Jan9 15 by Daniel Pearson

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AUGUSTA

MEDICAL EXAMINER recipe feature PAGE 7

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

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

JANUARY 9, 2015

Be it resolved...

re you a New Year’s resolution fan? Or a resolution hater? Both sides in this annual discussion have their valid points. On the negative side, by the time you read this many carefully made resolutions may have already slipped a little. Statistically, by this date (January 9) 25 percent of all resolutions have already gone down in flames; that many usually fail within the first week. By the six-month mark the failure rate is about half. And by this time next year, the wreckage of 88 percent of all those shiny new intentions of last week’s New Year’s Day 2015 will lie strewn across the landscape. On the plus side, that means a fairly decent 12 percent of all resolutions are achieved after a full year. Building on that positive note, making New Year’s resolutions is evidence of one of the finest aspects of human nature — that we continuously evaluate ourselves and constantly strive to improve, to be better husbands or wives, better moms and dads, better employees, better bosses, and just better human beings. The typical resolutions reflect those basic desires: the #1 resolution every year is always some form of better health. Lose weight. Get more exercise. Eat less junk food or fast food. Eat less, period. Quit smoking. Drink less, or quit altogether.

Who is this? See page 3.

You really can’t fault anyone for such noble goals. After all, health is the ultimate wealth. It’s the currency that makes every other endeavor in life possible. Speaking of currency, improving finances is, broadly speaking, the second most popular resolution category. Common examples include establishing and/or sticking to a budget; saving more; cutting impulse buys; getting a better job, a raise, or a promotion. The third-most common resolutions might be categorized as self-improvement: read more; temper control or anger management; reduce or manage stress; watch less TV; get more education: learn a new language, skill, or hobby; improve your marriage and other personal relationships, and so forth. All of these are worthy goals. They are well worth pursuing, even if that means getting past occasional setbacks. Since failure is always an option, it’s good to expect it and be ready to keep making progress. There is nothing magical about January 1. If you haven’t made some kind of self-improvement goal, it’s never too late. If you’ve started and failed already, restarts are always allowed. Whatever you set your sights on, keep the letters shown below in mind, as well as what they stand for. Please see RESOLVED page 2

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Relevant

Time-specific

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

JANUARY 9, 2015

RESOLVED… from page 1 Specifi c - “Lose weight” may be the most common goal, but there’s a great reason it’s also the top failure: it’s too vague. Imagine instead setting a goal of losing one pound a week. That’s specific. And at year end, it will be significant. Measurable - Thanks to the bathroom scale, a weight loss goal can easily be measured. So can the balance in your savings account. Always try to choose goals that are easily measurable. Achievable - It might be nice to own your own business by this time next year, but is it realistic? Perhaps. Achieving

major goals requires careful attention to the first two steps. Set specific, measurable landmarks to reach along the way. Relevant - It may be your lifelong dream to learn French or play the saxophone. Go for it. Are there other goals you can also pursue that will have more tangible (measurable) benefits? Whenever possible, balance the pursuit of “dream” goals and more immediately realistic, practical goals. Time-Specifi c - Human nature being what it is, it’s all too easy to procrastinate. The

More than 60 percent of those surveyed by the NWCR said that they tried four or more times to lose weight before they were able to lose the weight and keep it off. Weight loss sometimes fails because fad diets lead to yo-yo dieting instead of actually losing weight. If you implement the right strategies you will lose weight, and if you consistently maintain those healthy behaviors you will keep it off.

old, “I’m starting a diet — on Monday. I mean next Monday.” In closing, don’t overlook the sublime benefit of resolutions that will never make it to the Top Ten list of common resolutions: think about doing a specific daily act of kindness; consider a resolution to instantly crush a negative or complaining thought the second it pops into your head; resolve to adjust your moral compass on a regular basis to keep your beliefs about right and wrong fresh and strong; resolve simply to be a better human being. +

DO YOU HAVE DIABETES

ATTEND THIS

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Weight Loss Myth #3 “To lose weight I’ll have to starve Here are the answers to four myself.” common onjections to getting The vasy majority (85 percent) started on Resolution #1, losing of successful weight maintainers weight eat three healthy meals per day, with breakfast being the most Weight Loss Myth #1 important. They also report not “I can’t lose weight; I’ve been feeling deprived; in fact, they overweight my whole life.” You can always lose weight! felt they were happier, had more energy and exhibited more selfYou are not your childhood confidence. or your genes. Your genetic If you follow a healthy eating heritage accounts for only about plan that includes an abundance 25 percent of your health, and of fruits and vegetables, lean lifestyle choices account for protein, whole grains, low fat the other 75 percent. If you dairy and healthy fats, you can implement proven strategies, you can successfully lose weight feel full while providing your brain and body the nutrition it needs to at any age and keep it off. In fact, the National Weight Control optimize your health. Registry (NWCR) reports that Weight Loss Myth #4 over 70 percent of successful “I’ll have to become an exercise weight-loss maintainers were fanatic to get rid of this weight.” overweight as children and True — if you consider walking teenagers. fanatical. Successful weight loss maintainers reported that they Weight Loss Myth #2 “I’ve tried diets in the past and generally exercised for three times per week, for 30 minutes they didn’t work.” at a time. Walking was the most Maybe you simply haven’t common physical activity. + tried the right approach yet.

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Do you feel like your young children or grandchildren could use some fiscal discipline? Does any money they get their hands on tend to burn a hole in their pockets? What about you? Are you the one who needs some money management assistance? Do you find it difficult to save money? Financial issues are the second most common subject of New Year’s resolutions. Here is a modest but amazingly simple idea for saving that is incredibly easy to start and builds momentum as the year goes on. Ideally this program starts the first week of the year, but as you’re about to see, it will be a snap to catch up. The

key, as with most things, is to faithfully stay with the plan. Here’s how it works: Week 1 of the year, put $1 in your savings jar. Week 2: $2 goes in. For Week 3, if you’re taking notes, add $3 to the pot. Not to complicate things, but it changes to $4 for Week 4. Could a savings plan be any easier? These paltry sums really add up: by the time you drop in $52 during Week 52, you’ll be looking at nearly $1,600.00 If you think this strategy is too modest and too slow for your brand of finances, there is no law against doubling or even tripling the weekly contributions. If you go $2 for Week 1, $4 for Week 2, $6 for Week 3 and so on, your bottom line will be well in excess of $3,000.00 at the end of the year. The farther you go into the year, the faster your savings grow. But that means that you have to stick with it, especially during the last month or two of the year when the weekly contributions (to yourself) are the biggest. +

JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Check your phone What’s When there’s a momentary lull in any conversation, check your phone.

When you feel awkward in a group setting, check your phone.

When you’re waiting for a doctor’s appointment, check your phone.

