Reusser has a heart for his home town

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:51

Cardiologist Layne Reusser: “It’s fun to give something back to the community. These outreach clinics have been an integral part of our group’s practice.” One of Hillsboro’s own has gone on to establish his own cardiology practice in Wichita, but he still finds time to come home and lend a helping hand.

Cardiology physician Layne Reusser makes the trek once a month to consult with patients in the Hillsboro and Marion area.

“It’s fun to give something back to the community,” Reusser said. “These outreach clinics have been an integral part of our group’s practice.

“Almost everybody in our group does outreach clinics.”

The monthly trips have also given him the chance to visit his family in the area.

“In the early years, it wasn’t quite so busy, so I could spend some time out on the farm,” he said. “Now it’s gotten busier, and Mom has moved into town, but I...

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With advancing age comes fewer fevers

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:49

Q I remember having lots of fevers as a kid, but, now that I’m older, I don’t get them like I used to. What gives?

AThe immune system doesn’t function as efficiently in older adults as it does in younger people. The body’s fever response to infection is not always automatic in elderly people. More than 20 percent of adults over age 65 who have serious bacterial infections do not have fevers.

This brings us to germs, which are defined as microbes that cause disease. Infectious diseases caused by microbes are the leading cause of death.

Microbes are microscopic organisms that are everywhere. Some microbes cause disease. Others are essential for health. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi or...

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Know the warning signs of teen eating disorders

Written by Joyce Kyle Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:48

Eating disorders tend to affect more girls than boys during adolescence. This is an emotional disorder that requires the intervention of a health-care professional before it becomes a life-threatening issue.

Some warning signs of anorexia are:

1. Losing 25 percent of normal body weight without being on a diet.

2. Having a distorted body image.

3. Dieting constantly even though she is thin.

4. Fear of weight gain.

5. Menstrual periods have stopped (this is known as amenorrhea).

6. Preoccupation with food, calories and eating.

7. Exercising excessively.

8. Binging and purging.

The warning signs of bulimia would include the following:

1. Eating uncontrollably (binges), often in secret.

2. Purging by vomiting, abusing laxatives...

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Painful joints: Self-care or seek professional assistance?

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 12 July 2011 15:59

The joints do some important work for the human body, and figuring out when things will get better on their own and when you may have a more serious problem is not easy. If your arm goes numb and your speech is slurred, you know you need to seek immediate medical attention. When you nick yourself shaving, you know you can deal with it yourself. But for the vast number of maladies in between, it can be difficult to know when to go to the doctor and when to deal with it on your own.

One of the most difficult situations in which you need to make the “home care vs. professional care” decision may be when something affects your joints.

The joints do some important work for the human body, and figuring out when things will get better on their own and when you may have a more serious problem is not easy.

When to seek help

William Ungureit, clinical director of the physician assistant training program...

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