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MAY 25, 2018

AIKEN-AUGUSTAʼS MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

Old age?

There is no such thing

It was the day after Christmas, 1961. My grandparents had spent a few days with us, and had left that morning to make the long drive back home to Ohio.

Shortly after supper that evening the phone rang, and I happened to be the one who answered it. It was my Uncle Bob, and he calmly asked to speak to my mom. Everyone in our extended families absolutely loved everybody else, so this was a treat, and my mom answered the phone call from her brother happily and excitedly.

I watched as her smile instantly disappeared, and within literally two seconds she was crying uncontrollably. My uncle had broken the news that there had been a terrible collision and my grandmother was dead and my grandfather was seriously injured and in critical condition. He would end up spending many weeks in the hospital.

Back then, it was apparently the custom for people to clip articles about the accident from their local newspaper and enclose the clipping in their sympathy cards. My parents got dozens of such clippings, but all of them could be summarized in the most common headline: ”Woman, 58, Dies in Crash.” I was just a little kid at the time, so forgive me for what I am about to tell you: one article said my grandmother was “fatally injured.”

Not knowing what “fatally” meant, I ran to show my mom the printed proof that her mother was not dead after all, but only fatally injured.

Speaking of youthful ignorance, while I was definitely griefstricken over the death of this precious woman, I took some comfort in the knowledge that at least she had lived 58 years. By my definition that was a good long life.

How wrong I was.

This reminds me of an “Area Brief” that was in the Augusta Chronicle not long ago. The mini-headline referred to an “elderly” crime victim. The accompanying story revealed the unfortunate person to be all of 56 years old. From the perspective Please see NO SUCH THING page 2

AUGUSTARX.COM

Today’s Special GoodNutrition!

You know how difficult it can be to dine out nutritiously if you’re watching carbs, calories, fat, et cetera? Well, if you missed the news, earlier this month (on May 7) new FDA rules went into effect nationally requiring restaurants with 20 or more locations to display calorie and other nutrition information on menus and menu boards. The affected establishments — more than 300,000 of them, an average of 6,000 locations per state — must also post notice that additional information is available upon request, and that additional information includes total calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, and protein.

The change will make it much easier to make informed choices about dining options. For example, a menu might offer both grilled and fried chicken sandwiches. Menu information now lets you know your choice can add or subtract 200 calories from your meal. Other informed choices with side orders, drinks and desserts can multiply the potential benefits of this new regulation. +

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Lower right abdomen Get directions No phone listed Working now? Maybe Take-out Available: Definitely Good for Nothing Jason M. Augusta, GA

Erica S. Aiken, SC

H H H H H 5/18/2018 Are you kidding me? A body part with no use, no job, no function, no purpose? What a total scam. + H H H H H 5/9/2018 I hate the appendix. I was sick as a dog for years when I was a child until my parents finally decided it wasn’t the flu all the time and took me to a doctor who figured out in two seconds that it was appendicitis. Meanwhile I had missed out on all kinds of stuff. Then I had to have it taken out, then there was an infection. If I never hear the word appendix again it will be fine with me. +

Benjamin W. Augusta, GA

H H H H H 4/21/2018 As a general surgeon, I find the appendix to be a most useful organ, even if it is vestigial. People who say the appendix has no purpose or function are misinformed. Over the years it has helped me send three children through college and enabled me to purchase a beach house. +

Ellen T. Hephzibah, GA

Bo C. Clearwater, SC

H H H H H 4/14/2018 Don’t tell me about your appendix. My appendix BURST, people. Top that. Good riddance. + H H H H H 4/10/2018 What are you people moaning and groaning about? My appendix hasn’t given me ten seconds’ worth of trouble my whole life. Quit your complaining. (I would give it 5 stars if it actually did anything.) +

Robbie J. Evans, GA

H H H H H 4/7/2018 A body part that does nothing? That’s cool. I wish I had that job. +

DO YOU HAVE THIS CARD?

MAY 25, 2018

NO SUCH THING… from page 1 of the (presumably) twentysomething copywriter, perhaps “elderly” seemed correct.

Years from now when that copywriter is 56 (if they happen to remember the story) they will surely shake their heads at their youthful naiveté.

I believed that the realization I came to decades ago about how very young my grandmother was when she died had taught me well, but I’ve been proven wrong many times.

When my mother-in-law died, at least I got that right: she was definitely old.

That’s what I thought at the time, anyway. Until, that is, the other evening over dinner when my wife and I were talking about not getting any younger. I jokingly said, “If I follow in my father’s footsteps I’ll be dead in five years.”

My wife’s response: “If I follow in my mother’s, I’ll be dead in a couple months.”

Say what??? Not possible!

That woman was old. My wife is not. Then it hit me: my dad was old when he died too, but I’m not. At least not yet.

I believe I have finally reached the age when I can appreciate the wisdom of a famous quote attributed to businessman Barnard Baruch: “To me,” he said, “old age is always ten years older than I am.”

It’s amazing to consider that by his own definition Baruch

Who do you see, the old woman or the young one?

(1870-1965), although he died at 95, never made it to old age.

I keep blowing past ages that once upon a time I viewed as positively ancient, and now that I’ve reached those ages (and beyond), I don’t feel ancient at all.

Protesters of the Vietnam War era chanted “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” You can be sure that isn’t a belief any of them held for very long.

The message is clear: when we get to “old age,” chances are it’s not going to be sitting there waiting for us; old age keeps getting older as we do.

Armed with that knowledge, we do well to live with a long life in mind. If we do, “old age” can be spent actively, not in a rocking chair. + — by Daniel Pearson Publisher

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MAY 25, 2018

PROFILES IN MEDICINE presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

LITTLE MAN, BIG JOB The title is no reflection on the size or stature of the gentleman shown here. It was simply his name: George S. Little.

