TEACH + LEARN

When the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells   What is it? All blood cells (red, white, and platelets) are produced by the bone marrow. Leukemiais a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces too many blood cells. Lymphocyticleukemiais when the bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes, a type of whiteblood cell. [...]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is long-term impairment of kidney function. The kidneys work just like a coffee filter. They remove toxins from the blood. Toxins leave the body through the urine. What happens when they don’t work? Toxins that are normally removed by the kidneys build up in the blood, making you sick and causing [...]

When the spinal canal becomes too narrow Your spine is a collection of bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other. Down the middle, there is a hollow passage called the spinal canal. This is where the spinal cord lives, protected by the bones surrounding it. What is spinal stenosis? “Stenosis” means narrowing. In this [...]

Anemia is a condition where red blood cells cannot do their job. So what is the job of a red blood cell? The role of red blood cells is to deliver oxygen to your body. Anemia occurs when the level of red blood cells is too low to do this job properly. What can cause anemia? [...]

Resources Patient Education PDF Diet Log Low FODMAP Diet What is the role of the stomach and intestines? The role of the intestines is to move food from the stomach to the anus, while absorbing nutrients and excreting waste along the way. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a “functional” gut [...]

High blood pressure can increase your risk for a number of diseases When you feel ready to make a change one of these 5 changes below is a great way to lower your blood pressure without medication! Reduce your salt intake: Consume only 1800mg per day and reduce your blood pressure by 5.8/2.5mm Hg Lose [...]

DASH (Dietary Approach to stopping hypertension) Diet The DASH diet is prescribed by your doctor to help reduce your blood pressure How does it work? The DASH diet is a simple plan that helps you to make small positive changes to your diet. Eat more: • Vegetables • Fruit • Whole grains • Low or fat-free dairy [...]

High Blood Pressure What is high blood pressure? What is considered high blood pressure? A blood pressure above 140/90 is considered high. What are the factors that influence blood pressure? Stiff blood vessels (Atherosclerosis): Blood vessels narrow as we age, and this can make the blood pressure higher. Smoking and diabetes can make this happen earlier in life. [...]

Do I need to avoid popcorn and seeds after a bout of diverticulitis? Text

ABDOMINAL HERNIAS What is a hernia? The abdominal wall is made of fat, muscle, and skin that keep all of our organs inside. A hernia is a gap in the tough lining of the abdominal wall. The red areas highlight “weak spots” in the abdominal wall where hernias are found commonly. The central circle is the [...]