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Empowering Men: Essential Health Tips for Men’s Health Month

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June is Men’s Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the health issues impacting men and promoting healthy living practices. At Ninth Street Internal Medicine, we believe in empowering men through knowledge and proactive health choices. Here are five essential health tips to improve the well-being of men:

1. Regular Physical Activity: Regular exercise is not just about building muscles; it’s about maintaining overall health. Engaging in physical activity helps lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, complemented by muscle-strengthening exercises.

2. Healthy Diet: A balanced diet is fundamental to good health. Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your meals. This helps provide essential nutrients and reduces the risk of developing dietary-related diseases. Limit processed foods, sugars, and excessive salt intake for better long-term health outcomes.

June is Men's Health Month.

3. Routine Health Check-ups: Regular health check-ups are vital for early detection and prevention of health issues. Schedule routine visits with your NSIM providers to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall well-being. Discuss appropriate screenings for conditions such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer based on age and risk factors.

4. Mental Health Awareness: Mental health is as important as physical health. Be proactive in managing stress and emotions through mindfulness, meditation, or seeking professional help when needed. Addressing mental health concerns promotes overall well-being and resilience.

5. Avoidance of Harmful Substances: Avoiding tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption significantly reduces the risk of various health problems. If you smoke, take steps to quit and seek support as needed. Moderate alcohol consumption and avoiding illicit substances also contribute to better health outcomes.

This Men’s Health Month, let’s commit to these health tips to empower ourselves and the men in our lives. By making informed decisions and adopting healthier lifestyles, we can pave the way for a lifetime of well-being. Share these tips with your friends, family, and community to inspire positive changes in health habits. Together, we can make a difference in improving men’s health across generations.

At Ninth Street Internal Medicine, we’re here to support you on your health journey. Call our office today at (215) 440-8681 to schedule your next check-up. Here’s to a healthier you!

Remembering Dr. David Major

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David major MD primary care doctor in philadelphia.It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we share the loss of our founding partner Dr. David Major.

David Alan Major, MD. 84, died peacefully at home on September 9, 2023. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, a calm, patient and thoughtful man, and a respected physician devoted to patient care. He practiced medicine in Philadelphia for 51 years until his retirement in December 2021 when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  During his professional career, he was a Professor and Director of Teaching in the Department of Medicine and co-founder of the Physician Assistant Program at Hahnemann University, the first of its kind in Philadelphia.  He was also a member of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a founder of Ninth Street Internal Medicine.

His passions were family, medicine and sports. He played basketball into his ‘60s, skied, roller-bladed, ice skated, biked, swam, and played tennis and squash. Though widely traveled, he was happiest at the shore. He was born and raised in Atlantic City, was a beach doctor, walked and biked the boardwalk and celebrated birthdays by body surfing with his girls.  He is remembered by an adoring family of women, including his wife of 60 years, Evelyn Eskin, his daughters Jill HaLevi (Andrew), Jane Thompson (Glenn), and Lynn Major (Robert Leventon) and granddaughters Noa (Chaiel Schaffel) and Mira HaLevi, Valerie Thompson, Marly and Sebina Leventon, and sister Maxine Field.  He will be greatly and deeply missed.  In lieu of flowers, contributions to Doctors without Borders, ASH, HIAS, or PILCOP would be appreciated.

For any of our patients who would like to share thoughts or memories of Dr. Major, you may do so by clicking here and we will pass them onto his family.

Diabetes Diet Plans

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Having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to give up delicious snacks! You just need to plan a bit more and understand how each kind of food affects your body. Store premeasured portions of food, keep cut-up raw vegetables in the fridge, choose filling foods (hard-boiled eggs and string cheese are great options), and make sandwiches on whole wheat bread instead of white. This can also be a perfect time to try new foods, like zucchini pita pizzas. Learn how to make them, and speak with one of our providers to discover more tips for healthy snacking.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

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It’s normal for your blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day, but if it stays high, you may be at greater risk of a stroke or heart attack. Most people can’t feel high blood pressure (called hypertension), so it’s important to check it regularly. The good news is that there are many ways to treat high blood pressure. Losing weight, eating less sodium, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol may be enough to get your blood pressure under control. If not, you might also need to take pills. Learn more about high blood pressure and how to treat it.

Announcing Dr. David Major’s Retirement

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January 7, 2022

Dear Patients,

When I started to practice medicine 54 years ago, I believed that seeing and helping people with common and rare diseases would be theDavid A. Major, MD driving force in my career. I was wrong. Seeing and knowing people is what stimulated my longevity in medical practice. All of you are unique individuals and knowing you as individuals has been my driving force. It has been my pleasure to know and care for you.

My last sick day was in 1971 but no one is invincible. I have been having serial MRI scans for 3 years following a spot in my kidney which is unchanged and appears to be benign. But 2 weeks ago, the scan revealed a tumor in my pancreas. I am completing my evaluation next week and will begin whatever treatment is indicated.  Therefore, I am announcing my official retirement on January 7, 2022, so I can focus on my health.

Ninth Street Internal Medicine is hiring a new physician to take my place. In the interim period, my wonderful physician and nurse practitioner colleagues at the practice are ready to help you with any medical concerns, including follow-up or urgent in-office or telehealth visits, phone calls, after office hour care, prescription refills, lab orders, and test results. If you currently have a future appointment scheduled with me, the office staff will be reaching out to you in the next several weeks to reschedule your appointment.

I do want to thank all of you for enriching my life, and I will treasure my memories of these many years of our relationships.

