Keeping your kids safe

Keeping your kids safe

Driving

Most people know that babies and small children need to be in a federally-approved child car seat, and that your children should ride in the back seat of the car.  There have been some recent changes to the car seat laws so you should be up to date.  This is from the Florida DMV [http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/safety-laws.php]

In Florida children under 7 must ride in a car seat. Failure to do so could result in a $60 fine and 3 points against your driver's license.

Use the following car seat guidelines from the FLHSMV while driving with a child in your vehicle.

·     Birth to 1 year old and at least 20 lbs.

·     Use a rear-facing child car seat in the back seat of the car.

·     1 year old and 20 lbs. – 4 years old and 40 lbs.

·     Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until they reach the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.

·     Switch to a booster seat in the back of the car

·     4 years old and 40 lbs. – 8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall

·     Use a booster seat in the back seat until your child is big enough to use the car's seat belt.

·     8 years old or 4 ft 9 inches tall –12 years old

·     Have your child sit in the backseat with a seatbelt.

·     At 13 years old, your child can sit in the front seat of your car.

Definitely never drink and then drive, or text while you drive.  It's unsafe and against the law.

The Mission Of Total Family Wellness

The Mission Of Total Family Wellness

I love being a Family Practice physician.  It has been an honor and a privilege to touch so many lives over my many years of practice.  When I made the decision to be a Family doctor I just knew I found my calling.  I love having a close relationship with my patients, some of whom are like family.  My goal has always been to make living life better through improving health and preventing illness whenever I can. 

I chose to make a change and open my own practice because it is my vision to be accessible to my patients, continue those personal relationships, and spend extra time with my patients when needed.  The traditional way of delivering health care for most medical practices is so hectic in this day and age. Most insurers require more and more of your doctor while paying them the same or less.    I became more interested in the new method of health care delivery called Direct Primary Care [DPC]. DPC has gained a lot of attention in the medical community and in the business world as an innovative and cost-effective way to deliver the health care most people want and that I want to provide.  The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, and other major news outlets have all published articles about DPC, and almost always in a favorable light.

I have decided to offer a DPC option to my patients because I know it's the right thing to do for my patients and for me.  A DPC practice allows me to concentrate of the health and well-being of the patient in front of me rather than fighting with the insurance companies which cost more time and money.  DPC can complement your current insurance if you have it; By combining our aged-based monthly fee with a lower premium/higher deductible plan we can get you to either break even for better value or, best case scenario, we can save you money all the while keeping you protected medically and financially.

Please have a look at my website for more information about Total Family Wellness and Direct Primary Care, or schedule a meeting with me to have your questions about Direct Primary Care answered.  I look forward to growing my practice with you, and thank you for the privilege of being your family doctor.

Sincerely,

Trinette D. Moss, M.D.

Managing Your Chronic Back Pain

Nearly everyone experiences back pain at some point in his or her life. Whether it’s from daily activities, recreation or an accident, the chances that you will see a doctor to treat back pain are pretty high.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans spend at least $50 billion per year treating low back pain - an extremely high amount of money. Many people can get the pain to go away within a few days, but others are left with a condition called chronic back pain. If acute back pain is left untreated, it can result in a chronic condition that needs more extensive treatment. 

When we say chronic pain, we mean a pain that’s lasts for more than three months and gets worse as time goes on. When a pain has been diagnosed as chronic, its cause is harder to identify.

Men and women are equally affected by back pain. The NIH said that individuals most likely to be diagnosed with chronic back pain are between the ages of 30 and 50. Although back pain is considered part of the aging process, it can also be the result of a sedentary lifestyle. Disc disease and spinal degeneration can further increase your risk of experiencing and developing chronic back pain.

Tips for managing chronic back painPhysicians use pain management to treat chronic back pain for a variety of reasons: 

• To identify the source of the pain
• As an alternative to surgery
• To determine the areas that need to be addressed with surgery
• To rehabilitate a patient after surgery
• For patients who have already had surgery but need assistance coping with residual or recalcitrant pain

One way you can help manage your back pain is by staying hydrated. The Mayo Clinic said that drinking plenty of water can prevent dehydration and lessen the symptoms of chronic back pain.

Another way to decrease the intensity of chronic back pain is by eating easy-to-digest foods. Try incorporating leafy greens, asparagus, soy products,  low-sugar fruits like cranberries and cherries and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation that increases your level of pain. Stay away from foods like dairy, chocolate, high-fat red meat, wheat products and processed foods as they can increase inflammation in your back.

Bad posture is a key reason why many people develop chronic back pain. You can manage your pain by using correct posture while watching television, sitting on the computer or at work. Try to avoid the C-slump, or when you sit with a rounded back and head in front of your spine. Remember to keep your head up, stand tall and straighten your spine in order to avoid putting strain on your back and neck muscles. While this is easier said than done, you will quickly find that your back pain can be minimized when you have good posture.

These tips are great for helping to manage your chronic back pain. If you want more information on how to managing back pain, visit us at Total Family Wellness! 

http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/chronic-pain-management#8

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/pain-management/pain-management-chronic-back-pain

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/backpain/detail_backpain.htm