Sep 04 2013

No Appointment Needed

New flu vaccines are released every year to keep pace with the constantly changing flu viruses. Flu viruses evolve quickly and last year’s vaccine may not protect you from this year’s viruses as antibody levels start to decline about six months after you receive the vaccine.

It takes about 2 weeks after the vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. Get your flu shot today. No appointment is needed, stop by our clinic when it is convenient for you.

Aug 20 2013 To go to school in Minnesota, students must show they’ve had proper immunizations.For children, we recommend starting immunizations early to provide protection for our young and most vulnerable as many diseases prevented by vaccines are very often more serious in young children.

Get your children ready for school by making sure they are up to date on their immunizations. Schedule an appointment early.

Make Sure Everything Is Okay

Parkway Family Physicians provides school and sports physicals for athletes and students of all ages. No matter which sport your student athlete plays a sports physical is required to make sure they’re in top shape and healthy enough to participate safely.

Beyond The Athlete’s Physical

Parents want to know that their children are healthy and thriving both physically and developmentally. The best way to do that is to make sure your kids receive an annual physical as part of the back to school routine. Not only will we do a thorough physical examination, we’ll also make sure all immunizations are current.

At Parkway Family Physician we're focused on providing your child with quality care and a great experience each time they visit our clinic.

Jul 21 2010 A stroke is a medical emergency and a leading cause of death in the U.S.  A stroke happens when a blockage develops in a blood vessel and travels to the brain, stopping blood flow. Less commonly, a stroke is caused when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

If a stoke is left untreated, cells in the brain can begin to die. The result can be disability or death. If you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of a stroke, it's critical that you seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Signs of a Stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the body, especially on one side.
• Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes, or difficulty swallowing.
• Sudden, severe headache with unknown cause.
• Sudden problems with dizziness, walking, or balance.
• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others.

Time is important, do not wait to see if the sytoms immprove, call 911 immediately if any of these symptoms are present.

How a Stroke Can Lead To Disability or Death

When starved of oxygen, brain cells begin dying within minutes. Once brain tissue has died, the body funtions controlled by that area of the brain do not work properly. This is why strokes are a leading cause of long-term disability. If medical treatment is sought immediatly, clot-busting drugs can reduce the risk of brain damage, but they must be used within three hours of the initial stroke symptoms.

How You Can Reduce Your Risk Of a Stroke

You can reduce your risk of a stroke by controlling the most common conditions that can lead to a strokes.

• Quit smoking
• Treat high pressure
• Exercise and maintain a healthy weight
• Limit alcohol and salt intake
• Eat a healthier diet with more veggies, fish, and whole grains

There are stroke risk factors that are beyond our control, such as getting older and having a family history of strokes. Men are also more likely to have a stroke. However, more stroke deaths occur in women. African-Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives also are at greater risk compared to people of other ethnicities.