May26 17 by Daniel Pearson

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MAY 26, 2017

DRIVEN TO THE EDGE

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), the number of drivers aged 65 and above increased by almost 30 percent between 2006 and 2015.

ow annoying is this: the light turns green and the driver in front of you accelerates — slowly. Verrry slowly. Traffic is heavy so you can’t get around her, and to make matters even worse, when she reaches the speed limit, she stops accelerating. She drives at the speed limit! Who does this? What is her problem? Traffic that was stacking up behind you is whipping around the two of you in a steady procession, preventing you from passing this traveling speed bump. All you can do in the meantime is tailgate her NASCAR-style and put your brights on. Finally the wave of oncoming traffic behind you has cleared enough that you can pass her. Not really, but the guy you cut off will just have to

get over it. He could plainly see from a hundred yards back that you were stuck behind this Sunday driver. As you floor your gas pedal to pass, you look over to see what kind of moron is out here obstructing traffic when people like you have places to go and things to do. “It’s some shriveled up old lady,” you mutter to yourself as you lay on your horn while passing, startling her. “These people have no business out here on a major highway,” you say to yourself. For good measure you teach her a lesson by veering sharply back into her lane the split-second your back bumper passes the front of her car, and leave her behind in a cloud of exhaust. Well. That was certainly an uncomfortable excursion.

It would be nice to say the whole scenario you’ve just read was complete fiction. Oh, it’s far from fantasy; it’s an everyday occurrence. Ask anyone (of any age group) who is not a lead-foot and they’ll tell you they’ve been on the receiving end of aggressive driving that almost seems designed to punish them for their non-NASCAR ways. Old people, however, seem to be a particular target. And maybe a few of us younger drivers have exhibited some (but hopefully not many) of the reactions the aggressive jerk in our story did. Just how bad is the problem of elderly drivers? What is the answer to highway issues created by them? How can the rest of us help? Turn the page for some interesting answers. +

MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

DRIVEN UP THE WALL WHAT ELDERLY MOTORISTS SHOULD DO FOR SAFETY WHEN DRIVING +

REDUCE SPEED

ALLOW MORE SPACE BETWEEN CARS

START BRAKING EARLY

ACCELERATE SLOWLY

DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY

WHAT ELDERLY DRIVERS SHOULD DO WHICH ANNOYS THE REST OF US

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

s we get older, it’s virtually certain that we all will lose certain abilities, or we won’t enjoy them to the degree we had when we were younger. Reactions times slow down. Slowly but surely our vision and hearing get a little worse. We aren’t quite as strong as we were when we we younger. Joints may be a little stiff; maybe our neck doesn’t swivel like it used to, cutting the ability to look very far to the side. For older drivers, those changes don’t mean they should hang up their car keys. Not yet, anyway. They simply need to adjust their driving habits. But as the chart to the left shows, the good things that older drivers are doing — and rightly so — are the very things that drive other drivers up the wall. As the chart below shows, for the most part older drivers don’t get much respect.

ELDERLY DRIVERS WHO CAN’T CATCH A BREAK

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In fact, a jerk like the one described on the previous page might very well be the last straw for some little old lady who decides driving just isn’t worth the danger and the stress. She’s going to turn in her keys and depend on her family for rides from now on. And guess who her son is? He’s one of those jerks who can’t stand elderly drivers. Now he gets to add personal cab driver for his mother to his already busy schedule. Karma strikes again. But for the greater good, won’t that mean that one more terrible driver is off the road? Actually, it’s more like one more sane, cautious, non-aggressive driver is off the road. Older drivers are not generally aggressive hot-headed lead-foots. They leave that to the younger set. Ditto for texting, checking Facebook, posting on Instagram and taking selfies while driving. Older drivers are safer than we think It is true that, statistically, the older a driver gets the more accident-prone they become until as a group they reach a point where only teenagers have worse accident statistics. However, older drivers are not the menace on the highways many people think they are. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the national fatal crash rates of drivers 70 and older declined steadily between 1997 and 2012. The accident reductions were greatest among the oldest drivers, those 80 and above. Another IIHS study found that more pedestrians, Please see DRIVEN page 8

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MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The

PROFILES IN MEDICINE

Advice Doctor

presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

RENAISSANCE PHYSICIAN

by guest columnist Wayne P. Thigpen Doctor and renowned public speaker, amateur astronomer, conservationist and outdoorsman, teacher and family man, our father, Dr. Corbett H. Thigpen, served his country and Augusta area citizens for more than 40 years. As with his senior partner in psychiatry, the brilliant Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley (see Profiles in Medicine in the April 28, 2017 Examiner), he too merits membership in Augusta’s medical Hall of Fame, though for different reasons. Born in Macon, Georgia, in 1919, Dr. Thigpen helped his family through the Great Depression by turning his interest in amateur magic into a paying proposition at age 14, performing his tricks for local civic clubs. His lifelong interest in this hobby led to his induction into the Hall of Fame of the Southeastern Association of Magicians. As a teen he earned what he viewed as his life’s most

