Scripps Health - All News for Executive Health

Stay Healthy in 2011 with Scripps Center for Executive Health

2011-01-06T09:06:37-08:00

If your New Year’s resolution was to be healthier, then getting a WholePerson Exam at Scripps Center for Executive Health is a great way to get started. Editor of Ranch and Coast Magazine, Andrea Naverson, recently went through the WholePerson exam to learn more about her current health, her health risks and how to have a healthy future. Medical Director Scott Carstens, MD, was interviewed for the story.

Read: Mid-Life Tune Up

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Center for Executive Health Named in Top 10 Executive Health Programs

2010-07-30T10:07:45-07:00

Scripps Center for Executive Health was recently listed on Worth magazine’s website as one of the top 10 programs of its kind in the country. Worth is a publication dedicated to providing information about financial, legal and lifestyle issues unique to high net worth individuals.

Read "The Top 10 Executive Health Programs" (PDF, 2.9 MB).

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Scripps Center for Executive Health Now Offers Genetic Testing

2010-07-06T13:06:53-07:00

The Scripps Center for Executive Health is one of an elite few executive health programs in the country to now offer its patients genetic risk analysis testing. In keeping with its mission of providing preventive health care strategies for its clients, this newly added service helps patients personalize their prevention strategies according to their genetic risks.

Using genetic analysis services offered through Navigenics®, patients can receive a confidential, in-depth summary of their genetic predisposition for a variety of important health conditions, as well as personalized information on which medications work best for them.

“Through DNA risk analysis testing, the physicians at Scripps Center for Executive Health will be able to provide guidance regarding particular disease susceptibility for their patients, help with actionable steps of prevention and fine-tune certain medications and optimal dosage,” says Eric J. Topol, MD, chief academic officer of Scripps Health and director of Scripps Translational Science Institute.

Using a simple saliva test, the genetic risk analysis looks at variations in patients’ DNA and provides information about their genetic predisposition for a variety of important health conditions, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Patients are also offered unlimited access to genetic experts – Navigenics board-certified genetic counselors that can help patients understand their results and what to focus on with their personal physicians so they can take action.

The genetic risk analysis test is offered for an additional fee as an adjunct to the Scripps Center for Executive Health’s WholePerson™ exam. For more than 25 years, Scripps Center for Executive has provided comprehensive medical evaluations and personalized preventative strategies to meet the needs of busy individuals. Its multidisciplinary team of world class Scripps physicians and degreed lifestyle specialists provide individually tailored physicals and testing in a convenient one-day period, all delivered in a spa-like setting. More information can be found at www.executivehealth.org.

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

The High-Tech Presidential Physical

2010-04-02T14:54:56-07:00

CNN.com ran an article about high-tech tests as part of an annual examination. Scripps Center for Executive Health, located at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, is mentioned in the article for their comprehensive WholePerson Examination.

Read Should you get a presidential physical?

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
E-mail: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Medical Director of Scripps Center for Executive Health Profiled in Local Papers

2009-09-21T10:45:26-07:00

Dr. Scott Carstens, medical director of the Scripps Center for Executive Health, was recently profiled in the Rancho Santa Fe Review:

Read RSF physician directs Scripps medical team conducting ‘whole person’ exams (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
Email: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

One-stop Check-up in a Spa-like Setting

2009-03-06T11:23:55-08:00

Channel 8 reporter Jeff Zevely became the patient and put himself through a full-day comprehensive health examination at the Scripps Center for Executive Health.

Within a span of about eight hours, Jeff underwent literally dozens of physical tests with a handful of physicians (internal medicine, cardiologist, dermatologist, etc.), and a variety of lifestyle consultations with health care experts (nutritionist, psychologist, exercise physiologist, etc.).

For more information about the Scripps Center for Executive Health, call 1-800-345-1130.

Scripps Center for Executive Health Featured in Continental magazine

2009-01-08T14:00:31-08:00

Scripps Center for Executive Health is featured in the January issue of Continental magazine, the in-flight magazine for Continental airlines, in an article that examines trends in executive health and wellness. Executive Prescription explores what companies around the country are doing to ensure the highest levels of health in the C-suite.

