COMMUNITYHEALTHMAGAZINE.COM | JAN/FEB 2014
EYES ON THE HORIZON LOVE LONG AND LIVE STRONG WITH TO HELP YOUR HEART
10 NEW WAYS
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MID AMERICA
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Cape Girardeau light therapy center helps psoriasis sufferers ďŹ nd relief
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If I had a heart condition I’d know it. Wouldn’t I? Free Heart Risk Assessment GatewayHeart.com Not necessarily. Recent studies found that 79 million Americans have serious heart disease and don’t know it. And with heart disease, early detection may increase your chances of survival. So don’t take a chance with your heart. Take our online heart risk assessment today. It’s free. It only takes seven minutes. And it just might end up saving your life.
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MID AMERIC A
JAN/FEB 2014 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 1
COMMUNITY
MONITORS 22 24 26 28 30 31
WOMEN MEN FAMILY SENIORS PETS EATS
30
BY CLARE WALTERS
From feeding to training them to talk, our beginner’s guide on how to care for pet birds.
COVER STORY
Rays of hope and healing
8
Polly want a bird?
BY DANETTE M. WATT
A Ste. Genevieve psoriasis suffer has found relief with light therapy.
6 8 11 12 15 17 21 40
EDITOR’S LETTER SEMO FOCUS SEMO NEWS+NOTES SOIL FOCUS SOIL NEWS+NOTES Q+A WELL SAID PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH
Keep the love alive
Back on his feet
12
BY DANETTE M. WATT
When a major heart blockage suprised this Wood River, Ill., Ironman athlete, he got a stent, and got back on course. 4
JAN/FEB 2014
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
34
BY ERIN GOLDEN One in every four Americans dies from heart disease each year. But scientists and medical experts are breaking new ground in their efforts to keep hearts strong. Read about 10 innovative techniques that could save your life.
When Tracy came to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, life
We’ve performed more than 700 heart transplants
had become a struggle. Her only option was a
and have one of the largest LVAD programs in the
heart transplant.
country. For Tracy, this level of experience gave her
Her Washington University surgeon implanted a left
hope, conďŹ dence and a life she can fully enjoy.
ventricular assist device (LVAD) to boost her weakened
Learn more about her story at BarnesJewish.org/Tracy
heart until a new heart could be found.
or call us at 314-747-2350 for a physician referral.
National Leaders in:
B a r n e s J e w i s h . o r g / N a t i o n a l L e a d e r s
A NOTE FROM THE MEDICAL EDITOR
CHAIRMAN
Larry Perrotto MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mark Hornung EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Carole Sharwarko ART DIRECTOR
Bret Figura ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Jackson A. Thomas
Share your love to protect your heart
LOCAL EDITOR
Danette M. Watt AD TRAFFIC MANAGER
Joseph Krystofiak WEB CURATOR
Clare Walters MEDICAL EDITOR
Janis Mendelsohn, M.D. SALES DIRECTOR
It’s time for another discussion of heart health and what you can do for yourself. Once again it is Heart Health Awareness Month, and of course, Valentine’s Day. Although incredible progress is being made in the treatment of coronary artery disease (blocked blood vessels to the heart), my lens always focuses on prevention, especially in February. What have you done this past year to keep your heart healthy? It’s really all about genetics and your lifestyle, neither of which you can change. If you have a history of early heart attacks, your risk is higher and you should visit your doctor early and often, and look at the things you can change. I know I have talked endlessly about diet and exercise, but changes in both can lower your risk of heart attacks, which can be fatal. Eating right, weight control, no smoking, and regular exercise will keep you and your heart in better shape. But there’s more to the story of your healthy heart. What about expressions of empathy and affection? Can these help keep your heart singing the right tune? Some studies have shown that expressing positive feelings through words and actions (hugging, kissing, empathy) could build your immune system, and lower your stress hormones, cholesterol and blood pressure. Kory Floyd, a professor at the Hugh Downs School of Communications at Arizona State University, studies the relationship between affectionate communication and physical health. He found that kissing could lower cholesterol levels, decrease stress and increase relationship satisfaction. What could be better for your heart? As a physician, I try hard to empathize with every patient. It isn’t always easy, especially if they don’t listen. But if I do, it really pays off! I feel better and don’t take my frustration to the next patient. So try this for your heart, too: Be empathic and affectionate toward your loved ones, your friends, your colleagues, and even your pets. You and your heart will feel better for it! Every day can be Valentine’s Day.
Dr. Janis Mendelsohn medical editor
Liz Latta ADVERTISING
Call Liz Latta at (312) 504-3555, or email lizlatta@cmghealth.net. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send comments, letters, story suggestions and photos relating to your local health news to editor@cmghealth.net.
1550 S. Indiana Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 880-0370 (312) 880-0371 fax editor@cmghealth.net This magazine and its contents are for general consumer educational use only. Nothing contained in this magazine is or should be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed medical practitioner. Community Health magazine content is published to educate consumers about health care and medical issues that might affect their daily lives. As always, please consult your physician. Community Health magazine is a publication of Community Magazine Group Inc. Copyright ©2014 Community Magazine Group. All rights reserved. Community Health magazine is published 12 times per year monthly and four times per year quarterly. Postmaster: Send address changes to Community Magazine Group, 1550 S. Indiana Avenue, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605.
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C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
2008 First Place Advertising Section/ Special Supplement
ADVERTORIAL
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A patient being seen for knee pain should be given a thorough examination, including x-rays and possibly further imaging to determine the cause of the pain. The chiropractic staff, medical staff, and physical therapy staff will then decide together what combinations of treatments are going to beneďŹ t you and give you the best chance for success. Treatment options may include knee injections, knee braces, and physical therapy, but your speciďŹ c condition dictates which options are best for you. There are two different substances that can be injected into the knees to help with pain and inammation in the knee joint and surrounding soft tissues. The ďŹ rst is sarapin, which is an all-natural anti-inammatory substance. The second is hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally inside of our knee joints that helps maintain the soft tissues of the knee. These injections are generally done under video uoroscopy or diagnostic ultrasound to ensure accurate placement of the needle for best results.
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There are two Medicare approved knee braces. One is an unloader knee brace that helps stabilize the knee joint during
treatment. It makes walking less painful and easier by relieving pressure from the narrowed joint space in the knee. The other knee brace is the only FDA approved device capable of rebuilding knee cartilage. This BioniCare wrap helps to reproduce a healthy knee joint, avoid dependency on medication, and is guaranteed to defer total knee replacement for up to four years. Striving to return you back to your normal daily activities pain free is the goal, but relieving your pain is only one aspect of your treatment. Another goal is to help you regain your leg strength, knee exibility, and endurance. Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants will work with you oneon-one to help you achieve these goals so you are able to enjoy activities that recently you have been unable to do. Whether you have knee pain due to an injury or from arthritis, Med +Plus is your complete knee care facility. We are conveniently located in the Metro East area with ofďŹ ces in Maryville and Carlyle. Please call us today for more information on this alternative treatment for knee pain. Maryville: 618288-5044 Carlyle: 618-594-3671
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MID AMERICA
SEMO: CAPE GIRARDEAU
Beacon of Relief Psoriasis sufferer finds comfort with help from light therapy center BY DANETTE M. WATT Sara Drost knows about “the heartbreak of psoriasis.” She was diagnosed with the skin condition—which has no cure—in 2011 after a bout with strep throat. It’s a condition that Drost will always have, and may flare up at any time. “I’ve had people make fun of me,” says the 37-year-old Ste. Genevieve resident. “Strangers will ask me if I have a lot of birthmarks. In spring 2012, I was in my sister’s wedding and wore a strapless dress. I think my mom would have preferred I wore a wig to cover my skin.” UNDERSTANDING THE ITCH Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin. Normal skin cells grow gradually, and flake off about every four weeks. With psoriasis, skin cells grow in days instead of weeks, building up and forming thick patches called plaques. The patches can appear anywhere, and range in sizes. “It’s horrible. There are areas that just bleed, my skin is so cracked and dry. For a while, my back looked like a burn victim’s back,” Drost says. She went through “every cream and ointment on the market” in her quest to clear her skin. Then her dermatologist, Dr. Sarah Jensen, recommended Healing Rays, a phototherapy center, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Drost went for a consultation, and soon found a lot of relief.
