Aug04 17 by Daniel Pearson

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MEDICAL EXAMINER recipe feature PAGE 7

IS S U

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US O EDIC NLI AL E X NE A MI N E

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HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS

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The other F word The 150 Commandments

We’re not sure where this list originated, but a reader sent it to the Medical Examiner. It’s definitely worth passing along.

Listen • Read a book • Reach out • Count your blessings • Share your love • Show your appreciation • Save for the future • Live in the present • Revel in the kindness of others • Pay back • Give • Forgive • Be a friend • Be a father • Be a mother • Lift others up • Share joy • Hold your tongue • Express your love • Live each day • Thank God • Welcome friends • Know your neighbors • Spread decency • Earn respect • Honor commitment • Correct wrongs • Do better • Know better • Be prudent • Be brave • Dream big • Open your mind • Open your heart • Sympathize • Empathize • Spread kindness • Sing • Dance • Make a difference • Make time • Take time • Join together • Give encouragement • Give guidance • Take guidance • Temper your words • Listen to your mother • Know what matters • Travel • Share your experience • Experience sharing • Teach • Think • Do what’s right • Share goodness • Set an example • Invite • Be kind to animals • Be kind to people • Make someone’s day • Give compliments Continued, right column

Fat is said to be the #1 source of blatant prejudice and discrimination in society today. The same person who wouldn’t dream of ridiculing someone because of their race or age might engage in vicious digs that are weight-based, whether behind the person’s back or directly to their face. It isn’t just “locker-room” talk, either. Advertising is full of brutal examples of fat-shaming. One ad for a fitness product featured aliens coming out of a spacecraft. The copy read, “They’re coming...and when they arrive they’ll take the fat ones first. Save yourself!” by using their product. PETA has run a series of ads many consider offensive, such as one showing an overweight beachgoer with the headline, “Save the whales. Lose the blubber. Go vegetarian.” A public service ad against childhood obesity featured this copy beneath a photo of an overweight girl: “It’s hard to be a little girl when you aren’t.” James Watson, Nobel Prize winning molecular biologist, geneticist and discoverer of Please see F word page 2

This ad for a British protein shake was considered such a loathesome example of body-shaming that 60,000 Britons signed a petition protesting it, and the ad was banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority.

AUGUST 4, 2017

• Make your day • Compliment yourself • Make your own success • Show compassion • Learn how to measure success • Depend on others • Depend on yourself • Pay it forward • Trust others • Hug someone • Think positively • Thank someone • Wish someone well • Be honest • Be honest with yourself • Love yourself • Assist your community • Cherish diversity • Lend a hand • Lend an ear • Be helpful • Be considerate • Admire • Hear both sides • Look both ways • Bridge the gap • Try to understand • Plan family time • Plant a tree • Enjoy nature • Enjoy life • Smile • Enlighten • Create • Share a memory • Share a dream • Love others • Explore • Whistle • Hum • Express yourself • Be polite • Say please • Say thank you • Ask questions • Find answers • Hope • Tell a joke • Laugh with your heart • Share your opinion • Respect ideas • Open the minds of those around you • Nurture friendships • Communicate • Discover new things • Make a new friend • Value difference • Remember • Say hello • Talk • Say hello to a stranger • Encourage your children • Be inspired • Tell a story • Comfort friends • Support your family • Educate • Hold hands • Take a picture • Paint a picture • Be passionate • Show mercy • Practice • Play • Tickle your kids • Listen to a song • Play catch • Fantasize • Care • Savor a sunset • Make a sand castle • Take a deep breath • Enjoy simple things • Write a letter • Pretend • Face your fears • Celebrate • Be a better you +

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Part of the backlash over the ad shown on page 1 was this rebuttal ad campaign by navabi, which calls itself “the global leader in premium plus sized fashion.” The ad copy (not shown) said, “At navabi we believe whether you’re a size 8 or 28 you’re beach body ready. Enjoy your life, love your body.”

F WORD… from page 1

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the structure of DNA, said in a recent speech, “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad because you know you’re not going to hire them.” It gets worse: a 2009 study by Yale University found that healthcare providers in general view overweight patients as “lazy, noncompliant, undisciplined,” and possessed of low willpower. For physicians in particular, the Yale study found that more than 50 percent of primary care physicians viewed obese patients as “awkward, unattractive, ugly, and noncompliant.” One-third of the sample further characterized obese patients as “weak-willed, sloppy, and lazy.” Physicians also viewed obesity as largely a behavioral problem caused by inactivity, overeating, and personality characteristics. The Yale study measured physician attitudes around the world, including France, Israel, Australia, England and the U.S. Those viewpoints manifested themselves in healthcare delivery: as BMI increases, physicians like their job less, have less patience, less desire to help patients, and report that seeing obese patients is a greater waste of time and was “more annoying” than seeing patients with lower body weights. Nurses, medical students, dietitians, and fitness professionals were also surveyed in the Yale study and fared no better in endorsing stereotypes and biased views toward overweight people, transforming the healthcare setting into a hostile environment for overweight patients. Even children aren’t safe. Correction: especially are children not safe. In a recent (2013) study published in the journal Pediatrics, nearly 94% of overweight kids aged 14-18 experienced weight-based teasing and bullying, more than a third of them for 5 years or more. Peers (92%) and friends (70%) were the most common perpetrators, followed by adult coaches and PE teachers (42%), parents (37%) and teachers (27%). Weight is by far the #1 reason for youth bullying. It’s everywhere in society, here and around the world. Playboy’s 2015 Playmate of the Year was charged, convicted and sentenced after surreptitiously taking a photo of a 70-yearold woman in the showers at a fitness club last summer, then sharing it on social media with the caption, “If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.” She was fired from her radio station job, banned from the fitness club, and sentenced to spend one month scrubbing graffiti off walls around Los Angeles. It is a bitter irony that the older woman was victimized in a place where she was obviously doing something positive for her health and wellness. No informed person believes that higher body mass does not carry with it some added health risks. But to be fair, sometimes obesity is associated with a lower risk of disease, as in the rates for breast cancer among postmenopausal women. Or that people in the so-called “normal” weight range are more likely to die of respiratory disease than those who are overweight or obese. What is completely unfair is categorizing someone as unhealthy, lazy, or stupid on sight based on their weight. One might as well make those same judgements based on hair or eye color. Studies also show fat-shaming is not just ineffective; it’s counterproductive. Employers should have policies in place against weightbased discrimination, but ultimately the solution lies in people who are intelligent and moral enough to eject the hate, the stereotyping and the ridicule and treat humans like humans. +

AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Part U of a 26-part series

The

GOING..GOING...

