Seaside Medical Practice Blog
How Did Annick Do It?
January 23rd, 2012As patients check in at our front desk, some of our regular patients quietly wonder if we hired a new office manager. The truth is we did not. Our loveable and knowledgeable Annick is still with us, although she is a more petite version of herself!
We have been receiving a high volume of phone traffic and visitors coming in to specifically see Annick for “the scoop”. Her strategies are definitely working for her and she would love to share them with you.
So what did she do? It’s no secret. Annick has been faithfully following a low carb, high protein diet. Moreover, she would love to share her techniques with you!
We here at Seaside Medical Practice, would love for you to come by and talk to us about your weight concerns. Make an appointment with us, and Dr. Yazdani or Christine our Physician Assistant, will physically evaluate you before starting a diet and exercise program!
The Important Role of a Physician Assistant
December 30th, 2011Since I joined Seaside Medical Practice, I have frequently been asked about my profession as a Physician Assistant, aka PA. I hope to clarify some of our patients’ questions with a short and sweet version defining the important role of a Physician Assistant.
PA’s are formally trained, licensed healthcare providers who can assess patients through history taking, physical exams, order and interpret labs, order and interpret imaging studies, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. Some work alongside surgeons in the operating room, perform aesthetic procedures, as well as work in a subspecialist role under the supervision of a physician.
The majority of students who enter PA school, do so after obtaining a college degree, and many have prior experience in the healthcare field. Formal training ranges between 2-3 rigorous years at an accredited Physician Assistant Program consisting of didactic and clinical education.
Generally, the first year of PA school spans topics such as Adult Medicine, Pathophysiology, Anatomy, and Physical Examination. The second year is more hands on. Students rotate in different specialties of medicine, with emphasis on Primary Care. After completing the program, students elect to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination to become a certified PA. Recertification is required after 6 years.
Similar to MD’s, Physician Assistants must continue life-long education. We are required to log 100 hours of Continued Medical Education achieved through pre-approved clinical and professional educational activities.
My first position as a certified PA was in Pain Management with an Anesthesiologist. There I was able to practice a blend of orthopedics, neurology, and psychology. My second position was with an Endocrinologist, or a doctor who specializes in hormones. There I specialized in diabetes controlled with insulin and thyroid disorders. Now, under direct supervision of Dr. Yazdani, a nephrologist and internist, I have an independent practice where I manage my own patients, assist the doctor in complex cases, and perform most of the aesthetic procedures in the office.
As you can see, a Physician Assistant complements the supervising doctor’s practice in a very unique and important way.
I hope this description gives you a better understanding of the Physician Assistant profession. If you have any other questions, you can find more information at www.nccpa.net, and as always, I’ll be happy to explain it all again in person.
–
Christine Soriano, Certified Physician Assistant
Apeele Review
December 5th, 2011The holidays are around the corner and the inevitable gathering of family and friends whom I haven’t seen for months, has me wanting to look my best! I had some unwanted acne scars and hyper-pigmentation that needed some lightening, so I decided to try the chemical peel we offer here at Seaside Medical Practice, called Apeele.
Apeele is our choice chemical peel because it is not as harsh as the other medical grade peels in the market, yet strong enough to make a significant improvement on smoothening of fine lines, and tone evenness of the face, neck and hands.
Day 1. My treatment was applied in the afternoon. I experienced mild stinging during the procedure, which was relieved right away with a small fan. Other than my face looking cleaner, I did not notice any significant difference.
Day 2. I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed what appeared to be a mild sun burn! I am naturally tan, and never burn, so I found this amusing. My face felt tight and sensitive. I applied the cream that came with the package of Apeele and felt better instantly. Before leaving the house, did the SPF 50 UVA and UVB sunblock as instructed, and stayed out of the sun.
Day 3. Talk about peeling! I did not realize the extent to which my skin would peel! The more I talked, smiled, and laughed as the day went on, the more my skin peeled.
Day 6. Peeling is almost complete. Skin felt dry, especially around my chin, though not as tender or red as before. I applied a bit of hydrocortisone cream for a couple of days to relieve the dryness.
Day 8. My peel is complete. My skin is flawless and brighter than ever. It’s as though I’ve had a deep skin cleaning. And I love being able to wear less foundation than usual!
The only thing I would do differently is have the peel done on a Thursday. Then I would have the weekend to peel in private! But looking at my skin now, and with all the compliments I’m receiving, Apeele was worth every dime!
Call us if you are interested in flawless, even-toned skin with the help of Apeele.
Christine Soriano, PA-C
Groupon Feature
November 21st, 2011We have joined Groupon advertising for our aesthetic services. Look for our ad featuring on Thursday, November 24th.
Dysport 75 units for $140 ($350 value)
Holiday Beauty Day 12-5-2011
November 8th, 2011The holiday season is just around the corner and we have the perfect idea to lavish yourself with beauty and health. For your events and gatherings look your best with facial rejuvenation and feel your best with vitamin giveaways. Click here Beauty Day
Hair Loss in Women and Men
November 8th, 2011I have been on a high protein, low carb diet for close to a year. Though the weight loss has been a dream come true, one of the biggest problems with my dietary modification is the hair loss! For the first few months, I thought I was imagining how much hair I was losing. Now, when I look in the mirror, I can see hair on my head, but also everywhere else.