When you’re in an elevator, check your phone.

or the record, I have a very cool smart phone. My first computer and all of its poundage didn’t have the capabilities of what I now can and do carry in my shirt pocket. For the record, I have left the house without realizing I didn’t have my phone, and driven miles back to get it. For the record, I have two powerful computers and a tablet. For the record, I think technology is cool. I’m not low teach; I’m pro tech. Having said that — you suspected that phrase might be coming, didn’t you? — I’m disappointed that so many of us seem to have surrendered our manners and civility — and perhaps our brains — to our electronic devices. To illustrate, my wife and I were once invited to dinner at the fabulous home of a friend. Everything about the evening was really spectacular: the home and its grounds were worthy of Southern Living or Garden & Gun. The food was amazingly delicious. Our hosts and fellow dinner guests were all special, fascinating people I wish I got to spend more time with. It was a truly memorable evening, mostly for all the right reasons. Mostly. But in addition to those of us gathered around the table, bathed in the soft glow of candles were others, unseen to me, who bathed my friends’

When you’re walking, check your phone.

faces in their electronic glow periodically throughout the evening. Yes, there was a regular intrusion of incoming and outgoing texts and perhaps Twitter, Instagram and Facebook status updates during the entire evening. Each of the numerous phone interactions was somewhat furtive, in laps, out of sight, almost a silent admission that each phone interaction was a breach of good manners. I’ve written on these pages before about a superb dinner my wife and I enjoyed at a fine restaurant in Atlanta. The table next to us was occupied by maybe a dozen people whom we guessed represented three generations of the same family. While they waited for their food order and after eating, virtually every person at that table was staring intently at their phone. For all the interaction they enjoyed with each other, I

wonder why they bothered to spend the money to dine out. It isn’t just on special occasions that I think we’re getting a little too attached to our “machines,” as my 88-year-old father-in-law calls them. When I’m out and about delivering Medical Examiners to hundreds of doctor’s offices, I often see people whiling away the wait on their phones. I often get a quick look at the screens of these waiting room phones, and I can assure you, people are not studying quantum physics; they’re playing tic-tactoe and solitaire. Meanwhile, the waiting room coffee tables are amply supplied with magazines that open up to their readers the entire world: travel, cuisine, world events, sports, and good health. There are even copies of the Medical Examiner on hundreds of these coffee tables. No wonder a campaign launched the eye-catching messages seen here and on page one. Called Øfflining, the campaign encouraged real face time, not its one-dimensional electronic counterpart. If you’re looking for a great January Resolution (New Year’s resolutions are overrated anyway), consider regularly taking yourself øffline: think; meditate; enjoy a stimulating conversation; read something interesting; or simply enjoy the silence. + — Daniel Pearson

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

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2015 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE

OLD NEWS +

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

A (GRAND)PARENT’S GUIDE TO TEXTING ACRONYMS

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didn’t let my children have a cell phone until they were in high school. We are originally from Colorado and lived there when Columbine occurred. It was a horrible experience and when I got the note from my kid’s high school here in Georgia stating cell phones were no longer allowed and would be confiscated on sight, I thought: over my dead body. I never want my children to be unable to reach me under any circumstances. According to studies, 51% of parents give their children a cell phone at age 11. Those same stats claim 36% of parents believe they know more about technology than their 14-17 year-olds. Very funny. Considering my personal experience with teenagers, I’m surprised the percentage is that high. When I set the rule of no phone calls after 8:00 p.m. on school nights, I was still catching my girls on the phone. I wouldn’t hear their phones ring. I found out they had set the ringtones to a decibel that most people by the age of 40 can’t hear.

That was only the beginning of their tricks. When one of my kids ran up a bill for purchasing internet time and ringtones, I set a password with my carrier so only I could make service changes on the phones. I dropped internet service at home to keep them off Facebook and locked TV channels such as MTV. It was amusing to go into the menu and see how many times they had tried to break the code. I went to all this trouble to try to keep my kids from growing up too fast. Just a few

short years later; it’s even more difficult to keep teens safe. I don’t envy parents who are fighting the battle today. Any knowledge you can acquire is a plus, so let’s talk about texting. Being able to text can be advantageous. But when dealing with a teen who believes he/she deserves total privacy, it can be your worst enemy. Here’s a heads up to some of the acronyms they use: KPC: keep parents clueless PIR: parent in room PAL: parents are listening PAW: parents are watching AITR: adult in the room PA or PA911: parent alert CD9 or Code 9: parent around 99: parent gone 303: mom SOBT: stressing out big time Then there’s the sexting. I don’t personally know any parents who have actually had this issue come up, but it’s out there and it is a problem. A few of the less offensive acronyms used: WTTP: want to trade picturesNSA: no strings attached RU/18: are you over 18 ?^: want to hook up You get the idea. If you see any of these on your child’s phone or hear them used in conversation, you may want to have a talk with your teen. While it’s exhausting keeping up with kids at this age, now is when they need us most and it’s important for them to know they can’t always KPC. +

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BE FRUITFUL

There’s nothing better than fresh fruit, and we’re entering peak season for all the delicious natural bounty our beautiful earth gives us. The Medical Examiner asked the members of the Augusta District Dietetic Association — they’re registered dietitians — for their favorite nuggets of fruit info. Here are a few of their tasteful thoughts: To prolong the life of ripe strawberries, rinse them in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water and then drain and store in the refrigerator. Kathy Belinski, RD, LD If you picked too many blueberries, make your own syrup for pancakes or to put over angel food or pound cake 2 cups of fresh blueberries 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup water 1 Tablespoon cornstarch 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon grated orange peel Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. To freeze blueberries for later use,, place dry berries on a cookie sheet in a single layer and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the berries to a plastic bag or freezer container. This way you can take out as many or few as desired for future use and they won’t be all frozen in one clump Jeanne B. Lee, MS, RD, LD Augusta Area Dietetic Internship University Hospital

THE MONEY DOCTOR: SIX TIMES A YEAR

JUNE 20, 2014

Quick fruit snack ideas: 1) Banana with peanut butter. Bananas and apples are another delicious combination.

2) Yogurt with berries and some granola or flax seed on top 3) Sliced banana with nuts 4) Dates stuffed with almonds 5) Low-fat crackers, cheese and wedges of fresh plums 6) a mix of dry plums, apricots and nuts Pamela Brisky RD LD Clinical Dietitian Georgia Regents University “Fruit is nature’s candy. The best energy bar grows on trees; pick a fruit for hours of energy instead of the supplements aisle.” Andy Yurechko, MS, RD, LD Dietitian Georgia Regents Medical Center & Children’s Hospital of Georgia • If you want to get a child to eat and apple, try cutting it up in slices and dipping it in dry jello. It is not only appealing to look at, but delicious to eat! • You don’t have to peel a kiwi to eat it. Try eating with the peel on. Your body will love the extra fiber. Donna S. Martin, EdS, RDN, LD, SNS Director School Nutrition Program Burke County Board of Education Strawberries are the only fruit which grows seeds on the outside. Bananas will turn black in the refrigerator. There are over 1 ,000 different kinds of apples. Amy Culberson, MS, RD, LD Dietitian/Private Consultant ++

