Medical Examiner 5-21-2021 by Daniel Pearson

MEDICALEXAMINER NOW WHAT? 80,470 TM

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

MAY 21, 2021

AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

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The signs are everywhere that the pandemic’s back is broken; it is mortally wounded and its death is just a matter of time. One example: Braves games in Atlanta are open at 100 percent capacity and crowd shots show very few masks in evidence (note: catchers are still wearing masks, however). So let’s pretend the end really is in sight. It’s near. History will look back on May 2021 as COVID’s last days. If the pandemic was actually over as of this past Monday (May 17), this is what our CSRA totals would look like.

All across the fruited plain, the land of the free and the home of the brave has been abuzz with the first taste of what feels like COVID-free freedom in more than a year. It came with the long-awaited proclamation from the CDC last week that wearing a mask was not necessary for fully vaccinated people. You would think this news would have been greeted with universal elation, but instead in many quarters it was met with criticism and skepticism. Public health experts raised multiple questions: How could the CDC flip-flop so quickly from its previous (and very recent) stand that masks were necessary? What data has come to light since then? Is this move premature? Was it politically motivated? The private sector was as divided as the healthcare community. Many retail chains immediately dropped their mask requirements for customers and staff, but just as many announced they would continue to enforce mask policies. What’s a body to do? Let’s emphasize that the CDC’s relaxation of its recommendations applies to people who have been vaccinated. Taking the CDC at face value, that you’re safe when vaccinated, should be an added incentive to get that matter taken care of. Anything and everything local takes precedence over CDC guidelines. Also, the CDC has not banned mask wearing, nor has anyone else. No store or venue with relaxed mask rules would likely bar anyone from entering who is wearing a mask. Since there are no vaccine police, those who don’t want to wear masks don’t have to. Everyone who still prefers to wear a mask should do so. We want to be totally wrong about this, but the M.E.’s recommendation for anti-mask and pro-mask populations is: don’t throw away your masks just yet. +

COUNTY Burke Columbia Glascock Hancock Jefferson Jenkins Lincoln McDuffie Richmond Taliaferro Warren Washington Wilkes

Aiken Allendale Barnwell Edgefield McCormick

TOTAL CASES 2,586 16,929 265 914 1,948 853 817 2,506 24,786 123 536 2,053 1,083

TOTAL DEATHS CASE RATE 60 11,483 203 11,233 19 8,845 66 10,734 68 12,473 43 9,701 26 10,400 50 11,680 513 12,229 3 7,635 17 10,119 86 10,046 28 11,002

17,373 937 2,592 3,143 1,026

TOTALS 80,470

DEATH RATE 2.32 1.20 7.17 7.22 3.49 5.04 3.18 2.00 2.07 2.44 3.17 4.19 2.59

225 15 57 43 28

10,323 10,383 12,143 11,652 10,765

1.30 1.60 2.20 1.37 2.73

1,550

10,713

3.15

Note: The Case Rate and Death Rate show the number of total cases and deaths per 100,000 population, providing a means to equally compare counties of various sizes. The statewide death rate for Georgia is 1.84; for South Carolina it is 1.64. +

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MAY 21, 2021

THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

SLEEPY PARENTHOOD KIDS by David W. Proefrock, PhD

Doing the right thing always includes taking responsibility for your actions. It is most important that any consequence includes taking responsibility if it is to teach what you want your child to learn. +

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Dr. Proefrock is a retired clinical and forensic child psychologist.

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If you followed the recommendation described in the first paragraph, you now In Part 1, we explored how much sleep know how many hours of sleep each of your child probably needs. To get a clearer your children need. Based on what time picture of this for your child, I asked you to they have to wake up in the morning to get count the hours she sleeps on a weekend or ready for school, work backward to know non-school day when she can sleep as long as what the target bedtime should be for each she wants. This might give you a clue about child. Then work backward from there to why it is so hard getting your child up for set when bath or shower time should be; school on weekday mornings. If your child is when dinner should be started and completlike most, they’re not getting enough sleep on ed (hopefully, with everyone sitting at the school nights. dinner table together); when homework and Research informs us of the importance of studying should be ended (it can be congood sleep on physical and mental health. tinued in the morning, if not completed the Even without an academic study you may see day before); and whether and when there is the impact of too little sleep time for play. (Children need in your children every day: time for outdoor and creative behavior problems, decreased play. Once everyone gets the academic performance, fahang of the routine, more time It isn’t all about tigue, poor mood, and negative should open up for play before ABCs. attitude. The good news is that bedtime.) once you realize your child By now, your mind may be Kids need Zzzz’s too. weary trying to figure out how needs more sleep during the week, you can begin to make to make all this happen. Start that happen. The key is setting with this thought: It has to up a routine. If you are not happen for the good of your used to a routine, you will find child. It’s all about what is it initially stressful. Then, you will wonder best for your child. You want your child to why you didn’t do it before. Children thrive learn to take responsibility for themselves and on routines. It also can help organize your to learn that their choices have consequences. time and make you more efficient. How does this relate to sleep? The following Indeed, there are lots of reasons why getprinciples will be helpful: ting children into bed earlier is challenging. • Final determination of bedtime depends “I rush from my job to pick my child up from on how easily your child gets up in the mornday care at 6:00 and then there is homework ing. If he gets up easily, bedtime stays as it to do and dinner and bath time.” “My child is. If he fusses and struggles in the morning, has soccer practice (or dance or gymnastics) your response is, “Tonight, you will go to bed after school two days a week.” “His dad takes 30 minutes earlier and you will go to bed earmy child out to eat every Tuesday night and lier and earlier until you can wake up without she doesn’t get home until close to 9.” “My fussing.” This puts the burden on your child child refuses to go to bed earlier.” “He won’t to get enough sleep and to wake up easily. give up his tablet.” • Electronics should be shut down at least If your child wakes up fine in the morning, 30 minutes before bedtime. This will not be gets good grades, does his chores without popular, especially with teens. They will get constant reminders, and has good friends, used to it after three days of fussing and will you can turn the page and find another article settle in quite well if you remain consistent in to read or you can enjoy the puzzle page! But your approach. if these things are not happening and it is • Children should sleep in their own bed in stressful at home, it’s time for a change. An their own room. Sleeping on a couch in the established bedtime and a pre-bedtime rouliving room is not in the child’s best interest. tine is needed. That’s your goal. Exceptions Children should not learn that they need a should be rare. It is that important! by Warren Umansky, Ph.D.

