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This week’s edition of Our Health takes a look at West Nile Virus, eating healthy and keeping cool during the summer months. Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital’s stroke team 1B · Recognizing signs and symptoms of West Nile Virus 3B • Health Inspections 4B
EnrollinG now 713-290-8277 5000 west Tidwell www.oslschool.org
Saturday, June 13, 2015 • Page 1B
The Fast-Acting Stroke Team
Saving Time and Lives at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital
Preferred Health DireCtory
Memorial Hermann Northwest For The Leader
Dental Care
Lawton
Mark E. Lawton, D.D.S., P.A. General Dentistry 7938 Antoine Drive Houston, Texas 77088 Tel: 281-447-2186 Mark.LawtonDDS@sbcglobal.net
Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Northwest Reza Sadeghi, M.D., a neurologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital and Mischer Neuroscience Associates, has worked diligently with the stroke team to provide the Greater Heights community with exceptional care. Memorial Hermann Northwest earned designation as a primary stroke center by the state and Joint Commission earlier this year.
her face was much less pronounced the following day as she recovered from the stroke under the care of Dr. Sadeghi and his staff. “The stroke team at Memorial Hermann Northwest is committed to providing excellent service,” Dr. Sadeghi said. “The earlier we can administer treatment, the better
it is for the brain to recover from a stroke.” Stroke, which occurs when blood flow is cut off to an area of the brain by a clot or vessel rupture, is the fourthleading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American
Stroke Association. The first hour following the onset of acute stroke symptoms is critical in determining recovery and in some cases, survival for stroke victims. Every minute an acute stroke goes untreated, the victim loses 1.9 million neurons, according to the National Stroke Association. Losing
neurons, vital components to the central nervous system, significantly accelerates aging of the brain and can affect motor function, sensory organs and memory. “We are always working to improve our door-to-needle time for treatment,” Dr. Sadeghi said. “We take every deSee Stroke Team, P. 4B
Beating the Heat Rising temperatures means greater risk for heat exhaustion, stroke By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com As most people who live in Houston can attest to, the upcoming summer months won’t be getting particularly cooler any time soon. That means plenty of chances for sunburn, heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Heat related illnesses are caused primarily by two factors, says Shilipa Pankaj, a pediatrician affialiated with Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital who operates out of Peekaboo Pediatrics, located at 1740 West 27th St. These factors include an increase in
environmental heat and the inability of the body to properly dissipate heat. “When you get both of those, you end up with conditions like heat exhaustion or heat stroke,” Pankaj said. In places like Houston, where there is high humidity throughout the year, Pankaj said our region’s environment can complicate our body’s ability to cool itself. “Our usual way of dissipating heat is by sweating,” Pankaj said. “During high levels of humidity, that water does not evaporate properly off of our skin. This happens particularly when the temperature
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How long do your groceries last? • Butter: 2-3 weeks • Bread: Wrap well and store in freezer for up to 3 months • Fresh eggs: 3-4 weeks • Salmon: 1-2 days See Smart Food, P. 4B
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Have you ever tried eating healthier so you load your fridge with enough food to feed an entire village, only to spend the next weekend cleaning out a month’s worth of rotten fruits and vegetables? Well, you are not alone. Millions of people throw away more than $1,000 worth of spoiled food a year. In 2012, Americans disposed of almost 36 million tons of food according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a 20% increase since 2000 and almost three times the amount thrown away in 1960. Before you spend your hard-earned cash on a lavish refrigerator full of food, check out these tips on how to increase the lifespan of your groceries without breaking the bank: • Parsley: Keep stems in water and wrap in plastic • Lettuce: Rinse before refrigerating • Celery: Wrap with a moist paper towel • Bell peppers: Freeze to keep up to 6 months • Eggs: Keep eggs in original carton in coldest part of the refrigerator • Butter: Wrap or cover tightly, store only a 2-day supply in the door Don’t overload the refrigerator with groceries. This can lower the overall temperature and restrict the circulation of air which causes food to spoil faster. Be mindful of product placement. The buildup of ethylene gas, produced by foods such as apples, can speed up the ripening process.
Complete Medical Supply
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See Heat Exhaust, P. 3B
By Catherine Kruppa For The Leader
Medical Suppliers
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of the environment is greater than 95 degrees or humidity is at 75 percent or greater.” Symptoms of heat exhaustion include elevated heart rate, intense sweating, confusion, nausea, headaches and fatigue, Pankaj said. “In extreme cases you can faint and lose consciousness,” Pankaj said. “If you have any neurological symptoms, you have to seek medical care immediately.” For youngsters who may be enjoying activities outside like summer league sports, Pankaj said parents and groups should schedule practices and games earlier in the morning or in the early evening. Athletes in general are more susceptible to issues with heat, so these guidelines also apply to adults as well. However children may be in need of some extra guidance as they are at higher risk without realizing it. “The reason is because children have higher metabolic rates,” Pankaj said. “Children absorb heat at a faster rate and they have smaller blood volume so they don’t dissipate heat as quickly as adults, nor do they sweat as much. Children are also less likely to to take breaks and re-hydrate, so it’s important to have break time to rest.” If athletes, or others for that matter, are in a situation in which they feel they are suffering from heat exhaustion, Pankaj advises them to stop exercising immediately, remove any excess clothing and spray themselves with
How to Keep Your Food on Life Support
1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
Advance H e
Regina Woods didn’t have time to spare. It was just after 9 a.m. on a Monday morning and she was having a stroke. Woods’ thoughtful and quick-thinking co-workers called 911 after noticing her slurred speech and the uncharacteristic drooping on the left side of her face. By 9:15 a.m., EMS had rushed the 55-year-old pharmacist to the emergency center at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, the nearest designated primary stroke center. Led by Reza Sadeghi, M.D., a neurologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Northwest and Mischer Neuroscience Associates, the stroke team assessed, stabilized, evaluated and treated Woods in 28 minutes, drastically reducing the potential for further damage in far less time than the 60-minute “door-toneedle” standard for primary stroke centers. “The most impressive thing was the (stroke) team,” Woods said the next day. “Everyone was working well together to take care of me.” Woods’ ability to speak improved the same evening she was treated and the droop in
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Women’s Care
Sharon Smith, M.D. & Amber Dobyne, M.D. The Preserve 2010 N. Loop West, Suite 260 Houston, Texas 77018 Tel: 713-697-8555 www.obgyncaretx.com
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