Medical Examiner 3-18-22 by Daniel Pearson

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MARCH 18, 2022

IS IT OVER? The above graphic shows confirmed new cases each month for the past three full months

ood grief, let’s hope so. But we have been fooled before by this crafty, dishonest, and unpredictable virus. In May of last year, for example (in the issue shown at right), we said “the signs are everywhere that the pandemic’s back is broken; it is mortally wounded and its death is just a matter of time.” Our premature announcement was based on a long downward trend in case numbers, long enough that the CDC prematurely announced that week that wearing a mask was no longer necessary for fully vaccinated people. Well, at least we were fooled in good company. 7,482 CDC updates later, we seem to stand at another threshold of freedom. But maybe that’s just what COVID wants us to think! Of course, everyone knows COVID doesn’t think. But if it did, we would have to acknowledge that it has come up with some ingeniously clever and devious schemes. How many times have cities, states, school systems and nations let down their guard to reopen society only to reopen the floodgates of new infections by the millions? True, nobody likes a Debbie Downer, but it does feel like we’ve been down the road to recovery before only to round a bend and find

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out it’s the road to ruin again (hopefully not for you personally, but for untold others). Oddly, many of us have become comfortable with this once unwanted guest. As weird as it felt to be forced to work from home or do everything via Zoom, that has gradually become our comfort zone and now it may feel weird to resume what used to be called normal. In the same way, the news media has for two years had a daily COVID headline story, even on the slowest news day. Maybe reports of the next possible variant, already dubbed “deltacron,” are legit, but maybe they are evidence of people in the media wanting to hang on to their pet story. It’s never inaccurate to speculate on what might happen, even if it’s only to keep a convenient story alive and well. Time will tell, but none of us should forget that the all-time peak for new COVID cases was in January — of 2022! — (see graphics above). That was just a few weeks ago! Are we finally out of the woods? It does look promising. But this rabid dog has played dead before and come back to bite us. Caution is still in order. Keep your personal COVID guidelines in place. Be safe. Be salubrious. +

hile Daylight Saving Time might already be old news by the time you happen to read this, many people get their Examiners as early as Tuesdays, three full days before the official issue date. In the case of this issue, that was March 15, just two days after we sprang forward. This semi-annual event is loved by some and hated by others, but much of the hate comes in spring when we lose that precious hour of sleep. It’s a great opportunity to give ourselves a sleep hygiene check-up. Sleep is right up there with all of the most important elements of salubrious living, but is often ignored. Let’s stick with that word — ignored — for a moment. When it comes to sleep, the cues our body gives us should not be ignored. Is it late? Are you sleepy? Go to bed! We can make the time we spend in bed count by not revving ourselves up with food, exercise, caffeine, or scary movies right before bedtime. Sleep experts are unanimous in saying bedrooms should be screen-free. No TVs. No tablets. No phones. Bedrooms should be a haven of peace and serenity, as dark and as restful as possible. If a daytime nap is unavoidable (and possible), 30 minutes or less is optimal for overall sleep health. Not sure if the guidelines for healthy (in 2 weeks) sleep will mesh with your lifestyle? + Why not sleep on it before you decide?

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

PARENTHOOD by David W. Proefrock, PhD

Your 10-year-old son and several of his friends recently went through the neighborhood and smashed mailboxes with a baseball bat. No one in the neighborhood knows who vandalized the mailboxes, but he admitted to you that he was in on it when you found the baseball bat with paint from the mailboxes in your garage. What do you do? A. Contact the parents of the other boys involved and tell them what happened. Get together with the other parents to decide what should happen next. B. Go with your son to each house while he takes responsibility, apologizes, and makes arrangements to pay for the damage. C. Punish him, but don’t tell anyone else what he did. There’s no need for a child to have a police record for something like this. D. Call the police and turn him in for what he did. This will provide a more powerful lesson than anything else you could do. If you answered: A. Your concern should be that your child does what is right. This should not be a group decision. You have to do what is best for your child. B. This is the best response. It is the right thing to do regardless of what the other children or their parents do. If the police do get involved, this will show that he has already done what it right in the situation. C. This doesn’t teach the right lesson. He needs to learn to take responsibility for his actions whether or not that includes the legal system. Besides, “something like this” is a serious criminal offense. D. Your primary concern should be that he takes responsibility and does what is right regardless of anything else that happens. The police could well become involved. It they do, both you and he have already done what is right. When someone does wrong, regardless of age, the best thing to do is to take responsibility for the actions, apologize for what was done, and make amends. It’s not easy in the short term, but in the long term it is the best way to live your life. + Dr. Proefrock is a retired clinical and forensic child psychologist.

MARCH 18, 2022

NREM and REM. The latter stands for rapid eye movement sleep, and the former, non-rapid eye movement sleep. There are actually four stages of NREM sleep, but they’re all lumped together under the NREM label. You may have heard that dreaming only happens during REM sleep. Actually, dreaming is common in Stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep. The brain being essentially an electrical appliance, the various stages of sleep are defined by electroencephalograph (EEG) patterns. One source pegged the level of activity in the brain as “an overall firing rate of perhaps 10 million For something humans do virtually every day, adding up billion times per second.” to fully a third of our lives, very little is known about the We mention that seemingly biological basis for sleep. It’s not that we know next to nothing; irrelevant factoid as an it’s that what we don’t know seems far greater than what we introduction to Stage 2 of know. NREM sleep, characterized Why do we sleep? In the expert words of the director of the by so-called sleep spindles, Sleep Institute of Augusta, Dr. Bashir Chaudhary, “We sleep which are “sudden, short because we are tired.” high-voltage wave bursts.” Our waking hours can be just as perplexing. One text says, And all this happens while “Scientists have been thinking about thinking for a long time. we’re asleep and supposedly But human consciousness is still a mystery, and most of what the body is at rest. In you read about is likely to be speculation—a synthesis provided fact, however, some sleep in an attempt to explain the impressive capabilities of the scientists call REM sleep conscious brain.” paradoxical sleep because, Sleep can defined simply enough: it’s a state of partial paradoxically, the brain’s unconsciousness. Why only partial? Even someone in the EEG patterns are more deepest sleep can be awakened. By contrast, complete typical of the fully awake unconsciousness is known as a coma; even the most vigorous state. Fittingly enough, the stimuli will not awaken someone in a coma. brain uses a tremendous Speaking of all things partial, the brain is at least partially on amount of oxygen during duty at all times. The brain stem controls such vital functions REM sleep, far more than as respiration and heart rate (and lots more) all day and all when we’re awake. night, even when we’re in the deepest slumber (or a coma). Another paradoxical A portion of the brain stem known as the reticular formation aspect of REM sleep is that is responsible for another sleep symptom. The reticular we’re partly paralyzed and activating system (RAS) is gathering and filtering sensory data partly off to the races. Major at all times, even when we’re fast asleep. Not only will it wake muscle groups are switched us up when the kid down the street bashes in our mailbox off — which helps us avoid at 2:00 a.m. (see article, left), but it even offers enough data acting out our dreams — interpretation to allow a sleepwalker to walk around obstacles at the same time our eyes or navigate stairs while truly asleep. are going crazy and our This very same RAS mediates our alertness when we’re fully heart rate, respirations, awake (for example, it’s the RAS that filters out or dampens blood pressure and body weak, unimportant or repetitive signals like a ticking clock or temperature are all elevated. the slight pressure a hat exerts on our scalp), but it also plays Ever wake up more tired a role in falling asleep and what happens thereafter, especially than when you went to dreaming. sleep? Now you know why. + Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of sleep, abbreviated PART S OF A 26-PART SERIES