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If you answered: A. He has to take responsibility for what he did even at only six years-old. No teacher should think worse of him for doing the right thing. B. This is the best response. It won’t be easy for him, but it is the right thing to do and will work better than anything else to keep him from stealing again. C. He shouldn’t be allowed to keep the pens, but this response doesn’t make him take responsibility for stealing. That is the most important thing. D. It is true that most children steal little things from time to time, but it is the consequences for stealing that determines whether or not they continued to steal.

PART 2

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While checking your 6 year-old son’s backpack looking for a book he said he couldn’t find, you notice about six very nice pens that you know are not his. After a little questioning, he admitted that he took them from his teacher’s desk. You haven’t known him to steal anything before. What do you do? A. Tell him to return the pens to her desk when she isn’t looking and not say anything about it to her. She might treat him badly if she knows he stole from her. B. Go with him to school and make sure he returns the pens to his teacher and apologizes for stealing them. C. Take the pens away from him, tell him that it is wrong to steal, and give him a punishment like not being able to watch television for a week. D. Don’t make a big deal about it. All kids steal little things from time to time. It really doesn’t mean anything.

Please see SLEEPY KIDS page 3

3 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

MAY 21, 2021

SLEEPY KIDS… from page 2 television on to fall asleep. • After your child goes to bed, let her know that you will be in to check on her in a few minutes. This should make it unnecessary for her to come out of her room looking for you. You will be moving in the right direction if you follow these approaches. And you will have a happier child and a happier household. In the final part of this series, we will respond to questions that parents ask about their children’s sleep: “How do I make my child stay in bed?” “How do I stop her from coming in my room in the middle of the night?” “What can I do when dad won’t return her home from his Tuesday night visit until after her bedtime?” “Do I have to cut out after school activities?” ”Is melatonin safe to use to help him fall asleep?” “What if my child sneaks a phone into bed at night?” To get additional information about sleep strategies or to ask your own question, feel free to email the Medical Examiner at either address in the box below. Put “Sleep” in the subject line. + Dr. Umansky has a behavioral health practice for children and adolescents in Augusta.

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WHAT’SYOURSTORY? 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 have a personal COVID-19 story or one involving your family. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, were 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 medical adventures as often as we receive them. Hopefully that will be often. + 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.)

Why get vaccinated if I can still get COVID-19 afterward? This is no doubt a question on a million minds after the recent news about the New York Yankees. If you missed it, the team announced that 9 members of the organization, a mixture of players, staff and coaches, had tested positive for COVID-19. All of them were fully vaccinated. Doesn’t this prove once and for all that vaccines are ineffective? Actually, it could be said to prove the opposite point. According to news reports, the Yankees involved had all received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Clinical studies which led to approval of the J&J vaccine found that it was 72 percent effective in preventing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. A note of definition: A vaccine that’s 90 percent effective at preventing illness, for instance, doesn’t mean 90 percent of the people who received it won’t get sick and 10 percent will. It means people who get the shot are 90 percent less likely to get sick compared with people who receive no inoculation or a placebo. More to the point of the Yankees case and questions about vaccine efficacy, in clinical trials the J&J vaccine was found to be 100 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19. No one who got the Johnson & Johnson shot died or was hospitalized for COVID-19 during the study’s follow-up period of 28 days after vaccination. True to form, all but one of the affected/infected Yankees were said to be completely asymptomatic, and the lone exception had only minor symptoms. That is vaccines doing their job. We sometimes forget that very few things in medicine (or in life) are a 100 percent sure thing, and vaccines, whether they are for shingles, seasonal flu, COVID-19, or something else, are no exception. Vaccines tremendously improve our odds of avoiding illness, however, and minimize the severity of any trouble we do encounter. +

MEDICALEXAMINER

AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

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

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net www.Facebook.com/AugustaRX Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2021 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

MAY 21, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

#139 IN A SERIES

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

ow shameful. This is installment #139 in this series and we’re just now finally getting around to Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine? Apologies are in order. It is pretty amazing that someone whose life began and ended centuries before Christ (460 B.C. to 375 B.C.) could be considered such an innovator. If what doctors knew 100 years ago is probably 90 percent outdated today, what about what this man knew 2,000 years ago? Hippocrates’ claim to fame is not that his medical knowledge would necessarily compare favorably with doctors (or even medical students) of today. He had plenty of misconceptions about how the human body works. One of the more famous ones was his development of the theory of the four humors (or fluids). They were yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm. He taught that each humor was associated with certain organs and various qualities. Phlegm, for instance, was connected with calmness and stoicism. To this day the adjective “phlegmatic,” which one would think might mean congested or associated with mucous, actually describes someone MEDICAL EXAMINER who is calm and unemotional. Black bile was thought to be the cause of a melancholy MEDICINE AND temperament, and indeed, the word itself melancholy, that is - comes from the Greek T melankholia (from melas, melan- “black” + -khole “bile”). So Hippocrates wasn’t perfect, but what sets him apart from other ancient medical practitioners was his radical new teaching that illnesses have natural causes. In his day, most intelligent people believed the wrath of the gods and violations of assorted superstitions caused ill health, beliefs that tenaciously persist to this day (See above Medical Examiner at www.issuu.com/ medicalexaminer/docs/april14_17). Hippocrates steered medicine toward more factual, rational and scientific viewpoints. As a reflection of that approach, he taught the revolutionary idea that health is a reflection of the patient’s environment, particularly his diet. Hippocrates was noted for his emphasis on proper diet as a key component of salubrious living. He famously noted, “Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food.” While he is considered to be the person who first established medicine as a separate and distinct scientific discipline, Hippocrates believed the patient, not the doctor, was the central figure in medicine. “If you are not your own doctor, you are a fool,” he said. The doctor’s role should be as minimalistic and as preventive as possible: “The greatest medicine of all is teaching people not to need it,” he wisely observed. “The physician treats but nature heals.” While there is debate about whether Hippocrates actually wrote what is known as the Hippocratic Oath, there is no doubt that its core principles of professional integrity, compassion and respect definitely reflect the Father of Medicine. + +

