First, when scheduling your appointment, be sure to tell the receptionist why you’re coming in and if the appointment is an annual appointment or a specific health concern. This allows the proper amount of time to be set aside for your issue. As a new patient, bring all of your medications, including any documents involving your health history. For those patients with chronic illness or issues, providing a detailed record of your symptoms when they occur and noting specifically where you are experiencing difficulty (i.e., lower, right side of stomach,, below belly button by 2 inches) narrows the time your doctor has to spend hunting the precise location of your problem.

Next, when beginning your conversation with your doctor use specifics such as: “I fell outside last week and hurt my knee, it isn’t getting better and I think I tore a ligament” you avoid losing precious time by being concise. Always keep in mind however, patients should never shy away from stopping the doctor to ask questions when they feel the need for clarification on a topic. When patients feel a greater need for additional information regarding a health concern, ask if the doctor has a handout to read or perhaps an Internet site the doctor can recommend.

Finally, to avoid further lost time with follow-up visits ask the most critical questions first! Many times people will wait until the end of the appointment to ask about the things bothering them the very most. By that time, the problem is patients won’t get the quality time they need and deserve. Be sure to address the most significant problems –first.

Taking measures like these listed above will give patients the power to get their health care needs meet each and every time they see their doctor.

Hydration is by far the most important element of endurance athletic training. Water generally doesn’t provide our body any caloric energy but is necessary in large amounts in endurance training. Water is especially important in order to prevent core body temperatures from rising to dangerous levels. Perspiration causes water loss and potential dehydration. You must hydrate yourself consistently to avoid getting thirsty as by then you are usually dehydrated.

The “big gun” in the endurance athlete diet is carbohydrates (carbs) which are our body’s main source of energy for aerobic exercise. The body absorbs virtually 100% of all carbs consumed converting them into simple sugar known as glucose. Glucose is stored in muscles as glycogen and is used immediately by the body for energy. Endurance athletes usually need to eat carbs on a continual basis with fifty percent of your diet consisting of complex carbohydrates such as cereals, pasta, bread, rice, potatoes and vegetables. This will keep your muscles fueled.

Most people believe protein is the paramount nutrient in endurance training and eat three times their daily requirement. Protein is necessary for proper body function and to build muscle and tendons while repairing broken down muscles and regulating hormones. Athletes need only fifteen percent of their daily calories from protein .Lean meat, eggs, beans and nuts are common examples.

Recent studies have shown supplementing with antioxidants to be of added benefit. Most can be found in vitamins as well as via fruit juices or supplements. For sports nutrition insurance, daily multi-vitamins with minerals usually accomplishes the task of supplementing. Overall, eating a well balanced diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables devoid of process food, is the best direction for endurance athletes  of every level.

For Dr. Michael Melton, training for the Florida IronMan has been a way of life for the last year. Getting up at 3:30 am to head for the pool or run on the treadmill, Dr. Melton devotes every minute of personal time to his training preparation for the IronMan race. More recently, Dr. Melton enlisted the support and expertise of local tri-athlete trainer, Hector Torres. Hector is a Level 3 USAT Coach who brings several years of experience to Dr. Melton’s training efforts. Dr. Melton has responded well to Torres’ help focusing on the crucial elements of diet, hydration and psychological endurance factors. When asked about the upcoming race, Dr. Melton said: “I don’t really what to expect. My biggest focus now is not necessarily to finish the race with an outstanding time, but to finish the race!” Come on Dr. Melton, you’re being too humble!

Our FasTrack clinic can help! Our urgent care clinic is open daily from 7:30-8:30 am. Patients MUST arrive during this time in order to be seen without a scheduled appointment. This clinic is designed to speed patient access to quality care when an unexpected illness or health concerns occur. Please call our office for further information or for additional questions.

This clinic is NOT for patients experiencing symptoms of a more serious nature such as chest pain, sustained fever for more than 48 hours, lacerations or abdominal pain lasting longer than 24 hours and prolonged illness or the management of chronic problems.