With the airwaves saturated by University Hospital’s celebration of its 200th anniversary, here is a brief look at one of the builders of that impressive legacy.

Little had big shoes to fill. He came on board in 1967 after the abrupt resignation of his beloved predecessor, Whitelaw Hunt, affectionately known as Whit.

Hunt was certainly a capable administrator, a position he held at University from 1953 to 1966. But he wasn’t one of those VIPs who never leaves the executive suite. In fact, it is said that he knew every University Hospital employee by name, no small feat when that number totaled 800 in countless departments from the kitchen to the OR. Hunt might have served for many more years if a brain tumor had not intervened. He resigned in September of 1966 shortly after the diagnosis and was laid to rest before the year ended.

At the time, University Hospital was housed in the old 3-wing building often seen in University promotional materials, Barrett Wing on the left, Lamar Wing on the right.

That building stood, generally speaking, at an angle just behind the Augusta Ob-Gyn offices

where W.G. Watson practiced for decades at the corner of Harper and D’Antignac Streets near University’s current ER entrance.

The facility was old and unsafe and obsolete, and would have been condemned, ironically enough, had it been an office building.

But its critical importance in area healthcare delivery prompted various building, fire and code inspectors to temporarily look the other way.

The same couldn’t be said for the federal government. They were withholding federal funds that could be used to build a new hospital because University was not in compliance in matters of racial equality, civil rights and desegregation.

Just before the start of the George Little era 53 years ago this month, those matters were resolved, and a major construction program began. That initiative officially started in July 1967 when the contract to build the current University Hospital was awarded. The first portion completed, appropriately enough (in December 1970), was the Emergency Room, whose first patient was Mrs. Harry Jernigan, Sr., another name of significance in University’s long story.

On April 16, 1971, Gov. Jimmy Carter dedicated the University Hospital we know today, set to begin its third century of service in September. ++

Editor’s note: this is a monthly series presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust and the Medical Examiner profiling exceptional physicians and others of note in Augusta’s long and rich medical history.

W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T Our experienced, financial team focuses on you, our client, to ensure that all aspects of your financial affairs are being monitored and managed appropriately in accordance with your life goals. We welcome the opportunity to serve. Call today for an appointment.

What causes hiccups?

We could stretch this out and make it suspenseful, but the short and direct answer is that researchers aren’t really sure.

There are known triggers, however: drinking fi zzy beverages; eating too much too fast (swallowing a lot of air); acid reflux; eating spicy foods; and others.

The mystery is that some of these actions trigger hiccups in a person sometimes, and at other times have no effect on the same person. Adding to the complexity of the issue is how common hiccups are among babies, who presumably consume no carbonated beverages or spicy foods, and who usually eat only until full. As many mothers know, even babies in the womb get hiccups.

There are many theories, but solid answers are probably a casualty of limited funding: who is going to invest the time and money to investigate hiccups when cancer and cardiovascular diseases take the huge toll they do?

Still, hiccups are an interesting topic. Like sneezes, which curiously often come in pairs, hiccups are usually plural. In fact, when they go on for awhile they often do so at regular and fairly precise intervals. One of the 2-dollar names for hiccups suggests as much: synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. Some scientists believe there is an “oscillator” in the brain that, when activated, sends out a recurring signal to hiccup.

Whatever the cause, the mechanics are fairly simple (or, as one reference work puts it, “a very complex motor act”). It begins with a sudden contraction of the diaphragm triggered by the phrenic nerve, causing a sharp intake of breath. At almost the same time, the glottis (aka vocal cords) clamp shut, resulting in the onomatopoeic “hic” sound that gives hiccups their name.

Hiccups usually disappear within minutes, and are not considered medically significant unless they don’t. And that does happen. Some unfortunate people have had hiccups continuously for weeks, months, or even years.

Folk remedies abound, but here are the complete directions for one said to be the most effective. However, all steps are necessary for the cure. Brew 2 cups of elderberry tea; add six and a half drops of oil of peppermint; while still hot, pour tea over ginseng roots; wait one hour, then (continued in our next issue) +

MEDICALEXAMINER

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AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

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MAY 25, 2018

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

#67 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

T

he gentleman above is one of the most important figures in American healthcare history. As for the man shown below, he’s the father of the man above. His name (like his son’s) is Robert Johnson (b. 1845), and he was an early partner in Seabury & Johnson, a fledgling company working to apply Joseph Lister’s discoveries to develop aseptic surgical equipment and promote sterile conditions during surgery. It was cutting edge at the time.

Through Johnson’s tireless efforts, by 1878 the firm’s sales were nearly a quarter of a million dollars a month (in 2018 dollars). Even so, the partners couldn’t get along, and in 1880, George Seabury bought Johnson’s share in the company in exchange for Johnson signing a 10-year non-compete agreement.

During this same period, Johnson’s two brothers, James and Edward, had started a medical supply business named Johnson & Johnson that was struggling to stay afloat. And so was the Johnson-less Seabury & Johnson.

Seabury was unable to make the monthly payments he had agreed to in buying Johnson’s shares, so he proposed releasing Johnson from the non-compete agreement if Johnson would cancel Seabury’s debt.

That was agreeable to both parties, and Robert Johnson’s two brothers immediately hired him, giving him 50 percent ownership of their struggling company in exchange for taking over its management. That worked pretty well: by 1888 the firm’s sales were in excess of $25,000 per month ($550,000 in 2018 dollars). Johnson served as the president of the company until his death in 1910, when his brother James, one of the two original founders, took over in his place. He served as the company’s president until 1932, when Robert Johnson’s son (pictured, top) took the reins. His name, Robert Wood Johnson II, is attached to the Foundation that bears his name, focused exclusively on promoting improvements in health and healthcare. Its establishment was stipulated in RWJ II’s will as the major recipient of his $1 billion dollar estate, including more than 10 million shares of J&J stock.