Advice Doctor

...But never really gone. For people with urinary incontinence, it seems like they’re going all the time. It can feel like they haven’t gone for hours — it’s that urgent — and so they go. But then 15 minutes later the scenario repeats itself with the same feelings of bladder fullness and urgency all over again. Some people just shrug it off as a normal part of aging. It is not. Incontinence is incontinence, but it’s different for men and women. For men the cause is often prostate problems. The tube that carries urine out from the bladder is called the urethra. In men it travels through the prostate gland which, along with the muscles of the urinary sphincter, help control the flow. If the prostate is enlarged, it can block effective emptying of the bladder. If the prostate is removed, the entire control job belongs to the urinary sphincter muscles alone, and they might not be up to the task. Urinary incontinence is more common among older men than younger. For women, although the problem is more common in older women, childbearing can be one of the causes, weakening the muscles of the pelvic floor so they no longer properly support the bladder. Urinary tract infections are another contributing factor more common among women than men. Both genders experience the same kinds of incontinence: stress incontinence describes leaking a small amount of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting/exercising. Urge incontinence is a bladder control issue. We are normally in control of our bladders: we allow them to empty only when we say we’re ready. With urge incontinence, the bladder’s in charge, and it doesn’t care where you are, what you’re wearing, who you’re with or how embarrassed you’ll be. Or if you just went a short while ago and very little urine is in the bladder. None of that matters. While incontinence isn’t a serious medical problem, it’s a serious quality of life issue. It’s highly embarrassing to people who have it. However, there is no need to be embarrassed in discussing it with your doctor. And you should, because most people with Kegel exercises can strengthen incontinence can be helped, if not cured completely. There are the pelvic muscles and simple, practical steps anyone can try first. Among them: ligaments to treat and prevent • cut back on caffeinated drinks; people think of coffee and tea as urinary incontinence and other the main culprits, but many soft drinks are high in caffeine problems caused by having • maintain a healthy weight; weight gain is one of those factors weak pelvic floor muscles. that stretch pelvic floor muscles, which can cause the bladder To do Kegel exercises: to be squeezed or pushed up against other internal structures, • Squeeze the same muscles reducing its capacity you would use to stop your • regularly do Kegel exercises; see box. As a memory aid, some urine. Your belly and thighs people do Kegels every time they are stopped at a red light. should not move. • review your medications; you might find that the diuretics you • Hold the squeeze for 3 take (Rx or OTC) are the main culprit. This is a good topic to seconds, then relax for 3 discuss with your doctor seconds. • keep to a schedule; you could wait until you have the urge to • Start with 3 seconds, then go, but we have already established that’s a problem, right? So add 1 second each week until instead, go to the bathroom like clockwork at preset times. It’s a you are able to squeeze for 10 good preventive strategy seconds. • choose your wardrobe well; those Levi’s 501 jeans, the ones with • Repeat the exercise 10 to all the buttons to undo? Take those to Goodwill. Wear clothes you 15 times a session. Do three can remove quickly or more sessions a day. • quit smoking; what does smoking have to do with incontinence? Coughing, one of the primary triggers of stress incontinence. For best results, more than These and other simple steps can also help people who do not three sets of Kegel exercises have urinary incontinence to avoid it in the first place. Prevention, should be done every day. + after all, is the best medicine. +

IS FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE

KEGEL EXERCISES

+ Dear Advice Doctor, Last week at work I got a major promotion and a huge raise. This came totally out of the blue. I was so shocked you could have knocked me down with a feather. I was on cloud nine — for about 5 minutes. Then I was told that my immediate supervisor, who is an absolute witch, was being demoted to take my old position and I will now supervise her. I guarantee she’s going to make this extremely unpleasant. Any advice on how to deal with this matter would be greatly appreciated. — A Big Raise - and a Big Headache Dear Big Raise, Before we get too excited about your raise, let’s make sure about something a lot more important: making sure you’re around to enjoy it. You see, whenever a person’s balance becomes unsteady it raises some medical red flags. In your case, your balance was so precarious someone could have knocked you over with a feather. I assume they did not. But you state they could have. Perhaps no one in the office had a feather that day. You are fortunate, indeed. Problems with balance, dizziness, vertigo, etc., can be caused by a number of factors, some of them potentially serious, others very minor. Among the less serious: side effects from a medication could do the trick. An inner ear infection could be the cause. A concussion or a blow to the head can cause dizziness. Migraines cause some people to experience vertigo, and low blood pressure can be another culprit that may result in insufficient blood flow to the brain, especially right after standing from a seated or prone position. In your situation, perhaps the one-time reason was the momentary excitement of the big news, but if you have another episode be sure to check with your doctor. The cause can be + identified and treated. And ongrats on your new position! 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 be provided only in Examiner issues.

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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www.AugustaRx.com 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 news within every part of the Augusta medical community. Submit editorial content to graphicadv@knology.net Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor E-mail: Dan@AugustaRx.com

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(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or 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 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. © 2017 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

#49 IN A SERIES

OLD NEWS

Who is this?

POINTS OF INTEREST TO FORMER KIDS by Trisha Whisenhunt, Senior Citizens Council

MORE RETIREES LIVING ABROAD

f you have ever been to an Emergency Room, you might want to kiss this guy. Or cheerfully choke him, depending on how long you waited. His name is Dominique Jean Larrey (pronounced luh-RAY). He was born July 8, 1766 and died 76 years later on July 25, 1842. He is remembered to this day as a great medical innovator. In fact, as he wrote in his 1814 book, Memoirs of Military Surgery and Campaigns of the French Armies, “I invented and constructed the ‘ambulance’ or flying hospital, for the purpose of affording assistance to the wounded on the field of battle.” This man was no armchair inventor. He was the medical commander and surgeon-in-chief in Napoleon’s Grand Armee, a position that, due to Napoleon’s constant offensive and defensive military campaigns, kept him very busy. He saw plenty of action, was wounded in battle and taken as a prisoner of war. Seeing battle conditions up close and personal gave Larrey the insight to make many of the innovations to battlefield medicine that he did. Seeing the lightning speed of Napoleon’s so-called flying artillery, Larrey adapted the idea to convert some of the horse-drawn units to “flying ambulances.” They were manned with specially trained drivers, medics and litter bearers and coordinated with improved field hospitals, making them the forerunners of MASH units to come many decades later. He also invented the term and concept of medical triage (“to separate or sort”), the system we thank (or curse) when we go to the Emergency Room. Larrey established rules of triage so people who need urgent immediate care to save their lives get it, while people who can afford to wait, injury-wise, do just that: wait. It’s a simple yet brilliant system. Without it, imagine if the ER was first-come-first-served, and your family member having severe chest pains arrived mere seconds after someone who stepped on a pop top, Margaritaville-style. The possible heart attack would just have to wait. These few stitches come first. Thankfully that isn’t the way it’s done, thanks to Dominique Jean Larrey. Whenever any of us have to experience an excruciating wait in the ER, remember two things: 1.) If we knew the complete picture, we would insist the doctor stayed with the newborn having breathing difficulties rather than step away to remove our splinter; and 2.) next time, the seriousness of our situation might mean we will be the one making others wait, and for that we will be most grateful. Larrey also extended the triage principle to anyone on the battlefield, regardless of their rank or nationality, or on which side of the battle lines they served. That principle actually saved his life: after Napoleon’s disaster at Waterloo, Larrey was taken prisoner by the Prussians, who wanted to execute him on the spot. Prussian general Gebhard von Blücher recognized Larrey as the field surgeon who had saved the life of his son on the battlefield of Dresden. In short order Larrey went from condemned man to dinner guest at the Blücher home. Another chapter of note in Larrey’s medical history: in 1811 (before anesthesia) he performed a mastectomy on novelist Frances Burney. Her detailed account of the operation offers an amazing look at 19th century medicine. +

