Wellstar Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

The start of a new year is a great time to focus on your health. For many of us, that means setting resolutions to live a healthy, full life. While many people like to reset their health goals in January, Wellstar partners with patients year-round to help them feel their best.

By following tips from Wellstar health experts, you can create realistic resolutions and better your health—making healthy choices a lifelong habit rather than a short-term goal.

Partner with your Wellstar care team

When it comes to your wellness goals, staying healthy starts with a visit to your Wellstar primary care team.

“Your primary care provider will collaborate with you to create a customized care plan and recommend screenings based on factors such as your age, gender and family history,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Cristina Dasoveanu. “Regular screenings can help you stay ahead of issues and catch any health concerns early.”  

Know Your Foundational 4

To check your health status and screen for potential medical issues, your clinician will take your Foundational 4 numbers, a few screenings that identify risk factors for some health conditions such as heart disease.

Blood pressure

A blood pressure test helps diagnose hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), heart disease and other conditions.

Blood glucose level

The amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood can indicate the onset of diabetes or risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Blood cholesterol

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol, can indicate clogged arteries, which may lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Body mass index (BMI)

A higher level of body fat may indicate an increased risk for heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.

Personalized OB/GYN care for women

“Gynecologists partner with women in their healthcare across the lifespan,” said Dr. LeThenia “Joy” Baker, a Wellstar obstetrician and gynecologist. “The first gynecologic visit is recommended between 13 and 15, and the first exam between 18 and 21.”

Gynecologists are uniquely positioned to care for women from adolescence through menopause and beyond. 

“We’ll make sure you are up to date on screenings like mammograms and Pap smears, help you make informed decisions about family planning and fertility, and provide medical and surgical treatment for a variety of conditions affecting the female reproductive system,” Dr. Baker said.

Primary care, anywhere

In addition to in-person primary care visits, Wellstar also offers virtual care options. Connect with your Wellstar clinician over the phone or with video on a computer, smartphone or tablet. 

“While primary care physicians help patients meet long-term wellness goals, we’re also here for you when you’re sick,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Georgia Forrest. “Your primary care provider is already familiar with your background and health needs, so we can seamlessly continue that care and help you get back on track when you’re ill.”

If you need to see a specialist such as a cardiologist, pulmonologist or neurologist, your primary care team will refer you for that specialized care while continuing to help you manage your overall wellness.

“Through our patient portal MyChart, specialists and primary care physicians can see test results and visit summaries and stay updated on how each of us is working with the patient,” Dr. Forrest said.

Accessing care online

If you’re a MyChart user, E-visits are a convenient way for you to receive care from a Wellstar clinician without needing to schedule an appointment or come to the clinic. Through MyChart, tell us about your health concern by answering a few questions about yourself and your symptoms, then a primary care expert will respond in MyChart with your care plan.

Conditions that can be treated with an E-visit include:

• cough
• sinus problems
• urinary tract infection
• conjunctivitis
• back pain
• diarrhea
• vaginal discharge
• heartburn

Log on to MyChart and click “Symptom Checker” from the menu in the top left of the screen to start an E-visit.

For more immediate healthcare needs that are not life-threatening, you can talk to a clinician with WellstarON, our virtual urgent care. 

In an emergency, such as if you are having trouble breathing or experiencing chest pain, call 911.

Learn more about the different types of care Wellstar offers and where to go if you’re not feeling well.

Between cookie baking, busy shopping trips and being with family, the holiday season can pass by in a blur. Through all the hustle and bustle, Wellstar health experts warn it can be all too easy to put off your wellness.

“During this hectic time of year, health may be the last thing on your mind. However, the best present you can give yourself is prioritizing your well-being,” said Dr. Umme Nur, internal medicine physician with Wellstar.

“Seeing your provider now can help you stay on track this season,” Dr. Nur explained. “It can also help you jumpstart your health goals in January and already have a care plan tailored to your needs.”

Start healthy habits

It’s easy to let your normal routines slip during this time of year. However, you can take small steps to stay on track every day.

• Eat right. It’s okay to indulge in holiday treats, but try to keep your main meals balanced with fruits and veggies.
• Don’t forget about fitness. Create a routine and stick to your exercise goals, even if it’s just a 30-minute stroll.
• Catch some Z’s. Maintain an adequate sleep regimen to help your body rest, feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Check in on your well-being

Remember, the perfect gift isn’t something wrapped with a bow—it’s putting your health first. That means partnering with Wellstar Primary Care and scheduling a wellness exam.

Your primary care team will help you take charge of your health and create a personalized plan just for you. Because your clinician is a pro at preventative care, they’ll help keep you ahead of potential medical problems.

After your annual check-up, you’ll know your stats for:

• Blood pressure. Taken with a simple arm cuff, a blood pressure test helps diagnose hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), heart disease and other conditions.
• Blood glucose level. The amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood can indicate the onset of diabetes and an increased risk for heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
• Blood cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol, can indicate clogged arteries, which may lead to heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
• Body mass index (BMI). The BMI estimates human body fat, which may indicate an increased risk for heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.

At your exam, be sure to bring up any health goals, such as weight loss or managing a chronic condition. Your care team will work with you to create a custom treatment plan for your unique needs.

Know your family history & take action

Depending on your gender, age and family history, your care team may also recommend other preventative tests to screen for diseases before they start, such as a mammogram or colonoscopy.

Your clinician can also help you understand your potential health risks with:

• Know Your Heart screenings. Preventative heart screenings help determine your risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions.
• Genetic risk assessment. Genetic testing is a tool to help people determine their hereditary risk of cancer and heart problems. This program also helps couples and expecting mothers with prenatal or preconception concerns.

Learn more about how having an established primary care team can keep you well.

A Wellstar patient recovering from a brain injury got a surprise visit Thursday from a former Atlanta Falcons player in celebration of the teenager’s graduation from the intensive care unit of Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta.

Oheneba “O.J.” Appiah, 17, who plays linebacker for the football team at Archer High School near Lawrenceville, sustained the brain injury during a football game last month.

“After the game, he said he was dizzy, and that’s when he passed out,” said his mom, Elizabeth Appiah.

“I met O.J. on the worst day of his life,” said Dr. Phillip Parry, a Wellstar neurosurgeon. “He had a life-threatening bleed inside his head, and we took him to surgery immediately.”

O.J. has come a long way during his 20-day stay in intensive care.

“His miraculous recovery is a testament to the care he received and an inspiration to us all to continue doing what we do every day,” Dr. Parry said.

“We are so grateful to God,” O.J.’s mother said. “The team here is great, and the nurses are amazing.”

Wellstar Kennestone’s neuro-ICU team, called “5 Blue East,” bonded with O.J. and his family over their love of football. The team members said it’s been great witnessing O.J.’s recovery and seeing his personality come back.

Former Atlanta Falcons and Pro Bowl player Ovie Mughelli visited O.J. during a special surprise party Thursday. Mughelli gave O.J. a signed jersey and photo from his professional football days and shared advice.

“You had a hard situation happen to you, but you can do hard things,” said Mughelli, encouraging O.J. to “ask for help up front.”

The young football player had just one question for the former NFL player: “How do you get an offer?”

By working hard and building relationships, Mughelli responded. He also stressed the importance of focusing on school. After learning O.J. had never been to a Falcons game, Mughelli invited him to attend one next season.

Wellstar Kennestone President Lorrie Liang, who also stopped by to congratulate O.J., noticed Mughelli’s gift.

“Now you have a jersey to wear during rehab,” she said to O.J.

But O.J. didn’t feel like waiting. He put on the jersey almost immediately.