your
health TODAY Summer 2016
Bypassing Family History: ANNA’S STORY
Summer is here! STAY FRESH THIS SUMMER /////////////////
The Truth About Belly Fat augustahealth.org/yourhealthtoday
TABLE OF contents
features 4
Cancer Prevention Becoming a Survivor
5
Does Cancer Run in Your Family?
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Heart-Healthy Living Bypassing Family History: Anna’s Story Focus on Women Healthy Smile, Healthy Pregnancy Neuroscience Telemedicine Program Places Stroke Care Within ‘REACH’ Digestive Health The Truth About Belly Fat
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Introducing the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University The GRU Cancer Center is now the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. The new name reflects its position as the state’s cancer center, considering its affiliation with the state’s public medical school, the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). It also shows alignment with other Augusta University institutions such as MCG and The Dental College of Georgia. The Georgia Cancer Center unites research and practice to prevent, treat and ultimately cure cancer.
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Augusta University Contributing to Health Care and Economy
Augusta University’s health system has generated more than $1.2 billion in revenue for the local and state economy, according to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA), the state’s largest hospital trade association. In addition, the health system’s partnership with the state’s Roosevelt Warm Springs Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospitals contributed more than $43 million for a combined impact of nearly $1.3 billion for the health system. The GHA economic impact report noted that Augusta University Medical Center provided approximately $50 million in uncompensated care while sustaining 7,869 full-time jobs throughout Augusta and the rest of the state.
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Family Health Back-to-School Checklist
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5 Reasons Men Skip Doctor Visits
The material in Your Health Today is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment. For more information, please call 800-736-CARE (2273) or visit our website at augustahealth.org. Images may be from ©iStock and/or ©Fotolia. Copyright © 2016 Augusta University
How to Store PRODUCE LONG TERM [ D]
o you have a favorite fruit or vegetable that you want to eat throughout the year? You can always freeze your favorites now and enjoy them months down the line. Follow these guidelines when freezing produce for the best results: • Vegetables that need to be cooked tend to freeze well. Others such as cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes lose their crispness when frozen. • Fruits that are frozen tend to keep their flavor but can have a softer texture when thawed. Use only fully ripe fruit for the best results. • Use moisture- and vapor-resistant containers to prevent the loss of liquid and flavor, or use plastic bags designed for the freezer. • Limit the amount of frozen produce to about one-half gallon per container. • Pack food tightly to reduce the amount of air in the package, which can pull moisture from the produce. • Store at 0º F for best quality. • Fruit can be thawed in the fridge, under cold running water or in a microwave (if it will be consumed immediately after). Vegetables should be cooked without thawing, except corn on the cob and leafy greens, which should be partially thawed. After thawing, enjoy the (literal) fruits of your labor with delicious fruit smoothies, pies, casseroles — whatever you can think of!
To learn how to select the right types of food in the right portions for optimal heart health, call 706-721-8637 to make an appointment to meet with a dietitian.
Stay Fresh
THIS summer STRAWBERRY
s’mores
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o fruity with this twist on a summertime favorite! Prep time: 5 minutes | Number of servings: 1
Ingredients 2 strawberries 1 graham cracker (broken in half ) 2 tablespoons low-fat vanilla yogurt
Directions 1. Rinse the strawberries in water. 2. Slice the strawberries. 3. A dd the yogurt and strawberries to half of graham cracker. 4. T op with the other half of graham cracker.
Nutritional information per serving: 57 total calories; 1 g fat; 2 g protein; 9 g carbohydrates; 1 g dietary fiber; 64 mg sodium. Recipe courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, recipefinder.nal.usda.gov.
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CANCER prevention
Becoming A SURVIVOR What to expect after you outlast cancer
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he doctors found your
cancer in time. You’ve completed treatment and now join 8 million other Americans who’ve outlived cancer, but you wonder: How physically and emotionally difficult is survival? And how limited might my new life be? It’s true — survival changes your life. But it’s also an opportunity for personal, workrelated and spiritual growth. There are keys to surviving successfully and making the most of your new life. “Completing cancer treatment is a great milestone in a cancer patient’s life,” said Karen Ryan, nurse navigator manager and gynecology nurse navigator at the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. “Although life as they once knew it may have changed, how they proceed forward is significant in continuing to win their fight against cancer.” Safeguard your health. Begin with: • Regular checkups. Keep your follow-up appointments faithfully. • Alertness. Know the warning signs of cancer’s return. Report any suspicious symptoms to your doctor immediately. • Vigilance. Get regularly scheduled screenings for other cancers — not just the one you survived. • Acceptance. Help your own cause by accepting change, especially those affecting diet, weight and sleep. •Motion. Exercise if possible. Ask your doctor for guidelines. “Survivors’ chances of remaining disease free increase with recommended surveillance by their oncologists and
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taking care of both their mental and physical well-being,” Ryan said.