Of note: the daughter of Robert Wood Johnson I (oval frame) was married to composer Leopold Stokowski. His granddaughter was the first baby to appear on a J&J baby powder label. The home of Robert Wood Johnson II was converted to the New Jersey Governor’s mansion after Johnson’s lease on the home expired. Johnson & Johnson invented the band-aid and the first aid kit. The red cross on many J&J products is one of the few uses of the symbol that is not viewed as copyright infringement by the American or International Red Cross; its use by J&J dates back to 1887 and the Red Cross allows its use by J&J. The “Johnson & Johnson” signature logo is almost unchanged since it first appeared on company packaging in 1886. Duct tape was invented by J&J for the US military at the outbreak of World War II with minor adaptations of its existing cloth medical adhesive tape — and a change from white to olive drab. +

by Marcia Ribble

Going on the road is something many seniors are prevented from doing by disability, distance between them and their loved ones, and lack of money or transportation. But we have many options to get us on the road and into new adventures. For example, tonight I have been quite transported by watching a PBS program on the birth of civilizations, with a focus on the development of religions.

The program followed the path from people who were nomadic to those who became hunters and gatherers with more settled lives, and the growth of villages and even cities. The program took us into incredibly beautiful caves and the still vibrant cave paintings. Then there were churches, temples, and mosques, as the known world began to focus on the idea of a single God instead of the many gods of earlier civilizations.

But even with the development of monotheism there was no uniform god. Many religions have gone to war to inflict their particular brand of religion on others—battles that continue today, fighting to have their beliefs dominate, if not destroy, any beliefs seen as competing for the minds, hearts, and souls of the flocks in their supposedly superior claims to the truth.

Religions with multiple gods continue to exist today, especially in Asia. There we encounter many faiths which seem, at least to me, to have a less combative approach to religion. This has left me wondering if Christianity, Judaism, and the Muslim faith might follow the same path to peaceful co-existence.

What this all demonstrates to me is that even in my mid-seventies, a little open-mindedness can lead to new knowledge. Instead of watching quite uninspiring programming, I can choose offerings on less familiar stations. Right now on my TV there is a discussion about science led by Stephen Hawking. He demonstrated the laws of the universe by having students use a large, heavy ball to knock an olive into a martini glass. Before a solution was found, quite a few martini glasses were shattered. But eventually the students figured out a way to consistently get the olive in the glass.

Hawking then began a discussion of free will.

This is interesting to me because in college I encountered a philosophy called determinism which suggests that all of our decisions, as well as their consequences, are pre-determined and that we actually have no freedom of choice. I am not sure about that, but it is an interesting issue to speculate about. Hawking argues that everything is determined by the laws of the universe. This has kept me thinking for hours, days even, without arriving at a conclusion.

To be nearly 75 and still learning is one of the now well-known secrets to avoiding dementia.

In addition, learning demonstrates that we still have a youthful brain and offers the ability to converse about new information. My oldest granddaughter and I spend hours talking about new ideas relevant to today’s world. We don’t always agree, but it’s still fun to hear her take on contemporary issues. Being connected to others is another way to reduce the threat of mental decline as we age. +

MYTH OF THE MONTH Eggs are bad for your heart Many people — and millions of chickens — would agree with that statement, but clinical evidence would beg to differ. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) calls eggs one of the “most nutritious and economical foods” around.

Research published this year in the journal Nature similarly found no smoking gun linking egg consumption with high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease (CVD) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). Nature noted that other

studies that have found such a link “are more likely to be attributed to [an overall] dietary pattern often accompanying high egg intake.” Nature says those dietary patterns, along with genetic predisposition and physical activity levels affect the risk of CVD and T2D more than just eggs alone. Various health agencies say consuming 7 eggs per week or 2 eggs per day is safe and healthful for most people. Check with your doctor about your specific situation. +

MAY 25, 2018

H

Musings of a Distractible Mind

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

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

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MAY 25, 2018

AIKEN-AUGUSTAʼS MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006

AUGUSTARX.COM

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924 private practice doctors offices and to 14 area hospitals.

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ello, this is Dr. Rob, and you have reached my column. If you are here to read what follows, please continue to do so. If this is an emergency, please stop reading and call 9-1-1.

That is one of my pet peeves. Every doctor’s office I call I get the same thing: “if this is a true emergency, please hang up and dial 9-11.” I even got that message when I called the ER. Clearly, the message is put on every office phone system to cover their collective tushies (is the plural of “tush” tushuses or tushi?)

They are protecting these sacred parts from a patient having a stroke who sits and listens to the 21 options followed by 20 minutes of 60’s classics lovingly interpreted by Kenny G. Scientific evidence shows that after listening to muzak for long enough, even people without an emergency will eventually hang up and dial 9-1-1.

But I don’t put that warning on my phone system (and have opted for folk music instead of Kenny G).

It’s not because my patients are smarter (although they clearly are), nor is it because I don’t value my tush. I wouldn’t mind getting rid of a little of it, but overall I value that part of my body.

The reason I don’t put the “moron repellant” message on my service is because a lot of patients aren’t really sure they have a true emergency and are calling to get advice about whether or not they should call 91-1, make an appointment, or if they should just take some Tylenol. To make this decision, the patient has to run the gauntlet of the typical medical office’s

“doctor protection plan:” 1. The patient calls and listens to all 21 options (as the menu items have changed).

2. Listens to Kenny G (in the South, it’s sometimes Travis Tritt) for an indeterminate amount of time.

3. Speaks to a front desk person who is assigned to phones (usually a newer staff person who is not a clinically trained).

4. Is offered a.) an appointment for some time in the next few weeks; b.) transfer to the nurse (or her voicemail); or c.) be told to go to the ER (if it’s a true emergency).

