With each new year comes a trip to your family physician for an annual physical. These physicals are crucial to monitoring your health no matter what age you or a family member are. Another benefit of making this yearly commitment is to ensure that you always have updated medical records for future events. The exams performed vary from doctor to doctor, but you can be sure that an annual wellness exam will provide you valuable information about your well-being, age-related conditions, and future advice for living a healthy lifestyle. Here is what goes into a physical exam and what issues they can detect. [Read more…]
Prediabetes Diet and Exercise Plans and Tips
So, you have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic? Don’t sweat it too hard, an estimated 79 million Americans have the same diagnosis and experts predict that one in three Americans will be diagnosed by 2050. Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something about it. You don’t want to progress to having diabetes, a disease that severely impacts your quality of life. Instead, follow some of these prediabetes diet and exercise tips to help you on your journey to a healthy, diabetes-free life. [Read more…]
Dr. Johnston CH12 News Interview: New Flu Shots (Video)
Arrowhead Health Centers’ Medical Director, Dr. Janice Johnston, talks with Ch12 News about the new flu shots for this year. This year, the vaccine protects against 4 different strains of the flu virus. Vaccines typically change every year since the flu virus quickly adapts and new strains develop year over year. Also, the CDC has pulled the flu mist which was quite popular due to its application which did not require the use of a needle. Unfortunately, the mist was only shown to be about 6% effective in fighting the disease. [Read more…]
Dr Johnston Talks with NBC 12news about Pneumonia
With Pneumonia making headlines these days, there may be misconceptions as to the severity of the disease and how debilitating it can be. NBC News Ch12 had Arrowhead Health Centers’ Medical Director Dr. Janice Johnston on recently to discuss what you need to know about Pneumonia and what you should do if you are feeling ill and want to get examined. [Read more…]
3TV Interviews Dr. Janice Johnston About Bug Bites
Lina De Florias of 3TV joined Dr. Janice Johnston, Medical Director at Arrowhead Health Centers, to discuss bug bites and how you can tell if a bug bite is serious. During the Arizona summers, there’s an abundance of mosquitoes and scorpions that may be of threat to you or someone you know. Most people get small swelling bumps when they are bitten by a mosquito, spider, or ant. This is due to a small allergic reaction to a bug’s saliva that is non-threatening but a nuisance nonetheless. You should start to worry about your bug bite if your small bump transgresses into welts or hives. If you experience a shortness of breath or a racing heartbeat, these are also signs of a dangerous bug bite reaction. [Read more…]
The Mental Health Referral Process: Starting Your Journey Towards Mental Health
Mental Health is often seen as a taboo topic, but it need not be. In fact, approximately 42.5 million Americans – nearly 1 out of every 5 adults – struggles with a mental illness. It is important to understand that just as there are a variety of physical ailments, the breath of mental health is wide. Everything from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), to anxiety and depression, falls under the umbrella of mental health. Regardless of where the mental condition lies, the journey towards mental health can be made easy by following this mental health referral process. [Read more…]
Dr. Johnston’s Healthy School Lunch Ideas
Dr. Janice Johnston recently wrote an article for the Ahwatukee Foothills News and East Valley Tribune, outlining ways parents can make healthy meals for their children during the school year. In the article, the Arrowhead Health Centers’ Medical Director and family practice physician suggests the benefits of parents taking a little extra time to improve their children’s nutrition are endless. Its important to start with a healthy breakfast each morning and pack a full lunch instead of a few snacks that are quick and easy to prepare. She includes some healthy school lunch ideas to get you started. [Read more…]
AHC Blends The Health Benefits of Music With Lobby Entertainment
Arrowhead Health Centers’ Medical Director Dr. Janice Johnston has a passion for the blues. So much so that she serves on the board of the Blues Foundation, a Memphis based organization whose mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. This avid love for music has also found its way into her medical career, combining both passions into a program called: Let the Music Heal You, which combines the health benefits of music with entertainment for those Arrowhead Health Centers’ patients waiting in the lobby before their appointments. [Read more…]