Corbett H. Thigpen, M.D., co-author of The Three Faces of Eve noteworthy achievement, the Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America, an organization he supported throughout his life. Dr. Thigpen’s higher education began with his graduation from North Georgia College (now University of North Georgia) in Dahlonega in 1940. In the early 1970s as president of its alumni association, Dr. Thigpen led a fight in the Georgia General Assembly to maintain the military character of the

school. He was named Outstanding Alumnus of the school in 1971, and in 1977, Distinguished Alumnus of Mercer University, from which he graduated in 1942. He attended the Medical College of Georgia and earned his M.D. degree in 1945, then served as captain and physician in the Army Medical Corps until mustering out in 1948. Dr. Thigpen then entered the private practice of psychiatry with Dr. Cleckley. Please see PROFILES page 6

Editor’s note: this is the 13th installment in 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.

Dear Advice Doctor, I’ve noticed that many people who send in questions are asking you about relationship issues at work or with neighbors or family. You’ll be happy to know my question is medical. I have surgery scheduled in a few weeks, so it obviously isn’t a dire medical emergency. Even so, I’m scared to death. Every time I even think about my upcoming procedure I break out in a cold sweat worrying about the things that could go wrong. How can I stop all this anxiety? — Nervous Nellie Dear Nellie, Don’t beat yourself up over this. I understand your concern and I sympathize with you. In your situation I would be worried too — and with good reason. Breaking out in a cold sweat can have numerous causes, and most of them constitute medical emergencies. These include heart attack, severe shock (that is, extremely low blood pressure or flow), hypoglycemia, heat exhaustion, and yes, extreme anxiety. Broadly speaking, when the body is in some kind of circulatory crisis, blood flow to the extremities (including the skin) is automatically reduced so that ample blood circulation to vital organs isn’t compromised. That’s what causes the cool skin. Sometimes a person has been sweating heavily from strenuous activity and not replacing lost fluids, or they’re perspiring due to a hypoglycemic event. As the circulatory system activates its protective mode, sweaty skin cools and the classic diagnostic sign known as “clammy skin” presents itself. Treatment depends on the cause. For heat-related issues, get the person into a cool environment (or at least into a shady spot), apply cool towels to the skin and supply cool water for them to drink. For medical causes, anytime a person loses consciousness or becomes disoriented, seek immediate medical attention. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in Examiner issues.

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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

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Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for 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. © 2017 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

#44 IN A SERIES

OLD NEWS

Who is this?

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

MEDICAL BILLING CAN BE SNEAKY

his gentleman’s brilliant medical career is a bittersweet story indeed. And yes, its bitter aspects had to do with the color of his skin. Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, in 1910, Vivien Thomas was the grandson of a slave. During his youth the family moved to Nashville, where Thomas enrolled at Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial College as a premed student, but weeks later the stock market crashed, and along with it Thomas’ educational plans. Fortuitously, the following February Thomas was hired by Vanderbilt through the recommendation of a friend to be a surgical technician with researcher Dr. Alfred Blalock. On day one, he assisted Blalock on an experimental surgical procedure carried out on a dog. Within weeks, says Thomas’ reference in Wikipedia, he was starting surgeries on his own and by the mid-1930s was doing the work of a postdoctoral researcher in Blalock’s lab. Officially, though, his job description and pay rate was janitor. Yet by all accounts, Thomas was just glad to be employed during the Great Depression, especially in the field of medicine. The Blalock-Thomas team broke new ground into the causes of shock, leading to new techniques that saved thousands of lives during World War II. They were among the fi rst to operate on the heart, paving the way for many life-saving interventions — and for an important and innovative discovery they made in 1944. By then, Blalock’s renown led to his recruitment as chief of surgery by Johns Hopkins, his alma mater. Blalock accepted the position on the condition that Thomas would accompany him. At Johns Hopkins the pair was approached by pediatric cardiologist Helen Taussig who was looking for a surgical solution to a congenital birth defect resulting in so-called “blue baby syndrome.” Thomas surgically created the condition in laboratory animals (dogs), then worked to devise a solution. Late in 1944 his procedure was first tried on a human patient. Blalock performed the surgery while Thomas directed Blalock’s every step. The surgery was a success and was repeated on other patients, leading to an article in the May 1945 issue of JAMA, giving all credit to Blalock and Taussig with no mention of Thomas. Even so, the operation became known as the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt (often shortened to Blalock-Taussig shunt). Although racial issues simmered in the background throughout Thomas’ career, he developed complex new surgical procedures and trained eminent surgeons in their use, including Denton Cooley, noted heart surgeon, and chiefs of surgical departments throughout the United States. His own surgical procedures were often called “flawless,” his suture lines “nearly undetectable.” Even so, his pay was so notoriously low that he often was forced to moonlight as a bartender to make ends meet for his family. After 37 years at the institution, Johns Hopkins awarded Thomas an honorary doctorate and gave him a faculty position as Instructor of Surgery, probably the only high school graduate ever so honored by any medical school anywhere. One of Johns Hopkins’ four schools of medicine is also named in his honor. Despite living in an era marked by open prejudice, Vivien Thomas was a true giant of medicine. He died at age 75 in 1985. +

