Medical Examiner 6-15-12 by Daniel Pearson

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THE SKINNY ON DADS WHO SMOKE The CDC says “Father’s Day is an occasion to mark and celebrate the contribution that fathers and father figures make to children’s lives. Fathers help their children develop morals and values as well as a belief system. They also help them navigate their way through society and influence general habits and their overall way of living. An increasing amount of research on the roles that fathers play in families points to the significant and unique ways they influence and affect the lives of their children. Roles such as “provider” and “hero” can change based on the decisions that a father makes in his own life. These decisions can have a profound effect—changing the path a child takes in life as well as their perception of their father because they view him as a role model. This Father’s Day, if you smoke, CDC encourages you to model a healthy way of living for your children by quitting. And congratulations are in order for the fathers who have already resolved to quit smoking! More men (nearly 22%) than women (about 17%) smoke. Smoking causes an estimated 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men. Men who smoke increase their risk of dying from bronchitis by nearly 10 times; from emphysema, by nearly 10 times; and from lung cancer, by more than 22 times. And smoking triples middleaged men’s risk of dying from heart disease. +

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JUNE 15, 2012

AN OPINION

Benevolence? Or meddling? e are about to become — here in this very space — the 4,634,718th (and hopefully final) media outlet of one kind or another to comment on New York City’s proposed law against bucket-sized soft drinks. Although debated, defended, and ridiculed across this land and across the globe, one of the best commentaries anywhere came from right here in Augusta: Rick McKee, the Augusta Chronicle’s editorial cartoonist, drew a cop in the midst of apprehending a fat citizen for possession (of a Big Gulp) and calling for backup. The cop’s name? Slurpico. New York’s proposal is practically begging to be ridiculed. The law is basically ridiculous and probably unenforceable, unacceptable, unconstitutional and several other uns. The thing is, governments are supposed to actively protect their citizens. That’s why we have speed limits. It’s why we have restaurant inspections. It’s why the lethal haze of tobacco smoke is being steadily pushed out of the lives of all but the presumably suicidal inhalers themselves. It’s why we can’t drive on the left side of the road, like they do in England. No one seems to think it’s governmental interference to prohibit someone from driving 90 m.p.h. through your quiet little residential neighborhood. No one seems particularly annoyed by laws mandating certain grades of wiring in new homes or weight limits on bridges. But then something random comes down the pike from the halls of government (local, state or federal), and suddenly people scream that Big Brother has gotten too big. The perfect example may well be universal health insurance. In all the world, it’s hard to find a wealthy, industrialized nation not named the United States that doesn’t have universal health coverage for its citizens. Governments of all kinds, from monarchies and democracies to dictatorships around the world all provide healthcare for every last citizen of theirs. When the issue lands on our shores, however, it’s branded by detractors as “socialized medicine,” the hot-button reference to socialism apparently intended to conjure up thoughts of Marx, Stalin and Communist East Germany. Universal healthcare was a pet project of the Clinton Administration that crashed and burned before take-off. Will it be defeated again at the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, currently debating the constitutionality of the latest resurrection of the concept? The answer is soon to come. But just for kicks, let’s say the New York City initiative passes. Let’s assume Obamacare gets a ringing endorsement from the Supreme Court. Let’s also predict that by this time next year, possession of more than an ounce of ice cream by anyone weighing more than a hundred pounds will be a Class III felony in 41 states. And anyone caught with tobacco will be shot on sight. Will we all suddenly become the very picture of health? Will obesity vanish? Will diabetes become a thing of the past? Will cancer become a forgotten memory? No. No. No. And no. Why not? Because the solution to significant improvements in health for you and me rests with — here’s a revolutionary thought — you and me. If the Prohibition experiment taught one lesson, it’s that politicians can’t stop people from doing what they really want to do. The law we really need is The Golden Rule of Me, which states “Do unto yourself as to thine own self would be true.” Is there a law against eating pine straw? No. It’s perfectly legal, yet nobody does it. We don’t need a law against it. By the same logic, there should be no need for some state, municipality or nation to pass laws against idiotic behavior like deliberately sucking carcinogenic smoke into your lungs, or sucking on straws stuck into quarts of sugar water until you’re morbidly obese. When we do dumb things, somebody’s going to end up looking dumb trying to stop us. Then they’re ridiculed for their wellintentioned but misguided attempts to step in and save us from our own conduct. If people just did the right thing, ridiculous laws would be unnecessary. +

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Christine’s story half of her jaw. “I’m missing a quarter uring high school, smoking was of my face. People stare at me all the what all the “cool” kids were time,” she says. That doesn’t stop doing (or so Christine thought), Christine from being in the public and she wanted to fit in, so she eye and serving as a role model for began smoking at age 16. She became quitting smoking — or even better, addicted and continued smoking for 28 never starting. years. Christine is now 49 and has been In 2007, at age 44, her life would smoke-free for 5 years. She spends change forever. After spotting a growth inside her cheek which she To hear a 30- her time offering support for the Oral thought was a canker sore, Christine second audio Cancer Foundation, where she’s a went to see her family doctor. Her message from board administrator and volunteer doctor sent her to an oral surgeon, who Christine, visit patient advocate. She also gives speeches about oral cancer and the did a biopsy of the sore, and it revealed the Medical dangers of smoking. “Tobacco is not oral cancer. Examiner cool, not cool at all! It almost cost me As 2007 went by, Christine website: my life,” says Christine. underwent 35 radiation treatments and (www. Through the Tips From Former chemotherapy and seemed to be cured. AugustaRx.com, Smokers campaign, she hopes kids But the cancer returned in 2008; this click on time surgery was her only option. Her News and Blog) will learn that there are so many other third bout with oral cancer in 2009 was better things to spend their time and even more serious. She learned it had money on. + spread to her jawbone, and doctors classified it as Stage IV. Editor’s note: This installment of Medicine in the The dozens of radiation treatments had First Person is part of “Tips From Former Smokers,” already cost Christine her teeth and had a new initiative of the Centers for Disease Control. extensively damaged her mouth. During a We will run Tips from time to time when we don’t 10-hour surgery, the doctors had to remove have an article submitted by one of our readers.

Tell us your story for Medicine in the First Person

What’s your story? Nearly all of us — even doctors and nurses — are sometimes patients. Perhaps you were recently injured playing your favorite sport, or years ago you somehow got hurt without even leaving your favorite recliner. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, mugged in a dark and lonely parking lot, or you stubbed your toe in the safety of your own bedroom. On the other hand, perhaps you needed medical attention 5,000 miles from home. Whatever your medical experience, we’d like to hear your story for our Medicine in the First Person feature. It can be frightening or funny, ordinary or extraordinary, just a few paragraphs long or quite a lengthy tale. We’ll publish your encounters with the medical profession as often as we receive them. + Send your submissions for Medicine in the First Person to the Augusta Medical Examiner via e-mail: info@AugustaRx.com or to PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397. (The Medical Examiner reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission at its sole discretion.)