PUTTING THERAPY TO THE TEST Unlike a tanning booth, which uses ultraviolet-A lights, phototherapy uses ultraviolet-B lights, which release a small range of ultraviolet light. Healing Rays specializes in using narrowband UVB phototherapy, a top treatment recommended by the National Psoriasis Foundation.
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After suffering from psoriasis for a few years, Sara Drost, seen here during a trip to Hawaii in September 2013, has found relief through phototherapy treatments.
There are areas that just bleed, my skin is so cracked and dry. For a while, my back looked like a burn victim’s back. SARA DROST, OF STE. GENEVIEVE
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Marcia Schlueter opened Healing Rays in 2008 after reading an article about the relief psoriasis sufferers found with light treatments. When she launched the business, she says, there was no other light therapy center for people between St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn. She wanted to offer a place closer to home where frustrated people could potentially get help with something they might not otherwise be exposed to. “I knew some people who had psoriasis, and used creams. But they didn’t always work. People were anxious to try something different,” Schlueter says. She works with on-site medical director Dr. Vishnu Subramani, and phototherapy technician Barbara Ford.
YOU COMPARE SUPERMARKET PRICES, WHY NOT MEDICAL PRICES? These days it just makes good sense to shop around for the best possible value for your money. This same principle should also apply when deciding which medical facility to choose.
Learn more, call us today. 0DWWKHZ - &ROHPDQ 0 ' + /HH 6FKQHLGHU ' 2 'HDQ $ (GZDUGV 0 ' 7LPRWK\ - (GZDUGV 0 ' &RORQRVFRS\ 6FUHHQLQJ 8SSHU (QGRVFRS\ (VRSKDJHDO 'LODWLRQ &DSVXOH (QGRVFRS\
Mary Smith (at left), of Herrin, Ill., prepares for phototherapy treatments overseen by phototherapy technician Barbara Ford. Jamie B. (below), of New Madrid, Mo., before and after receiving phototherapy treatment for eczema at Healing Rays.
“Numerous studies have shown that it clears psoriasis faster, and produces longer remissions than other types of UV light therapy,� Schlueter says. In phototherapy, the affected parts of the body are exposed to ultraviolet-B light. The light penetrates the skin, and slows the growth of skin cells. Because the photolamps are 20 times more powerful than the lights used in a tanning bed, treatments start in five- or 10-second increments. It takes about 30 treatments to reach maximum improvement, Schlueter says. “It’s been very gratifying to see patients improve, especially when the itching goes away. That’s the first symptom that disappears,� Schlueter says. When she first began treatments, Drost made the hourlong drive back and forth three times per week. Now, she visits just once or twice per week. What was once “head to toe� psoriasis has been significantly reduced after a year of phototherapy. “It’s been awesome,� Drost says. “While I still have some spots, my scalp has cleared up. I can wear black again without looking like I have dandruff.�
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618-244-5580 Call us to schedule a visit and experience the difference! A Provision Living Managed CPNNVOJUZ t www.provisionliving.com
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
JAN/FEB 2014
9
SoutheastHEALTH is here for you and your family.
As the area’s largest healthcare provider, SoutheastHEALTH delivers compassionate and comprehensive care when you need us and where you need us. OUR SERVICES SoutheastHEALTH facilities work together to treat whatever life brings. Here are a few of the health services our network offers: ( Brain & Spine Center ( Breast Care & Diagnostic Center ( Cancer Center
( Convenient Care ( Diabetes Center ( Digestive Health Center ( Emergency Services ( HealthPoint Fitness & Rehab ( HealthWorks
( Heart Center ( Home Health ( Hospice ( Imaging ( Lab Services ( Orthopedics & Joint Replacement Center
( Pharmacy ( Sleep Diagnostic Center ( Women's & Children’s Center ( Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine
Need a new primary care doctor? Join the SoutheastHEALTH family with just a phone call:
1.800.800.5123 or visit SEhealth.org
The Difference is How You’re Treated
SEMO: NEWS+NOTES
MID AMERICA
LOCAL DONATION
Nurses to nurses Heartland Advanced Practice Nurses Network recently donated $1,000 to Nursing Services at Southeast Hospital. HAPNN president Cheri Huckstep Reed (left) and HAPNN secretary Chris Byrd (right) presented a check to SoutheastHEALTH vice president and chief nursing officer Judy Aslin.
NEW ADDITIONS
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Medical center names new CEO
Hospital program certified by industry leader
Kenneth James has been named the new market chief executive officer for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. James has been CEO at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo., for the past two years. As market CEO, he will work closely with both PBRMC and Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center to continue creating a market approach for health care to benefit the region. “I’m dedicated to working to ensure Southeast Missouri and surrounding communities receive the best health care possible,” James says.
PERRY VILLE ~ Perry County Memorial Hospital’s cardiovascular rehabilitation program recently was certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. These rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems and pulmonary problems recover faster, and improve their quality of life. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families. For more information about the program, visit pchmo.org.
POPLAR BLUFF ~
LOCAL FUNDRAISER
Hospital delivers blizzard babies Southeast Hospital had its share of blizzard babies during a recent winter storm. A total of 11 babies were born over the course of the two-day storm. The moms and their babies include Amanda Smith and Tripp, (from left) Megan S. Kutz-Hotop and baby Hotop, Julie Mahathath and Tayliahna, Jordan Abell and Jensen Daniel, Kimberly Christian and Addison, Kaiya Turner and Autumn, and JoElla Hartlein and Zoey.
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
CAPE GIR ARDEAU ~
Do you have an item for News+Notes? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.
Run-Ride raises $15,000 to fight breast cancer CAPE GIR ARDEAU ~ The Run-Ride for Ragan Biathlon recently raised $15,000 for the Southeast Cancer Patient Experience Fund, to support mammography services for early detection of breast cancer. The Java Joggers, a local running group, organized the event in honor of the late Ragan Ward Neilson, a Cape Girardeau native and daughter of Dr. Robert and Barb Ward. Neilson died of breast cancer in October 2007 at age 32. The Java Joggers, of which Barb Ward is a member, presented the check to representatives of the Southeast Cancer Center and the SoutheastHEALTH Foundation. Pictured are Java Joggers Tracy Blattner, (from left) Judy Nordman, Carla Bittle, Nancy Hess, Cathy Willen and Barb Ward; Dr. Robert Ward; Mary Ellen Cook, of the Breast Care and Diagnostic Center; and SoutheastHEALTH Foundation officials Michele Litzelfelner and Sam Duncan.
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MID AMERICA
METRO EAST: WOOD RIVER, IL
A Running Warning Long-time triathlete runs into trouble after discovering major artery blockage BY DANETTE M. WATT Bob Patterson is an Ironman triathlete. He wants others to know just because you can swim 2.4 miles, ride your bike 112 miles and run a marathon (26.2 miles) in the same day, it doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for heart disease. The active 63-year-old has always been an athlete. When he was in high school, he was on the wrestling team, and did some cross-country running. He became an avid runner at age 40. A triathlete for more than 20 years, Patterson has competed in several Ironman competitions. “Right after I started running, I ran the Great River Road race with a couple of friends. It was a 10-mile race. I couldn’t walk for a couple of days after that,” Patterson says. A year or two later, he signed up for the first of many triathlons. BUMP IN THE ROAD Patterson was 57 when he first noticed an odd sensation in his chest. He had just started his daily run through his Wood River, Ill., neighborhood when he began feeling a cramp in his chest. “I had only gone about an eighth of a mile, and it was gone by the time I had run a quarter-mile,” he says. “This kept up for a few weeks. It always started about the same time and lasted for the same time, but the pain got progressively worse.” His chest never hurt any other time, but Patterson was concerned. Heart problems run in his family, so before the pain even started, he got a stress test. That test, conducted just before the pain started, showed no problems. When this pain cropped up, Patterson returned to his cardiologist, Dr. Laurence A. Berarducci, and insisted to be checked again. Berarducci scheduled a cardiac catheterization. The morning of the test, Patterson ran 6.2 miles, swam a mile, then went for a walk with his wife. Patterson says he will always remember what happened next. “I was lying on the table watching the imaging screen as (my doctor) threaded the catheter up to my heart,” he says. “He stopped when he got to my heart and said, ‘It’s a widow-maker.’ You could have heard a pin drop. All the background buzz and commotion in the room just stopped. I knew it wasn’t good.” His left anterior descending artery was 80% to 90% blocked. Patterson says the artery looked like a smooth flowing creek that suddenly dried up where it narrowed and couldn’t flow, then opened up again. “It just blew everyone away,” Patterson says. “If I’d known I had an 80% to 90% blockage, I probably wouldn’t have done all that done all that exercise that morning,” he says.