VISIT

recipe feature PAGE 7

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ISSU U.CO

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APRIL 14, 2017

GOD

he ancients held that good health was enjoyed strictly at the pleasure and whim of the gods. The Greek god of health, Aesclepius (Latin: Aesculapius), shown to the right, and his daughters (two of whom were Hygieia and Panacea) protected their worshippers from other gods who were the bringers of plagues like illness and death. His staff, wrapped up by a serpent, is a symbol of medicine to this day, a clue that some things in health and medicine have changed very little over the centuries. More about that in a moment. Incidentally, the caduceus, two snakes wrapped around a staff with wings, is often incorrectly used as a medical symbol. The caduceus was the staff of Hermes or Mercury, the messenger of the gods, and has no connection with health and healing. The rod of Aesclepius is always a single serpent entwined around a staff, never a staff with wings. A serpent seems a curious medical emblem at first, but its ability to shed its old skin makes it a powerful symbol of renewal and rejuvenation. Snakes were also familiar with

the underworld, considered a handy talent by superstitious ancients. In the case of Aesclepius in particular, legend has it that a snake taught him the secrets of the medical arts, inasmuch as Greeks believed snakes to be keepers of sacred knowledge about healing and resurrection. Aesculapius, to use the Latin version, is no myth. He is thought to have been an actual practicing physician. After being mentioned by name in Homer’s Iliad, his reputation grew to cult status and eventually he was enshrined as a god. Some in our age of knowledge and technology might consider the ancients and their belief in the connection between the gods and health to be quaint relics of the mythologies and superstitions of much more primitive times. But are they really so distant? Today, especially when life-threatening tragedy, trauma or disease strikes, God is often invoked, either as the cause or the remedy. Take a few moments to ponder this common habit and it becomes readily apparent that it is a slippery slope indeed. Please see GOD page 3

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Do you ever have days when your fingers and your brain just are not in sync? That is how my day started and it hasn’t gotten much better along the way. Most recently I tried to simply pay my credit card bill. I wanted to pay $1500.00. My fingers typed $15,000.00. I recognized the mistake instantly. I panicked. There was no way I could afford to pay a bill that large. I didn’t even owe that much! So I tried to cancel it. Then I checked to see if it was changed, so I could fix it. Nope. Still showed a payment of $15,000.00! Tried again. Same result. I am sweating. My stomach aches. I try again. I push cancel again. Same result. No change! I start praying! Oh God, help this old woman to fix this before it goes into effect! I try three more possibilities. None of them work. Finally, miraculously, I find the magic button that allows me to change the payment amount. I find that I have been holding my breath. It’s a wonder that I didn’t pass out like that wrestler, Stone Cold, fall out of my chair, and bang my nose on the floor. I actually did that once. I broke my nose and had a face-sized bruise to go with the broken nose. I was happy because the way I fell I ended up over the hardwood floor and I didn’t ruin the rug. Some days are just ridiculous! There are some in which I am bored out of my mind. That’s actually most of the time. But let me start feeling sorry for myself, and lo and

behold, I don’t just have one person come to visit, but multiples, all at once. Funny thing is, I spent years with all the hustle and bustle of five children, and I do love to have company still, but the feeling I had trying to sort out my bill paying mess is the same one I get when I have too much company or too many other demands on my time and energy. I’m finding that I can no longer multitask. When pressed with stressors, even good ones, I tend to become more easily frustrated, confused, and irritated. Part of me would love to retreat to a cloister where my most pressing demand would be to keep silent and pray, but I know that would never work. I am far too social to put up with silence. The others with me would rapidly ask me, probably politely, to pack up and leave. I have a suspicion that when my children were little, I was too busy to notice these feelings, but they were probably there, just under the surface, and I did have many years with the sweet, comforting, smiles, giggles, and hugs to keep my life balanced and my frustrations and confusions to a minimum. I still remember waking up and hearing those soft early morning mutterings, coos, and songs babies produce. I remember the snuggles and hugs. They were better than any of today’s psychotropic mood enhancers. Fortunately, I have two new great grandbabies and the vaccine will now allow me to spend time with them. The good days are coming back folks! +

Do you struggle with moderate to severe unsalubriousness?

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For external use only. May be habit-forming. Take regularly; do not discontinue reading unless advised by a physician. Product not child resistant. Do not chew or crush. Not to be taken by mouth. May be taken (read) on an empty stomach, or with food. May be taken one hour before or after meals. And at any other time. Product may not be gargled. Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate heavy machinery while reading. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Use in conditions of adequate light. Store in a cool dry place. Not to be used as a personal flotation device. Dispose of properly. Overeating, poor diet, cigarette smoking and excessive drinking may alter the effectiveness of this product. Do not use near spark or flame. Not dishwasher safe. If you become too salubrious, please read fewer articles.

MAY 21, 2021

5 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

Again, with apologies to Jeff Foxworthy, I give you the second edition of my “You might be middle-aged” column. It has been almost two months since my last one and I’ve had a few things happen that inspired a few more middle age maxims.

And speaking of bedtime rituals, if your bedtime ritual is as complicated as a Benedictine monk’s, then you might be middle-aged. I usually fall asleep in my recliner at night while watching TV. If I could just immediately go fall in bed when that happens, all would be right in the world, but I can’t. No, I have to take several medicines, make sure my bladder is fully voided, get the bed arranged just right with pillows stacked so my acid reflux won’t wake me up and so I won’t snore so badly. The fan must be set up aimed at me, and I have to say an incredibly long prayer for all my friends and family about their health issues and other tribulations that I can’t fix. Then, after all that, I’m wide awake, so I usually turn on the TV in the bedroom to lull me back to sleep. Which brings me to my last revelation about middle age for this article.

THE

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If it is the month of May and you have already reached your health insurance deductible, you might be middle-aged. Regular readers of my column know that it has been a doozy of a year with regard to my health. I started having severe pains in my feet and hands and was subjected to all manner of tests to figure it out. This included an MRI, a painful EMG, blood tests, urine tests, and lots of poking and prodding. I heard all kinds of scary potential causes for the pain, but it turned out to be the more mundane diabetesrelated neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. Fortunately, medicine and watching my sugar intake better has helped immensely with the neuropathy and I’m scheduled to see a specialist for the carpal tunnel syndrome next month.

nephews that you would swear you saw playing in a sandbox “just the other day,” then you might be middle-aged. I have one granddaughter that looks more grown up every time I see her, and it is truly upsetting. The pandemic caused me to not see her and my other grandchildren in person for many

