Yht winter 2016

your

health TODAY Winter 2016

8 TIPS TO

Curb your cravings A HEART-POUNDING SITUATION:

GWEN'S STORY /////////////////

Are you ignoring these

CANCER SIGNS? grhealth.org

TABLE OF contents

features 4 5 6

Cancer Prevention An advanced technique for esophageal cancer Are you ignoring possible cancer signs?

Heart-Healthy Living Gwen Fulcher Young’s heart-pounding story

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Focus on Women 8 tips to curb your cravings

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Neuroscience A fine balance

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Digestive Health IBS solutions that really help Family Health Calling all phone fanatics

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New Cancer Treatment Available Cutting EDGE Radiosurgery Only at GRHealth Certain cancers require precise radiosurgery — “surgery without a knife”— to eradicate cancers with radiation treatment. The GRU Cancer Center Department of Radiation Oncology recently became the only therapy center in the CSRA offering the Varian Edge™ radiosurgery system.

This specialized therapy combines high-dose and realtime guidance with extremely precise delivery to provide state-of-the-art treatment for patients with a wide variety of cancers. Because it delivers targeted treatments at a faster rate, this new radiosurgery system can protect vital surrounding tissues while ensuring patient comfort.

Are you a GRHealth V.I.P.? //////////////////////////

As a patient of GRHealth, you certainly are! As a GRHealth Virtually Informed Patient, you receive instant access to your medical records, test results and your health care team — and can even make appointment requests online. Sign up is easy and free. Simply ask about becoming a GRHealth V.I.P. at your next appointment, and your care provider will provide you information on how to sign up. Then, log onto grhealth.org/VIP for complete access. Have questions about how to use the GRHealth V.I.P. patient portal? Email GRHealthVIP@gru.edu or call 706-446-0024.

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Are you a responsible antibiotic user?

In the News CHOG ranks No. 1 in the nation

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 grhealth.org. Images may be from ©iStock and/or ©Fotolia. Copyright © 2016 Georgia Regents Health System

NOTHING TO

Sneeze AT

[O]

ver-the-counter cold medications are most people’s first line of defense when the sniffles strike, but before you just grab the first product you see, stop. Choose targeted products that fit the symptoms you have. If you must take several products, make sure your maximum dose of acetaminophen doesn’t exceed 4,000 mg a day. And check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re older or have high blood pressure to make sure medications are safe.

ARE YOU GETTING

Enough Sun?

[ E]

xposure to sunlight not only helps boost your mood during often-dreary winter months, but can help stave off vitamin D deficiency. Do you know the symptoms?

Frequent colds, depression, bone pain or muscle weakness and easily breaking bones during minor falls are common signs. The good news is that only 5 to 30 minutes of sunlight twice a week can help you reach the recommended daily 600 international units.

MAKE YOUR

Winter Wonderful Soup’s ON warms up your winter like a comforting bowl of soup. For a simple [ N] othing minestrone, simmer together 1 cup of dried red kidney beans and ½ cup dried chickpeas (both soaked and rinsed) for an hour or until tender. Add 5 cups of vegetable stock; 2 sliced carrots; 2 sliced celery stalks; 1 cup frozen cut green beans; 1 14.5-ounce can of unsalted peeled tomatoes; 1 6-ounce can of low-sodium vegetable juice; an 8-ounce can of unsalted tomato juice; 3 sprigs minced parsley; 1 tsp. minced fresh thyme; minced garlic clove; 1 tsp. each of dried basil, oregano and sugar; ¼ tsp. pepper; 1⁄₈ tsp. red pepper; and ½ tsp. salt. Simmer until carrots are tender. Add 1 cup fresh sliced mushroom caps; 1½ cups zucchini, halved and sliced; 2 cups shredded Savoy cabbage; and 1 cup small macaroni pasta, and simmer for 10 minutes. Makes 10 cups.