5. If lucky enough to talk to a nurse, the nurse will give the same three options.

6. Eventually see the doctor when the next appointment is open (after 2 hours in the waiting room).

But what if it’s a “true emergency” and the patient takes option 6? Then the “moron repellant” message about 9-1-1 protects the doctor from the patient’s bad decision - a decision based on not knowing when something is worth worrying about and what is not.

The keys to good care are: 1. Care that is accessible 2. Care that is based on accurate information.

Our health care system puts a huge wall between doctor and patients - a wall made of inane messages, voicemail, Kenny G, front desk staff and clinical staff. Doctors are reluctant to speak to patients about their problems because they are too busy seeing people in the office, and because they are not interested in giving away care for free.

We physicians force people to come to the office because it is the only business model

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that works. While the PCP (primary care physician) has the most information about the patient, they are not accessible.

So people then go to the ER (or prompt care) because the incredible frustration they feel dealing with most doctors’ offices. Although the ER is more accessible, it is not based by good information about the patient. The doctor there has to get to know the person’s medical history quickly, assess whether or not this constitutes a “true emergency,” take care of those with “true emergencies,” and give a temporary solution to those who don’t qualify, with instructions to follow up with their PCP. This obviously poisons people’s view of the medical system, since care that is both accessible and informed is hard to come by. Nobody can answer the patient who wants to know if they have a “true emergency,” yet isn’t that one of the most critical questions to answer?

Avoiding unnecessary treatment and promptly getting necessary treatment are two keys to reducing the cost of care.

The system forces patients to assess themselves as to whether their conditions constitutes a “true emergency” before they get a chance to talk to anyone. Patients use the ER unnecessarily because the it’s a pain in the tush to deal with their PCP, and when they do sit in front of their actual doctor, that doctor is tired, getting their tuchus whipped by CPT codes, ICD codes, and meaningful use criteria.

There has to be a better way. And actually, there is. +

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MAY 25, 2018

MISS AN

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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.

MAY 25, 2018

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

Southern Girls Eat Clean

NEED HEARING PROTECTION WHEN YOUR GARAGE DOOR GOES UP?

Rereshing Cold-Brewed Iced Tea Here in the South we love our “Sweet Tea” don’t we?

Recently, I found a super quick way to make iced tea. I have always brewed my iced tea and let it steep in hot water. Once cooled, I then added more water and whatever sweetener and flavor I chose. It takes a bit of time to make a good pitcher of iced tea but, by cold brewing the tea you just drop the tea bags into the water, pop it into the fridge and let it sit overnight and in the morning you have iced tea.

I have found that I like to sweeten our tea with raw honey instead of sugar.

Once the tea has brewed in the refrigerator I make a simple syrup of 1 part water/1 part honey and add it to the steeped tea. It gives this tea the perfect amount of sweetness for my taste.

By adding honey, which is a natural sweetener, I am avoiding the refined white sugar that is generally in “southern sweet tea.”

This cold brewed recipe is made from Numi brand Rooibos red tea and fresh oranges; however, you may use any type or brand of tea you prefer. Obviously, some teas have more health benefits than others so choosing a black, red or green tea would provide you with a boost of nutrition. I personally love the taste of oranges with iced tea, but any fruit you enjoy would add flavor. Strawberries, • Approximately 2 quarts of raspberries, peaches, water to a small bowl and fi ltered water plus 2 Tbsp. for blackberries or lemon would microwave on high for simple syrup (1 part water, 1 be absolutely fabulous. Herbs approximately 30 seconds. Stir part honey) such as mint or basil would well to melt the honey. be other nice additions.

Add 2 Tbsp. of the simple Instructions: I hope you will try this syrup into each quart jar. Stir Fill the 2 quart jars with refreshing and healthier well. fi ltered water approximately 1 version of sweet tea.

Pour over ice and garnish 1/2 inches from the top of the with fresh fruit or herbs. + jars.

Ingredients: Add the fruit and/or herbs • 2 quart size mason jars with *This recipe was inspired by of your choice to each jar. lids an article I found on Pinterest.

Drop 2 tea bags into each • 4 tea bags (Brand of your Here is the link... http://www. mason jar, leaving the tags choice) cookinglight.com/food/recipehanging out.

• 1/2 cup of fresh fruit. finder/cold-brewed-teas Close the lids tightly and Orange slices, strawberries, place into the refrigerator for peaches, raspberries, Alisa Rhinehart writes the blog 12-24 hours. blackberries, blueberries or www.southerngirlseatclean.com Remove the jars from the lemon would work perfectly.

She is a working wife refrigerator, take the tea bags • 1 or 2 sprigs of fresh herbs. and mother living and the fruit out of the jars Basil or mint give nice flavor. in Evans. Visit her and discard.

• 2 Tbsp. of raw honey (More blog for more recipes Add 2 Tbsp. of raw honey if you prefer a sweeter tea. and information on and 2 Tbsp. of fi ltered Adjust water accordingly) clean eating.

WE CAN FIX THAT

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EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES

by Ken Wilson Executive Director, Steppingstones to Recovery I heard a great definition of an excuse many years ago: “An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”

Such is the life of an alcoholic and an addict. In behavioral health, the correct term is “Denial.” But remember: denial is NOT a lie! By definition, a lie is conscious and deliberate; denial is unconscious, like blinking your eyes.

But is it possible to have an unconscious lie?

Yep. When an alcoholic says “I’m not one,” he really believes it. Everybody around him sees the truth but he/she does not. And right then, cannot.

When I was about 15 years old I memorized a poem by Robert Burns. Nobody made me do it; it was SO good I just fi xed it in my mind and I remember it like I do my own social security number! Burns was sitting in church in the 1700’s when a finely dressed woman of society sat down in front of him. The sermon droned on and he fi xed his attention on the woman’s hat and fine clothes when to his surprise a louse crawled out from under her hat and slowly made its way down to the fur on her coat! A poem just flowed out through his pencil and he scribbled this (transliterated into Standard English) poem, “To A Louse” (excerpt): Oh, would some Power give us the gift To see ourselves as others see us!