he strength of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies has made it attractive for many retirees to make the move to other countries. This allows them to stretch their fi xed incomes. Americans in Canada, for example, get the equivalent of 25-30% off prices, according to Forbes magazine. Some nations are even actively trying to attract American retirees by making it as easy as possible to make the move. In 2014, the Miami Herald posted that the Social Security Administration sends payments to 380,000 U.S. citizens living in other countries. That is a 50% increase over the last decade. In Cuenca, Ecuador, there are approximately 10,000 U.S. citizens residing, most from Florida and Texas. Apparently the most popular destinations are Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Canada and the Dominican Republic. I have no stats on how much of a language barrier there may be in these locations. A big reason for the move is the low cost of living. A two bedroom, two bathroom

apartment costs about $400 a month in Ecuador. For around $1,500 a month, a couple can have a lifestyle which includes lots of dining out and travel. The bus fare is 12 cents, making owning an automobile an unnecessary expense. For 2017, the publication Live and Invest Overseas chose Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, as the ideal location to retire overseas. This was based on natural beauty, weather, dining choices and affordable housing. All of this sounds great and very inviting. But there is something else to consider. While it is no problem getting your money overseas, your Medicare is another issue. Medical coverage does not automatically extend outside of the United States. In order to make certain you have medical coverage you will have to have a Medigap

policy (Medicare Supplement Insurance). This means if you prefer an Advantage plan you will have to give it up and go to original Medicare in order to qualify for the purchase of a Medigap policy. Be mindful of a Part D plan for your medications as well. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; just the rules of the system that you need to make sure you are in compliance with in order to safeguard your medical coverage. What this means financially is you will have the premium for original Medicare deducted from your Social Security and will have to write a check to cover the monthly premium on your Medigap policy and your Part D. These policies are very good (but can be expensive). You will have plans C, D, F and G to choose from, which covers 80% of overseas emergency care. If you have questions regarding routine medical care, it is best to contact Medicare directly and fi nd out exactly what may be covered and how much these policies will cost. When you can start them is another consideration, so please educate yourself and make certain you have what you need when you are going to need coverage and at a price you can afford. It would be wise to contact Medicare either online at Medicare.gov or call 800-633-4227. Bon voyage! +

MYTH OF THE MONTH I can’t get around like I used to. That’s why I don’t exercise. If I could rephrase your comment in another context, it might go something like this: “I don’t wear shorts because my legs are white.” Of course, you must surely realize that the following is also true: “My legs are white because I don’t wear shorts.” One is directly related to the other. That raises a question about the fitness, strength and balance of a person who isn’t active: are they inactive because their strength, fitness and balance are gone, or is their strength, fitness and balance gone because they are not active? We have to face the fact that no one gets around like they used to— even people who are very active and very elderly. Or

very active and middle-aged. Everyone slows down or loses some physical abilities they once had. It is important to remember that the goal of staying active is not to run as fast as you did in high school or when you were in your 20s. Instead of looking back, aging experts say staying fit and active should be a way to look forward to being mentally and physically sharp in the years ahead. Stay active at your pace today, not your pace of decades ago. The important thing is to do it, regularly, if not every day. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road, Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607

AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW res? k good eno r skin can ugh cer? son.”

o k

ears ago, a long time friend sent a text: “Let’s have lunch next week and catch up on old times. How does Mott’s BBQ suit you? Next Wednesday at noon.” Sounded good to me. I like BBQ and the location is half way between us. I reflexively said, “Ok, see you there.” I filed it away. I am not young as I used to be (although I was younger then). My schedule filled up, and I overlooked our lunch date. When I was 20 minutes late, he texted. “I guess you got held up. We’ll try another time.” My oversight hit me like a slap in the face with a piece of rotten liver. I had wasted his time and showed disrespect to him and his schedule. What could he have done with the couple hours he sat aside to meet with me? Foster another friendship? Make a profitable business deal? Complete a HoneyDo List for his wife to make things more harmonious at home? We all have done things,

ABOUT THE ANATOMY OF A PROPER APOLOGY

intentionally or otherwise, that damaged another in some way. In our society of instant communication, we have ample ways to immediately acknowledge our transgression. It is an honorable thought and act. But, sometimes we reduce our apologies to a single word: “Sorry.” “Oops.” Or “Sorry about that.” Or as they say across the ocean, “Sorry about that, Old Chap.” Such brief statements are inadequate, almost an insult. It sounds insincere, insufficient, and inappropriate. It carries no feeling or commitment to improve in the future. No certitude to rectify the wrong. It’s a short worded escape hatch from someone who does not mean it, but feels compelled to say something to meet social convention. “Sorry,” is inappropriately weak. We have all have been lazy and done this at one time or another, most likely without malicious intent. Maybe we should have a definitive course in high school or college teaching

E TH

Bes one how to apologize appropriately so that it is accepted and believed. Unfortunately, no such teaching exists as far as I know. Therefore, I shall take it upon myself as a Committee of One to correct this error in our public education. A proper apology has four necessary components. • Acknowledge and clearly identify the transgression. “I am sincerely sorry that I stood you up for our Dutchtreat lunch yesterday.” • Assure the wronged person it will not happen again. “I shall become more careful in my time management, especially when it involves someone else.”

ine c i d E tM

• State a means of prevention in the future. “From now on I will use the appointment calendar on my cell phone for important events, such as meeting you for lunch.” • Rectify the damages by compensating the wronged person. “To make up for my lack of good manners, may I take you to lunch tomorrow, my treat?” With my fourstep progression, you demonstrate genuine concern and responsibility for your transgression. How can anyone (short of a belligerent Attila the Hun type) not feel mollified and obligated to accept your apology and not carry a grudge into the future?

Respect for the time of others is a duty and responsibility made easy by good manners. In my book, it falls right in there with “Ma’am, Sir, and Please” that is such a big part of a good Southern upbringing. You will never be fired from a job for sincerely and properly apologizing, for always honoring your commitments, speaking softly, gently, and kindly, or being early for appointments. That might be in the Bible somewhere. And if it is not, it should be. + Bad Billy Laveau is a formerlyretired MD who wields a pointed sense of humor - and now, tongue depressors too. He speaks and entertains at events for audiences not subject to cardiac arrest secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee. BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397. F REE T AKE-HO ME CO PY!