Winter-proof YOUR WORKOUT Working out in the winter helps give your immune system a boost [ D] idandyoucanknow? help ward off colds. Get your exercise mojo going by wearing the right gear, including layers that you can remove as you start to sweat, and avoiding cotton, which stays wet (and cold!) next to your skin. Recruit a workout buddy — he or she will help you get those running shoes on even when you don’t want to. If it’s really too cold to be outdoors, try tackling a fun indoor activity, such as yoga, kickboxing or even swimming. grhealth.org

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CANCER prevention

TOUGH TO SWALLOW Difficulty swallowing could be an early sign of esophageal cancer. If you are experiencing this symptom, along with pain or weight loss, call the GRU Cancer Center at 706-721-6744 to make an appointment.

The Right Place, THE RIGHT TIME

GRU Cancer Center offers advanced technique for esophageal cancer

[ F]

rank Thomas,

66, was getting a routine

screening test for a heart condition when his cardiologist spotted something not so routine.

It was a mass — a large one — sitting right inside Thomas’ esophagus, and his cardiologist at GRHealth immediately referred him to the GRHealth Digestive Health Center for further examination.

There, specialists used endoscopic ultrasound to pinpoint the location, stage and depth of involvement of the tumor, and Thomas was even luckier: The mass was contained and hadn’t grown into the muscle layer of the esophagus. When the GRU Cancer Center tumor board reviewed the case, they advised that Thomas undergo laparoscopic/thoracoscopic esophagectomy surgery, without the need for further chemotherapy or radiation.

In this region, laparoscopic/thoracoscopic esophagectomy is available only at Georgia Regents Medical Center (other facilities offering the procedure are two-plus hours away). Performed by Carsten Schroeder, M.D., director of the GRU Cancer Center Thoracic Oncology Surgery Service, the advanced

[ 4 ]

grhealth.org

technique uses a tiny camera and tools inserted through several small incisions through the abdomen and chest.

The minimally invasive procedure results in a faster recovery, less pain, fewer complications and has the same oncologic results as open surgery.

Despite a few complications, Thomas was eating ice cream in his hospital bed a week after surgery. “I felt great,” he remembered. “They said they got it all and that I wasn’t going to have to go through the radiation treatments and chemotherapy, and all that made it 10 times better.”

Today, Thomas is free and clear of cancer and has no need to visit the medical center (other than scheduled endoscopies during annual follow-ups). He’s back to working as a radiological control inspector at Savannah River Site and just enjoying his life.

“This was my first real stay in a hospital and my firstever surgery,” said Thomas. “I expected it to be really, really bad, but it wasn’t. It was good, and those folks — they really take care of you ... I’m doing well, and I’m back at work — and I still eat steak!”

ARE YOU IGNORING POSSIBLE

Cancer Signs?

Know exactly what to look for

[ E]

ver spotted a new mole and

wondered, “Could it be cancer?”

Don’t wait and wonder. “Early detection of cancer is vitally important as it significantly improves survival rates and treatment options. I encourage all to seek annual screenings and be mindful to warning signs and symptoms,” said Samir Khleif M.D., director of the GRU Cancer Center.”

Watch for signs and symptoms General signs and symptoms of cancer include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue and pain. If you experience any of these and they last for a long time or get worse, see your health care provider.

Certain signs and symptoms may suggest a specific type of cancer: Change in bowel habits or bladder function, such as diarrhea or long-term constipation, or more or less frequent urination, accompanied by pain Unusual bleeding Indigestion or trouble swallowing Lump or thickening in an area of the body Sores that don’t heal, which is often the first sign of skin cancer Recent change in a wart or mole, or any new skin development Keep in mind many other conditions can cause these signs and symptoms as well.

What should I do if I think it might be cancer?

Don’t ignore changes in your health or delay important screenings. If you’re concerned about an unusual sign or symptom, make an appointment today with your doctor.

STOP: HAVE YOU BEEN SCREENED LATELY? Since cancer is such a large group of diseases, it can cause almost any sign or symptom. And sometimes cancer is a silent disease with no symptoms in the early stages. That’s why getting recommended cancer screening tests is so important. To schedule a screening test today, speak to your primary care provider.

grhealth.org

[ 5 ]

HEART-HEALTHY living

THE Heart

Knows

For Gwen Fulcher Young, it was a heart-pounding situation

[ F]

or

Augusta business

owner, wife, mother and grandmother Gwen Fulcher Young, that May morning was just like any other — busy.

