Leading Medicine Winter 2015, Houston Methodist West Hospital edition

LEADING MEDICINE YOUR LINK TO HEALTH INNOVATIONS, NEWS AND TIPS IN WEST HOUSTON/KATY

W INT ER 2015

THE HEART TRUTH

A guide to your heart and the procedure that can keep it beating strong

Your Power Screening

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Tips for Losing Weight

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HEALTH BREAK

Houston Methodist West intensivists, from left: Dr. Anatoli Krasko, Dr. Mir Alikhan, Dr. Olakunle Idowu, Dr. Murtuza Ahmed, Interim ICU Medical Director Dr. Jamal Razzack.

DELIVERING EXPERT ICU CARE No one plans on getting sick to the point of requiring a stay in the ICU at a hospital. But if it happens, West Houston and Katy residents can rest assured they have access to the best of the best.

Houston Methodist West Hospital is the only hospital in the area to have a team of full-time, dedicated intensivists — physicians who are specially trained in critical care. Along with six nurse practitioners, the team cares for every patient who spends time in the ICU, working alongside each patient’s health care providers.

LEADING MEDICINE IN LONG-TERM ACUTE CARE Many patients require extended hospitalization after a short stay in an acute care hospital, particularly for complex respiratory and wound care. Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH) like Houston Methodist St. Catherine, which joined Houston Methodist in February, provide patients with daily care from a dedicated medical team for a longer period of time, typically 18 to 25 days.

Houston Methodist St. Catherine offers 36 private LTACH rooms, with plans to expand to nearly 80 rooms by the end of 2015. In addition, the campus provides several outpatient services, including imaging, outpatient rehabilitation and wound care management.

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A beating heart is easy to take for granted — that is, until something goes wrong. Then it can be an overwhelming emotional strain on an individual and loved ones.

Patient support is the impetus for Houston Methodist West’s Mended Hearts, a support program with more than 300 affiliates nationwide that connects patients with others who have undergone heart procedures, aiming to help ease cardiac patients’ concerns about their diagnoses and treatment plans.

Become a Volunteer

If you’re interested in volunteering at Houston Methodist West, please call 832.522.3062.

Few understand the need for this program better than heart patient Don Mitchell, who first came to Houston Methodist West in February 2012. He and his wife, Linda, regularly visit new patients and caregivers, sharing their own experience while providing hope for a full life following treatment.

“Every time I enter this hospital, I feel like I’m coming home,” Don said. “To help others is a gift and a blessing to us.”

Don leads the monthly support group meetings that explore issues related to heart disease, treatment and recovery, which include diet and exercise, depression and reducing stress, lifestyle changes and others.

Linda often speaks to a patient’s loved ones about their fears. “Knowing there are others who have gone through the same experience is reassuring, and being able to share our story helps them to better understand what’s ahead,” she said.

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PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK

Mended Hearts: The Beat Goes On

Power

Screening Don’t let embarrassment prevent you from getting a colonoscopy — the results could save your life

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e’ve all heard unsavory details about the colonoscopy and bathroom time required in preparation.

No wonder the No. 1 reason for skipping colonoscopies is fear of embarrassment during the procedure.

But a couple of uncomfortable days could save your life. As the third most common cancer in American men and women, colorectal cancer will cause about 50,000 deaths this year. Yet fewer than half of Americans 50 or older undergo recommended screenings.

A colonoscopy will never be pleasant, but knowing what to expect can make it more bearable. Here, we address common questions.

Q

DOES A COLONOSCOPY HURT?

PHOTO BY THINKSTOCK

Most patients experience little discomfort during the 30-minute procedure, where a doctor uses a narrow, flexible, lighted instrument

to exam the rectum and colon for abnormal growths. Patients are typically sedated and often don’t remember the experience.

Q

HOW DO I PREPARE?

Patients are required to empty their colons, which means you can’t eat solid foods the day before a colonoscopy. The evening before, you will have to drink a substance to clean out the colon.

Q

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY FIND SOMETHING?

Doctors typically remove small polyps found during the test to prevent them from becoming cancerous. If doctors find a large polyp, tumor or other abnormality, they will remove all or part of the growth and take a biopsy of it.

Make an Appointment

To find a doctor to schedule your colorectal screening, call 832.522.5522.

FREE TAKE-HOME COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING KITS Available: March 1 – 31 Where: Houston Methodist West Hospital Cancer Center Order online: houstonmethodist.org/ colorectal-cancer By phone: 832.522.5522, delivery by mail In person at the Cancer Center: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – noon, 1–4 p.m., Cancer Center, 18400 Katy Fwy., Suite 120

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HOW WILL I FEEL AFTERWARD?