James Tuck, manager of Scripps Center for Executive Health, addresses how convenience and the comprehensiveness of the exams are of paramount importance to their clients. That’s because in a span of about eight hours, a patient undergoes literally dozens of physical tests. There are eye and ear exams, blood work to determine cholesterol levels, treadmill tests, and prostate exams for men and mammograms for women. Specialists are brought in for consultations if needed, usually on the same day.

25 Tips to a Longer, Healthier Life

2008-12-19T13:27:53-08:00

To start the new year out right, Dr. Scott Carstens, M.D., medical director of the Scripps Center for Executive Health, has compiled a list of 25 tips to help you live longer, feel better and enjoy life to the fullest. They’re simple to follow, and they can make significant changes in your long-term wellness.

1. Get a WholePerson Examination™
For some of us, our only contact with a doctor is when we’re sick or injured. A head-to-toe physical examination is key to establishing your health “baseline” and screen for diseases. It’s also an important first step if you are planning to lose weight, embark on an exercise program or make other health-related lifestyle changes.

2. Know Your Risks
Your family’s medical history can give you a wealth of important information about your own health. Many diseases, such as heart disease, breast cancer and depression, can have a genetic component. The more you know about the health of your relatives, the better informed you’ll be about your own risk factors and how to manage them.

3. Watch Your Weight
Obesity is epidemic in America, as are obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. If you’re overweight, you may also have an increased risk of developing heart disease and several types of cancer, and recent findings suggest that being overweight may even be associated with changes in the brain that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Talk to your doctor about where your weight should be and how to get there.

4. Avoid the “Healthy Tan”
There is no such thing as a sun-induced “healthy tan.” To tan is to damage your skin and skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Protect your skin every day even on cloudy days. Have a total body skin evaluation yearly to detect precancers and learn to self-identify early warning signs on your skin.

5. Be Pro-Antioxidants
There’s no way around it—fruits and vegetables are necessary for good health. Dark, leafy greens, berries and tomatoes are just a few of the foods rich in antioxidants, the compounds that fight free radicals that can lead to cancer. Garlic and onions can help lower inflammation in the body. That’s good to know, because researchers now believe that inflammation may be a basic cause of disease. Remember, the more color in starches, fruits, and vegetables, the more healthy they are for you.

6. Know Your Fat
“Good” fats, like those found in avocadoes, salmon and extra virgin olive oil, actually lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Trans-fats and saturated fats raise your risk, so read your food labels and know which fats are your friends.

7. Eat Breakfast
When your day is packed full, it’s easy to skip breakfast—but it isn’t healthy. It’s a fact that people who skip breakfast often end up eating more throughout the day than those who do have that morning meal. Plus, because you tend to run out of energy sooner in the day, you may try to compensate with quick fixes like sugar and caffeine that can ultimately leave you more tired (and add empty calories). Make it a point to get some protein and fiber into your body at breakfast time. Good choices on the run include an energy bar, yogurt cup or fruit smoothie with protein.

8. Floss
Brushing is only part of the story. Flossing helps remove plaque from between teeth and also helps prevent infectious periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss. Think you don’t have time to floss everyday? Here’s a good rule of thumb: Only floss the teeth that you want to keep.

9. Engage Your Brain
Exercise benefits your brain, too, by increasing blood flow and stimulating the production of molecules that help brain tissue thrive and possibly ward off diseases such as Alzheimer’s. One study found that people who exercised often showed less mental decline that those who didn’t work out. It’s also a good idea to keep your brain sharp with puzzles, brain teasers and other mental challenges.

10. Sleep Long
Busy schedules often leave minimal time for sleep. And when those lost hours of sleep start to add up, the result can be fatigue, irritability, and concentration problems. In fact, driving while sleepy may be nearly as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Make it a point to try to get as much sleep as you need to feel your best. If you have problems falling or staying asleep, talk to your doctor.

11. Laugh More
Is laughter the best medicine? Sometimes, especially if you’re trying to reduce stress levels and release “feel good” endorphins into your bloodstream. Take time to listen to a co-worker’s funny story or read that amusing email everyone is talking about.