She was off and running by 5 a.m., preparing for a morning meeting then a drive to an out-oftown conference. “I was very busy,” admitted Young. “I was very, very stressed, and being a type A-plus personality, everything was intense.”

Although Young had suffered from a rapid heartbeat, or arrhythmia, since her 20s, she’d always simply take medication, and as soon as the symptoms abated, “I’d say, ‘I’m fine,’ and just try to go on with my life.”

But that morning, after giving Young warnings off and on over the years, her heart finally said, “Stop.”

“My heart was beating so hard that I could hardly breathe.”

She made it through the meeting but went to her cardiologist’s office on her way out of town, where they told her, “You’re not going anywhere.”

It turned out that Young’s heart was racing above 200 beats a minute, but even after a week of hospitalization, it simply wouldn’t calm down. So she was transferred to Georgia Regents Heart Rhythm Center/Electrophysiology Lab and the care of Dr. Adam Berman, a cardiac electrophysiologist and director of cardiac arrhythmia ablation services.

Young was determined to be a good candidate for catheter ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy

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grhealth.org

IS YOUR HEART STRESSED OUT? Whether your rapid heartbeat requires medication or a more advanced treatment, the Georgia Regents Heart Rhythm Center/Electrophysiology Lab can help. To find out more, call 706-721-2426.

to inactivate the part of the heart muscle causing arrhythmia — and the EP lab at GRHealth offers the latest technology in the region. Young would undergo two separate series of ablations targeting her different arrhythmias and dramatically improving her quality of life.

And her heart, at last, found a little rest. “I am more grateful for

life every day,” said Young, who is semiretired and remains very active in the community. “And I am so grateful that I live here, where we have GRHealth, who has in my opinion some of the brightest and most well-trained and sharpest people in medicine … I’m convinced I’m a walking miracle.”

FOCUS ON women

8 TIPS TO Curb

Your Cravings Try this to get your eating back on track

[I]

s comfort food calling your

name this winter? “The desire to eat can be caused by numerous factors other than actual hunger,” said Sarah Schmidt, a registered dietitian at GRHealth. Here are eight common reasons cravings kick in and what you can do about them: You’re thirsty. Mild dehydration may feel the same as hunger. Try increasing your water intake (provided your fluid intake isn’t limited for medical reasons).

You’re tired. Poor sleep or too little sleep can leave you searching for energy. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

You’re eating too many refined carbs. Simple carbs, such as those in foods made from white flour, are typically low in fiber and may leave you hungry (such as the 400-calorie bagel that leaves you ravenous by 10 a.m.). When you crave carbs, go for the high-fiber variety – such as oatmeal, berries or beans.

You’re stressed. Stress hormones can contribute to feelings of hunger. Try stress management techniques, such as meditation or yoga.

1 2 3

4

5 6

You’re bored. Instead of snacking, take a walk, watch a movie, play with your pet or read a good book.

You’re drinking too much alcohol. Not only can alcohol stimulate hunger, it can also make you dehydrated.

Limit alcoholic beverages to one a day for women or two for men.

You need more protein or fat. Protein and fat can both help you feel satisfied, especially protein. Include sources of lean protein (think legumes, chicken or fish) and healthy fats (think avocados, nuts or olive oil) in your meals and snacks. Just be careful to watch your portion sizes — even healthy fats are high in calories.

You’re depriving yourself. Deprivation will only serve to increase your cravings for treats. Let yourself enjoy them occasionally and get plenty of variety to help curb cravings.

7

8

NOW HIRING A DIET DETECTIVE A dietitian can give you more tips to curb those cravings and craft an eating plan that works for you. Ask your primary care physician if meeting with a dietitian is the next step for you. Call 706-721-4588 to make an appointment with one of our family medicine physicians.

grhealth.org

[ 7 ]

neuroscience

A FINE Balance

Stay steady on your feet with this easy exercise

[T ]

hink good balance isn’t important?

Try performing everyday activities, such as walking, getting up from a chair or bending over, without it.

