your
health [ Your guide to Healthy Living from Georgia Regents Medical Center ]
Fall 2013 | gru.edu/health
today
YOUR HEART HEALTH
Get back to the beat of life How to curb your cancer risk Georgia Regents physicians are “America’s Top Doctors” Breastfeeding: What people don’t tell you
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
What’s new and noteworthy at
Georgia Regents Medical Center? As part of an academic health center, we are continuously upgrading our services, technology and outreach. Here are a few of our latest initiatives, achievements and honors.
Georgia Regents Physicians Are ‘America’s Top Doctors’ Georgia Regents Medical Center (GRMC) physicians are the only physicians in the AikenAugusta area included in the prestigious list of “America’s Top Doctors” and “America’s Top Doctors for Cancer,” both published annually by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The national patient reference guides help patients find recognized specialists in any given field. Both lists recognize only the top 1 percent of physicians in the nation, as nominated by their peers. GRMC physicians have made the list of “America’s Top Doctors” for more than a decade.
PAGE 3 Tips for a safe and healthy fall
PAGES 4-5 Cancer Prevention Preventing prostate cancer’s collateral damage Cancers that strike women
PAGE 6 Heart-Healthy Living Get back to the beat of life
PAGE 7 Focus on Women What people don’t tell you about breastfeeding
PAGE 8 Neuroscience Living with Alzheimer’s Ricardo Azziz, M.D.
David Terris, M.D.
David Hess, M.D.
Walter Moore, M.D.
Martha Terris, M.D.
PAGE 9 Digestive Health Advances in weight-loss surgery
PAGE 10-11 Family Health Jack Yu, M.D.
Greg Postma, M.D.
Satish Rao, M.D.
Kapil Sethi, M.D.
Sandra Sexson, M.D.
How to please picky eaters Say goodbye to germs
PAGE 12 In the News Making Augusta a 'heart-safe' community Robert Sorrentino, M.D.
Julian Nussbaum, M.D.
Sharad Ghamande, M.D.
Dennis Ownby, M.D.
For a complete list of the physicians included, visit gru.edu/health.
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 gru.edu/health. Copyright © 2013 Georgia Regents Health System
Images on any of these pages may be from one or more of these sources: ©2013 Thinkstock and ©2013 istockphoto.com.
Pack light and
pack it right
your child totes a full load of books, homework and sports equipment, a backpack [ I ] fassessment may be in order. To avoid back injury, your child should carry no more than 10 percent of his or her body weight, according to a study in the Journal of School Health—that’s 10 pounds for a 100-pound child. Make sure your child carries only what’s needed for that day; put heavier items in the center of the pack; use padded shoulder straps; and always use both straps.
Stand tall
this fall
you checked your posture recently? Bad posture is responsible for more than [ H ] ave 80 percent of neck and back problems—including muscle spasms, compressed nerves, pain and headaches. To check your posture, try this test: Stand with the back of your head and your buttocks touching a wall and your heels six inches from the baseboard. Check the distance between your lower back and the wall, and your neck and the wall. You should have an inch or two at the lower back and two inches at the neck.
Tips for a safe and healthy fall Breakfast:
It fills your tank
you want to be sharp in the a.m., eat breakfast. For some quick ways to a healthy, [ I ] fproductive and energetic morning, grab a low-fat and low-sugar cereal; blitz a smoothie with fruit, yogurt, skim milk and juice; or go the un-breakfast route: leftover pizza, a chicken breast, or cheese and crackers. As long as you eat a balanced, healthy diet throughout the day, it doesn’t matter what you eat in the morning. The point is to get your brain thinking and your body working.
Check off your
fall to-do list
summer fades into fall, it’s a swift reminder of items on your to-do list, from [ A] staking care of your health to planning for holidays. Remember to: take advantage of the fall weather by heading outdoors change the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors ask your physician if the flu shot is right for you avoid seasonal allergies by knowing your triggers and taking preventive medications avoid holiday stress by gift shopping early and making plans now
gru.edu/health
[ 3 ]
cancer prevention
Preventing Prostate Cancer’s
collateral damage
Robotic surgery offers unique benefits
[T]
oday’s treatments for
challenging because of the prostate’s
prostate cancer focus on
location—within a neurovascular
curing the cancer and reducing what
bundle that controls erectile function
experts call the “collateral damage”
and in close proximity to the bladder
of treatment—bladder issues and
and rectum. Use of the state-of-the-
erectile dysfunction due to damage to
art da Vinci® robotic surgical system
the delicate structures surrounding
advances a surgeon’s skills, helping
the prostate.
