Author Archives: Joe Hilbert

1. 4 Nutrient Deficiencies that Could be Causing your Headaches

   March 13, 2019 6:06 pm Comments Off on 4 Nutrient Deficiencies that Could be Causing your Headaches

   “Oh, my head is pounding.”

   We have all muddled through days when a headache gets in the way of what may have been planned. Before you grab that over-the-counter remedy to silence the drum banging in your head, experts say there could be several deficiencies that are contributing to your headache.

   Dehydration

   Water, water everywhere, but yet if we fail to drink enough it can spark a headache. According to the National Headache Foundation, even mild dehydration can cause a dehydration headache or even a migraine. Since it’s often not clear what is causing a headache, drinking a full glass of water and continuing to sip more fluids during the day is a simple way to ease the pain.

   Magnesium Deficiency

   Neurologist Dr. Joshua Daniel of Shore Physicians Group said many migraine headache sufferers are found to be deficient in magnesium when they have blood work done. He instructs patients to take magnesium not only to prevent the onset of future migraines because it stops the transmission of pain but also because there are no side effects. Magnesium is affordable and available over the counter, according to the physician.

   Magnesium is abundant in the body but for some, it is not absorbed readily. It can be a genetic deficiency that keeps a body from absorbing sufficient magnesium or it could be inherited renal magnesium wasting where the magnesium is lost through the kidneys, excretion of excessive amounts of magnesium, stress, low nutritional intake or several other factors, according to information provided by the National Institute of Health.

   Dr. Daniel said he includes magnesium with the IV fusion therapy to treat migraines that has proven to be very helpful with patients. He added that it is safe and has no contraindications for patients.

   Fight Deficiency with Diet

   Low levels of magnesium may contribute to migraines, according to Chris Kozmor, RN, M.Ed., director of the Shore Medical Center Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. Kozmor suggests including plenty of magnesium-rich foods like spinach, avocado and almonds into a well-rounded diet to keep those headaches at bay.

   Vitamin D Deficiency

   Why does that sun (in moderation) feel good on your skin? While it warms you on a chilly day, it is also supplying vitamin D to your body. Most of us get an ample supply through our diets with fatty fish and dairy products, orange juice and cereals, and just by being outside. Vitamin D deficiency can cause a number of side effects, but recent studies have also shown a possible link between the deficiency and headaches. On the flip side, too much vitamin D can have its own problems. Follow the recommended daily allowance for vitamin D according to age to help cut down on the frequency of headaches. The National Institutes of Health recommends 600 IU of vitamin D for adults ages 19 to 70. Adults 71 and older need 800 IU.

   Vitamin B2 Deficiency

   The B vitamins help to protect from headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation, but it is B2 (riboflavin) that really stands out and where a deficiency may lead to headaches. Eating foods high in vitamin B2 or supplementing with a quality vitamin may help improve energy metabolism and decrease the incidence of migraine headaches. Foods high in B2 include eggs, lean meats, green vegetables along with fortified grains and cereals. The NIH recommends 1.3 mg for males and 1.1 mg for females.

   Each of the B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, biotin, and folic acid) have a recommended daily allowance according to the National Institute of Health.  https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheet 
   

2. Shore Physicians Group Surgeons Announce Affiliation with Penn Medicine

   February 20, 2019 8:13 pm Comments Off on Shore Physicians Group Surgeons Announce Affiliation with Penn Medicine

   Shore Physicians Group, a multi-specialty medical group based in Somers Point, NJ, announced today that its surgery division is now an affiliate of Penn Medicine. Now rebranded as Shore Physicians Group Surgeons, an Affiliate of Penn Medicine, the Shore Physicians Group’s surgical division will collaborate with Penn Medicine in an effort to provide even more high quality, cost-efficient care.

   Mark Stephens, chief administrative officer of Shore Physicians Group, says this affiliation sets its surgical division apart from others in our region.

   “In order to become an affiliate, our surgeons and practice went through a rigorous review, and we have met the specified standards and qualifications set for all Penn Medicine physician practices. This affiliation also provides our patients with a direct connection to the University of Pennsylvania Health System, when needed, and the confidence that we are all working together in their best interest,” Stephens said.

   This partnership will also establish standards and protocols for Shore Physicians Group Surgeons to efficiently and effectively diagnose patients, treat their conditions, and ensure the best continuum of care.

   “Speaking on behalf of the surgeons of Shore Physicians Group, we are excited to bring this level of expertise in collaboration with the Penn Medicine Specialty Network to our area by becoming a local affiliate,” said David P. May, MD, FACS, President, Shore Physicians Group. “This relationship will bring the knowledge and protocols of Penn Medicine to the patients of Shore Medical Center and Shore Physicians Group, and will foster a closer working relationship with our colleagues in Philadelphia. This is an important development for the residents of Cape May and Atlantic counties that we serve.”

   The office is located at 649 Shore Road, Somers Point, NJ and includes general surgeons David May, MD and John Millili, MD; reconstructive surgeon Mohit Sood, MD; neurosurgeon Francis Kralick, DO; urological surgeon Dr. Meredith Perry; and general surgeons Leonard Galler, MD and Gary Feinberg, MD.