Make your feelings known Discuss your emotions with loved ones, counselors, friends and other survivors. “It is important for cancer survivors to get the emotional support they need,” said Brittany Frankhouser, a nurse practitioner and survivorship coordinator at the Georgia Cancer Center. “This can be accomplished through a support group, family support, support from church and counseling. Discovering the ‘new normal’ is daunting, and patients don’t have to go through that alone.” Other practical ideas: • Survive one day at a time. As you do, your emotional upheaval will subside. • Recognize signs of survivor stress. Set priorities, and do things you enjoy but pace yourself, too. • Know when to say “no” to others and to yourself. • Live like a survivor, not a shut-in. Attend support meetings, worship services or health lectures. • Rediscover intimacy. If your love life presents challenges, discuss them with your doctor or counselor.
NAVIGATING YOUR NEW LIFE If you or a loved one is recovering from cancer and you need help, call 706-721-6744, and ask to speak to a nurse navigator. To learn about our cancer services and providers, visit augusta.edu/cancer.
Does Cancer RUN IN YOUR FAMILY?
How knowing your family history can protect you hat do you turn to your family for?
Families are often a source of love, support, inspiration and much more. But do you turn to family members for information that could help to protect your health? You should! Families share genes, environment and lifestyle, and together, those factors can provide clues to medical conditions that may run in a family. Health care professionals use your family health history to help determine whether you, other family members or future generations may have an increased risk of developing a certain condition. If a close family member has a chronic condition such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure or stroke, you may have a higher risk of developing that condition, too. A family health history may even tell your health care provider something about your risk for diseases that are different from the ones your relatives have. It is common for different types of autoimmune diseases to affect different members of a single family. A family history can also provide information about the risk of rarer conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, which are caused by mutations, or changes, in a single gene. Knowing your family health history allows you to take steps to reduce your health risks. For example, if there’s a history of cancer, your health care provider might recommend earlier and more frequent screenings. If you know you have a higher risk of heart disease or diabetes based on your family history, you may choose to make lifestyle changes such as adopting healthier eating habits and getting more exercise to help with reducing your risk.
HOW TO CREATE A FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY A family reunion can provide a wonderful opportunity to gather health information from parents and grandparents, children, siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. You should aim for health details from three generations for your family history. Ask about what major medical conditions have been diagnosed and at what age. For deceased family members, record the age of the onset of disease and the age and cause of death. To record and organize your family health history, you can use an online tool created by the Surgeon General called My Family Health Portrait. It creates a family health history that’s easy to share with your health care provider and other
REMEMBER: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER To find a primary care physician and schedule an appointment, visit augustahealth.org, or call 706-721-2273.
family members. Discuss your family health history with your primary care provider at your next appointment.
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HEART-HEALTHY living
BYPASSING FAMILY HISTORY
Anna's story on overcoming familial high cholesterol
[ I]
f you were meeting
Anna
Olliff for the first time, you’d see an attractive, physically fit young woman. You’d soon find out that she has been married for 27 years, is a mother of three and works as a media specialist at Evans High School. It wouldn’t surprise you to learn that she enjoys activities like reading, gardening, walking and kayaking. But what you can’t tell as easily is that Olliff ’s grandfather died of a heart attack at 43. Her mother suffered a heart attack in her early 60s and underwent triple bypass surgery 12 years later, as did her uncle. More recently, her younger brother underwent triple bypass surgery in May 2015. While Olliff doesn’t match the profile for what most of us think
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heart disease looks like and she didn’t experience any symptoms of a heart condition, she did know one thing: “If this can happen to him, then it certainly can happen to me.”
Cardiac catheterization confirmed the presence of several blocked arteries, which led to bypass surgery.