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Bob Patterson crosses the finish line in the Wisconsin Ironman competition in 2009.
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
BEFORE
These images show Bob Patterson’s 80% to 90% heart blockage before a stent was inserted, and after blood started owing normally again.
AFTER
THE BEST OPTION FOR HIM On April 6, 2007—Good Friday—Patterson met with Dr. John M. LaSala at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, who gave him Patterson a choice. “He said, ‘I can put in a stent today, and you’ll be good to go in a few days, or you can have open-heart surgery,’� he says. Patterson chose the stent, and has had no regrets. Since then, he has competed in many triathlons, including two world championships and three Ironman races. He says he thanks God for giving him a warning, and letting him still bike, swim and run at age 63.
My doctor stopped when he got to my heart and said, ‘It’s a widow-maker.’ You could have heard a pin drop. I knew it wasn’t good. BOB PATTERSON, OF WOOD RIVER, ILL.
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Great BJC Doctors,
right where you live. The Team of BJC Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Specialists got us back in the game. Aaron Omotola, MD
Janiece Stewart, MD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
Board Certified Sports Medicine Physician
. f Rd luf B .
ute
157 tN
Country Club Dr.
Ro
BJC Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Specialists
S University Drive
If you’ve been sidelined call and schedule an appointment today at (618) 692-6109. Injured in the big game this week? Now there is an even better way to see the doctor.
8 Sunset Hills Professional Centre Edwardsville, IL 62025 I-270 “BJC Medical Group� generally refers to BJC Medical Group of Missouri, BJC Medical Group of Illinois and BJC Medical Group of Sullivan, all of which are well-established physician organizations.
bjcorthopedics.com
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SOIL: NEWS+NOTES
MID AMERICA
NEW ADDITIONS
New wound care center features hyperbaric oxygen therapy St. Elizabeth’s Hospital has added two hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers to its recently remodeled Wound Care Center. The center, formerly Therapy Services, is now located on the first floor of the main hospital. The center’s wound care program treats chronic or non-healing wounds caused by diabetes, circulatory problems and other conditions. “There are a lot of people, especially in the Metro East area, who will benefit from HBO services at our Wound Care Center,” says Misty Conway, program director for the center. Visit steliz.org for more information. BELLEVILLE ~
LOCAL EVENTS
Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show The Youth Outdoor Education Foundation and the Williamson County Tourism Bureau are sponsoring a boat and fishing show from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 1 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2. The show features boats, trailers, trucks, ATVs, fishing tackle, live entertainment and more. Admission and parking is free for the event at the Pavilion of the City of Marion 1602 Sioux Drive, Marion. Call (618) 993-2657 for more information.
MARION ~
Panther Basketball Showcase Come out and cheer on your favorite high school boys basketball team at the Panther Showcase, featuring teams from throughout Illinois and surrounding states. Admission is $5. Pinckneyville Community High School, 600 E. Water St., Pinckneyville. Call (618) 357-5013 for more information. PINCKNEY VILLE ~
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Infectious disease doctor receives physician excellence award Dr. Omer Badahman recently received the 2013 Matthew B. Eisele, M.D. Physician Excellence Award. The award was established to recognize a physician on Memorial Hospital Belleville’s medical staff who exemplifies dedication to medicine, delivery of quality care, and a commitment to the community. Badahman, an infectious disease physician, has been a member of Belleville Memorial’s staff for 12 years. He has served as chairman of the Infection Control Committee since 2005, and is a member of the CME and Critical Care Committees.
BELLEVILLE ~
E.J. Kuiper (center) stands with Sister M. Anselma (at left) and Sister M. Mikela in front of Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Alton, Ill.
SUPPLIED PHOTOS
Hospital announces leadership changes ALTON ~ E.J. Kuiper recently stepped down as president and CEO of Saint Anthony’s Health System. A mission partner since 2006, Kuiper served as president of Saint Anthony’s since 2009. Kuiper will join the Hospital Sisters Health System as the new Central Illinois Division president. Sister M. Mikela will assume the role of CEO. A registered nurse, she received her master’s in business administration and health care management in 2009. Mikela previously was vice president of mission stewardship and patient care services, and chairwoman of the Board for Saint Anthony’s Health Center. Sister M. Anselma will move into the chief operating officer role from her previous position as vice president of professional services. She received her master’s in business administration in 2008. “Under E.J.’s direction, we have been very successful. And as health care continues to evolve, we know that Saint Anthony’s will continue to provide outstanding care for area residents for many years to come,” Mikela says.
Do you have an item for News+Notes? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.
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Q+A
MID AMERICA
LOVE TO COOK? VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE We sometimes keep leftover medication to use in the future, not knowing they have expiration dates. Dr. Erin Behnen, director of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Drug Information and Wellness Center, discusses what to do with old medications.
How to dispose of old medicines Why do medications expire?
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Medicines are tested to be effective for a specific timeframe, and we can only know if they’re truly effective for that amount of time. If a medicine is tested to be effective for six months, there’s no guarantee it will be as effective at nine months. Any time you have a medicine that’s past the expiration date, you should get rid of it.
Why toss unused meds that aren’t expired? If it’s still within the expiration period, you should dispose of it so no one else takes it, and so that you don’t accidentally take it when it isn’t appropriate. There’s a growing concern with teenagers accessing and abusing prescription medicines from their parents’ medicine cabinets.
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How can we cut down on disposing medicines? Buy only the amount of over-the-counter medicines you can use within a reasonable time, and ask your doctor to prescribe only as much as necessary to treat your condition.
Where are the best places to store medicines? Increased humidity or improper storage can affect a medicine’s quality. The best place to store medicines is a cool, dry place. A kitchen is fine as long as it isn’t near the stove. A bathroom is OK if there’s no shower in it.
What is the proper way to dispose of old or unused over-the-counter medications?
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If it’s a liquid, pour it over coffee grounds or kitty litter, then dispose of that. If it’s a pill, crush it and mix it with coffee grounds or kitty litter. You can also take them to your local health department, and they’ll dispose of your medicines.
What is the proper way to dispose of old or unused narcotics or controlled medications? Don’t dispose of them the way you do over-the-counter medicines because an animal or person might still ingest them. Many communities participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, with law enforcement present. If yours doesn’t, call your local law enforcement office or pharmacy to find out if they collect unused controlled substances.
Read online, and be well. communityhealthmagazine.com C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
JAN/FEB 2014
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WELL SAID
Finding a better balance in school
DANETTE M. WATT
When I was 17, I taught myself yoga using Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan as my guide. I’ve practiced the asanas off and on through the years, and incorporated some of the yogi principles in my life. In my off years, I wondered why I didn’t practice more often because the experience was so positive and there were so many benefits. Yoga has become very Westernized since I first practiced it in the early ’70s. In one sense, that’s a good thing. Taking the mystique out has made it accessible to more people who can benefit from it. Practicing yoga calms the mind and stretches the muscles. The isometric nature of the postures gives a good strengthening workout, too. Yoga lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, and alleviates back pain. Kids benefit, too. Children learn to more easily adapt to
changes, and don’t feel pressured by set expectations. Adolescents learn ways to control their energy and emotions. But there is a spiritual element to this ancient practice, and therein lies a problem. Several schools around the country have incorporated yoga in their curricula, and some parents have a bone to pick with these schools. One couple in Encinitas, Calif., filed a lawsuit February 2013, arguing that yoga was inherently a Hindu practice, and didn’t square with their Christian beliefs. As much as I believe everyone can benefit from yoga, I also firmly believe in the separation of church and state. The Ten Commandments and prayer have no place in public schools. Likewise, the parents who don’t want their children to learn yoga because of their belief have every right to their belief. We must be careful not to gloss over the spirituality of yoga in favor of looking only at the health benefits that accompany it. The Hindu American Foundation recommends public schools offer asana-only programs because the physically centered practice by itself is not yoga. Yoga encompasses so much more. The judge in the California case, Judge John Meyer, ruled the yoga taught in schools was not religious, and could continue. I hope more schools do embrace practicing asanas as a way to combat inactivity and increase relaxation. But leave yoga out.