Apologies to Jeff Foxworthy

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Round Two

On a related note, if it is only May and you have already exhausted your entire Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA) for the rest of the year, then you might be middle-aged. I put the maximum allowed by law into my FSA, but I ran out last month. If I had an HSA instead, I could add an additional $1000 a year, a privilege reserved for us folks 55 and older only, but unfortunately, I have an FSA instead of an HSA. I mention this in case it can prove useful to any of my dear readers out there, all three of you. It used to be two, but I finally convinced my wife to start reading the column. Okay, I admit it, I had to bribe her, but she deserved the kitchen remodel anyway. At this point, my 20% share for my medical care and my out-of-pocket costs at my doctor visits come straight out of my pocket, so the name fits even better now. If you are getting graduation notices for grandchildren, great/ grandnieces and/or great/grand-

months and seeing her recently after I had been vaccinated was shocking. I immediately went to look in the mirror to count how many more wrinkles I must have to account for the time that has transpired since I last saw her. Surely it had to be years and not months! The good news, as revealed by the mirror, is that I don’t appear to be aging nearly as fast as her. Crisis averted. If your wife wakes you up at night to tell you that she thinks she felt an earthquake or perhaps a car run into the house, but it’s just your snoring, then you might be middle aged. Of course, this malady can strike even much younger folks, but it seems to get worse with age. I have avoided a sleep test for decades now because I had the excuse that I couldn’t fall asleep with people watching me in a strange bed. And it costs about $3000. However, now they can do it in your own bed with equipment they FedEx to you, and the cost is a mere fraction of what it used to be. So, now that I was out of excuses, I did my sleep study this past week and I am awaiting the results. Apparently, the CPAP machines are also much cheaper now too and they don’t dry your sinuses out like they used to, so I guess I can look forward to one more bedtime ritual once my CPAP machine arrives.

If you sometimes get into bed before 8 pm, you might be middle-aged. On Wednesday of last week after a rough day, I decided to just lie down in bed for a little while at around 7 pm. At 10 pm, my wife came in and checked on me. I had slept straight on from when I put my head on the pillow right up until she woke me up. At first, I was a little angry with myself that I had squandered my evening by sleeping through it, but on second thought, decided that it was time well spent. That told me a lot about my qualifications for middle age right there. It would have been nice to roll right over and go back to sleep, but, of course, you guessed it, I had to start my nightly ritual afresh. I could already hear the Benedictine-like chants in my head; brush your teeth, floss, take your medicine, put on your pajamas, go to the bathroom, set up the fan, and so on and so on. + J.B. Collum is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com

MEDICAL EXAMINER +

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TRYTHISDISH MAY 21, 2021

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by Kim Beavers, MS, RDN, CDCES Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Chef Coach, Author Follow Kim on Facebook: facebook.com/eatingwellwithkimb

CHOPPED SALAD WITH FETA CRUMBLES This is delicious, beautiful and refreshing the perfect thing to eat when the heat index is in triple digits. Ingredients • 8 cups chopped Romaine lettuce • 1 cup finely chopped red cabbage • 1 cup finely chopped carrots • 1 cup finely chopped seeded cucumber • 1 cup finely chopped tomato • 8 ounces low sodium deli turkey sliced ¼- inch thick and chopped • ½ cup feta cheese crumbles • 6 tablespoons Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Instructions Wash and thoroughly dry the lettuce. Chop into small bite size pieces and place on a platter. Place the remaining ingredients (except for feta and dressing) over the lettuce in rows. Sprinkle with feta

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and drizzle with dressing or serve dressing on the side. Yield: 4 servings Nutrition Breakdown: Calories 160, Fat 5g (2.5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg, Sodium 700mg, Carbohydrate 17g, Fiber 5g, Protein 19g, Potassium 650mg, Phospho-

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WHO TOOK MY BEER? PART 4

Now we’re ready for the fourth stage of change: Action! We’ve rocked and rolled through Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, and now we’re ready to fire! Remember when you were taught to hunt, perhaps, and told Ready, Aim, and Fire. If the Action stage is to be successful, the prior three stages have to be done well. Imagine your success in deer season if you just lifted your gun and fired! Often, dietary New Year’s resolutions fail because people just fire on January 1 without doing the preparation steps to plan a diet, find an exercise routine, clean out the lethal foods from the pantry and fridge, and getting the necessary support in the raw and lonely world of denying the taste buds of palatable delights. It’s even more difficult if nobody else in the house is on board with the new plan! It is not uncommon for this stage to take six months to get to. Change takes place very slowly sometimes. “Old habits die hard” is the famous maxim. The brain doesn’t let go of its reward systems easily. Patience, patience, with your loved one. In our weekly Family Workshop (which is a no cost community service we offer), I often try to help families understand how difficult it is for the addict to adopt new behaviors by asking them to take out their cell phones and click on their Contacts. I ask them,

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tongue in cheek, to erase all the contact info of their closest friends and even block their phone numbers. I announce, “You need to make all new friends and can’t ever see your old ones again!” How does that feel? Oh no! But that’s what their addicted family member is hearing in treatment and in self help support groups! Yeah, we think they need new friends, but the old ones have stuck with them through thick’n thin, bailed them out of jail, lent them money, and listened to their woes over the years and it’s hard to let them go. Then I ask them to think of the one thing in their life that gives them the most pleasure, the biggest rush of dopamine their brains will allow. Then I announce, “You can’t do that anymore!” Oh no! How does that feel? OK, that’s how the addict feels when told that he can’t do that anymore! Then they’re told they have to find something else to make them feel that good! Yeah, right. But with the proper work prior to Action, the addict is ready for this stage. Now he might: • Go off to a treatment program for 4-6 weeks • Begin driving home a different route to avoid his favorite store with the big red dot • Get a new phone number • Pay off his debt to the dealer – often to avoid getting hurt • Get a new job. A surprise

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional

drug test for all at work might send many people home • Go to a 12-step self-help meeting every day or even several times • Set a date to stop drinking or drugging • Give away any alcohol left in the house. Keep in mind that people change in different ways and on different schedules. Remember Uncle Frank, for instance, who just up and quit drinking one day and never took another drink? And Grandpa who just tossed his last pack of cigarettes out the car window one day and never even had another craving? They were the lucky ones! Most of us poor mortals struggle with those vices like a fighting a monster in our nightmares. By the way, if your addicted loved one agrees, this is at long last a great time to take their beer! +

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DON’T LICK THE BEATERS Useful food facts from dietetic interns with the Augusta University MS-Dietetic Internship Program

