Category: Health and Wellness

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunshine or tanning beds that lead to the formation of malignant tumors. Thankfully, melanoma is highly curable when discovered early. That being said, it is also much more likely than other forms of skin cancer to spread if left untreated.

Risk Factors

While melanoma only accounts for about one percent of all skin cancers, it accounts for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. Risk factors include a weakened immune system, fair skin or having a large number of moles, as well as family history.

But the most common cause of melanoma is exposure to UV light. A history of sunburns, particularly during childhood, or excessive exposure to sunlight, may increase an individual’s likelihood of developing melanoma.

Prevention Tips

• Always seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Do not allow your skin to burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Examine your skin from head-to-toe for moles every month.

With your Best Doctors benefits, a meticulous review of your medical case gives you an easy-to-understand report that either confirms your diagnosis and treatment or recommends a change. If you have concerns about melanoma or the effect of UV rays, Best Doctors is your one-stop shop for eliminating uncertainty and getting additional guidance on your health and wellness.

Did you know that the pathway that food takes as it travels through your body is called the gastrointestinal tract? The GI tract plays a major role in our lives as it’s the main pathway that food travels to get to our digestive organs, so it’s important to ensure that there are no issues.

The upcoming Best Doctors Webinar, “Healthy GI: Exploring the Gut” will explore the gastrointestinal tract and teach you how to keep it healthy. The webinar will be presented by Dr. Eli Ehrenpreis, an academic gastroenterologist and clinical pharmacologist at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and Dr. Lewis Levy, the Chief Medical Officer of Best Doctors.

This free presentation will be on Thursday, June 29 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A after the presentation. If you are interested, be sure to register!

The beautiful summer weather is meant to be enjoyed, but that can be hard to do when you work inside all day. The solution is to spend your lunch hour at one of the Fresh Air Fitness classes! There are different classes on different days throughout the month of June, so you are sure to find something that you will enjoy.

All of the classes are free of charge! Be sure to go online and register today so you can make the most of your lunch hour.

Here’s a video to give you some more information about the classes:

In today’s fast-paced world, one of the most under-rated health practices is getting adequate, proper rest. And “burning the midnight oil” – whether you’re working late, raising a family or cramming for exams – is not the only thing that prevents you from getting the deep, restful sleep your body and mind need.

About half of all people over 65 have frequent sleeping problems, such as insomnia or sleep apnea, and deep sleep stages in many elderly people sometimes become minimal or even non-existent. Young adults with active work and social lives are also at high risk for sleep deprivation. While insomnia can come from many sources, including stress, environment and medical conditions, setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep is a critical part of a generally healthy lifestyle.

Sleep apnea is a common condition, causing your breathing patterns to abruptly awaken you frequently during the night, which diminishes the depth and quality of your sleep. A leading cause of daytime sleepiness, apnea often goes undiagnosed, because it is difficult for your doctor to detect the condition during routine office visits.

How much sleep each of us needs depends on several factors, including age. For adults of all ages, 7 to 8 hours a night is widely considered the best amount of sleep, and it increases if you have already been deprived of sleep in previous nights. When you haven’t slept enough (even if you are accustomed to a sleep-depriving schedule), your judgment, reaction time and other functions are still impaired.

In fact, driving experts say that sleep deprivation is a leading cause of traffic accidents, while most fitness trainers typically include sleep as one of the central components of a comprehensive physical training program.

Besides boosting alertness, sleep – particularly rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – helps your brain store new information into long-term memory by replenishing the components of your brain that control memory, alertness and problem solving. Generally speaking, REM is the most restorative component of your sleeping time.

As part of your Best Doctors benefits, an in-depth review of your medical case gives you an easy-to-understand report that either confirms your diagnosis and treatment or recommends a change. Regardless of how well-rested you may feel, Best Doctors is your one-stop shop for eliminating uncertainty and getting additional guidance on your health and wellness.

Mental health is a vital component of a person’s well being, but many may feel uncomfortable openly discussing mental illnesses. The Best Doctors Live Webinar Series will dive into the topic of mental health and provide education on this important topic.

During the webinar, a panel of experts will discuss the topic of mental illness and debunk the thinking that it is different from other physical medical conditions or something that should be kept hidden. Additionally, the experts will also talk about what steps are taken to diagnose mental illness and what patients should expect during this process. After the presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

“Mental Health: putting it into perspective” will be presented by Dr. John Oldham and Dr. David Harrison. Dr. Oldham is the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Menninger Clinic and oversees clinical cares at Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Harrison is the Best Doctors U.S. Medical Director.

This webinar is free and open to anyone who would like to attend! Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 23 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. To register, visit this link.

Every day, more than 2,200 Americans die of heart disease (Center for Disease Control). This statistic is staggering, and it emphasizes the need for education about the importance of heart health. The good news is that small lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 80 percent.

Since February is American Heart Month, we have compiled a list of tips to help you improve your heart health and reduce your risk for heart disease. These simple changes can have a huge impact on your overall health.

1. Stay active. Be sure to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day.
2. Watch your cholesterol levels. You can manage your cholesterol by exercising and eating a variety of nutritious foods including fruits, vegetables and whole grain breads.
3. Eat healthy. The American Heart Association recommends eating fruits and vegetables, eating fish twice a week and cutting back on sugars and saturated fats.
4. Manage your blood pressure. This can be done by avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, managing stress and reducing sodium in your diet.
5. Reduce your blood sugar. You can accomplish this by moderating your consumption of soda, candy, sugary deserts and other foods that contain simple sugars

Hopefully these tips help you to start thinking about ways to improve your heart health! If you want more information, be sure to check out the American Heart Association’s website or Go Red for Women.