S IS FOR SLEEP

3 +

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MARCH 18, 2022

OCD FOR YOU AND ME The medical dictionary calls it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is difficult to live with, so some say. You can take medicine for it. Or you can live with it. There are good arguments either way. It seems more women have OCD than men. In case you are not fully cognizant of the disorder, here are some OCD events that might help you focus in and recognize it. Spoons and forks are alternated in the dishwasher to prevent “spooning” and therefore providing equal washing on all sides. Dirty dishes are handwashed before putting them in the dishwasher. We don’t want suboptimal dish cleaning. Front porch lights are on by 7 pm, regardless of the season. We don’t want burglars to target our home. All downstairs door locks are physically checked three times before lights-out each night. No self-respecting burglar would kick in a thrice locked door. Everybody

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (most of the time) A series by Flatwoods Frankie

knows that. It has worked perfectly for more decades than my wife will let me admit because that would hint at her birth decade. Pillow cases are ironed daily. No one needs additional facial wrinkle marks. It’s unbecoming. Socks are washed after each wearing. Toe nail fungus is ugly. When driving, avoid left turns. Less wrecks. Drive tall cars. You see better, and you are seen more easily by idiot drivers. Tall cars keep you out of the ER. Carry dental floss and mouthwash with you at all times. Root canals hurt and cost big money.

Salt shakers are always to the right of the pepper shaker. Easier to reach for right handers. That is why it is always “salt and pepper” and never“pepper and salt.” Toilet paper is rolled off from the top and front of the roll, never from the back or bottom. Grandmother said so. Grandmothers never lie. Gas tanks are refilled at or before half empty. To have and not need is better than need and not have. All bills in your wallet or purse are turned in the same direction. It shows orderly respect for past presidents and Ben Franklin. Reline wastebaskets with used grocery bags. Recycling is the Christian thing to do. And it saves money. Even atheists are in favor to that. Read the Bible each day. It will not hurt you and might keep you from thinking bad thoughts, even when you watch cable news. Please see OCD page 6

HOW CAN I REDUCE STRESS? There is no doubt that we live in stressful and uncertain times. There are many questions but few answers, and often when there are answers they come from unreliable sources. They are closer to promises than solutions. No one person has the ability to alter the course of international relations, economic policy, the weather, or any of the 47 other common sources of anxiety. However, every person has the ability to alter and improve their own personal coping skills in order to relieve stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there are quite a few proven ways to tame stress. Not all of them work the same for everyone — the timehonored “your results may vary” — but most people can find several effective ways to cut their personal stress level. There’s no sense in seeking the weird and exotic; some of the best antidotes are simple and basic strategies: • Get regular physical activity. Each person can define this in their own way, whether it means walking 5 miles every day or doing upper body movements from the comfort of the La-ZBoy (sometimes called sittercize). It all depends upon our state of health and sometimes our doctor’s permission. The key is regularity. • Unplug. You don’t have to stick your head in the sand and ignore the news of the world, but it might be better to watch half an hour of news per day than 10 hours of news per day. It’s also a good idea to put a limit on cell phone screen time. Some people put their phones on airplane mode from, say, 7 pm until they get up the next morning, or at least during dinnertime and overnight. • As we point out in several places in this issue alone, adequate sleep is very important to combating stress. But how do you sleep when you’re stressed and anxious? Falling asleep is not something you can accomplish through effort, by trying harder. Lying in the dark with your mind racing a million miles an hour won’t cut it. Some people step off that treadmill through prayer. They find it soothing and calming, and before they know it they have fallen asleep in mid-sentence. One caution: there is only one letter’s difference between meditation and medication. Try to avoid needing medication to fall asleep. Meditation is cheaper and has fewer side effects. +

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The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers, and to serve as a central source of salubrious news within every part of the Augusta medical community. Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor E-mail: Dan@AugustaRx.com AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: Dan@AugustaRX.com www.Facebook.com/AugustaRX Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2022 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

MARCH 18, 2022

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

#161 IN A SERIES

Who is this? ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble, Ph.D., is a retired English and creative writing professor who offers her unique perspective as a patient. Contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com

