2018 Health Matters

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2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

THE SUMTER ITEM

HEALTH

2018

MATTERS

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2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

THE SUMTER ITEM

Keeping the blood flowing with Aortic Valve Disease

BY DR. DENNIS LANG McLeod Cardiology Associates The human heart has four main valves. Their function is to keep the blood flowing through the heart in one direction. If one of the four valves do not open or close properly, the result is heart valve disease.

The aortic valve is the main valve that allows all the blood to be pumped out of the heart.

There are two types of aortic valve disease: Regurgitation – the valve does not close completely, allowing blood to leak backward into the heart.

Stenosis – much more common,

the valve does not open enough to allow the blood to leave the heart.

Typically, aortic valve disease is discovered in patients after their doctor hears a murmur.

This murmur is usually detected during a routine office visit and can be easily heard through the physician’s stethoscope. If a heart “murmur� is heard, the physician orders additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

have led to damage to the valve, and congenital valve disease - a valve disease that has been there since birth.

Also, as you age, the risk for developing calcium on the valves increases. This build-up of calcium leads to problems with the aortic valve, causing the leaflets of the valve to stiffen and narrow, which limits their motion and ability to open and close properly.

with heart irregularities that some people may describe as “palpitations.� However, many people with heart valve disease have no symptoms.

Although you should be sensitive to the signs and symptoms of valve disease, don’t be alarmed simply because you are tired, particularly if you are 65 or older.

After all, as we age, we can feel fatigued more easily.

TESTING

SYMPTOMS

TREATMENT

Echocardiogram (the gold standard) uses sound waves – similar to ultrasounds used on pregnant women – to take moving pictures of the heart. If the test doesn’t result in a satisfactory picture, the doctor may order other tests.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) is also an ultrasound, but the pictures are captured from inside the throat with a small flexible tube.

Cardiac Catheterization results can show how much the aortic valve is leaking and check the health of the coronary arteries.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be used to check the aortic valve and how well the heart is pumping blood.

RISK FACTORS

The most important risk factor for aortic valve disease is advanced age. Simply stated, the valve wears out over time. Other risk factors include previous rheumatic fever – which would

Individuals with aortic valve disease may not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Over time, they may begin to experience: • Fatigue or weakness; • Shortness of breath, especially when active; • A heart that feels like it is pounding, racing or beating unevenly; • Chest pain often brought on by exercise; and • Fainting or a light-headed feeling.

People who have symptoms of aortic valve disease should be referred to the McLeod Valve Clinic for education and assistance in managing this condition.

For questions on whether you are a candidate for the clinic, check with your primary care physician or cardiologist, or call the McLeod Valve Clinic at (843) 777-8258.

The most common symptoms include fatigue or tiredness along

Treatment will depend on what is causing your valve problem and if you are experiencing any symptoms. Your physician will probably recommend some hearthealthy lifestyle changes. You can expect to: • Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke; • Follow a heart-healthy diet; • Be active. Ask your physician what type of exercise is safe for you; and • Obtain or stay at a healthy weight that is right for you.

The physicians of McLeod Cardiology Associates can help you manage valve disease or other heart-related conditions.

Cardiologists Ryan Garbalosa and Dennis Lang and Electrophysiologist Prabal Guha care for patients on the campus of McLeod Health Clarendon and at their office at 540 Physicians Lane in Sumter.

Appointments can be made by calling (803) 883-5171.

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2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

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Lowering cholesterol levels through a healthy lifestyle

BY DR. RYAN GARBALOSA McLeod Cardiologist McLeod Cardiology Associates The body needs some cholesterol to work properly. If there is too much in the blood, it can stick to the artery walls, narrowing or even blocking them, putting you at risk for coronary artery disease.

For anyone diagnosed with high cholesterol, it is important they work towards a goal of lowering their cholesterol levels. But, before we get into how to lower high cholesterol, it is important to understand how cholesterol

levels get high in the first place.