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HOW OFTEN DO I NEED A COLONOSCOPY?

You may feel woozy from the medication. Some patients also have cramps from the air that is pumped into the colon to expand it to improve visibility for the doctor.

The American Cancer Society recommends scheduling a colonoscopy every 10 years starting at your 50th birthday. ■

CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL MAGAZINE AT HOUSTONMETHODIST.ORG/PUBLICATIONS 3

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FREE

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HEART SCREENIN

st is offering Houston Methodi ing events free heart screen reater Houston throughout the G r one near you, area. To register fo hodist.org/ visit houstonmet or call heartscreenings 713.790.3333.

The Heart Truth

A guide to conditions that can prevent your heart from beating strong heart. If the heart can’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, it struggles to function properly. Worse yet, plaque can break loose and form a clot, causing a heart attack when the blood supply is cut off.

The best way to beat coronary artery disease? Never get it in the first place.

You can do that by managing risk factors: Reduce high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, quit smoking, lose weight if overweight or obese, and lead an active lifestyle.

“The combination of living healthier, knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, and taking medication if you need to is the formula for prevention,” Odhav said.

Here, we take a closer look at how the heart works and what has the potential to harm it. ■

Heart

BASICS 1

The pulmonary artery carries blood out to the lungs, where it is oxygenated.

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The pulmonary veins transport the oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.

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The aorta then distributes this oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

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Once depleted of oxygen, blood returns to the heart and the process restarts.

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ILLUSTRATION BY JUDE BUFFUM

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hink of your heart as your body’s delivery system. It pumps out the good stuff — oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood — to every inch of you via a network of arteries.

But heart disease throws a wrench into things. The most common form, coronary heart disease, is “the No. 1 cause of death for both men and women in most countries,” said Dr. Anil Odhav, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist West, the West Houston and Katy communities’ only fully comprehensive heart program.

Coronary artery disease starts with artery damage caused by smoking, high blood pressure or a number of other factors. The damage triggers the buildup of plaque, which narrows the arteries and limits blood flow to the

When it comes to the arteries, the aorta is the big cheese. This main artery is responsible for carrying most of the blood to the body. In a condition called aortic stenosis, calcium deposits can build up in the aortic valve, causing it to narrow and limit blood flow.

Atrial fibrillation

In people with atrial fibrillation, the heart’s upper chambers beat erratically, causing an irregular pulse. When left untreated, it can double the risk of a heart-related death and dramatically increase the chance of having a stroke.

Heart failure

In some cases, the heart struggles to pump enough blood to the body. Heart failure is measured by ejection fraction (EF), the percentage of blood pushed out with each heartbeat. An EF under 40 may indicate heart failure.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the heart muscle to become enlarged or stiff. Both blood flow and maintaining a regular heartbeat become tough tasks. The condition can be inherited, or it can surface because of another medical condition, such as high blood pressure.

illustration by jude buffum

e art.

Aortic stenosis

Track Your Heart Health

Want to see the best downloadable apps for monitoring your heart health? Visit healthline.com to check out “The Best Heart Disease iPhone & Android Apps of the Year.”

A Better Way to the Heart Your heart’s central location makes it convenient for tasks like pumping blood to your brain and stomach. But finding a way into the heart when something goes wrong can be challenging.

One way is with cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. During catheterization, small tubes (catheters) are inserted into the circulatory system under X-ray guidance to get information about blood flow and pressures within the heart.

Treatment includes medications or the placement of a stent.

Radial artery catheterization is a new technique that goes through the radial artery (in the wrist). Dr. Kamalakannan Desikan, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist West and one of the few doctors in Houston routinely performing the procedure, explains the advantages.

Traditionally, doctors used an artery in the groin to get to the heart, he says.

But going that route required patients to lie down for four to six hours after the procedure. Plus, bleeding complications were difficult to identify. “In general, patients find radial catheterization more comfortable than femoral catheterization because they are able to sit up, walk, and eat immediately,” Desikan says.

Top Chest and Stroke CARE Houston Methodist West is accredited as a Chest Pain Center by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, and has a three-star rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it in the top 10 percent of U.S. programs. The Texas Department of State Health Service has designated the hospital as a primary stroke facility.

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Back to

Basics What’s causing your back pain?

It may be your daily activities

Stay Healthy and Fit

When standing, pull your shoulders back and tuck in your stomach. Don’t hunch over your desk. Be sure to take breaks or stretch when sitting for a prolonged time.