o you ever ponder why humans are such experts at doing the exactly wrong thing? It’s not that we are bumblers 100% of the time, but it can’t be denied that life often seems to prevail in spite of us, not because we care for our health so attentively Take smoking as an example. It has been known to be dangerous, if not lethal, at least since the milestone Surgeon General’s Report of 1964. And unofficially long before that. We all know that it’s not salubrious to have a diet that regularly includes fried foods and sugary beverages, but that’s standard fare for hundreds of millions of us. For the most part we’re okay with that, and to a significant degree, we have the man above to thank for our inability to recognize unsalubrious behaviors, or justify them if we do. His name was Edward Bernays (pronounced like the sauce), and he was an absolute master and a true pioneer in the art of creating, shaping, and controlling public opinion. One of his most notable successes was a 1929 campaign for American Tobacco Company (ATC) to convince women to smoke cigarettes rather than eat. From the start, the effort was up against a social taboo that women who smoked in public were of dubious moral character. Bernays created a media event by hiring ten attractive women to light up while walking down New York’s Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday. Bernays alerted the press ahead of time and cast the actions of the women as striking out against discrimination; the cigarettes were “torches of freedom.” Go to YouTube and type in those three words for a 5-minute documentary about the event. It was in all the papers the next day, and cigarette sales soared almost overnight. Suddenly anyone against women smoking in public was against freedom and in favor of discrimination. As for choosing smoking over eating, Bernays created a national campaign with paid endorsements from physicians and celebrities to transform perceptions of the ideal female body from one that was then somewhat matronly to one that was slender, created by smoking rather than eating. Contemporary accounts suggest that women disliked the green on Lucky Strike packaging, and when Bernays couldn’t convince ATC’s president to redesign the pack, he staged a high society gala with massive press coverage where all the glittering attendees wore green. For another campaign, Bernays created the concept that bacon and eggs is the all-American breakfast. Bernays wrote, “If we understand the

by Marcia Ribble

I know many seniors are hesitant to use computers, but they work well for some things. Including ordering home COVID tests! I did it and it’s very easy. The address is covidtests.gov, and it took me less than five minutes. All it asks for is your name and address. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! This is particularly important for those of us who have a hard time getting out to a drive-through testing site or a walk-in site. Some of you may not have computers. Anyone you know with a computer can go online and enter the information for you. And I do mean anyone with access to a computer. The site doesn’t ask for any kind of proof, credit card information, social security number, or anything other than your name and address. Having these tests can prevent us from spreading COVID to someone else and most of us would not want to be responsible for making someone sick or even killing them. We have more sense than that, and for some folks this is a potentially deadly menace. A friend I’ve had for more than fifty years just died because someone with COVID went to his nursing home and gave it to him. It may have been (and probably was), unintentional, but he’s still dead. He still has a grieving wife, grieving kids, and grieving grandkids, none of whom can be with him again. His family has a hole in it where he used to be. One of the saddest things for me was the photos the funeral home put online of Frank and his family. There he was with his wife Mary Jo, their daughters, and big family photos with all their kids and grandkids at celebrations and at small celebrations with individual kids and grandkids. There will be heartache days, months and even years from now because he isn’t there. Yes, he was 80, but I’m 78 and I sure have a whole lot more to live for! So mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and regiment the masses according to our will without their knowing about it?” He called this technique “the engineering of consent.” He advocated herding the masses by means of “a highly educated class of opinionmolding tacticians constantly at work, analyzing the social terrain and adjusting the

did he. Someone took those years from him. And even if it wasn’t done on purpose, he’s equally dead. Next! Go to your pharmacy and get some of the N95 masks that are 100% free! I can’t get out to go myself, but my daughter got some for me when she picked up my prescription today. (My prescription came with no co-pay, so I didn’t spend any money at the pharmacy!) Again, they are 100% free and they don’t care if you are rich or poor, what gender you are, what color, what religion, it doesn’t matter. You do not have to make a purchase to get the masks, and they did not require an ID. You just ask for some masks and they hand them to you. The masks have a double purpose. They help to prevent you from giving COVID to someone, and they help to prevent you from getting COVID. Someone can pick them up for you, so you don’t have to go in person. This COVID disease has been a traumatizing evil, hurting just about everyone, from the newest babies to our oldest seniors. The tests are a bummer. The masks are a pain in the hoo-hah. The harm to relationships is real and may be lasting. Our kids have missed out on important life events and are profoundly affected by depression and anxiety as well as falling behind in school. But there are still some folks out there so frightened by COVID that they continue to deny its reality, ignoring the very real outcomes from catching and transmitting COVID, pretending that they and those they love can’t be harmed, that they can’t go around spreading COVID to others. We all want this disease to go away. We all want to be free to just live our lives. Mary Jo and her family just wanted to spend more time with Frank. Now they can’t and nothing and no one can ever fix that. Get your tests and your masks so you can help put an end to this scourge! +

mental scenery from which the public mind, with its limited intellect, derives its opinions.” If it all sounds just slightly sinister it’s not your imagination: In the 1930s, Bernays began to be compared to European fascists such as Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler. Bernays himself wrote in his 1965 autobiography that Goebbels read and used his books, which included such

titles as Crystallizing Public Opinion (1923), Propaganda (1928), and The Engineering of Consent (1955). It’s no accident that Edward Bernays had complex psychological strategies in his mind control toolbox: his uncle was Sigmund Freud. Born in Vienna in 1891, Bernays died at age 103 on March 9, 1995 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. +

MARCH 18, 2022

5 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

quite right, and while this experience raised my admiration for womankind, it gave me a dimmer view of the engineers who design these devices. In fact, I am virtually certain that none of the engineers involved in designing them are females, because if they were, they would work a lot better and without getting bunched up and sticking to things they shouldn’t stick to while not sticking to what they are supposed to stick to. I will provide no further detail on that in observance of the standards of decency my mother and the publisher of this fine, salubrious paper have placed upon me. Just use your imagination. Let’s just say that it is possible to get an accidental bikini wax. I am happy to say that the recovery did work out well in the end. No pun intended. Who am I kidding? Pun intended. Around Day 25 of my recovery, I was able to sit normally in a chair with no extra cushioning and the bleeding had stopped by then. The last few days of my recovery were quite nice as they were virtually pain free, and I was able to slowly get life back to normal. I am proud to say that even though I couldn’t exercise during the recovery, I did not gain any weight. In fact, I lost a substantial amount since I started a diet a couple of weeks before the surgery and stuck with it for a total loss of about 28 pounds. But that is counting something they cut from me in the surgery, so I can’t take all the credit. Well, if you are still with me, thanks for your perseverance and fortitude, and please come back for a very special column next issue. Promise. +

EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD STORY

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In our previous visit, I promised to fill you in on how my experiences during my month-long recovery from rectal surgery have given me new insight into difficulties that the fairer sex regularly face, and I am here to fulfill that promise. I must provide a word of caution though, something people may call a trigger warning these days. If the mention of bleeding makes you uncomfortable, you may want to wait until the next column, or have a friend read this to you and bleep out the offending verbiage like a Samuel L. Jackson movie on prime-time network TV where suddenly Mr. Jackson is awfully fond of fudge and other voicedover words that fit the bill. Alrighty then. If you are still with us, don’t blame me if you faint or lose your breakfast. Okay, warning given. Prepare yourself or turn back. One of the most difficult things about the recovery, besides the pain, was the bleeding. I had to wear pads to catch the considerable flow of blood after having a bowel movement and sometimes just at random. I felt like a pubescent young woman when my wife had to explain to me how to properly dispose of the used pad by wrapping it tightly inside toilet paper so that the particularly wretched smell did not cause the bathroom to smell like a medieval slaughterhouse. I also learned how to use a bidet since I was unable to clean my bottom by the usual method during the recovery. Like baths, that is another habit that will stick. After my experience with pads, I have a deeper and more profound respect for womankind for dealing with this on a monthly basis for most of their lives, and in the case of my wife anyway, without complaint. Meanwhile, I moaned and groaned loudly about how poorly engineered the pads were. I tried a few different types, but none of them were

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J.B. Collum is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com

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A GARAGE LIKE THIS REALLY DOESN’T MATCH YOUR HOUSE?

by Kim Beavers, MS, RDN, CDCES Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Chef Coach, Author Follow Kim on Facebook: facebook.com/eatingwellwithkimb

BLACKBERRY PEACH PARFAIT The creamy nature of both the chia pudding and the Siggi’s yogurt make this healthy snack taste decadent.

OUR SUGGESTION: START WITH THE GARAGE. YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD THE HOUSE LATER.

For the Chia Pudding • 1 cup fat-free milk • 3 tablespoons chia seeds (I added 4) • 1 tablespoons shredded coconut (optional)

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For the Parfait • 1 cup (5.3oz) Siggi’s 2% Plain yogurt • 1/2 peach, diced • 1/4 cup blackberries, chopped For the chia seed pudding, combine all the ingredients in a bowl or jar and whisk well. Place in the refrigerator and let sit for about 1-2 hours. It will turn into a lovely pudding consistency. To assemble the parfait, layer the chia seed pudding, followed by the siggi’s yogurt and top with the fresh fruit! Enjoy! +

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Yield: 2 Servings Nutrition Breakdown: Calories 180, Fat 5g (0.5g saturated fat), Sodium 85mg, Carbohydrate 21g, Fiber 7g, Protein 14g. Percent Daily Value: 8% Vitamin A, 10% Vitamin C, 30% Calcium, 2% Iron

Recipe provided with permission from www.Siggisdairy.com See more at: http://siggisdairy. com/recipes/detail/siggis-recipes-blackberry-and-peach-parfait-with-chia-seed-pudding/9554/#sthash.1bA7OGI0. dpuf

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MARCH 18, 2022

WHICH CAME FIRST?

THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? by Ken Wilson Steppingstone to Recovery

I don’t propose to resolve this age-old riddle today, but I do know that an even more confusing question at the store is, “which eggs should I buy?” I mean, there are cheap ones from chickens all penned up that may’ve been fed growth hormones, and expensive ones that are vegetarian fed and free range. A similar issue to decide when being evaluated for substance abuse treatment is the third in this series on the six dimensions of patient placement criteria as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (often shortened as ASAM), paraphrased here so our minds can wrap around it: Emotional, Behavioral, and Mind Conditions.

Let’s say a person is placed into a treatment program who has a secondary diagnosis of, say, a developmental disorder, past trauma, or limited brain capacity. But let’s also picture placing that same person right along with higher functioning clients who have jobs into an Intensive Outpatient program. He or she will probably be very frustrated and not grasp the principles of recovery taught there. And vice versa of course. It is a fact that when a teenager begins drinking and drugging, his emotional development comes to a standstill. I’ve treated hundreds of clients who started smoking weed, typically at around age 12-13 – the rebellious stage of development – and as a result they are now 35 and are still rebelling! About

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most anything that crosses their path! And if they start drinking/drugging heavily around age 16-17 – the falling in love stage we all go through – they might be 45 and still become infatuated with every potential mate that winks at them! It is for a qualified professional to determine if the potential client suffers from a condition that might need medication or other stabilization before entering a substance abuse treatment program. Sometimes a developmental disorder might need to be treated in what is called a “dual diagnosis” program. And someone with poor social functioning skills might need a program which recognizes that impairment and has staff to spend extra time and attention with them. The point is, you can’t work on yourself if there is something in the way of your being able to concentrate on what is being presented in a program. In my own case, I entered college at age 16 (bad mistake, in retrospect) and couldn’t concentrate in class because I was either high, hung over, or “jonesing,” or craving to drink or drug. My grade point

average at year’s end: 1.77 on a 4-point scale and I was put on academic probation! Imagine that! A smart admission counselor would’ve advised me to take a year off school and get some career direction. Assessment for “dimension of care” determines if there is a secondary mental health diagnosis other than the primary diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder. If a person genuinely needs medication for bi-polar disorder, as one example, he/she must get stabilized before entering treatment or they’ll be so depressed they won’t learn anything. Or they’ll be so jacked up and talking incessantly that they won’t be able to listen! A good mental health professional can determine, then, if the substance abuse needs to be treated first or if the secondary diagnosis should be treated first — if both can be treated simultaneously. Many times I have seen, for instance, a diagnosis of ADHD entirely disappear after one to three months of sobriety. In these cases, the client must be clean and sober for awhile to allow the brain to begin to heal from the emotional

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional

highs and lows of the rollercoaster-ride of drug or alcohol use. Then re-assess for the secondary diagnosis. A true evaluation for some conditions just cannot be done for perhaps 90 days after sobriety begins because the chemical effects masquerade as false symptoms. Bottom line, with mental health issues it’s sometimes hard to unscramble the egg and determine which diagnosis is primary and which is secondary. The important issue is, they both need treatment in order to gain peace of mind and joy. And as far as the eggs go, I’ve concluded that happy chickens produce the best eggs, so I buy the vegetarian fed and free range kind. +

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SPECIAL ISSUE! COMING IN TWO WEEKS