The body naturally produces all of the cholesterol it needs.

There is LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and HDL sometimes called “good” cholesterol. A body needs both the “good” and “bad” cholesterol to function.

An unhealthy lifestyle, such as eating unhealthy foods and being physically inactive, causes the body to have more bad cholesterol in the blood than it needs. This is usually the cause of high cholesterol for most people. High cholesterol can also be influenced by the genes we inherit from our parents or even grandparents, but, unfortunately, that is something that we can’t change.

Whether the high cholesterol is self-imposed or inherited, the first step to lowering it is lifestyle changes. But, don’t go it alone.

Work with your doctor to create an action plan of lifestyle changes that can be made.

Four lifestyle changes that may need to be focused on include: 1. Eating a heart-healthy diet; 2. Regular exercise; 3. Avoiding tobacco smoke; and 4. Losing weight if needed.

HEART-HEALTHY DIET

The best way to lower cholesterol through diet is to reduce saturated fat and trans fat. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat

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to 5 to 6 percent of daily calories and to try and avoid trans-fat completely.

Reducing these fats means limiting one’s intake of red meat and whole milk dairy products.

Choose skim milk, low-fat or fatfree dairy products, limit fried foods, and cook with healthy oils.

A healthy diet should also include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and nuts. Following this example may help increase fiber intake, which is also beneficial. A diet high in fiber can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent.

EXERCISE

Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise, which should be moderate intensity so that one is breathing faster, done five times a week is enough to lower both cholesterol and high blood pressure. Brisk walking, swimming or bicycling are examples of aerobic exercise.

Choose an exercise that you enjoy because you are more likely to stick with it. You can also break up the 30 minutes to 10 or 15 minute increments at different intervals throughout the day if that fits better into your schedule.

Remember, before beginning an exercise routine, it is important you consult with your doctor first.

SMOKING

Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, also known as the good cholesterol. When someone with high cholesterol smokes, their risk of heart disease increases. Smokers can lower their cholesterol levels by quitting, and non-smokers should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

LOSING WEIGHT

Being overweight or obese can raise bad cholesterol and lower the good cholesterol. A weight loss as little as 10 percent can go a long way toward reversing high cholesterol levels or even lowering risk if you don’t have high cholesterol.

Whether you already have been diagnosed with high cholesterol or are at risk, talk with your doctor about the lifestyle changes you can make for a more heart healthy life.

The physicians of McLeod Cardiology Associates can help you manage cholesterol or other heart-related conditions. Cardiologists Ryan Garbalosa and Dennis Lang and Electrophysiologist Prabal Guha care for patients on the campus of McLeod Health Clarendon and at their office, 540 Physicians Lane. Appointments can be made by calling (803) 8835171.

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2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

Carolina Diabetes & Kidney Foundation is sponsoring the

22nd Annual Community

Diabetes Fair Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 12:00 Noon - 5:00pm at Wilson Hall School 520 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter, SC The corner of Wise Dr. & Wilson Hall Rd.

Exhibits • Grand Prizes Free Health Screenings Door Prizes • 4 Lectures Refreshments

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC For more information, please call Carolina Diabetes & Kidney Center @ 803-469-7500 Ext. 262

THE SUMTER ITEM

Teaching teens the threats of vaping Eric Howard/Special to The Sumter Item

From METRO Cigarette smoking continues to decline among pre-teens and teenagers, according to a survey from Monitoring the Future.

But, the number of young people who are vaping or smoking e-cigarettes has increased. This underscores the importance of greater education for youngsters and their parents about the potential hazards of vaping.

The popularity of vaping is troubling. A study from researchers at the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine that was published in the journal Pediatrics found the rising frequency of e-cigarette use was a significant risk

factor for future conventional cigarette use. In the study, researchers surveyed 1,408 Connecticut high school students three times – in autumn 2013, spring 2014 and autumn 2015 – on their use of e-cigarettes and traditional tobacco cigarettes.