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Prefer paper? We’re all over town. If you like our digital version, the Medical Examiner is always available on your favorite device at www.issuu.com/medicalexaminer or at the Medical Examiner blog (www. AugustaRx.com/news) on issue dates. Click straight from an Examiner page directly to websites listed in ads and articles. You can easily view back issues, too. +

JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT ADVANCED MATURITY

ducation teaches us new words and how to use them. The English language contains more than 1,000,000 words, but it is said the average American regularly uses only 3,000 to 4,000 words. Having advanced education allows one to use subtle words and say things like you have “advanced maturity” instead of you are “getting old.” This is like the dentist saying, “This is going to sting a little.” What he really means is, “This may hurt a lot, but it won’t last long, so man up and don’t scream and scare my other patients.” (I know dental anesthesia has advanced greatly over the years, but let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story.) But how can you tell when you developing more than a minor dose of “advanced maturity?” Here are a few hints that say

you have a full-blwon case. See if you notice or remember any of the following: • Young sprouts drive too fast even when obeying the speed limit laws. • After church your granddaughter asks, “Were you here when Moses was?” • A beautiful 30-year-old lady opens the door for you. • Someone asks if your wife is your daughter ... and he’s serious. • You frequently begin stories about your childhood with, “When I was a kid, things were different.” • When you have trouble deciding what you want in a fast food line, a thug type patiently waits for you make up your mind because you remind him of his grandmother. • You remember when the President’s wife would not FREE T AKE-H OME C OPY!

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t s e B appear in public in a sleeveless dress. • You remember when airports did not have metal detectors. • Sometimes you feel your toothbrush to see if it’s wet to determine if you just brushed your teeth. • You remember when the TV channel changer was the youngest kid in the room. • You remember when a mouse was a small mammal that made women scream, jump onto tables, and suffer near fatal panic attacks. • You remember when policemen and teachers were respected and thugs were despised. • You remember when singing groups all dressed alike, made fancy steps in unison, and sang lyrics without four letter words. • You remember when the whole family sat down at least once a day for a hot, home cooked meal. • You remember when the blessing before the meal was original and heart-felt and not a rote, machine-gun-fire recitation.

e n i c i d ME

• You remember when the father of the child was known for sure without a DNA test. There was no, “Momma’s baby, Daddy’s maybe.” • You remember when pregnant teachers were not allowed to teach because it set a bad example for the students. • Your typing class had more manual typewriters than electric typewriters. • When the principal spoke over the intercom, the student body was struck by utter silence. • When young people are arguing, they won’t shut up long enough for you to tell them what the real answer is. • You remember when it was lazy and almost an insult to say, “Season’s Greetings.” • You remember when it was OK to say your religion was right and everyone else’s was wrong. • You remember when good penmanship and correct spelling was actually taught and expected in school. • You remember when girls were not allowed to wear shorts to class in high school or college. Neither were boys.

• You remember when the big disciplinary problems in high school were talking out of turn, chewing gum in class, being tardy, and running in the hall. • You remember when half the pickups in the school parking lot had a gun rack and at least one gun. And it was no big deal. • You remember when most boys carried pocket knives everywhere they went ... including school, church, parties, etc. • You remember when women went to beauty shops and men went to barber shops ... and never did the twain meet. • Oh, one more thing: if you have forgotten what the premise of this column was, you indeed have advanced a maturity. But there is an advantage to advanced maturity: you forget a lot of things. We all have things we are better off forgetting. Now, if modern science could figure out a way to let us choose what we forget and what we want to remember, we would be set. + 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

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat

on’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James Translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel – ‘Thou mayest’ – that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’ – it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?” “Confucius tells men how they should live to have good and successful lives. But this – this is a ladder to climb to the stars.” Lee’s eyes shone. “You can never lose that. It cuts the feet from under weakness and cowardliness and laziness.” “But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed – because ‘Thou mayest.’” — John Steinbeck, East of Eden

I apologize to anyone who may find the above passage to be too strong or bizarre to be the center of the first Short White Coat column of the New Year. But I recently finished reading East of Eden, and to me, these thoughts are among the most powerful and beautiful ever to be conceived. The basic theme of East of Eden is the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible’s book of Genesis, and Steinbeck artfully intertwines this theme with his own unique plot and character conceptions. The book begins with the two brothers, Charles and Adam, and finishes with the stories of Adam’s twin sons Caleb and Aron. The context of this passage in particular consists of Adam conversing with two of the other main characters, Samuel Hamilton and Lee. Adam’s friend and neighbor, Samuel Hamilton, a character based upon Steinbeck’s own grandfather, is an Irishman with a penchant for loving the world, devising clever

inventions, and indulging in deep, philosophical thought. His good nature and unshakable integrity gain him the respect and friendship of almost any man he meets. Adam’s Chinese manservant Lee is a man who’s intellectual curiosity and straight practicality makes his discussions with Samuel a pastime relished by any man – such as Adam - lucky enough to participate. Lee brings up the subject of Timshel, and it is he who speaks in the preceding passage. His words are momentous to me. They have revolutionized my way of thinking and approach towards my life and future; I cried the first time I read it. Mumford & Sons even wrote a song called “Timshel” based upon this theme. And what a wonderful message these words carry! So often is it easy to fall into a pattern of feeling helpless or out of control of our lives. It is true that much of the happenings in the world are beyond our control

A med student’s notebook — but not completely. We have more power than we realize, and we can decide what it is we want from life. Everyday. Even if your goals and dreams today are different from yesterday, they are yours to have and to own. This power is what Lee said distinguishes humans from animals. His message, not necessarily of a religious nature, applies to anyone and everyone by virtue of the fact that he or she is human. Being human means that everyday there is some sort of struggle. I see it in the hospital, I see it in the public, and I see it with my friends, my family, and in my own life. I know there are injustices in this world. Accidents happen, and so do bouts of bad luck. Life can be painful, life can be short, and life

can be unfair. It is easy to feel like we are all just destined to receive whatever hand Fate deals to us in the poker game of life. We can’t control which cards we are dealt, nor can we decide exactly who the other players are who sit at our table. But we can still use our hand to the best of our ability to make a successful play. Most of all, we can control our attitudes. We can mold our poker faces, make friends with the other players, and still try to enjoy the game. We may overcome what we want to overcome – sin, hardship, ignorance, despair. Or we may not. But the power is still there for us to exercise. Play the game to the best of your ability. Find your ladder to the stars. I wish a happy New Year to everyone. I hope these words provide readers with the same inspirational fodder for new perspective and contemplation as they have for me. Go forth in your lives, and do what thou mayest. + by Caroline Colden 4th-year medical student at MCG

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.

JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girl Eats Clean

Kimchi Fried Rice....A Healthy Korean Dish

Kimchi fried rice is a hugely flavorful meal that is SO quick and easy to prepare. I first had Kimchi a couple of years ago and immediately started looking for ways to add it to recipes. Kimchi is a spicy Korean condiment that is made from fermented cabbage, (and sometimes radish) salt, vinegar, garlic, chile peppers and other spices and it is reddish in color. In Korea, Kimchi is served with every meal and mixed with rice or noodles or eaten alone. It is used in everything from soups to pancakes and is also used as a topping for burgers or pizza. Kimchi is loaded with vitamins A, B and C, but its biggest health benefit is that it is an excellent probiotic. As you know, probiotics provide good bacteria for the gut which is beneficial and necessary for good digestion. There are many different brands of Kimchi on the market, but my favorite is Sunja brand. Jars of Kimchi are usually found in the cooler area at the supermarket. I rice and stir well. Saute for suppose you could try to make sauce another 1-2 minutes. • 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper your own, but to me a good Taste the dish and add salt • Sea salt (Real Salt brand) and store brand with no additives and pepper accordingly. cracked black pepper or preservatives is much Remove the Kimchi fried • 2-4 pastured eggs easier. rice from pan and place in • 2-3 scallions, chopped Normally, Kimchi fried a shallow serving bowl. Set rice is made with white rice, aside. Directions: however, I wanted to add a Wipe the pan clean and add Cook rice according to more nutritional grain. I use package directions or cook rice the last 1 1/2 Tbsp. of sesame long grain brown rice for this oil to the saute pan. Place over in a rice cooker and set aside. dish and it is just perfect. I high heat. Allow the oil to get Heat the 1 1/2 Tbsp. of sesame also add another vegetable or hot. oil in a large saute pan over two to the rice to increase the Break pastured eggs into medium to high heat. Add nutritional value even more. the pan with oil and cook garlic, onion and fresh veggie Generally, I use snow peas, until the whites of the eggs are of choice to pan. Cook, stirring chopped carrots or zucchini, done and the yellow is slightly often for approximately 5-8 really whatever I have on hand hardened. minutes or until the onion and works just fine. When I made Serve the Kimchi rice with this last week, I threw in some garlic have softened and the a fried pastured egg on each veggies are tender crisp. (Be zucchini. A fried pastured egg serving. careful not to burn the garlic. tops off the rice nicely too. Garnish with chopped Add a Tbsp. or two of water to You should definitely try scallions and serve pan to avoid this if necessary.) this recipe if you are into immediately. + Add the Kimchi to the pan, Asian food. Flavor-filled reduce heat to medium low and nutritious, this dish will and cook until the Kimchi is Alisa Rhinehart writes the blog become one of your favorites! fragrant and starting to lightly www.southerngirleatsclean.com She is a working wife and mother brown. Ingredients: living in Evans, Place the cooked rice in the • 3 Tbsp. of sesame oil Georgia. Visit her saute pan and stir well to mix • 1 cup of Kimchi (Sunja is a blog for more recipes with Kimchi mixture. Cook great brand) and information on for approximately 3-5 minutes. • 2 1/4 cups of cooked long clean eating. Add soy sauce and crushed grain brown rice red pepper to the Kimchi fried • 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, crushed • 1 small sweet yellow onion, chopped • 1 cup of fresh vegetables All classes are FREE and such as zucchini, snow peas or carrots, chopped Healthy Heart Class • 2 Tbsp. of gluten free soy

Kimchi Fried Rice

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Around town:

HOW THE NEW YEAR CAN CHANGE PRESCRIPTIONS

ith the new year starting you can be in for changes with your prescriptions at the pharmacy. The most obvious change is when your insurance company changes. But even if your insurance company stays the same you can have a number of changes at the pharmacy. The first can be a formulary change, where your current medication is no longer covered by your insurance. Another might be that your medicine changes tiers, which results in a copay change. Another coverage change can be in the design of your insurance plan. This can occur even if your insurance company doesn’t change and is not always obvious when you sign up or renew your coverage. A given insurance plan may go with a different type of plan that charges a deductible where your old plan did not. This can affect your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy. I’ve had one interesting change show up already this year. My patient was on a brand name blood pressure medication last year. The medicine’s patent expired late last year and a generic version was introduced to the marketplace. Last year the patient had a manufacturer copay assistance card that reduced her copay from over forty dollars charged by her insurance plan down to just four dollars. This year the brand name medication is no longer covered by her insurance plan, and the generic version has a twenty dollar copay. So she went from getting a name brand medication for four dollars a month and now is paying twenty dollars for the usually cheaper generic drug. Her insurance company is reaping the benefits while she is paying more. Why? Her copay assistance card was issued by the manufacturer of the brand name medicine and cannot be used for a generic. The new generic is not on any of the fourdollar generic drug programs, so she is left paying five times more per month. The only way to get back her brand name medication is if she can prove that the generic does not work as well for her as the brand name medicine did. This would

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require documentation for the physician to provide and get what is called a prior approval for the brand name medication. A prior approval means the insurance plan agrees to pay what the brand name drug costs in this one instance. Keep in mind that the copay can still be different if there is a change in coverage tier, and that may affect the patient’s final copay. This is because the copay assistance cards often have a maximum amount they will pay per dispensing. So can she get her brand name medicine back at her old copay? No one knows until the entire process is completed and the decision on the new copay is returned from the insurance company. Another patient had a brand name inhaler that had the total price of the inhaler applied to her deductible, while a generic medicine went under her generic copay. This was a change from the way her plan was designed last year. She was not aware of any changes to her insurance plan. These are two of many examples of possible coming up this year. The rule of thumb for getting the prior approval process started is to document any changes in how medicines affect you, both in terms of side effects and how they work or don’t work for you. Also try to check in advance for any formulary changes for the upcoming year that affect the medicines you take. The insurance company will have to announce changes, of course, but that can easily get lost when it’s mixed in with a lot of other new year paperwork. Changes can be overlooked rather easily. Be vigilant and go through all paperwork from your insurance company carefully. + 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 )

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Make 2015 your healthiest yet.

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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

JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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JANUARY 9, 2015

Ask a Dietitian GOT ANY ADVICE FOR EATING HEALTHIER IN 2015?

s nutrition experts, Registered Dietitians can help you make healthier food choices, portion sizing, meal planning, calorie control, and much more. Making healthier food choices starts with reducing processed foods in our diets. Benefits include reducing intake of sodium, simple carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats. That in turn reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and will help with weight control. Then, controlling your weight reduces your risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. This one step goes a long way towards getting healthy and feeling great. So how do we get processed foods off our tables? One of the best strategies is to cook at home. This takes some planning, but it is well worth it. Plan your meals a week at a time, make a grocery list and stick to it. Avoiding last-minute after-work, we’re-starving trips to a grocery store (or restaurant) will save you time, money, calories, and potential poor choices. Make the switch! Instead of using canned vegetables, buy fresh or frozen. Instead of processed meats like bacon, sausage and hot dogs, choose fresh or frozen meats that are closer to their natural state. This means roasting a whole chicken instead of baking a pan of chicken fingers. Make a beef or pork roast in the oven or crock pot. Instead of battered and fried fish, bake fish filets with citrus and herbs. Most grains can be found in an “instant” variety, but get the regular version instead. They’ll be higher in fiber, which is beneficial for colon health and blood sugar control, and will keep you fuller longer after your meal. Think of meal planning and time spent cooking as an investment in your health. Slow cookers are great time-savers if time is tight. Traditional recipes can often be converted to a slow cooker version without much fuss. There is a plethora of recipes especially for slow cookers, everything from breakfast to brownies and anything in between. Fall in love with fruits and

