HCG diet is called Pounds Inches - Adult Medicine of Marietta HCG Weight Loss Plan

2010-12-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

Background Information
The book and research that inspired the HCG diet is called Pounds and Inches- A New Approach to Obesity by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons. His manuscript can be found online at: http://www.hcgdietinfo.com/HCG_Diet _Dr_Simeons_Manuscript.html. All participants must read the manuscript and have a clear understanding of the foundation of the diet plan.

Our Patients’ Testimonials
• “The weight loss plan really works! I lost 37 pounds in 6 weeks. I look and feel younger and am able to enjoy a more active lifestyle. The HCG plan helped me establish some good nutrition habits while giving up the bad ones. I was able to come off and stay off of my blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride medication. I would recommend this plan to anyone who really wants a new lease on life! Don’t wait-- do it now” -- Jim H, age 58
• “I lost 17.5 lbs. in two weeks. It amazes me to think that I was snacking for stress relief – now the desire to go through with that is not there. I am seeing that my old patterns were from habit – not hunger” --Melinda B., age 53
• “I am extremely pleased with the HCG diet results! I lost 26 lbs. and 25 inches – all in the areas that are hard to reduce with exercise- midriff, back, thighs. My blood pressure got so low that we were able to reduce my medication. I was never hungry and had plenty of energy” -- Susan D., age 61

The HCG Weight Loss Plan

Recent research further confirms the already known fact that obesity is a multi-factorial and wide-spread problem. An article written by world-renown obesity specialist Dr. Jeffrey Smith says, “Worldwide prevalence rates of obesity and overweight are rising, and safe and effective treatment strategies are urgently needed.”

Plan Protocols

The HCG Weight Loss plan is based on strict protocols necessary to make the program successful. Some of the key protocols include: Daily HCG injections Water intake of eight 8 oz. glasses per day
First three days of protocol require large amount of food consumption to “load” the fat cells
Starting at day 4 and for the remainder of the 6 weeks, a strict 500 calorie-per-day diet must be followed (no deviations from meal plan allowed)
Patients return for follow-up visits with Registered Nurse coaches at weeks 2, 4 and 6
After the 6 week program, patients are advised to follow a reduced calorie 1500-1800 kcal meal plan. The HCG regimen may be repeated in 2 months, if needed, providing patient has maintained his/her weight.

Cost of the Plan

Adult Medicine of Marietta charges a limited-time introductory price of $600 for the 6-week plan. This cost includes:
Lab profile: Blood chemistry, blood count, thyroid, lipid panel and B12 level, if necessary
EKG (unless patient had EKG within 6 months)
Office visit with physician during week one (unless patient had work-up within 3 months)
Registered Nurse instruction for self-injection of the medication
Weight loss information packet including food diary and additional resources

Visit with RN coaches at weeks 2, 4, and 6; and RN telephone consults, if needed
The fee does not include the cost of the medication. The HCG medication can be purchased at Lacey’s Pharmacy, located in our building. Please contact them directly, as pricing will vary according to availability.

Tuberculosis Elimination and Role of Primary Care Providers

2010-12-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

Tuberculosis remains a threat to the health and well-being of people around the world. Among
infectious diseases, TB remains the second leading killer of adults in the world, with more than 2
million TB-related deaths each year.

Tuberculosis in Colorado
In 1992, Colorado reported 104 new cases of active tuberculosis (TB). In 2002, a decade later, Colorado is again reporting 104 new cases of TB. Though this is a decrease from the 138 cases reported in 2001, the number would have to be cut by more than half to reach the Healthy People 2010 goal of less than one case per 100,000 population.

Fifteen of Colorado’s 64 counties reported cases in 2002. Three quarters of the cases were from the Denver Metropolitan area, whereas 56 percent of the state's population resides in this area. Arapahoe County had the largest increase (11 cases in 2001 and 20 cases in 2002). Douglas, Eagle, Garfield, and Morgan Counties all reported cases in 2002, though none of them reported a case in 2001. Even though Colorado is classified as a low-incidence state (<3.5 cases per 100,000 population), Denver, Saguache, Otero, Costilla, and Phillips Counties all have five-year average case rates greater than 3.5 per 100,000.