Ask the Expert Q:
It really hurts my thumb when I try to open a tight jar, or when I turn a key in a lock. I can’t even begin to think of turning a door knob! What’s wrong and what can I do about it?
Martin Boyer, MD
Washington University Orthopedics 14532 S. Outer 40 Drive &KHVWHUĂ€HOG 02
(314) 514-3500 wuphysicians.wustl.edu
You may have arthritis of the thumb base — a very commoncondition which tends to occur in those with advanced age. Over time, the increased mobility that is normally present in the thumb affects the cartilage in a negative way, a true wear-and-tear condition. The cartilage becomes thin and frayed and eventually the loss of cartilage can lead to painful bone-on-bone joint arthritis. Sometimes a deformity at the base of the thumb FDXVHV LW WR EHFRPH WRR FORVH WR WKH LQGH[ ÀQJHU 7KLV FDQ UHVXOW LQ D VWLII WKXPE PDNLQJ LW GLIÀFXOW for the patient to grab objects larger than a cellular phone. Treatment for this condition involves DFWLYLW\ PRGLÀFDWLRQ ´LI LW KXUWV GRQҋW GR LW ¾ DQWLLQà DPPDWRU\ PHGLFDWLRQ VSOLQWLQJ RU EUDFLQJ FDQ HLWKHU EH SXUFKDVHG DW D GUXJ VWRUH RU FXVWRP ÀWWHG DW D KDQG WKHUDS\ FHQWHU When these simpler, non-invasive methods do not lead to relief, a local injection of cortisone can be used in an attempt to decrease the pain and LQà DPPDWLRQ :H KDYH SXEOLVKHG D VWXG\ VKRZing that almost half of patients with arthritis of
WKLV MRLQW FDQ JHW PRQWKV RI UHOLHI RU ORQJHU LQ VRPH FDVHV ZLWK D ZHOO SODFHG VWHURLG LQMHFWLRQ If nothing else works and the pain or deformity are disabling, then surgery may be an option. Manufactured implants similar to those used for knee or hip replacement do not work well for the thumb. Instead, hand surgeons either perform a fusion of the arthritic joint, or can perform an operation in which the arthritis is removed and the VSDFH UHPDLQLQJ LV ÀOOHG ZLWK WKH SDWLHQWҋV RZQ tendon. Both operations have good track records, and the choice between the two is best made by having D GLVFXVVLRQ ZLWK \RXU VXUJHRQ ,WҋV FRPIRUWLQJ WR know, though, that the majority of patients do not require surgery. Rather, a medication regimen, therapy and splinting by a hand therapist and a cortisone shot can lead to substantial relief.
C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
JAN/FEB 2014
21
MONITOR
WOMEN
‘Like’ It... or Not Feel good about Facebook, but don’t let the euphoria cloud your decision-making BY ERIN GOLDEN
If you spend a lot of time connecting with friends and family on Facebook, you know the feeling. You log on to see one of your girlfriends “liked” the vacation photos you posted. Or she commented to agree with your witty status about a tacky reality star. And just like that, you’re feeling good. For many women, staying connected through social media leaves us cheerful and confident when we sign off. So happy, it turns out, that we’re more likely to make some not-so-great decisions. VIRTUAL SATISFACTION, REAL DILEMMA In a study published recently in the Journal of Consumer Research, researchers from Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh tracked the behavior of women who connect with close friends on Facebook. They found that the momentary self-esteem boost that comes from social networking is connected to poor self-control, which leads to bad snacking habits, poor money decisions, and throwing in the towel early on tasks. Nancy Mramor, a Pittsburgh-based psychologist who specializes in how media impacts our behavior, says the real-life impact of virtual networking has to do with our need for gratification. “In real life, people don’t tell you they like you all day long,” she says. “But on the Internet, you can get ‘liked’ at any time. There’s almost an addictiveness about being able to get that positive reinforcement all the time.” We log on repeatedly in search of those messages, comments and “likes.” And we get a rush of adrenaline that can overpower our thinking and decision-making skills. “There are a lot of things in your visual field, whether you’re texting or on a Web page,” Mramor says. “The adrenaline rush that occurs to keep up with that doesn’t permit any quiet time in your brain.”
SOCIALLY SPEAKING
23%
of Facebook users check their account more than
5x
STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER Unplugged moments can be crucial when making decisions eating and spending. You need a clear head to make the best decisions, not just the ones that feel good in the moment. Psychologist Patricia Wallace is senior director of Johns Hopkins University’s Center For Talented Youth Online and Information Technology program. She says too often, those intimate-self moments are a thing of the past. “Those times used to be helpful for cognition, and gave you a chance to consolidate memories and get a bit of downtime,” Wallace says. Wallace says signing off completely is almost impossible in our constantly connected world. So evaluate how much time you spend connecting online— rather than face-to-face—and really consider how it makes you feel. “Start looking at how all these (social networking sites) are affecting your balance and stress levels,” she says. Take simple, straightforward steps to pull back, Wallace says. Put an alarm clock or timer near your computer, and allow yourself only a set amount of time for Facebook.
per day
POSITIVE CONNECTIONS Even experts who worry about social networking overuse don’t think these sites are 100% bad. Connecting with friends and strangers online encourages some pretty great real-life effects. Pittsburgh psychologist Nancy Mramor says the rate of organ donation has increased since the arrival of social networking sites—without additional advertising. “If people post that they’re an organ donor, then friends want to be an organ donor, too,” she says. Logging on can also help us keep up with faraway friends and family. “The positive impact of social connection is enormous,” Mramor says. “It’s probably one of the biggest and best improvements you can bring to your life.”
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C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
ADVERTORIAL
5 Goals You Should Consider For 2014 The holidays have passed and we will chersih the memories they left us with. But would your memories be more vivid if your hearing had been at its best?
hearing equipment checked and cleaned prior to gatherings. Often small adjustments or software adjustments can make a difference in how you hear, Gregory Maag says.
“Each year, new memories are created that can’t be substituted or re-created,” said Gregory Maag of Mid America Audiology Group. “And as the years go on, these memories become more and more precious.” To avoid missing out on the types of conversations with loved ones that may only happen a few times a year, Gregory Maag has offered up five tips to get the most out of your ears and your hearing aids.
4. Pack your accessories. If there’s no time to schedule a cleaning prior to your gathering, packing extra batteries, a cleaning kit for your aids, or even an extra set of hearing aids is a great idea just to be prepared. 5. Consider investing in new technology. If you were fitted for your
hearing aid(s) a few years ago, there may be a much more advanced option available now, Gregory Maag says. “Even a base model today may offer significant improvements in acoustics and features over higherend models from a few years ago. These advances can make a huge difference in people’s lives without putting pressure on their wallets.” For more information on improving your hearing, contact Mid America Audiology Group.
1. Work out your ears—and your brain. Research shows that musicians are better able to pick out voices amid background noise than people who don’t play music, but it is possible for anyone to learn these processes. Part of this is because of “brain fitness,” the idea that listening to music can help sharpen hearing. “The listener’s natural inclination is to pay attention to fluctuations of notes, which improves some aspects of hearing and helps to differentiate certain vocal tones from other sounds,” says Gregory Maag. Just be careful with earbuds, and listen to music at a safe level of volume. 2. Dine strategically. Don’t let fear of hearing loss disrupt your social life; loss of consistent communication with others affects hearing, but remaining social sharpens those skills. “Don’t be afraid to remind family that you have difficulty hearing,” Gregory Maag says. “Try sitting at the end of a table so there aren’t multiple conversations that are difficult to follow. If possible, dining in a smaller group would also help a listener focus in on a conversation.” 3. Have your hearing aids serviced. Make an appointment to get your
Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts or on previous purchases. Expires March 31, 2014.
Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts or on previous purchases. Expires March 31, 2014.
MONITOR
MEN
Three’s Company Don’t let aggravation over your buddy’s new love derail your friendship BY KEVIN CARLSON Valentine’s Day is tough for unattached men, especially if your best bro is in a new relationship. No dude wants to feel like the third wheel while his friend makes goo-goo eyes at his girlfriend. But it can be equally challenging if you’re the one in a relationship. It’s a tricky dynamic, but it’s manageable. Start by putting yourself in your attached friend’s shoes. “Remember that there has been or will come a time when you are in a relationship, as well, and you would want your friend to be cool with everything and not have a hard time,” says Natalie Vartanian, a certified life coach in Seal Beach, Calif. “Be that guy you would want your friend to be.” Communication is the key to every relationship—friendship or marriage—so keep the lines open. If you’re trying to get your girlfriend and best friend to forge a bond, plan activities that encourage interaction. Maybe it’s a Super Bowl party, a pub trivia night, or a bowling league. But keep in mind that, just like love, the new bond will take time to form. “Find ways of having events where everyone can get a chance to know each other better,” Vartanian says. “Don’t try and force them to get along. Just let it happen.” When a best friend starts dating, it changes many aspects of the friendship. Time you spend together watching football or playing golf may be replaced for time with a new love. You’ll likely feel stubborn, angry or rejected. But it’s a natural emotional response to a loss, and it’s the first stage of grief. You are likely glad for him, too, so don’t let your feelings of loss damage your friendship, says Heather Carlile, a relationship counselor in Richardson, Texas. “Part of us is envious, a jealousy based on our own longings and desires,” Carlile says. “But when we see a friend experience something good, we are naturally happy about it. We may even want to help celebrate.” Even if you have to fake it for a little while, just smile until you’re ready to accept the new person in your friend’s life. And make sure your friend knows how much you value your time together. Mostly, be patient. “It will take time, so enjoy the adventure,” Carlile says. “Plan shared time, so everyone is on board and knows what to expect. You’ll be creating a new friendship system with fun, rather than clumsiness.”
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EASE INTO THINGS Don’t force a friendship between your bud and your girlfriend. Let it happen naturally. Try planning a Super Bowl party, trivia night at a local hangout, or a night of bowling.
IF IT DOESN’T WORK OUT Your friendship may never be more crucial than when your buddy goes through a breakup. You need to decide what’s best in the situation, but here are some starters: ³ LISTEN ³ DON’T PREACH ³ ASK QUESTIONS ³ DON’T ASSUME “Let them know you are there for them, and that you understand their pain,” says life coach Natalie Vartanian. “Being curious lets them know you care, and may help them think about the relationship from a different perspective.” Breakups often mark a new beginning, so now is a great opportunity to remind your friend what he ultimately wants in a relationship. Help him see that every relationship is a learning experience, and that though he may not see it yet, he is getting closer to what he wants. “The most demanding adjustment after a breakup is finding a new sense of self outside the relationship that just ended,” says relationship counselor Heather Carlile. “To be the best support for your friend, just listen and validate. Then share some meaningful time with things that create quality of life—the arts, athletics or service projects.”
Be that guy you would want your friend to be. LIFE COACH NATALIE VARTANIAN
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MONITOR
FAMILY
Someone to Look Up To How to avoid the parenting pitfalls you saw your mom and dad make BY CLARE WALTERS
Ann Treacy’s mom was a hands-off parent. A divorcee from a privileged background, her mother didn’t have a job, and had a maid to take care of the family home and cater to her four daughters. “I was the fourth, so she really turned a blind eye to me,” says Treacy, of Fairport, N.Y. Because of how she was raised, Treacy was determined to do thing differently when raising her own children—a son and daughter, now 20 and 17 years old. “I was definitely hands-on,” she says. “My daughter and I have a really close relationship, and I didn’t have that with my mom.” JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER Your parenting style can’t help but be influenced by the people who raised you. While some people model what their parents did, others completely ditch their ideas. And Texas-based psychologist Carl Pickhardt says the age-old nature vs. nurture debate is definitely at play. “We get in a dance with our parents,” he says. “We dance the child part, and when we grow up, we slip into the parent part with our child.” Whether we follow our parents’ lead or choose a new path, we must accept the fact that no parent is perfect. You might resent your parents for what you see as their failures, but be realistic about them, and yourself. “All parenting is incomplete,” Pickhardt says. “No parent is going to nurture all sides of you. Everyone comes out of adolescence with something they don’t like.” You can decide to “fix it,” but that might not be so easy, as some personality traits can be difficult to shed. Pickhardt says if your parent was always critical of you, you might find yourself acting similarly, even though you always hated that. “You can adopt the behavior that you didn’t want to have,” he says. START FROM SCRATCH If you want to be a better parent and leave behind negative traits, that’s a great place to start. “First, take responsibility for the hand you were dealt, and that you do have a choice on how to play that hand,” Pickhardt says. Ironically, it is something each person learns as he or she reaches adulthood and begins to make their own decisions. To be the parent you want to be, drop the blame, and work to develop the characteristics you prefer. “Your parents gave you two models: how to be and how not to be,” he says. “Embrace the good, and take the stuff that was not so good and keep it out.”
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ALL GROWN UP You began developing parenting skills when you reached adulthood and started making your own decisions.
PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION Keeping out the not-so-good stuff wasn’t difficult for Treacy, who says her children often remind her that she’s “nothing like” her parents. Her mother rarely attended games or school events, and believed children should be seen, but not heard. “My generation really partook in kids’ activities. I did a lot of art projects, hikes and adventures with my kids,” she says. “I don’t know if it was a conscious decision, but (rather) a generational one. The decade I was raised in was just different.” Today’s parents are much more focused on parenting decisions, Pickhardt says, so they’re already ahead of the game. Develop your unique style, and allow yourself to enjoy the ride. “There’s not one general way to parent a child,” he says. “I love the complexities of parenting. There’s so much creativity you can bring to parenting, and a lot of problem solving.”
Take responsibility for the hand you were dealt, and that you do have a choice on how to play that hand. PSYCHOLOGIST CARL PICKHARDT
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MONITOR
SENIORS
A Real Heartbreaker How the stress of loss may lead to a serious cardiac condition When Mike Cunningham’s mother died in September 2013, he was well aware of the medical rationale for her death. She struggled with a serious digestive disorder in her later years, and her health steadily declined. Deep down, Cunningham says he felt like there was another reason. “She died of a broken heart,” he says. “It’s as simple as that.” Delores “Dee” Cunningham died 10 months to the day after her husband, Lee, passed away. They had spent 53 years together, raising two sons and running the family’s business, Cunningham Funeral Home in Grove City, Pa. “Their lives were entwined on so many levels,” Cunningham says. “She was lost without him.” Although it’s rare, people can die of a broken heart. The
Financial stress, fear or the loss of a loved one triggers a ‘fight or flight’ adrenalin surge that stuns the heart muscle. CARDIOLOGIST DR. MANUEL FORERO
WHAT BROKEN LOOKS LIKE Researchers in Japan first described broken heart syndrome, and named it “takotsubo,” the Japanese name for a pot used to catch octopus. They saw a resemblance between the uniquely shaped trap and the characteristic bulging of the left ventricular apex of the heart associated with broken heart syndrome.
medical condition known as broken heart syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy is actually a case of acute transient heart failure, according to cardiologist Dr. Manuel Forero. Brought on by extreme episodes of emotional or physical stress, the condition affects more women than men, and in his practice at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pa., Forero only diagnoses about a half dozen cases per year. “Financial stress, fear or the loss of a loved one triggers a ‘fight or flight’ adrenalin surge that stuns the heart muscle,” Forero says. “A part of the heart enlarges, or pouches—usually the upper left tip—and the heart cannot pump well, causing heart attack symptoms.” Patients with stress cardiomyopathy typically respond to the same medications used to treat a heart attack, Forero says, and most people recover fully within a few days. However, a small percentage—2% to 3%—can become severely ill and succumb to broken heart syndrome. “It is critical to seek medical help as soon as the symptoms appear,” Forero says. The key to prevention, Forero says, lies in our ability to manage the stressors that inevitably come our way. “Everyone experiences stress and loss, but it’s all about how we deal with it,” he says. Besides his parents, Cunningham has seen many instances of close couple deaths through his career as a funeral director— one that stands out. A year ago, he was called upon to manage the funeral of a woman who had died in a nearby nursing home. “Exactly one hour and 45 minutes later, her husband died in a hospital in Ohio,” Cunningham says. “And he had no idea about his wife.”