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

vegetables for a healthier you. Fill half of your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal. Nourish your body with all the fantastic vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber they have to offer. Getting these nutrients from the foods they naturally occur in is a lot more fun than taking a multivitamin. Fruits and vegetables have the benefit of being low in calories and high in fiber, which is valuable for anyone trying to lose weight. At breakfast, have an orange or put some berries in your oatmeal. Apples, bananas or fresh veggie sticks make great snacks. A garden salad with an oil and vinegar dressing is always a nice compliment to a lunch meal. Roasted vegetables are an easy way to add deliciousness to dinner. Be fi nicky about what types of fats you eat. Choosing foods with omega-3 fatty acids will help treat and prevent inflammatory diseases. Look for fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and anchovies, as well as nuts, flax, quinoa, chia seeds and olive oil. Additionally, reduce your intake of foods with proinflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, such as vegetable oils, meat and dairy. As tempting as it may be, steer clear of fasts, cleanses and detox diets. These short-term diets drastically limit nutrition, often eliminating entire groups of foods. A large amount of water weight is often lost with these diets, which can falsely imitate weight loss success, but it will quickly return once eating returns to normal. These types of diets are often low in protein and calories, which can lead to loss of muscle mass. We need muscles to be strong and healthy; wasting it away during a cleanse is counterintuitive to the goal of a healthy diet. Additionally, try to eat five or six times a day. Skipping meals stresses the body. Nourish the body and keep it happy with several small meals, healthy snacks in between, and a lot of water throughout the day. Choose unsweetened beverages when not drinking water. Even if weight loss is not your primary goal, be aware of your portion sizes. Fill at

least half your plate with fruits and vegetables, as suggested earlier. Fill one-fourth with grains (preferably whole grains), and the remaining quarter of the plate with protein. This translates to about 1⁄2 cup of grains and four ounces of meat. Dried fruits and nuts are very calorically dense, so take extra care to know the serving size if

snacking on these. When eating out, get a to-go box right away and put half of your entrée in it before you start eating; take the other half home. Feeling overwhelmed? Make a few small changes initially to get started. As you achieve those goals, add a few more. Find a friend to help make your resolutions stick, or get your whole family involved. Having someone to help keep yourself accountable will improve your odds of success. Any time you set a health

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goal, whether it’s at New Years, on the first of the month or on a random Tuesday, it’s important to remember that you’re human. There will be setbacks, mistakes, special events or challenges that may veer you off course. It’s ok. Learn from them; do not dwell on them. Ask for the help you need. Stay positive and focused on your goal: your health. + Patricia L Skolnik, RD, LD, CNSC Clinical Nutrition Manager at Doctors Hospital Resources: eatright.org

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JANUARY 9, 2015

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HOPE Through Adversity by Helen Blocker-Adams

HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD

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t’s 2015 whether we want it to be or not. It’s a very good time to get our house in order. Sure it should have been done last week, last year, five years ago, but it didn’t happen. And it’s definitely not too late, but to have a strong and positive mental well-being, wouldn’t it be really nice to have some of our affairs more in line with what God would want us to have for a change? Our spiritual, emotional, mental and financial well-being isn’t a cliché, gimmick or New Year’s resolutions. It’s a reality we need to embrace, grab hold of and implement right now. We can immerse ourselves in self-pity because of the multiple mistakes that caused us financial, personal or professional burdens last year (or the year before), or we can learn from them and move on. You can pretend your 2014 problems don’t exist or allow

yourself to push them deep down in the recesses of your mind. You can think they’ve gone away. But they will creep back into your life. Trust me, I know. But there is power and empowerment in recognizing your weaknesses and that you’re not perfect. We are human and will make mistakes. Most problems can be solved if you have the right attitude, surround yourself with people who are authentic, have sincere motives, and best intentions for you. But most importantly, you will need to allow God to guide you through the problems and resolutions. It takes a concerted, diligent and relentless effort and it really works. I read an article in The Washington Post and the headline read “2015 is a year of Second Chances.” Of course it focused on politics, but I would rather change the title to read “2015 is a Year of Another Chance.” Since we’ve all, professionally or personally, made our share of mistakes and mishaps in 2014, why not get another chance, another chance to get our house in order?

PET VET

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THINK FIRST

o you’re thinking about getting a dog, are you? Just hop in the car and head to PetSmart and pick one out, right? Not so fast, say the experts at the American Kennel Club. Here are their top ten points to ponder 1. Recognize the Commitment Dog ownership is not something to be entered into lightly. Owning a dog is a long-term emotional and financial commitment. Before deciding that a certain dog is right for you, make an honest assessment as to whether your home is right for any dog.

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2. Evaluate Your Lifestyle If you get a dog, he (or she) will become a part of your life. You need to make sure that he’s suited for your lifestyle. For example, if you are athletic, you will probably not be happy with a dog that has a low energy level. If you are extremely neat, you will probably want a dog that doesn’t shed much. All aspects of your family’s life hobbies, activities, personalities, schedules - should be evaluated before you get a dog. 3. Make a List Based on your evaluation, determine what qualities you want in a dog. Consider size, energy level, grooming needs, trainability and temperament. Do you want a guard dog or a lap dog? Is it important that your dog get along with children? If you rent your home, are there restrictions on height, weight or breed? Answer these questions now - once you bring a dog home, it can be heartbreaking to realize that you made the wrong choice.

Here are some suggestions: • Prepare realistic short- and long-term goals for you and your family. Write them down. Those goals can be personal and professional • Put your priorities in order: God first, family second, career third. When you are not in alignment your life will be chaotic, even if you don’t recognize it early on • Allow yourself to keep your mindset in the present. Too much focus on the future or your big plans down the road will get in the way of what is really important. When you get right down to it, we only have the moment at hand and we must remember God is in control, no matter what. It’s the little things that matter, but are often overlooked • Commit yourself to be a blessing to and for someone else. Don’t get so caught up in yourself and your activities that you miss the chance to make someone smile, laugh, or be encouraged • Don’t be in such a hurry. Slow down. Take one day at a time. Breathe the fresh air and watch the sun rise or sun set every now and then. We have all heard the saying “take

