Dr. Ata Ahmad is fully trained and prestigiously awarded in Robotic Surgery. Robotic Surgery enables miraculous surgical techniques to be used that leave minimal to no visible scaring.
Bikini line incisions are being more and more used to perform Gallbladder Surgery with minimal invasiveness. According the the National Institute of Health (NIH) this technique is technically feasible, safe, and effective.
Dr. Ata Ahmad has achieved Master Surgeon status in Robotic Surgery!
Robotic Surgery has many excellent benefits over the traditional methods:
Call us now to schedule your next Robotic Surgery.
(281) 970-8484
February is the season of love, making it the perfect time to focus on your heart. Having a healthy heart is important to having a healthy body. Each year, 1 in 4 Americans die of heart disease each year. In the state of Texas, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the state. Heart disease can also complicate other medical conditions such as colon cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease describes a range of conditions that impact your heart. These conditions involve narrow or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Many mistakenly view heart disease is limited to older adults, but heart disease is diagnosed in adults of all ages. To prevent heart disease and increase awareness of its effects, Dr. Ahmad and Associates is proudly participating in American Heart Month.
The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable when making healthy lifestyle choices.
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get serious about getting healthy in 2019. Countless American’s list getting healthy and/or weight loss as their #1 resolution for the new year. However if you want to be successful, there are a few questions you need to first ask yourself.
How serious are you about your health?
Before you start making changes to your health, start by asking yourself is “what is your mindset”? Are you willing to make your health your top priority? Do you have time in your schedule to exercise, eat healthy, and sleep? What obstacles from preventing you from accomplishing these goals?
What are your goals?
What goals do you have for 2019? Most resolutions fail because they are wishes more than goals, so setting a goal of getting healthy or losing weight is doomed to fail. Use SMART goals to ask yourself:
What support system do I have to help me succeed?
Most American’s ditch their resolutions by mid-January because they are trying to succeed using will power alone. Accountability is key! Success is found in fit-friends and family who are committed to helping you stick to your goals. Find people who will go to the gym with you when you don’t feel like exercising or keep you accountable for the foods you eat. Which people do I need to avoid right now as I make changes to my health.
What’s your plan of attack?
Ask yourself how are you going to achieve your goals? When are you going to exercise? When do you have time to go to the grocery store? What do I need to change to get 8 hours of sleep? Treat your health like a priority because without your health you can’t work, take care of family or have good quality of life. This means making time in your schedule to exercise, eat healthy, going to the doctors (and physical therapist) and sleep. Treat these times like appointments on your calendar that can’t be missed or rescheduled.
When and how are you most stressed?
We don’t always have control over our lives but you can certainly control your responses? Ask yourself – “When do I feel most stressed” and just as importantly, “how do I react to stress?” If your tendency is to eat sugar when stressed, it’s time to develop a new coping mechanism like taking a walk or deep breathing exercises. The good news is adding exercise, nourishing foods and sleep will also help your body’s ability to cope with stress.
How are you going to celebrate success?
American’s love to plan for failure, but it’s equally as important to plan for and celebrate success both when you accomplish your goal but as you achieve milestones along the way. Before you start working on your goal, find something (non-food/alcohol) to motivate you. Ideas may include a massage, a new gadget, a vacation or even a day off of work.
Gallstones are something that people all over the world experience everyday. Although many people with gallstones never know it, they can cause significant health problems over time if left untreated.
Gallstones are a result of bile, which is the substance that assists with fat digestion and helps with the absorption of some vitamins. The liver makes the bile, and then it is carried to the gallbladder where it is stored. Gallstones are solid lumps that occur when the stored bile becomes crystallized.
When someone finds out that they have gallstones, it can be very scary. They have a well-deserved reputation for being painful to deal with, and most people chose to get them taken care of as soon as possible. Here are a few considerations to read up on if it feels like there may be a gallstone in the picture.
Most Gallstones are Tiny
It’s important to remember that the vast majority of gallstones are much too small to cause any problems. Many people have gallstones and never know it because of their tiny size. These gallstones are known as “silent” because they don’t usually cause any issues.
A trip to the doctor for unrelated symptoms will often result in the discovery of a gallstone. Doctors can recommend that best treatment for a gallstone, and their recommendation is usually based on the size of the gallstone in question.
Main Symptoms
Smaller gallstones may cause no symptoms at all. But if the gallstone grows and becomes lodged in a duct within the body, then it may cause blockage to occur, and the person experiencing the gallstone well definitely feel it.
Pain is the most common symptom that alerts individuals that they may be inflicted with a gallstone. The pain is usually sudden and intensifies quickly. The upper right part of the abdomen is where the pain usually comes from, but it can result in a number of places on the body. Pain at the center of the abdomen, between shoulder blades, or on the right shoulder can all be symptoms caused by gallstone blockage.
Methods of Treatment
Most doctors only believe a gallstone should be treated if it is causing adverse symptoms in the patient. If someone who repeatedly experiences pain associated with a gallstone goes to the doctor, then the recommended treatment is most often removal, which is called a cholecystectomy. There are a few options here that can be pursued.
Unfortunately, all of the options require surgical procedures of some kind, but some of the options require surgery that is much more invasive than other options. Historically, the surgery usually requires a five-inch incision in the patient, and that came along with a week’s stay in the hospital. Now the operation can be completed with a procedure called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is a surgery where the doctor removes the gallbladder with instruments inserted through small incisions in the patient’s skin.
Anyone who is experiencing the painful symptoms associated with having a gallstone should seek expert medical advice immediately. Although a trip to the doctor for a gallstone can be scary, the other options are much worse, and modern medical procedures have come a long way.
