Feb6 15 by Daniel Pearson

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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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got milk? what about bread?

ast year at about this time, the Augusta area was hit with an epic ice storm. Store shelves — if you could get to them, and if the store was open — looked like this (above). While it’s not likely we’ll see a repeat performance this winter, eventually we’ll all be running to stores again, whether the reason is Icemageddon II or some other catastrophe. Online Medical Examiner readers and subscribers in parts north may face this issue tomorrow. The question: what’s up with the mad rush to buy bread and milk? A Washington Post article last week was headlined, “Milk and bread are actually pretty terrible survival foods.” Why? Milk won’t last long after the power goes out, and would likely freeze if kept outside. Bread also has a short shelf life. What’s a better choice when the world is coming to an end and all you have time for is one last trip to Kroger? Buy stuff that’s high in nutrition, doesn’t require cooking, and that won’t spoil tomorrow. Such as: peanut butter, crackers, tuna (make sure you have a manual can opener), bottled water, nuts, trail mixes, granola bars, and — if cooking fuel is available and expected to continue to be — canned vegetables and soup. Hmm... No mention of bread and milk... +

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Work it, baby! American Heart Month is a great time to turn the spotlight on simple ways to make hearts healthier. Ironically enough, taking it easy is not the best way to reward our heart for all its hard work. Like any muscle, the heart gets stronger by working. “But doesn’t the heart work all day every day, 24/7?” you ask. True enough. A heart will beat an average of 3 billion times in an average lifetime. But don’t forget there’s an entire circulatory system connected to this amazing pump. So if our veins and arteries aren’t in good health, it can make the heart work harder. It’s not entirely apt to compare getting exercise with “blowing the carbon out” of a car’s exhaust system by revving up the motor, but it does suggest one of the systemic benefits of exercise. The trouble is, exercise is notoriously difficult to stick with. It can be boring, time-consuming, and sweaty. Yuck. But there’s an old joke that puts things into perspective. A doctor asks a patient, “What fits your busy schedule better: exercising a half hour per day, or being dead 24 hours a day?” With that in mind, here are some tips for exercise success from the American Heart Association:

Dress for success • Wear comfortable, properly fitted sneakers or flat shoes with laces. • Wear comfortable, loosefitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.

Make the time! • Start slowly. Gradually build up to at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days of the week (or whatever your doctor recommends). • Exercise at the same time of day so it becomes a regular part of your lifestyle. For example, you might walk every Monday,

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 12:30 or from 7:00 to 7:30 pm • Find a convenient time and place to do activities. Try to make it a habit, but be flexible. If you miss an exercise opportunity, work activity into your day another way. Keep reasonable expectations of yourself. • If you have a high risk of coronary heart disease or some other chronic health problem, check with your healthcare provider before beginning a physical activity program. • Look for chances to be more active during the day. Walk the mall before shopping, take the stairs instead of the escalator or take 10–15 minute breaks while watching TV or sitting for walking or some other activity. • Don’t get discouraged if you stop for a while. Get started again gradually and work up to your old pace. • Don’t exercise too vigorously right after meals, when it’s very hot or humid, or when you just don’t feel up to it. Make it fun! • Choose activities that are fun, not exhausting. Add variety. Develop a repertoire of several activities that you can enjoy. That way exercise will never seem boring or routine. • Ask family and friends to Please see HEART page 6

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

The Short White Coat A

ccording to the CDC, as of January 28, the measles outbreak has reached a total of 84 cases across 14 states, with the main outbreak occurring at Disneyland. Why did this outbreak happen? Measles was eradicated in 2000 (in that it was considered no longer endemic or native to the United States). This means that any cases of measles occurring since then have been the result of re-introduction from foreign travelers into the A med student’s notebook US. The outbreak occurring now, however, is a different sort of beast. And despite what many people think, measles is not a rare disease. At least, not any more. First, let’s review what measles is. The infection begins with symptoms of congestion, runny nose, cough, watery red eyes (conjunctivitis) and a high fever. After a few days, a fine rash of small red spots will appear, starting at the head and working its way down the body. Sometimes, white spots appear inside the mouth. The virus is spread through droplets from the nose or mucus membranes that contaminate the air or surfaces that have been coughed or sneezed on. Simply being around someone infected with the measles virus, touching things they have touched, or breathing air they have coughed or sneezed into, can put you at risk of infection if you are not immune. Disneyland is a vacation hotspot for people both from here in the US and abroad, so it makes sense that it could serve as an epicenter for a major outbreak of disease. Unimmunized and immunized visitors alike come into contact with people infected with a virus such as measles. Unlike the Ebola virus, which is highly infectious (ie, only a small number of virus particles are needed to cause an infection in a host), the measles virus is highly contagious (ie, people coming into contact with infected people have a greater than 90% chance of getting sick themselves). Furthermore, the incubation period — when a person is exposed and infected with the virus but not yet showing signs and symptoms — lasts several days. This means infected people can spread the virus before they even know they are sick. Worst of all, the measles virus is potentially deadly. Source: WHO Children, especially those too young to receive vaccinations, are very vulnerable to infection, and suffer high rates of morbidity and mortality – in other words, if they do not die from the infection there is still a huge risk of developing complications down the road. Some of the complications are truly horrible, including a type of encephalitis (brain infection) that can be deadly or cause irreversible brain damage. It is very important to realize that the measles virus is no joke. The World Health Organization reports 145,700 deaths worldwide from measles in 2013. But why did this outbreak happen if we had essentially eradicated the disease

In 1980, before widespread vaccination, measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year.

See WHITE COAT page 4

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FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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SEE PAGE SIX

What’s your story?

Nearly all of us — even doctors and nurses — are sometimes patients. Perhaps you were recently injured playing your favorite sport, or years ago you somehow got hurt without even leaving your favorite recliner. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, mugged in a dark and lonely parking lot, or you stubbed your toe in the safety of your own bedroom. On the other hand, perhaps you needed medical attention 5,000 miles from home. Whatever your medical experience, we’d like to hear your story for our Medicine in the First Person feature. It can be frightening or funny, ordinary or extraordinary, just a few paragraphs long or quite a lengthy tale, bylined or anonymous. We’ll publish your encounters with the medical profession as often as we receive them. +

Everything you need.

Send your submissions for Medicine in the First Person to the Augusta Medical Examiner via e-mail: info@AugustaRx.com or to PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397. (The Medical Examiner reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission at its sole discretion.)