Teens who used an e-cigarette within a month of participating in the survey in 2013 had seven times greater odds of smoking tobacco cigarettes in 2014.

A year later, e-cigarette users were more than three times more likely to smoke tobacco cigarettes.

Perceptions that vaping is less harmful than conventional cigarettes may be a contributing factor to their rising popularity.

Also, the widespread avail-

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ability of these products and their assorted flavors may be appealing to youth.

Vaping ads may be enticing kids, too. Cigarette ads glamorizing smoking have all but vanished.

However, vaping ads are becoming more noticeable.

According to a National Youth Tobacco Survey, about seven in 10 middle and high school students were exposed to e-cigarette advertisements in 2014, when the vaping trend began to explode.

Even though e-cigarettes are marketed to be safer than traditional cigarettes because they purportedly contain fewer chemicals and harmless water vapor, some experts say this isn’t the case. No federal agency oversaw initial development of the e-cigarette industry, so no standards exist — although this may be changing soon. One Food and Drug Administration review of 18 different e-cigarette cartridges found toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in some but not others. Also, some products that were labeled to be nicotine-free actually did have nicotine.

Many vaping juices contain nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine and flavorings. No long-term evidence regarding the safety of these chemicals when inhaled exists. The American Lung Association says some e-cigarettes use diacetyl, a buttery-flavored chemical once used in food production like popcorn. When inhaled, diacetyl causes bronchiolitis obliterans — more commonly referred to as “popcorn lung.” This is a scarring of the tiny air sacs in the lungs that results in the thickening and narrowing of the airways.

Some teens also replace the e-juice with marijuana and hash oils. These vaporized oils produce little smell, which makes them hard to detect.

Vaping may seem like a harmless trend. But, parents and children should be cognizant of the threats that vaping poses to one’s overall health.

Did you know?

A 2015 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair survey found that smoking is not just among the most unhealthy habits, but also the most irritating. The survey, conducted by telephone among a random sample of 1,019 adults across the United States, found that 32 percent of participants consider smoking to be the most irritating habit. While smoking and its effects on both smokers and nonsmokers subjected to secondhand smoke can contribute to problems such as heart disease and stroke, 23 percent of those polled cited using crude language as the bad habit that irritates them the most. Twenty percent of survey participants said speaking while chewing food was the bad habit that irritated them the most, while smacking gum (8 percent) and biting nails (4 percent) rounded out the top five. Though smoking might have earned the distinction of most irritating bad habit, 10 percent of respondents admitted lighting up a cigarette was the bad habit they would most likely do in secret.

2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THE SUMTER ITEM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

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Protect your back with activity, exercise

By Missy Corrigan Special to The Sumter Item Back pain is one of the most common complaints among adults in the United States. This pain can be caused by strained muscles or ligaments, excess weight, poor posture or just everyday activities.

Worldwide, back pain is the leading cause of disability. In the U.S. alone, more than 80 percent of Americans experience some type of back pain, affecting people of all ages and costing approximately $50 billion in health care costs each year.

Your back is an important structure made up of bones, joints and ligaments that allows you to stand, lift and move. Because of the range of daily movements, the muscles and ligaments stretch regularly.

Any excessive movement can cause tears, tissue damage, muscle strains or even rupture discs. Back pain can occur from injuries and accidents from even the simplest everyday movement of bending over to tie your shoe.

When you develop problems in your back, this can extend to your legs, hips, neck and arms, so protecting your back is important.

Both strengthening and stretching exercises that include all the muscles that attach to the back is critical. Having a strong core, which includes abdominal, back and glutes, is necessary for relieving back pains.

When we have back pain, it hurts to move but remaining sedentary is actually less effective at recovering and in some cases can make things worse.

Exercise and stretching prevents us from being stiff. It helps keep our tendons and ligaments flexible, which greatly reduces the risk for a strain or tear. Additionally, weak muscles cannot support the back properly. So, strengthening exercises are essential to providing adequate support for the spine.