his past December I had a routine medical procedure done. Beforehand, I inquired what my out-ofpocket costs would be. None, I was told. I followed this up with a call to my insurance carrier to make certain. Yes, they agreed, you should have no co-pays or out-ofpocket expenses. I made the appointment, had the test done and spent the weekend afterward using it as an excuse to be lazy. In February I got a bill from the doctor for $492.00. No reason to get excited, I told myself. First, call the insurer back and make sure you got it right before you call the doctor’s billing department. I set the bill aside and didn’t give it a thought until the following week. When I called the insurance company I got a very helpful claims adjuster on the phone and he set up a 3-way call so I could hear the conversation. He calls the doctor and tells the billing person the call is being recorded and they start their back and forth. Oh, it’s a mistake, she tells

him, so sorry, she says. Tell the patient to disregard the bill, she coos. He finishes by asking her to send me an updated bill showing I have a zero balance. She agrees to do so promptly. Once she is off the line, I ask the claims adjuster if he is making note of this in my fi le. Indeed I am, he tells me. I make my notes in a

notebook I keep for just such situations: date, time, names, account numbers. How could they make this kind of mistake? They do this same procedure every day, hundreds of times every year. The billing for those with insurance is very similar if not identical; the doctor’s billing personnel are professionals. How could they make such an error? I am very skeptical. If I had not questioned this bill and just paid it or made

arrangements to make payments, do you think the doctor’s billing department would have told me otherwise? I’ll repeat: I am very skeptical. I believe they would take my money. Some doctors have their office staff push a payment agreement under your nose that states you will be responsible for any unpaid balance. Even if you tell them your insurer said you don’t have to pay, they will remind you of this. You can point out they signed an agreement to take what the insurer pays as full and complete payment: they will still remind you of this. The best way to save yourself the worry and aggravation is call your insurer and let them deal with it. Believe me, they are experts and will get it done in one phone call. It’s interesting to listen in on this type of call. It is my experience that the attitude of the billing person is much different than when they deal with patients. Insurance employees aren’t susceptible to intimidation and they know all about how to protect their clients from medical billing procedures designed to get every dollar they can, whether it is honestly owed or not. +

MYTH OF THE MONTH Your diet should be based on your blood type A 1996 book entitled Eat Right For Your Type has sold more than 7 million copies since its publication, so clearly many people agree (at least enough to buy the book). In fact, last week this book was the subject of a clue on Jeopardy! As it happens, the world’s #1 proponent of the health benefits of designing your diet around your blood type is the author of the book. While that sounds logical enough, it should raise a few red flags. When new trails are blazed in medicine, the worldwide medical community is eager to jump on the bandwagon and try the latest new drug or surgical procedure. In the case of blood type-based diets, the

bandwagon is still a lonely place more than two decades later. In fact, Dr. Peter D‘Amato, author of Eat Right, says in his 1996 book that he began a tenyear clinical trial in 1988 and would soon publish the results that would make the blood type diet’s role in cancer remission “scientifically demonstrable.” We’re still waiting. Maybe someday the wait will be rewarded, but in the meantime there is still no scientific evidence that a diet based on blood type offers any advantages for better health, weight loss or disease avoidance. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road, Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607

MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW res? k good eno r skin can ugh cer? son.”

o k

iving as we do in this era of computers with spellcheck, we should never encounter a misspelled word in a published document. But the English language has over 1,000,000 words (the average person regularly uses less than 5,000), so we still have slip ups when spellcheck thinks we want one word and we intended another. That is understandable. But in documents that reportedly have human perusal prior to dissemination, we should not have slip ups. Newspapers are written by professional journalists, many of whom have degrees in English or Journalism and much experience, right? The following accumulation of headlines clearly dispels that seemingly accurate assumption. To prove my point, sit back and let your mind wander about how ridiculous, lurid, or stupid a literal interpretation of the following headlines might be: Diana still alive hours before she died (Most people are still alive a few hours before they die. However, some do continue to vote for years after they die.) Man who killed lawyer gets new attorney (Well I guess he did.) Statistics show teen pregnancy drops off after age 25 (Is this some kind of new math? Or maybe a new federal regulation that expands the teens into the twenties for statistical purposes?) Federal agents raid gun