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Why would anyone pay for a subscription to a free newspaper? That’s certainly a legitimate question. The answer: as a major regional medical center, patients come to Augusta hospitals and physicians from all over the Southeast. The MCGHealth Medical Center alone sees patients from every single county in Georgia, not to mention South Carolina, Florida, and beyond. Add to that the regional reach of Eisenhower Army Medical Center and both Veterans Administration hospitals, the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, Walton Rehab and University Hospital, and it’s clear that many people seeking treatment in Augusta are not local residents. Furthermore, some of our most loyal readers are in town only occasionally. Or their treatments and visits to Augusta are only temporary. Even local residents may find it more convenient to walk to their mailbox than visit one of our many newsstands. Subscriber copies are mailed the day prior to the issue date so they will be received by most readers no later than the publication date printed on the paper. Copies are sent by First Class mail in a sealed envelope so they’ll arrive promptly and in crisp condition. Rates are $16 for a 6-month subscription (12 issues), $32 for a full year (24 issues). Complete the form below and drop it in the mail with your payment. Thank you! +

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www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment consult your doctor. © 2012 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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Hope IS Possible

Hope and health: it’s a family thing

Helen Blocker-Adams amily. What a beautiful concept. I can’t imagine not having a family and having a great relationship with them. I love my family. Unfortunately, there are thousands of people all over the world who do not have a family. And sadly, many who do have families are so estranged that they have little to no relationship with them at all. I believe a person’s emotional well-being is in jeopardy when there’s little

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” - Mother Teresa take a little credit for being their auntie and them getting some of their gifts and talents from me, but drawing is certainly not one of them. I believe spending quality time while talking about dreams and goals with family members can be a great emotional experience. I had a conversation with one of my twin nieces while I was preparing this column, and she shared an interesting concept regarding family and mental health. She said that being from a big family allows her a chance to experience different personalities and learn how to compromise, adjust, and live cooperatively in that atmosphere. She said that this gives her the ability to use those same skills needed to interact with different people

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to no connection with family. I just experienced the ultimate in family time. I had the pleasure of flying to Tampa, Florida to witness the high school graduation of my twin nieces. I haven’t seen my brother and his family in over three years. I communicate regularly with my nieces on Facebook, but being able to see them and my other nieces and nephew was an amazing experience. Tampa is a beautiful city and the weather was hot, muggy and rainy the entire three and a half days I was there, but that didn’t matter because our lives and time together felt like sunshine. My nieces graduated with honors and looked absolutely gorgeous in their cap and gown as they walked across the stage. I had to share their pictures on my Facebook page because of my happiness for them. What I found so fascinating is the level of creativity that my nieces have. They were eager to show me their drawings over the years and I marveled at them. I do

outside the family. She feels that even though no one has a choice in who their family members are, she’s been able to understand people dynamics and transfer that knowledge in her daily interaction with people at school, in the workplace, and just life in general. During my stay in Tampa, I spent time with my sister in law too. We walked one morning and that was a good experience even though the weather was incredibly humid. With large families, it’s difficult to spend a large amount of one-on-one time with everyone on a short trip, but it’s the quality of time what counts to me. Playing Wii Bowling with my nephew was really one of the highlights of my trip. He’s incredibly competitive and plays a variety of sports including soccer, football and baseball. He loves games, especially Wii games and those found on computers or cell phones. He excels at all of them. So when he boasted about how no one can beat him at Wii Bowling, I challenged him because I do know how to play. We decided to play and whoever won three games would be the champion. He won the first game, I won the

second. He won the third and then I won the fourth game by only one point. Now the fourth game was pretty intense. At the time of this writing, we haven’t played the championship game yet, but I’m confident that I will be victorious. Either way, it was such a blast spending that quality time with my eight-yearold nephew. If you have family members you haven’t seen in an extended period of time, I highly encourage you to do so. Enjoy the experience, have fun and allow your emotional well-being to soar in a positive way. + Since starting this column, I also started an annual event entitled “Minority Mental Health Awareness Breakfast.” We’re now in our fifth year, held annually in July, and our next event is scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2012. For information please contact me at hba@hbagroup-intl.com Helen Blocker Adams is President/ CEO of The HBA Group, Intl and Executive Director of the Southeast Enterprise Institute, Inc. Visit her website at www.helenblockeradams. com. If you like politics, visit her blog at www.projectlogicga.com. You can reach her via email at hba@hbagroup-intl.com Helen’s new book, Unlikely Allies: 8 Steps to Bridging Divides that Impact Leadership can be purchased by visiting www.hbagroup-intl.com or www.authorhouse.com

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WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT HEALING THROUGH HUMOR by Bad Billy Laveau Medicine has its own cadre of humor. Knowing that it takes 12 facial muscle to frown, and only 7 to smile, I feel compelled to convert a few frowns to smiles and to help conserve energy by sharing a few time honored medial humorosities with you. (Yeah, I made up that word. It’s my good deed for the year.) The doctor placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient’s anterior chest wall and instructed, “Big breaths.” The lady quickly replied, “Yes, they used to be.” They both laughed. During morning rounds, the doctor asked his patient, “So how was your breakfast this morning?” “Pretty good except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can’t get used to the taste.” “Kentucky Jelly? What’s that?” The man produced an empty foil of KY Jelly. A young woman with purple punk rock Mohawk haircut, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing, was an emergency surgical admission secondary to acute appendicitis. The surgical staff was amused to see that her pubic hair was been dyed green and nearby a private tattoo read, “Keep off the grass.” Not to be outdone, once the surgery was successfully over, the doctor wrote on the bandage, “Sorry, we had to mow the grass.” An attentive woman and a two-week-old baby were in the exam room waiting for the baby’s first office visit. The doctor came in, exchanged pleasantries, and

gave the baby a thorough physical. “The baby if fine, except we usually see a little more weight gain during the first two weeks. Bottle fed?” “No. Breast fed.” “Let me examine your breasts,” said the doctor. After a very thorough and completely professional breast examination that included substantial nipple tweaking and thoughtful kneading of the 4 quadrants of each breast, the doctor said, “That’s the problem. You have no milk.” “I know,” the woman responded. “I’m the motherin-law. But I’m still glad I came.” While acquainting himself with a new elderly female patient, the doctor asked, “Have you ever been bedridden?” After a look of complete confusion she answered, “Well, yes. But not for about twenty years, back when my husband was alive.” A new OB resident was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams. To cover his embarrassment and anxiety, he frequently whistled softly. One middle-aged lady upon whom he was performing a pelvic suddenly burst out laughing, which further embarrassing him. He looked up sheepishly said, “I’m sorry. Was I tickling you?” She replied with tears running down her cheeks from laughing so hard, “No, doctor. But you were whistling ‘I wish I was an Oscar Mayer Wiener.’” A couple of nurses were out on the town having fun listening to a local bar band. They were not interested in getting drunk or laid. Their lively, perky chatter attracted the attention of a

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t s e B couple lounge lizards that lacked honorable intentions. Alcohol enhanced their hormones and they failed to understand a firm, “NO!” Patience quickly ran thin. One nurse whispered to the other, “Go to the bathroom. I’ll get rid of these jerks.” Alone with the lecherous creeps, she announced loudly, “We’re bisexual. Only two more visits to the clinic for shots, and we will be cured. You guys wanta come over to our place so we can party? Most likely, we’re probably not contagious anymore.” (That has to be the best creepectomy ever. If you have a better one, I want to hear it.) Do you know what uncertainty is? That is when you have diarrhea and whooping cough at the same time. How is a new born baby like a full grown elephant? Both have a ravenous appetite on one end and social irresponsibility on the other. Man calls doctor: My wife is having labor pains real hard every two minutes. Doctor: Is this her first baby? Man: No, you idiot. I’m her

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husband. A bewildered street derelict wandered into the ER. After an exam and some tests, the Intern told him, “Sir, I have bad news for you. You have HIV. And you have Alzheimer’s disease.” The derelict blinked a few times to clear his thoughts and mumbled, “Well, that ain’t so bad, Doc. At least I ain’t got HIV.” Doctor: “What happened to you? You’re all black and blue.” Woman: “Doctor, I don’t know what to do. Every time my husband comes home drunk he beats me to a pulp.” Doctor: “I have a real good remedy for that. When your husband comes home drunk, just take a glass of water and start swishing it in your mouth — but don’t swallow. Just keep swishing until he goes to bed in his stupor.” Two weeks later the woman comes back to the doctor looking fresh and reborn. Woman: “Doctor, that was a brilliant idea. Every time my husband came home drunk, I swished, and swished and swished, and he didn’t touch me!” Doctor: “You see how much

keeping your mouth shut helps?” The secret to most medical jokes is that we take things we have a fear of, or at least a healthy dislike for, and we make light of them so that we can laugh instead of cry or scream. In my book, laughing for joy always outweighs screaming for terror. After all, you can only joke at things that are serious. Recent medical studies show that people who laugh a lot live longer, even those with terminal cancer. So if you have not heard a joke or silly rumor by noon, start one of your own. At least that way you won’t be the butt of the joke or the victim of the rumor. And if your imagination is wild and brave enough to make yourself the central character, you might get on CNN. Then all your friends can laugh at you and live longer. And that, Dear Hearts, could be your good deed for the year. + Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor. Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397

