Dec7 18

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DECEMBER 7, 2018

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Dr.busbee’s CELEBRATED

DECEMBER 7, 2018

M E D I C I N E

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T H E

F I R S T

P E R S O N

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The Descent of Man

ELIXER TRUE Health

DECIPHERING HEALTH MYTHS, SNAKE OIL CURES AND OLD WIVES TALES BY “DOCTOR” TRACEY BUSBEE, M L I S, AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY

The Most Wonderful, Stressful, Depressing Time of the Year!

The fi rst twinge of holiday stress came to me the week before Halloween. I was in a department store and came up a crowded aisle where employees were setting up Christmas decorations. My eyes darted from floor to ceiling and it was covered in red, green, and glittering décor. It was almost Halloween and I had not done a thing for Christmas yet!

Last December the New York Post published some notso-surprising survey results about holiday madness. About 31% of Americans described the December holiday season as “frantic.” Stress levels jumped around December 18 and peaked on Christmas Day. The main holiday stressors reported were: gift shopping, crowds and lines, cleaning, selecting gifts, cooking, budgeting for expenses, wrapping gifts, hosting, family politics, menus, arguments, where to spend the day, home repairs and upgrades, and firm expectations of having a great day.1 Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa in December the hustle and bustle is similar if you exchange gifts, cook meals, travel, and coordinate being together.

No wonder we’re all stressed. The American Psychological Association identifies six myths about stress: stress is always bad for you; stress is the same for everyone; you can’t do anything about stress; commonly known stress-reduction tips work for everyone; if you feel okay then stress isn’t harming you; and common physical symptoms to stress are not that big of a deal.2,3 Stress is a feeling of tension caused by a factor (stressor).

It may be positive or negative, physical or emotional, and short-term or long-term. Anxiety is a lingering effect of stress that occurs after the stressor is removed. Acute stress occurs almost daily and is experienced by all of us- traffic jams, arguments, fi rst dates, job interviews. Chronic stress lasts longer and the stressor is not as easily or quickly removed.

Chronic stress may come from financial difficulties, hostile work environments, negative relationships, and illness.2,3 Acute stress actually prepares your body in threatening situations and is important to survival. Acute stress can also benefit us in some ways.2,3 One example: the jolt of stress you feel when the deadline nears after procrastinating. It motivates you to get things done.

We all experience stress, but everyone handles stress differently. What defines stress is different from person to person. There is no panacea in mitigating stress in our lives that will fit each one of us. However, management of chronic stress is essential. It is commonly known that chronic stress is detrimental to our health.2,3 Under stress, some are more susceptible to illness, headaches, stomach mood swings, or sleep disturbances. The list is extensive. Also, the symptoms may be masked by medications or not perceived as related to stress by those who are experiencing it.2,3 The deadlier effects of stress may become apparent years after chronic stress is experienced. Chronic stress can contribute to heart disease, mental disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, and weaken your immune response so you’re less able to fight diseases, even cancer.3-5 Chronic stress’s effects on the brain can lead to structural changes, such as decreased mass and weight.4 This can affect memory and cognition.

The good news is that stress can be managed. Don’t hesitate to discuss your stress levels with your physician or a mental health care provider. Discuss ways to deal with your stress levels until you fi nd something that works for you. Commonly known ways to combat stress are regular exercise, devoting time to relaxation, and spending quality time with a support system of friends and family.3 Please see STRESS page 15

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or my entire life I have suffered from the effects of an early childhood injury that I don’t even remember.

My parents never mentioned dropping me on my head as a child, but it’s the only explanation I can come up with for some of the decisions I’ve made.

A few weeks ago, for example, I sprained my ankle pretty badly. The direct cause of the injury was quite simple: I forgot that I’m not 20 anymore. (See article, page 3.)

That lapse led me to jump off the roof of my SUV and sprain my ankle. I’ve been hobbling around in pain wearing a walking boot and using crutches ever since.

The obvious question, of course, is why my parents never told me about whatever happened to rob me of my decision-making skills. Well, that and why I voluntarily jumped off my car.

The jump is a pretty straightforward tale, actually.

I’ve been painting my house as I’ve had available time over the past few months.

For the highest areas of the second story, instead of renting scaffolding or an industrial lift, I parked my Ford Escape next to the house and pulled a 16-ft extension ladder up onto its roof, safely wedged against the luggage rack. I got up on the car using a 6-ft stepladder, then climbed up to the top of the extension ladder to paint the high spots.

I had done this a number of times uneventfully, but on the fateful day in late October, I

“Have you ever heard of the Darwin Awards?” inadvertently tipped over the stepladder as I climbed onto the roof of the car.

No problem. I proceeded up and painted the areas within safe reach, then climbed back down to the car’s roof. I still needed to get to the ground so I could move the car and the ladder into a new position.

After weighing my options for a full 2 seconds (possibly less), I decided to jump down to my driveway. I did not consider trying to ease myself down off the back onto the back bumper. I did not consider possibly sliding down the windshield onto the hood and then to the ground. I didn’t even crouch down and jump as carefully as possible from the lowest possible height.

What I did was more or less catapult myself off the roof while facing the vehicle, kind of like an Olympic gymnast dismounts from a pommel

horse. As stupid as it might sound, this decision worked out a lot better than you might imagine — until I hit the pavement. Prior to that I’m sure it was a thing of beauty to behold.

Once back on earth, my first sensation was searing pain emanating from my left ankle. Seconds later as I lay on the driveway, my very next thought was, “I hope nobody saw that.”

You see, in a previous chapter of my career I was an occupational safety inspector.

I worked at big construction sites like Plant Vogtle, making sure workers were safe, that they didn’t pull bone-headed stunts trying to get their jobs done. I am a graduate of the OSHA Training Institute.

They will now disavow any evidence of my attendance — in fact, of my very existence.

For the past six weeks, the inevitable “What happened to you?” question has been posed to me dozens of times. Here I made another possible error in judgement. My answer should have been, “I sprained my ankle.” Instead I went into an explanation of how I sprained my ankle.

It didn’t take long to realize people viewed my actions with stunned disbelief. Well, women did. Men were like, “Yeah, I could totally see stacking ladders on top of whatever’s handy and then jumping off, sure.” Women were more likely to say, “You did what? You’re joking, right?”

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 7, 2018

DON’T ACT YOUR AGE! On Monday of this week a Dutch court ruled against the petition by a man who wanted to legally change his age — no, not his name or gender — his age.

Currently 69 — he turns 70 in March — Emile Ratelband wanted to legally change his year of birth from 1949 to 1969 to more accurately reflect how he feels: like someone who is 40-something. And also to help avoid age discrimination against older people.

Many people viewed the legal battle as a joke or a publicity stunt, but for anyone who feels younger than they really are, science is on your side.

Correction: science is on our side. Yes, most of us feel younger than the age shown on our drivers license. On average, studies show we feel about 5 years older for every decade that passes by. On average, people feel about 1617 years younger than they really are.

Someone with a youthful outlook despite what the calendar says is really into something good.