Calling all Bad Billy fans! More than two dozen of Bad Billy’s personally handpicked stories are collected together in his first book. Get yours today at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com For personalized autographed print copies, call 706-306-9397

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M E D I C I N E

I N

T H E

F I R S T

P E R S O N

Shouldering the pain My journey through shoulder pain began with an insignificant event in February 2014. After shopping, my husband and I returned home, and as I got out of the car I grabbed my purse and put it on my left shoulder, then reached for the two grocery bags with my right hand. As I was about to open the back door and go in the house, I felt the shoulder strap from my purse slip down off my shoulder, so I readjusted it. Then, while attempting to open the door and step around the dog, the purse slipped again. I quickly shifted the groceries to my left hand and grabbed for my purse with my right. But I missed. The contents of the purse were about to fall out across the floor, so I grabbed again and missed again, except this time I experienced a terrible sharp burning sensation from my neck down to my fingertips. Upon entering the kitchen with the remaining bags my husband found me, my purse, and the contents of my two bags of groceries all on the kitchen floor with tears of pain streaming down my face. I explained what happened and asked him to put everything that needed to be cold into the refrigerator or the freezer because I needed to go to the hospital. Upon the initial exam, I was told I had severely sprained my shoulder. They gave me some

medication for pain, a sling, and sent me home to ice the area for the rest of the day. From that Saturday afternoon in February 2014 through August 2015 — a full year and a half — I experienced increasing pain and less and less mobility in my shoulder. I sought help from numerous healthcare providers: physicians, two chiropractors, a massage therapist, physical therapy, aqua therapy, ultrasound physical therapy, pain patches (OTC and prescription), and a variety of pain medications — all to no avail. In late August, I went to an orthopedic surgeon who completed the examination, moved my shoulder (yes, it hurt) and x-rayed it. He said we should try steroid injections. Well, after a few weeks of no relief, I went back to the surgeon, who then sent me for an MRI. The finding: I had severely torn my rotator cuff almost off my shoulder and surgery was my only option. The fi rst surgery was completed in September and for the next five months I visited a physical therapist two or three times a week. Knowing my injury needed time to heal, the doctor encouraged me to push through the pain until, around the middle of February of 2016, when I could not endure the pain any longer. I went back to the surgeon and once again I was examined, x-rayed, and had another MRI. After

I felt a sharp burning sensation

reading the MRI, the surgeon told me the rotator cuff repair had not even begun to heal, and with my active lifestyle, I had reinjured my shoulder. His medical opinion was that I needed a Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement! After learning that meant another, more detailed surgery. I had the second surgery with more physical therapy. In fact, the second surgery was much better than the fi rst. I was now able to dress myself, hold something in my right hand without pain, and at last I could sleep in my bed again. After the fi rst surgery I could not get comfortable in bed and slept in a recliner for many weeks. I continued with Physical Therapy two to three times per week, each time adding more weights and making different moves with the idea that I was finally going to regain my mobility. Yes, PT is painful, but the outcome is increased mobility and the ability to do things for myself again! It is still difficult to do some activities, including completely dressing myself each morning or reaching up with my right arm to get a dish from a cabinet without the help of my wonderful husband and caregiver. However, the idea of regaining strength and mobility in my shoulder is worth the pain and exhaustion of PT. The process is hard and one needs patience and persistence to achieve the goal of regaining one’s limb. You may think, well, I can do my exercises once in a while, but if you are ever in a situation like mine I urge you to have the gumption to push through the pain, and follow the advice of your physician and therapist. It will be worth your effort when you no longer need to ask for help with the activities of daily life. — by Kathleen Ernce Evans, Georgia

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I truly love a one dish meal. This recipe is one that I saw Katie Lee prepare on the Saturday morning Food Network show The Kitchen. Katie is one of my favorite chefs. First of all, she is Southern, and secondly, she loves healthy food. Almost all of her recipes are whole foods and lean toward the lighter side. I am all about putting a delicious meal together that looks as if I’ve spent all day in the kitchen but in reality it takes me no time at all to have on the table. This recipe fits the bill for quick, that is for sure. It also has great flavor and is clean and nutritional. Shrimp and veggies roasted in the oven with a bit of a Mediterranean flare will make for a perfect weeknight dinner or to serve your guest at a casual summer dinner party. Throw in some toasted sprouted grain bread for the perfect one-dish meal. The only thing I did differently with the recipe Mediterranean Shrimp & Vegetables that varied from Katie’s dish was that I added asparagus • 1 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive Add the shrimp to the bowl and a bit more garlic because oil and toss to coat. Season with hey, I like asparagus and • 1/2 tsp. of dried oregano a pinch of salt and pepper. garlic. If you prefer different • 1/2 tsp. of crushed red Remove the vegetables from veggies, experiment and add pepper the oven after approximately what you like. • 2 cloves of fresh garlic, 10-12 minutes and add the I hope you’ll give this recipe crushed shrimp to the baking sheet. a try and check out Katie • Grated zest and juice of 1 Stir around and evenly Lee on the Food Network. lemon spread out the shrimp and She makes some amazingly • 1 pinch of salt and cracked vegetables. simple meals that you will black pepper Place the baking sheet back love if you are into healthful • To add when combined: 4 in the oven and roast until the food. oz. of crumbled feta cheese shrimp is pink and opaque. Approximately 8-10 minutes. Ingredients: Instructions: Remove from oven and place For the vegetables Preheat oven to 450 into a large serving bowl, • 3 Tbsp. of dry white wine (I degrees. sprinkle with crumbled feta used Pinot Grigio) For the vegetables, in a cheese and serve immediately • 2 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive large bowl, whisk together with toasted sprouted grain or oil the white wine, olive oil and gluten free bread. + • 4 cloves of fresh garlic, garlic. crushed Add the artichokes, haricot Alisa Rhinehart is half of the blog • 12-15 oz. of artichoke vert, tomatoes, olives, capers southerngirlseatclean.com. She is hearts, drained and onions. Toss to coat all a working wife and mother living • 8 oz. of haricot vert, the vegetables. in Evans, Georgia. Visit her blog trimmed Season with about 1/2 tsp. for more recipes and • 1 pint of grape tomatoes of salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. information on clean • 1/3 cup kalamata olives Place the vegetables onto a eating. • 2 Tbsp. capers, drained large baking sheet and spread • 1 red onion cut into 1-2 inch out evenly. chunks Roast until the tomatoes • Sea salt and cracked black begin to release their juices. pepper Approximately 10-12 minutes. For the shrimp, while the For the shrimp vegetables are roasting use • 1 1b. of shrimp, de-veined the same bowl and whisk and tails removed (Purchase together olive oil, dried wild-caught whenever oregano, red pepper, garlic, possible) lemon zest and juice.

Wrightsboro Road

Daniel Field

Augusta Mall

We’re on Wrightsboro Rd. at Ohio Avenue.

