these feelings and physical symptoms can be overwhelming and impact an individual’s ability to do day-to-day activities. Learn more - Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder tends to be just that, periods of mood changes and sadness that are experienced seasonally. Usually, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer. Learn more - Insomnia
Insomnia is diagnosed when someone has persistent challenges falling and staying asleep. It is often related to poor sleep habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, chronic illness and even certain medications. Learn more - Dementia
Dementia describes a group of conditions characterized by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgment. Symptoms may include things like forgetfulness, limited social skills, as well as thinking abilities so impaired that it interferes with daily functioning. Learn more
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels.
- Heart Disease
Heart and blood vessel disease includes many issues, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when plaque builds up in the arteries. This causes the arteries to narrow, diminishing blood flow. Additionally if clots form, the blood flow can be entirely blocked, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.Blood flow to the heart, brain or body can be slowed because of the development of blood clots (thrombosis), as well as the build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries, which can lead to the artery hardening and narrowing. - Heart Attack
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die. - Stroke
There are different types of stroke one may experience. An ischemic stroke, the most common, occurs when a blood vessel feeding the brain gets blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. This is most often caused by uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).For either type, time to treatment is critical and may help minimize the effects of stroke if an intervention is performed in time. Use the letters in F.A.S.T to spot a stroke. F is for face drooping. A is for arm weakness. S is for speech difficulty. T is for time to call 911. - Arrhythmia
Arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm. There are various types of arrhythmias. The heart can beat too slow, too fast or irregularly. An arrhythmia can affect how well your heart works. With an irregular heartbeat, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. - Heart Valve Problems
If your heart valves don’t open enough to allow the blood to flow through as it should, a condition called stenosis results. This makes your heart work harder and lessens its ability to pump blood. Although valve problems can potentially be severe and life-threatening, most valve conditions are also highly treatable.
For signs, symptoms, as well as treatments and lifestyle recommendations, learn more.
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect the airways and other structures of the lungs. The two most common are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
- Asthma
Asthma is characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing because of airway narrowing, the severity and frequency of which can vary from person to person. Individuals may experience symptoms several times a day or even, sometimes becoming worse during physical activity, times of stress or at night. It is a common chronic disease especially among children. - COPD
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common conditions that make up COPD. It only affects adults and usually becomes worse with time. The most common symptoms of COPD are breathlessness or a need for air, sputum production and a chronic cough.
Thyroid disease refers to any dysfunction of the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck (thyroid). The most common types include:
- Thyroid Nodules
A thyroid nodule is a solid or fluid-filled lump. Most thyroid nodules don’t cause symptoms. - Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to meet your body’s needs. Major symptoms include fatigue, cold sensitivity, constipation, dry skin, and unexplained weight gain. - Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone, also known as an overactive thyroid. It speeds up the body’s metabolism, which can cause many symptoms, such as weight loss, hand tremors and rapid or irregular heartbeat. - Goiter
A goiter typically develops as a result of iodine deficiency or inflammation of the thyroid gland. While not all cause symptoms, individuals may experience swelling and a cough. Small goiters often don’t need treatment, but in some cases, medication or surgery is necessary.
Chronic kidney disease describes conditions that damage your kidneys and decrease their ability to keep you healthy by filtering wastes from your blood. If it worsens, those wastes can build to high levels in your blood and cause complications like high blood pressure, anemia (low blood count), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage.
Kidney disease also increases your risk of having heart and blood vessel disease over time. This makes early detection and treatment incredibly important to ensure symptoms don’t progress.
A gastrointestinal disease is one that affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the passage that runs from the mouth to the anus. Symptoms may include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating, gas and blood in stool. Some common GI disorders may include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, indigestion, gallstones, fatty liver disease and hemorrhoids.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) describes a group of symptoms, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation or both. With IBS, you have these symptoms without any visible signs of damage or disease in your digestive tract. - Gastroesophageal Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs when your stomach contents come back up into your esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more severe and long-lasting condition which can cause complications over time. - Cholelithiasis (Gallstones)
Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material, usually made of cholesterol or bilirubin, that develop in your gallbladder. When they block your bile ducts, they can cause sudden and even intense pain and require medical attention. If left untreated, they can cause complications. - Appendicitis
Appendicitis, an inflammation of your appendix, is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgery. Symptoms include abdominal pain, lack of appetite, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. If you think you or your child has appendicitis, see a doctor or go to the emergency room right away. - Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty Liver Disease is caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver. Most people have no symptoms, but in some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with lifestyle changes.
Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body, and/or spread to other organs.
- Lung
When cancer starts in the lungs, it is called lung cancer. Lung cancer begins in the lungs and may spread to lymph nodes or other organs in the body, such as the brain. Two major types of lung cancer are non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Causes of lung cancer include smoking, secondhand smoke, exposure to certain toxins, and family history. Our experts recommend screening for lung cancer for adults ages 50 to 80 years old (50-77 years old who have Medicare) who have a 20 pack/year history of smoking and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. - Colon
Colorectal cancer is a growth of cells that forms in the lower end of the digestive tract. Most of these cancers start as noncancerous growths called polyps. Removing polyps can prevent cancer, so health care providers recommend screenings for those at high risk or over the age of 45. - Breast
Breast cancer can occur in women and less commonly in men. Symptoms can include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, as well as changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast. Screening mammograms for breast cancer typically begin at age 40 for individuals assigned female at birth. - Prostate
Prostate cancer occurs in a man’s prostate, a small walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid. Symptoms may include difficulty with urination, but sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Other types are aggressive and require radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or other treatments.Prostate cancer screening may be recommended for the following people with prostates:- Those 40 and older with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age
- African-Americans age 45 and older
- Those age 50 and older of average risk
- Cervical
The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb). Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix.
Screening recommendations are based on your age and health history, so it’s important to talk to your primary care provider or OB/Gyn about the best cervical cancer screening option for you.
For information on types of cancer, treatments, programs and services, visit the American Cancer Center website. Learn more
Arthritis isn’t a single disease, rather it refers to conditions where there is joint pain or joint disease – inflammation that can cause pain and stiffness and often worsens with age.
- Gout: Gout is a form of arthritis where individuals experience severe pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often in the big toe. When too much uric acid crystallizes and deposits in the joints, pain and inflammation can occur. Attacks can come suddenly, and during an acute attack, anti-inflammatory medications can help relieve pain and shorten the duration.