Minority groups continue to be over-represented in TB cases. Eighty-one percent of Colorado cases occurred in persons of non-white race or ethnicity. Thirty-nine percent of the cases were among persons of Hispanic origin, and 31 percent were Asian/Pacific Islanders. Asian/Pacific Islanders have the highest case rate at 28.5 per 100,000 population. By comparison, the white population had the lowest case rate at 0.6 per 100,000 population.

Cases in children are a sign of recent transmission and missed opportunities for TB prevention. In 2002, Colorado reported eight cases of TB in children less than 15 years of age. Five of these cases were in children less than five years of age.

Since 1999 greater than 50 percent of the TB cases in Colorado were among persons known to have been born outside the United States. Seventy percent of the cases reported in 2002 were born in other countries. Though approximately 40 percent of the foreign-born cases are from Mexico, there have been cases reported in persons born in 25 other countries.

No new cases of multi-drug resistant TB were reported in 2002. There were four multi-drug
resistant cases reported in 2000 and all completed therapy in 2002.

Challenges to Good Tuberculosis Control
The decrease in TB incidence to low levels creates challenges for public health officials. The decreased case numbers fail to fully describe the comprehensive TB control efforts required to maintain the low incidence levels and prevent another epidemic TB resurgence.

When TB was more common, primary health-care providers diagnosed and treated it routinely. Now, because of decreasing TB case rates, fewer primary health-care providers or even specialists have diagnosed or treated TB. However, TB diagnosis, treatment & control is a shared responsibility between private & public health care. While TB is relatively rare compared to other pneumonias, delayed and missed TB diagnoses are common. Delays in diagnosis lead to poor patient outcomes and community transmission of the disease.

Who should be screened for TB?
The Mantoux PPD skin test rather than the Tine or multipuncture Mantoux test is the best screening tool for the diagnosis of both active and latent TB. A total of 0.1 ml of tuberculin is administered intradermally in a patient. A positive reaction will consist of a site of induration (swollen skin); erythema is not indicative of infection. Induration of >10mm is positive for individuals who are at high risk for infection. Those who are a contact to a case of TB or who have an abnormal chest x-ray or who have HIV infection are considered positive with induration >5mm. The following individuals should be screened with the Mantoux test:

•Close contacts of a person with active TB are the most obvious people to screen.
•People who were born or have lived in countries where TB is common
•Health care workers
•People who live or work in high-risk congregate settings (jail, nursing home, day care, shelters)
•Medically underserved and low-income individuals
•IV drug or other substance abusers
•Children exposed to high-risk adults
•Local groups thought to be a higher risk (e.g. homeless)

Individuals who have a positive Mantoux test should have an x-ray to determine if the patient has active TB. Ten percent of infected individuals with normal immune systems will develop active TB after exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fifty percent of those cases will occur within 2 years of exposure. Those at greatest risk are infants (less than 1 yr old: 25-40% develop active TB), teens and the elderly. The intensity of the exposure will also be a factor in development of active disease. It takes 2-10 weeks after exposure to develop a positive PPD.

Conditions that increase the risk of progression to active disease include:
• HIV infection
• Substance abuse
• Recent TB infection
• Medical conditions including HIV, cancer, renal failure, alcoholism, immuno- suppression, etc.
• Pediatric and elderly individuals
• Chest x-ray suggesting previous TB
• Persons with a history of inadequately treated TB
• Patients who fail to respond to standard treatment regimens

Tri-County Health Department contracts with Denver Health and Hospital Authority/Denver Public Health Department through the Denver Metro TB Clinic to provide tuberculosis testing, diagnosis and treatment for residents in the Tri-County Health Department area. Tri-County Health Department is partnering with DHHA to provide Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) to clients in the Aurora area, making access to services easier for clients.

Healthy Life News

HCG diet is called Pounds Inches - Adult Medicine of Marietta HCG Weight Loss Plan

Tuberculosis Elimination and Role of Primary Care Providers