It would from many a blunder free us.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional Denial shows its face in a number of forms. Here are a few of the ways that Denial manifests in the life of an addict. Recognize any of them?

Denial by Rationalization: giving an excuse to justify actions. “I wouldn’t have to drink if I wasn’t married to you!” (You wouldn’t believe how many wives really believe this!) Or, “Alcohol is the way I deal with a cruddy boss.” (It’s the boss’s fault, you know!)

Denial by Compensating: strengthening one attribute to hide another. “I’m a good provider for my family – their needs come fi rst. I pay the bills, buy the groceries, take the family out to eat and I use the rest of my money for my drugs if any is left over.”

(This one really deserves a trophy, right?)

Denial by Way of Projection: attributing personal problems to others.

“I despise those junkies out there...darn addicts, ruining society. I just drink beer and it’s legal...I’d never use an illegal drug.” (He/she just

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doesn’t know that the brain doesn’t distinguish between legal and illegal drugs, or whether the drug is drank, snorted, injected, or smoked – neither does the brain care – it just knows it was stimulated to either slow down or speed up the synapses. To the brain, a drug is a drug is a drug is a drug. Whether in an orange bottle from a pharmacy with cotton in the top or not).

Denial by way of uniqueness: thinking “I am special” and can do my drugs and you need to cut me some slack to do it! In recovery we call this a case of “terminal uniqueness,” as this thinking can lead to an untimely death. “I have high tolerance and can handle my drugs...

I’ve never overdosed or been arrested, and always take care of my obligations. My dad was an alcoholic, his dad was one, and now I’m one...so just accept it.”

Sadly, the way the brain works it is futile to confront Denial in the mind of an alcoholic/addict. The greater

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Ask a Dietitian

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THE BERRY MONTH OF MAY

by Jeanne Lee, MS, RD, LD

Please see BERRIES page 10

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In Augusta we are able to get fresh Florida berries in winter and early spring berries before our local ones are available. Did you know that the Even berry variety produces 3 periods of flowers and fruit each season, and that berries are ripe 3-6 weeks after the plants bloom? If you decide to grow your own, plants need 6 hours of full sunlight and grow best in well drained soil.

Wild blueberries were gathered by Native Americans and were thought to be sacred, sent by the Great Spirit to relieve hunger during famine. Early in the 20th century the daughter of a cranberry grower teamed up with a botanist from the USDA and identified the wild blueberries with the best properties to create a new variety that could be cultivated as a crop. The fi rst commercial blueberries were sold in 1916 and were not introduced to Europe till the 1930s. Today the leading producers are Washington State, Michigan and Georgia. A blueberry bush can produce for 20 years, so planting some in your yard is a good investment. They are also a favorite snack for birds, so covering the plants with netting will help protect the berries.

As a dietitian, I would be remiss to not mention that berries are low in calories and high in nutrients including vitamin C, potassium, folate and fiber. Berries contain no fat and no sodium and are a perfect addition to salads, desserts, smoothies, pancakes, muffins, cereal or oatmeal, and more. (FYI McDonalds offers a yogurt parfait with berries. It has only 150 calories compared to their small ice cream cone for 170 calories but with more nutritional value. Or you can make

Ohio Ave.

May is a good month to be reminded about the health benefits and the tastiness of berries.

This time of year when we are enjoying fresh local strawberries and are eagerly anticipating a good crop of blueberries that are already forming on the bushes. Berries have been proclaimed “super foods” for several years now, and the health benefits have been the subject of many a research grant.

We have learned much about the benefits of berries related to their strong antioxidant properties, which protect our cells from damage. Although small in size, berries boast a large boost to your body by contributing to cardiovascular, brain, and skin health. A few years ago this paper published an excellent article called Berries for your Health (July 2013), so hopefully many of our readers have already added these jewels to their daily diet.

For the “foodies” among today’s readers, you might slip some of the following berry fun facts into your conversations. For instance, although both wild strawberries (and wild blueberries) are native to North America, did you know that the name strawberry comes from an old English word that means “to strew”? That’s because when strawberries grow they put out runners in all directions that make it appear they were strewn on the ground. Other sources say that the tiny yellow dots found on strawberries look like tiny bits of straw. The first garden variety of strawberries was cultivated in France by plants brought over from Chile in the mid 1700s. Today California produces 80% of the berries in the USA.

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DENIAL… from page 8

BERRIES… from page 9

the pressure, the greater the resistance to accepting the Denial.

So what is the solution then? Leave the confrontation up to a good group effort of people who have been there, done that. A self-help/12-step group perhaps; or a group in a treatment program.

If your confrontation was going to work, it would have done so already. Give it up.

Allow them to suffer the consequences of their own actions. Pain is THE only teacher.

Later, maybe much later, they’ll be glad somebody told them they had lice in their hair. +

your own parfait by layering your favorite yogurt, berries and a few tablespoons of granola for a perfect morning, afternoon or bedtime snack.

Remember too that blackberries, raspberries and cranberries are also part of this “super food” fruit group and offer both a colorful and tasty addition to any meal. Berries are available in the frozen food section when

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MAY 25, 2018

you can’t find them fresh and are a perfect addition to your diet year round.

One last hint, it is best to call local farms before making the trip for a berry-picking outing since sometimes the hours and days open are changed due to weather conditions or demand. One easy option for fresh berries is to check downtown Augusta’s Market on Broad, open on Saturdays from 8 am till 2 pm. +

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Obviously the online edition of the Medical Examiner has just posted.

Full color on every page. Clickable links. Read it 24/7. Go to issuu.com/medicalexaminer now!

