Today’s pollen count is high! The highest level of pollen is 12. The pollen level in Warrenton, Virginia is 10.4 according to http://www.pollen.com/allergy-forecast.asp. Don’t let pollen interfere with your life. There are treatment options available!
Consult one of our expert physician’s of Dominion Internal Medicine. There are several medications and allergy shots available to bring you relief. Contact us today at (540) 878-5408 for more information.
Shingles is a viral infection known as the varicella zoster virus and is often distinguished by a painful rash on the skin with blisters on a specific side of the body and is often in the form of a stripe. Initially, the varicella zoster virus causes chickenpox in children and young adults. Occasionally, adults will contract chickenpox as well. After the chickenpox illness clears up the virus stays in the body and lies dormant for several years. It is unknown how the virus remains dormant and re-activates as the body ages.
Symptoms –
Treatment –
Antiviral medicines and pain medicine will be prescribed for treatment of shingles. Beginning a treatment plan with an antiviral medication will help you heal faster and be in less pain. It’s important! If you think you may have shingles, please see a doctor right away!
Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin with Dominion Internal Medicine are now accepting new patients! Most insurances accepted including CareFirst!
Please call (540) 878-5408 to schedule an appointment or simply for more information.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
Mole OR More Serious?
As warmer weather approaches, many of us have to urge to go outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine! If you have any of the following attributes please protect yourself!
How Can You Protect?
The effects of UVA rays can be lethal if not recognized. This article from webmd.com explains the symptoms of possible melanoma. Unlike a normal mole or mark, a melanoma can:
If you or a loved one have a mole or mark that you are concerned about, please see a doctor. Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin of Dominion Internal Medicine are experts in their field and will be able to check your skin for possible melanoma and if suspicion arises they will perform a biopsy. Please contact us today @ (540) 878-5408 to speak with a specialist or simply for more information. Most insurances accepted.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body and Mind
Have you ever felt your heart beat faster than normal or felt like your heart was skipping a beat? These feelings may be a sign of arrhythmia, or an abnormal or irregular heartbeat. According to the American Heart Association, each day the average heart beats 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. In a 70-year lifetime, an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times!
When arrhythmias last long enough to affect how our hearts work, more extreme symptoms may occur:
Most arrhythmias are harmless and are left untreated. However, if you are experiencing any of the above signs please schedule an appointment with your doctor. There are many treatment options available. Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman and Robert Lin of Dominion Internal Medicine are experts in the field of atrial fibrillation. They will perform several tests to diagnose an arrhythmia and work to develop the best treatment plan available for you. Please call our specialists today @ (540) 878-5408 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
Most Insurances Accepted
In this article from WebMD.com irritable bowel syndrome (known as spastic colon) affects up to 55 million Americans, mostly women. Causes for IBS are uncertain.
Symptoms of IBS
Although there is no cure for IBS, treatments such as diet, lifestyle changes, and medications are available to relieve your symptoms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor. A thorough medical history as well as a physical examination is essential to rule out more serious disorders. Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin of Dominion Internal Medicine have been our neighborhood doctor’s for over 14 years. You can trust they will listen, diagnose, and treat your condition with the utmost care for you the patient. Please don’t delay. Call our experts today to schedule an appointment or for simply more information.
(540) 878-5408 Most Insurances Accepted Good News! Now accepting CareFirst
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
What is Pneumonia?
In this article from the American Lung Association you will learn the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options for pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue. The infection will cause your lungs (air sacs) to become irritated allowing the air sacs to fill up with fluid or pus.
Symptoms
Viral Pneumonia
Typical antibiotics will not work for viral pneumonia; sometimes however, your doctor may use antiviral medication. Viral pneumonia usually improves in 1 to 3 weeks.
Bacterial Pneumonia
Patients with mild pneumonia who are otherwise healthy are sometimes treated with oral macrolide antibiotics. Patients with other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, kidney disease, or diabetes are often given more powerful and/or higher dose antibiotics.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the type of pneumonia you have and how sever it is, and if you have other chronic diseases. See your doctor for the proper diagnosis.