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WHITE COAT… from page 2 15 years ago? The answer is simple: the anti-vaccine movement. It’s not my intent to be vindictive, but it is the honest to goodness truth that the movement against vaccinating children for these essentially preventable, deadly diseases is responsible for what is currently happening. It’s true that we cannot help whether children in other countries are vaccinated or not before they travel to the US, possibly bringing diseases with them. But we can protect ourselves so that an isolated case or two does not end up spreading like wildfire. The Measles vaccine can be given as part of an MMR (Measles + Mumps + Rubella) vaccine or an MMRV (MMR + Varicella) vaccine. One dose given between 12 to 15 months of age is 93% effective at preventing infection, and a second dose given at 4 to 6 years of age is 97% effective. And it is not just measles that is a good idea to prevent. Mumps causes horrible swelling of a child’s neck and can have serious complications later, including infertility in male children. Rubella, also known as German Measles, is not only serious in the primary infected host, but can cause death or birth defects in babies born to pregnant women infected with Source: CDC Rubella. Varicella causes chickenpox, which is a terribly uncomfortable infection that gets worse and more potentially fatal the older you get. Furthermore, chickenpox can come back later in life as shingles, an extremely painful blistering eruption that can result in intractable nerve pain even after the blisters clear up. It should be restated again, vaccines are not poisons. They are safe. They do not cause autism. They are not part of a government or pharmaceutical company conspiracy. Unless you have specific allergies to the vaccine components (which you can bring up and discuss with your doctor if you are unsure), vaccines will not harm you or your child. Repeat: they do not cause autism. The claims supporting this have been disproven again and again and again. British doctor Andrew Wakefield, author of the famous fraudulent autism study, has been discredited and has as a result lost his ability to practice medicine. There is an abundance of evidence and literature available everywhere to support the safety of vaccines, and these sources — including the CDC, the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH.gov) — are as reputable as they come. So please, if you have gained anything from reading this month’s Short White Coat, please vaccinate your children and/or yourself if you have not already done so. It can and will save the lives of children everywhere. Please! +

US measles cases 2012: 50 2014: 644 2015: ?

OLD NEWS +

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

ELDERLY DRIVERS AND WHEN TO STOP

efore my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she was getting lost driving just blocks from home. We stopped allowing her to take our children in the car with her, and shortly thereafter her husband simply disabled the car. She never questioned it. Unfortunately, such an easy fix isn’t possible for many families. When to have the discussion with an elderly relative about handing over the car keys can be a diplomatic trial, but it needs to be done before the first accident occurs. If there is aggressive resistance, the option of calling the person’s physician and involving them in the decision-making process is a sound one. This may seem extreme, but it’s better that than the alternative. Fatality rates climb after

the age of 65, according to a study done by Carnegie Mellon University and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. For the 75 to 84 age group, the death rate is 3 per day. For seniors 85 and older, that number skyrockets to a figure almost 4 times higher than even for teenagers. These numbers are shocking because by the year 2030, there will be 9.6 million people in the U.S. age 85 and older. That’s an increase of 73% from today’s numbers. The 50 states have a variety of approaches for dealing with elderly drivers, but no state has an age limit for holding a valid driver’s license. There are no set guidelines for testing or limiting driving privileges of the aged. Some states do require that people of a certain age renew their license in

by Caroline Colden 4th-year medical student at MCG Below is a list of helpful and informative resources for anyone interested in reading them. 1) The Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/infant-and-toddler-health/indepth/vaccines/art-20048334 2) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – concerning vaccines and autism: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Autism/Index.html 3) The CDC - concerning Measles: http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html 4) The National Institutes of Health (NIH): http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2013/autism-riskunrelated-to-total-vaccine-exposure-in-early-childhood.shtml 5) Autism Speaks – a wonderful resource with general information and updates about Autism Spectrum Disorders: http://www.autismspeaks.org/ 6) The World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/

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person and must take a vision test. Speed is usually not the problem; confusion is the more likely issue, often displayed in accidents at intersections. Confusion between the gas and brake pedal can quickly send a vehicles through buildings, store windows and doors, and into crowds. While we typically see teens involved in roll-over crashes, the elderly have more side impact collisions. As we age, reflexes, flexibility, visual acuity, memory and ability to focus all decline. Medications can affect our ability to make snap decisions. Older drivers are often aware of their limitations and most will self-regulate. That is, they will only drive during the day, and only when they must. They stay on familiar roads. These strategies may give the driver a false sense of security, but they are not the solution. No one wants to lose their independence and driving is a big part of that. If families can agree on a schedule to get mom or dad out on a regular basis and make sure their travel needs are met, it can go a long way to making the conversation to let go of the keys a lot easier. Some families have found it can be a successful sell if they can make the point that their loved one will be trading the responsibility of driving for a free chauffeur — what luxury! — and more time with their family. Point out the financial savings of relinquishing car ownership, maintenance and insurance, and it’s a sound solution for everyone. +

MYTH OF THE MONTH Milk: in sickness

and in health?

It’s a common belief in some circles that it’s a bad idea to let children drink milk when they have a cold. The reasoning goes that the milk will cause them to have more mucus and thus worsen the cold. Is that fact? Or myth? The truth is, there is nothing about milk that will induce mucus production. Drinking milk will not thicken existing mucus, nor will it cause or exacerbate chest congestion. In fact, when children have a fever they often refuse to eat. Fevers have a way of taking away appetite. In such cases, milk is a good

choice by providing a food that is easy to sip and which provides protein and hydration. You can make it even better by throwing in some honey or banana and blending the mixture into a healthful shake. The exception would be if a child is vomiting, in which case clear liquids are temporarily a better option than milk. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD Family Medicine, 639 13th St Augusta, GA 30901 706-823-5052

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW res?

here are some questions that are so easy you think they must be trick questions because the answers seem so obvious. Here are a few, just to make you feel like you are an authority on something. k

1. Is it a best friend’s job to immediately clear your computer history when you die? 2. Don’t you just hate the moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong? 3. Is there a great need for a sarcasm font? 4. Is there any good way to fold a fitted sheet? 5. Was learning cursive really necessary? 6. Shouldn’t Map Quest really start with their direction #5? Don’t you pretty much know how to get out of your own neighborhood?

AUGUSTA

ABOUT TRICK QUESTIONS

k good eno r skin can ugh cer? son.”

7. Wouldn’t obituaries be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died?

t s e B

8. Can you remember the last time you weren’t at least kind of tired? 9. Don’t bad decisions make great stories? 10. If ballet dancers were taller, would they still have to dance on their toes? 11. Are Ebony, Jet, and BET racist organizations? 12. Don’t you feel a little panic when you exit out of Word and it asks if you want to save any changes to your ten-page research paper that you swear you didn’t make any changes to? 13. Does “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” mean you never wash the garment – ever? 14. Don’t you hate getting all dressed up and putting on your best confident moods FREE T AKE-H OME C OPY!

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and going out and not seeing anyone of importance the entire day?