In addition to stretching and strengthening your body, try these other strategies for preventing the onset of back pain or to help reduce your pain: • Maintain a healthy weight; • Remain active; • Avoid prolonged inactivity; • Warm up or stretch before exercising or physical activities; • Maintain proper posture; • Wear comfortable, lowheeled shoes; • Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness and • When lifting an object, lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist Missy Corrigan is executive of community health for Sumter Family YMCA. She can be reached at mcorrigan@ymcasumter. org or (803) 773-1404.

Make fitness a family affair From Palmetto Health

What better way is there to teach your children healthy habits than by being active as a family? Palmetto Health wants to remind families to make fitness a family affair.

“When planning family activities around fitness, it is important to make it fun,” said Hollins Lizarribar, M.D., physician, Palmetto Health-USC Family Medicine.

“Don’t use the word exercise at all.

Instead, use games, competitions or challenges.”

Lizarribar said this is important when you have a family that includes children and teens.

“If it isn’t fun, it won’t happen,”

she added.

Lizarribar said involve the whole family in planning what you will do. Here are recommendations on things you can do together, whether you want to stick close to home or go for an adventure: • Wash the car together; • Go hiking, biking or walking at a nearby park; • Visit a corn maze; • Take advantage of your local community center’s pool or playground, even if it’s just for 30 minutes; • Window shop at the mall. Just be sure to let your children know you’re not there to buy anything; • Play a fitness game on a Wii or video game console that includes

activity; • Take a bike tour of a historical part of your town; • Play a game of kickball, flag or touch football or • Chase your dog around until someone captures a ball or toy it has in its mouth.

“Fitness isn’t all about sports,” Lizarribar said. “It’s about being outdoors or moving in a healthy way together as a family.”

Regardless of the activity you choose, being active as a family is good for the mind and body.

For more information about Palmetto Health-USC Family Medicine, visit www.PalmettoHealth.org or call CareCall at (803) 296-CARE (2273).

Early Detection Leads The Fight Against Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in South Carolina.

Studies show that early detection can lead to survival rates of 95% or better. The best tool in early detection is a mammogram, which can identify breast abnormalities before they can be felt.

At McLeod Health, we provide mammograms at each of our locations. We also have a mobile mammography unit that travels across the region throughout the year.

To schedule a mammogram, call 843-777-2095.

MOBILE UNIT DELIVERS 3D MAMMOGRAPHY TO YOU. The McLeod Mobile Mammography Unit offers a private, convenient setting for women to undergo their 3D mammogram. Visit McLeodRadiology.org to see if the unit is coming to a location near you.

McLeod Regional

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2018 HEALTH MATTERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2018

THE SUMTER ITEM

Follow these tips to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet Did you know?

From Palmetto Health

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 90 percent of adults and children do not consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. Palmetto Health Heart Hospital dietitian Lisa Akly offers these tips to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet.

How many fruits and veggie should you eat?

Your age, gender and level of physical activity determine how many fruits and vegetables you should eat. In general, the American Heart Association recommends aiming for four to five fruit and vegetable servings each day. One serving ranges from ½ cup to 1 cup.

Need to get in a few more in your day? Here are five ways you can get started on making those fruits and vegetables part of your meal routine.

1. DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF.

• Fruits and vegetables are freshest and least expensive when they are in season. Not in season?

You can stock up on frozen fruits and frozen plain

vegetables (no added sauces or gravies).

• When selecting canned fruit, select those in their own juices rather than syrup. Look for canned vegetables that say “low sodium,” “reduced sodium,” or “no salt added.”

Rinsing off canned vegetables also reduces the sodium.

2. KEEP IT COLORFUL.

• Fruits and vegetables come in so many colors (red, yellow/orange, white or tan/brown, blue/purple and green). These colors give them their varieties in nutrient content.

• Do your best to consume fruits and vegetables of all colors. Your plate will look appealing, and you will be certain to obtain a wide variety of nutrients.