To some extent, research says we really are as young as we feel. People who selfidentify as young are less likely to suffer from diabetes, depression, hypertension, and dementia. They experience better sleep, stronger memory, and more fulfilling sex lives.

By contrast, one study which followed people who felt old — they identified on average as 13 years older than their chronological age — determined that they were 25 percent more likely to die as compared to those with a more youthful outlook.

In a landmark 1979 study, Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer took a battery of health measurements from a group of men in their late 70s and 80s who had volunteered for a “week of reminiscence” research project.

The men were then immersed for five days in a mock 1959 world. They talked about Castro and Elvis and Buddy Holly - all in the present tense. They were then re-measured on all the same

health yardsticks.

The after-checks showed their gait, dexterity, strength, speed of movement, memory, arthritis and cognitive abilities were all significantly better, their blood pressure dropped, and even their hearing and eyesight were improved.

So maybe the best antidote to aging isn’t found in some cream at the cosmetic counter. Instead it’s our own brain and how we use it. +

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WHAT ARE “AGE SPOTS”?

Age spots, unfortunately, are not hip night clubs for older adults. They are irregular dark spots that appear on the skin.

Sometimes they look like freckles — huge freckles. They can be just a little darker than the surrounding skin, or almost black. Some people call them liver spots, although the liver has nothing to do with liver spots.

Age spots are harmless, but that doesn’t mean they can or should be ignored. Age spots can look a lot like skin cancer, and skin cancer can look a lot like age spots, so it’s important for a doctor (in the best-case scenario a dermatologist) to evaluate them and be certain.

A blemish that is strictly an age spot is nothing more than a small area where the skin has produced excess melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

The usual cause of age spots is prolonged sun exposure over time, especially among lighter-skinned people who get sunburns and/or are exposed to the sun too long and too often. “Age spots” suggests that only older people get them, and they are the age group most commonly decorated, but age spots are definitely not just for the elderly. Plenty of young sun worshippers and tanning bed users develop age spots. Really, sun spots might be a more accurate description of these blemishes.

They’re usually found in places that get a lot of sun exposure, like hands, arms, shoulders and faces. Sometimes a facial age spot is not something its owner wants to see in the mirror every day, or present to the world. There are a number of options available to a dermatologist to remove or lighten troublesome age spots. They include a range of choices from topical creams to chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser surgery, and freezing the spot.

A better approach, as in most things medical, is prevention.

Age spots can be avoided in the first place by a lifetime of judicious sunscreen use, avoiding the sun or wearing hats and long sleeves during the most intense periods of sun each day, and avoiding tanning beds. These habits can not only reduce the chances of age spots and skin cancer, but also result in fewer wrinkles and younger-looking skin. +

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INER

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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 salubrious news within every part of the Augusta medical community.

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DECEMBER 7, 2018

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

#80 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

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

by Marcia Ribble

S

ay the name Roger Bannister and some people will say, “Who?” Others will say, “Ah yes, he’s the guy who broke the 4-minute mile.” Hardly anyone will remember the Roger Bannister who retired from running and spent decades practicing medicine in the field of neurology.

Asked about his life’s accomplishments, Bannister said on the 50th anniversary of his record-breaking run that he was far prouder of his medical career than his achievements on the track. “I worked in medicine for sixty years. I ran for about eight.” In fact, he didn’t even view the mile record as his greatest athletic achievement; he felt his performances in the 1952 Olympics and the 1954 Commonwealth Games outshone the 4-minute mile record.

Those eight years running worked both for and against him throughout his life. To explain why, perhaps a bit of context is in order.

When Bannister became the first person to break the 4-minute mark, a radio announcer called it “the Everest of athletic achievement.” That may have been hyperbole, but not by much. The amateur mile record in 1861 was 4:55; a few years into the 20th Century the time had been pared down, but still stood at 4:15. The world record time continued to regularly fall, reaching 4:06 just before the outbreak of World War II, then reached 4:01 in July of 1945.

And there the record stayed, unbroken for almost a decade, leading some to believe a sub-4-minute mile was out of reach and humanly impossible.

But in May of 1954, Bannister shattered the barrier, running a mile in 3:59.4. He was an instant celebrity all over the world, but that same year he retired from athletics — an activity he pursued in his spare time (only training about 30 minutes a day) — and turned his full attention to his medical studies.

He said later that for the first decade of his medical career, “it was an uphill battle to prove to others that I was dedicated to medicine” and would not be returning to sports.

But medicine, specifically neurology, had always been his dream, and he avidly pursued it. Dr. Bannister became a specialist in the autonomic nervous system, the department that oversees things the body does automatically, without needing directions from us, chores like digestion, breathing, controlling the heart rate, contracting our pupils in bright light, dilating them in the dark, and so forth.

Bannister published more than eighty papers in his field of expertise and edited several textbooks on clinical neurology.

Bannister is in a very select group. How many people can you name who hold an M.D. degree, set an athletic world record (and, in fact, competed in the Olympics), were named athlete of the year by Sports Illustrated (Bannister was the first to be so named), and were knighted?

Ironically, after breaking a nearly decade-old record, Bannister was the world’s fastest man for a mere 46 days before Australian John Landy claimed the title with a 3:58 mile. The current record — 3:43.13 — has stood since July of 1999.

Bannister was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.

He died earlier this year at age 88. +

Since 2005 when I had my first knee replacement, I have been dealing on and off with physical therapists. This is not a complaint, but praise. Without them I would be curled up in a wheelchair in some home for old ladies unable to care for myself at all. Instead they have helped me to live a fruitful life despite two knee replacements and degenerative arthritis in my spine. In addition, they have helped me after very debilitating illnesses to begin to function again.

After one such illness, I could barely walk far enough to use the bathroom six feet away. I could feed myself, but not cook my food. I couldn’t even walk to the door to receive my Meals on Wheels. My strength was almost non-existent. Even standing was challenging. I was too weak to stand without support even for a minute.My granddaughter Yvette demonstrated true heroism taking care of me during that time. She was assisted by demanding physical therapists who managed to ignore my fear that I would fall, to stand me up and get me to walk a little further each day. Finally, one day when I was hungry, and Yvette wasn’t home, I made the huge trek all the way into the kitchen and made myself two eggs and two pieces of toast. What a triumph! And it sure did taste delicious!

The stronger I became, the more reluctant I was to wait for someone to bring me the newspaper or the cup of morning coffee, and I eventually was able to live on my own again.

Recently, after a weakening stay in the hospital, I again had the good fortune to meet up with some physical therapists. It is estimated that hospital stays can reduce our strength by 20 percent for every day was are there. So even if the weakening is slight, it can contribute to rehospitalizations, something both hospitals and insurance companies want to avoid. Patients, too!

This time, though, my therapist and I came up with a new strategy: my kitchen table had become piled high with “stuff!” I wanted to clear it off with backup to ensure I wouldn’t lose my balance and end up on the floor.