MARCH 18, 2022

Ask a Dietitian

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

FAMILY MEALTIMES: WHERE NUTRITION & RELATIONSHIPS MEET by Kat Filipiak, RDN, LDN

At the beginning of the year, I made a decision that may mean more to my good health than any vegetable I’ve ever eaten or mile I’ve ever run: I bought a house across the street from my best friend. In the past month and a half we’ve had countless impromptu conversations on the sidewalk, sneaking across the street in our pajamas for morning coffee and managing the constant back and forth of our kids who think living a hundred feet apart now is the greatest thing to ever happen to them. What does all of this have to do with health? A lot, actually. The longest running study of adult health, The Harvard Study of Adult Development, found that strong interpersonal relationships are the greatest predictor of health and longevity. Best friends absolutely count as a “strong interpersonal relationship”-as do spouses, children, extended family and even a close connection to one’s community. As a dietitian, it’s important to not overlook this kind of health finding. How can I use it to benefit my clients and

I LOVE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER! ACTUAL READER

Boys & Girls, Moms & Dads! Are you a Medical Examiner reader too? Send us your selfie (preferably showing a copy of the paper) and maybe you too can be seen on our pages! Embrace your celebrityhood! OUR EMAIL ADDRESS: DAN@AUGUSTARX.COM Michael Sharkey, MD Lauren Ploch, MD Caroline Wells, PA-C Chris Thompson, PA-C John Cook, MD, Emeritus

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better assess the health of my patients? I’m not a therapist or a marriage counselor, but I am an expert in a specific activity that is known to correlate with better family relationships, improved self esteem, lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide, improved academic scores and more resiliency against bullying. What is this activity? Family mealtime. Shared meals provide us with so much more than food. They provide us with a sense of safety, security, belonging, love and even creativity and self and community awareness. They provide a pause in our day to stop, breathe and look across the table at people we love and care for. As a mother and dietitian, I know how hard it can be to get everyone to the table. I know it can feel like one more chore at the end of a long day. Over

the past few years I’ve worked on creating a meal planning method that is rooted in a Health at Every Size, non-diet philosophy, and that aligns with both the Eating Competence model of eating for adults and the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding for children. Now I have a meal planning tool, The Practical Meal Planner, that helps parents and caregivers navigate their personal values, schedules and available resources to create an easy framework for having consistent and enjoyable mealtimes. If you’d like to learn more about the intersection of nutrition and relationships within family or social mealtimes, drop me an email at kat@ katrd.com. I’d love to hear from you. +

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CRASH

COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2006 than in World Wars I & II combined

retty much every session of Crash Course should be appended with the reminder that this is Crash Course 101. This course will get you zero-point-zero-zero-one Continuing Education credits because 98% of what we cover is stuff that was covered in the first 15 minutes of driver’s ed in high school. Is there anyone reading this who doesn’t know that we’re not supposed to run red lights? Or that we are supposed to obey speed limits? Are any of us unaware that tailgating is not only illegal but incredibly stupid? Do we really need to be reminded that it’s illegal (and unsafe) to use a cell phone while driving? Through the magic of Google, we can instantly track all readers of this article in real time, and let’s see...checking.... at this moment 100% of those reading these words know all of the above traffic laws, and then some. But all of these laws are broken a thousand times a day in the CSRA alone. So what’s the problem? It’s that huge chasm between knowing and doing, and it rears its ugly head in all kinds of human endeavors: people know they should get plenty of sleep, but they don’t. We know we should exercise regularly, but we find excuses not to. We know a healthy diet is important, but there’s that pesky addiction to pork rinds we’re battling. Let’s contrast those inactions with a different situation. A person could live a long time despite not eating well, not exercising, and not getting adequate sleep, even though they know all those behaviors are less than salubrious. But ignoring road safety rules could be like saying, “Sure, I know my house is on fire, but I’m not all that interested in doing anything about it right now. Soon though. Maybe tomorrow.” Well, sitting around in our burning house,

just like ignoring road safety rules, could kill us quickly and suddenly and rather completely. Sleepless nights and pork rinds can’t do that. (Fun fact: the preceding sentence has never before been written in human history.) Indeed, in this country during 2020 there were 5.2 million non-fatal traffic accidents, 2.2 million injuries, and some 38,000 deaths. Lest we forget, driving was severely curtailed for a good chunk of 2020 due to the pandemic. Federal statistics reveal that total miles driven in the first 9 months of 2020 decreased by an estimated 355.5 billion miles, which is about a 15% drop compared to the same period in 2019. One might predict from that statistic that fatalities would also drop by roughly 15%. Instead, they rose by almost 5%, which represents more than 1,200 lives lost. Many fatalities are caused by infractions of the basic rules we all learned on Day 1 of driver’s ed. Speeding is one of the most common. The National Highway Traffic Safety says speed was a factor in more than a quarter of all fatalities during 2019, costing nearly 9,500 lives. Sometimes traffic engineers try to face reality and increase speed limits to reflect real-life speeds. When Utah threw in the towel a few years ago and increased the speed limit to 80 mph in some places (which is the speed at which most drivers were already traveling anyway), motorists responded by doing what they were doing before the change: driving about 8-10 mph above the posted limit. In other words, now close to 90 mph. Regardless of what the posted speed limit is, the obligation to obey the limit rests with individual drivers. As we reflect on how much or how little pressure we will apply to our own gas pedals, here’s a statement of fact to ponder: Higher speeds have been shown to lead to more frequent and more deadly crashes. Period. +

WIN A MUG! The Mystery Word Contest winner will be sipping coffee from one of these babies! Additional details on page 14

READ THE EXAMINER ONLINE www.issuu.com/medicalexaminer

MARCH 18, 2022

OCD… from page 3

Nobody comes to the breakfast table until your bed is make and your bedroom is straightened up. Keep a box of Kleenex on the toilet tank in case your nose is runny or you sneeze. (Toilet paper is for your other end.) I am blessed to live with such an OCD woman, bless her heart. She still keeps me around even though I often fail to maintain behavior up to her standards. I frequently blame my shortfalls on “Old Timer’s Disease” (OTD, not OCD. I thought that was funny; she didn’t). She will sometimes accept, “I forgot.” But more often than not, I just get tired … and I am a bit lazy to boot. (Men do things like that.) I like to think she gains some degree of pleasure from correcting me. It comes from the motherhood section of her brain. (Long live motherhood.) Besides, her untreated OCD has done me no harm … other than a bit of frazzled nerves now and then, but I’m tough. I can take it. It is small price to pay for a tidy home, perfectly cooked meals, and color-coordinated clothes laid out daily for me. Let’s not overlook the additional value of a dependable and reliable wife who still hopes to reform me some day … soon. Given the option of her being medically treated and cured, I think prefer the non-treated version. This decision, if widely accepted, would send shock waves throughout the behavioral medicine world, but I don’t care. The only thing I really have to worry about is: Will she keep me with my moderate non-OCD manhood disorders? Hopefully her OCD won’t let her give up on me just yet, and I can keep benefitting from her medical disorder. Maybe God planned it this way. Maybe God gave Eve OCD, knowing Adam needed a lot help. Maybe God was just looking out for you and me. +