An estimated 1 in 7 Americans experiences a balance or dizziness problem each year, and the risk increases as you get older. “In fact, trouble with balance is one of the most frequent reasons that older adults see a doctor,” said John Morgan, M.D., of the Georgia Regents Movement and Cognitive Disorders Center. “Medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia, drug combinations, an inner ear infection and nerve or muscle damage are all common causes.”

NEED ADDITIONAL HELP? If you have a medical condition such as Parkinson’s disease that affects your equilibrium, talk to the Georgia Regents Movement and Cognitive Disorders Center first about options to help your balance. You may need to see a physical therapist who can show you appropriate exercises. Call 706-721-2798.

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grhealth.org

Try this exercise Here’s an easy exercise to test how you stand (or wobble) and to help improve your balance: with your feet shoulder1 Stand

width apart and extend your arms in front of you. your left foot and bend 2 Lift

your leg back. this position for five 3 Hold

seconds, then lower your leg to the floor briefly.

4 Repeat five more times and then switch legs.

Make it easier: Stand near a table, a wall, a chair or a countertop on which you can rest your hand or a finger.

Make it harder: Do the exercise without holding on to anything. Lengthen the time you stand on each leg. Finally, try closing your eyes as you perform the exercise.

DIGESTIVE health

IBS SOLUTIONS THAT

Really Help Fight back with these 3 strategies

[N ]

o matter how you phrase

it, IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, isn’t usually a popular topic of conversation. “Yet it affects as many as 1 in 5 people, about two-thirds of them women, and its symptoms can impact a person’s ability to work or socialize,” said Satish Rao, M.D., director of the Georgia Regents Digestive Health Center.

The syndrome is characterized by abdominal discomfort and bloating along with diarrhea or constipation (or both) and may be caused by altered colonic microbiota, gut hypersensitivity, environmental factors, and altered gut and brain interactions.

“IBS can’t be cured, but most people can manage their symptoms with a three-pronged approach,” said Dr. Rao. Here’s how.

Fight back with food strategies Keep a journal to identify specific foods like dairy and wheat that may cause your symptoms.

In addition, try these tips: Eat smaller, low-fat meals more often and eat them slowly.

Consume more high-fiber foods like wholegrain breads and cereals, and fruits and vegetables.

Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Avoid carbonated beverages and chewing gum, which contribute to gas.

Avoid common triggers such as chocolate, alcohol and caffeine.

Seek stress relief Although stress doesn’t cause IBS, it can stimulate colon spasms and trigger symptoms.

To ease stress: Try relaxation therapies such as meditation.

Seek counseling and support to help you address stress.

Exercise regularly; try walking or yoga.

Get adequate sleep.

Talk to a digestive health specialist A digestive health specialist can suggest overthe-counter or prescription drugs to help give you greater control over symptoms. For example, fiber supplements, antidiarrheal medications and prescriptions for severe IBS that doesn’t respond to other treatments are all available.

SPECIALIZED CARE FOR YOUR IBS SYMPTOMS The Georgia Regents Digestive Health Center offers a full team of specialists to care for your IBS. If you need a solution for your IBS problems, make an appointment today by calling 706-446-GUTS (4887).

grhealth.org

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FAMILY health

CALLING ALL

Phone Fanatics You could be suffering from “text neck”

[S]

top: Were you about to sneak a peek at your

phone or tablet? If so, you’re not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, 90 percent of American adults own a cellphone, 62 percent own a smartphone, 42 percent own a tablet and 32 percent own an e-reader.

But all this technology is leading to what’s being described as a “text-neck” epidemic, stress on the spine due to the slouching, head-down posture most of us employ during mobile phone and tablet use. “This poor posture can lead to neck and back pain, muscle imbalance, joint dysfunction and a negative emotional state, while good posture helps your body function properly, enhances endurance and adds to an overall feeling of comfort and health,” said Dr. John DeVine, chief of the Spine Surgery Service at GRHealth.

Check your posture Good standing posture is a vertical alignment from the top of your head, through the midsection and down to your feet. A good frame of reference is to imagine a straight line though your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. Hold your head straight and avoid tilting it to one side.