She thought it was a brilliant idea. I would work. She would actively supervise. I moved things from one place to another. I filled up my kitchen trash can with papers I no longer need to keep. I found things I hadn’t even known were there, like Yvette’s cat’s purple harness, a set of baking bags and tips for cake decorating, and a couple of long-lost fly swatters.

I needed to clear it off to make room for the new microwave that wouldn’t fit on my counter. I needed to move my crockpot into its proper space in the cupboard. I needed to take old flowerpots and move them under the sink. I am the kind of person who makes new messes while I am cleaning. My hands are arthritic and have diabetic neuropathy, which combine to make me drop things. But with time, and repetition, I eventually get all the dropped things picked up again and relocated.

Even though I am both slow and messy, the sense of achievement I am receiving makes it all worthwhile. +

EATING CARBS MAKES YOU FAT

WHICH WILL IT BE? The headline for this article is pretty much gospel for a lot of people. But they might not be dietitians and expert nutritionists.

Actually, there is nothing inherently fattening about carbohydrates. One of the great secrets about weight

gain is that its main cause is eating too many calories. It’s that simple.

The problem with carbs is that they come in lots of tasty foods. Donuts, for instance.

But good stuff like beans, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables also can have plenty of carbs — and who thinks fruit is bad?

Well, okay, anyone following the Atkins diet might. But other than them who?

Speaking of which, studies have indeed shown that people on low-carb diets tend

to lose more weight than people on low-fat diets. Pretty much anything that restricts food choices will promote weight loss. However, weight loss from low-carb diets versus low-fat diets tend to even out and equalize over time. And then over a little more time (according to one study, on the far side of three years out), low-carb dieters tend to regain more weight compared with low-fat dieters.

Want to know what the best weight-loss diet in the world is? Seriously? It’s the one you can stick with long term. +

DECEMBER 7, 2018

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

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Musings of a Distractible Mind

really like Van Morrison. If I need to be lifted up on a Friday afternoon I’ll play a greatest hits album and will quickly be smiling. One of my favorite songs is Days Like This. You would expect when someone says “there will be days like this,” they are complaining about days when everything goes wrong and you just have to endure to the end, hoping that “the sun comes up tomorrow.” But this song takes a different tack:

When it’s not always raining there’ll be days like this When there’s no one complaining there’ll be days like this When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch Well my mama told me there’ll be days like this When you don’t need to worry there’ll be days like this When no one’s in a hurry there’ll be days like this When you don’t get betrayed by that old Judas kiss Oh my mama told me there’ll be days like this

by Augusta physician Rob Lamberts, MD, recovering physician, internet blogger extraordinaire, and TEDx Augusta 2018 speaker.

Reach him via Twitter: @doc_rob or via his website: moredistractible.org

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DECEMBER 7, 2018

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I had been listening to that song this morning and then walked into the exam room and was greeted with a big smile. She’s a widow in her early 70s who has been my patient for around 20 years. She takes care of her grandchildren, loves kids in general, and tries to keep active, despite significant arthritis in her back.

She is also valium for my soul.

Our discussion had a level of familiarity and friendship, her sharing about her granddaughter’s inquisitive mind and me returning stories of my son’s insatiable appetite for information when he was young (as a 4-year old he peppered me with questions about “welcome centers” for about 20 minutes). We both laughed at each other’s stories and I took care of her medical problems and preventive medicine.

She complained when I scheduled her colonoscopy. The visit ended with the inevitable hug and an “I love you” from her.

Valium.

There is something unique in the relationships I have with my long-term patients. I’ve practiced now for 24 years, and many of those who followed me to this practice were with me from very early on.

There’s a level of intimacy when you know about a person’s health problems, live through emergencies and tragedies in their

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5 + lives, and have the responsibility of their medical care. It goes beyond friendship and familiarity. It really feels like family, but without the complications family brings.

Being a doctor involves hearing a person’s narrative and working to direct it in the best direction possible. There are some people for whom I have become a significant part of their narrative, and others whose narrative I know better than anyone else.

It’s a bond that doesn’t happen anywhere else.

The dangerous thing is to let the familiarity get in the way of the objectivity I have to keep to do a good job. But the depth of my care for these people can also serve as a motivation, as I want to keep them around as long as possible...for selfish reasons.

Doing the job for this long, I’ve figured out that balance, but I’m always extra aware of my lack of objectivity with these people.

The opposite kind of patient, the ones who somehow find ways to get under my skin, pose an equal threat. I have to put aside my own emotions and give them the best care I can. Something about giving care to them will often ease the negative emotion.

I guess it’s hard to feel bad toward someone while doing good for them. In truth, I don’t have many patients I feel negative toward.

Compassion and judgmental attitudes aren’t good bedfellows.

But I do let my emotional walls down with certain people. Some people just make me smile when I see their names on my schedule. It’s not that they are nicer than other patients (although that is often true); it’s more that they look at me with different eyes: eyes that are grateful, relaxed, and interested in me as a person. My blood pressure goes down after spending time with these people. They care for me and give me emotional care I am grateful for.

It’s one of the greatest privileges of my job.

When everyone is up front and they’re not playing tricks When you don’t have no freeloaders out to get their kicks When it’s nobody’s business the way that you want to live I just have to remember there’ll be days like this When no one steps on my dreams there’ll be days like this When people understand what I mean there’ll be days like this When you ring out the changes of how everything is Well mama told me there’ll be days like this +

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 7, 2018

MEDICALEXAMINER

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NOWWITHEASIERSUDOKUS! Because really, how much fun is a puzzle you can never solve?

WE’RE BEGGING YOU We’re never too proud to beg. What we’re begging for is Medicine in the First Person stories. With your help, we’d like to make this a feature in every issue of the Medical Examiner. After all, everybody has a story of something health- or medicine-related, and lots of people have many stories. Send your interesting (or even semi-interesting) stories to the Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903 or e-mail to Dan@AugustaRx.com. Thanks!

“The cause was a mystery for a long time.”

“And that’s when I fell.” nearest hospital “He doesn’t remember a thing.” “The was 30 miles away.”

“I was a battlefield medic.” “He was just two when he died.”

“OUCH!”

“It was a terrible tragedy.” “She saved “I sure learned my lesson.”

“I retired from medicine my life.” “It seemed like a miracle.” seven years ago.” “We had triplets.”

“It was my first year “I thought, ‘Well, this is it’.” NOTHING SEEMED of medical school.”

“They took me to the hospital by helicopter.” TO HELP, UNTIL. . “It took 48 stitches.”

ambulance crashed.”

“Now THAT hurt!” “The “My leg was broken “I’m not supposed to be alive.”

“This was on my third day in Afghanistan.” in three places.”

“I lost 23 pounds.” “Turned out it was just indigestion.”

“At first I thought it was something I ate.” “The smoke detector woke me up.”

Everybody has a story. Tell us yours.