My stomach hurts

by Yarnesha Burden Augusta University Dietetic Intern

We all know food provides vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to maintain good health. But food can also be perceived as art that combines grains, meats, vegetables, and fruits that are blended and marinated in spices to enhance flavor and cooked to perfection for consumption. Some dishes add cheese or a creamy sauce to bring the meal together and instantly the meal is a success. However, the more cheese or dairy-based toppings that are added to dishes, the more some people start to notice something is not sitting well within their stomach. Often, they self-diagnose as being lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy. Some people experience lactose intolerance with many dairy products but are still able to consume cheese products without any difficulties. For others it’s negative symptoms with any and all dairy. Is it lactose intolerance or could it be a milk protein allergy? What is the difference? Lactose intolerance is when a person’s genetic make-up is missing the lactase enzyme that is used to break down lactose in the gastrointestinal tract. Lactose is one of two naturally occurring sugar molecules in dairy products. A person with a lactose intolerance is unable to break down lactose for easier digestion (FARE, 2021). The results of not being able to break down lactose causes symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and gas. A milk protein allergy, on the other hand, is when the body does not recognize a particular protein (usually casein or whey) that is in the milk, and the body’s immune system essentially fights itself, resulting in an allergic reaction (Mayo, 2020). Some symptoms of an allergic reaction from a milk protein allergy are wheezing, itching, vomiting, hives, and even anaphylaxis (Mayo,

2020). If you have lactose intolerance to milk products but you do not show symptoms with cheese or yogurts, knowing which dairy products are considered high or low in lactose may allow you to enjoy the products that you once loved (Brennan, 2020). Examples of high-lactose foods are cow’s milk, buttermilk, or cream. Some low-lactose dairy products are ricotta cheese, aged cheese, and yogurt with probiotics (Brennan, 2020). Lactose can also be avoided by choosing lactose-free milks or alternatives such as soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk. Also, reading food labels is important since foods can contain traces of milk products that can kickstart lactose intolerant symptoms or lead to an allergic reaction. When it comes to dairy products that can trigger a milk allergy, it is essential to stay away from milk products such as cow’s milk, butter, ice cream, all cheeses, and half and half (Mayo, 2020). Make sure to read the food labels to make sure that casein and whey are not listed in the ingredients, in addition to lactose products, butter, dairy fat, or artificial dairy powders (Mayo, 2020). Consumption of these products can be life-threatening in the case of a milk protein allergy. Remember, dairy products contain calcium which part-

ners with vitamin D for bone health. Bone health is essential throughout life, especially in older age when osteoporosis, falls, and fractures are starting to become more common. If you are not going to consume dairy products for calcium, it is important to provide it through other foods such as leafy green vegetables, soybeans, and calcium-fortified foods. For vitamin D, include fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified foods, and mushrooms grown under UV light (Academy, 2020 Dec.7). Vitamin D is converted by sunlight to its active form within the body. Therefore, at least 15 minutes of daily outdoor sun exposure is important. If being outside is not an option, ask your doctor about supplementation for vitamin D and calcium. Consulting with your physician and/or dietitian is essential when trying to pinpoint which dairy product contributes to any symptoms of lactose intolerance you’re experiencing. However, with a true milk protein allergy, all dairy products must be avoided. If there is a family history of lactose intolerance or gastrointestinal issues that are evident after the consumption of milk products, reach out to your physician and/or dietitian. Each person is different and can tolerate different amounts of lactose if they experience symptoms. Taking care of your body is an important health concept that should be a priority even if dealing with lactose intolerance or a milk protein allergy. + Sources: • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2017, September 7. Calcium. https://www.eatright.org/ food/vitamins-and-supplements/ types-of-vitamins-and-nutrients/ calcium • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020, May 14. Lactose Intolerance. https://www.eatright. org/health/allergies-and-intolerances/food-intolerances-and-sensitivities/lactose-intolerance • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020, December 7. What is Vitamin D? https://www.eatright. org/food/vitamins-and-supplements/types-of-vitamins-and-nutrients/what-is-vitamin-d • Brennan, D. 2020. October 22. Foods High in Lactose. Nourish by WebMD. https://www.webmd. com/diet/foods-high-in-lactose#2. • FARE. 2021. Milk Allergy vs. Lactose Intolerance. https://www. foodallergy.org/resources/milk-allergy-vs-lactose-intolerance • Mayo Clinic. 2020. June 12. Milk Allergy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ milk-allergy/symptoms-causes/ syc-20375101

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CRASH

COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2000 than in World Wars I & II combined

her daughter in or not, but other testimony established that the child knew how to unbuckle herself. And why was the mother on trial? When she got home and went around to get her daughter, the back seat was empty. The girl had climbed out the window miles before, unnoticed, and was struck by another car. Obviously both the car seat and its occupant need to be secured to prevent injury in the event of an accident, and it’s safe to say every driver or parent knows that. But sometimes people get in a hurry; they’re already late; they’re only going a few blocks; car seats are notoriously complicated contraptions; they aren’t expecting to be involved in an accident. But something else we all know: any parent who survives an accident in which their unrestrained child was killed or seriously injured would gladly take the time to do things right if they could have a do-over of the fateful day. Let’s answer some of the questions posed at the outset, starting with the simplest one: when do booster seats enter the picture? Broadly speaking, for any child that has outgrown a car seat, the purpose of a booster seat is to raise them up enough so that the upper seat belt goes across their chest, not their throat, and the lower belt goes across their thighs, not their stomach. It’s as simple as that. When that happens depends upon the size of the child more than exact age requirements. Infants and toddlers should stay in their backseat, rear-facing car seats until they outgrow them (see the product label for height/weight limits); the next step, often about age 3 or 4, is a forward-facing (but still back-seat) car seat until they outgrow that stage (as per the seat’s label and its weight/height limits). Then they graduate to the aforementioned booster seats. The front seat/back seat question? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends: “keep your child in the back seat until at least age 12.” +

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ne of the most confusing issues related to child safety and vehicles is the proper use of car seats and seat belts. When is it ok to have car seats in the front seat? Should car seats always face backward? If not, when is it appropriate to change to front-facing? When do booster seats enter the picture? Let’s first establish the importance of the entire topic, then move on to some clear and simple guidelines. From 2017 statistics, a little over 23,500 passengers died in traffic accidents that year. Only 3 percent of them (794) were children, but within that group of nearly 800, 37 percent were unrestrained. Much more concerning are fatal crashes where the drivers were not wearing a seat belt. In those specific situations, 71 percent of the children were also unrestrained. Apparently if drivers don’t much believe in seat belt use, kids aren’t going to be buckled in either. By coincidence, another key statistic is also 71 percent: that’s how much child safety seats have been shown to reduce fatal injuries among infants (under 1 year old). The reduction in fatal injuries for properly secured kids 1 to 4 years old is a 54 percent. So clearly, child safety seats work. They significantly reduce the risk of fatal injuries when accidents happen. But they have to be used properly. There are cases where children are snugly strapped in but the car seats themselves are just sitting on the seat without being tied down using the seat belts. And there are other cases in the literature of traffic incidents where car seats are properly installed in cars, but the children sitting in them aren’t buckled in; they’re just sitting unrestrained in a properly restrained car seat. In one particularly tragic case in Texas in 2003, a mother placed her daughter in the back seat of her car and drove home. At trial it was questioned whether she had actually buckled

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KIDS & CARS Part 3

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IT’S A QUESTION OF CARE Is pet ownership a good idea for seniors?