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MARCH 18, 2022

the blog spot — posted by Diana Londoño, MD, on March 12, 2022 (Edited for space)

TAKING CARE OF OTHERS ALL DAY? WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF? Many of us in health care tend to have qualities which hinder our self-care. We tend to be self-sufficient to a fault, at times lacking the humility to acknowledge or accept we need help. We may also think we are invincible and that we can endure all suffering we witness or experience without any need to process what we experienced emotionally. And we have been led to believe that we can do it all with little or no rest. These qualities lead to chronic stress and burnout. Instead of facing our pain, fatigue, and loneliness, we pursue activities to distract us from our emotions. We may overeat, compulsively shop, or numb our emotions with drugs or alcohol. To take a moment for your own selfcare, here are some easy things you can do to stop the stress cascade and prioritize yourself. 1. Learn to say no. This is a challenge for those who think “I am superhuman” or are people-pleasers. Saying no to something means saying yes to something else, which is usually your selfcare or sanity. Learning boundaries is crucial in self-care. 2. Check in with yourself. I recently heard a great acronym by psychotherapist Elaine Smookler describing “HALT.” Are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired? These are easy ways to check in and see what you may need more of: food, awareness of what is causing your anger, connection, or rest. When you address those needs, your outlook on the day will improve. 3. When in doubt: breathe. It sounds simple, but consciously taking slow, deep breaths will activate your parasympathetic nervous system and stop the chronic stress cascade and counteract cortisol from being released. Who knew something so simple and free could be so effective? When in doubt about how to do this, take three deep breaths. Try it now. 4. Practice daily gratitude. You can do this verbally throughout your day and even ask yourself, “What went well today”? Better yet, write it down. Have a gratitude journal and write on it daily. Some people prefer at night as this can help calm the mind before they sleep. Practicing gratitude causes a release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Those are our happy hormones that are decreased in anxiety and depression. 5. Move. Yes, move. Move 30 minutes a day. We prescribe movement to our patients but never do it ourselves, even though it has important neurophysiological benefits. It can counteract endorphins from the previous 12 hours and even until the next day. Linking breath with activities like yoga, tai chi also has benefits too — because breathing and moving are forms of meditation (meaning you put your senses and mind into an activity), and that takes your attention away from past things you cannot change or the future which you are likely catastrophizing about and has not occurred. 6. Sleep. You need at least 7 to 8 hours, and human growth hormone, which repairs our cells, is secreted mostly during sleep — about 75 percent of it. Sleep is a perennially overlooked key element to good health 7. Use imagery. Imagery is a powerful way to start the release of hormones that can be soothing, calming, and make you feel happy. Close your eyes and think of a place, real or imaginary, that makes you feel safe and calm. It can be your room as a child, a place where you vacationed, or anything that makes you feel calm and safe. Imagine all the details of the scene, including sounds, scents, or temperature. The more you imagine it, the more it will be helpful. It’s always there whenever you need it

7 self-care suggestions to try.

Go ahead and try these ideas and see how you feel. You won’t regret taking care of yourself. If doubt creeps in, remind yourself, “I deserve to take care of myself like I do my patients.” + Now go and take care of yourself. Diana Londoño is a urologist

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

From the Bookshelf Author Sherry Turkle has made something of a career out of the topic of resisting the pandemic of screen addiction. One of her previous books, a 2012 volume, was entitled Alone Together, in which the MIT scholar noted that our relentless connections have paradoxically led us into solitude and isolation. As its subtitle puts it, we expect more from technology and less from each other. This book explores the subject again as society’s (that means us, you and me) addiction grows deeper. As it turns out, conversationalists seem to be destined for the endangered species list. We have all seen the evidence: the briefest lull in conversation at work, at lunch, at the family dinner table or even a candle-lit restaurant sends people to their phones for texting, checking their email, or posting Twitter and Facebook updates. “I only do that when I’m bored,” someone might offer in their defense. But Turkle counters that we get bored at the drop of a hat these days

because we have become accustomed to a constant flow of “connection, information, and entertainment. We are forever elsewhere.” We pay attention to our immediate environment if it interests us, and the second it doesn’t we’re gone, in mind if not in body, disconnected here but connected out there somewhere. “Relax, I talk all the time and so do my friends,” counters a skeptic. Good for you. But sociologists increasingly note the many ways we seek to actively avoid conversations, preferring

to hide behind a screen. To illustrate, there was a time when to be sent to someone’s answering machine was an annoyance; now we’re annoyed when we’re told someone does not have an answering machine. Conversation, as Turkle points out, is a uniquely human capability that builds empathy and understanding with others, and which ironically requires contemplation and selfreflection. By contrast, screen communication is often simplistic, brief and onedimensional. 3-D friendships reflect the same cardboard cut-out dimensions Solitude, once the perfect opportunity for daydreaming and imagination-building in children, is consumed by screen time. But it isn’t all doom and gloom. “Once aware, we can begin to rethink our practices.” She writes of this problem with optimism. + Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in the Digital Age by Sherry Turkle; 448 pages, published by Penguin Press in 2015

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The Examiners

MARCH 18, 2022

by Dan Pearson

You joined a gym January 1, didn’t you? How’s that going so far? I only went once.

I joined a class and the instructor told us to wear loose clothing while exercising.

Why?

If I owned any loose clothing I would never have What’s wrong joined in the first place. with that?

