My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Stress [Read/Print full article]
Overview
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We often find ourselves in stressful situations. While stress is often temporary, it can badly affect our health if it continues for a long time.
Stress can be caused by our responses to daily situations such as road rage, workplace concerns, or family problems. It can result in mood swings, aches and pains, and difficulty sleeping. Fatigue and lack of energy can make you feel anxious, irritable, or depressed. Excessive stress can also cause you to have difficulty concentrating at work or school or while doing other daily activities.
It is important to recognize the signs of stress and learn some techniques for stress management. Although stress is common, it can be significant. If untreated over time, stress can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, and stroke. Depression may be another result of long-term stress; sometimes uncontrolled stress can lead to anxiety disorders.
If you have been through an extremely upsetting or even dangerous event, you may be suffering from a severe form of stress known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Experiencing combat in a war zone or facing a natural disaster or another life-threatening situation for yourself or a loved one can be a cause of PTSD. It is important to keep in mind that stress can also be the result of big life changes, such as moving, getting married, or going through a family change such as birth or divorce. Talk to us if the fear and stress from one of these types of situations continues to affect you.
Symptoms
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Stress can make you feel anxious, irritable, or depressed. It can also cause difficulty concentrating at work or at school and can increase your sensitivity to pain. Symptoms of stress are:
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
- Depression
- A variety of aches and pains in your body
- Back pain
- Frequent colds or illness due to decreased immune system functioning
- Changes in weight due to loss of appetite or overeating
Causes
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There are several types of stress. The most common can be the result of day-to-day activities. These can include:
- Problems at work
- Concerns about money
- Difficulty in relationships
- Family or home life issues
- Having too much to do (multitasking)
The more severe type of stress known as PTSD can be the result of extreme conditions, such as war, violence, abuse, or danger. Additionally, stress can be an element of panic, generalized anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
All of these types of stress should be addressed in order to reduce the risk of developing long-term health difficulties.
Screening and Diagnosis
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Let us know if you are under extreme or unusual stress, or if your stress is ongoing. We may ask you questions about your anxieties and worries, how long you have been experiencing them, and what physical symptoms you might have. We may also ask about your medical history to make sure that your symptoms are not the result of a physical illness.
Lifestyle Management
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There are many things you can do to help alleviate the normal stresses of everyday life. These steps include:
- Get regular exercise.
- Eat a nutritious diet.
- Limit your intake of alcohol.
- Limit your intake of caffeine.
- Get enough sleep.
- Take time for yourself.
- Volunteer with a local organization
- Talk to your friends and family about the things that are weighing on you.
- Explore ways to improve your close relationships.
Relaxation techniques help you become aware of tension in your body. You learn how to relax, which reduces your feelings of anxiety. Techniques are similar to those used in yoga and include deep breathing exercises and practice in relaxing specific muscles.
Guided imagery is a technique in which you learn how to use your imagination to create specific images that help to reduce anxiety and stress.
If you have been under extreme stress or feel you may be suffering from PTSD or another anxiety disorder, please contact us. These can be serious conditions that require professional treatment. It's important to know that you are not alone and that we are available to help.
If you are being hit, hurt, or threatened by your spouse or partner, let me know or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to ndvh.org
Call us to arrange an appointment if stress seems overwhelming or continues to affect you on a daily basis.
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Treatment
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Most stress should be treatable with lifestyle modifications. If stress continues to be an issue in your life, talk to us and we can work together to come up with a plan that can help you. If stress is interfering with your daily activities, there are effective treatments for severe stress and anxiety disorders. We may recommend a treatment plan that includes medication, therapy, or both.
If you are experiencing stress, there are some stress management techniques that can help. For example, many people with stress benefit from the following:
- Relaxation techniques help you become aware of tension in your body. You learn how to relax, which reduces your feelings of anxiety. Techniques are similar to those used in yoga and include deep breathing exercises and practice in relaxing specific muscles.
- Guided imagery is a technique that helps you learn how to use your imagination to create specific images to reduce anxiety and stress.