We often hear that dogs are man’s best friend and cat lovers may argue the same! Pets do play a vital role in the daily lives of humans, and for the elderly who often live alone, their role may at times be pivotal. Perhaps the following pros and cons of seniors owning pets will help you, or a senior that you love, decide whether you will adopt that new pet or not.

PROS: Companionship: Pets can truly fill a void for seniors who are lonely. If a senior has become isolated due to no longer being able to drive, or a dwindling social group, a dog or cat (and possibly other small animals) can give a senior a responsive and often engaging companion in their home. The pet needs care and this often makes an elderly person feel they are still useful and needed and appreciated in return. Safety: This particularly pertains to dogs, but could also be true for cats. Pets often become protective of their owners and use their keen senses to warn and/or protect from threats like fire, smoke, or unwanted visitors. Dogs especially will often frighten an intruder which also keeps the person safer. There have also been many instances when a dog or cat went to seek help for an owner who is hurt, which would be wonderful in the case of a needy senior. Exercise: Having a pet may promote exercise for its owner. Whether they are taking their dog on a walk, just letting it out to go to the bathroom, or cleaning the litter box, pets promote exercise and movement. CONS: Safety: This type of safety is different than the kind mentioned above. There is the risk of falling in inclement weather if the senior has to take the animal outside. Pets usually require the use of a leash to go for a walk, or in and out of a house or apartment. For seniors who have balance problems, this poses the danger of being pulled down by the animal. To minimize this risk, most pets that elderly people own are small. But having a small creature underfoot can be extremely dangerous as we age and begin to lose some of our reflexes and balance. Limitations on Housing: As people age we often need to transition to senior communities. Not all of them welcome pets, and if they do, there is usually a restriction on pets’ size and breed. When a pet doesn’t meet the entry requirements of the community, some seniors who are emotionally attached to a pet may choose to stay in unsafe situations, or they cannot find or afford a facility where their pet is also welcome. Ability to Care for the Pet: Many aging individuals begin to have memory and/or cognitive issues. They may begin to neglect some of their own care, which could lead to the neglect of the pet. There may be a concern with how they will get to the store to purchase food or get a ride to the vet when necessary. Sometimes pets are neglected simply because a senior cannot remember to feed and water them on a regular basis, or the opposite may be true- they overfeed the pet due to lack of ability to remember when the pet last ate. In an effort to provide the best quality of life for yourself or a senior you love, please consider these points and use them when determining if a pet is a good addition to the home. + by Lori Beth Charlton, MSW, LMSW, C-ASWCM, an Aging Life Care Manager, who assists her clients and their families in choosing the best options for their needs.

YOUR SALUBRIOUSNESS IS OUR #1 PRIORITY

MAY 21, 2021

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Andy Lamb, MD, on January 27, 2021 (edited for space)

THE SURGEON WHO LEFT HIS OWN SON’S FUNERAL I recently read a story that struck close to home for me, and I suspect for nearly all of you in your medical careers at one time or another. It was a story of a surgeon called in urgently to the ED for a seriously injured young boy. The surgeon arrived as soon as he could, only to be confronted by an irate father for being late and accusing the surgeon of being uncaring, self-centered, and money-driven. It was an ugly scene. The surgeon remained calm, apologized, and told the father he would do all he could to help his son. Even this did not appease the father, and he continued to verbally harangue the surgeon. After the surgery, the surgeon spoke to the father, explained that all went well and full recovery was expected. He then promptly left. The man told the OR nurse he couldn’t believe how callous and cold the surgeon was, first for being late and second for being so brusque with his departure after the surgery. The nurse then told him the rest of the story. The surgeon was late because his son was killed in an accident a few days before. The nurse told the father, “He left his own son’s funeral so he could take care of your son.” Needless to say, the man did not say another word. Most of us have been in situations. I can think of times, maybe not as tragic as this one, but still difficult times, when I was running behind only to be confronted by an angry patient or family member for being so thoughtless and uncaring as to waste their time. If they only knew... The reason I was late seeing you, even though you were the first patient of the day, was because I had just left the ICU where a patient I had cared for through the years had died. I spent over 45 minutes with a grieving family. I have been in the hospital on-call for over 24 hours, working all night, rounding since six in the morning only to have the son of a newly admitted patient come in from out of town irate that no one had called him about his mother’s admission. The patient I saw before you was sobbing when I walked into the exam room to see her for what should have been a routine 15-minute appointment. She had just found out her husband of 20 years was having an affair and wanted a divorce. She was devastated. It took longer than 15 minutes to see her. The previous patient was a nurse I had worked with for many years. She was in to review test results showing metastatic cancer throughout her liver. She’s 46 with a husband and three children at home. My own mother in Alabama is dying. Her doctor isn’t communicating with my father, brothers, and sister; they turn to me for answers. I am personally burned out, and it’s all I can do to make it through each day. You have your own “if they only knew” stories, I am sure. Medicine is hard, and it is getting harder. Patients and families are more demanding with increasingly unrealistic expectations. They expect you always to be smiling, happy, and engaging. You try to do that but sometimes, despite your best efforts, you simply can’t because “if they only knew …” You’re not alone in this hard work that is medicine. There are people who care about you. I am one of them. Thank you for persevering even when you feel you can no longer continue. You are valued. You are appreciated. You are making a difference every day in the lives of others. +

If they only knew...