20. Shouldn’t red lights last longer so you can finish your text?

15. Do you keep some people’s phone numbers in your phone just so you know not to answer when they call?

21. Is there any difference between boredom and hunger?

16. Don’t you agree that Kay Jewelers is wrong and that, especially on weekends, more kisses begin with Jack Daniels than Kay? 17. Have you ever watched a movie that you saw when you were younger and suddenly realize you had no idea what the heck was going on the first time you saw it? 18. Hadn’t you rather carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring in your groceries?

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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19. Do women look sexier in tight clothes?

22. When someone is boring you at a party and you didn’t hear what they said, do you nod and smile rather than say, “What did you say?” 23. Don’t you just love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front? 24. Is it true that you can wear underwear once, shirts three times and slacks two weeks between washings? 25. Is it true they don’t make bells as loud as they used to? 26. Doesn’t a red light mean STOP? A green light

means GO? And a yellow light means GO A LITTLE FASTER? 27. Do you have to drink to have fun? Obviously, no one does, but why start a fire with flint and sticks when they’ve invented the lighter? 28. When someone says, “I’m not book smart, but I’m street smart,” don’t they really mean, “I’m not smart at all, I just imagine I’m smart”? 29. Have you ever wanted to say to a total stranger, “Excuse me, would you like me to show you how to discipline your child?” 30. Is there any good reason chocolate shouldn’t be a food group rather than a treat? + Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor. Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology. net or 706-306-9397 EDITOR’S NOTE: This encore Bad Billy column previously appeared here in November, 2010.

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HEART… from page 1 join you — you may be more likely to stick with it if you have company. Or join an exercise group, health club or community center. Many churches and senior centers offer exercise programs too. (Remember to get your doctor’s permission first.) • Use variety to keep your interest up. Walk one day, swim the next, then go for a bike ride on the weekend. • Use music or audio books to keep you entertained. Track and celebrate your success • Note your activities on a calendar or in a logbook. Write down the distance or length of time of your activity and how you feel after each session. • Keep a record of your activities. Reward yourself at special milestones with nonfood items, like a small gift or shopping trip for yourself. Nothing motivates like success! • Visit heart.org/ physicalactivity to find all the resources you need to get moving and stay motivated. +

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER M E DIC I N E

I N

T H E

F I R ST

P E R S ON

I hit the floor in the ER I

had to go to the ER the other day, I hadn’t been to the ER since I was a baby! And that was because of some weird rash. This time I’m 27, and my 39-weeks-pregnant wife had to rush me to the ER at University Hospital. I was very scared. I truly didn’t know what was wrong. I had just had a stomach virus or something like it the week before. Now, my stomach was in so much pain I could barely stand it. Here’s what happened: I had just come from a friend’s house where he and his newly married wife had served Chicken Fetuccini alfredo to me and my wife. The sad thing was, the week before I had gotten sick and vomited at work after eating some fetuccini made by my wife. Now a week

The pain was unbearable. later, I ate fetuccini again and felt even worse than the first time. I started shaking uncontrollably after I got in the car to go to the ER. When I arrived, I tried to go to the restroom to vomit again, but I stumbled and then fainted and had a hard time getting back up. The pain was unbearable. One good thing: that tends to cut down your time in the ER waiting room. I was rushed in to the ER triage by the nurses and was given fluids, had labs drawn, and given other meds to help replenish what I lost through the vomiting and now having bad diarrhea.

At firstthe doctor believed I had an issue with my gallbladder. I had to drink two bottles of this stuff to help the CT scan see what was going on in my abdomen, which was not pleasant since anything I put in was now wanting to quickly come out, either from the attic or the basement. After the CT was done, the doctor came back and told me my gallbladder was fine, my other organs were good, but that I actually had been suffering from gastroenteritis. Basically, I had eaten something that caused inflammation in my intestines. Any time I ate something heavy (like pasta with cheese, for example) my body would revolt by either vomiting violently or having a bad bowel movement. All I needed to do was eat very plain,

bland foods for a few days and then I should be able to phase my regular diet back in. This was truly a good learning experience for me. I don’t want my soon-to-be son to ever feel the pain I did. If I expect him to eat healthy, I have to set a good example. So far I am improving my diet, not eating as much heavy foods, dialing down on the soda (I was drinking 4 or 5 a day, and gastroenteritis can be caused by this), eating more vegetables, fixing rice instead of heavier pastas, staying far away from cheese (being lactose intolerant doesn’t help) and drinking more water. Learn this from me: be kind to your tummy or it will have its vengeance! + — Anonymous Augusta, Georgia

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.

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girl Eats Clean

Wild Rice, Quinoa and Chickpea Salad

This salad is one of my favorite go-to salads. Packed with protein and healthy grains, it’s full of flavor due to the sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives. I love to take this to work for my lunch. When I make this salad it generally makes enough to last for 2-3 days. I spoon a big helping of the salad onto a bed of spinach or arugula. It is absolutely delicious and is the perfect light lunch. I created this salad recipe about two years ago by embellishing the typical wild rice salad that so many folks make. I wanted to add more protein and beneficial grains. You can use any wild rice blend, but I like “Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic” in a microwaveable pouch. It takes 90 seconds to cook, which makes this salad super quick to put together. The recipe is very filling the way that it is, but if desired you could add some pastured/ organic shredded chicken to this and it would be great. Enjoy! Ingredients • 1 8.5 oz. package of Seeds of Change Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic (Or any wild rice blend of your choice) • 1 can of organic garbanzo beans (Chickpeas) rinsed and drained. (I use Eden Organic brand) • 2 Tbsp. of pine nuts, lightly toasted • 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped • 1/2 cup of sliced Kalamata olives • 1 12 oz. jar of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped coarsely • 1/4 cup of organic coldpressed olive oil • 2-3 Tbsp. of rice vinegar • 1 teaspoon of chopped garlic, crushed • 2 Tbsp. of fresh flat leaf

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Wild Rice, Quinoa and Chickpea Salad parsley, finely chopped • Salt and Pepper to taste Directions Begin by tying on a cute apron. Next, cook the rice/quinoa mix according to package directions, let cool and add to a large bowl. Rinse and drain the can of chickpeas and pour into the bowl. Place a small skillet over medium heat, add pine nuts to the dry skillet and toast lightly, tossing to brown on all sides. Watch closely, as they will burn quickly. Add pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and artichoke

hearts to the bowl with the rice and chickpeas. Stir to mix well. In a separate small bowl whisk together olive oil, rice vinegar, chopped garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Pour over the salad and toss well to coat all the ingredients. Chill slightly and serve. + Alisa Rhinehart writes the blog www.southerngirleatsclean.com She is a working wife and mother living in Evans, Georgia. Visit her blog for more recipes and information on clean eating.