TO ADVERTISE IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CALL (706) 860-5455 OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY! WELL, TECHNICALLY THEY’RE SITTING AROUND. CALL TODAY AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING DO TO.

MAY 25, 2018

11 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Don S. Dizon, M.D. on August 26, 2015 (edited for space)

GOT CANCER? DON’T BLAME YOURSELF Laurie was in her early fifties, the mom of twin girls.

She prided herself on being a health nut—aerobic exercise in the morning, yoga in the evening. She did not eat red meat and didn’t drink alcohol. Her family adopted an organic diet; she even grew her own vegetables. She was proud of her reputation as the “healthiest mom on the block.”

Then, she found a mass in her breast. At fi rst, she couldn’t believe it, thinking it must have been a blocked duct. However, it grew with time, and eventually, a mass appeared under her axilla.

By the time she was diagnosed she had a 5 cm breast mass and at least two sonographically suspicious nodes. A biopsy confirmed triple-negative breast cancer. She was devastated.

“I’ve done everything right!” She exclaimed. “How did I get cancer?!”

I started to answer, but she went on. “Do you think I’ve been exposed to a toxin? Something in the water? Can we check my body for poisons?”

It was clear she was anguished. She wanted to know more than how this happened — she had to know why this happened, what she did “wrong” to get cancer.

While I am a proponent of healthy lifestyles, cancer screening, and moderation in general, I have seen how our conversations about risk reduction and cancer prevention can be very distressing to those already diagnosed.

“Mammography saves lives,” “One-third of cancers are preventable” — these are messages that resonate and likely are true for populations. But at the individual level, and for the newly diagnosed patient, they are just not that helpful. So as I sat there talking with her, I wanted to make sure one point was clear: She did nothing wrong.

She did not cause this cancer.

“Living well, being healthy, is and will continue to be so important for you beyond cancer,” I explained. I went on to reviewed the data about how being healthy is associated with improved survival after a cancer diagnosis.

“I don’t know why you got cancer. We know that most are sporadic, and sadly, healthy people do get cancer,” I continued. “I have had many patients who have healthy lifestyles low in meat and high in green vegetables, some who had kids young and breastfed — all factors that are associated with a lowered risk of breast cancer. I don’t know why they got it, and I don’t know why you did either. If I knew that, I’d win the Nobel Prize. We just cannot explain why cancer happens to any one individual absent a genetic risk.”

As we concluded our visit and made plans to begin neoadjuvant chemotherapy, I hoped she was satisfied with my answers and that I helped alleviate her distress. But as she walked out she appeared to still be in the shock of the initial diagnosis and fi xated on the question, “Why?” Patients like Laurie reinforce my belief that none of us can guarantee cancer prevention for any one individual patient, short of prophylactic surgeries in the context of a high risk of cancer (for example, women with a BRCA mutation in whom oophorectomy and mastectomy are options). I think we need to be more consistent and clear that the steps we take today can lower our chances of getting cancer not prevent it. I think framing issues like this would have helped Laurie and others like her. Cancer is a hard enough diagnosis to hear, and blaming one’s self for it is certainly something we should help our patients avoid. +

Healthy people do get cancer

Don S. Dizon is an oncologist

In just a little over 300 pages, this book will tell you everything you’d ever want to know — and a few things you’d probably rather not know — about what it’s like to be a shiny new doctor.

People stereotype doctors as possessed of huge egos.

Maybe that’s true sometimes.

But as readers of this book will appreciate, long before the god complex surfaces, freshly minted physicians have to battle feelings of overwhelming panic, fear and insecurities, frantic schedules, utter exhaustion, and the distinctly dreadful feeling of being in way over your head in life and death situations.

It doesn’t matter that on Day One of med school every student is already a college graduate, often on a premed track. It doesn’t matter that four rigorous years of training follow. It doesn’t even matter that upon graduation those two letters — M and D — now are an official part of your name.

Despite all of that, a physician’s training is still a long way from complete. In some ways it’s never over,

but let’s not get ahead of ourselves; let’s stick with year one, the daunting road taken between the covers of this book.

First-year doctors are also known as residents: during their 4th year of medical school, soon-to-graduate students are “matched” via a national program with a hospital residency vacancy from each resident’s own short list of preferences.

There, as M.D.s, their training continues in a sort of on-the-job apprenticeship program.

In all, from leaving high school to becoming a

full-fledged doctor takes a minimum of 11 years.

Residencies can last from three to seven years, depending on the resident’s field of medicine.

This book then, is a peek into Year #9 of 11 (or more) in the process of becoming a doctor.

While this book tells of experiences that range from humorous to absolutely harrowing, it’s reassuring (for patients, at least) to have a bird’s eye view into how extensive and exhaustive (no pun intended) the training is to become a physician.

If you’re about to graduate from med school, or just did, or will be in a year or two; or you’re just someone who finds the medical profession fascinating, you’ll enjoy being perched on McCarthy’s shoulder for this very candid look at the trial by fire that is every physician’s first year in the trenches of medicine. + The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly — A Physician’s First Year

by Matt McCarthy, M.D., 336 pages, published in April 2015 by Crown

Research News Osteoarthritis relief Osteoarthritis is called one of the top 10 most disabling diseases by the World Health Organization, and there is no cure for it, so anything that offers relief from its symptoms is good news indeed.

That is just what UK scientists at the University of Surrey say they have.

Research findings gleaned from 68 studies revealed that lifestyle changes — improved diet and low-intensity exercise — offer significant benefits.

Weight loss and physical activity decreased cholesterol, which at high levels is often linked to osteoarthritis.

Researchers say healthy joints are not possible without both regular exercise and good diet.

A couple aspects of good eating they highlighted: consuming a gram of fish oil per day could help reduce joint pain (and have heart health benefits) due to two omega3 fatty acids in fish oil that

reduce inflammation in joints.

