The Patient Centered Care Team is committed to improving your health by fully identifying and striving to satisfy your healthcare needs.
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE
An advance directive is a form that you fill out to describe the kinds of medical care you want to have if something happens to you and you can't speak for yourself. It tells your family and the medical community including your primary care provider, what to do if you're badly hurt or have a serious illness that keeps you from saying what you want.
There are two main types of advance directives:
- A living will tells your family and your doctor what kinds of treatment you want to receive as you near the end of your life and if you can no longer speak for yourself. A living will is also called a treatment directive.
- A medical power of attorney lets you name a person to make treatment decisions for you when you can't speak for yourself. This person is called a health care agent or health care proxy.
These involve tough choices to make, but you don't have to make them alone. Take your time. Share your questions or concerns with your Nurse Practitioner at Patient Centered Care. Set an appointment to discuss your plan (your family or a friend are welcome to attend).
SMOKING CESSATION
Smoking cessation (also known as quitting smoking) is the process of discontinuing tobacco smoking. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, which is addictive and can cause dependence. Nicotine withdrawal makes the process of quitting often difficult.
After just 12 hours without a cigarette, the body cleanses itself of the excess carbon monoxide from the cigarettes. The carbon monoxide level returns to normal, increasing the body's oxygen levels. Just 1 day after quitting smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to decrease.
Stopping smoking will:
(1) Lower your risk for lung cancer and many other types of cancer.
(2) Reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the blood vessels outside your heart).
(3) Reduce heart disease risk within 1 to 2 years of quitting.
If you would like help to stop nicotine, contact Patient Centered care to arrange a consultation with a nurse practitioner to develop a plan. The following websites may help you with your decision:
DEPRESSION
Many people think of depression as being sad, but it really is a complex medical condition different with each person. People with depression experience many symptoms, including:
- little interest or pleasure in doing things
- feeling down or hopeless
- trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping too much
- feeling tired or having little energy
- having a poor appetite, over eating or having weight change
- difficult concentrating or making decisions
- feeling bad about themselves, like they are a failure, or feeling guilty
If you or someone in your family may be experiencing these symptoms, reach out to the office for an appointment with a nurse practitioner. Is it time to talk about your symptoms?
Patient Centered Care, PLLC 910-799-6262 (phone)