Free Wellness Classes All classes are open to the public! Healthy Heart Class Augusta 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. (706) 798-5645 www.barneysrx.com

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

Around town:

VITAMIN D: IN MORE THAN JUST MILK

ast issue we talked about vitamins in general. This time let’s look at just one: Vitamin D. Many people are confused by vitamin D because there are two forms of vitamin D that must be dealt with and understood. The difference in dosing between the two forms lead to many misunderstandings. So let’s look at vitamin D. The over the counter version is cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, and is available in tablets of various dosages. The tablets start at 400 IU, or international units, and range up to 5000 units. These tablets are taken on a daily basis. Prescription vitamin D is ergocalciferol, or vitamin D2. It is available as a 50,000 unit capsule. It is given as a weekly to monthly dosage. So is one form better than the other? Actually the research says yes. Cholecalciferol tablets are available over the counter and are supposed to produce a longer duration increase in active vitamin D levels. This is assuming the tablets are taken daily in a dosage of one to two thousand units, as compared with the normal ergocalciferol dosage of fifty thousand units which is given once monthly. Most physicians these days use the capsules as a once a week dose to help prevent this waning of effect. There is no new data showing a comparison between weekly ergocalciferol dosing and the daily over-the-counter tablets. So the jury is still out on dosing comparisons. Why take vitamin D in the first place? It is used to raise the body’s natural vitamin D level, which facilitates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Both of these minerals are necessary in the body. Calcium helps the bones reform and stay strong. Calcium deficiency is linked to the occurrence of certain chronic illnesses, including some cancers, cardiovascular disease and some autoimmune problems. Certain foods such as tuna and some fish are naturally high in vitamin D. Other foods, such as milk and infant formulas, are fortified with vitamin D.

♥

February is Heart Health Month

(So are the other eleven at Parks Pharmacy)

ARKS

HARMACY

Hometown. Not big box.

437 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC

803-279-7450 parkspharmacy.com

Lately vitamin D deficiency has become most common. This is due to broad-spectrum sunscreens being used more. The sunscreen is needed to prevent skin cancer but we need to replace the vitamin D we are losing in the process. Other reasons for lower amount of vitamin D being produced naturally is protective clothing, limited exposure to sunlight, dark skin tone and age. There is nothing we can do about aging or the color of our skin, and sun restrictions are needed to prevent cancer. You can easily see why people take vitamin D supplement to keep our levels in the correct range. How does a unit of OTC vitamin D compare with a unit of prescription vitamin D? In theory vitamin D is vitamin D and the two forms are equivalent, but we know from some studies that vitamin D3 tablets (the OTC version) produce a more potent increase in circulating vitamin D levels. This was revealed by a study that compared a single fifty thousand unit dose of each form. Both versions absorbed equally but the over the counter D produced an increase for a longer period of time when compared to ergocalciferol. If you are not deficient in vitamin D there is no need to use prescription vitamin D, but get your level checked by your physician at your next checkup so you know your options. Most people are going to be more compliant with a weekly capsule than with multiple tablets a day. Remember that medicines work only if you take them correctly. Vitamin D, by the way, is best taken after eating. This is the preferred method. Next issue we’ll look at grapefruit and how it can affect your medicines. See you then. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

Daniel Village Barber Shop 2522 Wrightsboro Road

736-7230

TUE - FRI: 8:00 - 6:00; SATURDAY: 8:00 - 2:00

If you see us driving around town, be sure to flag us down and say hello. DANIEL VILLAGE BARBER SHOP

Medical Complex

76 Circle K former Smile Gas

Highland Ave.

Plus... 600+ doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as many nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

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

Ohio Ave.

• 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. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • 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

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Wrightsboro Road

Daniel Field

Augusta Mall

We’re on Wrightsboro Rd. at Ohio Avenue.

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

• Dance! Physical activity can improve mood, self-esteem, and your heart health! Go salsa dancing, take a tango class, or freestyle to your favorite jams. A stroll by the water, a nature hike, or biking in a nearby park are other fun ways of increasing your physical activity levels while having fun at the same time!

Ask a Dietitian LOVE YOURSELF THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

by Sarah Schmidt, MS, RD, LDAdult Outpatient Dietitian, Georgia Regents University Medical Center/Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center

• Eat chocolate It’s true! Eating certain kinds of chocolate may promote heart health. According to the American Heart Association, dietary intake of cocoa, which is a primary ingredient in chocolate, may help lower both blood pressure and cholesterol.2 Cocoa contains high levels of plant compounds called flavanoids that have numerous cardioprotective effects in the body. Flavanoids act as antioxidants within our blood vessels to reduce the oxidative stress associated with cardiovascular disease. Flavanoids can also improve the function of the cells that line our blood vessels, which reduces our risk for developing atherosclerosis, the plaque buildup in our blood vessels that can cause heart attack and stroke. What type of chocolate should you choose? Dark chocolate has greater flavanoid content than milk chocolate does: almost six times the amount in fact!3 Additionally, dark chocolate is typically manufactured with cocoa butter instead of cream or palm oils, both of which can raise cholesterol levels. Even though cocoa butter

is also a saturated fat, studies suggest this type of saturated fat is actually “neutral” in its effect on heart disease compared to the more inflammatory saturated fats like cream and palm oils.3 Selecting dark chocolate with the greatest percentage of cocoa will provide the greatest flavanoid content! Just be sure to eat in moderation as chocolate still contains added sugars that can contribute excessive calories to your diet. • Wine and dine Dark chocolate isn’t the only food popular this time of year that abounds in antioxidants. Some research suggests that the antioxidants found in red wine, such as resveratrol, may also exert a cardioprotective effect.4 According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, antioxidants help protect our healthy cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.5 Foods high in antioxidants include red, orange, and dark green leafy vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli. When ordering dinner, keep your eye out for these other antioxidant-rich foods: • A spinach salad with tomatoes • Walnuts • Salmon with an olive oil drizzle • Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries • Black and green tea • A glass of red wine However, be sure to practice moderation when consuming alcohol. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend no more than one glass per day for females and two for males for

References: 1 The American Heart Association. American Heart Month February 2015 Toolkit. Accessed at http://healthfinder.gov/nho/PDFs/ FebruaryNHOtoolkit.pdf on January 23, 2015. 2 American Heart Association. Contemporary Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine: Cocoa and Cardiovascular Health. Circulation. 2009; 110:1433-1441. 3 Steinberg FM, Bearden MM, Keen CL. Cocoa and chocolate fl avonoids: Implications for cardiovascular health. Journal of the Academy of

optimal health. Heavy alcohol consumption can be dangerous to your health, not to mention adding significant calories to your diet.6 • Practice portion control Even “healthy” foods can contribute unwanted calories when eaten in large quantities. When dining out, it is easy for the calories to add up quickly on our plates. Several strategies can help prevent excessive calorie intake. Consider starting the evening with a side salad and forgoing the breadbasket and calorie-laden butter spreads. Choosing that salad could save you over 500 calories. At the same time, having a salad to munch on before dinner arrives may help you avoid feeling ravenous and eventually overeating. Just be sure to order a low calorie dressing on the side to better control calorie intake. For the entrée, be wary of words such as battered, golden, or crispy; sides described as cheesy, creamy, smothered or gooey are also likely laden with calories. Instead, select items described as grilled, roasted, baked, or poached. Many restaurants will serve butter and sauces on the side at your request. Even if you select the healthy option, be sure not to overindulge, as a single portion can still rack up over 1,000 calories! Many restaurants offer small plates or tapas that provide reduced portion sizes. You could even consider ordering an appetizer or soup as your entrée! And don’t be afraid to split dessert with your date. Order decaf coffee or tea to sip on with your dessert and take the time to savor.