Andy Lamb is an internal medicine physician

Oliver Sacks has had quite a career as a writer. Then again, he’s had 81 years to write, but this book may well be his last: earlier this year he measured his remaining life expectancy in months after metastases from an ocular tumor that was treated nine years ago were found in his liver. As he wrote in The New York Times in announcing his impending demise, he has had a remarkable run. His second book, 1973’s Awakenings, was made into a memorable Oscarnominated movie of the same name, and what made the film so noteworthy was that it was true. Sacks discovered a ward full of patients who were apparently vacant shells — unknowing, unspeaking victims of an encephalitis epidemic decades before. As it turned out, they were alert and conscious and fully comprehending their surroundings the entire time. Sacks discovered a way to bring them back to life, so to speak, (hence the book’s title) only to lose them again as the medication gradually lost its effectiveness. Another notable book in the

Sacks catalog was 1985’s The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat And Other Clinical Tales — 24 of them to be exact. The fascinating case studies in this book and others Sacks wrote no doubt spawned thousands of careers in psychiatry, psychology, neurology and other disciplines in mental health. That title may have been particularly close to home for Sacks, who has prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces. This book, however, is unlike all of Sacks’ previous writings. As befits a man whose days are numbered, this is not another compendium of

numerous cases studies, but of just one: his own. This is his autobiography. He reveals a lot, including his numerous brushes with death, things that probably made him a better practitioner in his field (neurology), and his past addiction to amphetamines. And he sets the record straight about what was completely wrong with the portrayal of him by Robin Williams in Awakenings. As Sacks wrote on learning he had terminal cancer, “When people die, they cannot be replaced. They leave holes that cannot be filled, for it is the fate — the genetic and neural fate — of every human being to be a unique individual.” While Sacks admitted he was not without fear, he said his predominant feeling at the end of his life is gratitude. “Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.” + On the Move — A Life, by Oliver Sacks, M.D., 418 pages, published in April 2015 by Knopf

Editor’s note: This review originally appeared in the June 5, 2015 Medical Examiner. Sure enough, Dr. Sacks died just weeks later, on August 30, 2015.

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The Examiners

MAY 21, 2021

THE MYSTERY WORD

How are you?

by Dan Pearson

Since you asked, I’ve been constipated for a few weeks.

TMI! Can’t you take something for it?

Keep trying. Something is bound to work eventually.

So far nothing seems to help.

The Mystery Word for this issue: SEVIN

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

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Light wood 6. _____ Spring 10. Cop’s patrol route 14. Regions 15. Repeat 16. Engrave 17. Certain areas of sand 18. Medical prefix 19. Ostrichlike bird 20. Immune disorder 21. ______ it a pity? 23. Aptitude 25. Abroad 27. Inactive 28. Governing bodies 29. ____ result 30. Baseball stat 32. Place for flowers 33. Augusta’s North _____ 34. _____ killer 35. Lieu 38. Shoulder-fired weapon (abbrev) 39. Fine or tax (formal) 40. Certain MD 41. Pale 42. Upper 43. Trauma pt. destinations 44. For what 45. Ornament with embroidery (archaic or poetic) 49. Par on some holes 51. Use IV drugs 52. Capital of Albania 53. Highly excited 54. Drink like a dog 55. Half a CSX track 56. Health nut’s entree? 58. Site of famous Mexican victory 60. Sea eagle 61. Great lake 62. Teacher

DOWN 1. Literary anticlimax 2. Reach, as a destination 3. Yeast 4. Plant juice 5. ______ living 6. Concert and game venues 7. Leases 8. Build on 9. Starting a computer (with up) 10. Classic comedian (1908-2002) 11. Delicate; fragile; unearthly 12. Having no center 13. _____ does it! 22. Reproductive part of a plant 24. Common conjunction 26. Capital of Morocco 29. Brainwave abbreviation 31. Fire ____ 33. Hosp. employee

3 8 7 5 6

4 3

2 6 4

2 4 1 7

1 3 5 5 4

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

63. Hurricane centers 64. Trim 65. Put forth

3 9 9 1 7

EXAMINER SUDOKU

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

QUOTATIONPUZZLE

34. Iris center 35. Eye to eye beginning 36. __________ care (in medicine) 37. Preserve and honor, as in Cooperstown 38. Floyd of the PGA 39. Apollo mission conspiracy? 41. Made of wheat 42. The Musketeers, for one 44. Benign cyst on the skin 45. Long, narrow loaf of French bread (var.) 46. Widen; expand 47. Captivate; fill with liking or admiration 48. Type of card 50. Abnormal breath sounds 51. Organized crime 52. ______ house 57. Metal-bearing mineral 59. Light (in Latin)

—

T L D

T M E I E T A

E R H I

H G E A

A N I

T I N D

2 8 9 1 S O N H E4 5 6 3 I T N E R 8 7 S T O T5 4 H 1 6 7 9 — Ambrose Bierce, 1842 — 1914 3 2

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.

Solution p. 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 Y 1 2 3

M 1 2 3 4 ’ 1 2 3 4

1 2

A 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 O 1 2 3 1 2

1.HYTTTFIRIWDT 2.TOOOSEHHIAIO 3.LEVMMUNER 4.TEEENA 5.X

SAMPLE:

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

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

Click on “MYSTERY WORD” • DEADLINE TO ENTER: NOON, MAY 31, 2021

3 7 6 1 9 2 5 4 8

9 5 3 7 2 6 4 8 1

1 4 2 8 5 9 3 6 7

MAY 21, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

The

13 +

Advice Doctor

“What did he say?”asks the Godfather. The lawyer replies, “He says you don’t have the guts to pull that trigger.”

Moe: Why is the average person in America so stupid? Joe: Because they keep shooting the ones who go to school.

mafia boss finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has cheated him out of ten million dollars. The bookkeeper is deaf, which is how he got the job in the first place. If Guido couldn’t hear anything he would never have to testify in court. When the mafia capo goes to confront Guido about his missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer who knows sign language. The godfather tells the lawyer, “Ask him where the money is!” The lawyer asks the question using sign language. Guido signs back, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The lawyer tells the godfather, “He says he doesn’t know what you’re talking about.” The godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido’s head and says, “You tell him to give it up right now or I’m going to blow his head off.” The lawyer signs to Guido, “He says he’ll kill you if you don’t tell him.” Guido tries not to show it but he is terrified, so he signs, “Ok, ok, you win! All the money is in a briefcase buried behind the shed at my cousin Bruno’s house.”