The studies also found that regularly consuming foods rich in vitamin K, such as spinach and kale, helps prevent damage to and repair bones and cartilage.

On the “avoid this” side of the equation, researchers said being overweight and smoking and drinking heavily promote inflammation.

The findings were published in the journal Rheumatology.

A swift kick for knee replacements An analysis by Oxford University says 50,000 people a year in Britain alone are getting the shaft on knee replacements.

The problem, say researchers there, is that 90 percent of patients receive full joint replacement. Oxford’s review found that a partial replacement, where only the affected part of the knee is replaced, was medically

indicated in about half of all cases. Aside from the extra expense to hospital, patient, and insurance companies, the needless full replacements are more invasive, entail more post-operative risks, and involve longer recuperation and recovery.

While Oxford found 50 percent could fully benefit from just a partial knee replacement, their analysis of 2016 procedures nationwide found the partial was performed on only 9 percent of patients.

Blood test for pain coming Australian researchers have discovered identifiable molecular changes in immune cells which correspond directly to pain levels. The test could be used for patients who cannot communicate, such as babies and dementia sufferers, and may even have applications in veterinary treatment. The test is expected to be available within 18 months. +

+ 12

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THE EXAMiNERS

MAY 25, 2018

THE MYSTERY WORD

+

Did you and your friends go to that colon cleansing place?

We sure did.

by Dan Pearson

According to all the Well I’ve read that coffee research, these cleanses enemas are very beneficial. are unnecessary. They’re But relax. I didn’t get one. a complete scam.

They were out of cream.

Why not?

The Mystery Word for this issue: SCHUCTER

© 2018 Daniel Pearson All rights reserved.

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Wife of Shiva 5. Hawaiian fallout 8. Toxin 13. Latin: “As previously given” 14. Falsehoods 16. One of the “Baby Braves” 17. Frolic 18. Outer husk of grains 19. Tear into small pieces 20. Woman’s undergarment 22. Romaine 23. Longing 24. Number of gallons in a certain hat type?

25. Large flightless bird 27. Ambulance svc.

30. Doctors 31. By mouth 32. Adult males 33. Pacers’ school 36. Goat’s milk cheese 37. Obamacare acronym 38. Fake medicine 42. Tower over an oil well 44. Former coin of France 45. Couch 47. June 6, 1944 48. Worker for 27-A 49. Lenient, not strict enough 50. Prostate meas.

52. Lower digit 53. Black bird 54. Unhappy 55. One source of 8-A 58. Floyd, former Augusta visitor 60. Lively piece of music 63. Defense explanation 65. Prepare for publication 66. Scores at SunTrust Park 67. Dimensions 68. Rough earthenware

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69. Sewing case 70. Inferior wheat 71. Deep sleep abbrev.

72. Where Atlanta is (from here) DOWN 1. Smart in Athens 2. Worship 3. Sweetheart (archaic, poetic) 4. Little devils 5. One of the “Baby Braves” 6. Warning from 27-A 7. Listen to 8. Cirulatory 9. Reflected sound 10. Woman employed to care for children 11. Number before eighty (sometimes) 12. Deranged 15. Scoffed 21. Venereal abbreviation 26. Spouse 28. Birthplace of Muhammad

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

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved

— Unknown

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.

72

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

29. Serpentine 30. Family name prefix 31. Belonging to 33. Defeat unexpectedly 34. Replay option 35. Stop bleeding with heat 39. Voltaire or Samuel Johnson 40. Windfall; godsend 41. Policeman 43. Nutritional abbrev.

46. Preposition denoting location 50. It can follow post 51. “Star Wars” letters 54. A type of heel 55. Severe/sudden 56. Cranial cavity 57. Propose; assert 59. #2 son of Adam and Eve 61. Month on Jewish calendar 62. Team of rowers 63. Donkey 64. Edge

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

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

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.

E 1 2

’ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 L 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5

NUMBER SAMPLE: BY

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

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

1 2

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1.B A RT T S S G L O W W 2.EEEEEFOORHH 3.AAAVOOOE 4.DUKUCCEA 5.HHILLST 6.DND 7.GN 8.T

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

L 1

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by Daniel R. Pearson © 2018 All rights reserved

WORDS

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

MAY 25, 2018

13 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE

“Before you tell that joke i think it’s only fair, given that you are apparently blind, that you ha... ha... should know five things: “Number 1, The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.

“Secondly, the bouncer is a blonde, and she’s mean.

“Third, I’m a 6-ft tall 175 pound blonde Amazon with a black belt in karate, and four, the woman sitting next to me is a professional weight lifter — and she’s blonde.

“Fifth and finally, the lady to your right ou think your TV, smart phone and is a professional wrestler, and her hobby is microwave spying on you is bad?

Your vacuum cleaner has been gathering dirt roller derby, where her nickname is Helen Killer. She’s blonde too. on you for years.

“Now think about it seriously mister. Do you still wanna tell that blonde joke?”

Moe: I think my friend has been putting glue The blind man thinks for a second, shakes on my weapons. his head and mutters, “No, not if i’m gonna Joe: Have you confronted him? have to explain it five times.”

Moe: Yeah, but he denies everything.

Joe: Are you gonna just drop it or what?

Joe: What does a cannibal call a gymnast?

Moe: I’m sticking to my guns.

Moe: Probably a well balanced meal.

Moe: I hate using eBay. It’s worthless.

Joe: What does a cannibal call Usain Bolt?

Joe: What happened?

Moe: Fast food.

Moe: I tried looking up lighters, and guess what I got? 10,462 matches.

Joe: Why did the king go to the dentist?

Moe: To get a new crown.

Moe: Why do alcoholics go to the doctor?

Joe: For the shots, I suppose.