• Love yourself. Love your heart. Take care of you! February is American Heart month, a month dedicated to helping you prevent the risks associated with heart disease. Engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and choosing a high fiber diet low in saturated fat and sodium are all ways you can love your heart and love yourself. So go ahead: treat yourself, and your heart, to a piece of dark chocolate today! +

Nutrition and Dietetics. 2003;103(2). 4 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Wine- A drink to your health? Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2005;105(7). 5 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Antioxidants. Accessed at http://www.eatright. org/Public/content.aspx?id=6792 on Janurary 23, 2015. 6 U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S Government Printing Office, December 2010. Also: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/ Features/valentine/ on December 21, 2014.

ACTIVITY

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, one out of every four deaths is linked to heart disease.1 Thankfully, heart disease can be prevented and managed through healthy lifestyle choices. February is American Heart Month, a month dedicated to helping you better protect yourself from heart disease. As you’ll see below, loving your heart and yourself can be both fun and easy this month.

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

HOPE Through Adversity by Helen Blocker-Adams

LACK OF MONEY: A THREAT TO MENTAL HEALTH

ne of the biggest issues in a person’s life that dramatically impacts his mental health is finances, especially the lack thereof. Seems there is never enough money to go around. How many people do you know who work full time, so-called good jobs and still never have enough money? I saw a story on News12 the other day that said a new Pew study revealed that if a typical working middle class family went without work or income, it would take only 21 days before

their savings would be gone.” 21 days? That is not even a month. And that’s just the average. Many families’ savings wouldn’t even last that long. The headlines may say the unemployment numbers are going down, and they are. Or that the numbers of new jobs have increased, and they have. But ask yourself the question, have those stats impacted your household? For too many, the answer is no. The study, which is part of a new push at Pew to study the impact of Americans’ financial choices and how policy decisions may impact personal economic stability, offers some fairly sobering data about what it calls “household balance sheets,” or the combination of income, expenditures and wealth. One snapshot: the decade from 1999 to 2009 delivered only a 2 percent rise in wage

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growth for American workers, representing a sharp turnabout from the 22 percent in wage gains recorded from 1979 through 1999. That’s left 7 out of every 10 Americans strained by financial issues like crushing debt, insufficient savings or income that’s too low to cover their expenses, Pew said. The number of middle class family tax deductions has decreased over the years, which puts families in more financial straits during tax season. And I’m sure you’ve heard the advertisements and news about the potential tax ramifications if you do not have health care. It’s a vicious cycle difficult to escape. I had the pleasure of taking a “Financial Peace University” class at my church late last year taught by the popular Dave Ramsey. The Bible-based principles revealed in that class

DOG DAYS

ou’ve got to hand it to cats and dogs. They’ve got it made. “A dog’s life,” after all, describes one of lazy leisure. Of course, that doesn’t mean they always like it that way. You and I enjoy rest and relaxation — occasionally living “a dog’s life — but too much of that leaves us feeling unfulfilled and downright bored. Dogs and cats are no different. So what can we as

their overlords do to keep them engaged and active? Plenty, as it turns out. Here are some suggestions. One of the starting points might be one you’ve already accomplished: teaching basic obedience commands, like sit and stay. Oh, did we mention that cats are excused from today’s class? Obedience commands can be the springboard for all kinds of fun and games you can have with your dog. For example, an old towel or the leg from an old pair of blue jeans can be a great tug-of-war toy. Experts say it’s good to have a “stop” or “drop it” command. Some dogs don’t know when to quit. Another command-based game is hide-and-seek. One variation is to have your dog “sit and stay” while you hide some dog treats. It isn’t nearly as much fun if your dog follows you to the hiding place. In teaching this as a new trick, you can initially make it easier by leaving a bit of a trail. Another fun variation on this game is for you to play the role of treat. Your dog must sit and stay while you go off somewhere and hide. Then call Fido and see how long it takes him to find you. How many

were remarkable. I have begun putting them into practice too. I highly recommend you visit their website and take the course. Many churches in the Augusta area have held the course. We have another class coming up soon at mine. Home-based businesses have become a viable and reasonable way to make a part-time income that can supplement full-time job income for families. As a home-based business owner, you can also take advantages of tax deductions very similar to larger businesses. It’s a winwin chance for families to get back on their feet and build or rebuild a nest egg. There are hundreds of books on finances, creating wealth and starting businesses available. One thing I have found about buying books like that: if you don’t have a mentor

Helen Blocker-Adams is an educator, inspirational speaker, author and columnist, serial entrepreneur, events planner and mentor Blocker-Adams committed to giving people hope and transforming lives. You can reach her at hba@hbagroupintl.com

seconds, that is. So as you play again and again, make it more and more challenging for him to find you. Dogs are capable of learning hundreds of words, so some dog owners have taught their pets the names of many objects. As a result, they can command, “Leash! Go get your leash!” or “Get my slippers!” One of the keys to obedience training, which in a way everything we’ve discussed is, is to reward obedience or success with praise and a treat. Dogs live for that sort of thing. When it comes to treats, making your dog work for it is more than just a way to reinforce success and desired behaviors; it’s also a way to encourage physical activity. Like humans, dogs and cats can nearly always use a more of it. There are companies (Kong seems to be one of the more well known ones) who make toys that you can load up with treats. As the dog plays with the Kong, it will from time to time be in a position where a treat or two falls out. It’s kind of like a kid shaking a piggy bank, and occasionally a coin will fall out to reward him. When this happens with a Kong, it encourages your dog to play more.