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

4. Choose a Breed Once you have made your list of ideal characteristics, do some research to find which breeds fit that profile. Go to your local library, attend a dog show, and visit the AKC website. Narrow your choices to the breed that seems right for you. 5. Get a Referral You have a much better chance of being satisfied if you get your dog from a responsible, ethical breeder whose primary concern is to produce dogs of high quality, good health and stable temperament. The AKC has a Breeder Referral Contact for each recognized breed. These individuals can put you in touch with breeders or rescue organizations in your area. 6. Make Contact Get in touch with the breed contacts in your area. Let them know that you are interested in their breed. Be able to demonstrate that you have put thought into your choice. Don’t be discouraged if the first breeder you talk to does not have puppies available right away. That person may know another breeder in the region. 7. Ask Questions Ask the breeder any and all questions you have about the breed. When you find a breeder you’re comfortable with, ask to visit the kennel and view the dogs on the breeder’s premises. Inquire about health problems

of the breed, and what can be done to prevent or control them. Find out what kinds of activities the breeder’s dogs participate in and enjoy. The breeder’s dogs are a preview of what your dog will be. 8. Consider an Older Dog Puppies aren’t for everyone. If an older dog better fits your lifestyle, check the AKC website for breed rescue groups. These organizations rescue purebred dogs that have been lost, abandoned or surrendered due to the death or illness of their owners. Most rescue dogs have been spayed or neutered and are screened for health and temperament problems. Rescue is a not only a great source for purebred dogs, it’s also a way to save the life of a dog in need. 9. Expect Questions A responsible breeder or rescue contact will ask you extensive questions about the type of home you can offer a dog. Give honest answers to their questions. Due to their experience in the breed, they know what issues are important in placing one of their dogs. 10. Be Prepare to Wait Availability varies. Be aware that a puppy or dog of the breed you’ve decided on may not be easy to find. Responsible breeders do not breed often, and many times the puppies of a planned breeding are already spoken for. Just remember that a good dog is worth waiting for. +

the time to smell the roses.” I believe there is a lot of wisdom to that • If you haven’t prepared a will or purchased life insurance for you and your family, do so as soon as you can. Remember no one is too young or old to have benefits. Have you read the obituary page lately? We are not promised tomorrow. Why leave such a burden on family members who will already be in distress about their loss in the first place? It’s time to get your house in order. Why put it off another day? Enjoy the first days of this wonderful New Year and I pray that you and your family have a blessed, peaceful and prosperous 2015. +

JANUARY 9, 2015

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

From the Bookshelf The blog spot — Posted at thehealthcareblog.com by oncologist James C. Salwitz, M.D. on May 6, 2014 (edited here for space)

THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA EXPERIMENT IS A SUCCESS My wife calls them “hand-me-ups”... things we inherit from our kids. Our lives are enhanced and modified by the most unexpected of teachers, our children. The mentoring of our progeny keeps those of graying years at least partially youthful. Still, I was astonished to hear this week the words, “Dad, you need to starting doing drugs.” The dad being addressed is 93 and has advancing cancer. He is tired, nauseas, anxious and sleeps poorly. Though he likely still has a number of months to live, he has become withdrawn. Despite my usual medical brew, his incapacitating symptoms are without palliation. Dad is miserable. Enter his daughter with the solution. The “drug” she is talking about is the treatment du jour, marijuana. How did this happen? We raise our kids to be good, honest, mature citizens; above all, we beg our offspring to stay away from pot, pills and addictive mind-altering potions. Now they turn on us, pushing ganja in our time of need. 50% of Americans have inhaled marijuana at some point in their lives. More than 25 million of our neighbors have used it within the last year, mostly of a decidedly younger demographic. The oldest citizens, especially those of The Greatest Generation, are much less likely to have experience with cannabis. Fortunately, once again, youth presents the solution. New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana (NJ MMP) program has been active and growing now for almost two years, making the drug available for select patients. A handful of doctors, of whom I am one, have been dispensing prescriptions for 1/4oz bags. Having never partaken myself, this has been a learning experience as much as any other medical therapy I have administered. As I have become familiar with its use, so have a wide range of patients, and its popularity is increasing. Recently, I saw a 35yo melanoma patient, a 48yo woman with Crohns, a 60yo multiple sclerosis sufferer and an 88yo church-going, right-wingvoting, DAR-attending, great-grandmother, and they are all now are rolling and toking. Marijuana is one of the safest drugs a doctor can order. In the entire world literature, there has never been a documented death by overdose. Its most common side affects are the same as its affects; it makes some people sleepy and dopey. While it may increase the risk of heart problems, especially in the elderly, it does not punch holes in the stomach like aspirin, rot the liver like Tylenol, wipe out the immune system like chemotherapy, or bring any of a myriad list of toxicities that horrify us when we read the average medicine’s packaging material. Smoking itself can irritate those with lung issues, but short-term use in patients with serious disease is unlikely to cause permanent pulmonary damage. We do need access to better oral forms, such as oil, for those with emphysema and for use in very sick children. On other hand, marijuana really works. I do not know of another drug or treatment that produces such consistent benefit and patient satisfaction. Every other medicine that I have prescribed for any problem, be it pain, nausea, depression or health conditions like hypertension, diabetes or heart disease, is much more likely than marijuana to have serious side effects. My patients report significant improvement in nausea, energy, anxiety, sleep and even pain from illness. They are able to function, eat and be social. While not a treatment for disease itself, for many patients it provides excellent symptom relief. So, based the research of one doctor and a couple dozen patients, the medical marijuana experiment is a success. Another gift, a hand-me-up, from our children. It isn’t completely without its complications, however: in the words of one frustrated son whose father refused to do more than hold the precisely rolled joint, “Dad, you have got to inhale.” +

“Marijuana really works.”

Here is a book that has been showing up all over in “Best Books of 2014” lists, as well it should. It discusses a subject that millions of families are facing right this minute: aging parents and all of the countless questions, issues and problems those two words embrace. If Roz Chast, the author, has a familiar sounding name, it’s probably because she is a longtime New Yorker cartoonist and the author of several previously published books. There have been more books published on the topic of aging parents than anyone can count, but what makes this book infinitely more palatable than perhaps any of the others is a single word from the previous paragraph: cartoonist. Those other two words — “aging parents” — bring lots of baggage. There are extremely difficult decisions to be made. There are complicated emotions involved at every turn. But somehow telling the true story of the Chast family in cartoons, as a graphic

novel, softens the impact and lightens the literary mood considerably without in any way compromising the practicality of the information being presented. To take an example or two, what about guilt? That can be major, as baby boomers plot (often secretly) to place their parents in nursing or assisted living facilities. Sometimes such moves have to happen against their will, involuntarily. What about the younger generation moving? Chast had to face this dilemma, leaving the general vicinity of her needy and not-likelyto-get-less-needy elderly parents (both of whom were

in their late 70s at the time) to move from the city to the suburbs, taking the kids along, of course. Those are the same kids that are a.k.a. grandchildren. That’s a thorny situation to deal with. There is no good way to die, although many say if they got a choice they’d like to go quickly and painlessly. But very often — and this was the case in the Chast family — it’s a long goodbye. The issues and situations occur and evolve (usually getting more complicated) over a decade and more. Along the way, an everincreasing number of cooks enter the kitchen: home health nurses, doctors, attorneys, and eventually funeral directors. It’s not a road any of us want to take — or as the title suggests, even discuss — but it’s inevitable. Looking over the shoulder of a woman who has already made the journey and lived to tell the tale is both informative and comforting. + Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast, 240 pages, published May 2014 by Bloomsbury USA