Here’s our “No Rules Rules.” We’ll publish your name and city, or keep you anonymous. Your choice. Length? Up to you. Subject? It can be a monumental medical event or just a stubbed toe. It can make us laugh or make us cry. One thing we’re not interested in, however: please, no tirades against a certain doctor or hospital. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

GARDENVARIETY

Christmas is about relationships, fi rst with a baby born in a manger and then our family and friends. The simple joys of setting aside time to do crafts, game nights, movie watching, singing and of course creating yummy treats from the kitchen creates memories of a lifetime for young and old.

I have very fond memories of Christmas growing up on an Indiana dairy farm. My grandmother would bake the most incredible pies that filled the air with the sweet smell of pumpkin, apple, blueberry and any other fruit that was on the request list from family members.

I like making small individual pies with guests coming and going during the holiday season. If you love pumpkin pie, you will savor this version of miniature pumpkin hand pies fi lled with pumpkin purée, apples, maple and a blend of inviting pumpkin pie spices. I made a vegan pie crust, rolling it out to cut my Christmas tree shapes from, however, a store bought pie crust will work just fine for these pumpkin hand pies. This recipe is very flexible, you could add raisins, cranberries or finely chopped nuts if you so desire.

INGREDIENTS • 2 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored and diced into small pieces • 1/4 cup sugar • 2 tablespoons water • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree • 1 tablespoon maple syrup • 1 tablespoon cornstarch • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • 2 sheets of pie pastry dough • Flour for dusting dough • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar INSTRUCTIONS Place apple, sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Cover with lid and cook on medium for 5 minutes or until the apples are soft. Set aside to cool slightly.

Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice to apples, stirring gently.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together maple syrup and cornstarch until creamy smooth. Stir into apple and pumpkin mixture.

Unroll your pastry onto a flour dusted surface. Cut the desired shape with a cookie

Pumpkin Hand Pies cutter. Roll slightly 1/2 of the shapes with a rolling pin to make them just a bit bigger, these will be the tops of your pies.

Spoon apple and pumpkin filling onto half of your pastry shapes, being sure to leave about a 1/3 inch around the edges. Place the slightly larger pieces on top and seal all around the edges with a fork. Poke a steam hole on top of pastry with a tong of your fork.

Place the pan of pies into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake pies for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly and sprinkle with powdered sugar. +

by Gina Dickson, Augusta wife, mom and grandmother, colon cancer survivor, passionate about creating a community to help women serve healthy meals to their family. Visit my blog at thelifegivingkitchen.com

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+8

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 7, 2018

ASK DR. KARP

NO NONSENSE

NUTRITION Riley, a Facebook friend from Thomson, GA, asks “Should I take fish oil pills or not?”

Here is your answer, Riley: ”yes and no.” If you are a normal, healthy person and think that fish oil pills will increase your “wellness” or prevent a heart attack or stroke, then the answer is, “no, it probably won’t.” If, however, you are a highrisk heart attack patient, who has already had one cardiovascular event because of your high blood fat (triglycerides) levels, then the answer is, “yes, you should

take your fish oil pills.”

However, in this latter case, the fish oil pill needs to be prescribed by your physician and will be a specific type of fish oil, not simply any offthe-shelf product.

There is a big difference between merely deciding on your own to buy a commercially available, much-advertised and marketed, “fish oil pill” compared to having a specific disease or condition and being prescribed a fish oil pill by your physician.

In fact, I would say that you should never take fish oil supplements without speaking with your health care provider, fi rst. This is

because fish oil has many different effects on your body. One of these effects is decreasing the time it takes for your blood to clot. People who take self-prescribed fish oil pills, in addition to taking other supplements, such as a baby aspirin or Vitamin E, can get into serious trouble.

All three — fish oil, aspirin and Vitamin E — slow down the ability of your blood to clot. Taking two or three of these pills together can cause prolonged bleeding and big problems. So don’t do it without speaking to your physician. Just because a supplement is available “off-the-shelf” in your local store doesn’t mean it is

automatically safe to take.

Have you noticed that within the last month or so there has been a lot on TV, radio and written media about fish oil? This is because last month the latest scientific findings on fish oil were published at the American Heart Association annual meeting.

What the data shows is that for most normal, healthy people, spending your food dollar buying fish is a much better alternative than buying pills. However, for people who have already had a heart attack, taking a fish oil pill can have a large and very significant effect on lowering the chance of a second heart attack. This is especially true for people with a specific medical condition known as hypertriglyceridemia. If you have been diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia, this can and should be treated by

your physician.

When you take food or food supplements for medical reasons, they act as drugs rather than nutrients. They can have many different effects on your body compared to when you simply eat the food. In addition, a food supplement such as fish oil, when prescribed by a physician, usually contains a specific component molecule of known medical efficacy, not just a poorly-defined mix of molecules. So, for example, the fish oil usually prescribed for high triglycerides is high in EPA, or eicosapaentanoic acid, not just the usual mix found in most common overthe-counter fish oil pills.

What is the “no-nonsense” nutrition advice for today? It’s simple. If you are a normal, healthy person, use the money it costs to buy a bottle of fish oil pills to buy some fish instead. Then, bake or broil the fish; don’t fry it. If, on the other hand, you have been medically prescribed a fish oil supplement to prevent a heart attack, either because you have already had a heart attack or because you are in a high-risk group, then take the specific pill prescribed by your physician. See how simple?

And finally, another piece of December advice: have a safe and happy holiday season and a very healthy New Year! +

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 freely-available, 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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9 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

Ask a Dietitian BE AN INFORMED EATER

by Pamela Crutsinger, RD, LD Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center A late-night talk show host once conducted a social experiment where he asked a group of gluten-free individuals if they knew what gluten was. Their responses were as entertaining as they were inaccurate. All the individuals were proud to say that they adhered to gluten-free diet, but no one was able to explain what it was. As a Registered Dietitian, I often use this video as an example of how people are quick to start a new diet and to define certain foods, particularly carbohydrates, as being “bad” without understanding the reasoning behind it. In this article, we’ll put aside the labels and briefly define some commonly used nutrition terms to help inspire you to become more informed on what you chose to eat.

The Celiac Disease Foundation defines gluten as the “Protein found in wheat that helps food maintain its shape, acting as a glue that holds food together.” Gluten is most commonly found in foods that contain wheat, barley, and rye but can also be found in other products, even in some brands of makeup. For the average person, gluten is easily digestible and poses no issues. However, an individual diagnosed with celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder) can suffer severe gastrointestinal side effects if even the smallest trace of gluten is consumed. If you experience any symptoms when consuming foods that contain wheat, barley, and rye you should consult your medical provider to see if testing for a gluten-intolerance is indicated.

Whether you eat gluten or not, carbohydrates are the main sources of fuel for our bodies. They are a group of large, organic compounds found in foods such as starch, sugar, and cellulose which the body breaks down to provide energy. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) endorses MyPlate, which recommends that carbohydrates should make up about half of the average American diet. The specific amount of carbohydrates needed varies from person to person depending on physical activity and certain medical conditions, such as diabetes. In addition, it is also important to take into consideration the overall nutritional quality of the carbohydrates you eat.

Throughout my career, I have found that carbohydrates often gain a bad reputation because many people associate them with what Registered Dietitians call “energy-dense foods.”