Following up on a hunch
Just days before Christmas, Olliff found herself in the shoes of her father, mother, uncle and brother: preparing to undergo bypass surgery, a very serious procedure — but one that could save her life. “She came in healthy and well-prepared for surgery,” Weintraub said. Since her surgery, Olliff has focused on eating clean and taking her medication to keep the cholesterol from building up. She is back to gardening and walking, and she gradually worked up to walking the 3.5-mile route she walked before her surgery. She is planning to participate in activities that require use of her chest, like kayaking and playing tennis. “When she strolled into the clinic a couple of weeks later, none of the staff could believe that she had just undergone heart surgery,” Weintraub exclaimed. “Since that time, she has never looked back, only forward.”
While she has been taking cholesterol-lowering medication since her early 30s, despite her good health, it was this thought that motivated her to see her doctor. He referred her to another doctor, who introduced her to a cholesterol-lowering medication, which was expensive and required a very restrictive diet. Olliff ’s concerns led her to Neal Weintraub, MD, interim chief of the Division of Cardiology at Augusta University Heart and Cardiovascular Services, for a second opinion. “Mrs. Olliff ’s symptoms were rather subtle,” Weintraub said. “She did not have severe chest pain or other alarming symptoms that otherwise suggested a serious heart problem, which is all too often the case in women. However, she was keenly aware of her strong family history of high cholesterol and heart disease. Fortunately, she listened to her body and recognized that something was wrong.” Due to the severity of Olliff ’s blood test results, Weintraub prescribed a combination of medications followed by more testing, which showed improvement. However, he conducted a stress echo study, which led to a cardiac CT scan. To Weintraub’s surprise, this showed a severe buildup of calcium salts in her coronary arteries, despite her young age, and identified several potential blockages.
Expert care leads to a positive outcome
DOES HEART DISEASE RUN IN YOUR FAMILY? While you can't change your family history, you can take control of how it affects your health. To learn about our heart and cardiovascular services and providers, call us at 706-721-2426, or visit augustahealth.org/cardio.
FOCUS ON women
HEALTHY SMILE,
Healthy Pregnancy How your dental health can affect you and your unborn baby
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hile it brings much joy
and excitement, being a healthy expecting mother requires a lot of work. Regular doctor visits, physical changes and preparing for the new person in your life take plenty of your attention. It’s no wonder simple tasks, such as dental care, are commonly forgotten during pregnancy, potentially causing infections or other painful conditions. Fortunately, most oral ailments you may encounter during pregnancy can be counteracted easily by being attentive and consulting your dentist. “Having a healthy mouth is important to both the pregnant mother and the developing baby,” said Cynthia Hughes, a registered dental hygienist and dental hygiene faculty member with the College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University. “The pregnant patient is encouraged to see the dentist and/or dental hygienist regularly.”
The root causes Whether it be a toothache or signs of gingivitis, many pregnant women experience oral health problems. These issues are typically related to dietary and habit changes that can be exacerbated by hormonal shifts. Pregnancy gingivitis, a very common disease, is caused by plaque buildup, resulting in inflammation
and bleeding gums. This, like tooth erosion and decay, may be linked to unhealthy eating habits brought on by cravings. Excess sugar and starch left in the mouth after eating cause bacteria to grow, leading to a higher acid content on your teeth and gums. Morning sickness can also contribute to a higher level of acidity in your mouth. “If not treated, gingivitis results in gum disease, which is the loss of bone and tissues that support the teeth. In high numbers, the bacteria, which cause the gum disease, are related to preterm delivery and low-birthweight infants,” Hughes said.
A clean bill of health • Practice good dental hygiene, like brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. • Try rinsing with mouthwash or baking soda water if you’ve experienced morning sickness. • Inform your dentist of your stage of pregnancy. Your dentist will also be able to respond directly to your concerns, offer guidance and prescribe medication if needed for infections. Just like taking prenatal vitamins or attending regular doctor visits, protecting yourself from periodontal disease and tooth decay is one important way you can prepare for your child’s birth.
GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PREGNANCY AND PEARLY WHITES. To learn more about our dental providers and services, call us at 706-721-2696, or visit augustahealth.org/dental.
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neuroscience
TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM PLACES STROKE CARE
Within ‘REACH’ [A ]
n
88-year-old woman
was going about her day when the right side of her body felt weak and she was suddenly unable to speak — the signs of a massive stroke. She was in Dublin, Georgia, a small town in the middle of the state, and was sent to her local hospital, Fairview Park Hospital, where she received initial treatment. When the need arose for her to receive more specialized care, a helicopter transported her to Augusta University’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, the first of only four in the state and second in the region. After she recovered, she returned to Fairview Park Hospital to begin rehabilitation close to home. Before Remote Evaluation for Acute Ischemic Stroke (REACH), none of this would’ve been possible.