Research News Ladies, wait! Ok...quit now! Canadian researchers at the University of Montreal say the menstrual cycle appears to have an effect on nicotine cravings. Their study, released on Jan. 5 in Psychiatry Journal, found that hormonal drops in estrogen and progesterone deepen withdrawal symptoms. The finding may help explain why women have a higher failure rate than men when it comes to smoking cessation. The antidote: the study results suggest quitting may be easier if Day 1 occurs after ovulation, when levels of estrogen and progesterone are again elevated. “Don’t go outside! You’ll catch a cold!” We are loathe to help perpetuate the popular but contested notion that people are more likely to catch a cold when it’s cold, but the truth must always win out. In this case, the pro-cold cold evidence comes from none other than Yale University.

There, researchers have found that the common cold virus does not replicate well at 98.6°, the normal core temperature of the body. Rhinovirus cells reproduce more prolifically in the cooler temperatures found inside a nose — especially one that is found outside on a cold day. However, using research subjects disguised as mice, the study pinpointed the reason: the cooler temperature has a greater effect on the body’s immune response than on the rhinovirus itself. In other words, the cooler temperature doesn’t speed up virus replication as much as it slows down or suppresses the host’s response. The findings don’t prove cold weather causes colds, but it does suggest staying warm in cold weather can protect the body’s ability to defend itself. Hold your breath for your heart Yet another study released on Jan. 5 (as were the previous two), suggests that certain

patients can protect their heart by holding their breath. The benefit, oddly enough, is specific to women with breast cancer on their left side. Radiation oncologists view them as a special challenge because it can be difficult to deliver an adequate dose of radiation without also damaging the heart in the process. As a result, women with cancer in their left breast have a higher risk of heart disease, a risk that increases as higher doses of radiation are used. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that by holding their breath during radiation treatment, women in the study (followed for 8 years post treatment) had a 90 percent disease-free survival, a 96 percent overall survival, as well as a median reduction in radiation to the heart of 62 percent. They also had only a 1.4 percent rate of ischemic heart disease at the 8-year post-treatment mark and a projected rate of 3.6 percent after 10 years. +

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JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

by Dan Pearson

Did you read about that driver hit by a Yes, on Walton Way at 12th Street. train?

That must have been terrifying.

He said the last ten That’s one minutes before impact Augustan who will were the scariest. never complain about slow trains.

I can’t imagine.

The Mystery Word for this issue: TIMVANI

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

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

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

— someecards

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

4 9 7 8 1 2 5 7 6 3 6 5 8 2 6 7 8 3 1 7 3 2 9 5 7 1 4 3

X A M I N E R

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.

D A 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 N’ ’ K 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4

— Daniel J. Boorstin

1.WEEDDLIKKYY 2.HENNISIVOOD 3.AAUUUDDEOO 4.WWCRTNNN 5.ANTT 6.IT 7.IN 8.GO 9.N

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

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

20 21 22 23 ACROSS 1. _____ Park (Augusta 24 25 neighborhood) 26 27 28 29 30 31 5. It hangs up in your throat 10. 2003 Asian outbreak 32 33 34 35 36 37 14. A long, long time (var.) 38 39 40 15. Savannah, for one 16. Central Avenue’s erstwhile 41 42 43 44 45 Cafe Du _________ 46 47 48 49 17. Rave partner 18. De facto county seat of 50 51 52 53 54 Columbia County 55 56 57 58 59 19. Sea eagle 20. In proportion 60 61 62 63 22. Lion’s den? 64 65 66 24. Surge 67 68 69 25. Convent dweller 26. Chapter of the Koran by Daniel R. Pearson © 2015 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com 28. Summerville team 32. Prepare for publication DOWN 31. Crib death abbreviation 35. Masters’ month 1. A Marx brother 32. Periods of history 37. Inhibitor introduction 2. Long 33. Dip into coffee 38. Flee 3. Benefactor 34. Monetary unit of Peru 39. Deity 4. Give to, as a responsibility 36. Artists’ ______ 40. Did possess 5. Urine duct 42. Diabetic’s injection 41. Oxidant beginning 6. “Long live...!” 43. Freeform type of chair 43. Ribald; racy 7. Charlottesville school, in brief 44. Christmas burning 45. OSHA chemical safety 8. Grant temporary use of 45. One-piece bathing suit for sheets (abbrev) 9. _________ Oak (once the women 46. Namesake of a local Mill? symbol of ASU) 47. WACG network 48. Distinctive atmosphere 10. Breastbone 49. Fish eggs 50. Massage establishment 11. Old-time plane starter 52. Pageant winner’s headwear 51. Linger aimlessly 12. Wife of a rajah 53. Sign on many doors 55. December 26 focus 13. Hard white fatty tissue in 54. Ms. Witherspoon 59. Direct route animals 55. Daytime talk show host (and 60. Image of a deity 21. Part of GRU before GRU All My Children alumna) 61. ______ cell 23. Type of boat 56. Paradise 63. Overdue 27. Score for newborns 57. Lawnmower maker 64. Meter prefix 28. Seaport near Mecca 58. Monte _________ Ave. 65. Masculine prefix 29. Exclamations of contentment 59. Type of burner? 66. Minerals or relaxation 62. Reagan “Star Wars” letters 67. Shy poet’s abbrev? 30. What often comes after 68. Departing Washington 69. Biblical weed Solution p. 14

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

JANUARY 9, 2015

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

y New Years resolution is 1080p.

My New Year’s resolution is to stop hanging out with people who ask me about my New Year’s resolutions. I have only one resolution. To rediscover the difference between wants and needs. May I have all I need and want all I have. A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. May all your troubles last as long as your New Year resolutions. Dear God, my prayer for 2015 is a FAT bank account and a THIN body. Please don’t get the two mixed up like you did this year. My New Year’s resolution is to find new and interesting things to hate about my job in 2015. Many things can be preserved in alcohol. But on New Years Eve, dignity is not one of them. A woman was taking an afternoon nap on New

Year’s Eve before the festivities later that night. After she woke up, she confided to her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me a huge diamond ring for a New Year’s present. What do you think it all means?” “I guess you’ll know tonight, won’t you?” he answered, smiling broadly and giving her a wink. At exactly midnight as the New Year was chiming, the husband approached his wife and handed her small package. Delighted and excited, she opened it quickly. There in her hand rested a book entitled, “The meaning of dreams.” There is news that later this year a newly invented device will be released that can turn thoughts into speech. But we’ve had that for years; it’s called alcohol. Resolutions in time 2011: I will get my weight down below 180 pounds. 2012: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200 pounds. 2013: I will develop a realistic attitude about my weight. 2014: I will work out 3 days a week. 2015: I will try to drive past a gym at least once every week. A very attractive and obviously unattached young lady was at a bar on New Year’s Eve when a really ugly guy came over to her and pinched her bottom. Then he had the nerve to demand, “Give me your number, sexy.” She coolly replied, “Have you got a pen?” He smiled and said, “Yes.” “Well,” she said, “You’d better get back to it before the farmer notices you’re missing.” +

