Bristol Park Medical Group

Dr. Ozaki Receives More Honors

Dr. Michael Ozaki, pediatrician at our Fountain Valley office, has been selected as a Circle of Care Award recipient for 2009. The Circle of Care Awards are presented by Cal Optima to physicians and other healthcare providers whose work makes a positive impact by promoting good health and health education to the community, especially those who might not otherwise have access to such resources.

The Circle of Care award follows on the heels of Dr. Ozaki's nomination for the "Pediatric Hero" award from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The parents of a patient nominated Dr. Ozaki for his on-going dedication to doing his best for children and to listening to and helping anxious parents. Their admiration for Dr. Ozaki began when he successfully diagnosed their two-week-old baby with profound deafness. The child became the youngest ever in the history of the renowned House Clinic in Los Angeles to receive hearing aids, resulting in the development of near normal speech as he grew up.

Dr. Ozaki's Circle of Care award follows up last year's Bristol Park recipient, Dr. Kelvin Mai, internal medicine, also of the Fountain Valley office.

The Flu: Time to Get Vaccinated

This year's vaccine for the predicted flu
strains (not including H1N1) is available
beginning September 14. Call your physician's office now if you'd like to schedule your appointment to get your flu shot after the 14th.
As more information on the vaccine for the
H1N1 influenza strain (Swine Flu) is available,
we will keep you updated.

The vaccine being developed for the Swine Flu is exclusive to that particular strain of influenza. It is not likely to afford any protection from the other anticipated influenza strains. Each year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health groups do extensive research trying to determine which strain(s) of influenza will be the next to hit the world's populations. Vaccines are then developed specifically to fight that strain and possibly catch any others that might pop up.

Influenza (the flu) is caused by constantly mutating strains of viruses that attack the Lungs and can sometimes lead to pneumonia or other medical conditions. It's usually spread person to person through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. There are no medications you can take after you get the flu. Antibiotics do not work on viruses such as the flu. Along with the flu vaccine there are other precautions, such as hand washing, you can take to cut down on your risk of getting the flu. We'll discuss more of those in the October issue.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of severe vision loss in the US, in people over age 50. It's become more common because of enhanced life spans and the exponential increase in the aging population.

AMD is a progressive eye condition affecting the central part of the retina called the macula. Symptoms include reduced vision, decreased contrast vision or more commonly, distortion in the central vision. It may affect driving, reading, recognizing faces, and many other daily visual tasks.

Risk factors for AMD include family history of AMD, Caucasian race, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, genetic factors, heart disease and low intake of antioxidants/lutein. There are two forms of AMD: 1. Non-neovascular (Dry) and 2. Neovascular (Wet). 80-90% of patients have the dry form of AMD. However, in patients with severe vision loss, most have the wet form.

At this time, there is no treatment for dry AMD. Eye vitamins with the
AREDS formula may reduce the risk of progression.

Fortunately, thanks to phenomenal advances in research and the innovation of physicians at the world famous Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Florida (and other leading institutions), we have new treatments for wet AMD. The main treatments involve injecting a special drug into the eye that allows for a high probability in stabilizing the vision and even reversing the affects of wet AMD in some patients. The treatment usually requires multiple injections to suppress the growing blood vessels causing wet AMD. Most patients feel the treatment is well worth the results of preserved vision.

There is no way to prevent AMD at this time, but eating a healthy well-balanced diet stressing dark green leafy vegetables together with an exercise program guided by your primary care physician may help reduce the risks. For those with health issues, ensuring that your cholesterol, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and all medical conditions are well controlled is vital. Multivitamins specific to the eye are recommended for those with intermediate or advanced AMD and may reduce the risk of disease progression. The contents of the vitamins are based on the Age-Related-Disease Study (AREDS) and include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Zinc. Since the AREDS study, other research has shown the possible benefits of Lutein (www.luteininfo.com).

If you've been diagnosed with AMD, utilizing an Amsler Grid vision testing tool daily may facilitate early detection of change. If you have visual symptoms or are concerned about your macula, visit your local eye care provider for diagnostic and visual testing.

For an Amsler Grid, or more information about AMD and other eye-related conditions, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology website at www.aao.org.

Dr. Eifrig has sub-specialty training in diseases and surgery of the retina, macula, and vitreous and is one of three members of the renowned Retina Associates of Orange County (RAOC). RAOC has two offices: Laguna Hills and Santa Ana and is a contracted specialist for Bristol Park Medical Group (866-276-3627).

Once Again, We're Supporting the "Race for the Cure"

Bristol Park Medical Group is proud to once again be a participant in the fight against breast cancer.

Already, advances in breast cancer research have been made with the help of Susan G. Komen For the Cure® and their global network of races. This year's local race is on Sunday, September 27 at Fashion Inland, Newport Beach. Bristol Park will have an information booth in the expo area, so stop by and say hi.

And while we're on the subject, have you had your mammogram lately?
Early detection is a proven life-saver. Call for an appointment today.



	September 10, 2010