Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans (47%) have at least 1 of 3 key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.¹

Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.

Follow this LINK to learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/risk_factors.htm
Source: Centers for Disease Control

What Is Colorectal Cancer Screening?

A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person doesn’t have symptoms. (When a person has symptoms, diagnostic tests are used to find out the cause of the symptoms.)

Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps, so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.

Screening Recommendations

Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. The Task Force recommends that adults age 76 to 85 talk to their doctor about screening.

The Task Force recommends several colorectal cancer screening strategies, including stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy). Learn about these screening tests. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/index.htm. and Munson Healthcare Blogsite: https://www.munsonhealthcare.org/blog/colon-cancer-are-you-at-risk

Immediate mental health support and counseling is now available through a National 988 call network.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7 toll-free nationwide hotline, made up of a network of independently operated and funded local call centers (200+) across the country.

988 is the new three-digit dialing code connecting people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL), where compassionate care and accessible support is available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress—whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Congratulations Dr. LeBaron for being honored this summer by the readers of Traverse the Magazine as one of the Best Primary Care Physicians in Northern Michigan.  Dr. LeBaron was nominated in our region of Cadillac, Ludington, and Manistee.  Here is what the fuss is all about directly from Traverse Northern Michigan Magazine and then republished in the My North publication:

Effective 4/10/2023, Cadillac Family Physicians began optional masking for Providers, Patients, and Staff.  When scheduling an appointment, you will still be asked if you have any known upper respiratory symptoms.  If so, you will be scheduled with a Provider in our private entrance exam room or offered a virtual visit.  Masks are required in the private entrance exam rooms due to the possibility of contagious symptoms.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation.  Cadillac Family Physicians Team.

Dr Tania LeBaron addressed students at Little Wheels Preschool in March. She shared information about the importance of eating healthy to fuel our bodies. She brought in several great examples of what healthy options are and they all snacked on orange slices.

Cadillac High School students have put Cadillac Family Physicians retired lab coats to good use. So happy these coats found a place to be reused and appreciated by students studying Art and Chemistry.