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Founded at Augusta University, REACH Health is an internationally recognized telemedicine service that facilitates neurological consults for patients in hospitals that lack emergency neurology coverage. This service eliminates the patient’s travel time, speeds up the treatment process and reduces disability from stroke by allowing Augusta University neurologists to diagnose and treat stroke patients remotely at participating hospitals at any time and from anywhere — all through a standard computer webcam and an internet connection.
How it works 1. An emergency department (ED) nurse at the local hospital enters patient health information into the REACH application. 2. The ED calls the Emergency Communications Center, where an operator pages the on-call REACH consultant at Augusta University. 3. The consultant accesses the REACH application, providing an immediate connection between the local hospital and the comprehensive stroke center. 4. Consultants can communicate with the staff, patient and family using application equipment. Web-based data between the
local hospital and the consultant is continuously updated to ensure the accuracy of data exchange. The local hospital sends scanned CT images to the REACH application so they are readily available for review. 5. After reviewing the CT scans and assessing neurologic deficit, the consultant will recommend whether or not to proceed with treatment. David Hess, MD, clinical service chief of neurology at Augusta University’s Neuroscience Center of Excellence, emphasized that REACH is all about the continuum of care. The aforementioned patient was treated within about four and a half hours at Augusta University Health. “We couldn’t have done this without telemedicine,” Hess said. “Georgia is a rural state, so we must use telemedicine and look beyond Augusta.”
AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY LOOKS BEYOND AUGUSTA. To learn about our neuroscience services and providers, call us at 706-721-4581, or visit augustahealth.org/neuro.
DIGESTIVE health
The Truth ABOUT BELLY FAT (AND HOW TO LOSE IT!)
4 tips for taking on your tummy
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he belly is a sensitive area
for many of us: both literally and figuratively. Along with our waistline and hips, a lot of stress can accompany how we view our own midsections. Even if you’re at a healthy weight, with a normal body mass index (BMI), belly fat may still be cause for concern. That’s because belly fat is bad fat, the kind associated with high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and more. In fact, it’s much better to carry weight on your thighs and hips than your midsection. Health professionals recommend that if your belly measures more than 40 inches (for men) or 34 inches (for women) around, it’s time to make some changes. But where do you begin?
Addressing the problem To take on your tummy and rid yourself of the fat that can surround organs (known as visceral fat), you can start by considering the following changes:
STILL STRUGGLING? We know that losing weight is hard. Don't do it alone. To learn about our weight-loss services and providers, call us at 706-446-4887, or visit augustahealth.org/weightloss.
Exercise: You’ve heard it before — exercise can do wonders for your health and your body. Try making time for 30 minutes of activity at least five times a week. If you struggle with motivating yourself to work out, ease into it and build up to more intense exercises that raise your heart rate. Tummy tip: Follow along to an online yoga video each day to help strengthen your body’s core. Diet: Eating clean is challenging, and people have mixed results sticking to programs that restrict their options. One easy way to get started, while not throwing your regular eating schedule and intake out of whack, is to eat 10 grams of soluble fiber a day. This can be as simple as adding high-fiber bread to a meal or eating one cup of peas or two small apples a day. Tummy tip: Go meatless one day a week.
Sleep: Getting an adequate amount of shut-eye has been shown to reduce the amount of visceral fat the body accumulates. While everyone is different, aim to sleep around seven to nine hours a night. Tummy tip: When you have trouble falling asleep, get up, walk around or read, then try again a little while later. Stress: How we manage stress affects our diets, our time and motivation for working out, and how much sleep we get. Don’t let stress get the better of you and your health. If you’re struggling, identify issues in your life, consider counseling and make time for activities that let you relax. Tummy tip: Spend 15 minutes meditating when you wake up in the morning.
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FAMILY health
DR. STALLWORTH’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Checklist
Shots, sleep, backpacks and more
Refer to the CDC’s vaccination schedule for guidance on which vaccines your child needs and when. “The recommended vaccine schedule was created as it exists, because vaccines have been studied extensively over many years and found to work well at preventing particular diseases when given according to this schedule,” said Clay Stallworth, MD, a pediatrician at Augusta University Health. “Such diseases lead to significant illness, lifelong disability and sometimes death, and the adverse effects of the vaccines are short-term and minimal. These diseases are not ones you would want your child to develop ‘natural immunity’ to by allowing them to become infected.”
