Transforming Healthcare: A Blog By Gwinnett Medical Center

When you first begin your weight loss journey, feeling excited and motivated comes easily. However, once you’re a few months in, the newness begins to wear off. The strict diet and exercise routine you were following become stale and you’re ready for something new.
While diet and exercise are an essential part of any successful weight loss journey, they certainly aren’t everything. So, instead of trying yet another new exercise or the latest diet fad, Devin Vicknair, PhD, a Behavioral Health Coordinator at GMC’s Center for Weight Management, provides some helpful tips for weight loss that you may be overlooking.
1.Be mindful. “We are such as fast paced society that we are not even paying attention to how much and how fast we are eating,” notes Dr. Vicknair. It’s not uncommon for people to eat while sitting in front of the TV or driving and suddenly realize that there food is gone. “We go through the motions of putting food in our mouths instead of eating slowly and truly paying attenti…

When it comes to public restrooms, you’ve likely heard the debate over whether you should actually sit. According to some you’re better off squatting, while others insist that public toilet seats pose no health risk, so what’s the truth?
Well, it’s complicated. While you may not be at risk of contracting a deadly disease just by sitting on a public toilet seat, there are different germs you may pick up. But because there are number of factors that can impact the safety of toilet seats, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common health hazards in public restrooms.
Is it possible to get an STD?
The good news is that many organisms and germs that cause infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, the human papillomavirus or trichomonas can only survive for a very short time on the surface of the toilet seat.
On top of that, the germs would have to make it into your urethral or genital tract through a cut or sore within seconds of sitting on the seat. However, despite it being unli…

If you've spent any time outdoors recently, you may have found yourself swatting away a fly or mosquito -- and that means it's time to brush up on bug avoidance.
Although most bug bites are harmless, some can spread dangerous diseases like Zika virus, dengue, Lyme disease and malaria. This is particularly true if you're visiting areas with known insect-borne diseases. Plus, no one likes the irritation and itchiness of a bug bite.
Here easy ways to keep bugs at bay all summer long:
Your best defense against insect bites is to cover yourself -- with bug spray and clothes. Apply insect repellent with 20 to 30 percent DEET. If you're also wearing sunscreen, apply your sunscreen first, let it dry, and then apply the insect repellent. Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and closed shoes. Pull your socks up over your pants and tuck your shirt into your pants. You can pretreat outer layers of clothing with insect repellent containing the active ingredie…

Hot weather + clear skies + lazy afternoons = soaking up the summer sun. And while ample time outdoors may sound like the perfect way to spend your day, if you don’t take steps to protect your skin, you’re just asking for trouble.
We’ve all been there. Whether it’s forgetting to reapply sunscreen, or not wearing a hat or opting for the sunny spot instead of the shady spot, put together all of these things add up to a painful sunburnat the end of the day.
Now you’ve likely heard that sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are all key to preventing sunburns. However, you may be overlooking other surprising things that may be worsening your sunburn. Here are 5 things your skin will want you to remember:
1. Don’t get citrus on your skin.
Before reaching for a margarita, lemonade or limeade, you’ll want to be sure you don’t get any citrus juice on your skin. Because of certain compounds in citrus fruits, your skin becomes extra sensitive to sunlight, a condition known as phytophotodermatitis. Often…

Though tiny in size, flax packs a big nutritional punch. Some may even call flaxseed one of the new wonder foods because of its ability to help prevent heart disease, cancer, stroke and even diabetes. And while the popularity surrounding flaxseed may be recent, it’s actually a plant that has been around since 3000 BC.
These sesame-seed lookalikes are considered a functional food -- a food that goes beyond basic nutrients to provide numerous health benefits. Overall, these tiny seeds are great for heart and digestive health, as well as immune health.
So what makes flaxseed so healthy?
One of the key reasons flaxseed gets the nod is because it's high in omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids are beneficial for your entire body, including brain function and heart health. And because your body can’t naturally make them, it’s important to make them a regular part of your diet. The good news is with flaxseed, you only need just 1 tablespoon to get the recommended daily amount.
Pl…

This very moment, it is estimated that nearly 31 million Americans are experiencing back pain of some kind. Whether it’s stiffness after a bad night’s sleep, or pulling a muscle after weekend activities, you’ve likely dealt with the annoyance of back pain at some point.
However, because back pain can range from a mild, dull, annoying ache, to persistent, severe, disabling pain, it can be difficult to tell if your pain is just the result of a back problem, or if it’s masking a more serious health condition.  
So before you opt for the painkillers instead of seeking the care of a back pain specialist, here are 4 signs that may indicate your pain isn’t just a back problem:
1. Your pain radiates down one or both legs.
If you’re experiencing pain in your lower back that radiates down into one or both of your legs, it’s likely the result of sciatica. This condition is usually caused by a bulging disk in your spine that is irritating the sciatic nerve, which is the main nerve in your leg.
While…