Central Ozarks Medical Center: April 2017

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Top 8 Tips To Stay Hydrated This Summer

Over 60% of the human body is made up of water. With well over half our systems being comprised of this essential fluid, it should come as no surprise that drinking plenty of water is an essential aspect of maintaining overall health. Unfortunately, studies estimate that well over half (somewhere around 75%) of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. Though experts recommend that we drink eight 8-oz glasses per day (the same as two liters or half a gallon), few of us reach this mark.

As your trusted healthcare providers in Central Missouri, the team at Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to help you and your family get - and stay - healthy. This week, we're focusing on a few simple ways you can up your water intake.

1. Drink A Full Glass Of Water In The Mornings.
Since we typically don't drink very much (if anything) during the night, most of us are dehydrated by the time we get up in the morning. Counteract this by drinking a full glass of water first thing in the morning - even before breakfast.

2. Consume Fluids (Don't Just Drink Them).
The foods you eat can impact your overall hydration level. Eating wet, moist foods (such as fruits and soups) can help you stay hydrated, whereas dry foods (such as nuts and chips) can actually contribute to overall dehydration.

3. Drink Even When You're Not Thirsty.
Thirst is your body's natural indicator of dehydration - by the time you feel thirsty, you're already at least a little dehydrated. Try to remember to drink consistently throughout the day, even when you don't consciously feel thirsty.

4. Stick With Water.

Coffee, juice, and tea all include varying amounts of water that can count towards your daily totals, but it's important to recognize that these beverages contain other ingredients as well (often including sugar). Be wary of consuming unnecessary additional calories while trying to stay hydrated.

5. Drink More Around Workouts.
Regular exercise is an important part of overall health, but vigorous exercise can cause the body to lose valuable fluids. In order to reduce your chances of becoming dehydrated due to a workout, make a point to drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising.

6. Drink A Glass Of Water Before Meals.
Many people don't realize this, but thirst can frequently be mistaken for hunger. Drinking a glass of water before meals can help fill your stomach, making you less likely to overeat. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for a snack (especially a dehydrating one!) can be beneficial as well.

7. Keep A Water Bottle With You.
One of the best ways to stay hydrated is to ensure that you always have access to water so you can drink consistently throughout the day. Bring water bottles with you in the car, keep a full one at your desk, place one next to your bed at night, and anywhere else you go during the day.

8. Set A Timer.
On particularly busy days, the hours may seem to pass without you even realizing it. Before you know it, the day may be half over - and you'll have barely drunk anything! Setting an hourly timer on your watch or phone and drinking a glass of water every time it goes off can be a helpful way to help you remember to drink throughout the day.

What Other Suggestions Do You Have?
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what strategies you use to increase your water intake - what matters is that you drink a healthy amount of water every day. What other tips and techniques do you have for staying hydrated? Let us know in the comments below!

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

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573.765.5141 -- Richland
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Serving Camdenton, Laclede, Pulaski, and Miller Counties

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Meet Our Pediatric Care Provider

Most parents will agree that few things matter as much as the health and well-being of their children. As the parent, you do as much as you can to help your children maintain good health. Every now and then, depending on your children's situations, you may need a little assistance from an experienced pediatric care provider at the Lake of the Ozarks. When you're in need of this resource, look no further than Central Ozarks Medical Center.

Pediatric Care You Can Trust

A couple of weeks ago, we took a close look at the range of pediatric services we provide at our Mid-Missouri health clinics. In order to provide our patients with the best all-around service, we focus our practice on child-centered healthcare and parent education.

Well-child exams, screenings, diagnostic tests, general health management, and more - our pediatric care provider offers a wide range of services in order to help your children enjoy optimum health. If you would like to learn more about the specifics of our pediatric care services in Central Missouri, view our earlier blog post.

Meet Our Primary Care Provider

Kristen Theobald, DO

Kristen Theobald, DO, is a graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. She is also a graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Kirksville, MO, as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Theobald completed her General Internship at the Moberly Regional Medical Center, Moberly, MO, and her Pediatric Residency at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Dr. Theobald has been the collaborating physician for Kids Harbor I and II since 2012. Most recently, she practiced at Moberly Regional Medical Center in Moberly, MO. She joined the Central Ozarks Medical Center group of providers in July of 2015.

Dr. Theobald is Board Certified in Pediatrics through the American Academy of Pediatrics, of which she has been an active member since 2006.

During her free time, Dr. Theobald enjoys golfing, swimming, and spending time with her family.

Schedule Your Visit With Dr. Theobald!

If you are looking for a reliable, caring, trustworthy, honest, and fun care provider for your children, look no further than Dr. Kristen Theobald. Though she has only been with our practice for almost two years, she has already proven herself to be a valuable addition to our team.

Call our Osage Beach location at 573-346-7490 to schedule your child's appointment with Dr. Theobald today!

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Thursday, April 13, 2017

7 Tips To Beat Spring Allergies

Ah, springtime! After a long winter, there is nothing like feeling a warm breeze and smelling a bright, cheery flower. Unfortunately, all the new growth also brings with it a significant influx of pollen and other allergens. While you're out and about trying to enjoy the sunshine, you may find yourself dealing with excessive sneezing, a runny nose, and watery eyes.

Sound Familiar?