Hair loss in both men and women can be very frustrating. The good news is that there are many solutions out there. Before looking to spend a fortune on over-the-counter remedies, consult with your medical provider first. After a discussion with your doctor, a thorough physical exam, and blood work, you may find that the cause for your hair loss is due to hormonal or vitamin deficiencies.
Natural remedies for hair loss include an adequate amount of protein intake, fish oil supplements, biotin, B vitamins and other important nutrients. Wash and condition your hair, but not daily as the essentials oils may be stripped unnecessarily from your scalp. Daily massage of scalp helps stimulate more blood flow, and healthier regrowth. Speak with your medical provider about starting topical minoxidil, which is very effective if started early. There are other prescription medications for hair loss as well, and referral to a dermatologist may be indicated. We know from experience that waiting too long will make it harder for success.
I personally use Seaside Medical Practice’s Skin, Hair and Nails Supplement. This patented formula of orthosilicic acid helps build stronger and thicker hair by stimulating collagen production, as well as promoting keratin and elastin synthesis. In 20 weeks, a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study of 50 women taking this supplement found that their hair strength and elasticity significantly improved over placebo.
See us if you’re concerned about hair loss and let’s devise a regimen to begin your hair regrowth as early as possible!
Food Journals, No Sweat.
October 31st, 2011One simple and effective way to lose weight is keeping a Food Journal. What you eat and how much of what you eat contributes to your current weight. Before you change your lifestyles in order to drop inches, you must realize that your success is due, in large part to your diet. The rest includes exercise and other factors.
One’s first food journal does not have to be detailed. It is a mere reflection of your day’s menu. After a week, you will be better able to reflect on the details of what was consumed. After a month, you might be able to see some patterns. Although your first journal does not have to be comprehensive, I am sure you will eventually add or subtract information that is more meaningful to you. These journals are private, so be honest with yourself! If you ate a bowl of ice cream at midnight, log it. Only you will know. It will motivate you. In the future, if you don’t want to see ice cream in your food journal, you won’t eat the ice cream.
To start a Food Journal, a small notebook and a pen is sufficient. Write down the date at the top of the page. On the next line, write “Breakfast”, and jot down what you ate. On the next few lines, do the same with lunch, dinner, and snacks. Don’t forget to record liquids.
As time goes on, you could add in categories such as calories, protein, carbs, and how many minutes you exercised that day. You could even record your weekly weight to monitor your progress.
Another great thing about journals is that you can add any significant events or emotions that may have affected your eating pattern. I know that personally, when I am stressed, I will have an extra snack at night. Seeing this in my journal allows me to be creative and think of other ways to unwind.
These days, Food Journals are becoming easier and easier to make. I personally use a free application called MyFitnessPal. What I really like about the electronic method of Food Journaling is that I do not need a nutrition book and calculator to add up my day’s calories. These amazing apps have an extensive system and it quickly summarizes the amount of calories, proteins, vitamins and much more for me. What I find extremely useful on them is a large variety of ethnic foods. Another perk about these applications are the weight logs. After inputting your weight, the application actually graphs your weight! You can easily see your body’s trend, whether your weight is goes up, down, or if you are stable.
If you’re serious about weight loss, give Food Journal a try. It is a wonderful proactive step towards better health!
Christine Soriano, PA-C
Summer Kick Off Beauty Event
July 19th, 2011Are you still gaining weight on even the best diet?
July 7th, 2011Summer is here and everyone is looking to loose that extra 10 pound belly fat or just feel a little lighter. Well, if your current diet doesn’t seem to be achieving those goals, this article I found on Dr. Weill’s website may shed some light on this perplexing, but not uncommon problem:
Diet Drinks: New Warning
Contrary to popular marketing, you can gain weight drinking diet sodas. In fact, a new study shows that men and women who consumed diet drinks saw their waist sizes expand 70 percent more than study participants who avoided diet drinks. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio followed 474 men and women ages 65 to 74 for almost 10 years. During that time, they found that those who consumed two or more diet sodas a day increased their waist circumferences five times more than those of the other study participants. The explanation may be related to findings from another study, in which laboratory mice ate a diet containing the artificial sweetener aspartame, while mice in another group consumed their regular food. After three months, the mice in the aspartame group had higher blood sugar levels than those in the other group. Researchers speculated that artificial sweeteners may trigger appetite but don’t provide calories to satisfy the craving, or that the sweeteners could inhibit brain cells that make you feel full, thus prompting more eating.
At Seaside Medical Practice, we work closely with you to attain your desired weight and optimal health status through an array of medical and nutritional products. Our newest regimen made by Xymogen, a leader of pharmaceutical grade nutriceuticals, called Mitochondrial Renewal Kit, enhances age-associated decline in physical appearance and performance by decreasing body fat and increasing lean muscle. The key ingredients resveratrol, arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, biotin and alpha-lipoic acid work synergistically together to promote mitochondrial biogenesis, the energy machinery of the cell. It’s like adding turbo charge to your engine without any extra effort. At $150 per monthly packet with optimal results usually achieved within 3 months, I can’t think of a more natural, easy way to loose weight and feel great.
Mother’s Day Beauty Event Week
April 29th, 2011The best gift to Mom is the gift of beauty and youth.
During May 2-6, 2011, Seaside Medical Practice will honor our special mothers with these incredible offers.
