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Frostbite occurs when the top layer of your skin and underlying tissues freeze. Frostbite is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Exposed skin is most vulnerable to frostbite, but covered skin can also be affected. “Many don’t even realize they have frostbite, so it is important to know the signs,” said Dr. Joseph Zajchowski, Chief Medical Officer at McLaren Lapeer Region . FROSTBITE SYMPTOMS Cold and prickly-feeling skin Numbness Unusual skin color Hard or waxy-looking skin Jo...

Studies have shown that men, more than women, are at significant risk of experiencing a heart attack during or after shoveling snow. "The combination of cold weather and sudden and intense cardio can trigger a heart attack," said Dr. James Sutton, Emergency Room Medical Director of McLaren Lapeer Region . "The heart can't go from supporting a sedentary lifestyle to supporting rigorous activity in extreme conditions. This is why heart attacks often occur during or after snow shoveling." Snow Shoveling Ti...

Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security. Trauma leaves you feeling helpless, anxious, in constant danger, disconnected, and even numb. SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA "Everyone experiences trauma differently, but not all traumatic responses are normal reactions to traumatic events,” said Dr. Hassan Almaat, Psychiatrist at McLaren Lapeer Region . Emotional / Psychological symptoms include: Shock or denial Anger, irritability, mood swings...

McLaren Lapeer Region has been accredited as a Level III Geriatric Emergency Department from the American College of Emergency Physicians. This accreditation demonstrates McLaren's commitment to senior patients who visit the emergency department by assuring high-quality care through expertise, equipment, and personnel. Emergency department that are geriatric accredited improve patient outcomes, provide, standardized approaches to care that address common geriatric issues, ensure optimal transition of ca...

"I need urgent medical attention - where do I go?" The emergency room (ER) is where you go to be treated for life-threatening conditions. An urgent care center is where you go to be treated for non-life-threatening conditions that require care within 24 hours. Urgent care centers provide easy access to healthcare for the times when your primary care physician's offices are closed. What is considered a medical emergency? "A medical emergency is a condition that has the potential to permanently impair or ...

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that bulge from beneath the surface of the skin. Although they can develop anywhere in the body, they are most often found on the legs and ankles. “Veins have one-way valves that blood travels through,” said Dr. Mohamed Jaber, Interventional Radiologist at McLaren Lapeer Region . “If the walls of a vein become elastic, the valves tend to get weaker. A valve in this weakened state can cause blood to leak backward and flow in the opposite direction. When this...

“A hernia is a bulging of the abdomen caused by muscle wall weakness,” said Dr. Chelsea Smith, General Surgeon at McLaren Lapeer Region. “It can contain organs, including intestines.” While hernias are common, they don’t go away on their own. “Some hernias cause relatively zero symptoms, but some can cause severe symptoms,” said Dr. Smith. Signs you might have a hernia: There is a bulge in your abdomen or groin You have pain / discomfort during a bowel movement You have pain / discomfort in the stomach ...

While October brings anticipation for the upcoming holiday season, it is also the time that seasonal depression sets in. The official term for seasonal depression is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and it can develop into more than just the ‘winter blues.’ What causes seasonal affective disorder? “SAD is linked to prolonged lack of sunlight and cold temperatures,” said Carrie Lovik, Physician Assistant at  McLaren Lapeer Region . “Vitamin deficiency, biological clock changes, and negative emotion...

Ear tubes are small tubes that are inserted into the eardrum to equalize pressure across the eardrum and allow infection and/or fluid to escape from behind the eardrum. Their main purpose is to relieve the pain of ear infections while decreasing the likelihood of contracting future ear infections.   How old does my child have to be to get ear tubes? While ear tubes may reduce the number of ear infections, they don’t stop infections completely. If your child does get an ear infection while having ea...

A woman should have an annual mammogram once she turns 45. However, it is still important for younger women to be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel. “To be proactive about their health, women under the age of 45 should make it a priority to know their body, especially their breasts,” said Maria Cumba, MD. “That’s where performing a monthly self-check can help.” How to perform a self-breast-exam: 1. Face a mirror with shoulders straight and arms on hips. Look for changes in size, sha...