The dog days of summer are upon us. Between the heat and humidity, it can be tough to get a good workout. When you workout, the sweat your body creates helps create a natural cooling system. Factor in humidity, and the sweat sticks to your skin making it harder for your body to cool off. During summer months, don’t jeopardize your health when working out. Take advantage of these tips to exercise in warmer weather.
Start Slow:
Begin your workout with a warm-up such as a slow jog. This allows your body to better acclimate to the heat. You’ll know that you are warmed up when your body begins to sweat.
Change your routine(Whenever possible):
Parks, beaches and trails are filled with trees that provide natural shade that can keep your body cool when you workout. Working out at the beach or in the pool are also great alternatives to keep your body cool in warm weather. It is also better to workout in the early morning or afternoon to avoid peak heat.
Stay Hydrated (and keep drinking water):
We can’t stress the importance of drinking water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated. The more you sweat, the more water you need to consume. A good strategy is to drink small amounts of water throughout the day to replenish the fluids in your body. If you are participating in strenuous exercise, you may also need to consume electrolytes.
Protect your skin:
Before you start your workout, apply sunscreen to your arms, legs, and face. You should also avoid wearing tight fitting clothes, that keep sweat trapped on your body. Instead wear loose fitting shirts and shorts that will wipe away moisture.
Know Your Body
Know your limits, and know when you need to stop. Be aware of the signs of heat stroke, which is where your body temperature rises to 115 degrees or higher. Signs can include seizures, dry skin (body doesn’t sweat), confusion, rapid or weak pulse and unconsciousness.
If you are 100+ pounds overweight and want to start losing weight, congratulations, this is a huge step in the right direction. Diet, movement and mental outlook all play a role in contributing to your weight loss success. Weight loss can be more complicated when a person has considerable weight to lose. Even if you are considering weight loss surgery or the gastric sleeve, these habits will help you keep the weight off over time.
Movement:
Not all workouts are created equal. Before you commit to a gym or a workout routine, it’s important to do your research. Exercise can be hard on your joints. Look for workouts and classes that are low intensity and low impact. You may even want to enlist the help of a personal trainer.
Even 30 minutes a day of exercise can be effective. Workouts in the water or on a spin bike are great workouts to try. You can even divide your workout into two 15-minute sessions. Once you’ve lost 10% of your body weight, you can up the intensity, working out longer and using weights.
Changing your diet:
Did you know that cutting 500 calories in your daily food intake can result in losing 1-2 pounds per week. Adding a lean protein and veggies to every meal can be effective way to get the nutrients your body needs. Your doctor can help determine your body’s exact caloric needs. Logging your food will also keep your nutrition on track.
Find a good support system:
Weight loss is most effective when you have a group of people to support you along the way. Accountability is extremely important, especially when you are changing your exercise and nutrition habits. A good support system can also help guard against depression and/or giving up when you are discouraged. Finding a therapist can also be helpful in keeping you on track.
Final thoughts — A person who is morbidly obese is also at risk for serious health complications so before you join a gym, start a new workout routine, or commit to a new nutrition plan always consult with your doctor first.
Struggling to lose weight? Eating vegetables are a great way to help you achieve your weight loss goals. For some, getting your daily dose of greens can be a challenge. Other people don’t like the taste of vegetables making it hard to get the nutrients your body needs to lose weight.
Smoothies are the perfect solution. In a single drink, you can get a nutrient dense drink with relatively low calories. Smoothies can also help you feel full faster so you aren’t tempted to eat excess meals. But be aware, not all smoothies are created equal. Ingredients such as juices and some fruits are high in sugar which are high in calories and can spike your blood sugar. Check out some of our favorite smoothie recipes to help you lose weight!
Berry Pie Smoother
Mix ingredients together in a blender. One serving.
Cinnamon Roll Smoothie:
Mix ingredients together in a blender. One serving.
Berry Banana Smoothie
Mix ingredients together in a blender. One serving.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Smoothie
Mix ingredients together in a blender. One serving.
Spinach Avocado Smoothie:
Mix ingredients together in a blender. One serving
Did you know that preparing for weight loss surgery will actually make you more successful over the long run? It will also minimize your risks of complications, reduce stress and increase the overall amount of weight you will lose over time. Preparation for surgery should start at least 6 months before your surgery date and involves reversing poor habits. Weight loss surgery cannot be effective if you don’t change your habits, so start know so you are mentally, physically, and emotionally ready for the journey ahead.
Here are the habits you need to start adopting before surgery:
#1: Change Your Eating Habits:
After weight loss surgery, you will eat much smaller portion sizes. Start now by start eating smaller portion sizes and a diet that is rich in vegetables and proteins.
#2: Start taking a multivitamin:
After surgery, it is harder for your body to absorb nutrients and you are consuming less food. A multivitamin is needed to help supplement your body with the nutrients needed for your body to be healthy.
#3: Start moving:
Movement is essential to weight loss surgery because it reduces the risk of complications. Find an activity you enjoy and exercise at 20-30 minutes each day.
#4: Drink more water:
Start increasing your water intake an additional 64oz. each day. Water will help you fill fuller faster and also help flush out your digestive system.
#5: Stop any alcohol or tobacco use:
Studies show that both alcohol and tobacco use can cause complications to your recovery after surgery. Alcohol is absorbed at a much faster rate into your blood stream causing intoxication at a much quicker rate causing patients to give into cravings at a much higher rate. Tobacco use can cause clots in your blood stream complicating your recovery after surgery.
#6: Seek Out Support:
Connecting with others who have been through weight loss surgery is critical to your own weight loss success. Find a support group that can help you before and after the surgery because they can provide advice and support that your family and friends cannot provide.
If you are considering weight loss surgery and need more information, don’t hesitate to give us a call or check out our frequently asked questions!