A man saw a Help Wanted sign at a 99-Cents store and went in to apply. The manager decided to interview him on the spot. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” he asked. “At the Dollar Store,” said the man. Moe: With so many restrictions being lifted now, how are we supposed to tell the difference between a fully vaccinated person and an unvaccinated person if they aren’t wearing a mask? Joe: Just ask them who won the election. Moe: Smoking will kill you. Joe: Yeah, but so will eating bacon. Moe: But smoking bacon cures it. Moe: Is there a scientific name for antivaxxers during a pandemic? Joe: Yes. The control group. Moe: Hey, I discovered this fun game that determines what your spy name would be. Joe: Oh, I love stuff like that. How does it work? Moe: It’s pretty cool. Your spy name is your last name followed by a brief pause, and then your first and last name. +

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? What do you mean?

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

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

Dear Advice Doctor, There are about 20 people who work in my immediate area at work, and roughly none of us like our supervisor. What really gets me is how hypocritical my co-workers are to the supervisor. To her face they act like they love her. This is the biggest bunch of apple polishers ever. I would love to quit but I can’t afford to. How can I deal with this? — So Sick of Suck-Ups Dear So Sick, Many people wonder the same thing you do: is polishing an apple good enough? If not, how much do we need to wash apples and other fruit? In fact, do we need to wash produce at all? Yes and no. Yes, it’s never a bad idea to wash off fresh fruits and vegetables. What could it hurt? Who knows who has handled produce from the fields and orchards to the store? How many customers picked up the very apple you bought before you came along? A quick rinse can effectively wash off dirt, bugs (dead or alive), residue from pesticides and even bacteria. You might think that organic produce doesn’t need to be washed, but they benefit from rinsing too. But no, there is no need to use soap or detergent, or some fancy store-bought produce wash. Those are unnecessary and may even cause digestive discomfort if soap residue remains on the produce. Some people also soak produce in a sink full of plain water, water and vinegar, water and detergent, etc. Also not necessary, say food hygiene professionals. Holding apples, grapefruit, cucumbers or whatever your produce is under running water in the kitchen sink is, according to food safety experts, all that is generally required. If you’re also adding a little mechanical action by rubbing the produce while the wate ris running, that’s even better. Where appropriate (not necessarily the case with raspberries, lettuce, etc), dry the items off with a paper towel or clean cloth. Strangely enough, some people religiously wash their fruits and vegetables and then store them in their refrigerator in a crisper that hasn’t been cleaned in two years. A University of Tennessee study found vegetable drawers to be notoriously nasty. Thanks for writing, and I hope I answered your question. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about health, life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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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

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AFTER READING

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

...cleverly hidden in the upper right area of the artwork in the p. 16 ad for BIRDIES FOR BRAIN HEALTH THE WINNER: ED SMITH! Want to find your name here next time? If it is, we’ll send you some cool swag from our goodie bag. The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

MAY 21, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER THE PUZZLE SOLVED B A T H O S

A R R I V E

L E A V E N

S T E E E N E R S T H T I R R A I E R N E Y E

S A A S P S I R S A T B E A D T W R E A N L E S

A R E S N E A E S D R W A H Y E A T O E R N E

R A B B E E D O I N D O R T T A L S I N E E N D L E G P P G M U N T O P B R O I M A I N L A G O G F U A L I E T U A T E X

E T H E R E A L

A C E N T R I C

T H A T

D I L A T E

E N A M O R

R E P O R T

SEE PAGE 12

A N T

The Celebrated TheSUDOKUsolution MYSTERY WORD CONTEST 2 8 3 9 1 7 5 6 4

...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. Limited sizes are available for shirt prize. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher. 8. Deadline to enter is shown on page 12.

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Love to stare at your phone? Visit issuu.com/ medicalexaminer and stare away.

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QuotatioN

QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Death is not the end — there remains the litigation. — Ambrose Bierce 1842-1914

WORDS BY NUMBER The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.

— Sydney J. Harris

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MAY 21, 2021

SPEND A HALF HOUR PER DAY EXERCISING AND THIS IS HOW MANY HOURS YOU STILL HAVE LEFT. SPEND THEM ANY WAY YOU WISH.

WILD WING CAFE & SCRUBS OF EVANS They’re the prize sponsors of our Mystery Word Contest.

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ACUPUNCTURE

Dr. Eric Sherrell, DACM, LAC Augusta Acupuncture Clinic 4141 Columbia Road 706-888-0707 www.AcuClinicGA.com

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

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

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

DENTISTRY

Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048

IN-HOME CARE

Floss ‘em or lose ‘em!

Steven L. Wilson, DMD Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445

DERMATOLOGY

Everyday Elder Care LLC Certified Home Health/Caregiver 706-231-7001 everydayeldercare.com Zena Home Care Personal Care|Skilled Nursing|Companion 706-426-5967 www.zenahomecare.com

LONG TERM CARE

Georgia Dermatology & WOODY MERRY www.woodymerry.com Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Long-Term Care Planning I CAN HELP! Augusta 30904 (706) 733-3190 • 733-5525 (fax) 706-733-3373 SKIN CANCER CENTER www.GaDerm.com

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

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PHARMACY Parks Pharmacy 437 Georgia Ave. ARKS HARMACY N. Augusta 29841 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER Michael Sharkey, MD Lauren Ploch, MD Caroline Wells, PA-C Chris Thompson, PA-C John Cook, MD, Emeritus

MAY 21, 2021

EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD STORY

GENERAL, SURGICAL & COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY

Augusta Office:

Aiken Office:

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YOU ARE ESSENTIAL DON'T DELAY. GET THE CARE YOU NEED.

AND EVERYBODY HAS A STORY. WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOURS. MEDICINE IN THE FIRST PERSON 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. Tell us if you want it “by you” or if it needs to be anonymous. Thanks!

PRINT IS DEAD WELL, A LOT OF IT IS.

• Free COVID-19 vaccinations • Vaccines are for adults 18+ • Health insurance is not needed • Open to patients and non-patients • If you have insurance, bring your insurance card Call (706)447-9923 to schedule a vaccination appointment at the health center If you are interested in partnering to bring the mobile vaccination service to your employees or clients call (706)922-1862

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There are others that have died in addition to the eight past publications pictured. The Senior News is no more. The Augustan (or “The New Augustan”) seems hard to find, but that could just be a temporary COVID situation. And many people say The Augusta Chronicle is a mere shadow of its former self. The good news is that one area publication is alive and well and going strong, and for that we have our loyal advertisers and loyal readers to sincerely thank. If you’re wondering, the name of that publication is shown below:

MEDICALEXAMINER