Bio
I grew up in Southern California and attended college and medical school in Los Angeles. I completed a Family Medicine training program in San Diego and then spent three years in the Public Health Service in Maine. I have been a member of the Kaiser Permanente medical staff in Santa Rosa since 1986.
My goal is to provide you with the best health care possible. In my mind, this means making sure you understand the value and timing of routine preventive care (based on your age and gender, see Health Information and Resources, Prevention Information on Your Registration Slip, Tips for Teens) as well as diagnosing and treating illnesses as they arise. I enjoy seeing children, adolescents and adults, but I no longer provide newborn and infant care. Most of the time you will see me, but occasionally I will suggest you see one of my colleagues or attend one of our education programs to address your health care needs. I believe that one of the great strengths of our Kaiser Permanente system is that we have an integrated group of health care professionals (physicians, podiatrists, nurse specialists, pharmacists, counselors, health educators, nutritionists, physical therapists and more) in one location who are strongly committed to the concept of working together to keep you healthy.
I have a strong belief in the scientific method; I am most comfortable with treatments that have been proven consistently effective amongst large groups of people. I believe that the mind and body are intimately connected in health and disease and I try to remain open to the many different healing modalities that exist in our community and throughout the world. I don't think Western medicine has a "lock" on the right way to do things, but my expertise and natural inclination is to pursue a scientific approach, and I think I can be most helpful to you in this role.
When I first meet patients, they often ask what they can do to improve their health. When I was younger I would earnestly launch into a litany about smoking, exercise, weight loss, etc. Now that I'm older (and since such things as websites now exist), I'll launch into it via text.
Most of you already have a pretty good idea about what you need to do to be healthy, and I suspect that what you are really asking for is a reminder and some prodding about what's "really" important. My perspective is that there is much in life that is beyond our control -- you can eat all the "right" foods, do just the "right" amount of exercise and WHAM, you get hit by a meteor. However, having said this, I believe there are some common sense behaviors that are likely to increase your longevity and your quality of life far beyond any test, pill or treatment I could ever give you.
First and foremost - DON'T SMOKE! Smoking increases your chance of premature death 20-30 times over that of a non-smoker. It is the single most preventable health risk that exists. If you do smoke, let me help connect you with our free six-week Stop Smoking Program (call 571-4167). They won't make you feel like a criminal and patients who complete the program are twice as likely to remain non-smokers a year later compared to people who try to quit on their own. I understand that smoking is a really tough habit to quit, but it is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself and your family.
Second, try to do some type of aerobic exercise for 20-30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week. Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood, and if you didn't exercise it, it wouldn't pump very efficiently. Aerobic exercise includes, but is not limited to, activities such as brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, etc. that raise your heart rate to about 120 beats per minute. Weight training is a great complement to any aerobic program, but it is not a replacement for these activities. Your Kaiser insurance will allow you to join several local gyms at half cost - contact Member Services at 800-464-4000 to find out more about this benefit. Learn more about Physical Activity.
Third, there is good evidence that a Mediterranean style diet reduces one's risk for heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer. This type of diet emphasizes grains, fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, and minimal amounts of red meats and saturated fats. All adult women benefit from taking 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 units of vitamin D per day to help prevent osteoporosis. All adults over 65 (and perhaps younger) benefit from taking a multivitamin with minerals each day. The Health Education Department (571-4167) offers classes on nutrition and low cholesterol diets. They also have an excellent 14-week Weight Management Program.
I'm often asked about the reputed benefits of alcohol in reducing one's risk of heart disease. There are now a number of well-done studies that suggest "modest intake" of alcohol several times a week does decrease this risk. The tricky issue, of course, is what exactly constitutes modest intake. My definition of this would be zero to one drink per day. The two-edged sword is that the potential benefits of alcohol have to be weighed against the 7-8% inherited risk of alcoholism or chemical dependency in our general population. If you come from a family where alcoholism or drug abuse has been an issue, I would be very cautious about drinking. If you have people in your family or friends who have expressed concern to you about your drinking habits, if you have had a DUI, or if you sometimes have an "eye-opener" to get the day going, please talk with me or give a call to our Chemical Dependency Program (571-4599) to help assess your risk for using alcohol.
Most of my days are spent seeing patients with common time-limited ailments and those with chronic diseases. A fantastic resource for the former is the Kaiser Permanente Healthwise Handbook which you can view online, or get a copy from me or the Health Education Department. This book contains information about the first line treatment of fevers, colds, coughs, nausea, diarrhea, headache, muscular strains, etc. If you need further guidance, you can always contact an Advice Nurse at 571-4044. Most of these problems solve themselves within a week to 10 days with or without treatment, but if your symptoms become more severe or persist longer, please make an appointment to see me.
Unfortunately, a large number of patients now suffer from ongoing conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and lung disease and asthma. The good news is that there is a range of very effective medications to treat these conditions that didn't even exist 10 years ago, and we have developed nationally recognized Chronic Conditions Management Programs to make sure all patients with these diseases get the most up-to-date screening, treatment and follow-up. I'll be seeing you more often if you fit into one of these categories.
I hope this introduction has answered most of your questions about who I am and how you can best get care at our Kaiser Santa Rosa Medical Center. I look forward to helping keep you healthy. |
An adventure I've had:One of my most memorable trips was to Ukraine in 1993. I spent 2 weeks in the city of Cherkassy, just south of Kiev, as part of a small team that brought supplies and taught diabetic children and their families how to control their disease. Diabetics in the United States take it for granted that they can get insulin at any time, and at any drugstore they desire. The post-Soviet Ukraine of 1993 was an economic disaster; there was rampant inflation, and food, gas, and medicine were in short supply. Diabetics had almost no access to insulin; they were considered invalids with little hope of a long life or normal existence. The supplies and education they received from this project made a giant difference in their lives.
Despite many hardships, the Ukrainian people were warm and generous. I was treated as a special guest on many occasions which often meant participating in the traditional Ukrainian vodka toast (I recommend sipping rather then gulping).
I returned to the U.S. with a great appreciation for all that we have, and with a great respect for people in other parts of the world who struggle under adverse circumstances.
Andrea Skrypka is a diabetic educator in Sonoma County and the founder of the Ukrainian Diabetes Project. Her organization is small, but the aid goes directly to the children and parents who need it most. If you would like more information or would like to make a contribution you can contact: The Ukrainian Diabetes Project, Diabetic Youth Foundation, 5167 Clayton Suite F, Concord, CA 94521. |
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