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Health 101 by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Assistant Dean for Administration in the GHSU College of Nursing HAS “ARTHUR” COME CALLING? s we age we become aware of new aches and pains in our joints. They’re worse when it rains or when the temperature starts to drop. It’s like we can feel the weather in our bones. But the problem isn’t actually the bones; it’s the joints. Arthritis is a condition that has as many names as it does peculiarities to it. There is the general term, arthritis, but also Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Gouty Arthritis. There are many causes for the general condition which is basically an inflammatory process in the joints. It can be due to an immediate problem like an injury or infection like gout, or a long-term problem related to wear and tear, like degenerative joint disease. The focus I will take today will be on that overall problem of wear and tear. A problem is usually identified immediately because a particular joint will become swollen, red and hot and will need immediate attention. Joints all have several protective pieces. First there is the joint capsule that keeps the bones in line. Tendons and cartilage stretch from bone to bone to make sure they meet at the right place. Between the bones there is a soft cushion called the bursa that is filled with a jelly-like substance that keeps the bones from touching directly. Then right at the end of each bone is a line of cartilage that keeps the ends of the bones protected from direct contact with each

other. Think about a particular joint, say the knee. It is built to bend like a hinge and is protected by several ligaments and a knee cap in front. Wear and tear from contact sports, falls, and impact injuries can stretch or tear those protective ligaments and push the kneecap out of place. Impact like weight bearing exercises, running on pavement, and just being heavier than our bones can handle will push the bones together and force the bursa to be thinned or inflamed and cause damage to the cartilage. When that happens, the bones can touch and we have pain every time the joint moves. Another problem as we age, the fluid in the sac between the joints can become thick. In the early morning when we haven’t moved in awhile we get a condition called “the gel phenomenon.” That is when our joints become stiff and until we move a bit and warm them up, that gel doesn’t thin out. Movement helps, but if we sit or lie still for awhile, the joints will be harder to get working again every time. There is a delicate balance between enough exercise and too much, and also the right kind of exercise. Our bones are built to carry and protect our bodies, but gravity is important and being overweight, the pounding from heavy lifting and exercise will eventually damage the joints. Weather changes such as cold and rain can cause swelling and pain, especially in joints that

have been injured in the past. Injuries and surgeries cause bones to develop an overgrowth of calcium that will increase friction and irritation at the joint. Think about muscles, too. Muscles are in place to help move the bones properly. They are attached from bone to bone to provide even more protection for the joints. Building up the strength in your muscles will improve how the joints move and feel. When our joints start to ache and hurt, it’s important to determine if the cause is an immediate problem like an infection that needs medical attention, or if it is part of that wear and tear over time process. Will rest, heat, or ice and wrapping help it? If you can take them, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen and Tylenol can help, but they need to be taken regularly for a few days to get the initial inflammation calmed down. NSAIDs work well, but depending on how strong they are they can be very hard on the stomach lining and cause gastritis or even bleeding in the stomach. They can also interact with other medications. Most of the time we don’t like that our body is telling us that we are doing more than it’s prepared to deal with, but it is important to pay attention to what our body is telling us. Slow down occasionally, change how you do things and determine if maybe you need to build up strength or support for a joint to do reduce or eliminate pain. Our bones and joints are built to last a lifetime if we take care of them and pay attention to what they are telling us. Pain is a signal that says we may be overusing a joint and we need to back off to save our joints so they can live to bend another day. + HEALTH 101 – Information to help you make positive changes in your life to improve your health by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, Director of the Good Samaritan House, A Free Community Health Center Open Mondays 15 pm. 213 N Main St., Dearing, GA 706-556-9080.

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Exceptional Living

Not just survivors by Naomi D. Williams, MPH, CHES, CIC® This month is National Cancer Survivor month. Working in a cancer center, I see many survivors in different stages of their journey. And then there are those days when I see the spouse without the patient and realize that their war on cancer has ended and now the spouse is a survivor. This month has me thinking about what it means to be a survivor and the words people use to describe survivors. Some that come up over and over are: God, faith, Jesus, family, strong-willed, blessed, overcomer, hope, life, and strength. Just recently, Robin Roberts, news anchor for Good Morning America, announced that she is embarking on another cancer treatment journey. A breast cancer survivor, Roberts has been cancer free for five years, but was recently diagnosed with a disease that affects blood and bone marrow (formerly known as pre-leukemia) and will require her to undergo chemotherapy again before receiving a bone marrow transplant. Despite the shock of this new diagnosis and the long and rocky road ahead, Robin has a wonderful attitude and outlook. She sees herself not just as a survivor, but also a fighter who will conquer this battle. I’m reminded of Augusta’s very own Dan Pearson, founder and editor of the Augusta Medical Examiner, who has confronted, fought, and won a few battles with cancer himself. What strength and tenacity it takes to maintain a good attitude and sense of humor as you are given the cancer diagnosis more than once. Not only has Dan survived, he has thrived along with his jovial spirit to share with the rest of the world. I think too of Aimee Copeland, the young and vibrant twentyfour year old University of West Georgia student. In just three short weeks she went from being a healthy, independent young lady to a dependent young woman who has lost a leg, both hands and feet. It’s a miracle she is alive. Per her father’s blog, glimpses of reality are beginning to set in about the accident, the loss of limbs and what the future may hold for her. Despite their current limitations, Aimee and her family are overcomers. Erin recently gave birth to her third son six weeks early. Despite being of a viable gestational age (at 32 weeks the baby had a good chance of living) her son lived for half a day and then died. Over the next week, Erin’s health declined and her life was nearly lost as well. Her heart, eyes, kidneys and circulatory system were all impacted by pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. Although the baby didn’t survive, Erin did and it’s been difficult to understand why. Even though there are a host of unanswered questions Erin and her family have grown stronger and closer through their tragedy. Then I think of my own son who, even before birth, survived through a short, hostile incubation period and growth-restricting environment to overcome many of the odds stacked against him once he entered the world. Surviving brain bleeds, intestinal infection, heart stopping reflux, and several surgeries, all before the age of three has made him my hero. This little boy gives every bit of fight that he has in him and dismisses that which those say he can and will not do. You can be a survivor or an overcomer. All of these people listed above are more than merely survivors; to me they are overcomers. They’ve done more than just make it. They have overcome. They have not become cynical, pessimistic or remained bitter about their circumstance. (Notice I didn’t say they didn’t experience those feelings; they just didn’t wallow in them.) They have a better appreciation for life. They are better people and have a greater, and dare I say, a better perspective of what they have to offer others. + Naomi Williams is a health educator by training, an entrepreneur by nature, mom, and advocate of the best kid ever, Noah Samuel.

JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

What’s Cooking with Cindy by Cindy Crawford, Owner and Executive Chef, Cindy’s Catering

Independence Day It is almost Independence Day and we anxiously await the arrival of giant spaceships that will hover over our planet and disburse mini-spaceships manned by really ugly and smelly aliens to be defeated by Will Smith and that really sexy, tall, drink of water, Jeff Goldblum. No wait…that’s the movie. I’m sorry my mind wandered off for a minute. Patriotically speaking, it is time to commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. Gastronomically speaking, it is time for some good eating. If the 4th of July has become just a day off work, maybe it’s time to set off some fireworks on your tastebuds with a menu of delicious tender grilled steaks; fall-off-the-bone ribs; or melt in your mouth barbeque chicken. For your sides try grilled corn on the cob and veggie kebobs, and for the finishing touch don’t forget a yummy patriotic red, white and blue dessert. Hungry yet? After a great day of fun the evening is usually capped off with fireworks. I think it is important at this time to determine the definition of “adult” supervision. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “adult” as “fully developed; mature.” Normally, this is the guy (you know who you are) who spends a small fortune on things that go boom and shoots bottle rockets at the other guests as they flee for safety. This is

Who says good food can’t be blue? And red and white?

Patriotic Trifle INGREDIENTS • 2 - 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened • 2 cups confectioners sugar • 8 ounces sour cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring • 1 container (8 ounces) whipping topping • 1 angel food cake • 1 quart fresh blueberries • 1 quart fresh strawberries (remove stems and slice in half) • 1/2 cup sugar DIRECTIONS Cream together cream cheese and confectioners sugar. Add sour cream and vanilla flavoring. Fold in whipped topping. Set mixture aside. Tear angel food cake into bite size pieces – set aside. Place sliced strawberries in bowl and stir in 1/4 cup sugar, allow to dissolve and create syrup. Place blueberries in bowl and stir in 1/4 cup sugar, allow to dissolve and create syrup. In a clear glass trifle bowl layer cream cheese mixture, angel food cake pieces, strawberries, cream cheese mixture, angel food cake, blueberries (go for red, white & blue). Repeat. Refrigerate 4-24 hours. This is fun to make, looks absolutely beautiful and tastes just as great! +

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Article and recipe are property of Cindy Crawford, Cindy’s Catering, Inc. not the person who should be in charge of the fireworks. Find a real adult, (look behind a bush) put them in charge of the fireworks and have a great, safe, 4th of July. + Editor’s note: This classic column by Cindy originally appeared in the June 19, 2009 issue of the Medical Examiner.

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OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations: • Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance • Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, Employee Entrance (near the Joseph M. Still Burn Center entrance) • Eisenhower Hospital, Main Entrance, Fort Gordon • George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) • GHSU Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • GHSU Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Children’s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby • GHSU, Laney-Walker Boulevard transit stop, Augusta • Select Specialty Hospital, Walton Way, Main entrance lobby • Trinity Hospital, Wrightsboro Road, main lobby by elevators • Trinity Hospital Home Health, Daniel Village, main lobby • University Health Federal Credit Union/ University Hospital Human Resources, 1402 Walton Way, Main Lobby • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Emergency Room lobby area • University Hospital, 1350 Walton Way, Outside Brown & Radiology/Day Surgery • University Hospital - Columbia County, 465 N. Belair Road, Main Lobby • University Hospital Prompt Care, 3121 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • ASU Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta • Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta • Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans • Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

Plus... 500+ doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

EDITOR’S NOTE: Very little if anything about healthcare is inexpensive, and that includes medicine. Tiny pills can command large prices. Over-the-counter medications may be less expensive, but are they also less effective? Find the answers to lots of your drug store questions in this column written by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson exclusively for the Medical Examiner.

GOT THEM OLD PRESCRIPTION-FILLING BLUES? Everyone has run into delays filling their prescriptions from time to time. Medications have to be ordered or prior approvals have to be renewed by your physician. Sometimes all prescribed refills have been used and no more remain on the prescription, or there are refills remaining ,but the prescription is too old to be filled according to state law. These are all reasons for your refill to be delayed by anywhere from a day to a week. What can be done to prevent one of these obstacles from causing you to be without medication? Most pharmacies have a budget for medicines just like your household budget. It would be impossible to stock enough medicine on our shelves to never run out of any medicine. No pharmacy is that big. Sad but true. So what can be done to prevent this issue from impacting you? Try to be aware of when you are getting low and call several days ahead of needing the refill. If your pharmacy happens to be out of your medicine they can order it for the next day or two. If you are waiting and need the medicine that day you’ll be forced to transfer the prescription to another pharmacy and lose the personal relationship you have built over the years. Your pharmacy knows you and knows more about you than just what medicines you have had an allergic reaction to in the past. So help your pharmacy by calling in your prescriptions a few days ahead. This is a problem if you have a controlled substance or an insurance company that makes you wait until the last day to fill your prescription. This can be overcome by calling the pharmacy and asking them to fill your prescription for, say, next Tuesday pick-up. This allows the pharmacy to order the medication and know that you still have the correct amount of medicine left in the case of a controlled substance. But what if your pharmacy is always out of your medicine? Then it is time for an honest and frank discussion. Be assertive that this cannot continue to be an issue, but be willing to work together. Most pharmacies welcome the opportunity to improve their service. Pharmacies often order based on trends in medication usage. If only one of their customers is on a prescription then the pharmacy orders it special to fill that prescription at the expected time. Not the best solution, we admit, but necessary if the medicine is fairly

expensive. The primary word in that scenario is expected. How many ways can you think to throw a monkey wrench into that ordering process? A new patient might start on that same drug at just the right time and uses up the pharmacy’s stock the day before you arrive. Drug manufacturers have budgets too, and try to keep low inventories of medicine sitting in the warehouse. You can probably think of more ways to muck up the waters. Ordering programs are basically computerized calendars that forecast usage. Independent pharmacies may use paper calendars to do the same thing. It only works if everybody is on the same page about what gets ordered when. What about insurance issues? Special approvals require the doctor to call or fax the insurance company information about your previous and current medical history along with clinical justification for why the medicine in question is needed. The insurance can take up to three business days to decide to say yes or no to the doctor’s request. If the answer is yes you may have to wait on the medicine to be ordered by the pharmacy. See the beginning of this article. A good relationship with your pharmacist can be a lifesaver in this situation. Call and talk to your pharmacist and ask for the medication to be ordered special for you. If the medication can be returned if the insurance company says no, then you have a good chance of your pharmacist working with you. Non-returnable medicines are special creatures and most pharmacies are paranoid about ordering these items ahead of time. Sorry! Also any special approval usually comes with an expiration date, just like your prescription. Some insurance companies will not allow a doctor to renew a prior approval until they see a rejected pharmacy claim in their computer. The trick to get around this is to work with your pharmacy and find out the expiration date of your approval. Try to refill your prescription as early as possible for a few months prior to the end of the approval period while continuing to take your medication correctly. This allows you to build up an extra couple of weeks of medication that you can use to get by while your doctor renews your prior approval. So talk to your pharmacist about supply issues just like you talk to them about side effects and see how much simpler your prescription life can be. Just remember that there are no crystal balls and you cannot always predict the insurance company’s response. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net

is now

• Specialty Pharmacy • Home Infusion Ser vices • IV Nursing Same phone numbers! Same convenient location! 3630 Wheeler Road • Augusta, Georgia phone: 706.447.4343 • tollfree: 877.436.4584

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From hospital to home, quality of care continues

Visit our blog! http://www.augustarx.com/news/

Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Lick the Beaters and other interesting food facts

by dietetic interns with University Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Augusta Area Dietetic Internship Program

Rethink your drink Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an amazing fact that may surprise you: sugar sweetened beverages are currently the largest caloric food source in the US, responsible for 20% of the average individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily calorie intake. According to the American Heart Association, the consumption of carbonated soft drinks has increased 218 percent since 1970. As a result, the consumption of nutrient-rich beverages, such as milk, has correspondingly decreased, particularly among children and adolescents. Sweetened beverages are the largest single source of added sugar in the American diet, containing almost 17 teaspoons of sugar in every 20 ounce serving. Scientific evidence consistently supports the conclusion that drinking soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages increases a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk of being overweight or obese, which leads to a number of different health problems (high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels and heart disease). Liquid calories do not provide satiety or a full feeling; therefore, calories from sweetened beverages like soft drinks, fruits drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks tend to be consumed in addition to the calories that are needed for energy, leading to higher daily calorie intake and weight gain. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at an example: a 12 oz. can of Coke has about 150 calories. If you drink one can of