to avoid those structures and spare
That’s where robotic surgery
nerves through increased dexterity,
makes an important difference. “For
tremor-free instrumentation and
patients who are otherwise healthy
magnified views of structures (up to a
and younger than 70, removal of the prostate gland through robotic surgery may offer the best results and outcomes,” says
factor of 4). In addition, compared to open surgeries, patients often benefit from less blood loss, experience less pain
Rabii Madi, M.D., director of
and recover more quickly. In fact, says
Georgia Regents Center for
Dr. Madi, many patients go home the
Advanced Robotic Surgery
same day or the next day and may
and director of urologic
return to work within two weeks, as
oncology at Georgia
compared to four to six weeks with
Regents University
open surgery. Scars, too, are tiny.
Cancer Center. Prostate surgeries are
Georgia Regents Center for Advanced Robotic Surgery is also the only center in Georgia to offer robotic
Get expert care Surgical outcomes for robotic prostatectomies are better at high-volume centers. To find out more about the experienced surgeons at Georgia Regents Center for Advanced Robotic Surgery, visit gru.edu/robotics or call 706-721-6744.
[ 4 ]
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salvage prostatectomy when prostate cancer recurs after radiation. Thirty to 40 percent of all prostate cancers treated by radiation will experience cancer recurrence that might require follow-up surgery, which is complicated due to scar tissue formation during treatment.
Cancers That
strike women Curbing your risk
[M]
ore than a quarter
million American
women are affected by breast and gynecologic cancers every year. Yet much can be done to detect these cancers early, and certain lifestyle habits may help prevent disease.
In your teens and 20s: • Get a clinical breast exam every three years between ages 20 and 39, then every year thereafter. Develop the habit of performing breast self-examinations monthly beginning at age 20. • Get a pelvic exam, including a Pap test, starting at age 21, and
during your 40s, then annually
then according to your doctor’s
after age 50.
recommendations. • Get an HPV vaccination (as early as age 11 or 12).
• Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet, and
In your 50s: • Women at high risk for endometrial cancer may be
In your 30s:
Risk-reducing tactics for all women: exercise. • Limit alcoholic beverages to one a day.
screened with endometrial biopsy
• Quit smoking.
• Do you have a family history of
and a transvaginal ultrasound
• Discuss the benefits and risks of
breast cancer? If you haven’t
at menopause and periodically
menopausal hormone therapy
done so already, talk to your
thereafter.
with your physician.
doctor about your family history and whether other screenings may be needed at this time.
In your 40s: • Add a baseline mammogram by age 40, every one to two years
• Know your family history, and
Here to help The Georgia Regents University Cancer Center information line offers help, guidance and referrals, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call us at 888-365-0747.
educate yourself about risk factors and early signs of cancer. • Talk to your doctor if you notice any troubling symptoms, including abnormal bleeding, pain or swelling.
gru.edu/health
[ 5 ]
Heart-Healthy living
Get Back to the beat
of life
Cardiac rehabilitation and your heart
[E]
Doctors typically prescribe
xercise right after a
sidestep more cardiac trouble and
heart attack? Absolutely!
return to a normal life in about six to
medication for use during cardiac
12 weeks.
rehabilitation. These medicines can
“Although it may sound
help reduce risk of a second heart
counterintuitive, cardiac rehabilitation significantly reduces a
The road to recovery
attack and lower blood pressure, and
patient’s chance of suffering another
A cardiac rehabilitation program
they may include:
heart-related episode,” says Preston
typically consists of heart-focused
• aspirin
Conger, M.D., director of cardiac
exercises designed for each patient’s
• beta blockers
rehabilitation services at Georgia
activity level, medications and
• ACE inhibitors or receptor
Regents Medical Center.
lifestyle education.
In fact, by starting a cardiac
Aerobic exercises—such as
blockers Cardiac rehabilitation programs
rehabilitation program as soon as
walking or jogging on a treadmill,
also provide personalized instruction
48 hours after a heart attack, you can
pedaling a stationary bike or
on quitting smoking, improving diet
swimming—and weightlifting
and more.
Take the first step Visit gru.edu/cardio to find out more. Or, to schedule a tour of our Wellness Center or for a referral, call us at 706-721-9055.
