Herron Family Medical Clinic

09/11/2024

Fall prevention on the go

Much of the fall-prevention advice you’ll see or hear focuses on your home. But what about when you head out to shop, take a walk or visit friends?

Here are some easy ways to reduce your risk of falling when you’re out and about:

Wear the right shoes. Choose well-fitting shoes with low heels and rubber soles for traction.

Stay alert while on sidewalks. Watch for cracks, ice and other tripping hazards. If it’s safe to do so, step off the sidewalk and walk around these areas.

Consider a cane or walker. Talk with your health care provider about whether one would help you.

Check the forecast. Use extra caution or consider postponing your outing when rain or snow is predicted.

Be careful at curbs. Watch your balance as you step up onto (or down from) a curb. Take ramps, when they are available.

Watch for slippery floors in stores. Try to avoid walking on wet or polished floors. Whenever possible, use safer surfaces, such as carpet.

Keep stairs and walking paths clear. Ask family members for help clearing clutter, ice or snow.

Go hands-free. Instead of carrying a purse, use a f***y pack. This will keep your hands free to use handrails at steps and escalators or to steady yourself if you lose your balance.

Don’t shy away from assistance. Ask for help carrying shopping bags to your car, if needed.

Boost your balance

Learn some exercises that may help build your balance and lower your risk of falls. Check with your doctor before you start a new exercise.

Sources: Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation; National Council on Aging; National Institute on Aging

08/28/2024

Why do kids need a sports physical?

A sports physical can help ensure that children are safe to participate in sports by identifying health problems that could interfere with their performance or increase their risk of injury. During the exam, a doctor will collect information about the child's health, including:
Heart-related symptoms
Concussion history
Musculoskeletal injuries
Height and weight
Blood pressure and pulse
Vision
Lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat
Posture, joints, strength, and flexibility
Based on this information, the doctor can:
Adjust medications to help with conditions like asthma
Recommend exercises, physical therapy, or training tips to help avoid injuries
Limit activities or provide tips to prevent re-injury if the child has an existing medical condition or injury
Ensure medical records and health history are up to date
It's important to schedule a sports physical well in advance of the sports season to allow time for additional exams or treatment if needed.

We have plenty of appointments for physicals. Just call office 580-286-3328.

08/28/2024

We are seeing a lot of Covid-19 since school started.
Overview
COVID-19, also called coronavirus disease 2019, is an illness caused by a virus. The virus is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or more commonly, SARS-CoV-2. It started spreading at the end of 2019 and became a pandemic disease in 2020.

Coronavirus
Coronavirus
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The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads most commonly through the air in tiny droplets of fluid between people in close contact. Many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild illness. But for older adults and people with certain medical conditions, COVID-19 can lead to the need for care in the hospital or death.

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent serious illness, the need for hospital care due to COVID-19 and death from COVID-19. Other ways that may help prevent the spread of this coronavirus includes good indoor air flow, physical distancing, wearing a mask in the right setting and good hygiene.

Medicine can limit the seriousness of the viral infection. Most people recover without long-term effects, but some people have symptoms that continue for months.

Symptoms
Typical COVID-19 symptoms often show up 2 to 14 days after contact with the virus.

Symptoms can include:

Dry cough.
Shortness of breath.
Loss of taste or smell.
Extreme tiredness, called fatigue.
Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach, vomiting or loose stools, called diarrhea.
Pain, such as headaches and body or muscle aches.
Fever or chills.
Cold-like symptoms such as congestion, runny nose or sore throat.
People may only have a few symptoms or none. People who have no symptoms but test positive for COVID-19 are called asymptomatic. For example, many children who test positive don't have symptoms of COVID-19 illness. People who go on to have symptoms are considered presymptomatic. Both groups can still spread COVID-19 to others.

Some people may have symptoms that get worse about 7 to 14 days after symptoms start.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults or people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.

COVID-19 may be a mild, moderate, severe or critical illness.

In broad terms, mild COVID-19 doesn't affect the ability of the lungs to get oxygen to the body.
In moderate COVID-19 illness, the lungs also work properly but there are signs that the infection is deep in the lungs.
Severe COVID-19 means that the lungs don't work correctly, and the person needs oxygen and other medical help in the hospital.
Critical COVID-19 illness means the lung and breathing system, called the respiratory system, has failed and there is damage throughout the body.
Rarely, people who catch the coronavirus can develop a group of symptoms linked to inflamed organs or tissues. The illness is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome. When children have this illness, it is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, shortened to MIS-C. In adults, the name is MIS-A.