ABOUT THE ART OF TERRIBLE WRITING

shop; find weapons (What did they expect? Girl Scout cookies?) 17 remain dead in morgue after shooting spree (Does someone think shooting a live person or a corpse would bring them back to life?) Student excited dad got head job (This was about Dad’s promotion at school.) Missippi’s literacy program shows improvement (They will take up spellcheck next year.) Illiteracy an obstable, study finds (No, spellcheck here) Lady Jacks off to hot start (A ladies basketball team wins several games in a row to start their season.) Republicans turned off by size of Obama’s package (No comment) Girl’s school offering something special: Head Tiger Woods plays with own ball, Nike says A-Rod goes deep; Wang hurt Marijuana issue sent to joint commission (Was that a mellow decision?) Homeless survive winter: Now what? (I think spring comes next, and that is not news.) Cow urine makes juicy lemons (No comment) Worker suffers leg pain after crane drops 800 lb. ball on head (He must be the world’s champion hardhead.) Bridges help people cross river (Wow, now that is an insight.) City unsure why sewer smells (You would think elected officials know what

E TH

Bes goes into toilets) Study shows frequent sex enhances pregnancy chances (Did someone think abstinence causes pregnancy?) Puerto Rican teen named Mistress of the Universe (Don’t you know her mother is proud.) Caskets found as workers demolish mausoleum (What did they expect to find? Tricycles?) Barbershop singers bring joy to school for the deaf (They must be the only signlanguage barber shop singers in the world.) Hospitals resort to hiring doctors (Did someone think doctors worked for free?) Man with 8 DUIs blames drinking problem (You mean you don’t get a DUI for signing too loud in the choir?) New sick policy requires 2day notice (How do you know two days early that you will fall and break your arm?) Nudists fight erection of towers near Wreck Beach (Are they afraid to be seen without clothes?) Parents keep kids home to protest school closure (I wonder if the kids learned anything that day.) Starvation can lead to health

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MEDICAL EXAMINER

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problems (But it will cure obesity.) Miracle cure kills 5th patient. (Are they trying to solve the over-population problem?) The bra celebrates a pair of historic milestones (It was monumental event. Pun intended.) Total eclipse will be broadcast live on National Public Radio (How do you hear an eclipse?) Rangers get whiff of Colon (This was about a baseball game) And the greatest one of them all: Bulldogs Fight Cocks with Dicks Out. (That one is actually accurate. Happy Dicks [a Georgia Bulldog from Macon] was out with an injury when the Dawgs

Bad Billy Laveau is a formerlyretired MD who wields a pointed sense of humor - and now, tongue depressors too. He speaks and entertains at events for audiences not subject to cardiac arrest secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee. BadBilly@knology.net or 706-306-9397. F REE T AKE-HO ME CO PY!

MEDICAL EXAMINER

William S. Morris III Founder, chairman and CEO of Morris Communications and publisher of The Augusta Chronicle.

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

MAY 26, 2017

This newspaper is delivered to more than

881 private practice doctor’s offices and to 14 area hospitals.

The Augusta Medical Examiner’s publisher, Daniel Pearson, has continuously published a newspaper in Augusta since 1990, longer than any other publisher in Augusta except the gentleman to the right, publisher of The Augusta Chronicle, “The South’s Oldest Newspaper,” founded in 1785. We’re still wet behind the ears, but proud to have served Augusta area readers for more than a quarter of a century.

ine c i d E tM

played the South Carolina Gamecocks. Louis Grizzard, a student sports writer for The Athens Banner Herald, wrote the story and, knowing his editor “had taken drunk” and probably would not proof the story, slipped the headline in and was thrilled when it was printed. It was the first, and maybe only, factually accurate but seemingly pornographic headline in Bulldogs history. In case you wonder, I did not make any of those up. I am not that smart, nor is my imagination that good. So the next time you say one thing when you meant another, have no fear: professionals misspeak worse that you do. +

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Clinically proven. Doctor recommended. READ THE EXAMINER ONLINE: WWW.ISSUU.COM/MEDICALEXAMINER

MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

PPROFILES… from page 1 During much of the 1940s and most of the 1950s, the two comprised the entire Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at MCG, while also maintaining their private practice. As Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Thigpen excelled as an instructor. One of his former students, an Augusta doctor, remarked that in his entire academic career, Dr. Thigpen’s class was the only one in which the professor received a standing ovation after every lecture. He was also known internationally for his research, publishing more than 40 papers in professional journals during his career. With Dr. Cleckley, he co-authored the book The Three Faces of Eve in 1957, the fi rst documented account of what was then called multiple personality disorder, now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Further, this case was apparently the fi rst instance where a patient with the disorder manifested more than two personalities. The book was made into a film released later that year starring Joanne Woodward, who earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. At the authors’ behest the fi lm strictly and without exaggeration followed the actual patient’s life and treatment. Our family has documentation that the patient and all pertinent members of her family received timely and generous compensation for permission to publish their stories. The patient received more than half the amount each author received, and she and Dr. Thigpen were on good terms in his later years. Despite published reports of a million-dollar payday for the doctors, their combined compensation fell far short of even a tenth of that amount.

A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional During the mid-1960s our father actively voiced his opposition to the policy direction of the Vietnam War, believing it was not being fought to win. He vehemently disagreed with increasing the role of government in people’s lives, particularly in medical matters, a trend he predicted would result in a decrease in the general quality of healthcare. To express these ideas, he wrote the speech “A Psychiatrist Looks at His Nation,” and presented it approximately 150 times across Georgia and South Carolina over about a two-year period. In recognition of his efforts, in 1968 he was awarded the Freedom Foundation’s George Washington Medal. He undertook these many speaking engagements at his own expense and without political aspirations. In fact, he was urged by Georgia political leaders to run for the U.S. Senate, and later for governor. He respectfully declined both invitations. Aside from the practice of medicine, our father loved astronomy and donated his small telescope to North Georgia College. He loved magic and competitive badminton, as well as hunting and fishing, believing fervently in conservation of wildlife. He was an expert cultivator of azaleas. No one knows how many thousands of mentally ill people he helped during his long career, but most of all he loved and helped his wife and children. Dr. Corbett Thigpen was a dedicated healer and a true renaissance man. + Corbett Thigpen’s ongoing legacy includes his eldest son, Wayne, retired Augusta attorney and author of this article; C. Mark Thigpen, M.D., Augusta orthopedic surgeon; and psychiatrist Lance Thigpen, M.D., practicing in Vermont.

MORE MUSINGS ON MARIJUANA by Ken Wilson Executive Director, Steppingstones to Recovery In this great nation we live in, I sometimes wonder at our blindly walking off the cliff to a hard crash at the bottom. Last month we clarified the difference between marijuana smoked for pleasure and marijuana used for medicinal purposes – a different animal altogether. Case in point: In Colorado one particular hospital health system THIS IS YOUR BRAIN logged 146 teens who were positive for THC (marijuana) in their emergency rooms in 2005, prior to legalization of marijuana in the state. That same system logged 639 positives for THC in 2015 after legalization. Most of these teens were complaining of mental health issues...duh, as THC fi rst affects the brain. These kids were ages 1321. Most of these went to the ER after eating marijuana “edibles,” meaning cookies and candy made with marijuana oil. Due to slightly delayed effects of THC on the brain after eating THC impregnated food, kids seem to be impatient to feel effects and go on to eat not just 1⁄4 of the cookie but the whole cookie – despite “instructions” on the wrapper – and experience confusion and delusions. Another example: during the fi rst year that THC was legalized in Washington state, the number of drugged driving crashes resulting in fatalities tripled compared with the year prior to legalization! Prior to legalization there, daytime drivers charged with Driving While Impaired who tested positive positive for THC totaled 7.8%. One year later the THC figure had more than doubled to 18.9% of the drivers who were charged with DWI. That’s almost 1 in 5 drivers charged with DWI testing positive for THC compared to about 1 in 13 prior to legalization. All of which raises an interesting issue: Presently there are no known laws for establishing thresholds for how much THC must be present in the body to warrant a DWI like the thresholds for alcohol – i.e. in Georgia the bar holds at .08 to receive a DUI (yep, we call it Driving UNDER the Influence here in the south). Please see MARIJUANA page 15