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

he nights lately are cool and dry, but a bit too cold to leave the windows open. As I write this (in October), Halloween is approaching and Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. Winter is just about ready to pounce on us. Unlike Sandburg’s cat with little feet bringing fog to Chicago, our winter cats come with big fat feet bumping into things recklessly and with little grace. The only thing recommending them is their nine precarious lives. For that I am grateful. After months of dealing with my legs, they seem at long last to be healing slowly. Although they are still oozing somewhat, the vinegar water soaks are helping them to debride, form scabs, and then become skin again. They are still fairly yucky to look at, but less so each week. I don’t like going out with them, but at least now I have the nine lives to give me hope for a future with healed legs. Perhaps by spring they will no longer be an embarrassment to me and I can go places without worrying that others will find them disgusting to see. In addition, as my legs heal, my platelet counts have gone up and are now at 63,000, which is very low for most people but quite robust for me. The platelets seem to be at least one factor involved in helping my legs to heal. As the number of platelets rises, instead of just oozing, I am getting scabs to cover what were simply open wounds covered by thick plates of dried up ooze. The dried plates would flake off, but the skin underneath was still raw and unhealed. Now, when the scabs come off, there is healed skin underneath. The new skin

Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.

is still pink and fragile, but it is sealed against the insults of opportunistic bacteria and viruses. Meanwhile, to keep me busy I have gotten skin cancer, one on each arm, and had cryosurgery on them. And that is that. It was squamous cell cancer, pretty easily treated when caught early, so there is no further treatment needed. When the scabs come off I will have two new barely visible scars and I’ll be able to keep going for another bunch of years. Maybe then I’ll be able to use my Y membership to get into the pool and do some exercising. They have such lovely facilities there for folks like me whose bodies are sliding into decay while we fight back against the inevitable. Those nine lives do come in handy when we realize that illness and physical challenges are not predictors of death but are reminders to enjoy the years we have left. At least for now there are no banshees wailing in my backyard. + 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.

+ +

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers. If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house! NAME ADDRESS CITY

STATE

ZIP

Choose ____ six months for $20; or ____ one year for $36. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

TO OUR READERS AND OUR ADVERTISERS

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JANUARY 9, 2015

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: RETINA ...cleverly hidden (on the fruit) in the p. 7 ad for EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS Congratulations to JENNIFER GOODMAN, 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 be the first to find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries you’ll score our goodie package! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED?

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)

F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS 706-823-5250 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. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE Ridiculously affordable and highly visible advertising available through the pages of Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper, aka the Augusta Medical Examiner. Have you heard of it or seen a copy? Rates can be reviewed at AugustaRx.com. Questions? Send an e from the website, or call the publisher directly: Dan Pearson at 706.860.5455. or Email to Dan@AugustaRx.com

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WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE?

H A R P O E R A S

D U N K

Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

(OURS IS COFFEE)

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E U V U N R I V T E V A R A T A U S H S U R A I T A P R N G O T I B A W I N N E R S P A T U R N S O L B A S R I A N D O N G O I

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

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

S I D S R E E S E

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

The Sudoku Solution

COFFEE IS GOOD MEDICINE

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

Send this form with payment to:

S U E T

QUOTATION

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .50

A S A R R T E A S E R N E T R O I N U N J A G U A R I L M A O D H A D Y M S D A U R A L O I T E B E E L I N A L L A T R O O R E N G T A R

SEE PAGE 12

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.25

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VISIT DRUGOFCHOICECOFFEE.COM

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WORDS BY NUMBER “Education is learning what you didn’t even know you didn’t know.” — Daniel J. Boorstin

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

The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 7 days prior to our publication date.

Thanks for reading!

www.AugustaRx.com

JANUARY 9, 2015

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Getting Healthy: Successful Tips for Family Caregivers The fresh start of a new year brings the promise of getting back on track, especially if you feel your life has derailed or is heading in the wrong direction. Caregiving responsibilities can easily compromise your health. Now is the by Kathy Crist perfect time to exhale and give yourself permission to invest in your own well-being for 2015. Family caregivers offer an admirable gift in providing for their ill or elderly loved ones. But the day-to-day responsibility of caring for another person can deplete one’s health. Every family caregiver should regularly reassess and practice self-care.

The ongoing giving and nurturing of caregiving can lead to eventual burnout. The American Psychological Association reports that up to 70 percent of family caregivers exhibit “clinically significant symptoms of depression. Headaches, backaches, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system are other ailments that affect worn-down family caregivers.” Right at Home recommends the following ways to help family caregivers boost their own health this year: • Keep exercise simple. Lofty exercise goals do not mix well with a busy caregiving schedule. Instead, look for ways to blend exercise into your week. Do stretches and ride an exercise bike while watching TV. While your loved

one naps, reserve 20 minutes to take a brisk walk.. • Eat smart. Substitute fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables for calorie-laden snacks and desserts. Drink more water and less soda. Gradual changes can lead to steady weight loss, with the extra pounds staying off. • Guard your stress level. Learn to recognize your stress buttons and plan for ways to decompress. Step outside in the sunshine for mood-lifting vitamin D or drink a latte with your feet up. Anticipating stress is one way to conquer it before it conquers you. • Plan for respite breaks. Give yourself a break … literally. Caregiving can consume you if you let it. Make sure you circle days on the calendar each

month to connect with friends, go out to eat, watch a movie or stay over at a spa resort. Getting away refreshes your mind, body and spirit. • Connect with support resources. Hiring professional in-home care to help share the caregiving load can be a lifesaver. We can help you stay ahead of the cooking, laundry, cleaning and errands for your loved one. This may be the wisest investment in your health and the health of your loved one you can make in 2015. + Right at Home of the CSRA provides inhome care and assistance, supports family caregivers and is dedicated to improving the life of the elderly and disabled. To contact Right at Home call 803-218-0250 or go to www.csra.rightathome.net

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 Evans 30809 706-860-4001 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 VITAMIN

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

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

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 PHC Weight Loss & Wellness Centers 246B Bobby Jones Expwy Martinez: 706-868-5332 Thomson: 706-597-8667 www.phcweightloss.com

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

JANUARY 9, 2015

Lost in the maze? Why enter in the first place?

We know the way. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS • COMPLIANCE • WELLNESS • CONSULTING • EXCHANGES • PARTNERSHIPS • TECHNOLOGY

RUSSELL T. HEAD, CBC, CSA-PARTNER • 706-733-3459 • E: RTHEAD@GANDBC.COM • WWW.GROUPANDBENEFITS.COM