Speaking of activity, walking the dog is a great way to get moving. It’s good to remember that walking the dog might be about walking for you, but for your dog it’s about much, much more. Beyond the obvious basics (we won’t go there), walking for your dog is an absolute feast of scents to discover at every step. If it’s cold or hot or raining or you have little time, it can be annoying to stop at every last mailbox, but we have to remember walking the dog is for the dog, not for us. Let them have that stimulation, even if it means you have to turn back before you complete the normal circuit. On that subject, however, let us here suggest that maybe you should strike “the normal circuit” from your vocabulary. Varying the route of your walk will accomplish two goals: 1.) it will keep the routine from becoming routine for both of you; and 2.) it will help to eliminate your possible annoyance at your dog’s insistence at always stopping at the same places for extensive sniffing. These are just a few of many ways that you can give your dog beneficial mental and physical stimulation. +

or someone who has been through the school of hard knocks to help you along, it can be more difficult to get started. But it is doable. Feel free to contact me if you would like more information on Financial Peace University or starting a home-based business. Exploring ways to take care of your finances may be a way to help your mental health. +

Boardwalk to Bark Place Kennnel & Daycare welcoming dogs 40 lbs and under 5873 Huntington Drive Grovetown, Georgia (706) 840-3141 (706) 556-8127 www.boardwalktobarkplace.com

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

From the Bookshelf The blog spot — Posted by Erin Kelly at blisstree.com on February 2, 2015

DETOXING AFTER THE SUPER BOWL Not everyone loves the Super Bowl—I mean, big men in tight pants thrashing around on a field for two hours isn’t everybody’s jam—but we can all agree on the fact that the ‘big game’ is one of the best food holidays in America, no? From all-you-can-eat wing platters to nachos drenched in cheese and chili, even to the assortments of veggie dip, it’s not uncommon to binge, hard, throughout the game (and during the pregame and post game). In fact, the average person consumes about 2400 calories during the game. Yikes. So if you’re anything like me and are feeling like your stomach could explode this morning after indulging just a little too much last night, here are a few ways you can undo the damage (and stop hating yourself). To get back on track after Super Bowl Sunday, or really anytime you go [overboard] at the buffet, aim to eat three squares and a small snack made of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and low- or nonfat dairy foods the next day. Eat every few hours to keep your metabolism revved up, and stay energized and nourished. To stay hydrated, drink lots of water all day. Another way you can fight back against the emotional roller coaster of binge eating is by staying active throughout the day—take a walk during your lunch hour, or sweat it out at the gym before or after work. Not only can a workout boost your metabolism, but it can also recharge you mentally, especially if you’ve been shaming yourself for eating so much freakin’ food yesterday. Other things you can do? Start your day with oatmeal (it’s apparently the ultimate cleansing breakfast). A recent study found that when individuals eat hot oatmeal over cold cereal for breakfast, they felt less hunger and less of a desire to eat hours later, according to Joan Salge-Blake, R.D., clinical associate professor, Boston University and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Eating eggs (perhaps a hard boiled egg for lunch?) can also fill you up and help you eat less throughout the day, too, says Keri Gans, author of “The Small Change Diet.” Kale, soup and potatoes are also good day-after-indulging foods to gobble up—in moderation, of course. Don’t kick (or punt) yourself for giving into temptation. We’re all subject to our cheat days (think #deflategate!) every so often. +

Dealing with gluttony on The Day After

Read more: http://www.blisstree.com/2015/02/02/food/how-to-detoxafter-super-bowl-binge/#ixzz3Qd9BsNaz

This could be yyou! The Medical Examiner can be delivered right to your door!

Use the handy form on page 13

The pages of history are littered with glorious predictions about a future that never came to pass. We’ve had wars to end all wars, followed by thousands of wars and millions of battlefield deaths. We’ve had promises of flying cars and vacations on the moon. We’ve even had weather forecasts that didn’t quite come true, if you can believe that. But there’s something about the predictions in this book that have the ring of truth. If this book could be reduced to an inaccurate oversimplification, if would be that on some not-too-distant day someone is going to turn to a friend and say, “You went to the doctor? For that? There’s an app for that, you know.” As with most oversimplifications, this one misses the boat, at least partly. But Eric Topol — uh, make that Doctor Eric Topol — makes a strong case that medicine might actually join the 21st Century someday soon. The latest greatest medical tool of the future is probably in your pocket or purse right now, says Dr. Topol. It’s called

a smartphone. Why not harness the immediacy of smartphone technology for a field where seconds sometimes count? Why not bring some immediacy to a field unique in its propensity to often make its “customers” wait for hours? As Topol notes, patients are the Rodney Dangerfields of medicine: they get no respect. But “iMedicine” could change that, says Topol. Topol’s “a-ha moment” came when a patient e-mailed his ECG (electrocardiogram) to Topol and said, “I’m in atrial fib. Now what do I do?”

Yes, medical technology is becoming increasingly available, a process Topol calls “the democratization” of medicine. He envisions a future with immediate access to huge chunks of the medical field ondemand, the way we already do in so many other fields. Not that medicine will ever be like ordering a book on Amazon, he cautions. But why not take advantage of the technology most industries (other than medicine) already are using? When that happens, Topol says M.D. will no longer stand for “Medical Deity.” Patients will have their own data generated on their own devices, and their own medical history - from womb to tomb - stored on the cloud. The future envisioned by Dr. Topol is heavily sourced with research and data from places where the future has already arrived. This is a book that everyone who cares about healthcare should read, even those without M.D. after their names. + The Patient Will See You Now by Eric Topol, M.D., 384 pages, published in January 2015 by Basic Books

Research News When politics and medicine collide As the vaccine/anti-vaccine controversy continues to fester (with an assist from Disneyland), a new study conducted by The Ohio State University has analyzed 2009 data about those who took the then-new vaccine for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. H1N1 was a big deal that year, you’ll recall, ultimately sickening 61 million Americans, hospitalizing 275,000, and leaving 12,500 dead. Democrats were far more likely to take the vaccine (almost 64 percent) than Republicans and Independents (both only about 43 percent). Party affiliations aside, 60 percent of those who said they had confidence in the government said they were willing to take the vaccine, compared with just 32 percent of those with less confidence. Those poor Yankees The northern tier of states has

already been hammered several times this winter by snowfalls measured in feet, not inches. That can be particularly trying for snow shovel operators. Snow can be heavy, and University of Toronto researchers earlier this week said a bad snowstorm can leave in its wake another perfect storm: the ideal scenario for a cardiac event (aka: a heart attack). While exercise is good for the heart (see page one), launching into a sudden and vigorous exercise program — which is exactly what shoveling snow often amounts to — is usually not a good idea. Shoveling snow is more strenuous than walking, and even jogging. No one warms up before shoveling snow the way they might before working out, which adds further stress to the heart. People tend to hold their breath as they heave each shovelful, a practice which elevates blood pressure. Doctors say shovelers should take it easy for at least the first 5 to 10 minutes of shoveling. Use

a small garden shovel instead of a snow shovel to keep the weight of snow to a manageable level. People with a previously diagnosed heart issue should only shovel with their doctor’s permission. And for those of us in the South, where snow is measured in half-inches, the same principles apply: ease into exercise of any kind. Warm up. Cool down. Make sure we’re not doing anything our doctor would frown upon. Craigslist causes AIDS Not really. But a new University of Minnesota study out this week (also posted by the CDC on its website) says that when Craigslist personal ads begin appearing in a market for the first time, area public health officials can expect a 15.9 percent increase in reported HIV cases. On a national level, the study computes the Craigslist phenomenon to be responsible for more than 6,000 new HIV cases annually. +

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FEBRUARY 6, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

by Dan Pearson

What happened to Park ranger? that park ranger I haven’t treated any who came in with rangers this morning. chest pains?