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MAY 26, 2017

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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Here in Georgia 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 usually used 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 Daniel Field 76 Circle K taste of oranges with iced tea DANIEL VILLAGE former but, any fruit you enjoy would BARBER SHOP Smile Gas add flavor. Strawberries, Cold Brewed Iced Tea raspberries, peaches, Medical Complex Wrightsboro Road Augusta Mall blackberries or lemon would well. slices, strawberries, peaches, be absolutely fabulous. Herbs Tue - Fri: 8:00 - 6:00; Saturday: 8:00 - 2:00 Pour over ice and garnish raspberries, blackberries, such as mint or basil would + with fresh fruit or herbs. blueberries or lemon would be other nice additions. work perfectly too. I hope you will try this *This recipe was inspired by an article 1 or 2 sprigs of fresh herbs. refreshing and healthier I found on Pinterest. Here is the link... Basil or mint give nice flavor. version of sweet tea. http://www.cookinglight.com/food/ 2 Tbsp. of raw honey (More Enjoy! recipe-fi nder/cold-brewed-teas if you prefer a sweeter tea. Adjust water accordingly) What you will need: Alisa Rhinehart is half of the Approximately 2 quarts of 2 qt size mason jars with lids blog southerngirlseatclean. fi ltered water plus 2 Tbsp. of 4 tea bags (Brand of your com. She is a working wife simple syrup choice) and mother living 1/2 cup of fresh fruit. Orange in Evans, Georgia. Directions: Visit her blog for Fill the 2 quart jars with more recipes and fi ltered water approximately information on 1 1/2 inches from the top of clean eating. the jars. Add the fruit and/or herbs TRANSPORTATION • DOCTOR VISITS of your choice to each jar. LAUNDRY • MEAL PREPARATION Drop 2 tea bags into each GROCERY SHOPPING • APPOINTMENT mason jar, leaving the tags SCHEDULING • MEDICATION REMINDERS hanging out. PERSONAL SHOPPING • COMPANION CARE Close the lids tightly and PRESCRIPTION PICK-UP/DROP-OFF place into the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Remove the jars from the refrigerator, take the tea bags WE HAVE TIME ON OUR HANDS FOR YOU and the fruit out of the jars Hearts & Hands Errand Service and discard. Add 2 Tbsp. of raw honey 706 339-1254 or and 2 Tbsp. of fi ltered 706 589-0563 water to a small bowl and (706) 434-0129 • MON-THUR: 9-4 • FRI: 9-2 microwave on high for www.southerncomfortshoes.com Mention this ad approximately 30 seconds. Comfort & therapeutic shoes and boots • Diabetic fittings • Custom orthotics • 20 major shoe for 20% OFF Stir well to melt the honey. brands • Board-certified Pedorthist • MD, PT, Podiatrist and Chiropractor referrals welcome your first Add 2 Tbsp. of this simple WALK-INS WELCOME! service! syrup into each quart jar. Stir

Please stop by and say hi first chance you get. And don’t forget to bring your scalp!

Head to toe service: Jerry will shine your shoes while we cut your hair. We’re on Wrightsboro Rd. at Ohio Avenue.

THERE’S NEVER ENOUGH TIME!

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MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

… from page 2 OUR NEWSSTANDS DRIVEN bicyclists, motorists and Medical locations: occupants of other vehicles die

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

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • GRU Summerville Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Family Y (Old Health Central), Broad Street, downtown Augusta • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Parks Pharmacy, Georgia Avenue, North Augusta • Southside Family Y, Tobacco Road, Augusta • Surrey Center, Surrey Center Pharmacy, Highland Avenue, Augusta • Top-Notch Car Wash, 512 N. Belair Road, Evans • Wild Wing Cafe, 3035 Washington Road, Augusta

Plus more than 875 doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as many nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

in crashes involving drivers aged 30-59 per licensed driver, than from accidents involving drivers over 60. Still another Institute report looking at higher fatality rates among older drivers found that the deaths were not the result of seniors’ greater involvement in crashes but instead their fragility. In other words, more older drivers could die in fewer accidents simply because of health issues common to older people. None of this should be construed to mean that older drivers get a free pass on their driving. While many are truly the safest drivers on the road by a country mile, others really have no business behind the wheel. What are some of the stop signs? The warning signs One red flag is a person who exhibits confusion when driving. It’s the “now, why did I come into the kitchen?” syndrome, except it’s done behind the wheel of a 2-ton Buick cruising down the highway. Driving sometimes entails split-second decisions that require fast reactions. A fuzzy mind is not well-suited to today’s traffic. An older driver who has had more than one accident recently — even if they were only minor fender-benders — is another ominous warning sign. Sometimes this is the fate of a person who had never before experienced the tiniest driving mishap over many decades of driving. Will

Strategies to keep driving safely longer • Stay fit, in shape and active Doing so will help you continue to manage the physical and mental challenges of driving

• Get your hearing and vision checked regularly, and wear the recommended lenses and hearing aids Doing so helps you hear horns, sirens and other vehicles, as well as to see the road ahead as clearly as possible

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about medication you’re taking which might affect your ability to drive It may be possible to switch to another medication that will offer the needed therapeutic benefits without unwanted side effects

• Plan ahead to drive in good conditions If it’s going to rain tomorrow, do your errands today. Combine trips to minimize their number

• Know your limitations Sometimes that means acknowledging that you need help, such as when you must go out at night or in bad weather +

the next accident be the one that involves serious injury or death? Some medications can cause dizziness or make a person sleepy, but taking them is necessary for reasons of life and health. Whether to keep taking the medication or not isn’t an option; the option is whether to stop driving or not.