OUR NEWSSTANDS Medical locations: • Children’s Hospital of Georgia, Harper Street, Main Lobby • Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr, 15th St., Main Entrance • Dept. of Veterans Affairs Med. Center, Uptown Div., Wrightsboro Rd., main lobby • Doctors Hospital, 3651 Wheeler Rd, ER Lobby Entrance • Eisenhower Hospital, Main Lobby, Fort Gordon • George C. Wilson Drive (by medical center Waffle House and mail boxes) • Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, main lobby, 15th Street • Augusta U. Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • Augusta U. Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • Augusta U. Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • Augusta U. Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • 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 • 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 • GRU Summerville 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. • Family Y (Old Health Central), Broad Street, downtown Augusta • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Parks Pharmacy, Georgia Avenue, North 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 more than 875 doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as many nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

ASK DR. KARP

NO NONSENSE

NUTRITION Josh from Savannah asks this question on Facebook: “Is it really possible to PERMANENTLY change the way I eat?” Temporarily changing your lifestyle is fairly easy to do. That’s what happens with most of those diet books and weight loss infomercials.

However, temporary change leads to temporary results. The real issue is how to make permanent lifestyle changes that lead to permanent, healthy lifetime results. Are you trying to change your eating behaviors but you are starting to slip back into old habits? Getting discouraged? Are you wondering why you even bothered trying to change to begin with? “What’s the use?” Instead of feeling down, spend a few minutes reflecting on what it takes for permanent change to occur. Changing behaviors involves many steps. It may be that you have gotten stuck on just the fi rst or second step. To change, you usually have to want to change, gain the knowledge for change, believe that this change is important and beneficial, and figure out ways of applying your knowledge and belief to your own life. For example, it is very easy to calculate your chance of having a heart attack or stroke within the next ten years. Just

enter “Cardiovascular Risk Calculator” into your internet search engine and within a few minutes, you can calculate your risk. Especially if that risk is higher than 20%, you need to speak with your physician and start making some permanent lifestyle changes to reduce your risk. So, now you are aware of your risk, but do you believe it? One way you can help yourself believe is to surround yourself with people who have successfully and permanently changed their own health behaviors. Speak to them and listen carefully to what they have to say. Go talk to the guy who had diabetes, lost 50 pounds and is now off medication. Go talk to your friend who reduced salt in her diet, stopped eating greasy foods and started eating more veggies. Listen to what she says about being able to dramatically reduce her blood pressure medication. Once you start believing that lifestyle change is important for you, you can start moving away from simply knowing and

believing to actually doing something about it. One important way to be healthier is not just eliminating the poor behaviors but to substitute poor health behaviors with good ones. You need to “fill the behavioral gap.” So instead of driving to that fast food window every morning and ordering that baconham-cheese-egg-heart attack biscuit, microwave that much healthier egg white tortilla wrap that’s in your freezer. Or plan on driving to your local gym and meeting up with a group of your friends who are also working on permanent change. This will not only replace one habit with another, but it will also help your belief system. What is the “No-Nonsense Nutrition” advice for today? For permanent lifestyle changes to occur, try and try...and try, again. Take the time to sit down and think about what it will take to make permanent change happen in your own life. Figure ways of applying your new knowledge and beliefs into the unique and wonderful life that is YOU. +

Have a question about food, diet or nutrition? Post or private message your question on Facebook - www.Facebook.com/AskDrKarp - or email your question to askdrkarp@gmail.com If your question is chosen for a column, your name will be changed, to insure your privacy. Warren B. Karp, Ph.D., D.M.D. is Professor Emeritus at Augusta University. He has served as Director of the Nutrition Consult Service at The Dental College of Georgia and is past Vice Chair of the Columbia County Board of Health. You can fi nd out more about Dr. Karp and the download site for the public domain eBook, Nutrition for Smarties, at www.wbkarp.com Dr. Karp obtains no funding for writing his columns, articles or books and has no fi nancial or other interests in any food, book, nutrition product or company. His interest is only in providing freelyavailable, evidenced-based, scientific nutrition knowledge and education. The information is for educational use only; it is not meant to be used to diagnose, manage or treat any patient or client. Although Dr. Karp is a Professor Emeritus at Augusta University, the views and opinions expressed here are his and his alone and do not reflect the views and opinions of Augusta University or anyone else.

Dr. Karp

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AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

SCHOOL STARTS SOON!

Brown bagging it stress-free Stumped by what to pack in your child’s (or maybe even your) lunchbox? Maybe the school provides free or reduced-cost lunches, but you may feel like sending lunch at least a few days a week is a healthier option. But time is always an issue in the mornings. Is there a way to simplify the process? Sure, says the FDA. Read on. Tip 1: Plan Your Meals The key to filling a lunchbox with wholesome foods that are essential for healthy growth and weight maintenance is planning. Start by planning your family’s meals for the whole week. If that task is too daunting, start smaller by planning lunch for a day or two and progress from there. Duplicate that meal plan for the next week and build on it. The plan will provide the map so you can shop and have wholesome foods on hand. If you don’t plan, you become a victim of convenient foods. Start with the basic four: fruits and vegetables, whole

grains for fiber (even if that means cutting off the crust because kids prefer the soft part), dairy, and protein. Get your kids involved in helping to pack their lunches and planning family meals. That helps them develop good habits that last a lifetime. Tip 2: Base Your Lunchbox on MyPlate Need help planning meals? MyPlate Kids’ Place (www. choosemyplate.gov/kids) has recipes and meal-planning information geared to different

age groups and advice on making healthy meals, cooking at home and developing healthy eating habits. Parents should understand that it’s not what you say that matters, but what you do. Your kids are watching what you do. If you don’t eat your vegetables and if you don’t have a balanced diet, why would you expect your child to do any better? Add some fun. Studies show that children will eat more fruits and vegetables if you make it interesting for them. Give them fruits and vegetables they like; add some dressing for dipping. Replace French fries with a baked potato jazzed up with cottage cheese and cherry tomatoes on top. Mix unusual foods together, such as apples and peanut butter dip. Cut fruits and vegetables into bite-size pieces and fun shapes. Please see BROWN BAG page 10

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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BROWN BAG

… from page 9

The trick is to give your kids a variety of good foods that are good for them. An apple one day; a pear another; then an orange. Variety isn’t just the spice of life; it’s important for developing healthy habits. Tip 3: Cut Portions Kids need smaller portions. Think quarter-cups, tablespoons

and half-sandwiches, depending on your child’s size, age and activity level. For a toddler, think tablespoons—not cups. Cut sandwiches in triangles, Beker says. That reduces the portion and increases the fun. What’s a reasonable portion? Think finger foods that are easily grasped by little hands: cut-up carrots and apples.

The

Money

Doctor COMING UP IN OUR NEXT ISSUE

We’ve just added this shirt to the haul winners of the Mystery Word contest receive — in addition to gift cards from Wild Wing Cafe and Scrubs of Evans.

FIND THE WORD AND ENTER TODAY! Remember: the Mystery Word is always hidden. It is never in plain sight and it’s never in an article. See all the deets on page 14.