12. Temper Your Temperament
And if you can learn to laugh when little things go wrong—or at least not explode in anger—even better. There’s a strong correlation between anger and high blood pressure and premature expression of heart disease. Remember, anger kills. Try to be aware of situations that spark your temper, and find calmer, healthier ways to react.

13. Drink More Water
The eight-glasses-a-day rule still holds true. Water helps keep your cells hydrated, flushes out toxins, and prevents dehydration. Even slight dehydration can lead to fatigue and headaches, so be sure to drink up. Tea, juices and sports drinks count, too, as long as they’re not caffeinated. Caffeine can help promote dehydration.

14. Wash Your Hands
Cold and flu viruses can be passed along by touching a doorknob, telephone or other object that was recently handled by an infected person, then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Get in the habit of washing your hands often and well.

15. Take a Vacation
Time away from the issues and routines of everyday life can work wonders to reduce stress, strengthen family relationships, put you back in touch with nature and let you concentrate on enjoying time without rules and deadlines. Try to take at least a week; you may need the first few days just to get out of “work mode.”

16. Watch Your Liquid Calories
Soda, fruit juice, flavored water, coffee drinks and alcoholic beverages can contain hundreds of calories. If you have a glass of orange juice, a café mocha and a glass of wine during the course of a day, you may easily be drinking 500 liquid calories. Be sure to count them in your daily totals.

17. Love More
Loving relationships can help you live a longer, healthier life. Make it a point to establish and nurture close, supportive relationships with loved ones.

18. Eat Low on the Food Pyramid
Eat plenty of nonprocessed grains, fruits, nuts, leafy greens and avoid complex sugars, creamy sauces, and over indulging in red meat.

19. Get Breathless
Weight control, a healthier heart and lungs, stronger bones, increased energy, a sense of well-being, a lower risk of many diseases— all from 30 minutes of exercise a day. Find an activity you enjoy or recruit a workout partner to keep you on track. You don’t have to do it all at once, either. Three ten-minute sessions a day will still enable you to reap the benefits.

20. Stay Upbeat
A 2002 study found that optimists have a 50 percent lower risk of early death than their pessimistic peers. Optimists are also more likely to be less stressed and have lower blood pressure. If you tend to see the negative side of things first, try to change your perspective and look for the good as well.

21. Keep Your Shots Current
Not all childhood vaccinations last forever; for example, the vaccine against whooping cough is good for only about 10 years. Newer vaccines, such as those that help ward off chicken pox and the flu, also can help you stay healthy. Talk to your doctor about which ones you should have.

22. Make Time for Health Screenings
It can be hard to fit a mammogram, colonoscopy, Pap smear or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test into a busy schedule, but these screenings are critical to early diagnosis of diseases—and the sooner they can be diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. Ask your doctor which screenings you should have, and get them.

23. Curb Your Processed Sugars
Talk about empty calories…processed sugars, such as white sugar, brown sugar and molasses, have no nutritive value and plenty of calories. They can also cause insulin levels to rise, and create an artificial “sugar high” that can result in a “crash” an hour or so later.

24. Chill
Constant stress can raise cortisol and deplete seotonin levels, and that can harm your cognitive thinking and your immune system. Each of us has different stress factors and we handle them in different ways. Invest a few hours in identifying stressors in your life and developing your own personal Stress Mastery Plan, and the payoff could be more stress-free years to enjoy.

25. Live Well. For Life.
Whether you’re a busy CEO or a busy stay-at-home mom, you need a healthy balance between work, family, and self. Be a better juggler. Schedule an hour (or as much time as you can) to yourself each day to relax, take a walk or call a friend. There’s no sense in living longer if you don’t enjoy your life. Take time to savor the good things that come your way and don’t live a life of regret.

Media Contact: Lisa Ohmstede
Phone: 858-626-7142
Email: ohmstede.lisa@scrippshealth.org

Scripps La Jolla Nationally Recognized for Heart Care for the Fourth Time

2008-07-11T09:53:39-07:00

LA JOLLA, CA. – Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla was recognized as a top hospital in the nation for both heart and heart surgery by U.S.News & World Report. The magazine’s latest edition is devoted to outstanding health care across the nation and selected Scripps La Jolla as one of “America’s Best Hospitals.”