According to the leading consumer magazine

Independent pharmacies

are best in speed, accuracy, courtesy, helpfulness and pharmacists’ knowledge. * Parks Pharmacy, for example

ARKS

HARMACY

Hometown. Not big box.

437 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC

803-279-7450 parkspharmacy.com

Giving up the keys Many seniors cling to their driving privileges well beyond the point of safety due to fear of losing their freedom and mobility. And they don’t want to become a burden to others. These are mistaken notions in a number of ways. For starters, their friends, family members and neighbors in many cases would be more than willing to help out. It might take some scheduling, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Even if scheduling is not something you have the inclination for or family support is lacking, there are plenty of options to get where you want to go whenever you want to be there. Call a cab. Order an Uber or Lyft driver. It’s not complicated. “I can’t afford that,” you

reply. Don’t be so sure. Giving up your car means no more car payments or big auto insurance bills; no more money spent at the gas pump; no more expensive new tires; no more oil changes or costly repair bills. You are saving a lot of money. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to spend it. Many local counties, churches and civic organizations provide free transportation for “senior citizens.” As for losing freedom and mobility, there is an undeniable trade-off, no doubt about it. But some people who wanted to keep their freedom and mobility have ended up in the hospital for an extended stay, permanently trading their mobility for a wheelchair or walker, or are living in a prison of guilt and regret for causing a serious accident that injured innocent victims. And they ended up having to stop driving anyway despite all their efforts to the contrary. Many families view having “The Talk” with their older relative with dread, but there’s no need for that. Keep it positive. Focus on the advantages. Don’t resort to horror stories of what might happen (in other words, disregard the previous paragraph). Be positive and comforting and assure the older driver that you’ll all pull together to make it work — and then do it. Don’t leave them in the lurch after cheerfully promising to be their 24/7 chauffeur. The same principles apply if you’re the older driver. Focus on the positive, the advantages of not having the burden and expense of car ownership and everything it entails. Ending your driving is not the end of the world. There’s no need to fight the inevitable. Enjoy the freedom of not having the responsibilities of owning and operating a car. It’s a reward for having lived a long life, a reward hopefully all of us will get to enjoy when the time comes. +

MEDICAL EXAMINER IS ONLINE visit • issuu.com/medicalexaminer •

MAY 26, 2017

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

WHAT DOES “RDN” STAND FOR? by Allison Walters, Kendall Patterson and Samantha Decker

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

recent USA Today article entitled “The Best Medicine Doctors Don’t Tell You About” discusses how nutrition can dramatically affect your health, yet doctors are not trained or paid to talk about it. According to the article, only 14% of doctors feel qualified to discuss nutrition with their patients. This is not a surprising finding, since nutrition is a highly specialized discipline that requires specialized training in the science. Most medical schools provide very limited to no nutrition training in their curriculum. Physicians nationwide look to pharmaceuticals rather than nutrition to treat and prevent disease. This could be due to several factors, including lack of additional funding for studies to examine the relationship between health and nutrition and the ethical implications that such studies entail. However, studies do show that spending just a few minutes discussing nutrition with a patient can make a large impact on health.1 But if doctors are not qualified to discuss nutrition and how it can impact the prevention, progression, and outcome of various chronic diseases, then who is? According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are “the food and nutrition experts.” RDNs are the only member of the health care team with specialized training in nutrition. RDNs have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and course work accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).2 Dietitians study a variety of

subjects including food service systems, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, economics, marketing and business. RDNs have also completed an ACENDaccredited supervised practice program with a minimum of 1,200 supervised hours in the areas of clinical nutrition, food service, management, and community nutrition. RDNs must pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). To maintain credentials and stay up to date on the most current information, RDNs must complete a minimum of 75 continuing profession education hours every five years. This requirement can be fulfi lled by taking part in events such as lectures, conferences, and webinars.2 In addition to the RDN credential itself, RDNs can hold additional certifications in specialized areas, including pediatric nutrition, renal nutrition, sports dietetics, diabetes education, and nutrition support. To become certified in a specialized area you must be a current RDN, maintain RDN status with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) for a minimum of 2 years from the date of passing your RDN exam, and document a specific number of practice hours as an RDN in the specialty area.3 Extensive education and scientific background make RDNs the most qualified individuals to do many things: discuss nutrition and how it can be used to prevent and treat disease; determine drug and nutrient interactions; evaluate nutrition-related lab markers; conduct nutrition focused physical exams; interpret body measurements;