FAST FACT Unlike heart attacks, in cases of broken heart syndrome, post-tests show no signs of heart damage or blockages. Some symp symptoms are the same, including chest pain and shortness of breath.
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C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
BY JOANNE K. CLOBUS
Resident Life
at Helia Healthcare of Carbondale
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MONITOR
PETS
Want a Winged One? Before you join the flock, pick apart the responsibility of bird ownership Remy, Buddy, Maggie and Betty Boop keep Tara Hurlin on her toes. She calls her flock of birds—an African grey parrot, a red lory, a Goffin’s cockatoo and a citron-crested cockatoo—captivating, curious and humorous. “They are quite the group,” says the 27-year-old from Traverse City, Mich. “Their intelligence always leaves me in awe, and they form bonds like no other pet I have come into contact with. They are feathered children. Especially the cockaBIRDS toos—it is like having a permanent toddler in your COST BUCKS house, temper tantrums and all.” Birds can range from Like other pets, birds need care and maintenance. as little as $5 for a finch or $35 for a canary, Though they’re less popular than dogs or cats, they and up to $2,000 for require just as much time, attention and training. a large parrot and up to And, they’re no less of a companion, says veterinarian $10,000 for a macaw. Dr. Anthony Pilny, of the Center for Avian and Exotic Adopting a bird at Medicine in New York City. a bird sanctuary can be “Bird owners want to have a little bit less tradisignificantly cheaper. tional pet, but one that still fulfills the need of having a pet,” Pilny says. “I know people who walk their bird, travel with their bird, and want them on their shoulder. They become a companion just like any other pet.” Bird owners often have an admiration and fascination with the winged creatures. Others are more uniquely interested in mimicry and teaching their birds behaviors, words or songs. Whatever characteristics appeal to a person considering bird ownership, getting one shouldn’t be a fly-by-night decision. “Try to find ways to be around birds first,” Pilny says. “Hold and visit with them.” A certified avian specialist, Pilny recommends cockatiels for first-time bird owners. “I think they’re the all-around perfect bird,” he says. “They’re a small size, have a great personality and they’re easy to tame. They don’t tend to be biters, and they’re good with kids.” He steers most first-time bird owners away from large birds like macaws, a brightly colored long-tailed parrot whose lifespan can reach 100 years old. “When a 75-year-old retires and they get a parrot, they have to make a provision for that bird,” Pilny says. “Birds are one of the most surrendered pets, especially the larger parrots.” Birds should be kept in the largest cage “you have room for, can afford and keep clean,” Pilny says. Birds can be left uncaged and unattended, but they must be in a bird-safe room. “If a bird is unattended, it needs to be somewhere it is safe,” he says. “A bird left unattended can disassemble a piece of furniture, destroy blinds and more. They are BIRD OWNER TARA HURLIN destructive by nature.” And, don’t underestimate their intelligence, Pilny says. It should be respected and nurtured. “They figure things out, but it doesn’t negate the fact that they need basic training,” he says. “They make associations the same way other pets do, too. People need to put effort into that.”
Their intelligence always leaves me in awe, and they form bonds like no other pet I have come into contact with.
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BY CLARE WALTERS
BIRDS OF A FEATHER: COMMON PET BIRDS AFRICAN GREY PARROT LIFE SPAN: 50 to 60 years Regarded as one of the most intelligent birds, grey parrots are gentle and have a natural ability to mimic speech.
PARAKEET LIFE SPAN: 10 to 12 years Small, long-tailed, naturally green and yellow with black markings on the neck, back and wings. They eat seeds, and can mimic human speech.
COCKATIEL LIFE SPAN: 16 to 25 years A member of the cockatoo family, this small bird has an upright crest on its head and feathers covering the sides of the beak. They come in many colors, including gray, pearled, cinnamon, albino and yellow cheeked.
EATS
MONITOR
The Virtual Table
Early indications of how social media is changing the way we choose our food BY PAIGE FUMO FOX
It’s 5:30 at night. Your nearly empty fridge contains a chicken breast, some sweet potatoes and a leek. Do you crack open a cookbook in your cabinet? Or grab the Yellow Pages and order takeout? No, most likely you check your Pinterest boards to find something that looks good, order delivery on GrubHub, or ask your Facebook friends for recipe recommendations. Like many aspects of our lives, social media has changed the way we make decisions about dinners, snacks and almost everything edible. DECISION DU JUOR “I tend to never look at my cookbooks anymore,” says Jacky Hackett, a technology consultant from Oak Park, Ill., who uses social media to find inspiration for many meals. She scans Pinterest blogs for dinner ideas, follows restaurants on Facebook, and relies on social media sites for word-ofmouth recommendations. “I definitely have tried a ton of things on
those sites that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise,” Hackett says. She also places more weight on recommendations she sees via Instagram or Facebook vs. seeking out a location on Yelp. Jon Stemmle is director of the Health Communication Research Center at the Missouri School of Journalism. He says restaurants and other food-related businesses are catching on to how to use social media to tell their story and engage customers. Stemmle calls it the “Food Networkization” of social media. “It’s not just the cooking of the food; it’s the story of the food, and social media is helping tell that,” he says. At the same time, it takes customers to help spread the word. “Research shows advertisers are not trusted on social media. It’s all about your peers,” Stemmle says. A Zocalo Group study from August 2013 noted that while “direct, in-person recommendations” are still the most trusted source of recommendations, thumbs-ups on a You Tube review and Facebook posts both ranked higher than Yelp.
It’s not just the cooking of the food. It’s the story of the food, and social media is helping tell that. JON STEMMLE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH COMMUNICATION RESEARCH CENTER
HUNGRY EYES Social media connects us over a shared love for food, but some researchers think the overexposure to “food porn” is desensitizing us. A recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology suggests viewing repeated images of some foods can give you less enjoyment than the real thing. In the study, 232 people rated photos of foods. Half the group viewed salty foods, such as french fries and chips, and the other half viewed sweet foods. Afterward, everyone ate salty peanuts. The people who saw the pictures of salty foods enjoyed the peanuts less, though they hadn’t seen photos of peanuts. The study’s co-authors say the images made the viewers feel as if they’d sated their desire for salty foods without a grain of salt ever touching their tongue. One described this effect as “sensory boredom,” an unconscious desire to move on to a new taste. These early findings might give us a clue to how food on social media affects us. But don’t count on it becoming a quick diet trick. In this case, the viewing and eating experiences happened in a vacuum. “I don’t think any of us sees that much of the exact same thing,” Stemmle says. “I think the study is completely valid, but it’s not real-world applicable.”
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Heartland Women’s Healthcare is proud to announce the arrival of Amanda Carroll, D.O. Dr. Carroll was born and raised in southeastern Missouri. She graduated from North County High School in 2001. She received two Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Medical Sociology from the University of Central Arkansas in 2005. She attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine where she received her DO degree in 2009. Dr. Carroll did her residency in OB/Gyn at Garden City Hospital through Michigan State University in Garden City, Michigan. She is excited to move to the area she calls home and start practicing what she loves to do. She has a husband, who is a new physical therapist in the area, and two young daughters with a son on the way this spring. She loves to craft, do outdoor activities, and play with their two dogs in her spare time.