The Mystery Word for this issue: OILSSTN

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. It has 18 holes (with “The”) 6. Make into law 11. Pale pinkish-violet 13. Budget alternative 15. Kilimanjaro, for one 17. Sales agt. 18. LPN helper 20. Beaver State abbreviation 21. “Over there” in the boonies 22. Stroke (med. abbrev.) 23. To be 46-D 24. Talk radio station 26. Computer Dept. 27. Masculine pronoun 28. It’s often added to tread 29. Common suffix for 31-A 31. Common prefix for 29-A 33. Lowest cardinal number 34. Anti-__________ 35. Montana’s first name 36. Part of AU 38. Front tooth 43. Sleep abbrev. 44. Native of Edinburgh 45. Lyric poems 47. Conclusion, musically 48. It can come before a glance or every turn 49. 2009 Ed Asner Pixar classic 51. Nearly one-third of Earth’s landmass 53. Atomic weight abbreviation 54. “Star Wars” defense ltrs. proposed by Reagan 55. Chafe 57. Chem. once used in transformers 58. Mr. Gibson 59. Fuss 60. Simian

10 15

6 12

25 29

26 30

33 35

46 51

Click on “MYSTERY WORD” • DEADLINE TO ENTER: NOON, MAR. 28, 2022

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

E X A M I N E R

9 14

27 31

Simply unscramble the letters, then begin exploring our ads. When you find the correctly spelled word hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

52 57

1 8

DOWN 2. Rapid in tempo (in music) 3. Start of game that ends with toe 4. Pigeon material? 5. Capital of Vietnam 6. Number often following 7 7. California city and county 8. From midnight until noon 9. JJ Cale song made famous by Eric Clapton 10. Assert or confess openly 12. Conflict; clash; inconsistency 13. Pertaining to building design 14. He is buried on Greene Street 16. Toward the mouth (Med.) 19. Luxor’s river 25. Bobby of note in Atlanta 28. Holstein comment

4 6

7 1

4 5 8 4

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

62. Handkerchief material? 64. 1.75 pints 65. Dixon’s partner 66. Glove-making material

6 8 1

S U D 2 O K 3 U

3 2 1

1 9

7 7 9

QUOTATIONPUZZLE

30. The ratio between a circle’s circumference and diameter 32. Prefix meaning not; without 36. _________ oblongata 37. Nashville awards show, in short 39. Doubt prologue 40. When doubled, mediocre 41. Room within a harem 42. Breathe 43. City in NW Georgia 44. Cause to feel sorrow 46. Type of bed or day 47. Gordon, originally 50. Light enters through it 52. Where one may be who is 46-D 54. Monte _______ Ave. 56. Blocker beginning 61. Permit 63. Cross the T’s; dot these

P T B N D E P A F I I T W T W O F E O N O E W

E D E R S R E U P T O S ’

T E L E M S

1 8 5 4 3 9 8 2 6O 3 7 1 E 4 7 9A 6 2 5

— Author unknown

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

Solution p. 14

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

N 1 2 3 4 5

U 1 2 3 4 5

Y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 ’

1 2

I 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

O 3

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

E 4

1 2 3 4 5

1.AIAITWWIBBKDN 2.DRYDEESHHONIN 3.CIVITGESNOO 4.UTOOWHEAT 5.ATTEUR 6.NS 7.ED 8.E 9.R 10.S

SAMPLE:

6 7 2 5 4 9 3 8 1

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

S 1 2 N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

7 9 8 1 5 4 2 3 6

4 6 5 3 8 2 1 7 9

2 3 1 9 7 6 5 4 8

MARCH 18, 2022

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

couple was flying to Tahiti to celebrate their wedding anniversary when somewhere over the Pacific Ocean passengers hear the captain announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have some very bad news. All engines have ceased functioning. Our only hope is an emergency landing, but there is no land on our maps within a thousand miles. We see an uncharted island ahead where we may be able to land on the beach, but being uncharted, if we live the odds are that won’t be rescued and will have to live on the island for the rest of our lives.” Thanks to the skill of the flight crew, the plane lands safely on the island. Everyone on board survives. As each day passes without rescue, it looks more and like the captain’s prediction was true. The wife grows more despondent by the hour and her husband’s efforts to encourage her fail. Then one day he has an epiphany. He asks his wife, “Honey, did you make the car payment this month?” “No, but at this point who cares?” she responds through her tears. He then asks, “Did we pay our credit card bill this month yet?”

The

Advice Doctor

“No,” she says. “I thought we might need the extra money on this trip.” “One more question,” the husband says. “Did you remember to make the payment for my hospital visit last month?” “Not that it matters now,” said the wife, “but no, I didn’t pay that bill either.” The husband grabs her and gives her a rib-crushing hug. She pulls away and asks him, “What was that for?” The husband answers, “We’re going to be saved! They will find us!”

Moe: I just read that sugar is the only word in English where “s” sounds like “sh.” Joe: Are you sure? Moe: My wife just told me she has amnesia and demanded that I get her help. Joe: Just who does she think she is? Moe: What was more important than the invention of the very first telephone? Joe: The second one. Moe: I pulled out a nose hair yesterday to see if it hurt. Joe: Did it? Moe: Judging by the reaction of the guy asleep next to me on the plane, I’d say yeah. A guy is walking down the sidewalk texting on his brand new iPhone when he slips, falls to the ground and hears loud crack. “I sure hope that was my spine,” he thinks. +

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? What do you mean?

Staring at my phone all day has had no Effect on ME!

Because try as they might, no one can stare at their phone all day.

13 +

Dear Advice Doctor, It’s my job to keep our medium small company fully staffed. At first I thought this would be a breeze - and fun - to give jobs to people. I’d be saying Congratulations! all the time. The reality is that it’s very hard to interest people, even in good-paying jobs, and then those you do find are not qualified. Do you think I should go ahead and hire unqualified people, warts and all, and then train them? Or hold out for better-quality applicants? — Haven’t said Congratulations! lately Dear Haven’t, I understand your frustration and concern, but warts are often considered more a cosmetic issue than a serious medical one. Having said that, it should be noted that common warts are caused the same virus causes HPV, human papillomavirus. Being viral, they are communicable and contagious. That includes catching warts from your own warts, not just someone else’s. As you’re seeing, plenty of adults get warts, but children and teens are common targets of warts because of their more active lifestyle compared with adults. Cuts and scrapes are a perfect avenue of entry for the virus that causes warts, so it’s important to use basic first aid procedures on breaks in the skin. Another way to invite warts is to habitually bite fingernails or pick at hangnails. People with a weakened immune system are also more vulnerable to warts. It’s a good idea to keep warts covered with a bandage. One, it keeps the over-the-counter medication you put on it in place, and two, it has the added advantage of preventing the wart from being touched. After treating or touching a wart — your own or someone else’s — always wash your hands. Warts will usually go away on their own, but it can be a very slow process. If a wart is painful, of serious concern from a cosmetic standpoint, or if someone isn’t sure if some skin issue is or isn’t a wart in the first place, have a dermatologist take a look at it to be safe and be sure. There are various prevention strategies that can reduce the chances of getting warts, but one of the most logical and most effective is getting the HPV vaccine. It also helps prevent cancers. The earlier it’s administered the better, which is why the Food and Drug Administration approved it for children. I hope this answered your question. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will only be provided in the Examiner.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICALEXAMINER +

Why read the Medical Examiner: Reason #22 BEFORE READING

By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers. If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area, or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house! NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Choose six months for $20 ____ or one year for $36 ____. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

AFTER READING

+ 14

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4 5 8 4 3

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: LUMBAR ...cleverly hidden in the oil in the p. 7 ad for C & C AUTOMOTIVE

THE WINNER: ARLENE DI PIETRO! If that’s your name, congratulations! Send us your mailing address using the email address in the box on page 3. The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

THE PUZZLE SOLVED P A T A L I V O L C O R E W A G C D R O O X R C O A M M E P M

M E D U L L A

C L A Y

H A N O I

P I D

C G M S A A S D A D I N E S O N

C O N T R A D I C T I O N

A N N O

A R C H I T E C T U R A L

E L E V E N

N A C T A M O H P C N A A A I L M I L L O N E J O E

I S O P U B P E I T L A

O R D E S A S I A P C B L I K E E R D T E X

SEE PAGE 12

The Celebrated TheSUDOKUsolution MYSTERY WORD CONTEST 1 8 6 7 4 2 3 5 9

...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries, you’ll score our goodie package! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. Limited sizes are available for shirt prize. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher. 8. Deadline to enter is shown on page 12.

5 3 8 6 7 4 9 2

4 9 2 3 1 7 6 5

7 2 5 4 9 3 8 1

Love to stare at your phone? Visit issuu.com/ medicalexaminer and stare away.

MARCH 18, 2022

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

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QuotatioN QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION If we were meant to pop out of bed we’d sleep in toasters. — Author unknown

WORDS BY NUMBER Never argue with an idiot because bystanders don’t know who the idiot is. — Mark Twain

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

MARCH 18, 2022

Barney’s Savings Club

N TO

Come Home to Barney’s!

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Call us, stop by, or visit barneysrx.com to explore the benefits of Barney’s Savings Club today!

2604 Peach Orchard Rd 215 Furys Ferry Rd 5135 Wrightsboro Rd Augusta•706-798-5645 Augusta•706-863-3456 Grovetown•706-869-8535

706-733-1935

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LIFE IS COMPLICATED Death doesn’t have to be.

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We know how to help.

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY +

ACUPUNCTURE

DERMATOLOGY

Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 706-733-3373 SKIN CANCER CENTER www.GaDerm.com

Dr. Eric Sherrell, DACM, LAC Augusta Acupuncture Clinic 4141 Columbia Road 706-888-0707 www.AcuClinicGA.com

CHIROPRACTIC Evans Chiropractic Health Center Dr. William M. Rice 108 SRP Drive, Suite A 706-860-4001 www.evanschiro.net

COUNSELING Resolution Counseling Professionals 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 Augusta 30909 706-432-6866 www.visitrcp.com

DENTISTRY Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS Karen L. Carter, MD 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com

DRUG REHAB Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd. Augusta 30909 706-733-1935

YOUR LISTING Floss ‘em or lose ‘em!

Steven L. Wilson, DMD Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445

Augusta Area Healthcare Provider 4321 CSRA Boulevard Augusta 30901 706-555-1234 CALL 706.860.5455 TODAY!

EMF PROTECTION

EMF Safe Homes Sheila Reavill Certified Building Biology Specialist 209-625-8382 (landline) SURVEY•ASSESSMENT•REMEDIATION

IN-HOME CARE Everyday Elder Care LLC Certified Home Health/Caregiver 706-231-7001 everydayeldercare.com Zena Home Care Personal Care|Skilled Nursing|Companion 706-426-5967 www.zenahomecare.com

YOUR LISTING HERE Your Practice And up to four additional lines of your choosing and, if desired, your logo. Keep your contact information in this convenient place seen by thousands of patients every month. Call (706) 860-5455 for all the details!

LONG TERM CARE

WOODY MERRY www.woodymerry.com Long-Term Care Planning I CAN HELP! (706) 733-3190 • 733-5525 (fax)

PHARMACY Parks Pharmacy 437 Georgia Ave. ARKS N. Augusta 29841 HARMACY 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com

SLEEP MEDICINE Sleep Institute of Augusta Bashir Chaudhary, MD 3685 Wheeler Rd, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

Thanks for using the Professional Directory

CALL THE MEDICAL EXAMINER (706-860-5455) TO BE LISTED HERE

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

MARCH 18, 2022

Aiyan Diabetes Center

Jamie Steinsapir, MD, PhD Endocrinology

Khalil Al Soutary, MD Endocrinology

Brandon Sur, MD Interventional Radiologist

Julian Nussbaum, MD Ophthalmology

Janaki Nadarajah, DPM Podiatry

Kaushal J. Shah, MD Vascular Surgeon

The area’s best team of Board Certified physicians exclusively dedicated to comprehensive diabetes treatment & care, prevention, and research.

Augusta’s Advanced Comprehensive Multi-Specialty Diabetes Center • Endocrinology • Endovascular Surgery • Retina Center • Podiatry

• Wound Care • Research • Clinical Trials • Interventional Radiology

• Ophthalmology • Hyperbaric Oxygen • Interventional Cardiology Therapy • Limb Preservation Center • Fibroid Treatments • Obesity Clinic • Vein Center Diabetes Center

462 FURYS FERRY ROAD • AUGUSTA GA 30907 AIYANDIABETES.COM • FAX: 706-868-3719

706-868-0319