Leading Medicine Spring 2015, Houston Methodist Hospital edition

leaDING MeDICINe Your link to health innovations, news and tips FROM HOUSTON METHODIst

SP RING 2015

gaMe Changers

your springtime guide to getting fit without injury

Bounce Back From Back Pain

Stroke: The Female Factor

health break

An Award and an ‘A’ for Houston Methodist Metabolic Syndrome:

Dangerously Sneaky Most people know how extra weight can “sneak up on you” over the years. So can high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and extra fat around the midsection — which can double your risk of heart disease and increase your risk of diabetes fivefold.

These three conditions are part of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that increase a person’s risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

“Metabolic syndrome is a silent disease, but early recognition and intervention with a healthy diet, regular exercise and maintaining a normal body

weight can prevent its long-term complications,” said Dr. Archana Sadhu, a metabolic physician at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Metabolic syndrome affects 34 percent of Americans, and the risk of developing it increases with age. But most people are not aware of its existence. The good news is that the condition is preventable.

“Avoiding abdominal obesity in particular will greatly reduce your risk of developing this syndrome,” said Dr. Sarah Goodpastor, an obesity medicine physician at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Weight Loss Help

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To learn more about how we can help you achieve your weight loss goals, visit houstonmethodist.org/weight-loss or call 832.667.LOSE(5673).

Houston Methodist Hospital has received the 2014 University Health System Consortium (UHC) Quality Leadership Award and an “A” from The Leapfrog Group’s biannual Hospital Safety Score evaluation.

UHC is a national organization comprising most of the nation’s leading academic medical centers.

The quality leadership award recognizes member centers for their superior performance in providing patients with the safest, highest-quality care.

Hospitals are evaluated based on the Institute of Medicine’s six domains of care: mortality, effectiveness, safety, equity, patient centeredness and efficiency.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score uses national performance measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American Hospital Association’s Annual Survey and Health Information Technology Supplement, and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

The grade represents the hospital’s overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors.

The Greatest

Gift

Evelyn Buchanan

With 12,000 Texans waiting for an organ transplant, donors are critically needed

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ore than 123,000 people across the United States, including 12,000 in Texas, hope today is the day they receive the call about receiving a new organ. Although more than 75 people receive lifesaving transplants daily, 18 people also die every day while waiting for an organ to become available.

April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. More than 6 million Texans are registered organ donors, but with a new addition to the transplant waiting list every 11 minutes, there will always be a critical need for more donors.

“Organ donation is perhaps the greatest gift one human could offer another,” said Dr. A. Osama Gaber,

director of the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center.

“Literally giving a piece of yourself in order to save another person’s life is a beautiful thing.”

A deceased donor can save the lives of up to eight people through organ donation and numerous others through tissue donation. Skin can be used to treat burn and cancer patients, and bone can be used in certain orthopedic procedures.

A living donation involves giving a kidney or, in some cases, another organ to a person. In most cases, a family member donates the organ, but in 25 percent of the cases, a donor is not related to the recipient. n

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Understanding Organ Donation

Interested in becoming an organ donor? Visit houstonmethodist.org/transplant or call 713.441.5451 to learn more about organ donation.

The Call of a Lifetime

Evelyn Buchanan, an educational diagnostician for the Houston Independent School District, knew she had inherited the same kidney disease she watched her mother suffer through for 17 years. “But in the fall of 2007, when I found out the disease had spread to my liver, I was really devastated,” she said. Buchanan’s physician recommended her immediate listing for a kidney and liver transplant.

During the next four and a half years, as Buchanan’s health deteriorated, she remained hopeful, patiently waiting for the right organ to come along. When her coordinator at Houston Methodist called to offer her the organs she needed, Buchanan was ready.

In 2012, Buchanan received a new kidney and liver; today, she and her new organs are going strong. “Everyone at the hospital was fabulous,” Buchanan said.

“From the car valets, to the people who call to remind you about appointments, to my transplant coordinator who gave me her cellphone number, to the doctors and nurses — these people were incredible to me.”

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Fitness Foils For every favorite springtime sport, there’s an injury that can keep you sidelined. Learn how to prevent the pain and stay in the game.

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or many of us, springtime means playtime. The sun is shining and the fields, paths and courts beckon. But one wrong move or too many years of pounding the pavement can leave you couch-ridden.