If you’re sitting at a desk all day, make sure your chair provides ample support and is ergonomically correct.

Certain exercises can help strengthen your core muscles, which can help improve your posture. A physical therapist can suggest options that are right for you.

Most importantly, be aware of your posture during technology use. Avoid slouching, and if you’re constantly checking your phone, take a break.

DO YOU HAVE GOOD POSTURE? The best way to find out if your posture is having a negative affect on your general health and could lead to chronic back pain later in life is to consult with a medical professional. To make an appointment with a GRHealth primary care provider, call 706-721-CARE (2273).

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grhealth.org

ARE YOU A Responsible

Antibiotic User?

Good behavior can help squash superbugs

[Y]

ou’re feeling lousy and just want some

relief from your runny nose and coughs. Is your first thought, I need an antibiotic?

The truth is, you probably don’t — since most acute illnesses with cough and runny nose are caused by viruses, which aren’t affected by antibiotics. In fact, taking an antibiotic for these symptoms can actually do harm.

“Taking antibiotics incorrectly can cause normal bacteria in your nose, throat, GI tract and skin to develop antibiotic-resistant qualities, which they can pass along to other bacteria,” said Jim Wilde, M.D., a pediatric emergency room physician and infectious disease expert at Georgia Regents Medical Center. “As a result, traditional antibiotics, such as penicillin, become increasingly less effective against bacteria they normally could treat. The consequence of this is the potential for the spread of disease, longer recoveries and even death.”

Your guide to more responsible use Your health care provider has procedures he or she has to follow to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant disease. Here’s how you can do your part: Don’t insist on being prescribed an antibiotic.

Instead, ask about tips for treating viral illnesses, from over-the-counter medications to home remedies to antiviral medications.

Follow directions for dosing exactly as prescribed.

If you are prescribed 10 days of medication, finish it, even if you feel better.

If for some reason you can’t finish the full course, dispose of any leftover antibiotics safely. Follow the directions on the prescription drug label, and ask your pharmacist if you have questions. (Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless you are directed to do so.)

Never use anyone else’s antibiotics, and never order antibiotics online.

Wash hands regularly.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET A FLU SHOT Since flu season can sometimes last until May, you still have time to be vaccinated and help prevent the spread of flu. Call 706-721-CARE (2273) to schedule your flu shot today.

grhealth.org

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IN THE news

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF GEORGIA RANKS

No. 1 in the nation [A]

ugusta families can now

take pride in the fact that the best children’s hospital in the nation is right here in their own backyard.

The Children’s Hospital of Georgia was recently ranked as the highest performing children’s hospital in the nation in quality and safety, according to the latest Quality and Safety Management Report from the University HealthSystem Consortium – an alliance of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic medical centers. Augusta’s only children’s hospital and the second largest in the state, CHOG sits atop a list of 122 peer children’s hospitals across the country.

Aches, pains and all the temporary illnesses of childhood are a significant part of what CHOG cares for on a daily basis. “But we also take care of some really sick children here,” said CHOG Administrator Jim

Mumford. “We’re talking about kids who need heart surgery, brain surgery and cancer treatments, as well as ECMO, (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and kids with chronic diseases, like asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. These UHC quality and safety indicators and our national ranking is a testament to the outstanding care that our physicians, nurses and staff provide to these children and families from across the Southeast.”

CHOG is also ranked first in pediatric care for all of 2014 in an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality integrated measure on pediatric quality. “Being recognized for the highest quality and safety outcomes on a national level is certainly a significant honor,” said Charles Howell, M.D., co-medical director and surgeon-in-chief of CHOG. “It speaks volumes about the compassion and expertise that we

provide to each and every patient at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.”

“It takes a remarkable team effort centered on children and their families to be the best of the best in children’s care,” added Charles Linder, M.D., chairman of pediatrics for GRU’s Medical College of Georgia and co-medical director at CHOG. “We recently celebrated a year of record-breaking donations in 2014. Now we have another reason to celebrate, and our supporters can take pride in these accomplishments, too.”