Coke per day that equates to 4,500 calories a month, which is the equivalent of 1.3 pounds of body weight. This one daily soda would account for an additional 15 lbs of body weight annually. Another everyday example: a 32 oz. fountain soda from McDonalds has 310 calories. One large fountain soda daily equals 9,300 calories a month or 2.7 pounds of body weight. All by itself, this would account for 32 pounds of body weight annually. To counteract the effect and burn the 150 calories you get from a 12 oz can of soda, you would have to go on a 22 minute bike ride, jog for 19 minutes, use an elliptical machine for 24 minutes, walk at a medium pace for 38 minutes, hike for 22 minutes or do water aerobics for 33 minutes. There are plenty of beverage options that have the same great taste without the empty calories and sugar found in soda, fruit drinks, etc. Alternative beverage options include: water, Crystal Light, Mio, low-fat milk, diet sodas, Gatorade/Powerade Zero, Propel and green tea. Reducing the amount of sugarsweetened beverages in our diets is one of the most important strategies to reverse the obesity epidemic. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start by rethinking our drink! + â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by Robert Benson University Hospital dietetic intern

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JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

GHSU adds another $2 billion

Enjoy a relaxing and refreshing break every Wednesday at the Medical Examiner’s blog site. Just visit www.AugustaRx.com/news and look for the Hump Day Hiatus.

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On the heels of reports from our last issue on University Health Care System and its $850 million economic impact on the Augusta and Georgia economies comes the news that Georgia Health Sciences University and Health System has a nearly $2 billion economic impact on the local economy, according to the latest reports. A Georgia Hospital Association study released in May reported that Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center pumped $1.04 billion into the local economy in fiscal year 2010, up $26 million from 2009 for the not-for-profit health system. Additionally, GHSU’s academic and research initiatives generated more than $832 million locally, according to a 2010 University System of Georgia report, for a combined impact of $1.9 billion. “An academic health center is a powerful economic engine. As we fulfill our tripartite mission of education, research and health care delivery, the Georgia Health Sciences enterprise makes a tremendous impact on Georgia’s bottom line,” said GHSU President Ricardo Azziz. “As a medical destination, we provide our community and the Southeast with access to quality health care, including some of the nation’s top physicians. What’s more, we train future health care leaders and produce cutting-edge research that will lead to better care tomorrow.” Azziz also pointed out that the two reports do not include an assessment of the economic activities of Georgia Health Sciences Medical Associates, the faculty practice group aligned with the enterprise, which he estimated to be another $100 million to $200 million in economic impact annually. The Selig Center study showed that the University System of Georgia’s 35 institutions made a $12.6 billion total impact on the state’s economy in 2010, and that, on average, for every dollar of initial spending in a community by a university system institution, an additional 38 cents was generated for the local economy. Seventy-eight percent, or $650 million of GHSU’s nearly $832 million total impact, reflects initial spending for salaries and benefits, operating expenses and student spending. Re-spending – the multiplier effect of those dollars as they are spent again in the region – accounted for the remaining $182 million, a very conservative estimate of the impact of re-spending, which more often approximates a doubling of the initial spending. The total economic impact of hospitals to Georgia’s bottom line in 2010 was $38 billion, according to GHA. Augusta-area hospitals generated nearly $2.6 billion, with GHS Medical Center’s contribution accounting for 41 percent of that total. The GHA report revealed direct expenditures of $453 million for GHS Medical Center; however, when combined with an economic multiplier developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total economic impact of the hospital was $1,048,026,428. This value takes into account the trickle-down effect of hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy, such as medical suppliers, durable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Based on data from both reports, the GHS enterprise sustained more than 17,250 jobs in 2010. As a health care provider, GHS Medical Center provided 42 percent, or approximately $37 million of the $88 million in uncompensated care in the Augusta area, the GHA reported. +

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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JUNE 15, 2012 Editor’s note: we ran across this one in a Medical Examiner back issue and thought it was good enough to run again.

The blog spot — Posted May 2, 2009 at http://blog. imedexchange.com/

Sugar: 8 shocking facts

“ We eat almost as much per week as our grandparents did in a year.

In case you haven’t heard, sugar is quite the bad boy for a healthy diet. Part of the reason for this is because the more sugar you consume, the more you crave it. And while sugar is an ingredient that is definitely worth indulging in once in awhile, overindulging can cause many health problems, both in the short term and the long term. Why, however, has it become such a problem? In a recent teleconference that we held, expert Allison Reyna enlightened us on some very interesting factoids about the sweet white stuff and why it has become such a topic of concern in recent years: 1. Today’s Consumption: Today, an average American consumes two to three pounds of sugar each week. At the end of the 19th century (1887-1890), the average American consumed only five lbs. per year. 2. A Continual Rise: Over the last 20 years, annual sugar consumption in the U.S. has increased 26 pounds to 135 lbs. of sugar per person. 3. Hidden Culprits: Sugar consumption includes highly refined sugars that are incorporated into many of the foods we eat (bread, peanut butter, condiments, sauces, etc.). Some of these are better known as sucrose (table sugar), dextrose (corn sugar), and highfructose corn syrup. 4. 4 Classes: There are four classes of simple sugars (Sucrose, fructose, honey, and malts) deemed “harmful” to optimal health when long-term consumption is over 15% of carbohydrate calories ingested. Hint...complex carbohydrates (veggies, beans, legumes, whole grains) are the way to keep this number below 15%. 5. Health Issues: Simple sugars have been documented to contribute to and/or aggravate health problems, including: asthma, mood disorders, mental illness, nervous disorders, diabetes, heart disease, gallstones, hypertension, and arthritis. 6. Insulin Impacts: Sugar raises insulin levels, inhibiting the release of growth hormones which depresses the immune system. Further, too much insulin promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat foods that are high in sugar, you’re enabling rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. 7. Degenerative Disease: Sugar has no real nutritional value (minerals, vitamins and fiber) and as a result, has a deteriorating effect on the endocrine system, causing sugar consumption to be one of the 3 major causes of degenerative disease. 8. Cancer Culprits: Turns out that cancer’s preferred fuel is none other than glucose. Controlling one’s blood-glucose levels through diet, exercise, supplements, meditation and prescription drugs - when necessary - can be extremely important to a cancer treatment program. So next time you think of adding sugar — to anything — think about the 135 pounds already going down the hatch each year versus our grandparents’ five pounds. +

”

Editor’s note: is there a favorite web log you enjoy reading that is in any way related to health and wellness? Send us the link and we may feature it here in a future issue. Send your suggestion to to info@AugustaRx.com.