ROLLED SANDWICHES • SOUPS • SALADS Energy-dense foods have high calorie content. Examples of these foods include cheese, pastas, pastries, oils, nuts, and seeds. In CATERING IS OUR contrast, nutrient-dense foods have a high nutrient content and a MIDDLE NAME. lower calorie content. Examples of these foods include fresh fruits (Like when we sign something, and vegetables and low-fat dairy. Although some people may think it’s always “Roly C. Poly”) that energy-dense foods are bad for you, Registered Dietitians will rarely discourage you from eating them, but rather suggest that you balance them with nutrient-dense foods. For example, when people think about pasta, they think about over-sized portions of fettuccini alfredo or spaghetti served with meatballs the size of your head. However, if you shift your perspective and think about an appropriate serving of pasta tossed with olive-oil, vegetables, and lean protein, you’ll have a balanced meal.

With so many diets and changing food trends it can be very difficult to determine which ones are safe and effective. A rule of 3626 Walton Way Extension thumb that I always tell my patients is that if it’s too good to be (Walton’s Corner) true, it probably isn’t true. At the end of the day, you ultimately Phone: 706.736.1099 make the decision on what you decide to eat – or not eat – so Fax: 706.736.4401 make it an informed decision. If you aren’t sure about a specific food or diet, I encourage you take the time to research it on the OrderRolyPoly.com Please see BE INFORMED page 15

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 7, 2018

DARWIN… from page 2 stands out the most was posed by the receptionist at the office of a healthcare provider I visited for treatment of my injury. After asking what happened, her next question was not, “Do you have a photo ID?” or “Has your insurance changed since your last visit?” No, she

NEXT ISSUE: THE MONEY DOCTOR

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asked, “Have you ever heard of the Darwin Awards?” I’m still not quite sure whether to be offended or flattered.

If you aren’t familiar with the Darwin Awards, they are bestowed upon people — mostly men, curiously enough — who make extremely stupid decisions.

My actions do not qualify, of course. First of all, what I did wasn’t award-level dumb, was it? Also, to qualify for

*

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welp

Darwin Award consideration, a person cannot be merely monumentally stupid. His actions must also result in his own accidental death or sterilization. He thereby removes himself from the gene pool and protects future generations of humanity from inherited stupidity.

I think there are several lessons we can all glean from my unfortunate accident.

One of the key takeaways

Find ears ™

Organs

Glands

is this: if you hurt yourself doing something idiotic, keep it to yourself. Or maybe tell people you just got back from fighting California wildfi res and got hurt jumping from a helicopter to rescue six children and a puppy.

So yes, that is what actually happened. I was totally kidding about jumping off my car. Really. + — by Dan Pearson The Medical Examiner

Near Augusta GA Bones

Joints

d Other

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H H H H H 11/27/2018 I once had the opportunity to meet a business tycoon who was so rich that people said he had money coming out of his ears. When I finally met him, it was not true. Very disappointing. +

Anna K. Clearwater, SC

H H H H H 11/28/2018 One of my co-workers was so annoying, then we found out she was also stealing from the company.

My boss threw her out on her ear. +

Nicholas J. McBean, GA

H H H H H 11/28/2018 Last Friday night I went out with my buddies and wound up blowing my whole paycheck drinking and partying. Came home drunk at 2 a.m. and believe me, my wife gave me an earful. Thankfully, an earful really isn’t very much, you know? +

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H H H H H 11/29/2018 I have super ugly ears, and I found a cosmetic surgeon who said he could fix them. The surgery was botched, and now my ugly ears are even uglier. Talk about an ear muff! +

Terry T. Aiken, SC

H H H H H 11/30/2018 This might be a stupid question, but can earwax be used to polish stuff? Asking for a friend. +

Tina C. Wrens, GA

H H H H H 11/30/2018 I bet I’m the only person my age who hasn’t gotten her ears pierced yet. I’m terrified at the very thought of it! I’ve made up my mind and then chickened out at least 50 times. But next week my friend is taking me to a concert by this super-loud band. She says the music is so loud it’s ear-piercing.

Problem solved, baby! +

Britney B. N. Augusta, SC

H H H H H 12/1/2018 My boyfriend listens to all kinds of heavy music, and he says my music is nothing but ear candy. Now I’m worried because I go to the dentist next week. I hope I won’t have cavities in my ears. I also heard something about sinus cavities. That’s just great. +

Dave J. Augusta, GA

H H H H H 12/3/2018 I know this one guy who is constantly talking about his ear buds. That’s all well and good for him, but I just don’t have that kind of relationship with my ears. Sorry if that isn’t politically correct or whatever. Hey, whatever floats his boat, but my buds are actual people. +

Courtney D. Evans, GA

H H H H H 12/4/2018 Do you want perfect health? Do you want all of your problems solved? Do you want to feel like a million bucks every day? Do you want to change your life forever? Then PM me for an ear candling party! Extract all the toxins that have built up in your body for years with the suction power of a single candle stuck in your ear! I could not say it if it wasn’t true! PM me today! Free hostess gift if you invite at least 25 friends! +

TELL A FRIEND ABOUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER!

DECEMBER 7, 2018

11 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Roy A. Meals, MD, on Sept. 30, 2018

THIS PHYSICIAN STUCK HIMSELF WITH A NEEDLE. INTENTIONALLY. I stuck myself with a hypodermic needle the other day.

Intentionally. The first time in over 25 years of doctoring.

More surprising, a six-year-old patient told me to do it, so I had to.

The boy, who I’ll call Tyler, came to the office with his father. Tyler had a large ganglion cyst on the back of his wrist — bigger than a jellybean. I told Tyler and his father all about ganglions and their treatment and my advice to drain it with a needle. Tyler didn’t say anything when I mentioned “needle,” but his eyes and body language told me that he wasn’t liking the idea. In a loving way his father told him he needed to be brave, that some things just have to be endured. I added the standard (and true), “It’s a very little needle. You’ll hardly feel it.” I sprayed a cold liquid first on my hand, then on his father’s hand, and then on Tyler’s to demonstrate its pre-needle numbing effect.

Even so, his facial expression told me that he wasn’t going for it. Struggling to control his tears, he asked to see the needle. I showed it to him. Then with astounding wisdom he blurted, “If it doesn’t hurt, stick yourself with it.” I took a deep breath and thought, wow, how am I going to make lemonade out of lemons?

“If I stick myself, then will you go through with it too?”

With his assurance that he would, I sprayed my wrist cold, tried to disguise my hesitancy, and stuck myself while he watched intently for any sign of a flinch. “Not fun, but not horrible,” I related calmly.

Tyler climbed into the security of his father’s lap and embracing arms. He buried his face and put his hand on the table. I drained his ganglion without hearing a whimper.

Tyler and I got Band-Aids. We all left the room with a heightened multigenerational respect, courtesy of our amazing hands. +

A six-year-old told me to do it.

So I had to.

Roy A. Meals is an orthopedic surgeon who blogs at About Bone.