Here, we take a look at some of the most common sports injuries and how you can avoid them.

you love: Tennis You’re at risk for: Elbow pain

An injury so common it has its own name, tennis elbow is a condition caused by overuse of the arm, forearm and hand muscles. The weak grip strength and burning pain aren’t actually due to an injured elbow. These symptoms are telltale signs of damage to the forearm muscle that helps stabilize the wrist when the elbow is straight (during a ground stroke, for example). When this muscle is weakened from overuse, microscopic tears form in the tendon where it attaches to the joint, leading to inflammation and pain.

Get back in the game: Up to 95 percent of patients have success with nonsurgical treatment, but the first step is to put down the racket for a while. In addition to taking a break, drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen reduce pain and swelling. Be sure to have your tennis equipment checked for proper fit, too. Stiffer rackets that are more loosely strung may reduce stress on the forearm.

you love: Running

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You’re at risk for: Shin splints

Runners, admit it: You’re a wee bit crazy (in a good way, of course). Mile after mile, rain or shine, you pound away at that pavement. So it’s understandable that you refuse to let a little shin pain keep you from your daily sweat session.

When it comes to the all-too-common shin splint, there’s no true consensus among experts as to its cause. Theories include small tears in the muscle that’s

pulled off the bone, an inflammation of the muscle or a combination of the two. Fortunately, experts agree on one aspect of shin splints: how to treat them.

Get back in the game: When splints strike, stop running or decrease your distance, depending on the extent of the pain. From there, be sure to ice your shins regularly to decrease inflammation, practice proper stretching and try cross training like cycling, swimming or yoga. When you return to your regular running schedule, work your way up by increasing mileage slowly — aim for a 10 percent increase each week. Wear the right shoes for your feet and try to avoid hills and excessively hard surfaces.

you love: Cycling You’re at risk for: Knee pain

Cycling is practically the definition of a repetitive motion, with the average cyclist pedaling 3,600 times in an hour.

No wonder cyclists often experience knee pain from overuse. One common problem, patellofemoral pain syndrome, occurs when the patella (kneecap) gets out of alignment, causing wear on cartilage and pain around the kneecap.

Get back in the game: Knee injuries in cyclists are often caused by muscle imbalance. Exercises for the quadriceps and hips can strengthen the muscles that support the kneecap, keeping it in proper alignment. Ask a professional about your bike fit and cycling form.

A seat that’s too high or low can cause injury, as can pedaling with your knees facing inward or outward. n

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Common Exercise Mistakes Feeling more sore than sculpted? You may be committing these workout no-nos.

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Going all-out, right away. Give your body about five minutes to warm up before you really hit it.

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Running the same route. Variety is the spice of life. Mix up your workouts with some cross training.

the stretching.

3 Skipping Always end a workout with a good stretch. Your legs will thank you in the morning.

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Playing through the pain. A little discomfort is good; actual pain is not.

Respect your limits and give it a rest when you’re hurt.

Get Back to What You Love

To learn more about common athletic injuries and how Houston Methodist can help you heal, visit methodistorthopedics.com/for-athletes or call 713.790.3333 for a physician referral.

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A Pain

Back in the

Keep moving to prevent these three common back pain complaints

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n the next three months, about a quarter of American adults will have an episode of back pain. By age 50, most people will have had at least one run-in with an aching back.

The good news is that back pain often goes away on its own.

Experts at Houston Methodist recommend one or two days of rest, followed by a gradual return toward normal activities to help ease the pain.

They also suggest anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen). Most people start getting better within a couple of days.

So when should you give it time — and when do you know it’s time to see your doctor? Here’s the low-down on three common complaints.

Lower Back Pain, No Leg Symptoms

Back and Leg Pain

Pain that travels down the leg, possibly with leg numbness or weakness, can be a sign of a herniated disk. This happens when a disk — the cushioning between bones in the spine — presses on the nerves around the backbone. These symptoms warrant a visit to the doctor.

Your primary care physician should check for red flags such as severe weakness or loss of bladder control, and will likely start physical therapy and medications. Patients with red flags or who don’t respond to nonsurgical care after six weeks may need X-rays and an MRI. Based on test results, your doctor may recommend injections of steroids or an anesthetic to relieve pain. Surgery is also an option.

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Trouble Moving

If you have back and leg pain that makes it difficult to walk distances and stand for a period of time, it may be spinal canal stenosis. This condition can be caused by arthritis or thickening of ligaments.