You sure did. You don’t remember that DNR guy?

Department of Natural Resources.

DNR guy?

The Mystery Word for this issue: CAIVITTY

Uh... oh...

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Downtown building 6. Common people 11. Chlorofluorocarbon (abbrev) 14. Silly 15. Pertaining to the ear 16. Ocean 17. Specialty 18. Wrathful 19. Color of 16-A? 20. Alluring 22. Salt of oleic acid 24. CMC these days 25. New Age singer 26. Capable of being put into practice 30. Venereal diseases (abbrev) 34. Harvest 35. Possesses 36. At that time 37. TV’s Kelly 38. It’s west of Augusta 40. Therefore 41. Encourage in wrongdoing 42. First down yardage 43. The back of 44. Worn by women in India 45. The Bible’s Eli, for one 49. Sign on many doors 51. Lyric poems 52. It’s often said after “Amen” 55. Explain piously 59. Room within a harem 60. Toe 62. Walker’s start 63. Implore 64. Blue of a clear sky 65. Venous starter 66. Something burned by a feminist? 67. Crowbar 68. Farewell, muchachos

24 26

34 37

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

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

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

40 43 46

A T E E T I A G O E W G H E O L G T H W O C D N O R R T U E I S K O E H L S E R O O T C R H F Y F F C L

DOWN 1. It can come before liberty 2. Soon 3. K follower, sometimes 4. Carly Simon hit 5. Resound again 6. Monetary unit of Tonga 7. Biological gas exchange unit 8. Unit of energy 9. Wife of a baron 10. In a cunning way 11. Area abbrev. 12. Going _____ first 13. Jack ____, Irish rebel of the 1400s 21. Electrically charged atom 23. Famous statue island in the S Pacific 25. Dash 26. A rich tapestry 27. Another name for the Kapok tree 28. Reduce in thickness toward one end

29. Indian word for cannabis 31. Wednesday par 32. French Impressionist Edgar 33. Slang for inhaling cocaine 38. Put to sleep with ether 39. Vessel for oxygen-depleted blood 46. _______ Girls (certain Washington Road waitresses) 47. Doctor’s drug book (abbrev) 48. Objects from everyday life, esp. used as teaching aids 50. Car or bike part 52. Marietta county 53. River in central Europe 54. Hindu music 55. Mud 56. Former basic monetary unit of Peru 57. The difference between 1 and 10 58. Fledgling hawk 61. Nickname for a state CEO Solution p. 14

— Edward Abbey

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

4 1 6 7

7 9

2 8 5

8 6 7

2 5 4

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.

1 2 3 1 2 3

I 1 2 3 4 5 I 1 2 3 4 5

O 1 2

1 2 3 4

H 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5 1 2 3 4 C — Frederick 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 Douglass

1.CRRIWTTTTTT 2.SEEHHHHHHOA 3.IIBBUREEAA 4.SSEENNT 5.EEGGLL 6.LLS 7.II 8.OO 9.NN

SAMPLE:

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

L 1

O 2

V E 31 24 3

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

ospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. A student nurse was sent to a certain room number where she found an elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed with a suitcase at his feet. He insisted he that he could leave the hospital any time on his own without help, while the nurse insisted he had to sit in the wheelchair. After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly sat in the wheelchair and was wheeled to the elevator. When the pair reached the lobby the nurse asked him if his wife was meeting him. “I doubt it,” he said. “She was right there in the bathroom upstairs changing out of her hospital gown last time I saw her.” Old Dr. Carver still made house calls. One afternoon he was called to the Tuttle farm, where Mrs. Tuttle was in terrible pain. Mr. Tuttle greeted the doctor at the door and showed him in, then left him alone with the patient. A minute later the doctor came out of the bedroom and asked Mr. Tuttle, “Do you have a hammer?” Puzzled though he was, Mr. Tuttle went to the barn and returned with a hammer. The doctor thanked him and went back into the bedroom.

A few moments later, Dr. Carver came back out again and asked, “Do you have a chisel?” Mr. Tuttle complied with the request. During the next ten minutes, Dr. Carver asked for and received a pair of pliers, a screwdriver and a hacksaw. The last request finally got to Mr. Tuttle. He asked, “What are you doing to my wife?” “Not a thing yet,” replied the old doctor. “I can’t get my instrument case open.” Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall? To try to make up for a bad summer. About a year after their wedding day, the young blonde wife came running up to her husband, jumping for joy. He didn’t know how to react, so he started jumping up and down along with her. “Why are we so happy?” he asked. She said, “We have some wonderful news!” “Tell me!” She stopped, breathless from all the jumping up and down and shrieked, “I’m pregnant!” “That is wonderful! I couldn’t be happier!” Then she said, “Honey, there’s more.” “What do you mean more?” he asked. “Hold on to your hat, because we are going to have TWINS!” He was amazed. “Really? How do you know?” he asked. “It was easy,” she said. ”When I went to the pharmacy I bought the 2-pack home pregnancy test kit.” “And?” “Both tests came back positive!” +

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.

The Patient’s Perspective by Marcia Ribble

ardly any of us likes being in a hospital, and much less so if a holiday is approaching, as I noted in my last column. But there I was, like it or not, in one crazy inflatable hospital bed. The bed was designed to help patients on forced bed rest to avoid any possible skin lesions on pressure points like the elbows, hips and buttocks. To make that happen, the bed continuously inflated and deflated day and night. Putting it as mildly as I can and with the stentorian tones of the British monarchy, I was NOT amused! In fact, that bed made me quite cranky, a crankiness relieved only by another change of antibiotics, and the very gentle and loving care I was receiving from all the staff I encountered, and the dear ladies on the other side of the curtain. I usually don’t complain much, but I did complain while I was in that “bed.” I could not sit up to eat and that annoyed me a lot. Because I couldn’t sit up, I couldn’t even see the food on my tray, let alone force it to move against gravity down my throat. Even water threatened to drown me. It didn’t, of course, but that didn’t calm my fears, nor ensure I could take in enough nourishment to help my legs heal. At one point, from sheer frustration, I simply refused to eat. In addition, the posture I was forced into by the bed, with a curved spine and my chin on my chest, really exacerbated my asthma and allergies, so I coughed relentlessly, trying to open up my airways without much success.