ASK DR. KARP

GOT A FOOD OR NUTRITION QUESTION? EMAIL IT TO askdrkarp @gmail.com

NO NONSENSE

NUTRITION

or post it (privately or publicly) at Facebook.com/ AskDrKarp “Ask Dr. Karp” appears in our First Friday issue each month

Because wallets should be healthy too

Don’t expect your child to eat as much as you eat. If you do, they will get frustrated, and you’ll get aggravated. They will also be eating too much and won’t develop a healthy habit of eating to satiety. Instead, they will learn to eat by volume. Families should let children serve themselves at the table for better portion control. Tip 4: Read the Label Understanding the Nutrition Facts label is a big step toward a healthier lunchbox. When stocking your pantry, narrow down your choices based on the label. Read the ingredients and check for sources of fats and sugars in the food. When shopping for food, pick one item at a time to read the Nutrition Facts label. That way you can focus your choices on foods that provide healthier nutrient contributions to the daily intake. Next time you go shopping, check the labels of still other products. Just because something is low fat doesn’t mean it has fewer calories. Sometimes another food with a little more fat is a better overall choice because it’s more balanced. You don’t need to add extra fat or sugar to make tasty and healthy meals for your kids. But remember: You can’t make them without planning. +

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AUGUST 4, 2017

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Michael Kirsch, MD, on July 7, 2017 (edited for space)

WHEN YOUR DOCTOR’S COMPUTER CRASHES Earlier this week our office lost a skirmish against technology. It was my procedure day, where lucky patients file in awaiting the pleasures of scope examinations of their alimentary canals. A few will swallow the scope (under anesthesia), but most will have back-end work done. We are a small private practice equipped with an outstanding staff. We do our best every day to provide them with the close personal attention they deserve. The first patient of the day was on the table surrounded by the medical team. The nurse anesthetist and I have already briefed the patient on what is about to transpire. Propofol, the finest drug in the universe, is introduced into her circulatory system, and her mind drifts into another galaxy. I pick up the colonoscope, which is locked and loaded for action, and the screen goes dark. Our nurse goes through a few steps of messing around with plugs and doing a quick reboot, but we are still in the dark. I glance at the back of the scope cart and have an eye-popping moment when I see dozens of wires and connectors coursing off the cart in a collage of chaos. After 5 minutes, when it is clear that the Almighty has not declared, “let there be light,” we transport the patient into the recovery area where she is awakened. Patients in the recovery area never remember their procedure. This time, there was no procedure to remember. There was tension in our office as we contemplated our options for colonoscopy patients who took the day off, arranged for a driver and swallowed the required liquid dynamite to cleanse their bodies and souls. We called the hospital, who could not accommodate on short notice a request for multiple procedures. I was not willing to cancel anyone and told my staff that I would stay until midnight to get the work done. Our IT professional was in our office in 30 minutes. When your IT guy is stumped, you know you’re in trouble. So here we were with an able gastroenterologist, a crack staff, patients ready for probing, but we were paralyzed because a computer monitor was in a coma. It’s a reminder we have all had of how totally dependent we are on our technology. Even at home when the modem goes out, we feel that our oxygen supply has been compromised. Here’s the denouement of the drama. About 2 hours after the first case was to have started, we concocted a workaround which allowed our cases to proceed. We won this skirmish against technology. But I fear they are regrouping, lying in wait for their next strike. +

Cancellations were not an option

Michael Kirsch is a gastroenterologist who blogs at MD Whistleblower.

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If you’re a couch potato, we can save you a few minutes right here and now: there’s no need to read further. But if you like to hike in the woods or walk around the block; ride the bike around the neighborhood or down wilderness trails; if you like to go camping or dirt biking; if you like to fish, go boating, canoeing or kayaking; if you like to go to the beach; if you like to work in the garden; if you like to go on picnics; if you like to run or jog — or if you have kids, grandkids, or immediate family members who like to do stuff in the great outdoors even though you don’t — have we got the book(s) for you. Not that you have to be a modern day John Muir to qualify. As the partial list of activities above suggests, just being outdoors is all it takes to potentially need the world-class reference books written by Paul S. Auerbach, M.D. It has been said of Dr. Auerbach, “[he] is to wilderness medicine what Bill Gates is to computers.” We don’t take issue with that description, but you don’t have to be in the wilderness to get

car sick (or seasick), sprain an ankle, get a fish hook stuck in your finger or foot, step on a nail, get stung by a wasp or fire ants, choke on an apple, get diarrhea or poison ivy, need to remove the mother of all splinters, be bit by a dog (or a snake or a tick or a spider or chiggers), get overheated, have a stroke or a nosebleed, get sunburned or struck by lightning, go into labor, or any of hundreds of other mishaps. The beauty of this guide, simple enough for laymen, comprehensive and informative enough for doctors, is that it assumes you can’t get help: it assumes that you’re 20 miles from the nearest town;

it assumes you’re in a place where you can’t even get a signal, let alone call 9-1-1. You’re it. What do you do? Hopefully an Auerbach book is in your car, your backpack or on your bookshelf. But take a look at the italicized information at the end of this article and you’ll see these are not pocket guides. They’re probably too heavy for doorstops too: Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine is a 2volume set that weighs in on the far side of 13 pounds. But even that massive tome is a bargain if it saves a life. It would pay for itself with one saved doctor or ER visit, although Auerbach emphasizes its goal is not to transform a layperson into a physician, but to provide a guide for first aid treatment until professionals can take over (where necessary). It also stresses the #1 treatment for any and all illnesses and injuries, indoors and out: prevention. + Medicine for the Outdoors, 560 pages; Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine, 1,024 pages; Auerbach’s Wilderness Medicine, 2,848 pages; by Paul S. Auerbach, M.D. published by Elsevier

Research News Deadly epidemic news About a month ago The New York Times released its analysis of state-by-state data on opioid overdose deaths during 2016. The findings are awful. The Times says between 59,000 and 65,000 Americans died of overdoses in 2016. It estimates the final official tally might be 62,497. By comparison, in the 20 years from 1955 to 1975, more than 58,200 US troops died in the Vietnam war, and more than 4,500 have died so far in the Iraq War since 2003. Adding up the total Iraq and Vietnam war deaths over 30 years of combat produces a total of some 62,700 deaths. The drug overdose death toll for just last year rivals that, at and estimated 62,497. But it could go as high as 65,000. The expectation is that 2017 will be worse than 2016. Official figures for 2016 will be released later this year.

New surgical strategy for repairing spinal injuries Spinal surgery is tricky business. The trickiest part is reconnecting sensory neurons to the spinal cord after traumatic injuries. Scientists in Sweden and the UK have developed a new surgical technique to accomplish the job, and have discovered how and why it works on a cellular level by testing the technique on rats. At 12 to 16 weeks after the experimental surgery rats had neural circuitry had been successfully restored, even though their spinal cords had been severed prior to the procedure. The hope is that the lessons can soon be applied to human patients with spinal cord injuries and even paralysis. What is the definition of fat? We know about bathroom scales. We’ve heard about BMI readings. But another

definition, called “overfat,” is if your waist measures more than half your height. In other words, if you measure 60 inches tall and your waist is 31 inches around or more. Researchers believe this to be a more significant measurement because weight or BMI alone don’t identify where the body is “overfat.” Abdominal fat is more significant to negative health outcomes than, say, chunky thighs. In fact, researchers feel that excess abdominal fat is the trigger for a cascade of potential troubles like insulin resistance, diabetes, chronic inflammation, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, gout, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, pulmonary disease, cancer, and more. One goal for reducing risk should be this: the waist should measure less than half a person’s height. +

+ 12

AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD

This country has a huge opioid crisis I wouldn’t exactly on its hands. call it a crisis.

by Dan Pearson

Opioids should be banned.