See your doctor soon after symptoms begin to rule out more serious conditions and start treatment.

Mild symptoms may be relieved with physical therapy, while injections or surgery may be needed for more severe symptoms.

The key to prevention, according to experts, is exercise like walking, running, biking, swimming and aerobics. This allows nerves to be in the best shape possible. And while you can’t prevent nerve pinching, a nerve with good nutrition, in addition to exercise, is more likely to tolerate the pinching. n

Schedule an Appointment

Call 713.790.3333 or visit houstonmethodist.org for a physician referral or to schedule an appointment.

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The recommendations above are a good place to start.

But if your symptoms linger for more than a few days, your doctor might recommend physical therapy or other medications, such as muscle relaxants.

Most people will feel better quickly, but

those who don’t might need X-rays or an MRI to get a closer look at the issue.

Stroke: The Female Factor Learn about the risk factors that make women uniquely vulnerable to stroke

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id you know that stroke annually kills twice as many women as breast cancer? Or that 55,000 more women than men will have a stroke in the coming year?

If this is news to you, it is to many women: 40 percent said in a recent survey that they were only somewhat or not at all concerned about stroke, and most were not knowledgeable about risk factors.

Women and men share some of the same stroke risks, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and a personal or family history of stroke.

But women also have other risk factors that don’t affect men. For one, they generally live longer, and the odds of having a stroke increase with age.

Guidelines recently introduced by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association outline the extra risks for women. Take note, and discuss these risks with your doctor.

photo by thinkstock

Risks for Women

If you’ve had preeclampsia — a common pregnancy complication that causes a sharp increase in blood pressure — your risk of having a stroke during your lifetime doubles.

Your odds of developing high blood pressure are four times higher, which means your stroke risk increases, too.

As a result, preeclampsia should be considered a risk factor throughout your life. If you have high blood pressure, using birth control pills or patches can also increase your risk of stroke.

Smoking is a stroke risk for everyone.

If you smoke and use hormonal contraceptive methods, you can increase your risk of stroke up to tenfold.

Other risk factors that tend to be more pronounced or more common in women than in men include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, depression, emotional stress and migraine headaches with aura.

Know Your Stroke Risk

To learn more about Houston Methodist’s Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center, visit houstonmethodist.org/ stroke or call 713.441.3850.

• Adopt a healthy diet. A low-fat, low-salt regimen that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables can reduce elevated blood pressure.

• Get your blood pressure checked annually. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so it is especially important to schedule a test if you haven’t had one recently.

• Slim down. Losing even 10 pounds can make a difference in blood pressure levels. n

Reduce Your Risk

For both men and women, high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.

When blood pressure is high, blood pumps harder than it should, straining the vessels of the circulatory system. A stroke can occur when the increased pressure either blocks or breaks vessel walls, stopping blood flow or causing blood to leak into the brain.

To reduce your risk of high blood pressure and stroke: • Understand your risk factors. Many of these, including smoking, drinking, obesity, and high cholesterol, can be controlled with lifestyle changes.

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Just around the corner

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Houston Methodist has locations throughout the Greater Houston area to best serve you near your home or workplace. our locations include hospitals, and emergency care and imaging centers.

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5. Houston Methodist West Hospital

2. Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital

6. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital

3. Houston Methodist St. John Hospital

7. Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Opening in 2017

. Houston Methodist Sugar land Hospital

speCialtY hospital

HoSPiTalS

. Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital

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1. Houston Methodist Hospital

eMerGency care cenTerS iMaGinG cenTerS

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eMergenCY Care Centers 713.441.ER24 (3724)

. Houston Methodist kirby emergency Care Center 10. Houston Methodist Pearland emergency Care Center

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2

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11. Houston Methodist Sienna Plantation emergency Care Center 12. Houston Methodist Voss emergency Care Center

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13. Houston Methodist Cinco Ranch emergency Care Center Opening in April 2015 1. Houston Methodist Cypress emergency Care Center Opening in Fall 2015 15. Houston Methodist Spring emergency Care Center Opening in 2016

iMaging Centers . Houston Methodist breast Imaging Center

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16. Houston Methodist Imaging Center

For more information about Houston Methodist or for a physician referral, please visit houstonmethodist.org or call 713.790.3333.

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