M TIME MAKE SURE TO ALWAYS RESERVE A LITTLE

.

.

Given the chance by a doctor to make three trivial wishes — because we already had perfect health and mountains of wealth and therefore no need for granting a serious wish — maybe a few of us would want the doctor to simply tell us their stories.

What is it really like to be a doctor? What’s the grossest thing you’ve ever seen? Is it hard to make life-and-death decisions all the time? Who are the patients that you’ll never forget? What’s the gnarliest injury you’ve ever treated? What is the weirdest way somebody ever got hurt?

Now, before you say that wish would never make your list, let’s recall how popular Chicago Med, Grey’s Anatomy, Code Black, ER, Scrubs, The Resident, Nurse Jackie, Nip/Tuck, Doogie Howser, M.D., St. Elswehere, Chicago Hope, M*A*S*H, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Trapper John, M.D., Marcus Welby, M.D., Ben Casey, House, M.D., Dr. Kildare, Private Practice and General Hospital all are or have been.

Clearly, we collectively

have a pretty strong obsession with the medical profession.

Well, this book is one more way to satisfy your addiction and give yourself a fi x.

In all likelihood the only doctors who have never been terrified or who have made a tragic mistake that cost (or almost cost) a patient’s life are the ones who are lying about it. Fortunately for us, Dr. Holt, our storyteller for this issue, is not a liar.

In fact, this book starts out with a tale from Dr. Holt’s very fi rst night on call as an intern that’s so harrowing that you’ll be forgiven for thinking, “This guy made it through med school? How?”

Or maybe you’ll think of the old joke: what do they call the person who graduates last in their class at med school?

Answer: doctor.

But everyone has to start somewhere, and that place is usually at the bottom. There’s no place to go but up.

Sometimes patients ponder all the uncertainties of the near future as they face some medical crossroad or another.

It may not be comforting to know, but sometimes doctors — even the very ones about to treat us — are facing uncertainties of their own about our diagnosis and best regimen of care.

In the end, anything that pulls back the curtain and replaces some of the mystique of medicine with kernels of unvarnished truth is a good thing, and this book certainly does that.

Know someone who’s contemplating a career in medicine? This would be an eye-opening read for them. + Internal Medicine: A Doctor’s Stories, by Henry Marsh, M.D., 288 pages, published in October 2015 by Liveright Books

Research News Kill switch engaged A group of scientists at Northwestern University has discovered a way to make and activate a cancer kill switch.

Cancer describes an unnatural and malignant proliferation of cells, like someone just tapped on a car’s horn and the horn stays on, blaring away for hours despite all attempts to stop it.

Cells in our body regularly regenerate, so the “planned obsolescence” process itself is normal and natural (as an aside, it is a myth that every cell in the body is replaced every 7 years). But therein lies the challenge for cancer researchers and front-line oncologists: how do you put the brakes on malignant growth without affecting normal cell regeneration?

It’s hard. But the Northwestern team found a natural kill switch, a mechanism that all healthy cells have that essentially forces rogue cells to commit

suicide. If the switch fails to work, the cell’s normal programmed death doesn’t happen.

Isolating the so-called kill switches from healthy cells and then introducing them into rapidly proliferating cancers enabled the runaway growth to be checked without harming natural and normal cell growth.

While we all await years of further research into this exciting discovery, the researchers noted that about 40 percent of all cancers could be prevented through a handful of simple lifestyle changes: not smoking, maintaining healthy weight and eating a balanced diet, cutting back on alcohol, and enjoying the sun safely.

Why sleep and screens are enemies A study published late last month in Cell Reports tells why and how scientists believe ambient light from

screens disrupts sleep.

Salk Institute researchers acknowledge that all of us are continuously exposed to artificial light. However, when a certain layer of retinal cells are exposed to ongoing artificial light (more than 10 minutes) they activate proteins that regulate consciousness, sleep and alertness. They also suppress the hormone melatonin, which is responsible for regulating sleep. The same light that isn’t a problem at 11 a.m. can be a problem at 11 p.m.

The study findings suggest that just when various body systems are shutting down for the night, a bedtime screen session can act like an alarm clock, resetting the body’s internal clocks for another day. It can take a period of darkness for the effects of the artificial light to be gradually suppressed and for the body to return to getting-ready-tosleep mode. +

+ 12

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THE EXAMiNERS +

How long ago did been over you twist your ankle? aIt’smonth now.

by Dan Pearson

And you’re still using crutches? Come on. How much longer are you going to milk this thing?

You know what I think?

I think you’re using these You may I’m not milking it. crutches as crutches. have a point.

I’m still in pain.

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Has to 5. Kiln for drying hops 9. Blood prefix 13. Seaward 14. Brief advertisement 16. Bedouin 17. Ella’s style 18. Sleep disorder 19. Tears 20. Peace salutation 22. NL East champs of 2018 24. Extinct emu-like bird 25. The current veep 26. What 401 was 28. ___ Ridge, “The Atomic City” 29. Fed. farming/food agcy.

32. ___ smear 33. Quaker product 34. Capital of Canada 36. Doc’s org.

37. WACG network 38. Ginger-based drink 39. Augusta has two 40. Noir follows these two words 42. Military abbrev.

43. Annoy 44. There are seven of them 45. Small low island 46. Former dawg Gurley 48. Bibb County (GA) seat 50. Flash intro 51. Young salmon 53. Arrangements beginning 57. Finding ______ 58. Like dry skin 61. Tailless amphibian 62. Level 63. A little bit off upstairs 64. South American Indian 65. Care for

ME

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Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATIONPUZZLE

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VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM

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All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing.

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

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Y R A U N A J IN G N I N R U T E R

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

60

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R K T L Y T H R S H E A A E Y I O S O — Lou Holtz

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved

64 66

67

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com

66. Bright star 67. Appear DOWN 1. Service at St. Mary on the Hill 2. Campus in Aiken (abbrev) 3. Heidi Klum’s ex 4. Japanese straw mat 5. President #44 6. High mountain 7. Type of roof or dress 8. “Mr. Jeopardy” 9. Gather in 10. Canal opened in 1825 11. Atlas pages 12. Childbirth docs 15. Building for storing hay 21. Popular ISP 23. Severe/sudden 25. Vanna’s partner 26. Famous Dean 27. With speed 28. Canoe propulsion system 30. DDE’s middle name

31. Prize 32. Friend 33. Choose 34. ___ Medical College 35. Inquire of 37. Related to the nose 38. Grant of Augusta 41. Hills of North Augusta 42. Pale 45. Candy ingredient?

46. The fox in The Fox and the Hound 47. _________ Media 49. To cover with a ceiling 50. Mega-hit for Outkast 51. Ballesteros to friends 52. Corner of world renown 54. Marrow lead-in 55. Ornamental fabric 56. Cheese coated with red wax 57. Neutrality adjective 59. Dove sound 60. The most common STD Solution p. 14

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.

