Claxton Hepburn Medical Center

What do you know about your family’s health history? It may not be something your family often talks about, but knowing the medical history of your siblings, parents, grandparents and other relatives can help you know if you are at higher risk for certain diseases. Observed annually around the Thanksgiving holiday, National Family Health History Day invites families everywhere to make room at the table for a discussion about their health histories. Wondering how to start the conversation? Here are a few ideas: ??Write down what you already know, and prepare questions ahead of time. ??Share your own health history or concerns, paving the way for others to speak. ??Explain why you’re asking; most relatives will open up if they know you have real concerns. ??Say you’re researching the family tree, and you have questions about medical history or causes of death. #FamilyMedicalHistory #NationalFamilyHealthHistoryDay #FamilyHealthMatters #FamilyHealth

Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of any cancer, with 98% of diagnoses ending in death. It is a stark statistic, but an important one to share during National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, because it could save a life. Early detection is critical to effective treatment and survival. This month, assess your pancreatic cancer risk with a simple 10-question survey at www.pancan.org, and encourage your loved ones to do the same. #PancreaticCancerAwareness #KnowYourRisk

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month Nearly 7 million people in the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, with even more cases undiagnosed. Research reveals that Alzheimer's can begin affecting the brain 20 years or more before symptoms appear. This November, for Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, take time to understand the factors that may increase your risk: * Age: Most cases occur in individuals age 65 or older. * Family History: Having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s can raise your risk. * Medical Conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity increase the likelihood of Alzheimer’s. * Lifestyle: High blood pressure, binge drinking, and smoking can all heighten the risk. * Trauma: A head injury with loss of consciousness may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. If you're concerned about your risk, discussing it with your primary care doctor is a great first step. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can empower you to take proactive steps to slow its progression and plan for the future. #AlzheimersAwareness #KnowYourRisk #EarlyDetection

Mental Health Monday Another Monday, another #mentalhealth tip! How are you sleeping these days? Have you adjusted from the end of Daylight Savings Time, or does your internal clock still feel a bit out of sync? Sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential for our mental wellness! ?? Getting enough quality sleep can help reduce stress, improve mood and boost our ability to focus and make decisions. When we prioritize our rest, we’re investing in our mental health. If you have a sleep disorder, or think you might, you can trust the highly-trained specialists at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center's Sleep Laboratory to evaluate, diagnose and resolve sleep problems of all kinds. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ebAwpHMr. #MentalHealthMonday #sleepwell #selfcare

World Prematurity Day November 17th is World Prematurity Day. Each year in the United States, 1 in 10 babies is born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Infants born prematurely can face life-threatening complications or long term health problems. While there is no specific cause of preterm birth, research shows that pregnant women who receive regular prenatal care have a decreased risk. The North Star Health Alliance provides exceptional OB/GYN and maternity services to women throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, with award-winning teams at Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center. #HealthyPregnancy #WorldPrematurityDay #NorthStarHealth #PrenatalCare #MaternalHealth #OBGYN #MaternityCare #InfantHealth

?? Provider of the Week Spotlight ?? In honor of COPD Awareness Month, we’re thrilled to launch our very first Provider of the Week series by recognizing Dr. Francis Yew-Wei Lee, MD, ABSM, ABIM, FAASM, FCCP! Dr. Lee, a board-certified expert in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology, and Sleep Medicine, serves as the Regional Medical Director of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine for Carthage Area Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center. His dedication to respiratory health and compassionate care is instrumental in supporting patients across our community. This month, we’re especially proud of Dr. Lee’s role in our AI-powered low-dose lung cancer screening program. This advanced service, offered in collaboration with the Richard E. Winter Cancer Center and Upstate Medical Center, is the only one of its kind in the North Country, helping catch lung cancer early and save lives. Thank you, Dr. Lee, for your commitment to our community’s health and your tireless work in the fight against respiratory illness! ????? #ProviderOfTheWeek #NorthStarHealthAlliance #COPDAwarenessMonth #LungCancerScreening #Pulmonology #CommunityCare

More than 66,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. Since it’s Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, let’s talk about risk. Knowing your risk is a critical part of early detection, because pancreatic cancer often shows no early symptoms. Factors that might raise the risk of pancreatic cancer include: Smoking. Type 2 diabetes. Chronic inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis. Family history of pancreatic cancer. Obesity. Older age. Most people with pancreatic cancer are over 65. Drinking a lot of alcohol. If you have multiple risk factors, your doctor may recommend annual pancreas imaging to help find tumors as early as possible, when treatment is more effective. #CancerRisk #PancreaticCancer #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #KnowYourRisk

November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month! With Alzheimer’s cases rising rapidly, increasing awareness and supporting research are more important than ever. Together, we can make a difference—here’s how you can show your support this month: ?? Share Knowledge: Spread awareness by sharing this post, as well as Alzheimer’s facts and personal stories, on social media. Every share helps bring attention to this growing health challenge. ?? Wear Purple or Teal: Show your solidarity by wearing Alzheimer’s awareness colors—purple and teal—throughout November. Share your reason for wearing these colors and spark meaningful conversations with others. ?? Donate or Volunteer: Consider making a donation or giving your time to organizations supporting Alzheimer’s patients and their families, like the Alzheimer’s Association or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Every contribution brings us one step closer to better care and treatment. This month, let’s honor and support those affected by Alzheimer’s and work together to drive awareness and change. #AlzheimersAwareness #EndAlz #ShowYourSupport

World Diabetes Day In the United States, more than 38 million people have diabetes — roughly 12% of the population. Diabetes is a complex disease with many side effects, but it can be managed with healthy lifestyle habits such as proper diet and regular exercise. Today, on #WorldDiabetesDay, we’re reminding everyone affected by diabetes that support is available locally. Claxton-Hepburn’s Diabetes Education Program can help you better understand the disease and give you the tools you need to self-manage diabetes and live well. Take control of your diagnosis! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/egkG8HQM.

?? Happy National Nurse Practitioner Week! ?? Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are at the heart of our healthcare community, providing expert care by examining patients, diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and guiding patients on their wellness journeys. They’re an invaluable part of our team, dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of our community. Let’s celebrate #NPWeek by showing our appreciation! Drop a message of thanks to our incredible local NPs in the comments below — your words mean the world to them!