Joe: Why did the chicken kill itself?

Moe: To get to the other side.

An old blind man walks into an all-girl biker bar by mistake.

Moe: Did you know Bruce Lee has a son He finds his way to a bar stool and orders who is a vegetarian? a drink. After a few minutes, he calls to the Joe: Doesn’t ring any bells. What’s his bartender, “Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?” name?

The bar immediately falls silent. In a deep Moe: Brock Lee. + husky voice the woman next to him says,

The

Advice Doctor ©

Y

Why subscribe to the MEDICAL EXAMINER? What do you mean?

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

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

Dear Advice Doctor, The place where I work is chronically understaffed. To put it another way, business is really great (otherwise we wouldn’t need more people) but the owners are too cheap to hire the people they need. They are constantly throwing people into the deep end with no training, then giving them poor reviews when they aren’t perfect. How can we convince them to give us the staffing we need?

— Overworked - and worked over Dear Overworked, With summer vacation just ahead this is a very timely issue in a number of ways.

When confronted with situations like this, we sometimes automatically think of the person who can’t swim. Perhaps they jump into a swimming pool without realizing it’s the deep end. As any lifeguard will tell you, drowning in real life seldom looks the way it’s portrayed in movies and on TV. It’s usually a quiet and desperate underwater struggle, not the loud, flailing, splashing event we have been conditioned to expect. That’s why no one should swim alone, especially in unfamiliar deep waters.

Signs that say “swim at your own risk” when no lifeguard is on duty should not be ignored: be extra cautious in such situations. Horseplay in and around water can be dangerous, even around a “safe” backyard pool. A slip and a fall could cause unconsciousness, which is bad enough on dry land and infinitely more perilous with water involved.

But the flip side of this coin is with the experienced swimmer who might be careless or overconfident and take unnecessary risks as a result.

Whatever the dangers of a backyard pool might be, the risks multiply greatly in a pond, river, or lake where the water is generally not clear enough to see any hazards below the surface. Many serious injuries, including paralysis, have been caused by diving into unfamiliar waters and strking an unexpected object — or discovering that water thought to be deep enough for safe diving is actually quite shallow. Even a familiar swimming spot can change from one visit to the next, since currents can move logs, large branches or other obstructions into the area, and water levels can change due to rainfall or drought.

Resolve to make this summer safe around water by using common sense and practicing swimming and boating safety. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will only be provided in the Examiner.

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

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THE WINNER: TAMMY MARTINEZ 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!

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SEE PAGE 12

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

TheSUDOKUsolution

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...cleverly hidden in the shower the p. 10 ad for TUB DOCTOR

...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!

MAY 25, 2018

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

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#12 IN A 13-PART SERIES

The vitamin alphabet Vitamin E is one of those fortunate (or unfortunate) vitamins that has a fan club.

Although its popularity has gone up and down over recent years, it remains a vitamin that medical researchers list lots of benefits from, and fan club members tout even more, ranging from preventing miscarriages and strokes to promoting faster healing of cuts through topical use.

Cutting through all the true and false claims, vitamin E is unquestionably a vital element in a salubrious diet, even if it has been described as a scavenger.

Allow us to explain.

Our story begins with two words: free radicals. Simply put, free radicals are unstable atoms that desperately want to be stable. With an unpaired

E

electron to deal with, a free radical can’t wait to bind to another atom or molecule to restore balance (acting as an oxidant)), or alternately to regain its cellular equilibrium by shedding the unpaired electron (acting as a reductant), giving it to any cell it can find whether that cell wants it or not. This isn’t grounds for tremendous concern since free radicals occur naturally; as long as there aren’t too many of them, no harm no foul.

The problem arises when too many free radicals overwhelm the body’s ability to handle them. Known as oxidative stress, this can result in altered DNA, cancer, and other diseases.

Enter vitamin E, which is an antioxidant. Given

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the facts of the case so far, perhaps that oft-heard word means more to you now than it did five minutes ago.

Antioxidants like vitamin E prevent damaging oxidation.

Vitamin E has been described as a free radical scavenger, roaming through the body looking for free radicals and donating to them the atom or electron they’re missing, taking them off their warpath and limiting their damage.

This is why we hear so much about foods that are sources of antioxidants. As we age, we gradually lose the ability to fight the effects of free radicals. More of them means more oxidative stress, more degenerative processes, more effects of aging. More antioxidants, on the other hand, means a better chance

of continuing to keep free radicals in their place instead of running wild.

Not that vitamin E is limited to only antioxidant properties. The National Institutes of Health lists a number of additional benefits offered by vitamin E. • “Evidence that vitamin E could help prevent or delay coronary artery disease comes from several sources.”

• “Antioxidant nutrients like vitaminE protect cell constituents from the damaging effects of free radicals that, if unchecked, might contribute to cancer development.”

• Oxidative stress is suspected in age-related macular degeneration Please see VITAMIN E page 16

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

VITAMIN E… from page 15 and cataracts. If confirmed, “nutrients with antioxidant functions, such as vitamin E, could be used to prevent these conditions.”

• “The brain has a high oxygen consumption rate and abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids in the neuronal cell membranes. Researchers hypothesize that if cumulative freeradical damage to neurons over time contributes to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, then ingestion of sufficient or supplemental antioxidants (such as vitamin E) might provide some protection.”

With all these and other benefits, it’s somewhat curious that vitamin E has major popularity swings. The Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study tracked dietary vitamin E Women Men supplement use by people 1986 16.1% 18.9% over the age of 40 during the years 1986-2006, as 1998 46.2% 52.0% shown in the chart.

2002 44.3% 49.4% Those are some major ups and downs, but vitamin 2006 19.8% 24.5% E is good for us year in and year out. Good thing it’s available in all kinds of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, fortified cereals, vegetable oils, eggs and nuts. +

MAY 25, 2018

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