You like drugs What??? No! that enslave I like fans of Opie on ’ L and kill? the Andy Griffith Show! N I

I happen to like them.

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Forearm bone 5. It began in Sicily 10. Edible mollusk 14. JB’s genre 15. Repeal’s opposite 16. Bathwear 17. Mild expletive 18. Show reluctance; hesitate 19. Assert with confidence 20. Of or like a goose 22. Pretentious; weak 24. Pulse 25. Metal worker 26. Type of car 29. Macon county 30. Trauma pt. destinations 33. Rug adjective 34. Search hurriedly, as through drawers or files 35. Synonym for 28-D 36. Type of shirt 37. It connects imcompatible devices 39. ___-keeper 40. 24/7 news pioneer (init.) 41. Roman goddess of grain 42. Quick!!! 43. Cut and dried grass 44. Secondhand 45. Start of fatigue 47. Type of hazard (golf) 49. ____ tired 50. Voyeur 52. Ladies’ hot weather attire 56. Capital of Yemen 57. Laney-Walker’s Medical _____ Pharmacy 59. Auto parts chain 60. ____ pool 61. Bacteria of food recalls 62. Friendly lead-in

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

Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

I I G A A A T B D D S H B R S A N W W N D S T M E C A E E T O U Y S V A T O O O T H O T N U

63. New Age singer 64. Offically exclude or prohibit 65. Cat calls DOWN 1. Fed. food & farming agency 2. Type of shark 3. Sisters 4. Branch of mathematics 5. Toward or in the center (med) 6. Concerning (archaic) 7. David Bowie hit of 1975 8. Hosp. area 9. Quivering (literary) 10. Vine partner 11. Actress Jennifer 12. Encourage in wrongdoing 13. Just; only; no more than 21. _____ Speedwagon 23. It’s in bread. And glass. 25. Screens 26. Area golf course (with “The”) 27. Sports venue

28. Synonym for 35-A 29. Having two feet 31. Kidney-related 32. Monetary unit of Lesotho 34. Less common 37. Severe/sudden 38. Rightfully earned 42. Breastbone 45. Augusta hotel of yore 46. Common conjunction 48. Sleep disorder 49. A bubble-like cavity filled with air or fluid (med) 50. Ellen of Juno 51. Paradise 52. Slovenly person 53. Effortlessness 54. Expel; gush 55. Viral resp. disease 58. Diamonds (slang)

— someecards

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.

X A M I N E R

1 2

9 5

4 2

7 8

U D O K U

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 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.

H O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1

1 2 3 4 5

L 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 H O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

O 3

V 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

1.TTCCEEOILS 2.HHHTWVEVFS 3.OOOSIIIE 4.OOSLLL 5.SSSLE 6.IRI 7.NN 8.GG

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

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

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM 1

Solution p. 14

WORDS NUMBER

The Mystery Word for this issue: NALEK

AUGUST 4, 2017

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE

ere is an exercise program suggested for people 60 and older to help build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. Begin by standing on a flat surface where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 1 lb. potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them in that position as long as you can. Try to hold for a full minute, then relax and repeat. Each day, you’ll find that you can do this more often and hold it just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 5 lb. potato bag, then a few weeks later a 7 lb. potato bag. Using your own strength and stamina as your guide, eventually try to get to where you can lift a 10 lb. potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. When you feel confident at that level, try placing a potato in each of the bags. Moe: How was your doctor appointment? Joe: I was diagnosed with a fear of giants. Moe: I’ve never heard of such a thing. What’s it called? Joe: Fee-Fi-Phobia.

Moe: Boy, these country songs sure are right up to date. Joe: What do you mean? Moe: I just heard that new one about the guy whose self-driving pickup truck left him. Joe: I haven’t heard that one yet. But have you heard All My Lexus’ Live in Texas? Moe: These old Western movies make me think a lot of the conflicts in the Wild West could have been avoided so easily. Joe: Right! If the architects had just made the towns big enough for everyone. Moe: I read that the Swedish Navy puts barcodes on the side of all their ships Joe: Wonder why? Moe: Probably so they can Scandinavian. Moe: Why did the Mexican take Xanax? Joe: Just guessing here: for Hispanic attacks? This guy with hearing problems went to the doctor. “Describe the symptoms,” said the doctor. “Ok,” said the guy. “Homer’s fat and Marge has blue hair.” +

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner? Because no one should have to make a trip to the doctor or the hospital just to read Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper.

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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

ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble wrote a long-time column in this paper entitled The Patient’s Perspective reincarnated in this new format. Feel free to contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com When it comes to being alone…. Praying is good, but it doesn’t take the place of action on behalf of oneself. After some time spent on the internet researching possible ways to summon help if I need it, I settled on a plan that provides several essential services. It has one button to I wear in the house connected wirelessly with a base station when I’m home. It can even be worn — and in fact, should be worn — in the shower, so help can be sought there. But it also functions via a cellular component when I leave the house, so it works at the grocery store, the mall, church, the theater, the beach, or wherever I am traveling, and stores its charge for as long as 24 hours. No matter where I might go it serves to keep me connected to nearly instant help whenever I might need it. Not only does it know who I am, it also knows where I am through its GPS function. So it can direct help to wherever I might need it, including locations where people often do not have direct access to others. Like if I go for a walk on the beach or in the woods. This kind of connection could be invaluable for people who may be in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia where wandering away from home can lead to tragic consequences. In addition, it knows what medical conditions I have, so a diabetic episode won’t be misdiagnosed as drunkenness. With the cellular component, all I need to do if I get lost is push the button and people will be able to find and help me. Another issue for me is falling without being able to get myself up. For this I wear another button that can actually detect a fall as it occurs, regardless of why I might have fallen. It has a button I can push if I’m able to, but it also alerts the operator that I need help even if I am unable to push the button. After I set up this unit and we were testing it, I was amazed to drop the pendant and hear the operator saying that she had received an indication that I had fallen. There is also a coded lock box on the front door that holds a key so fi rst responders don’t have to break down the door to get to me if I am inside my locked home and can’t get to the door to let them in. Before I began researching, I had no idea this kind of equipment even existed. Ordering it was simple and the equipment arrived within a week and was easy for me to install myself. I recommend it to those living alone. It’s amazing how much peace of mind can come from a simple button. +

ha... ha...

Moe: Your psychiatrist said you have an inferiority complex??? Joe: That’s what he said. Says it’s very intense and pronounced. Moe: I’m not so sure about that. I’ve never noticed you having an inferiority complex. Joe: It must not be a very good one.

It’s the M.E.’s 11th year!

