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Welcome to the first issue of the Patient Survival Guide! We're thrilled to have you with us. If you're here, you've likely read our introduction webpage and have a sense of what this newsletter will be about.
With so much ground to cover, let's dive right in. Today we start with those things that are common.
At the primary care office, we see a wide range of common and prevalent conditions in the community. Keyword is common, the conditions we are expecting to see, the conditions we have learned the most about.
These include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, obesity, major depression, and anxiety. Other frequent conditions are diabetes, arthritis, hypertension (HTN), and cancer. These are the issues most impacting our patients.
The local doctor's office is attuned to what's happening in the community, due to patient visits and phone calls. For instance, if multiple calls come in this coming week about abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools, we know it's likely a viral gastroenteritis is replicating in the community. We don't need the news.
Learning about these common issues is crucial because they are what is most likely to threaten or affect our patients. Studying a population of 1,000 to 3,000 patients allows us to extrapolate and apply findings to the larger population.
Throughout this newsletter, we will examine health at various levels: national, community, individual, organ, and even cellular. It will be helpful as we examine and discuss various topics.
A patient is no good to their doctor, if they're dead. No further money can be made. Joking, but it does illustrate the nature of the relationship. Your doctor typically does want you to be well. This is a topic for another issue. I do remind my patients that we are a team however and make decisions together.
Heart Attacks
In the United States, heart attacks are a significant public health concern. According to the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Approximately 805,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack each year.
- Of these, 605,000 are first-time heart attacks.
- About 200,000 occur in people who have already had a heart attack.
These statistics highlight the prevalence of heart attacks and the importance of preventive measures and timely treatment to reduce incidence and improve outcomes.
Will I deal with CAD and MI this week, yes. Will we see bypass patients, yes. Do we have to be well versed in cardiology? yes. Best advice? You already know the answer. Stop drinking, smoking. Exercise daily, reduce carbs, lose weight, make sure no sleep apnea, be happy, and hope for the best.
Cancer
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the U.S., following heart disease. According to the American Cancer Society and the CDC, approximately 600,000 people die from cancer each year. This number can vary slightly year to year based on changes in cancer incidence, advancements in treatment, and demographic shifts.
Cancer does not discriminate, young, old, man, or woman. Rich or poor, it matters not, it's something all humans battle. Yes, we see cancer from stage 1-4 frequently and consistently in the practice. How to prevent it? Will I develop it? Legitimate and difficult questions.
Dementia
The exact number of new dementia cases each year in the U.S. is challenging to pinpoint, but estimates provide a general idea:
- According to the Alzheimer's Association, around 7 million Americans aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's disease (the most common form of dementia) in 2023.
- Nearly 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer's disease are diagnosed each year, with numbers expected to rise as the population ages.
Many of our patients have it all, and are worried about dementia setting in. Many of our patients have severe and advanced dementia. It's something that happens to us humans. Keyword, many.
Anxiety Disorders
If the above doesn't make you anxious, good. However, Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
- Approximately 19.1% of adults (about 40 million people) experience an anxiety disorder in a given year.
- Lifetime prevalence is higher, with about 31.1% of adults experiencing an anxiety disorder at some point.
These statistics highlight the widespread nature of anxiety disorders, which include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Prevalence varies by age, gender, and other demographic factors, with women generally reporting higher rates than men.
We share this data to encourage thinking in terms of percentages and numbers. While you can't eliminate all risk, you can mitigate it.
And ,yes, we see Anxiety all day, all week long, it deserves it's own weekly issue for sure. It drives people to make poor choices and cause harm, and it's sad because it's affecting more people now than ever since I started practice.
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