When to see a doctor
Contact a healthcare professional if you test positive for COVID-19. If you have symptoms and need to test for COVID-19, or you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19, a healthcare professional can help.

People who are at high risk of serious illness may get medicine to block the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the body. Or your healthcare team may plan regular checks to monitor your health.

Get emergency help right away for any of these symptoms:

Can't catch your breath or have problems breathing.
Skin, lips or nail beds that are pale, gray or blue.
New confusion.
Trouble staying awake or waking up.
Chest pain or pressure that is constant.
This list doesn't include every emergency symptom. If you or a person you're taking care of has symptoms that worry you, get help. Let the healthcare team know about a positive test for COVID-19 or symptoms of the illness.

05/09/2023

Herron Family Medical Clinic office hours are 8:30 AM till 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday.
We are closed 12:00-01:00 for lunch.
We have been operating at decreased hours for several weeks due to illness in the family. We do appreciate your prayers and concerns.
We are back working now at our regular hours.
Dr. Herron has had to stop seeing Obstetrical patients due to Family Illness, but he will continue to see all his Adult and Pediatric patients. We are also going to add a Nurse Practitioner to the practice, and we plan to expand our office hours by the first of June 2023. Thank You for your business and we are looking forward to seeing you and your family in the future.
If you would like to make an appointment, call the number below.

Thank You.
Office Phone 580-286-3328
Fax: 580-286-3815

General Practitioner

02/24/2019

Reducing Fall Risk in Older Adults
Use this checklist to find and fix hazards in your home.
STAIRS & STEPS (INDOORS & OUTDOORS)
Are there papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the stairs?
Always keep objects off the stairs. Are some steps broken or uneven?

Fix loose or uneven steps. Is there a light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs?

Have an electrician put in an overhead light and light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow. Has a stairway light bulb burned out?

Have a friend or family member change the light bulb. Never climb on chairs or ladders. Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?

Make sure the carpet is firmly attached to every step, or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs. Are the handrails loose or broken? Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs?

Fix loose handrails, or put in new ones. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs, and are as long as the stairs. When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture?

Ask someone to move the furniture so your path is clear. Do you have throw rugs on the floor?

Remove the rugs, or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip. Are there papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the floor?

Pick up things that are on the floor. Always keep objects off the floor. Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone, or extension cords)?

Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet. Are the things you use often on high shelves?

Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist high). Is your step stool sturdy?

If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool. FLOORS KITCHEN BEDROOMS BATHROOMS Is the light near the bed hard to reach?

Place a lamp close to the bed where it’s easy to reach. Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?

Put in a nightlight so you can see where you’re walking. Some nightlights go on by themselves after dark. Is the tub or shower floor slippery?

Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower. Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub, or up from the toilet?

Have grab bars put in next to and inside the tub, and next to the toilet.

02/24/2019

FOODS TO AVOID OR LIMIT DURING PREGNANCY
Not every food is safe to eat during pregnancy. Some foods may be harmful to you or your baby because of the way they’re cooked or because of germs or chemicals they contain. Here’s why:

Raw meat, fish and eggs can contain harmful germs that can give you food poisoning, like salmonella infection. Cooking them fully kills the germs, which helps keep you and your baby from getting sick.
Many dairy products, like milk, eggs and cheese, are pasteurized. This means they’re heated to kill any bad germs. If the product label doesn't say “pasteurized,” pick a different product. Unpasteurized dairy products can give you food poisoning, like listeriosis.
Some foods contain chemicals, like caffeine or mercury. You can pass these harmful chemicals to your baby during pregnancy.

02/02/2019

If You Don't Get Much Sun:Take Vitamin D3

Back in the day, most people got their vitamin D from the sun.

The problem is that most people don't get much sun these days. They either live where there is no sun, or they stay inside most of the day or use sunscreen when they go out.

According to data from 2005-2006, about 41.6% of the US population is deficient in this critical vitamin .

If adequate sun exposure is not an option for you, then supplementing with vitamin D has been shown to have numerous benefits for health.

This includes improved bone health, increased strength, reduced symptoms of depression and a lower risk of cancer, to name a few. Vitamin D may also help you live longer.

01/19/2019

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. In fact, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States. It is also a significant cause of respiratory illness in older adults.

01/11/2019

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu.

12/26/2017