“

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. — Ayn Rand

From THE Bookshelf This is not a book for everyone, and we can all be thankful for that. No Time to Say Goodbye caught our eye first because of a little misunderstanding. A description of the book included two words: surviving suicide. Ah. A book about what it’s like to view your life as such an utter failure that you attempt to end it — and fail at even that. But that isn’t what this book is about. It’s about what it’s like for the people left behind when someone takes their own life. Author Carla Fine, sad to say, speaks from experience: her husband, a physician depressed over the recent deaths of his parents, committed suicide in 1989 at the age of 44. Ten years after, Fine’s book was published, and to this day it stands alone among the library of books on this very sad subject. That isn’t to say there isn’t a plethora of books about suicide. There is. What sets No Time apart is the absence of sterile clinical data, dry research, psychological analysis fit only for degreed professionals, and cold, distant factual analysis of the problem and its possible solutions. And it is a problem, a rather large one at that: U.S. suicide

rates have been inching up year by year since 2000. The 2005 tally of medical costs for suicide attempts was $100 million. But rather than explore statistics, Carla Fine makes this a very personal exploration. She spends her pages talking about the full-colored spectrum of emotions experienced by those left behind: grief, of course, but also confusion, guilt, humiliation, anger, shame, depression, shock... the list is almost endless. We have all experienced the death of a friend or loved one, but it’s safe to say no one understands quite what it’s like to lose a family member or close friend by suicide except someone who has been

through it. Suicide is completely different. You know how hard it is to know what to say when someone has lost a loved one to old age or cancer? Multiply that difficulty by ten when the cause is suicide. No one blames you when your marriage mate dies of cancer, but let the cause be suicide and people wonder if you somehow drove the person to it. Or why you didn’t see it coming and do something to prevent it. Fine writes about the maze of conflicting emotions, overcoming the stigma associated with suicide, sorting through the legal and financial issues, how and where to get help, and many other practical considerations, including how to deal with the question that may never have an answer: Why? This is a book that, like a fire extinguisher, you hope to never need, but if you do, you’re awfully glad to have — or to give to someone else who does. + No Time to Say Goodbye — Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine, 272 pages, published in 1999 by Three Rivers Press

the

Clipping File Lantus safety Four studies involving Sanofi SA’s Lantus insulin appeared to blunt concerns that it might cause cancer, said at article in the Wall Street Journal. Lantus is the top-selling insulin in the U.S. One major study looked at the use of Lantus by people in early stages of diabetes or with blood-sugar problems and found the product failed to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes compared with standard treatment. But the 12,500-patient clinical trial also found no significant increased risk of cardiovascular problems or cancer during a follow-up of more than six years. The study was published online Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Diesel’s cancer ties alleged Diesel fumes cause lung cancer, the World Health Organization declared on Tuesday of this week, and experts said the fumes are more carcinogenic than secondhand cigarette smoke.

The W.H.O. report, the first to elevate diesel to the “known carcinogen” level, may eventually affect some American workers who are heavily exposed to exhaust, says The New York Times. It is particularly relevant to poor countries, where trucks, generators, and farm and factory machinery routinely belch clouds of sooty smoke and fill the air with sulfurous particulates. The United States and other wealthy nations have less of a problem because they require modern diesel engines to burn much cleaner than they did even a decade ago. Most U.S. industries, like mining, already have limits on the amount of diesel fumes to which workers may be exposed, but the report nevertheless warns all that exposure to diesel fumes should be minimized.. Imaging raises radiation fears Even in health care systems where doctors do not bill for each test they administer, the use of diagnostic imaging like CT and

PET scans has soared, as has patients’ radiation exposure, a new study has found, reports The New York Times The study, published online Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association, says that while advanced medical imaging has undoubted benefits, allowing problems to be diagnosed earlier and more accurately, its value needs to be weighed against potential harms, which include a small cancer risk from the radiation. The issue is not that specific individual tests expose patients to high doses of radiation; it’s more like their cumulative totals from ever-growing use strongly suggest the need to minimize unnecessary exposures wherever possible. Debate has grown louder over the role of advanced imaging, which many doctors say is overused. In April, a group of nine medical specialty boards recommended that doctors perform 45 common tests and procedures less often, with imaging prominent among them. +

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JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

Whatcha reading?

by Dan Pearson

This new modern Bible. And I’m not sure I like it.

Why not?

Like Lot’s wife. Instead of a Healthier? pillar of salt, she becomes a Like what? pillar of Mrs. Dash.

This is supposed to be a healthier version, but..

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Mr. Sykes, once of WJBF 5. Musical study piece 10. Friends 14. Persia today 15. Pertaining to birth 16. Prepare for publication 17. Unspecified in number 18. Make a written copy 20. Height (compared to a grasshopper) 22. Worship 23. First English child born in North America 24. Act of reading 26. Impervious 30. Challenged 31. Walton Way bridge named for Lt. Gen. Robert E. ____ 32. Layer 35. Coil 36. Prickly 38. Earth ____ 39. Bark sharply 40. Sewing case 41. _______ College 42. Had too much 45. A salt of acetic acid 48. Long fish 49. Certain salt measurement 50. Atlanta’s Center for _______ Arts 54. Atmosphere (archaic) 57. Word #5 of America 58. The 15th (in ancient Rome) 59. Founder of The 755 Club 60. Charlie’s last name? 61. Lymph follower 62. Hurt 63. Scent

The Mystery Word for this issue: LEYERUBBR

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 All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing. We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM TO ENTER! 1

Click on “Reader Contests”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

22 24

’

29 31

42 46

23 26

Y N B T T H A S A U O I I T U N B O T O E E S H E P W H N M

P E N T

O A P L E N A T H R E P Y

— Marilyn Monroe

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above. Once any letter is used, cross it out

in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares

Solution p. 14

DOWN 1. Endanger 2. ESI _____man 70.3 3. Arrived 4. Figuratively, having more than one wants of something 5. Complete 6. West Augusta anchor store 7. D-Day beach 8. Son of Jacob 9. Ernie of the PGA 10. 1st Republican governor of Georgia since 1870s 11. Farewell for Pablo 12. Where the abbreviation “lb.” (for pound) originates 13. Refined iron 19. Simon of You’re So Vain 21. Clock pointer 24. Greeneway, for instance 25. Online auctioneer 26. Lazily 27. Inhibitor abbrev. 28. Stage object

29. No. 2 in the 2012 NFL Draft (as he’s often known) 32. Alexander of Nixon years* 33. Sea eagle 34. Requirement 36. Let it stand (Lat.) 37. Free from contamination 38. Unnaturally high notes 40. De facto county seat of Columbia County 41. ______ Fiction 42. Serving no practical purpose 43. Nerve cell 44. Rely 45. Once more 46. Statement of beliefs 47. Dog follower? 50. Nation south of Ecuador 51. Dull sound 52. Clinton A.G. 53. 365 days 55. Foot of an animal 56. Coral atoll East of Tahiti * Spelled correctly this time

indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

X A M I N E R

5 5 6 1 1

5 7 2 8 7 9 6 2

9 1

4 2 6 8 3 4

U D O K U

2 6 1 5

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

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle. All the listed letters following 1 are the 1st letters of each word; the letters following 2 are 2nd letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues and entering unique and minimal choice numbers (such as 5 thru 8 in this puzzle). A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 U 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2

1 2 3

O 1 2 3 4 5 1 2

1 2 3

E 1 2 3 4

— Spanish proverb

1.BITTTWOOD 2.HHAFFEOUS 3.ESTEEMY 4.OKIE 5.REN 6.RS 7.TO 8.W

SAMPLE:

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

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

JUNE 15, 2012

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Patient’s Perspective by Marcia Ribble

SUNDAY JUNE 24TH 2:00pm – 6:00pm @THE JULIAN SMITH CASINO 2200 BROAD ST AUGUSTA, GA 30904 BLOOD PRESSURE DENTAL HEALTH DIABETES SCREENING

HIV TESTING BY: RICHMOND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Who: What:

When:

CONTACT INFO: KEN – (706) 294--9414 JOHN – (706) 726--2711

CSRA Parkinson Support Group A fun evening of bingo, socializing and the return of the ever popular dessert auction. Several of our talented bakers will provide tasty treats to put up for bids. Come prepared to relax, laugh and outbid the competition for your favorite baked goods. Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 6:00pm

JUNE TUESDAY

Where:

St. John Towers Dining Room, 724 Greene Street Augusta, GA

Contact: Eva Erwin (706) 364-1662

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” — Bob Marley

After growing up in Michigan I was familiar with the kind of dances we did as teens, but not with either the music or the dances done by teens at the time in the Southeast. So I was curious when an article in The Augusta Chronicle discussed shag dancing in a show on local channels at 8 pm on Monday night. The night of the show I had company and couldn’t watch it, but found it online at the internet website launched under the URL www. johnnyhensleyshagcity.com which can be accessed easily. For those of us in the senior citizen age group, dancing is an exercise we often used to enjoy doing, and the guests on Johnny Hensley’s show are in their 50s and 60s, and perhaps some in their seventies. Even folks who have had knee replacements and hip replacements, once recovered, are often told by our doctors that dancing is a good form of nondamaging exercise we ought to engage in. Yes, some folks who have more serious mobility issues can still move our bodies to the beat of music that is old and familiar and reminds us of how active we were in our youths. We can adopt the wonderful exercise used by The Cosby Show called chair dancing. And, because it’s recorded, we can access the music and watch the men and women dancing, at any time of the night or day. Then we can dance with them. Doctors have often told me, and others like me, to diet and exercise, but they are seldom adequately specific about what that means. Recently the idea that exercising is done only at gyms, by playing sports or swimming laps, has lost favor, which is good, because many seniors with mobility issues or who are no longer driving may find just getting to those places to exercise challenging. We are now told that any

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

time our bodies are moving we are exercising. Looking back, I cannot recall a single adult ever saying that they were going to exercise. They would say, “I’m going to the Laundromat to do the laundry,” or “I’m baking a cake,” or “I’m going out to shovel the snow,” or “I’m sorting clothes to give away.” Thinking of exercise this older way can help seniors to find activities they can engage in which may not be officially exercising, but which can help them to maintain their independence in their own homes. Even those tasks of life which are fairly easily and quickly done are exercise, and all of them can help us to become more fit and healthy, as well as burning off the calories we are consuming. So move whatever you can, and whenever you can, and as much as you can. Your doctor will be happy, but more importantly, you’ll feel better. So lose weight by doing the dishes, sweeping the driveway, watering your plants, putting your groceries away, and by laughing at those things you find funny. Yes, laughing is exercise! + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State and recently retired from the University of Cincinnati where she taught composition. She taught writing at the college level and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc., at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

+ 14

JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: WALKING

...carefully hidden in the page 15 ad for KNOB HILL ASSISTED LIVING CENTER Congratulations to Tamikia Utley, who scores a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate, two free movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, a free Top Notch Car Wash gift card, and anything else we may be able to scrape together on short notice. Win this stuff! The new Mystery Word is on p. 12. Start looking!

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST ...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then be the first to 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: gift certificates from Wild Wing Cafe, Top Notch Car Wash, Cheddar’s, and movie passes from Health Center Credit Union! 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. 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.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED? USE THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT IN, OR GO TO WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM AND PLACE & PAY CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY ONLINE. THANKS!

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC.

Hosp. $445 a month includes utilities and Internet service. Please contact 706589-0238 ask for May.

FOR SALE Brand new contemporary townhome/end unit in The Vista on Hwy 1, minutes from MCG. 1450 sqft. Two bdrm, two baths, office. Walk-in closets, lots of upgrades. Hardwood throughout, custom tiled kitchen/bathrooms. Floor to ceiling windows, pristine condition. Ready today. $125K - OBO. 803-5078991.

TOWNHOME Great location, everything new, 2 master suites, sunroom, all appliances. $98,000 (706) 504-4023

LOFT APT. Above commercial building on Walton Way; newly renovated, updated and private; nice 1-BR 900sqft layout; convenient to MCG, VA & ASU. $675/mo, references; 706-589-3548. 7612

GETAWAY 14 acres natural wooded with beautiful rocky creek flowing through. Available immediately to enjoy while planning future devel. Hiking trails cleared, hunting, fishing, golf near outstanding Glascock school system. Call owner: 706-798-4359 81712

HOUSE FOR SALE 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2-car garage. Off Dyess Pkwy near Ft. Gordon. $99,900. Call 706-3395548 or 706-210-4334 TOWNHOME large furnished room (dresser, bed, night stand, linens) for rent with private bathroom in convenient and very nice neighborhood near Doctors

HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell • Buy • Rentals • 706.564.5885 WEST AUGUSTA Luxury 3 BR / 2 BA Townhouse, 1-car attached garage located off Pleasant Home Road $725 /mo 706-228-4655 TOWNHOME 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhome. 2 master suites, like new, end unit with extra parking, single garage, covered patio, $125,000. 706-799-0394

SERVICES HOME HEALTH CHECK-UP Biological and chemical contamination will make you sick. Help your doctor! We Cure Sick Homes. 706-772-9898 www.commandonow.com LYNN’S CLEANING SERVICE over 20 years experience in the CSRA with an eye for detail. Call 706.833.2658 or email lynn_dubose@hotmail.com 1612

BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and

NOTICE! ATTENTION! If any current or past employer has failed to pay you min. wage or time and a half overtime pay, you may be entitled to an order from US Federal Court awarding you twice the amount of your unpaid wages plus atty. fees. For info, call Arthur H. Shealy, Attorney at Law, 803-278-5149, 1010 Plantation Rd, North Augusta SC 29841. You may be entitled to a similar award for unpaid wages if your employer required you to perform duties during your lunch hour, before clocking in, or after clocking out.

PERSONAL TRAINER Certified by United States Sports Academy in Science of Bodybuilding and Strength Training for Athletes. Significant improvements for all sports at all ages. Natural techniques for relief of all common sports-related injuries employing positioning and myofascial release. Rapid recovery and strength gains. One free session to 1st 10 applicants. E-mail Hme3065805@aol.com or call 803-257-5421

THE PUZZLE SOLVED

WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE?

O M

O A

W O

SEE PAGE 12

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING FORM Name Address Work number (if applicable) ( ) Home phone ( ) Category of ad (leave blank if unsure):

SPARKLING CLEAN Looking for offices to clean. No contract req. Husband & wife team have years experience and give FREE on-request estimates. Call 706.831.8552 or 706.831.8553

LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential. Call Vince: (704) 490-1005

(OURS IS COFFEE)

Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

QUOTATION

In case we need to contact you. These numbers will not appear in the ad.

QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.”

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code):

— Marilyn Monroe

.25

.50

.75

1.00

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1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00

4.25

4.50

4.75

5.00

5.25

5.50

5.75

6.00

6.25

6.50

6.75

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7.25

7.50

7.75

8.00

8.25

8.50

8.75

9.00

(Copy this form or continue on additional sheet if more space needed.)

Send this form with payment to:

AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER, PO BOX 397, AUGUSTA, GA 30903-0397 Total ad cost by number of words as shown above: $

The Sudoku Solution

COFFEE IS GOOD MEDICINE VISIT DRUGOFCHOICECOFFEE.COM FOR YOUR REFILLS TODAY

WORDS BY NUMBER “Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.” — Spanish proverb

Multiply by number of times ad to run: x Total submitted: $

The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 5 days prior to our publication date.

Thanks for reading!

www.AugustaRx.com

JUNE 15, 2012

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER The HBA Group, Intl Presents

THE BEST MEDICINE

Hope IS Possible

5th Annual Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Breakfast Conceived and Organized by Helen Blocker-Adams, 2012 CSRA Mental Health Advocate of the Year

In conjunction with the Fifth Annual Observance of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Theme: Relationships Strengthen Teamwork Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:30 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. – Registration Program/Breakfast: 7:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Be My Guest Catering & Events 4216 Washington Road (near Academy Sports) - Evans, Ga.

ha... ha...

