Dear Dedicated GreenField Health - Barnes Road Patients:
 We hope that you are having a wonderful Northwest fall. What a spectacular September and October it has been.
We are delighted to welcome Cynthia Ferrier, MD to the GreenField practice! Many of you may know of Cynthia — she has practiced internal medicine in Portland for many years, and is joining us on November 1. She will continue to serve as a primary care physician for both men and women, and she will also continue as a Women's Healthcare Specialist.
 This issue of Health Matters is focused on prevention and wellness — we're interested in your health!
Please feel free to pass the Health Matters Newsletter on to friends or family who may be interested.
Flu Shots to Prevent Influenza
It's that time of year. The best time to get a flu shot is between now and early December and we have plenty in stock. As you know, flu shots are intended to help protect you against the influenza virus. The vaccine is different each year because the variety of influenza circulating through the community is different each year. The vaccine is never perfect because vaccine manufacturers have to predict 6 months in advance which influenza virus type might attack later that year and that prediction is an inexact science. Therefore, flu vaccines are not 100% effective, but they still provide a decent amount of immunity and we still recommend them.
Yearly flu shots are recommended for health care workers, to those over 65, and to anyone with a chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc. In addition, anyone who is so inclined is welcome to have the shot. Because insurance companies don't reimburse us for providing the vaccine, our charge is $24. Come on in if you'd like to get your flu shot — just give us a call a few minutes before hand so that we can be ready when you show up. Or click here to e-mail us the time you will be coming in.
Pneumococcal Vaccine to Prevent Pneumonia
Don't confuse the pneumococcal vaccine with the flu (influenza) vaccine. Pneumococcus is a bacteria (Streptococcus pneumonia) whereas influenza is a virus. The pneumococcus can cause pneumonia particularly in older individuals and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma and emphysema. We recommend the pneumococcal vaccine for those 65 and older (administered only once) and for anyone with chronic lung disease (given every 7 years).
We have the vaccine in stock, and it can be given at any time of the year. If the vaccine is appropriate for you and you have not yet received it, feel free to give us a call to discuss it, or to schedule a time to come in to receive it — as usual, GreenField provides same day service if desired.
Exercise and Adult Onset Diabetes
It seems like such a trite adage: "Eat right and exercise." However, this simple phrase is critical to health. Weight control and ongoing physical conditioning benefit your physical health and your mental health. They are among the most important things that you can do for your health.
 From the diet perspective, GreenField recommends a basic Mediterranean diet. This diet includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, it uses olive oil as the primary cooking oil, and it avoids fried foods. If you want more information about the basics of a Mediterranean diet, you can check out our favorite Mediterranean cookbook, Healthy Mediterranean Cooking by Rena Salaman, on your next visit here (it's in our library!) or look for a basic Mediterranean cookbook at your local bookstore. Click here to learn how to get a free copy at our next First Tuesday Open House.
 As a general rule, fried foods should be avoided as should most "fast food." If you are not convinced of that, just take a look at the fat content of the fast food available out there - it will scare the daylights out of you. If you still aren't convinced, read the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Beware! It will make you avoid "drive-through dining" for the rest of your years.
Along with poor diet habits, a poor exercise habit is a key reason that the US has the unfortunate distinction of being the most overweight country in the world — by far. In fact, we have an epidemic of obesity in American children. What type of exercise is recommended? Both aerobic exercise (running, cycling, swimming, vigorous power walking), and weight training can be very helpful. We recommend 3 or more aerobic exercise sessions per week, each session should be at least 30 minutes. Additionally, weight training can help you control your weight, tone up, and build muscle mass that will burn calories and provide additional assistance to you in your aerobic activities. Adult onset diabetes is a deadly condition. It is primarily associated with being overweight and is known as "Type 2 Diabetes." Anyone who is overweight is susceptible to diabetes, particularly if you have a history of adult diabetes in your family. Adult onset diabetes is clearly controllable if not curable with appropriate exercise, diet, and weight control. A recent study demonstrated that lifting weights in addition to aerobic activity may be a great way to help ward off diabetes for those who are susceptible. What's more, strength training also may help keep diabetes under control once it has been diagnosed. Both abdominal fat accumulation and a loss of muscle mass are associated with an increased risk of adult onset diabetes. Adult onset diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in the body. The body produces insulin, but resists its natural process of controlling glucose levels. Exercise helps prevent or reverse insulin resistance and helps your body to burn excess glucose, thus reducing blood sugar levels.
Thank You!
As always, thank you for supporting us. We've been open for only a bit over a year, and we're thrilled with the level of satisfaction that our patients are experiencing with your care. Your anecdotes from other offices and your thanks to us for the new choice we are providing are what keep us going!
Best to you and yours for a fun-filled Fall! Sincerely, Your GreenField Health Team: Chuck Kilo, MD
Cynthia Ferrier, MD
Elizabeth Hays, MD
Eric Murray, MD
Jamie Sharp, CMA, your Health Coordinator
Jill Arena, your Clinic Administrator
Stephanie Gorsch, CMA, your Health Coordinator
Steve Gordon, MD 
GreenField Health System
9427 SW Barnes Road, Suite 590
Portland, OR 97225
Phone: 503-292-9560
Fax: 503-292-9510
Web: www.greenfieldhealth.com questions, concerns, comments appreciated:
questions@greenfieldhealth.com |