Start your child on a sleep schedule two weeks before school starts. “I recommend changing everything about the routine,” Stallworth said, “including getting all electronic devices out of the bedroom (charge phones overnight in the kitchen, for instance), and get TVs, computers, tablets, game systems, etc., out of the bedroom, as well.”
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Become familiar with a healthy weight that a child should carry in his or her backpack. “Recommended backpack weight is no more than 10-15 percent of your child’s body weight,” Stallworth said. “I recommend a lightweight but sturdy material, with wide, padded straps over both shoulders (not one), resting evenly in the middle of the back. Multiple compartments help so that the weight of the items is distributed evenly, and a waist belt helps to distribute the weight more evenly throughout the torso.”
Develop an after-school routine based on your child’s needs. For instance, if your child needs to burn off energy before focusing on activities like homework or practicing for a music lesson and/ or winding down before bedtime,
then work active play into his or her routine so it happens shortly after he or she gets home from school. If your child needs motivation to complete activities like homework or practicing for a music lesson, then allow active playtime to serve as a reward after the activities have been completed.
Plan healthy school lunches. Find out what kinds of food your child would like to bring to school, and start experimenting with healthier alternatives.
Take an active interest in how your child is feeling about starting a new school year, and be supportive. Ask if he or she is looking forward to it. While this can be overwhelming for parents, too, try to keep the tone positive, because a confident, content child starts with a confident, content caregiver.
"ACE" BACK-TO-SCHOOL PREP! To make an appointment with a pediatrician at the Medical Clinic at West Wheeler, call 706-312-5437, or visit augustahealth.org/westwheeler.
5 REASONS MEN SKIP DOCTOR VISITS
(And 5 reasons why they shouldn't)
[I]
f it’s been a while since your last doctor’s
exam, you’re not alone. Many men aren’t going to the doctor regularly for a wide range of reasons. But regular visits can be important to keep you healthy and identify health issues early on. Check out these common reasons for not visiting a doctor and what you should know about them: You don’t feel like anything is wrong with you. It’s always great to be feeling healthy, but unfortunately, many dangerous health conditions don’t have symptoms that would be readily noticeable by you. Conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol are often symptomless but can lead to heart attack or stroke. An examination by your doctor can find these health problems early and keep you on track for good health. You don’t have a doctor. For a lot of men, one of the reasons they don’t go to the doctor is because they simply don’t have one. But finding a doctor you trust starts with setting up an appointment. You can check with your insurance company to find participating doctors in your area or call the doctor’s office directly to ask questions. You can also ask friends or family for recommendations to get you started. You don’t have insurance. Health insurance has become easier to obtain, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. If your employer doesn’t offer health care coverage, you can find coverage through the health insurance marketplace in your state. Low-income individuals may qualify for financial assistance to help with cost concerns. You’re worried about being embarrassed. Maybe you’ve put on a few pounds or you haven’t been able to kick a smoking addiction. Keep in mind, your doctor is not there to judge you. He or she is there to offer advice and help you understand your risks. Plus, your doctor may be able to offer alternative ways to improve your health that you haven’t considered. You just want to tough it out. Appearing invincible is an image many men like to portray. But your health is not something that can simply be ignored.
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“Many men view sickness and pain as weakness,” said Bernard Davidson, MD, a psychologist at Augusta University Behavioral Health and Psychiatry. “In an effort to not feel weak or show others vulnerability, they minimize the problem of being ill or in pain by avoiding it.” Many health conditions you might want to disregard do not go away — instead, they get worse. “It all comes down to denial and control,” Davidson said. “By admitting that one has a problem on his hands, he gives up control. The stereotype of a man driving around lost and refusing to ask for directions is a classic example of this.”
Take control “What’s ironic is that visiting the doctor is actually a way to take control — of your health in this instance,” said Christos Hatzigeorgiou, MD, chief of Augusta University Internal Medicine. “Keeping up with regular doctor appointments typically once a year for preventive health screenings, which are covered by health insurance, not only gives physicians the opportunity to detect and begin early treatment, but doing so can also prevent unwanted irreversible complications.”
MAN UP Don’t let these or any reasons keep you from regularly seeing your doctor. To find a doctor or schedule an appointment at Augusta University Health, visit augustahealth.org, or call 706-721-2273.
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