If the above situation sounds like something you've dealt with in the past, you know just how frustrating spring allergies can be. Fortunately, you may not have to resign yourself to months of suffering - there are certain things you can do to help reduce the impact spring allergies have on your life. Central Ozarks Medical Center is here to help you out with these simple (but effective) strategies.

Tips To Beat Spring Allergies

1. Spend Less Time Outside

If you know you are prone to springtime allergies, the best way to reduce your symptoms is to minimize your exposure to the allergens. For many people, this means staying inside during springtime when pollen and other common allergens are most present.

2. Wear Sunglasses

Consider donning a pair of shades while you're out and about. Not only will sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun's harsh ultra-violet rays - they can shield your eyes from some of the pollen that is floating through the air. A hat with a wide brim may also be beneficial.

3. Keep Your Windows Closed

While there's nothing quite as refreshing as the breeze that comes from opening your windows, there's also nothing quite as miserable as dealing with watery eyes and continual sneezes. Pollen can easily fit through the netting in your screens, so opening your windows allows the pollen to enter your home and coat your furniture, countertops, floors, and other surfaces. Keeping your windows closed will reduce the amount of pollen you are exposed to inside your home.

4. Shower After Being Outside

If you do choose to spend time outside, it may be helpful to change your clothes, take a shower, and wash your hair after returning indoors. This way, you'll be less likely to bring the pollen inside with you.

5. Run Your Air Conditioner

When the air in your home cycles through the HVAC system, it is pushed through a filter. This filter can trap pollen and other particles, thus helping to purify the air in your home. Running your system can reduce the number of particles floating in your air and therefore may help keep your allergies in check. Don't forget to change your filter every 1-2 months!

6. Replace The Carpet

If you consistently battle with severe allergies, it may be worthwhile to replace the carpet in your home. Hardwood, tile, vinyl, or linoleum flooring is often preferable for people with allergies, as carpet tends to trap pollen, dust mites, etc. Hard floor surfaces are much easier to keep clean of these pesky allergens.

7. Take Allergy Medicine

There are a variety of over-the-counter medicines designed to help alleviate the symptoms commonly associated with spring allergies. Read the package of your chosen medicine prior to usage, however; certain types may make you drowsy, so it is important to know what to expect from your dosage. If you consistently struggle with allergies, you may want to consider taking non-drowsy medicine even before your symptoms manifest.

COMC Is Here For You!

If you're having trouble overcoming your springtime allergies, consider reaching out to our affordable health clinic in central Missouri. With locations in Camdenton, Osage Beach, and Richland, we are conveniently accessible to patients all across Mid-Missouri. If you would like more information about how we may able to help you minimize the symptoms associated with your allergies, contact Central Ozarks Medical Center.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Pediatric Care You Can Trust

As a parent, nothing matters more than the health and well-being of your children. Part of ensuring that your children are given the resources they need to thrive involves regularly visiting a Missouri pediatric care provider. By bringing your child to routine wellness visits and promptly seeking care when your child displays symptoms of being sick, you can offer them the resources they need to lead healthy lives.

At Central Ozarks Medical Center, we recognize the profound importance of finding a pediatric care provider that you like as well as trust. We are honored to provide pediatric care at the Lake of the Ozarks and in Richland, MO. We strive to do everything we can to earn - and keep - our clients' trust. Keep reading to learn more about the pediatric care services offered at our Mid-Missouri medical clinics.

Pediatric Care at the Lake of the Ozarks

Beginning with their very first heartbeat, you want to be confident that your children receive the best of everything, including the best medical care. At Central Ozarks Medical Center, our pediatric services revolve around two primary components: child-focused healthcare and parent education.

Child-Focused Healthcare

Children are at a very vulnerable stage in their lives. They rely almost totally on the care provided to them by their parents or guardians. When their children are in need of medical care, parents are also in a vulnerable place - they rely heavily on their trusted healthcare providers to help them care for their children.

At Central Ozarks Medical Center, we recognize the immense trust parents place in us when they bring their child to see our pediatric care provider in central Missouri. Continually earning that trust is our top priority. We are proud to offer a variety of child-focused health services to serve our pediatric patients:

Well-child exams
Diagnostic tests
Follow-up of chronic problems
Sports screenings
Evaluation and management of growth
General health management

Parent Education

As a pediatric care provider, the amount of care we can provide to our child patients. While we can (and do) provide them with the best care we can while they are with us, these patients obviously spend a significant amount of time not under our direct care and supervision. We make up for this by striving to educate the parents and guardians of our pediatric patients. Once they know what to look for and what to expect, parents and guardians are able to better care for their children by quickly responding anytime anything seems unusual.

Trust COMC For Your Pediatric Care Needs

Like you, we consider caring for your children's health and well-being to be our top priority. If you are looking for a pediatric doctor in Mid-Missouri, we hope you'll consider Dr. Kristen Theobald, DO at Central Ozarks Medical Center. Though she has only been a part of our team for a couple of years, Dr. Theobald has already proven herself to be a valuable asset here at COMC.

For more information, please visit our website at www.CentralOzarks.org. You can also call us directly at whichever location is most convenient for you.

Central Ozarks Medical Center
Keeping Lack of Insurance From Being a Roadblock to Quality Healthcare