The standards used to rank “America’s Best Hospitals” are rigorous. Out of 5,453 hospitals evaluated nationwide, only 170 hospitals scored high enough to appear in any of the 16 designated specialty rankings. This is the fourth time that Scripps La Jolla has been recognized by the publication as a national leader in “heart and heart surgery”.

“This outstanding honor bestowed on Scripps La Jolla exemplifies the excellent care provided at our facility,” says Scripps La Jolla Chief Executive Gary Fybel. “We owe these accolades to the incredible dedication and talents of our hospital staff and physicians.”

RTI International, Research Triangle Park, N.C., compiled all hospital data and developed the 2008 rankings on behalf of U.S.News & World Report. Hospitals had to meet a series of progressively tougher standards to be ranked. To be considered at all, a hospital had to satisfy at least one of three requirements: membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals, medical school affiliation, or availability of at least six out of 13 key technology-related services. From there, hospitals were ranked based on three elements: reputation, death rate and such care-related factors as nursing and patient services.

“These ranking are especially significant when you consider Scripps La Jolla doesn’t receive the additional support that comes with being affiliated with a university, or from being a teaching hospital,” according to Fybel.

For the fifth year a hospital’s Magnet status affected its standing. Scripps La Jolla became San Diego’s first Magnet Hospital in 2005 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, formally recognizing the hospital as meeting high standards of nursing excellence.

The 2008 guide to “America’s Best Hospitals” appears in the July 21 issue of the national news magazine, which hits newsstands Monday, July 14.

Can A Broken Heart or the Blues Cause a Heart Attack?

2008-02-15T21:48:01-08:00

Heart disease and depression- while these two diseases might not seem related, they are actually common companions. Scripps Center for Executive Health has recently added a new screening to its executive physical with this in mind.

Depression can actually affect the wiring of the heart and affect heart rhythms, increase blood pressure, alter blood clotting and can result in chronically elevated levels of stress hormones, according to the American Heart Association. The Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale assessment helps the team of experts at the Scripps Center for Executive Health identify depression and anxiety, which are vital factors in determining heart health.

“Patients are saying that they feel so rotten, something must be wrong, but they’re not sure what it is,” says Linda Thompson, MD, a physician with Scripps Center for Executive Health.”Their primary complaint is that they don’t have any energy.”

She explains further that as stress factors swell to include a fear of safety and an increased anxiety over the well-being of their families, today’s movers and shakers are interested in total health and work/life balance.

The assessment detects the states of depression and anxiety, clearing the way for effective treatment. Stress overloads can exacerbate health problems, including heart disease. Any score above a 7 on either anxiety or depression will result in a referral to a stress management consultant, on staff and readily accessible at the Scripps Center for Executive Health.

She added that getting to the root of the problem takes time, something not always available with a routine physical when a doctor or physician’s assistant spends an average of 15-20 minutes with a patient.

At Scripps Center for Executive Health, an executive physical takes an aggressive approach to preventative medicine with a team of 15 doctors and healthcare professionals assigned to every patient. Only 10 patients are seen per day, so doctors are never in a rush to get on to the next patient waiting in a crowded lobby.

An executive physical at Scripps Center for Executive Health addresses the whole person, including things like stress management, nutrition, psychological and physiological factors and mind-body relationships that effect overall health. Working with each patient, the healthcare team creates a customized plan for optimal health.

Clues to Depression

Fatigue
Insomnia
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Multiple diffuse symptoms
Weight loss/weight gain (overeating for comfort)
Persistent sad, “empty” or anxious mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
Difficulty concentrating, remembering and making decisions
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Irritability
Excessive crying
Chronic aches and pains, including headaches

Scripps Center for Executive Health provides the most comprehensive, whole-person, physical examination in the West. For more than 20 years, the medical team at Scripps has been able to detect disease and illness in its earliest stages, allowing for the highest recovery rates. It is an aggressive approach to preventative medicine with state-of-the-art equipment and leading edge techniques.