E X A M I N E R

2 6 5

7

3 8 2 8 4

9 5 4 6 3

8 6 5 3 2

1 9 4 3 8 2 7

S U 1 D O K 9 U

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved. Built with software from www.crauswords.com

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 keypad letters to convert numbers into words suggested by the definitions provided. Sample: 742 (body part) = RIB. Solution on page 14.

1. 547 (body part) ___

6. 56337 (body parts) _____

2. 6673 (body part) ____

7. 27246 (body part) _____

3. 7222 (body part) ____

8. 77463 (body part) _____

4. 3338 (body parts) ____

9. 97478 (body part) _____

5. 3937 (body parts) ____

10. 7866224 (body part) _______

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved

TEXT

1

THE MYSTERY WORD The Mystery Word for this issue: REMUNST

© 2018 Daniel Pearson All rights reserved.

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

DECEMBER 7, 2018

DECEMBER 7, 2018

13 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE

The

Advice Doctor

God turns his attention to the second dog. “What about you? What did you do on Earth?”

“I was a police dog for 12 years. I was shot and killed trying to subdue a suspected murderer.”

“Very good,” says God. “Please come sit here by my throne.”

God turns his attention to the cat and begins, “What did you...”

“Excuse me,” the cat interrupts. “You’re in my chair.”

ha... ha...

A

disoriented grape wakes up in a hospital and asks, “Where am I?” “You’re in Australia mate,” comes the answer.

“Was I brought here to die?” the worried grape asks.

“No, mate,” says the nurse. “You’ve been here since yesterday.”

Moe: I got this amazing app that actually shows me which of my friends and relatives are ignorant, racist and bigoted.

Joe: That does sound amazing. What’s it called?

Moe: Facebook.

Moe: You already quit your job at the Moe: The probe that landed on Mars last week is going to see if the red planet has earthquakes. helium factory? Why? Joe: I refuse to be spoken to in that tone.

Joe: I could have saved them the money. Mars never has earthquakes, only Marsquakes.

Moe: Do you think my kids are spoiled?

Joe: Not to be mean, but they sure smell Moe: With everybody eating turkeys on like it sometimes.

Thanksgiving, I wonder what turkeys ate?

Joe: Nothing. They were stuffed.

Moe: On the news they said a guy robbed the bank wearing underpants as a mask.

Two dogs and a cat die and go to heaven Joe: That’s crazy. Have they caught him? where they are brought before God to Moe: They have a person of interest in determine their final eternal resting place. God asks the fi rst dog, “What did you do on Earth?” custody. I understand they’re debriefing him now.

“I spent the past 15 years as a guide for a blind person. In fact, I died protecting him Moe: Isn’t it amazing to think that heat, from being hit by a car.” pressure and time can create diamonds?

“Well done,” says God. “Come sit by my Joe: I thought you were going to say waffles. + side.”

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? What do you mean?

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

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

©

Dear Advice Doctor, My husband is a first responder and was serving in the Gulf Coast area in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The day before he was supposed to come home an urgent call went up for help in Northern California and the search for fire victims there. He responded again. All told he was gone from home, his family, and his job, for seven weeks. What as a community - and individually - can we do to show these large-hearted, self-sacrificing people the depth of our appreciation?

— Responding to a responder

Dear Responding, I certainly share your concern, and I’m glad you took the time to write about this important matter.

The medical term for an enlarged heart is cardiomegaly.

It’s too bad we aren’t talking about a common colloquial term for generous people, who are said to be “big-hearted.”

Metaphorically, a large heart is a good thing. Medically, not so much.

Like any other muscle, the heart can get bigger the more it is exercised, so athletes are sometimes found to have enlarged hearts. Depending on their overall medical picture, this can be grounds for concern or nothing to worry about.

For the average armchair athlete, however, common reasons the heart has to work overtime include high blood pressure and blockages typical of coronary artery disease.

There are a number of other causes, as well as cases where doctors can’t find a cause. Sometimes cardiomegaly is a permanent condition, in other cases it’s temporary. An enlarged heart has thickened walls, so it doesn’t circulate blood as efficiently as it should.

Because of that, some indicators which suggest a prompt visit to a doctor include shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and swelling in feet and ankles. On the other hand, chest pains, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness and pain in the neck, jaw, and arms mean that emergency medical care is the next step to take. Managing cardiomegaly can prolong life and prevent a whole laundry list of side effects.

Preventive steps include not smoking, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, and eating a healthy diet.

I hope this answers your question. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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Why read the Medical Examiner: Reason #22

By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers.

If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!

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

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Y R A U N A J N I G N I N R U T E R

...cleverly hidden on the roof in p. 9 ad for OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF AUGUSTA THE WINNER: ANDREW FELAK 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 PUZZLE SOLVED M A S S

U S C A

J P A A M L E S S N E E V T E

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T O A A B L T A P A A M M O A A I L O P O A A N P R C H A T E A S C M A C O A M L E T M O I T E N L O N D N

CO

SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. Limited sizes are available for shirt prize. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

1. LIP 2. NOSE 3. SCAB 4. FEET 5. EYES

E R I E

M O A B P S S

D A V I T O D O T D I B T O I N S E

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A C U T E

H A R V E S T

6. KNEES 7. BRAIN 8. SPINE 9. WRIST 10. STOMACH

L A C E

E D A M

TheSUDOKUsolution 2 3 8 4 7 6 5 9 1

6 7 1 3 9 5 2 8 4

5 9 4 8 2 1 6 7 3

7 8 6 2 3 9 1 4 5

9 5 2 1 6 4 7 3 8

1 4 3 5 8 7 9 2 6

4 1 9 7 5 3 8 6 2

8 6 5 9 4 2 3 1 7

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QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

— Lou Holtz

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

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...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!

DECEMBER 7, 2018

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DECEMBER 7, 2018

STRESS … from page 2

BE INFORMED… from page 9 help and coordinate activities with all involved in your plans. Coordinate babysitting, present wrapping, shopping excursions, tree decorating, cooking and baking, budgeting or drawing names to exchange presents. Make it fun. Mark it on calendars.

Make lists.

• Sleep well, eat well, and exercise. Keep your routines.

I wish you all a beautiful holiday season. Take care of yourselves and each other and remember why each of you are celebrating this season.

“Doctor” Busbee is an Academic Librarian with a passion for multidisciplinary research. In spirit of 19th century advertisements, medicine, and ensuing quackery she would like to remind everyone to evaluate what you hear, see, and read before you believe it. And always, have conversations with your doctors. There is no substitute.

References 1. Paul, S. ‘Festive Stress’ is ruining America’s Holiday Season. New York Post. https:// nypost.com/2017/12/21/festivestress-is-ruining-americasholiday-season/. December 21, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2018.

2. Six Myths About Stress.

American Psychological Association. https://www.apa. org/helpcenter/stress-myths. aspx. Accessed November 5, 2018.

3. Five Things You Should Know About Stress. National Institute of Mental Health. https:// www.nimh.nih.gov/health/ publications/stress/index.shtml.

Accessed November 5, 2018.

4. Yaribeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahraei H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI J. 2017;16:1057-1072. Published 2017 Jul 21.