Dress for Success

Your choice of shoes and accessories can help or hurt your back. Doctors recommend skipping high heels because they shift your center of gravity, straining your back. Try to avoid carrying overstuffed purses, briefcases and wallets, as they also do harm.

Quit Smoking

Among the many reasons to quit: Smoking restricts blood flow to spinal disks, which can lead to damage over time.

Support Your Sleep

Use pillows to alleviate back stress while sleeping. If you sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees. Side sleepers should tuck a pillow between your legs. Avoid sleeping on your stomach. But if that’s your preferred position, place a pillow under your pelvis and abdomen. n

Got Back Pain?

If you experience back pain and would like to see an expert, call 832.522.8500.

photo by thinkstock

You can reduce the strain on your back by losing weight and inches around your waistline. Strengthening the muscles in your abdomen, hips and pelvis also will help. The exercise will increase your core strength, requiring the muscles in your back to work less.

Pay Attention to Posture

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photo by thinkstock

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ost of us don’t think about back pain until the throbbing starts. And once the pain fades, we return to our old ways instead of adopting habits that reduce the chance of future injury.

It will happen to most of us: An estimated 80 percent of American adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. The pain may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or yard, or an accident, like stumbling on steps.

Sometimes, though, you may not recognize that routine activities are causing you pain. That’s why it’s important to make lifestyle changes that can prevent future problems.

Winning at Losing Tips to keep your weight-loss resolution on track

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nly a few weeks after resolving to lose weight, you’re back in front of the TV, spoon in a bowl of ice cream, while you ignore the dusty exercise bike in the corner.

Countless other would-be dieters join you in similar difficulties right about now.

Losing weight consistently tops lists of New Year’s resolutions. Just as consistently, about 35 percent of people who make resolutions break them by Jan. 31, one survey found.

More disheartening, only 20 percent of dieters succeed at long-term weight loss, according to the National Weight Control Registry.

Mimicking the habits of the successful 20 percent could move you into that exclusive group. Here’s a look at how to be a successful loser.

photo by thinkstock

photo by thinkstock

1

Keep It Positive

Think about the healthful behaviors you intend to create, not the bad

ones you wish to break. Take a simple activity you already do daily, and create a new habit to accompany it.

For example, you might do five minutes of stretches immediately after waking up or eat a handful of baby carrots after taking your daily multivitamin.

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Set Yourself Up for Success

Put your plan and your reasons for it in writing. Create modest, shortterm goals, such as skipping fast food one day a week or taking one flight of stairs at work.

Prepare for success by stocking the kitchen with healthful, easy-to-prepare foods; keeping apples and nuts at hand to ward off snack attacks; and repackaging food into single servings.

Allow for an occasional treat, preferably planned, served in a single portion on a plate, and savored one leisurely bite at a time.

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Examine What Works

The National Weight Control Registry is a database of more than 10,000 adults who have lost at least 30 pounds and maintained the loss for at least one year.

Participants keep food diaries, stick to their diet even on weekends, and get back on track quickly when their weight edges up.

Other winning habits include: • 90 percent exercise an average of one hour daily.

• 78 percent eat breakfast every day.

• 75 percent weigh themselves at least once a week.

• 62 percent watch less than 10 hours of TV a week (the average American watches 28 hours a week). n

Lose Weight

Call the Houston Methodist Weight Management Center at 832.522.7260.

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HOSPITALS

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Just around the corner 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.

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

SPECIALTY HOSPITAL

SPECIALTY HOSPITALS

8. Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital

EMERGENCY CARE CENTERS

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5. Houston Methodist West Hospital

4. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

HOSPITALS

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1. Houston Methodist Hospital

IMAGING CENTERS

EMERGENCY CARE CENTERS 713.441.ER24 (3724)

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9. Houston Methodist Kirby Emergency Care Center

12. Houston Methodist Voss Emergency Care Center

10. Houston Methodist Pearland Emergency Care Center

13. Houston Methodist Cinco Ranch Emergency Care Center Opening in Spring 2015

11. Houston Methodist Sienna Plantation Emergency Care Center

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14. Houston Methodist Cypress Emergency Care Center Opening in Fall 2015

IMAGING CENTERS 9. Houston Methodist Breast Imaging Center

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15. 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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Taking care of the entire family With primary care physicians located throughout Greater Houston, Houston Methodist is dedicated to providing care for the entire family and proud to ensure efficient access to specialty and hospital services whenever the need arises.

To schedule an appointment, call 713.790.3333.

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