March Patient Newsletter Orange County

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
One in 3 adults (45-75 yrs old) are not getting screened as recommended. You may have been postponing your colonoscopy because you do not want to endure the prep, take time off of work, or find someone to arrange to drive you home, but the alternatives are sobering:

-Of all cancers, colorectal cancer (CRC) will take the most lives of people under 50 by 2030. 
-One in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with CRC in their lifetime.

Our Chief Medical Officer Nathaniel DeNicola MD and the Caduceus Physician Board recommends a colonoscopy every 10 years beginning at age 45. It is acceptable to stop at age 75. Those with a family history of CRC are at a higher risk and may need to be screened earlier than 45.

By knowing the risk factors and signs and symptoms, you may be able to catch CRC at its earliest stage:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
-Ongoing change in bowel habits
-Stools that are narrower than usual
-Blood in the stool
-Rectal bleeding 
-Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramping
-Weight loss for no known reason
-Feeling very tired (weakness and fatigue) 

RISK FACTORS:
-Age (getting older)
-Personal history of polyps and cancer
-Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 
-Family History and Genetics
-Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Use 
-Fatty Diet
-Obesity

Be your own advocate and schedule your colonoscopy screening today! 
 
Reserve Your Colon Screening
Fall Prevention
 Hopefully you read our latest blog last month on fall prevention and understand that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death for older adults (age 65 & over). One out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population.

This includes any action taken to help reduce the number of accidental falls suffered by susceptible individuals, such as the elderly and people with neurological or orthopedic indications.

For our Medicare patients, this screening is also covered in your annual wellness visit with your Caduceus physician/advanced care practitioner.

Our patients can also schedule a complimentary in-house assessment to determine if there are any risks in your home. 
Schedule Your In-House Assessment
Caduceus in the News
 Spring break is near and our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola, is here with some important reminders to get you and your family prepared for fun in the sun!  Dr. DeNicola was recently interviewed by Laguna Beach Magazine highlighting clean sunscreens/beauty products & SPF protection. With the spring season and beach time only a few weeks away, this is a timely reminder to choose wisely. Learn more
Join Us for Medicare Open Enrollment Event
Are you unhappy with your current Medicare plan and missed the Fall 2022 enrollment period? It's not too late! Our last event of the season is just a few weeks away! 

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment ends March 31st. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan) once during this time. 

Where: Caduceus at the Packing House
             18200 Yorba Linda Blvd. (First Floor Main Lobby) Yorba Linda 

When:   Wednesday, March 22nd 10-2

Walk-ins are welcome during the event, however, it is encouraged to schedule a time slot for your complimentary consultation with our preferred Medicare representative. Call 714-646-8058 or email patient support.
Hypnotherapy + PTSD/Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma can come into one’s life following any highly charged emotional experience, whether it’s fueled from an experience you had as an adolescent, young adult, or adult. While symptoms can come in overwhelming waves and feel uncontrollable at times, there are powerful tools in the mental health space that can improve your health immensely. 
 
Symptoms of PTSD and trauma fall into 4 different categories:

-Negative shifts in mood and/or thoughts (can result in depression, anxiety, anger, and emotional ups and downs)
-Physical symptoms: stomach aches, muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, or agitation 
-Avoidance behaviors: limiting one’s life, avoiding situations, people, and circumstances, or avoiding feelings with forms of numbing (drugs, alcohol, or other bad habits) 
-Re-experiencing symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares, or a flooding of memories  

PTSD and trauma can present itself in a lot of ways (mentally, emotionally, and physically), but with the help of hypnotherapy you can keep those symptoms at bay. During hypnosis, your body is relaxed and the subconscious is in a more suggestive state. Your hypnotherapist will use guided imagery and relaxation techniques to calm the mind and body, and put in supportive hypnotic suggestions. 
 
Hypnosis is a targeted approach in managing PTSD and trauma symptoms and is different from traditional approaches of talk therapy/counseling. In some cases, if you are already in counseling, hypnotherapy can be a very effective way to boost your progress to better health. Dori Caralto LMFT, as a trained clinician, can help you identify the best approach in managing
your symptoms.
 
In hypnotherapy, you’ll learn how to…

-Identify triggers and how to cope when come up 
-Implement mind-body relaxation techniques such as breathwork
-Calm the body when the mind wants to go to different places or when the body is giving physical sensations like body tension
-Reframe memories or experiences in a more positive, helpful perspective 
-Replace triggers with anchors or physical cues such as touching the thumb and forefinger together (this can help you regain a sense of control, calmness, and safety)
-Leave things from your past in the past 

Understanding the root of your PTSD and/or trauma and how to cope more effectively doesn’t happen overnight. The speed of results is a case by case basis, but expect to invest in three to four sessions on average. Those who dedicate themselves to the process with an open mind and implement positive changes in between sessions may yield quicker results — you can begin to reap the benefits as early as after our first visit! Learn more.
 
Did you know hypnotherapy can also help manage anxiety, habit control (like smoking or nail biting), insomnia, and weight control? Book a 10 minute complimentary consultation with our in-house hypnotherapist.  

Our community behavioral health affiliate, Chiron Psychological Inc., is here to help!  Call 714-646-8034 to discuss how hypnosis may be an effective therapy. 
 
Reserve Your Complimentary Consult

Current 2022 Caduceus Screening and Testing Guidelines

Our physicians, Medical Director Nathaniel DeNicola MD, and Chief Medical Officer Gregg DeNicola MD recommend the following medical screenings and testing for our patients this year:

ROUTINE LAB TESTING-

Ages 21,30,35, and every other year between 40 and 50, and annually over 50. (including lipids, A1C, PSA, thyroid, blood count and general chemistries).

PAP SMEARS-

Age 21, then ACOG guidelines: Age 21-29: Pap every 3 years, HPV not recommended.

Age 30-65: Pap & HPV every five years.

MAMMOGRAMS-

Every other year starting at age 40 until age 50 and then annually. Acceptable to stop at age 75.

COLONOSCOPY-

Every 10 years beginning at age 45. Acceptable to stop at age 75.

DEXASCAN-

In females every 1-2 years after menopause or age 50, whichever is first.

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM-

Screening abdominal ultrasound for men ages 65-75 with a history of tobacco use.

SKIN CHECKS-

Annually if you are a high risk (otherwise it will be part of your annual physical exam)- History of severe atypia, personal history of skin cancer, first degree relative with melanoma, history of prolonged sun exposure or sunburns, fair skin, blonde/red hair or blue/green eyes.