Sincerely,

David Major, M.D.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

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As your primary care providers, we at Ninth Street Internal Medicine and MDVIP would like to encourage everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. We believe in both the safety and efficacy of this vaccine. If you would like to learn more about how mRNA vaccines work.

Anyone who still has questions or reservations about getting the vaccine should schedule a phone appointment to discuss with your doctor. This vaccine is the best way for all of us to end this pandemic and get back to normal life! Continue reading “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” →

Diabetes Tips

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Staying Motivated With Diabetes.

Staying motivated while managing your diabetes can be tough. That’s especially true this year when getting out of the house is more difficult than usual. You don’t have to do it alone, though. To stay motivated, set goals (with a reward, of course) or enlist the help of your family. There are even online exercise classes and support groups that can help you manage your health while socially distancing. And for when the going gets tough, make a list of all the reasons why you want to manage your disease. Continue reading “Diabetes Tips” →

Covid FAQs

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I’ve had COVID-19 symptoms and have been self-isolating. When is it safe for me to be around other people?

If you know or suspect that you have COVID-19, staying away from others is the right thing to do. Self-isolating can help keep the virus from spreading.

It’s safe to be around others again when:

  • You haven’t had a fever for 24 hours while not taking medicines to lower the fever, and
  • Your symptoms have improved, and
  • It’s been at least 10 days since your symptoms started.
  • Talk to your doctor about whether you also need testing, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

 

Do children get the same symptoms of COVID-19 as adults?

Yes, children get the same symptoms as adults, such as a fever, cough, and trouble breathing.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition that’s probably related to COVID-19. It causes inflammation, which can affect the heart and other organs. A child with MIS-C usually has a fever for 24 hours or longer, plus other symptoms. Examples include belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, and red eyes. Most children get better with treatment.

Can immunoglobulin be used to treat COVID-19?

Doctors and hospitals are starting clinical trials to see if this treatment will help to fight COVID-19. Immunoglobulin (also called gamma globulin or immune globulin) is made from the blood of people who have recovered from an infection. In the case of COVID-19, it contains antibodies that fight COVID-19. When a person gets an infection, the body responds by making antibodies. These antibodies attack the infection and help the body fight it.

The hope is that if immunoglobulin is given to someone who is very ill from the virus, the antibodies will help that person fight and overcome the infection. Experts don’t yet know if this will work and be safe for people with a serious COVID-19 infection. It seems to help in some other serious infections.

How long does the virus that causes COVID-19 live?

A new study shows that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive in an aerosol form for at least 3 hours. An aerosol is something under pressure that can be released as a spray, like a sneeze or a cough.

The virus can survive on some surfaces for up to 3 days, according to the study in the New England Journal of Medicine.  How well it survives may depend on the surface it’s on. In the study, the virus lasted longest on plastic and stainless steel. It didn’t live as long on cardboard.

Because the virus can live for hours to days, it’s especially important to keep items around you clean. Experts advise disinfecting surfaces and objects you touch a lot, such as tables, door handles, faucets, toilets, handrails, and remote controls. You can use household disinfectants, a bleach solution, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.

Why is the virus making some young and healthy people very sick?

Experts don’t know why some people, even those who are healthy, get very sick. Overall, COVID-19 seems to cause fewer problems in people who are young and healthy. Those who are older or have other health problems, like diabetes or heart disease, have a higher risk of getting very sick. But the virus can affect anyone, even those who are young and healthy. And it can cause serious problems (even death) at any age.

Will antibiotics help prevent or treat COVID-19?

No. Antibiotics treat infections that are caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. Viruses are different than bacteria. Antibiotics don’t help and can even cause other problems.

What is the average length of COVID-19 illness (mild and severe)?

The length of time someone is sick with COVID-19 varies. It depends on how sick a person is. When people are mildly ill, they usually get better in 1 or 2 weeks. People who are more severely ill have worse symptoms, like severe shortness of breath and pneumonia. They need care in a hospital. They usually get better in 3 to 6 weeks. Some people who get very sick may need even more time to recover.

Some people with COVID-19 have very mild or no symptoms. They may get over the infection without even knowing they had it.

What is a ventilator? Why is it so important in this outbreak?

A ventilator is a machine that breathes for a person when they can’t breathe well enough on their own. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. This means it can affect the breathing systems of the body, especially the lungs. Most people with COVID-19 don’t get seriously ill. But when someone is very ill, the infection affects the lungs so severely that breathing is hard or impossible.

A ventilator has a tube that goes through the mouth into the lungs. The machine brings oxygen into the lungs and removes carbon dioxide. A ventilator is important because it does the work of the lungs and gives them time to heal. After they heal, the tube can be removed.

One of the main concerns about this virus is whether there will be enough ventilators if many people get sick at the same time.

How is COVID-19 treated?

If you have mild symptoms, you can care for yourself at home while you are in isolation. Your doctor may have you take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a fever. Treatment in the hospital for more serious cases includes support, such as a ventilator (to help with breathing) and medicines. Some people may be placed on their belly to help their oxygen levels.

What Should I Do if I Get COVID-19?

Having COVID-19 can be scary, but most people do recover. If you do get it, be sure to get plenty of rest and treat your fever. You should also do what you can to avoid spreading COVID-19 to anyone else. Stay home, wear a face mask when around other people, call ahead before going to the doctor, and stay at least 6 feet away from the people around you.

For more information on COVID-19 symptoms, please visit:
https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/covid-19-resources.aspx#anchor_SymptomChecker

NSIM will be closed July 4th and 5th in observance of Independence Day.