3. SNEAK IT IN.

• Add fruit and vegetables to foods you love.

Try adding cooked peas or broccoli to macaroni and cheese.

• Load that sandwich with veggies such as lettuce, tomato, onions, etc.

• Top a plate of fresh spinach with even more veggies such as carrots or sweet peppers as part of the makings of a delicious salad.

4. MIX THEM UP.

• Mix vegetables in with pasta sauces, lasagnas, casseroles, soups and omelets.

• Combine fresh or frozen berries into pancakes, waffles or muffins as another great way to make fruits and veggies a part of every meal.

• When baking a cake, add unsweetened applesauce or canned pumpkin in place of some of the oil in the recipe.

5. VARY YOUR COOKING METHOD. • Try roasting vegetables. Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, green beans, okra, carrots, tomatoes, squashes and eggplant are many examples of vegetables that do well roasted.

Roasting enhances their natural sweetness and reduces bitterness.

• Boiling on the stove is another quick way to cook corn, cabbage and potatoes, to name a few.

• Most frozen vegetables steam right in the microwave. You can have a vegetable on your table in less than five minutes.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, psychotherapy is a way to help people with a variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties. Sometimes referred to as “talk therapy,” psychotherapy can help people cope with difficulties they face in their daily lives, but also help people deal with extraordinary events, such as the death of a loved one or the diagnosis of a medical illness. Psychotherapy also can help people cope with the impact of trauma. Psychotherapy sessions can involve a single individual or be conducted in small or large groups. Short-term psychotherapy sessions to deal with immediate issues may require just a few visits with a therapist, while long-term sessions may require months or years to help people fully cope with longstanding, complex issues. Though some might be skeptical of psychotherapy, a 2016 study from the American Psychological Association found that

roughly 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy benefit from their therapy in some way.

In addition, the American Psychiatric Association notes that psychotherapy has been linked to positive changes in the brain and body.

The many ways cardiovascular exercise benefits your body From METRO Cardiovascular exercise has long been noted as an important component of a well-rounded fitness regimen. But even the most ardent exercise enthusiast may not know just how profound an impact cardiovascular exercise, often referred to as “cardio,” can have on various parts of the body. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cardio affects the body from head to toe, providing some surprising benefits.

• Brain: The brain benefits from cardiovascular exercise in myriad ways. Cardio increases blood flow and decreases a person’s risk of stroke, a potentially debilitating and even deadly interruption in the flow of blood to the brain. Cardio also has been shown to improve memory and cognitive ability, while helping men and women combat age-related decline in brain function.

• Skin: Even skin, the largest organ in the human body, can benefit from cardio. Routine cardiovascular exercise can increase circulation, contributing to clearer, healthier skin.

• Blood: The blood that flows throughout the human body is no exception when it comes to benefitting from cardiovascular exercise. Cardio helps control blood sugar and improves levels of high-density lipoprotein, also known as “good” cholesterol.

• Muscles: Exercise enthusiasts who love to strength train should not discount the benefits of including cardio in their workout regimens, which can increase oxygen supply to muscles, allowing them to work harder. Cardio also helps muscles adapt to an increased workload that can make routine activities seem easier.

• Pancreas: Cardio improves the ability of the pancreas to control the body’s blood sugar levels, thereby decreasing stress on this vital gland and reducing

a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• Lungs: The lungs benefit from cardiovascular exercise because cardio improves exercise ability, decreasing the demand on the lungs the more people exercise. That also helps reduce fatigue and shortness of breath in people with chronic lung problems.

• Bones and joints: Cardio has a profound impact on bones and joints, helping even those with arthritis more capably manage their discomfort and maintain their range of motion. Aging men and women can employ cardiovascular exercise to combat osteoporosis, a condition linked to aging in which bones become fragile and brittle from loss of tissue.

• Mind: Cardiovascular exercise has even been shown to improve mood, especially when cardio is performed at the end of stressful days. Cardio also can help combat depression and improve self-esteem.