5. Dhabhar, F. Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunol Res. 2014; 58(2-3):193-210. +

AND website at Eatright.org or use the “Find an Expert Tool” located on the website to consult a Registered Dietitian near you.

EASY PASTA SALAD WITH CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES Recipe By Tessa Nguyen RD, LDN from EatRight.org Ingredients • 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed • 1 6-ounce can chicken breast packed in water, drained and rinsed • 1⁄2 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing • 16 ounces uncooked wholewheat pasta • 1 10-ounce bag frozen mixed vegetables Directions • Bring a gallon-sized pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

• Two minutes before pasta is finished cooking, add in the frozen mixed vegetables. Once pasta is cooked and vegetables are tender, drain into colander.

• While pasta and vegetables are cooking, gently mix the rinsed and drained beans, chicken and salad dressing in a large bowl until combined.

• Add the pasta and vegetables to the bowl and mix with the beans, chicken and salad dressing. Serve warm or cold.

Cooking Tip • Garbanzo beans are also known as chickpeas. Feel free to substitute any type of

bean you like for the garbanzo beans; or use tuna in place of canned chicken breast.

Try using your favorite salad dressing flavor in place of balsamic vinaigrette.

• When selecting which shape pasta to use, opt for smaller pasta such as rotini, macaroni or shells, which are similar in size to the vegetables and chicken. This will allow for better mixture of ingredients and dressing.

Nutrition Information Serving size: 1 cup Serves: 10 Calories: 315; Total fat: 9g; Sat. fat: 1.5g; Chol.: 14mg; Sodium: 235mg; Carb.: 46g; Fiber 5g; Sugars: 2g; Protein 15g References: “Easy Pasta Salad with Chicken and Vegetables Recipe.” Tessa Nguyen RD,LDN, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nov. 19, 2018, https:// www.eatright.org/food/planningand-prep/recipes/easy-pasta-saladwith-chicken-and-vegetables-recipe.

“Pedestrian Question – What is Gluten.” Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC, May 6. 2014.

“Use the Dietary Guidelines, MyPlate and Food Labels to Make Healthy Choices.” Barbara Gordon, RDN, LD, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Nov. 19, 2018, https://www. eatright.org/food/nutrition/dietaryguidelines-and-myplate/use-thedietary-guidelines-myplate-and-foodlabels-to-make-healthy-choices.

“What is Gluten.” Celiac Disease Foundation, Nov. 19, 2018, https:// celiac.org/gluten-free-living/whatis-gluten/. +

Have you heard?

Fitzpatrick Opticians are also experts in HEARING AIDS, offering the latest advancements in both technology and comfort.

Visit us to hear and see the difference!

Fitzpatrick Opticians 410 University Parkway, Suite 2700 in Aiken Medical Center next to Aiken Regional Hospital

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<Aiken

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HOSPITAL AIKEN MEDICAL CENTER Enter on upper level

UNIVERSITY PKWY

This holiday season try to slow down, enjoy the holiday, and manage stress levels. Here are some tips on how to have a more relaxed holiday this year: • Have realistic expectations.

This is the most important tip.

• Lighten your cooking duties.

Pare down the menu or ask people to help and have a potluck style meal.

• Set your budget for spending and stick to it.

• Limit charging expenses.

• Shop over the internet using safe sites. Beat the crowds and have a larger selection of items to choose from.

• Discuss the goal of having a more relaxed season with the family. This may help temper expectations for everyone.

• Help others in need. Don’t forget about those who may be alone. If you’re alone, reach out.

• For every stressful day of errands, so something you enjoy for yourself.

• Don’t hesitate to ask for

15 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

USC AIKEN

Augusta>

+ 16

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

IT’S A QUESTION OF CARE How can I help someone who may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder?

We all deal with changes in weather and climate in different ways. However, for a certain part of the population, shorter days with less sunlight and cloudy days can be problematic. This can be exacerbated in the elderly population as they are limited already in their ability to go outside and access sunlight.

If you find that at certain times of the year your loved one seems to have changes in appetite or sleep, less energy, irritability, or loss of interest in socializing and other activities, it might be Seasonal Affective Disorder as opposed to depression, as these symptoms are similar to depression. It’s helpful to talk to a loved one about this if he or she is able to share thoughts or feelings. You can certainly take them to the doctor and talk with the physician about your observations and what your loved one is noting as well.

DECEMBER 7, 2018

Ways you can help include: • Light Therapy: Use a light box if they do not have access to ample sunlight.

Daily exposure to sunlight - at least about 20-30 minutes is very helpful - if your loved one has the time and the physical help to get outside and the weather permits. We all know that as we age, we’re more susceptible to feeling uncomfortable in cold weather. This can deter elderly people from wanting to go outside. If they can sit in a heated sun room, that is better than a darkened living room.

• Vitamin D: Making sure that their diet has vitamin D in it is helpful as well. When they do access the sunlight, their bodies will have a better chance of converting and absorbing the vitamin D and being healthier overall.

• Reminders: They will need you to encourage them to “get out into the

sunshine” and help them make this happen on a regular basis if they have cognitive or physical deficits, which prevent them from doing this on their own. It might be that you ask a caregiver to make this part of your loved one’s routine, you call and remind your loved one, or you actually go to where your loved one lives and help them “soak up some sunshine.”

• Relocation: If your loved one happens to live in a geographic area of the country that has significantly more cloudy and gloomy days than other areas and you find that this is a significant problem for them, it might be that if you live in a sunnier area, they can move closer to you. +

by Amy Hane, a licensed Master Social Worker in South Carolina and Georgia, an Advanced Professional Aging Life Care Manager and also a Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager.

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

COUNSELING

DENTISTRY

Dr. Judson S. Hickey 2315-B Central Ave Augusta 30904 PRACTICE CLOSED 706-739-0071 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 Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 706-733-3373 SKIN CANCER CENTER www.GaDerm.com

Resolution Counseling Professionals 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 Augusta 30909 706-432-6866 Karen L. Carter, MD www.visitrcp.com 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com Your Practice And up to four additional lines of your choosing and, if desired, your logo.

Keep your contact information in Steppingstones to Recovery this convenient place seen by tens of 2610 Commons Blvd. thousands of patients every month. Augusta 30909 Literally! Call (706) 860-5455 for all 706-733-1935 the details

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS

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LONG TERM CARE

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

PHARMACY Medical Center West Pharmacy 465 North Belair Road Evans 30809 706-854-2424 www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com Parks Pharmacy 437 Georgia Ave. N. Augusta 29841 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com

SENIOR LIVING

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

VEIN CARE Vein Specialists of Augusta G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 706-854-8340 www.VeinsAugusta.com

YOUR LISTING HERE

Augusta Gardens Senior Living Community 3725 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 Augusta Area Healthcare Provider SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY 706-868-6500 Prices from less than $100 for six months www.augustagardenscommunity.com CALL 706.860.5455 TODAY!

If you would like your medical practice listed in the Professional Directory, call the Medical Examiner at 706.860.5455