Susan A. Baker MD

Happy #MotivationalMonday from Dr. Susan Baker MD and Staff! Get up and do something today that makes you HAPPY and ALIVE! #drsusanbaker #internalmedicine #bevhillsinternist #healthtips #lifestyle #lifestyletips #motivation #chronicpain #rheumatologist #quoteoftheday

Autoimmune diseases affect more than 23.5 million Americans and occur when the body’s immune system, which normally attacks intruders like viruses and bacteria, attacks itself. There are over 100 different autoimmune diseases, some of which involve a single organ, like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and others that attack almost any organ or tissue, like lupus. Diagnosis can sometimes be difficult due to early symptoms, like fatigue and joint pain, mimicking those of other medical conditions. If you have or believe you have an autoimmune disease, contact your rheumatologist today to come up with a treatment plan that works for your condition. Graphic via http://verywellhealth.org

Many patients have been asking questions about whether or not they are more likely to contract COVID-19 because of their autoimmune disorder. While information shows that people with autoimmune disorders are NOT more or less likely to contract the virus, it is possible that people with autoimmune disorders may have severe complications if their immune systems are suppressed, either by their disease or by medications that treat their autoimmune disorder. Experts believe that ...the more underlying health conditions a person has, the higher their chance of having serious complications from COVID-19. It is unclear what impact COVID-19 has on the overactivity of the immune system in many autoimmune diseases. Most people who take medications to suppress their immune systems are considered at least somewhat immunocompromised. This means your immune system is impaired and is less able to fight infections. It is especially important that you take precautions to avoid a COVID-19 infection. Keep at least a 30 day supply of your medications and contact your physician if you need refills. Continue taking your medications as prescribed by your physician. Do not stop any of your medications without discussing this with your physician first. News about COVID-19 is evolving rapidly. For up-to-date information, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

Happy #MotivationMonday from Dr. Susan Baker MD and Staff! #drsusanbaker #internalmedicine #bevhillsinternist #healthtips #lifestyle #lifestyletips #motivation #chronicpain #rheumatologist #quoteoftheday

Living with an autoimmune disease can be painful, disrupting, and devastating. But with the right foods and a balanced diet, you can help to ease pain and possibly even heal your autoimmune disease. It is best to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, grains, dairy, and red meat, and instead focus on more healthy fats, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Below is an example of what you could eat in a day to reduce inflammation: Breakfast: Ginger-Turmeric Wellness Shot with Fruit Salad L...unch: Salad with kale and spinach, avocado, pomegranate seeds, almonds, and a hard-boiled egg Snack: Handful of nuts and dried fruit Dinner: Halibut or salmon with turmeric roasted broccoli and Brussel sprouts Dessert: Grapes with Lemon Juice and a golden latte See more

Are you bored during quarantine and looking for new things to do? Color our new mandala! Tune in to your creative side and share the results with us! When you’re done, post a photo and tag us! We can’t wait to see what you come up with To download, click this link: https://bit.ly/35mmSRO

What is chronic back pain? Chronic pain is different from acute pain in that it continues even after the initial injury or disease has healed. With chronic back pain, pain signals can remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, and even years. For this reason, chronic back pain often disrupts a patient’s daily lives and causes significant emotional distress. The best way to prevent chronic back pain is to stay in shape and keep your back strong. This includes getting the recommended amount of exercise using low-impact techniques, eating right, and not smoking. You should also be sure to use proper techniques when lifting and good posture when sitting. If you are experiencing back pain, consult your doctor immediately to find a treatment plan that works to combat your specific pain.

What are you doing to kickstart this beautiful #MotivationalMonday?

What is hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid fails to produce enough essential hormones. In individuals with hypothyroidism, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the thyroid. The thyroid, located in the front of the neck, controls the body’s energy stores, makes essential proteins and controls sensitivity to other hormones. Some typical symptoms of hypothyroidism include : Constant, unexplained fatigu...e Depressed and sluggish mood Excessively dry skin and hair Prolonged constipation Intolerance to cold Rapid weight gain Heavier menstrual flow in women Swelling in the front of the neck near the thyroid (a goiter) Hypothyroidism can result from an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, congenital thyroid abnormalities, iodine deficiency from an unbalanced diet, or removal of the thyroid due to hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer. To determine if you have hypothyroidism and how best to treat it, always consult an experienced rheumatologist or internal medicine specialist. Each individual is unique, so your treatment plan will be tailored to your needs.

We hope that you are all staying safe and healthy. Our primary concern is your safety and well-being so we will continue using telehealth at this time until further notice. Our virtual visits are working and have allowed us to stay connected to all of you during this challenging time. Because we do not know how long this situation will last, we have opened up virtual visits to include new patient consults as well as overdue annual wellness visits so that patients can continue to get needed medical care.

How are you getting your week started?! #MotivationalMonday

One of the most common side effects of many autoimmune diseases is inflammation. There are a couple of ways to fight inflammation, diet being an important one. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to fight inflammation as well as improve joint symptoms. This diet is low in processed food and saturated fats, which helps to lower blood pressure, protect against chronic conditions, benefit your joints and heart, curb inflammation, and even lead to weight loss which will lessen... joint pain. Below are some foods Fish - salmon and tuna Nuts - walnuts, pistachios, almonds Beans - small red beans, kidney beans, pinto beans Fruits - citrus, blueberries, cherries Vegetables - broccoli, asparagus Leafy greens - spinach, kale, cabbage, lettuce Olive oil - extra virgin olive oil is best

Quarantine and social distancing has likely put us in situations we are not used to or comfortable with, but for now, we must adapt. We can’t control how other people think, say, behave, or feel. What we can control though is the decisions we make, how we handle our own feelings, how we speak and treat other people, and how we take care of ourselves. Use this extra time at home to try something new. A new form of self-care, a new hobby, a new lifestyle. Taking care of yourself should always be first and foremost. In what ways do you prioritize yourself? Share them in the comments!