[ 6 ]
gru.edu/health
exercises are designed to help
The bottom line: Sticking with a
patients slowly rebuild their
supervised cardiac rehabilitation
stamina, strengthen their heart,
program is the safest and surest way
lower their blood pressure and
to take back the years that a heart
control their weight.
attack tried to take away.
focus on women
Breastfeeding basics What people don’t tell new moms
[B]
reastfeeding is a
time between feedings is three
beautiful thing—it promotes
hours—but it’s not uncommon for
for new mothers. The breasts
bonding between mother and child,
a newborn to nurse hourly. The
usually become engorged with milk
and offers numerous health benefits
feedings will become less frequent
two to five days after birth, causing
to both the baby and the mother.
as a baby grows.
swelling and tenderness. A lactation
While nursing a baby is a brandnew experience that may feel
Breastfeeding may feel painful
consultant can offer helpful tips Mothers worry about milk
and determine if the baby has a
uncomfortable at first, with a little
supply. Frequent breastfeeding in
good latch (a bad latch can
practice and knowledge, new moms
the beginning will help establish
increase pain).
can quickly become breastfeeding
your milk supply. The best way to
pros.
tell if a baby is getting enough milk is to
Breastfeeding takes practice.
make sure he or
During pregnancy, first take the time
she is producing
to do your research. Once your baby
frequent wet
arrives, find a comfortable position.
and dirty
A nursing pillow can help, or talk
diapers, and
to a lactation consultant about
that he or she is
different positions that might work
gaining weight.
best for you. Like parenting, breastfeeding is a demanding job. Many women are unprepared for how often a newborn baby will need to nurse. The average
Struggling with breastfeeding? We can help! Consult our lactation experts at 706-721-8283 for ongoing support and information about classes and groups.
gru.edu/health
[ 7 ]
neuroscience
Living with Alzheimer’s Help for patients and caregivers
[A]
lzheimer’s disease
is often called
a family disease because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. “Understanding the changes
Understanding the changes that occur as the disease progresses can help both patients and caregivers.
that occur as the disease
– Suzanne Smith, M.D.
progresses can help both patients and caregivers plan ahead and better cope with this disorder,” says Suzanne Smith, M.D., a neurologist at Georgia Regents Medical Center.
Early stage As memory begins to fail, patients and caregivers should focus on adjusting to the diagnosis and making plans for the future. Emotional support from
with daily living tasks and interactions,
24 hours a day, seven days a week.
family members, support groups or a
and they may experience anger,
Respite care is vital to provide
counselor is key. The patient should
wandering, incontinence and more.
the primary caregiver with periodic
also create powers of attorney for
Patients require care or supervision
breaks.
finances and health care to ensure he or she is cared for by trusted family members or friends.
Middle stage As memory loss increases, Alzheimer’s patients may have more difficulty
[ 8 ]
gru.edu/health
Help is available Are you or a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s disease? Visit gru.edu/neuro or call us at 706-721-4581 or toll free at 800-736-CARE (2273).
Late stage Patients may lose the ability to communicate, walk, swallow or recognize people, places and objects. Plan for skilled nursing care—or hospice care—when needed.
digestive health
Advances in
weight-loss surgery Better options for complex procedures
[T]
his past summer,
that we treat obesity as a disease
bariatric surgeries such as the
the American Medical
and focus more attention on new
duodenal switch bypass or during
Association officially recognized
treatments for patients with a long
revision surgery (when additional
obesity as a disease.
history of obesity,” says Dr. Lane.
procedures are needed). Most
At GRMC, robotic surgery is
routine bariatric surgeries are
It’s an important statement, says Georgia Regents Medical Center
another new advancement for
still done with standard laparoscopic
(GRMC) bariatric surgeon Brian
patients struggling with weight
techniques, and GRMC bariatric
Lane, M.D. “Obesity leads to
loss. Early studies are indicating
surgeons have performed
diabetes, high blood pressure, heart
the procedure may improve patient
laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeries
disease and stroke, cancer and a
safety and reduce pain during
since 1999.
shorter life expectancy. It’s important
recovery, particularly in complex
Robotic bariatric surgery uses the same minimally invasive approach as laparoscopic bariatric surgery, with the added benefits of enhanced imaging, tremor-free instrumentation and improved dexterity. Very few intestinal surgeries are as complex or require as much suturing as gastric bypass, which is where the robotic system excels. In the near future, says Dr. Lane, advanced imaging options within the robotic system will also
Learn about your weight-loss options Meet our experienced bariatric surgeons during our weight-loss seminars on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to register, visit gru.edu/weightloss, call us at 706-721-2609 or email weightlossprogram@gru.edu.
allow physicians to view blood vessels and check blood flow to tissues in real time, which helps to promote maximum healing of tissues.
gru.edu/health
[ 9 ]
Family health
First foods Four ways to please picky eaters
[I]
s your dinnertime a
child to finally try it? For example,
vegetables—as this can create bad
battlefield? You’re not alone.
kids will sometimes eat things that
lifetime eating habits.