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Doris Clanton, Associate General Counsel for the Division of Aging Services, Georgia Department of Human Services Office of General Counsel SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS: Jessica Morris, Press Secretary, Congressman Paul Broun and Kristie Gregory, Congressman John Barrow For more information or questions, please email Helen Blocker-Adams at

hba@hbagroup-intl.com

A woman went up to the bar in a quiet hotel tavern. She gestured alluringly to the bartender, who approached her immediately. She seductively signaled that he should bring his face closer to hers. As he did, she gently caressed his full beard. “Are you the manager?” she asked, softly stroking his face with both hands. “Actually, no,” he replied. “Can you get him for me? I need to speak to him,” she said, running her hands beyond his beard and through his hair. “I’m afraid I can’t,” said the bartender, starting to breathe heavily. “Is there anything I can do for you?” “Yes. I need you to give him a message,” she continued, running her forefinger across the bartender’s lips and pausing there. As soon as she did, the bartender took a couple of her fingers into his mouth and began to suck them gently. “What should I tell him?” the bartender managed to say. “Tell him,” she whispered, leaning close to his ear, “That there’s no toilet paper, hand soap, or paper towels in the ladies room.” +

M E D I C A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C T O RY Knob

Hill

ASSISTED LIVING CENTER, INC. A specialty care community offering:

Spinal Cord Injury Care • Traumatic Brain Injuries Respite Care • Specialized Rehabilitation Care Specialized Dietary Requirements Adult Day Care • Alzheimer’s Care

Approved for VA and Medicaid and private pay Knob Hill Assisted Living Center is just off Washington Rd. near Windmill Plantation, approx. 3 miles from Evans WalMart

For more information or to make a referral, please contact us: KNOB HILL ASSISTED LIVING CENTER Ryan Hunt • huntglobalinc@gmail.com 2822 Knob Hill Farm Road • Evans, GA 30809

706-860-0541

Home Health Check CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE

BACTERIA, MOLD, MYCOTOXINS, VIRUS AND VOCs Cause Asthma, COPD, Fibromyalgia, Fatigue, Congestion, Eye Irritation, Respiratory Problems, Stuffy Head, Sore Throat, Skin Conditions and more.

COMMANDO SERVICES

LOCAL HOME INSPECTION CALL TODAY!

706-772-9898

FAMILY MEDICINE CPC-EVANS

CPC-SOUTH

363 NORTH BELAIR ROAD

2011 WINDSOR SPRING ROAD

706.650.7563

706.798.1700

CPC-CENTRAL

CPC-N. AUGUSTA

706.868.7380

803.279.6800

3614-D DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE

CPC-CROSSROADS

105 HUGH STREET

CPC-AIKEN

1701 MAGNOLIA WAY (OFF DYESS PARKWAY)

410 HITCHCOCK PARKWAY NEW CPC OFFICE AS OF AUG. 1

706.922.6600

803.649.6941

Evans, South, Crossroads, Central and North Augusta offices open 8:30 am-8:00 pm Monday thru Thursday and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Friday Aiken office hours: 8:30 am-8:00 pm Mon & Tue and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Wed thru Fri CPC-Crossroads open weekends for CPC patients with acute care needs. Please call ahead.

26 PHYSICIANS • EVENING HOURS • 6 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS •

TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL 706.860.5455

+ 16

JUNE 15, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

FISCAL HEALTH

The Money Doctor

Social Security and the risks of longevity Should you defer taking your benefits even though you’re eligible?

often use the analogy that Social Security is similar to purchasing a board game at a yard sale. You have paid your money, the pieces to play the game are present, and the instructions for playing the game are included. Unfortunately, the instructions are a little confusing and the previous owners misplaced the information on how the game is to be won. The majority of articles written on Social Security will define “winning the game” as maximizing Social Security benefits during retirement. I do not discount this logic; as financial planners we help clients understand the pros and cons of each option within the context of an uncertain life expectancy, and the fact that there is no residual balance left to heirs. Because of these unknowns, many will begin drawing benefits as soon as they are eligible and are no longer working. In many cases, this is the right answer: take the “bird in the hand.” But especially in today’s low interest rate environment, further analysis is advisable. Why? Because until age 70, for every year you defer taking benefits your benefit increases 8% per year. A major input in the Social Security benefit maximization calculation is the life expectancy of the individual and their spouse. This number is based on family history, medical issues, and numerous other concerns. These efforts can generate a focused plan in regards to maximizing Social Security benefits; however, it omits a concern that is in the forefront of every financial professional’s mind – longevity risk and protection of the surviving spouse. Based on the “Annuity 2000 Mortality Table” (see attached graph), a 65 year old female non-smoker has a 30% chance of living to 93 while a 65 year old male nonsmoker has a 30% chance of living to age 90. When looking at a married couple, there is a 50% chance that one of these individuals will live until the age of 92. With advancements

in medicine an individual with a theoretically short life expectancy could outlive this estimation by 20 or 30 years. As noted above, given the likelihood of at least one spouse living well into their 90s, deferring the higher-earning spouse’s benefit may be worth considering. Techniques such as “file and suspend” and other tools for maximizing the benefits of the lowerearning spouse should be considered. The one variable we find that retirees do not adequately plan for is the drop in income to the surviving spouse as he or she loses the lower of the two benefits. For example, if the wife is receiving $1,200 per month and the husband is receiving $1,500 and the husband dies, the wife would receive $1,500 per month going forward but lose her $1,200 per month benefit. For those with little assets outside of Social Security, you will need to take Social Security as soon as you stop working to meet basic living expenses. If you are in this situation and can continue to work, you should look at the increase in benefits you will receive over your lifetime by continuing to work another year. While Social Security benefits do increase for inflation (CPI), your inflation is not necessarily the same as the CPI basket. For example, health expenses, food, and gas all have been increasing at a much higher rate than the overall CPI index. We are not suggesting you should continue to work, but looking at these options in coordination with your overall financial plan for retirement is important. For those that have savings in addition to Social Security, you have additional options to consider and are in a better position to address the longevity risks and drop in income to the surviving spouse. Understanding the Social Security rules – the “instructions” from the board game analogy - and using your investment portfolio in conjunction with Social Security benefits will greatly increase your ability to mitigate risk.

WE PUBLISH ON 1ST & 3RD FRIDAYS

Life expectancy graph for 65-year-old non-smokers

For some, it may make sense to take Social Security benefits early and withdraw as little principal from your portfolio as possible. This would extend the timeline in which to invest and preserve your liquid assets for other needs and goals. On the other hand, if you have most of your investments tied up in fixed income investments or cash, earning between 0% and 2% on average, it may be best to consider deferring Social Security benefits in an effort to capitalize on the guaranteed growth in your income of 8% a year as noted above. There is no legitimate deferred annuity

you can buy in the marketplace today that has this kind of built-in increase in an apples-toapples comparison. Again, this would be used in the context of an overall plan to address longevity risk and income to the surviving spouse. Regrettably, this article only provides basic insight into the planning opportunities associated with Social Security and some of the rules involved. We have found that many individuals casually make this decision with little analysis and thought. Our goal with this article is to get you to start thinking about some of the

planning opportunities so you can arm yourself with knowledge of the nuances including (but not limited to) dates of eligibility, benefits and drawbacks of delaying, and spousal strategies. A useful resource for basic information relating to Social Security benefits is www.ssa.gov. Winning in Social Security is about maximizing benefits, but also hedging the risks of either spouse outliving their funds. Understanding the risk and rules associated with Social Security can help increase your chances of “winning” the game of retirement – however it is you choose to define winning. + by Tony Welch. Tony is a financial planner with Preston & Cleveland Wealth Management, LLC (www. preston-cleveland.com). Tony has an MBA from Augusta State University along with a BBA in Accounting from the University of Georgia. Preston & Cleveland is a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm with offices in Atlanta and Augusta, GA.

NOW OFFERING PRIMARY CARE Including Gerontology (Geriatrics)

New & Same Day Appointments Available

Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm Most Insurance Accepted

706-434-1590 www.MedExAssociates.com