If you feel you might have pneumonia it’s important to see a doctor. Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin of Dominion Internal Medicine are experts in their field of internal medicine. If pneumonia is suspected, the physicians of Dominion Internal Medicine will first perform a physical exam followed by a chest x-ray. Don’t delay in seeking treatment if you are infected. The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and prevent serious complications. Contact our experts at Dominion Internal Medicine (540) 878.5408 to schedule an appointment or simply for more information. Most insurances are accepted.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
Strep throat is a bacterial infection with a germ called Group A Streptococcus. Strep throat is a disease that causes a sore throat.
Strep throat is very contagious and is spread from person to person contact with fluid from the nose or saliva. Be sure to change out your toothbrush if you have been diagnosed!
Signs and Symptoms
If you or a family member suffer with a sore throat and any of the above symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor. A simple throat culture will reveal if you have strep throat. Often antibiotics are prescribed in the treatment of strep throat. You are contagious for 24-48 hours once you begin treatment so be sure to stay home from work or school to avoid infecting others!
Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin have been our doctors, our confidants and our neighbors since 1999. Now they continue their commitment to our health and well being with the opening of their new medical practice, Dominion Internal Medicine. Now accepting new patients!
Call us today @ 540.878.5408 to schedule an appointment or simply for more information.
Most insurances accepted.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body and Mind
Springtime is here. While we begin to enjoy the beauty of spring, we need to protect ourselves from Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread by black legged ticks. In this article from The Center for Disease Control it shows in 2009 there were almost 30,000 confirmed cases in the United States.
Here are some helpful tips to safeguard you this spring –
What should you do if you are bitten by a tick?
Remove the tick using fine tipped tweezers as soon as you realize you have been bitten. If you are unable to remove the entire tick, it’s very important that you schedule an appointment with your doctor. If left untreated, Lyme disease may often lead to a stage of Lyme that is disabling and difficult to treat. In rare instances it can be fatal. If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chances of developing Lyme disease is minimal. To be safe, watch for signs or symptoms of Lyme disease by following these tips as provided by The Center for Disease Control.
If you experience any of the above symptoms please contact your doctor. Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman and Dr. Robert Lin of Dominion Internal Medicine are expert internist’s who will collect your medical history and perform a physical exam to determine if you are infected with this often hard to detect disease. For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact our specialists @ 540.347.5408. Now accepting CareFirst.
Compassion Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
Can’t Stop Coughing?
You may have bronchitis. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, the large air passages in the lungs. This inflammation usually causes increased mucus production in our airways.
Symptoms –
Call Your Doctor about Bronchitis if you are experiencing any of the following:
Persistent Cough prevents you from sleeping
Wheezing or shortness of breath
Cough lasts for longer than 2 weeks
Mucus becomes darker and thicker or turns bloody
Is accompanied by low grade fever
Chest pain
Don’t delay in seeing your physician. Pneumonia may develop and is most often caused by bacterial and viral infections.
Dr. Jennifer Ackerman, Dr. Michael Ackerman, and Dr. Robert Lin are certified experts in their field of internal medicine. If you suspect you might have bronchitis, please contact Dominion Internal Medicine
@ (540) 878-5408 to schedule an appointment or simply for more information.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body, and Mind
Now Accepting CareFirst!
Spring has SPRUNG! So have our Allergies!
Let’s face it. A lot of us suffer from allergies. (Allergic reactions occur when a person’s immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance in the environment.) You might be experiencing some of the following if you suffer from allergies.
This article from webmd.com will give you important tips to ask your doctor. First and foremost you want to find out what is causing your allergies and what symptoms should you be concerned with.
Don’t let allergies keep you from enjoying everyday life. Contact the expert physicians of Dominion Internal Medicine today to schedule an appointment or for simply more information and treatment options available to you.
Compassionate Care for a Healthy Heart, Body and Mind
Most Insurances Accepted