22 Providers. 16 Locations. One Focus:
SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT adopted 11-26-09
THE
T A BE N O S E GO
You probably never heard of Lp-PLA2 tests or therapeutic hypothermia. But if you have heart problems, this technical jargon might be music to your ears.
CHECK OUT 10 TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD KEEP YOUR HEART STRONG AND BEATING LONG.
BY ERIN GOL DEN
Peggy Tippin is quite matter-of-fact when she talks about the day her heart stopped, or, as she puts it, “the day I died.” And it’s no tall tale she tells. She doesn’t embellish the facts, and you won’t hear over-the-top dramatics. She just tells it like it is. There’s the part where she collapses in the hallway at work. The part where paramedics struggle to resuscitate her. The story of doctors shocking her heart, unable to get blood pumping to her brain for about 45 minutes. And, finally, the almost unbelievable part. “They froze me for a few hours, and I woke myself up, asking: ‘Why am I here?’” says the 53-year-old from Louisville, Ky. Tippin was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia, which had stopped her heart. Thanks to a new technology called therapeutic hypothermia that helped reduce the risk of brain damage, her cardiologist had time to implant an internal defibrillator to prevent it from happening again. After a week, she walked out of the hospital, and was back at work in three weeks. “I have a whole different outlook,” she says. Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans, and that’s why doctors and researchers are exploring new ideas—even ones that sound like science fiction—to treat the heart. From new surgical techniques to smarter, more targeted diet choices, experts say there’s a long list of new ways to diagnose, treat and even prevent heart disease. Read on to learn about the procedures that can keep your heart strong, and patch them up when they run into trouble.
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OUT IN THE COLD: THERAPEUTIC HYPOTHERMIA After all the standard treatments failed to restart her heart, Tippin’s doctors at Baptist Health Paducah in Paducah, Ky., turned to one of the latest techniques in heart health: therapeutic hypothermia. Also called targeted temperature management, this cooling treatment is recommended by the American Heart Association to treat cardiac arrest. Doctors injected iced saline into Tippin’s veins, to bring her body temperature down to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. By keeping the body cooler than the typical 98.6 degrees, oxygen can circulate better, decreasing the risk of permanent brain damage. In some cases, doctors also wrap patients in a special blanket that has cool water circulating inside. The AHA has praised the procedure since 2010, but it’s just now spreading from highend treatment centers to hospitals across the country, says Dr. Benjamin Abella, clinical research director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Resuscitation Science. Therapeutic hypothermia is one of many new advances dramatically changing outcomes for people who suffer cardiac arrest, Abella says. “It’s a wondrous thing, being able to see this person who was technically dead for a period of time actually wake up and ask for their family,” he says. “And the people who wake up tend to do very well, and can go back to normal lives.”
Doctors saved Peggy Tippin’s life with help from a treatment called therapeutic hypothermia.
HEART LINE After 1 year of quitting smoking, the risk for heart disease goes down by half. After 15 years, the risk is the same as a non-smoker’s.
10 minutes of walking 3 times each day has been shown to lower blood pressure SOURCE: AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The ArcticSun 5000 Temperature Management System (left) and the Arctic Gel Pad are two types of equipment used in therapeutic hypothermia.
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LIFE RENEWAL: LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSISTIVE DEVICES
It’s a wondrous thing, being able to see this person who was technically dead for a period of time actually wake up and ask for their family. DR. BENJAMIN ABELLA
Wondering about when to scan? The Mayo Clinic recommends getting your cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years, beginning at age 20.
Surgeons have been implanting mechanical pumps in patients with serious heart trouble for more than a decade. Former Vice President Dick Cheney even had one for a while, before receiving a heart transplant in 2012. But until fairly recently, implanting LVADs wasn’t exactly a common procedure. Now, as more doctors have seen how invaluable they can be, LVADs have become more durable and accessible to a greater number of patients. Dr. Edward Geltman is medical director of the heart failure program at BarnesJewish Hospital in St. Louis. He says the growing use of LVADs has created a ripple effect, with more companies producing them, giving people more options. The heart pumps are used in people who may be too old or sick to be good candidates for a successful heart transplant, he says. “For people who don’t qualify for heart transplants but have a very sick heart, we can put the LVAD in and give them a boost,” Geltman says. “And they can have really very acceptable lifestyles.” It’s nowhere near a cure, but it can allow a person a renewed chance at life. One of Geltman’s star LVAD patients is a 68-year-old man who got well HEART LINE enough to check some items off his bucket list. Eating blueberries “He went pheasant hunting, and we have picmay help blood vessels tures of him on a cruise looking at glaciers outside function better, which relieves of Alaska,” he says.
CELL MATES: BONE MARROW STEM CELLS AND CARDIAC STEM CELLS
pressure on the heart. SOURCE:
AMERICAN JOURNAL The body has an amazing capacity for healOF CLINICAL NUTRITION ing, and now researchers are finding the heart may be able to repair itself with help from bone marrow, or its own cardiac cells. A 2013 breakthrough study of European heart failure patients, led by the Mayo Clinic and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, tested how stem cells could repair damaged heart tissue. Researchers injected ischemic heart failure patients with their own bone marrow stem cells, treated with specialized proteins. They discovered the bone marrow cells helped the heart cells regenerate and reversed the effects of damage. And it’s not relatively all that tough, Geltman says. “The stem cells that come from bone marrow are not that hard to harvest, select and grow,” he says. “They take a sample, grow it in a laboratory for a couple of weeks, and then go back and get them into the heart.” And if that doesn’t wow you, you’ll be amazed at what researchers at King’s College London discovered. The heart’s own stem cells may repair and regenerate muscle tissue damaged by a heart attack. The study, published in August 2013, found that when a particular group of stem cells that reside in the heart are removed and then re-injected, they naturally resettle into the heart, finding and repairing damage. This can lead to total cellular and functional heart recovery, getting the heart pumping normally again. Geltman says it’s still up in the air as to which type of stem cells—those from the heart itself or from bone marrow—is best suited to treat heart failure. Some studies, he says, have shown significant benefits for heart pump functions, while others result in neutral effects. Researchers are still sorting out how it all works. This is why these treatments haven’t reached community hospitals. They’re being tested in clinical trails at academic medical centers. “All of this is still considered investigational,” Geltman says.
NO STUDYING NEEDED: CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE TESTS Just because you look and feel healthy doesn’t mean your heart is off the hook. Many doctors are recommending coronary artery disease tests, more commonly known as CAD tests, for all adults, not just those who have a history of cardiac problems. Since 2010, the AHA has been recommending coronary artery calcium scans, a type of CAD test, for people with a family history of heart disease and other risk factors. The test detects plaque buildup in the arteries, dangerous if it impedes blood flow, or ruptures and breaks away, causing a potentially deadly clot. Dr. Emil deGoma, director of the Preventive Cardiovascular Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, says the test requires a quick CAT scan, providing a picture that can help doctors get a glimpse into your future. “That is probably the single best test we have,” deGoma says, because it can spot potential problems in people who have no other symptoms and have never had a heart attack. CardioDX, a cardiovascular genomic diagnostics company based in California, is one leading the charge in innovative CAD tests. This company has created one of the first sex-specific CAD tests, taking into account key biological differences between men and women. Called the Corus CAD, it assesses specific genes in the blood to measure the extent of a person’s coronary artery disease. This test is performed through a quick routine blood draw at the doctor’s office. Patients can get results within 72 hours, and doctors combine the results with other tests to offer a more complete picture of a person’s current heart condition.
Unchanged RNA level Increased RNA level Decreased RNA level The Corus CAD test measures the activity of specific genes in the blood, which changes when there is a significant narrowing or blockage in the arteries.