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

Finally, towards the end of my stay, one brilliant nurse suggested that they bring in a wheelchair so I could sit up to eat. Oh my goodness, what a difference that made! At last I could see my food. I could eat and swallow easily. I could drink without feeling like I was drowning. Best of all, I could breathe without struggling to do so. What a sense of freedom that brought! What I learned from the experience was that most of the staff on the floor really wanted to find ways to make me feel more comfortable while maintaining the proper level of care. Being made to feel uncomfortable was not their goal at all, and we finally found a strategy that worked for all of us. So don’t give up if a treatment has negative consequences for you. Work to find words to articulate as clearly as you can what the problem is from your perspective, because medical schools do not train medical personnel to read minds. + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State and retired from the University of Cincinnati. She taught writing at the college level, most recently at Virginia College in Augusta, and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached at marciaribble@hotmail.com.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

...cleverly hidden (on the hand) in the p. 3 ad for TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR DIABETES Congratulations to LEO DUPONT, who scores a coveted Scrubs of Evans gift card, 2 movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, and a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate. Want to find your name here next issue? 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! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

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

Augustagahomesearch.com Foreclosures • Rentals • MLS Roman Realty 706-564-5885

CONDO FOR RENT 2 bdrm 1 bath unfurn upstairs condo; carport; pool; outside laundry. Country Club Hills condos, Milledge Rd near GRU/ASU. $750/$750 dep. We furnish water, you pay electric. (706) 736-7168; email:ronst79@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

ROOMMATE WANTED! 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath house with pool, 2 minutes from colleges. Perfect for medical or grad students. $425+share utils. 706.993.6082 WEST AUGUSTA House for rent. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1500 sqft, 1-car garage, 3024 Sterling Road, located off Stevens Creek at Riverwatch Pkwy. $850/mo. Call 678467-7187. FOR SALE: GORGEOUS, immaculate, never occupied townhome located mins from Medical District. 2 bed, 2 bath, master en suite, walk-in closets, office. 1450 sq ft. hardwood floors throughout, fabulous upgrades, custom kitchen and baths. Floor to ceiling windows, fenced yard. Partially furnished! 120k OBO. 803-507-6621.

CEMETERY PLOTS Side-by-side cemetery plots for sale located at the Heart Section of Hillcrest Cemetery. $3600 for BOTH. (706) 798-8495

SERVICES HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706.267.9947 HEALTH CARE - CNA offering in-home care: companion/assist with daily activities, light housekeeping, meal prep, assist with ambulation, medication reminders, grocery shopping, Dr. appts, errands, etc. Since each person’s needs are different, I will consult with you one-on-one to discuss your needs. CALL 706.833.9787 BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

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

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Getting along with family after a parent dies Remember those blissful family reunions or treasured holidays with multiple generations in attendance? You thought your family would always hold strong, tethered by love and unity. But with the loss of one parent or both, you realize something is lacking in your communication and your togetherness. In many families, after one (or both) parents die the glue that bonded everyone in the immediate and extended family together is gone. If your parent was ill before death, chances are you and your siblings poured yourselves into caregiving and frequent communication, but now find yourselves drifting apart. Without the patriarchal or matriarchal captain of the family, family relationship dynamics can feel like unchartered waters.

Grief unfurls differently for every family, complicating everything from settling wills and dividing up possessions to setting up reunions, even just talking on the phone. With post-loss emotions running high, relationship fractures can widen into frustration, blame, distancing or rage. However, disagreements shouldn’t lead to the breaking of family ties. We can all benefit from better coping skills after losing a parent by gaining new ways of relating to our loved ones. But how can you adapt to your changed familial relationships now and in the future? How do you reconnect when the family bonds are frayed or already severed? Perhaps the following tips will help: • Practice small steps of open

communication. Be direct and honest about what you value in the family. Post fun family photos on social media. Pick up the phone and make a quick call. Suggest a time when most of the family can get together soon, during the next six months. A graduation, wedding, birth of a baby or holidays are all natural reasons to reunite for a shared occasion. • Forgive and move on from the past. Some family members struggle to let go of resentment over things from years ago. Own up to your own faults and ask for forgiveness if necessary. Seek counseling to resolve destructive feelings and right your own ship. Live in the present and give discontented family members space. Refuse to let another person’s unhealthy behavior ruin your joy.

• Reclaim or reset family traditions. If family reunions or vacations together have gone by the wayside, initiate one again. Maybe your family traditions are as simple as baking holiday cookies, grilling in the backyard or attending a sporting event for the kids. Together with your siblings and broader family circle, make a list of the traditions you still want to celebrate and pass on to future generations. Then pull out the calendar and pick up the phone. + Right at Home is dedicated to helping caregivers and those needing care by providing private-duty care giving services. Right at Home serves the entire CSRA. If you have further concerns about caring for a loved one, please contact us at 803-278-0250 or on the web at www.rightathome.net/csra.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY DERMATOLOGY

ALLERGY

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

CHIROPRACTIC

DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS

Evans Chiropractic Health Center Dr. William M. Rice 108 SRP Drive, Suite A 706-860-4001 www.evanschiro.net Poppell Chiropractic Clinic 1106-A Furys Lane Martinez 30907 706-210-2875 Most insurance plans accepted

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

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

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

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

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

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Group & Benefits Consultants Inc. 3515 Wheeler Rd, Bldg. C Augusta 30909 706-733-3459 www.groupandbenefits.com

FAMILY MEDICINE F. E. Gilliard, MD Family Medicine 639 13th Street Floss ‘em or lose ‘em! Augusta 30901 706-823-5250 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

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

HOSPICE

SENIOR LIVING

Medical Services of America Hospice 4314-E Belair Frontage Rd. Augusta 30909 706-447-2626

LASER SERVICES Ideal Image 339 Fury’s Ferry Rd Martinez 30907 1-800-BE-IDEAL • www.idealimage.com Schedule a FREE Consultation

MEDICAL MASSAGE Medical Massage Stuart Farnell L.M.T. 803-646-1846 jsfarnell@att.net www.FarnellClinic.com

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

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

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

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Centered in Georgia Diane Young L.M.T. 4488 Columbia Rd Martinez 30907 706-251-2244

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

WEIGHT LOSS Medical Weight & Wellness Specialists of Augusta Maycie Elchoufi, MD 108 SRP Drive, Suite B Evans 30809 • 706-829-9906 www.mwwsAugusta.com

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

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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