Me and my family thank you for your support in this difficult times. When I came to to this beautiful country 15 years ago, I decided to make it my home and raise my family.This country has given me and my family so much that I wanted to give something back. First I tried the army reserves, they told me I was told that I was too old and fat to apply. So I thought the best way I can serve my people is to provide health-care at a very nominal cost and take medicaid which no one takes in the area. So many people in this country cannot afford health care. These people fall through the cracks where they cannot get government assistance. I would charge so low for self pay that I would hardly break even. I have seen so many patients free that sometimes people think that this is a free clinic. In fact the person who has accused me was seen free several times at my clinic.

But when a old lady came behind my while I was shopping at the local Walmart and said “we are all behind you”, I had tears in my eyes.

Dr. Abbasi MD

After completing his medical school in Pakistan, Dr. Abbasi Joined Mount Sinai Queens, NY as a medical resident. He went to complete his Internal medicine training and become board certified in 1998. He moved to Georgia when his wife Dr. Baloch was offered a fellowship in Rheumatology at Emory. Since moving to Atlanta, Dr Abbasi worked for clinic situated in Downtown Atlanta. After working there for 4 years, the couple decided to move to Conyers. Alliance Family Care was opened to our patients in the winter of 2003 with an idea to provide medical care when it was needed. Dr. Abbasi had witnessed patients sitting in the ER for minor illness. The average wait was about 4 hours during peak season. The ER is supposed to be for emergencies. If your primary physician is too busy to see you then he is not your physician. The slogan of this new clinic was “We are there when you need us”. This made Alliance, one of the fastest growing medical practice east of Atlanta.

Memory Loss With Aging: What’s Normal, What’s Not

How does the brain store information?

Information is stored in different parts of your memory. Information stored in the short-term memory may include the name of a person you met moments ago. Information stored in the recent memory may include what you ate for breakfast. Information stored in the remote memory includes things that you stored in your memory years ago, such as memories of childhood.

How does aging change the brain?

When you’re in your 20s, you begin to lose brain cells a few at a time. Your body also starts to make less of the chemicals your brain cells need to work. The older you are, the more these changes can affect your memory. Aging may affect memory by changing the way the brain stores information and by making it harder to recall stored information. Your short-term and remote memories aren’t usually affected by aging. But your recent memory may be affected. For example, you may forget names of people you’ve met recently. These are normal changes.

Things to help you remember

• Keep lists.
• Follow a routine.
• Make associations (connect things in your mind), such as using landmarks to help you find places.
• Keep a detailed calendar.
• Put important items, such as your keys, in the same place every time.
• Repeat names when you meet new people.
• Do things that keep your mind and body busy.
• Run through the ABC’s in your head to help you think of words you’re having trouble remembering. “Hearing” the first letter of a word may jog your memory.

What about when I know a word but can’t recall it?

This is usually just a glitch in your memory. You’ll almost always remember the word with time. This may become more common as you age. It can be very frustrating, but it’s not usually serious.

What are some other causes of memory problems?

Many things other than aging can cause memory problems. These include depression, dementia (severe problems with memory and thinking, such as Alzheimer’s disease), side effects of drugs, strokes, head injury and alcoholism.

How does Alzheimer’s disease change memory?

Alzheimer’s disease starts by changing the recent memory. At first, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will remember even small details of his or her distant past but not be able to remember recent events or conversations. Over time, the disease affects all parts of the memory.

How can I tell if my memory problems are serious?

A memory problem is serious when it affects your daily living. If you sometimes forget names, you’re probably okay. But you may have a more serious problem if you have trouble remembering how to do things you’ve done many times before, getting to a place you’ve been to often, or doing things that use steps, like following a recipe. Another difference between normal memory problems and dementia is that normal memory loss doesn’t get much worse over time. Dementia gets much worse over several months to several years. It may be hard to figure out on your own if you have a serious problem. Talk to your family doctor about any concerns you have. Your doctor may be able to help you if your memory problems are caused by a medicine you’re taking or by depression.

Memory problems that aren’t part of normal aging

• Forgetting things much more often than you used to
• Forgetting how to do things you’ve done many times before
• Trouble learning new things
• Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation
• Trouble making choices or handling money
• Not being able to keep track of what happens each day

Most of the time,the fever is due to a viral disease such as common cold. But persistent fever of more than 101 F can be due to something more sinister ranging from a mild bacterial infection to malignancy.Fever is not to be taken lightly at extremes of ages. A fever in a newborn, if not treated promptly can lead to significant complications or even death. Likewise in an elderly patient fever can be a sign of  severe infection which also carries a high mortality.If you are relatively young (between the ages of 2 to 60) a fever accompanied by signs and symptoms of a cold can be treated with Tylenol and over the counter decongestants.Any fever more than 101 F lasting more than 3 to 4 days should be checked by a physician. 

Savvy Supermarket Skills

Doing last minute grocery shopping for Christmas? Me too!I find the aisles of my grocery stores are a lot less tempting these days when I stick to a few simple rules:

1. Always take a list. I make a list that I add to all week long instead of sitting down right before I leave for the store trying to remember everything. It’s easier to track the things you truly need when you write them down as you run out. Sticking to the list once you get to the store is the true key.
2. Stick to staples. It’s easier to not fall for those buy-one-get-one free cookies when you stick to the things you truly use on a daily basis. It’s also less likely you’ll find treats you’ve never purchased before when you’re focused on getting “must-haves” instead.
3. Stick to a budget. By working out your budget before you go you’ll find you’re more likely to spend yours on the things you really need rather than things you want. My trick is to leave my debit card at home and take only as much cash as my true staples require.
4. Shop on the edge. The healthiest foods are located on the perimeter of the grocery store. Fresh fruit … veggies … meats … dairy. When you get into the heart of the store, that’s where the sugary cereals, candies, and cookies lurk. Spend most of your time on the edges of the store and you’ll shop smarter.
5. Never shop hungry. That one speaks for itself!