Your Care with Me
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If you have symptoms of stress or have other behavioral health concerns, you can contact the Psychiatry or Health Education Departments directly, without a referral from me. You may also contact the Chemical Dependency Services if you have concerns about your use of alcohol or other substances. They will be able to help you find the resources that best fit your needs. The Health Education Department can help connect you with a wide variety of related classes. You can also find classes in the Tools and Classes section on this site.
You can also contact me. Depending on the situation and what is most convenient for you at the time, you can connect with me in a variety of ways. I am available online, by telephone, or in person.
- For nonurgent questions or concerns, you can e-mail me using this site. You can also book an appointment online to see me in person.
- If your concerns are immediate, or you simply prefer to use the telephone, please call our Appointment and Advice line, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our advice nurses can give you immediate advice, and our telephone staff can send me a message or book an appointment with me or one of my colleagues, if I am not available.
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How We Coordinate Your Care
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Having all of our Kaiser Permanente departments located together or nearby, including pharmacy, laboratory, radiology and health education, makes getting your care easier for you.
Another major benefit is our comprehensive electronic medical record system which allows all of the doctors and clinicians involved in your care to stay current on your health status and to collaborate with each other as appropriate.
When every member of the health care team is aware of all aspects of your condition, care is safer and more effective.
If you come to an office visit
- At the beginning of your visit, you will receive information about when you are due for your next test, screening, or immunization. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need.
- At the end of your visit, you may receive a document called the “After Visit Summary” that will summarize the issues we discussed during your visit. You can refer to it if you forget what we discussed, or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view it online under Past Visits.
- To help you prepare for your visit, please see additional details under Office Visit.
If I prescribe medications
We will work together to monitor and assess how your medications are working and make adjustments as needed. Prescriptions can be filled at any Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. Just let me know which pharmacy works best for you and I will send the prescription electronically in advance of your arrival at the pharmacy.
If refills are needed in the future, you can:
- Order them online or by phone. Order future refills from my home page or by phone using the pharmacy refill number on your prescription label.
- Have them delivered to you by mail at no extra cost. Or you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy. If no refills remain when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me regarding your prescription.
If lab testing or imaging is needed
For lab tests, I will use our electronic medical record system to send the requisition to the Kaiser Permanente laboratory of your choice. For imaging procedures we will schedule an appointment with the radiology department. When the results are ready I will contact you with your results by letter, secure e-mail message, or phone. In addition, you can view most of your laboratory results online, along with any comments that I have attached to explain them.
If I refer you to a specialist
My specialty colleagues are readily available to assist me if I need additional advice about your condition. In some cases, I may contact them during your visit, so we can discuss your care together. If we decide you need a specialty appointment after that discussion, we can often schedule it the same day or soon thereafter.
If you are due for preventive screenings or tests
As part of our commitment to prevention, additional members of our health care team may contact you to come in for a visit or test. We will contact you if you are overdue for cancer screenings or conditions which may require monitoring.
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Convenient Resources for You
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My goal is to provide high quality care and to offer you choices that make your health care convenient. I recommend that you become familiar with the many resources we offer so that you can choose the services that work best for you.
My Doctor Online is available 24/7 so that you can access and manage your care where and when it is most convenient. From my home page you can:
Manage your care securely
- View and compose secure e-mail messages.
- Manage your prescriptions and schedule appointments.
- View your past visits and test results.
- View your preventive services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
Learn more about your condition
- Read about causes, symptoms, treatments and procedures.
- Find interactive health tools, videos, and podcasts to help you manage your condition.
- View programs to help you decide on or prepare for a surgery or procedure.
Stay healthy
- Locate health education classes and support groups offered at our medical center.
- Explore interactive programs, videos, and podcasts that focus on helping you stay healthy.
- View your Preventive Services to see whether you are due for a routine screening or updated immunization.
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Related Health Tools:
Interactive Programs
- Online Health Coach Online Health Coach
- Managing Your Headaches Managing Your Headaches
- Managing Your Back Pain Managing Your Back Pain
- Reduce stress with Relax™ Reduce stress with Relax™
Podcasts
- Exercise Lite Exercise Lite
- Exercise Smart Exercise Smart
- Stress Management Stress Management
Videos
- Understanding Depression Understanding Depression
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.