OUT OF YOUR CONTROL: LP-PLA2 TESTS Another way for doctors to size up your risk of a heart attack is to take a close look at lipids—the fatty molecules—in your blood. More specifically, they want to examine a lipid known as LPA. “The higher the LPA, the higher the risk of having a heart attack—that’s very clear,” Geltman says. This test can be helpful to understand your risk, because, unlike other heart disease predictors, LPAs aren’t affected by your diet or exercise routine. And your lipid levels can be high, even while your cholesterol is relatively low. That’s where the Lp-PLA2 comes into play. A lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A test is a cholesterol and blood test that assesses your risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke. The PLAC test is the new brand-name go-to version. Geltman says the test can help doctors determine how soon a high-risk patient should start cholesterol-lowering medication based on their results and other risk factors, including family history. “It is inherited, so you might have someone who says, ‘I don’t smoke. I’m fit.’ But your dad had a heart attack (at a young age), which means you’ve got to do all the good things,” he says.
Coronary artery disease tests are done through a simple blood draw.
HEART LINE Check out our website at CommunityHealthMagazine.com to see a video that breaks down Corus CAD tests, and how the info gets processed.
CAD TEST PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARDIODX
FIGHTING THE CAUSES: CHOLESTEROL MEDICATIONS You’ve probably heard the big names in cholesterol drugs: Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor and a handful of others. These all fall into a category of drugs called statins, which help lower cholesterol by slowing production of a particular enzyme. Now, a newer type of drug is getting a lot of hype for its ability to dramatically drop “bad” cholesterol levels in a different way. ALN-PCS, also known as PCSK9 inhibitors, may be able to drop cholesterol levels by about 60%, deGoma says. It works by stopping the body’s production of a protein known as PCSK9, helping to reduce cholesterol. And having a healthy cholesterol level reduces your chances of getting heart disease and having a stroke. So far, the drugs are still in clinical trials. But deGoma says they could be ready for use within the next couple of years. “It could be used above and beyond existing medications,” he says. “Or alternatively, for people who may have had side effects to existing therapies.”
29%
Eating nuts every day can drop your risk of heart disease by 29%, according to a recent Harvard University study.
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GENE THERAPY: LIKE LEBRON JAMES Could genes help with heart failure? Maybe. Gene therapy is a complicated process currently being tested by researchers at several universities. So it’s not ready just yet. Doctors use a virus—one that won’t cause any problems—to bring certain genes to heart cells to help repair them and stop deterioration in its tracks. But there’s one major challenge: Broader heart-related problems such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity are controlled by combinations of genes, rather than a single gene. That means introducing just one type of gene won’t solve the bigger issue, says Dr. Marc Gillinov, a heart surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. Still, gene therapy is showing promising signs. We just might have to wait a while until it’s ready for showtime. “It’s a future prospect,” Gillinov says. “It’s kind of like watching LeBron James in high school basketball.”
EFFECTIVE, BUT EXPENSIVE: TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT In the not-so-distant past, many older people in need of a heart valve replacement were given bad news by their doctors: “Sorry, it’s too risky.” Now, those higher-risk patients have a less risky option. A transcatheter aortic valve replacement—sometimes shortened to TAVR or TAVI—lets doctors replace a heart valve without traditional open-chest surgery. Dr. Marc Gillinov is a heart surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic and author of Heart 411: The Only Guide to Heart Health You’ll Ever Need. He says this new FDA-approved process is great for patients at too high of a risk for standard surgery. “We can take (the replacement valve), fold it closed like an umbrella, thread it up the artery, and then deploy it,” he says. This procedure requires a 3- to 4-inch incision in the leg or left chest wall. It takes about three to four hours to complete, which is about two hours less than an average heart surgery. Most patients leave the hospital within four to six days, and usually return to their normal routine within 10 days of the procedure. For now, the procedure is primarily available only in larger medical centers. But Gillinov says that’s likely to change in the next few years. He says the technique is widely accepted, but it’s expensive, which makes some hospitals reticent to use it. “It’s a new technology that can save a lot of lives,” he says. “But can we afford it?”
Flip some flaxseed into your next smoothie. The National Institutes of Health says it’s a super source of fatty acids that may fight plaque buildup in your arteries.
People who follow a Mediterranean diet live longer, have fewer heart attacks and fewer strokes than people who follow a reduced-fat diet. DR. MARC GILLINOV THE CLEVELAND CLINIC
MEDITERRANEAN DIET You don’t have to turn your kitchen into a fat-free zone to protect your heart. Research increasingly shows we need some fats to keep the heart running, Gillinov says. “The idea that fat is bad is incorrect. (That notion is) too simple,” he says. The Mediterranean diet is at the top of many doctors’ lists for heart health. It features fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish, a good mix of healthy fat and a small amount of meat. “Many diets have been studied, but only one has been in a gold standard clinical trial,” Gillinov says. “There was a large European study showing that people who follow a Mediterranean diet live longer, have fewer heart attacks and fewer strokes than people who follow a reduced-fat diet.” Gillinov says the trick is to avoid foods high in saturated fat, such as red meat and dairy. Eat foods with mono and polyunsaturated fats, which you can find in fish and olive oil. Craving a burger? Grass-fed beef often has less total fat, more antioxidants and more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than standard beef. SOURCE: MAYO CLINIC
Drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee per day may lower your risk of heart failure, according to a study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Drinking black tea reduces blood pressure, and may help with clogged arteries, says new research from Dr. Claudio Ferri at the University L’Aquila in Italy. SOURCE: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
LOCAL CONNECTION
Carbondale dietitian dishes up heart healthy recipe BY DANETTE M. WATT
Michelle McCormick works as a clinical dietitian at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. She says more of her patients are asking about quinoa—pronounced keen-wah—as a way to keep their heart healthy. “It’s a wonderful grain with the benefit of protein, as well as fiber,” she says. This dish can be served as a vegetarian main course, or as a tasty side for chicken or fish. The herbs and vegetables provide flavor, while boosting the heart and keeping sodium levels low. QUINOA TABBOULEH Makes about 6 servings 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well 1 3⁄4 cups water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 garlic clove, minced 1 ⁄4 cup olive oil 1 large cucumber, chopped 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 3 ⁄4 cup raisins 2 tablespoons chopped green onions 1 ⁄2 cup chopped parsley 1 ⁄2 cup chopped mint Ground black pepper
HEART LINE 4.5% How much runners can drop their risk of heart disease by pounding the pavement for 1 hour every day.
In a medium saucepan, bring water and quinoa to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with fork. In a small bowl, mix lemon juice and garlic. Whisk in olive oil, and season with pepper to taste. Stir lemon juice and garlic mix into quinoa. Stir vegetables, raisins, and herbs into quinoa mix. Cover and let stand for 1 hour. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
What does HOPE look like?
Mary Tyler Moore
Hope looks like Rohan and his father, Ajay.
International Chairman
Rohan has Type 1 Diabetes and dreams of being a chemist. He and his father work to help raise awareness of the seriousness of the disease, the outstanding progress in scientific research and the need to accelerate the pace of this research, which will ultimately lead to a cure. Rohan wants to be a part of his own cure. Won’t you join him? For more information, visit jdrf.org
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MID AMERICA
RED BUD, IL
PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH
RAISE A GLASS—OR TWO! Plenty of research touts the heart health benefits of drinking a daily glass of red wine, such as the ones seen here at Lau-Nae Winery in Red Bud. The antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of good cholesterol, and protecting against artery damage. CHEERS TO THAT A polyphenol called resveratrol is one substance in red wine that may be a key ingredient in preventing damage to blood vessels, reducing bad cholesterol and preventing blood clots.
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THE DARKER, THE BETTER Dark red wines are high in antioxidants. Since antioxidants come from the seeds and skins of a grape, as well as contact with oak, full-bodied red wines aged in oak have the highest antioxidant properties.
HAVE A DRINK, BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD If you drink red wine, do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is an average of two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women. A glass of wine is 5 ounces.
Do you have a photo you’d like to see in Picture of Good Health? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.
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A BIRTHING CENTER FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY. When your big day arrives, you can count on the dedicated team at Heartland Family Birthing Center for family-oriented care that’s responsive to your needs and preferences. We’ll make your special moment even more memorable with a quiet private room, experienced OB nurses, comfortable amenities and a congratulatory meal. You’ll even receive a free car seat and gift basket with items for you and your little one. It’s all here, close to home, at Heartland Family Birthing Center – where families are born.
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