Archbold Blog

Every parent has a slightly different approach to raising their children. But when you’re talking to your pediatrician about your child’s health, it’s important to not let your personal preferences about child-rearing get in the way of an experienced doctor’s advice. “Most of the time, parents do know what is best for their kids – after all, they know them better than anyone else,” said Dinest Patel, MD, pediatrician at Camilla Pediatric Center. “But when it comes to some...

Staying up to date with recommended health screenings at every age is a powerful way to take ownership of your health. “During these appointments, we can find medical conditions in their earliest stages when they are easiest to treat,” said Stephen Rubendall, Jr., MD, family medicine physician at Medical Group of Mitchell County. “We can also detect your likelihood for developing preventable conditions so you can take steps to reduce your risk.” In Your 20s and 30s Blood...

“Regular cancer screenings allow your doctor to check for cancer before you show any symptoms,” said Brian Gaupp, MD, PhD, medical oncologist and hematologist/oncologist at Archbold’s Lewis Hall Singletary Oncology Center. “This can help detect cancers earlier, when they are more responsive to treatment.” Discuss this list of cancer screenings recommended by the American Cancer Society with your doctor and see which ones are right for you. Breast Cancer Age 40-44:...

Radiology is a medical specialty in which doctors use images of the body to diagnose and treat disease. Radiologists receive specific training to interpret these images, while radiologic technologists are trained to use equipment that creates these images. Your Radiology Guide Archbold offers on-site imaging and radiologist reads, which means you get the results of your scan sooner than at centers where images are sent to an off-site radiologist. “Being on-site enables the...

It’s great that you’re already getting your annual flu shot (you are, aren’t you?), but that’s not the only vaccine you need to schedule. “After you turn 50, you need a vaccine for shingles, a painful viral infection caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox,” said Megan Mills, RHP, PharmD, pharmacy manager at Archbold’s Pinetree Pharmacy. “Even if you had chickenpox as a child, you can still get shingles.” The newer Shingrix vaccine for singles...

If you get a cut, your blood will clot to stop the bleeding so the wound can heal. But when your blood starts clotting inside your vein, it’s the opposite of healing and can even be fatal. “On average, blood clots kill around 100,000 people in the U.S. every year,” said Timothy B. Daniel, MD, interventional vascular radiologist at VITA Surgery/Vascular. “But if detected early, we can treat clots before they turn deadly.” Are You at Risk for Blood Clots? Some people have...

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body mistakenly attacks its own immune system. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), autoimmune diseases are collectively the third most common condition in the United States, following heart disease and cancer. Autoimmune disease affects up to 22 million people nationwide annually, and 78% of those patients are women. Archbold’s physicians are at the forefront of autoimmune disease treatment. Providers at Archbold recognize and...

Finding out you have cancer affects every part of your life. You may also have many questions about what to expect as you begin treatment. The good news is that you don't have to face your cancer journey alone. Your doctor and healthcare team will be there to guide you as you adjust to your diagnosis and navigate the treatment process. By communicating openly with your doctor and leaning on your support system, you can help ease anxiety and focus on getting healthy. Ask All The...

Archbold offers surgical services that meet your needs from head to toe. Whether you require neurosurgery, joint replacement, weight loss surgery or another procedure, our surgeons have the training and experience to provide you with expert surgical care. “Archbold Medical Center is a smaller system that’s very progressive, said Morgan Lane, MD, general surgeon with South Georgia Surgical Associates. “We offer top-notch, innovative surgeries – therapies that you would expect to...

You already know that to lose weight, you must exercise more and make changes in your eating habits. But many experts agree that there is another big factor in dropping pounds and keeping them off – psychology. "Recognizing and modifying the way you think and feel about food can help you make lasting changes," said Mary Kate Hanisee, MD, FACS, FASMBS, metabolic and bariatric surgery director at Archbold's South Georgia Surgical Associates. "A recent study found that people who used...

In the months after stroke, patients can regain lost cognitive and motor skills through physical, occupational and speech therapy. Through aerobic exercise, they can help protect themselves from future stroke. A store destroys neural pathways in the brain that help it communicate with the body. The immediate goal of rehabilitation is to rebuild those neural pathways, said Lindsey Cone, OTR/L, occupational therapist at Archbold’s Advanced Therapy and Sports Medicine. Regaining...

You’ve probably heard that fresh foods are better for your health than processed foods. But did you know ultra-processed foods are even worse – and on average make up 58% of calories consumed in the United States? “When you eat a lot of ultra-processed foods, you run the risk of not getting enough vitamins and minerals,” said Kelsey Shackelford, MBA, RDN, LD, associate director of Morrison’s at Archbold. “You might be eating too many foods that are low in fiber and higher in...