Newsroom

Abdul H. Qureshi, M.D., General Surgeon Carlsbad Medical Center If you’re thinking, “A colonoscopy?! Isn’t that a test for OLD people?,” you may want to think again. In 2018, the American Cancer Society altered their recommendation for timing of a first-time colon cancer screening from age 50 to age 45, for those at average risk of cancer. The change was directly tied to the rising number of younger adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancers – including many with no family history of the disease. Ma... ... Read More

Reagan Leyva, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Pecos Valley Physician Group Every three seconds, someone in the world is diagnosed with a type of dementia, which is the general term for the loss of memory, language and ability to make decisions enough that it impacts everyday life. Caused by damage to brain cells, dementia is becoming increasingly more common and a leading cause of disability and dependency among older Americans. However, evidence suggests living a healthy lifestyle could help prevent severe cognitive ... ... Read More

Carlsbad Medical Center recently named Teresa “Terry” Dean 2022 Employee of the Year, Christine “Chrissy” Nidy as Clinical Director of the Year and Melissa Suggs as Non-Clinical Director of the Year. The awards are the highest honors bestowed on a hospital employee each year. “Health care requires a special blend of great people skills, tireless energy and the ability to work well under pressure,” says Carlsbad Medical Center CEO Nick Arledge. “People who work in health care share the common desire to h... ... Read More

Elizabeth Madison, ACNP-BC Cardiovascular Associates of Carlsbad The American Heart Association’s heart health checklist now includes new measures for better cardiovascular health. AHA’s Life’s Essential 8 checklist added healthy sleep as a necessary component of heart health and emphasized the importance of eating whole foods, vegetables, lean protein and more. The checklist also added vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke as risk factors to avoid. Sleep is essential for cardiovascular health, proper... ... Read More

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 650,000 people each year. Here are some other facts everyone should know about heart disease: In the U.S., one person dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Every year, about 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack. Nearly half of American adults (47%) suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, which increases the risk of a heart attack and stroke. However, only about 1 in 4 people with hig... ... Read More

Carlsbad Medical Center would like to congratulate Murugan Athigaman, M.D., FACS, general and vascular surgeon at Carlsbad Medical Center, who recently had a case report published in the BMJ ( British Medical Journal ). The report highlights a highly technical colorectal surgery case performed by Dr. Athigaman and his team at Carlsbad Medical Center. It was an extremely rare cancer, called leiomyosarcoma (LMS), arising out of the colon, which accounts for only less than one percent of all colorectal can... ... Read More

Patty Landreth, APRN, MSN, FNP-C Pecos Valley Physician Group Making new year’s resolutions is a common tradition, but 77% of people who make them, break them within just a few weeks. This year, focus on long-term lifestyle changes that can make a big impact on overall health and longevity. The start of a new year symbolizes a time for change, but adopting new, healthy habits doesn’t have to be limited to just one time of year. In my experience as a family nurse practitioner, I’ve found that even small,... ... Read More

Schedule appointments, tests and surgeries to maximize your health plan benefits before year end Nick Arledge, CEO Carlsbad Medical Center As the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Now is a good time to review your outstanding health care needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts while you still can. In considering their health care needs, people should also consider the best strategy for using ... ... Read More

Elizabeth Madison, ACNP-BC Strokes, or “brain attacks,” claim the lives of nearly 160,000 Americans each year. As the fifth leading killer and the most common cause of disability, strokes devastate individuals and families every day. However, strokes can be prevented by up to 80% through adopting a healthy lifestyle and controlling stroke risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. According to the National Stroke Association, two million brain cells die every minute during str... ... Read More

Breast cancer remains a top risk for women, making up 30% of all new female cancer cases in the U.S. annually. Fortunately, a screening mammogram can help detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages. Carlsbad Medical Center is encouraging women to schedule their screening now, because when breast cancer is detected early, life-saving treatment can begin right away. Here in New Mexico, 1,655 new female breast cancer cases were reported in 2019, the most recent year data is available. N... ... Read More