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AUGUST 4, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED

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The Mystery Word in our last issue was: NEWBORN

...cleverly hidden (in the shrubs on the left) in the p. 7 ad for OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF AUGUSTA/AIKEN THE WINNER: CAROL DURDEN Want to find your name here next time? If it is, we’ll send you some cool swag from our goodie bag. The new Mystery Word is on page 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 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!

That’s how many back issues of the Medical Examiner are available at

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 of 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.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

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EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC. LAND Land for sale: 14 acres, wooded, beautiful rocky creek flowing through; 45 min from Augusta, walking trails cleared to enjoy while planning future development. Perfect getaway or homesite. Outstanding schools (K-12) 4 mi. away. $49,000 (706) 831-9015 ROOM FOR RENT with private bathroom and full house privileges. Martinez $600/mo (706) 840-6860 FOR SALE 3 bedroom/2 bath, single garage Townhouse in Martinez. Master/ bath down, 2 upstairs bedrooms share bath, large loft for office, playroom, den; wood-burning fireplace, covered back porch. Freshly painted with new flooring, lighting and ceiling fans. Easy access to Riverwatch Parkway, Washington Rd, I-20, Augusta. 1987 sq.ft. $147,900. 706-836-7001. ROOM FOR RENT 1 room, private bathroom, 2bdrm MH on private lot. Clean quiet neighborhood. Non-smoker. $600 monthly. Must be stable, verifiable references and income. Cable and Internet included. Warrenville, 5 min from Aiken, 20 min to Augusta. (803) 270-2658

SERVICES PETS Dogs walked, cats sat, in the comfort of your home by retired pharmacist. No kennel noise, fleas, disease, transport cost/time. Avail 7 days/wk in Martinez/ Evans. $15 per visit. References. Call for free interview at your home. Call Buddy for your buddy: (706) 829-1729 HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706-877-0421 F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS (706) 760-7607

MISCELLANEOUS CEMETERY SPACES (2) Sunset Memorial Gardens, Graniteville SC adjacent to lighted military flagstaff, includes granite bench with urn space, installation and inscription. All $4700 ($8600 value). Spaces only: $2700. Call (803) 295-3033

THE PUZZLE SOLVED U

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QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “I want to have a good body but not as much as I want dessert.” — someecards

The Sudoku Solution 8

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

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POND VIEW! Evans all-brick 2-story with solar panels. Avg. electric bill $170 in Northwood, 3,400 sqft. Call 1-800401-0257, ext. 0043 24/7 for price and details.

FISHING CLUB wants more grey-haired members. Meet 2nd Thurs of month at Harbor Inn Restaurant, 12 noon. “Adventure Before Dementia” Info: (706) 736-8753

AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER, PO BOX 397, AUGUSTA, GA 30903-0397 Total ad cost by number of words as shown above: $ 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 7 days prior to our publication date.

We publish on 1st and 3rd Fridays

WORDS BY NUMBER “Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.” — Jerry Garcia

AUGUST 4, 2017

IT’S A QUESTION OF CARE How do I address driving safety with my aging loved one?

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Often, family members are concerned about their loved ones as they age and their ability to drive safely. This can be concern for the loved one himself/herself or for the other people on the road. Depending upon the dynamics in the relationship you have with your aging family member, you might choose one of a few options to address driving safety and whether your loved one needs to continue to drive. • You may choose to tell them outright that you believe it’s unsafe and that they’re no longer going to drive. You might take the keys, or in some instances, family members might disable the car. Sometimes this works and sometimes this angers your loved one, but if your relationship allows it and you can stay firm in your decision because you believe it is for the best, it’s often the best path. • You might enlist the doctor to tell your loved one that he or she cannot drive and explain to them why that is the case. Often, they should not be driving because of poor vision, hearing loss and/or mobility issues. Sometimes, it’s because they have dementia, and they cannot make a good judgement call or might get lost. The doctor will typically write a letter, and then you can share that letter with your loved one. This becomes evidence that the doctor has ordered no driving. It can work in some cases, because

older persons in our society frequently believe that what the doctor says goes no matter what. You can also utilize the services of the doctor and ask him or her to write a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles, informing the organization that he or she believes your loved one is unsafe to drive (if the doctor does truly believe that). This will begin a series of events in which your loved one will have to prove they are safe to drive. • You can also suggest to your loved one that you believe there is a safety factor involved, and you would like them to have some testing done to determine if they should continue to drive. If they agree, you can find such testing at your large, local medical centers either through their physical therapy or occupational therapy departments. There might be in-lab testing, and there might also be behind-the-wheel driving assessments. No matter your approach, the goal is to keep your parent or loved one safe. + By Amy Hane. For the last decade, Amy has been committed to serving the CSRA community by guiding those going through mental, physical and social issues related to caring for an aging or disabled loved one. She assists families with transitions to higher quality care for the safety and wellbeing of all involved.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ALLERGY

Tesneem K. Chaudhary, MD Allergy & Asthma Center 3685 Wheeler Road, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

AMBULANCE SERVICE

ambulance • stretcher • wheelchair

706-863-9800

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

FAMILY MEDICINE

DENTISTRY

Dr. Judson S. Hickey Periodontist 2315-B Central Ave Augusta 30904 706-739-0071

F. E. Gilliard MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road Evans, GA 30809 Floss ‘em or lose ‘em! 706-760-7607 Industrial Medicine • Prompt appts.

Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048 Steven L. Wilson, DMD Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445

DERMATOLOGY

Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

OPHTHALMOLOGY Roger M. Smith, M.D. 820 St. Sebastian Way Suite 5-A Augusta 30901 706-724-3339

SENIOR LIVING

Augusta Gardens Senior Living Community 3725 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY 706-868-6500 www.augustagardenscommunity.com

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

TRANSPORTATION Caring Man in a Van Wheelchair-Stretcher Transports • Serving Augusta Metro 855-342-1566 www.CaringManinaVan.com

Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 Medical Center West Pharmacy 706-733-3373 465 North Belair Road www.GaDerm.com Evans 30809 Vein Specialists of Augusta Resolution Counseling Professionals 706-854-2424 G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 Augusta 30909 706-854-8340 706-432-6866 Parks Pharmacy Karen L. Carter, MD www.VeinsAugusta.com www.visitrcp.com 437 Georgia Ave. 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 N. Augusta 29841 Augusta 30901 803-279-7450 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com www.parkspharmacy.com Medical Weight & Wellness Your Practice Specialists of Augusta And up to four additional lines of your Maycie Elchoufi, MD choosing and, if desired, your logo. 108 SRP Drive, Suite B Keep your contact information in Steppingstones to Recovery Psych Consultants Evans 30809 • 706-829-9906 this convenient place seen by tens of 2610 Commons Blvd. 2820 Hillcreek Dr YourWeightLossDoctor.com Augusta 30909 thousands of patients every month. Augusta 30909 706-733-1935 Literally! Call (706) 860-5455 for all (706) 410-1202 the details www.psych-consultants.com

PHARMACY

VEIN CARE

COUNSELING

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS

YOUR LISTING HERE

WEIGHT LOSS

DRUG REHAB

PSYCHIATRY

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

AUGUST 4, 2017