According to a study of young
are near or in their favorite foods,
eaters, one in five eat candy every
so add some peas to their mac and
day and the No. 1 “vegetable” for
cheese or serve broccoli next to
Mom and Dad eat their veggies, too!
toddlers is French fries.
those mashed potatoes.
Children will be more likely to
So how can you ensure that your children are getting the right
eat certain foods if they see you Let’s (not) make a deal. Don’t insist
vitamins and nutrients when it
that children clean their plates—
seems like all they want to eat are
and never bargain sugary treats for
chicken fingers? Pick and choose. Instead of junk food, provide children with small quantities of many healthy choices. Toddlers will usually pick and choose what they want from their plates. Offer lean proteins like chicken or fish; whole-grain breads or pastas; and fruits and vegetables at every meal. Try, try again. Did you know that it can often take as many as 10 introductions to a new food for a
Concerned about childhood obesity? Talk to your pediatrician about your child’s diet and calorie needs. Need a pediatrician? Contact us at 706-721-KIDS (5437) or toll free at 888-721-KIDS (5437).
[ 10 ]
gru.edu/health
Be a good example. Make sure
enjoying them.
Say goodbye to germs Adopt these four healthy habits
[D]
id you know?
The average preschooler
suffers as many as 10 infections a year—infections that affect your entire family. Here are some easy steps to bolster your family’s resistance.
1 Don’t get caught dirty-handed. One of the best things you can do to prevent getting sick is also the simplest—“Wash your hands, wash them often and wash them well,”
What about antibacterial soaps? According to pediatric infectious disease specialist Jim Wilde, M.D., “These products can actually contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant diseases.” Instead, use regular soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a good substitute when you’re on the run.
Keep Your family Healthy and safe Learn more about healthy habits and keeping your child safe at gru.edu/kids.
says Jim Wilde, M.D., a pediatric
3 Shut your eyes.
infectious disease specialist at
Lack of proper sleep affects memory,
Georgia Regents Medical Center.
physical performance and mood as well as the ability to fight off
2 Eat well and play hard.
infections. Adults typically need
Good nutrition that comes from a
seven to nine hours of sleep each
varied and well-balanced diet is one
night, and children even more.
of the most important influences on your health. Research also suggests
4 Don’t be late to vaccinate.
that regular exercise translates into
Make sure your children are up to
improved resilience against illness-
date on all their vaccinations, as well
causing germs. Kids should aim for
as their boosters (typically at about
at least 60 minutes of moderate
age 5 and again at age 11 or 12). Also
activity every day, while adults need
talk to your doctor about yearly flu
30 minutes of moderate activity
vaccines and other immunizations
most days.
that may benefit your family.
gru.edu/health
[ 11 ]
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In the news
Heart and cardiovascular services
donate AEDs
Georgia Regents Medical Center leads the way for Augusta to become a ‘heart-safe’ community
[C]
ardiac arrest, in which
“By installing AEDs in churches
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. “It’s
the heart malfunctions and
and other public places throughout
good to know that in the case of an
stops beating, remains the No. 1
Augusta, we’re providing a better
emergency, there are trained people
cause of death in the United States,
chance for survival to many. In fact,
in the congregation who can assist by
and according to the American Heart
AHA statistics show that help from
using the AED. That precious 10 to
Association (AHA), fewer than 8
a bystander can double or triple a
15 minutes could be all the difference
percent of those who suffer sudden
victim’s chance of survival.”
in saving a person’s life.”
cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.
The program plans to donate more of the easy-
But, says Justin Resley, chief
to-use devices to other
perfusionist at Georgia Regents
local underprivileged
Medical Center (GRMC),
churches on an ongoing
“Communities with publicly available
basis. Perfusion staff
automated external defibrillators
from GRMC’s Heart and
[AEDs] often see much better survival
Cardiovascular Services are
rates.” It’s why GRMC is leading the
training church staff and
way to make Augusta a “heart-safe”
others on how to use AEDs.
community by donating AEDs to local churches and other public places. “Most cases of sudden cardiac arrest
“Churches are places where people gather in groups, and we are all
happen at home or in the community,”
growing older,” says the
says perfusionist Erica Hawthorne.
Very Rev. Billy J. Alford of
From left: Vinayak Kamath, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery; Shirley Lockhart, Kathy Greenleaf, the Very Rev. Billy Alford and Jay Greenleaf, all of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church; Sean Wittorf, perfusionist; Erica Hawthorne, perfusionist; and Justin Resley, chief perfusionist