and to determine overall nutritional risk. An RDN knows how to translate their knowledge of the complex science of nutrition into practical, simple terms for individuals of any age or education level.3 RDNs work in a variety of environments. RDNs may work in health care facilities such as hospitals, long term care centers, or dialysis clinics to administer medical nutrition therapy (MNT), which is individualized dietary instruction that incorporates diet therapy counseling for a nutritionrelated problem. MNT is more than just basic nutrition counseling, as it is completely catered toward the patient and their specific needs. RDNs provide one-onone nutrition education on subject areas like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, bariatric surgery, renal disease, bone marrow transplant, cancer, food allergies, and many more. Nutrition education may be provided for patients that are newly diagnosed with their condition, as well as patients who have been living with their condition for years. RDNs often fill management roles in the food service industry, including health care food service, school cafeterias, universities, sports and entertainment arenas, and food companies like General Mills. Other settings where you may find RDNs working include private practice, corporate wellness, community and public health, research and pharmaceutical companies. As you can see, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists do much more than menu planning! If you are interested in connecting with a dietitian or to learn more about the field of dietetics, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website at www. eatright.org. References 1 • USA today (http://www.usatoday. com/story/opinion/2017/02/24/food-ismedicine-doctors-need-training-fi nancialincentives-column/97696874/) 2 • Denny, S. “10 Reasons to Visit an RDN.” Eat Right Pro. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 09 Sept 2016. < http://www.eatright.org/resource/food/ resources/learn-moreabout-rdns/10reasons-to-visit-an-rdn>. 3 • “What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?” Eat Right Pro. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. <http://www. eatrightpro.org/resources/about-us/whatis-an-rdn-and-dtr/what-isa-registereddietitian-nutritionist>

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Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd. Augusta GA 30909

706-733-1935 DIALING ONE OF OUR ADVERTISERS? PLEASE LET THEM KNOW YOU SAW THEIR AD IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

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MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

This shirt could be yours

FREE!

We’ve just added this shirt to the haul winners of the Mystery Word contest receive — in addition to gift cards from Wild Wing Cafe and Scrubs of Evans.

FIND THE WORD AND ENTER TODAY! Remember: the Mystery Word is always hidden. It is never in plain sight and it’s never in an article. See all the deets on page 14.

The

Advice Doctor ©

Will he ever get one right? Probably not.

Questions. And answers. On page 3.

OUR NEXT ISSUE DATE: MAY 26

Kid’s Stuff NOTES FROM A PEDIATRIC RESIDENT by Caroline Colden, M.D., Children’s Hospital of Georgia

Let’s talk about reading When children come to see me for their well-child checks in my clinic, I try to talk with parents about reading books to and with children. At MCG, we try to even have books ready to give to the kids at their appointment to take home and keep. It’s funny to me, because even the really little kids who don’t really know what books are yet get excited when you give them a book. Maybe they just like presents, but almost all of the kids will immediately start to open the book (sometimes upside down) and look through the pages. Even if they cannot understand the words, the colors and pictures are still very stimulating to the children and their imaginations. Children are never too young to start having reading time. Even newborn babies can benefit from the activity. Studies have shown that just speaking and talking to a baby helps to stimulate language development and brain activity, and reading books is a perfect way to do this. As children get older, they will start learning new words and be able to put words, eventually sentences together. Reading can facilitate this process wonderfully, as it provides new vocabulary words to the child to store away in their arsenal of words, and it helps them to establish a baseline of good grammar. Some kids will love (even demand), to hear the same story again and again from their parents, and some kids may want new books every night. Children may memorize the story and “read” it to their parents, or maybe make up their own versions of it based on the pictures they see. As children get older, many will insist on doing the reading, themselves and it only helps them become smarter, more verbal, and more literate. This will do everything to increase their chances of success later in life. It can even help children become confident as they show their parents how they are progressing and learning new skills. Reading absolutely encourages brain growth, the strength of short- and long-term memory development, the ability to think critically, and the ability to communicate with others better. Testing performance in school is much improved, and the chances of the child graduating high school and even obtaining higher-level degrees are enormously greater. It encourages a lifetime of education and learning, and some studies show it even reduces the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s later in life. Furthermore, reading time with children is one of the most beautiful times a parent can spend with them. It’s automatic snuggle time, and a happy, soothing experience that the child will always have to remember. Like intellectual money in the brain bank, reading is an investment in the child and his or her future. It is a stress-reliever, too – studies have shown that reading (especially a good, engrossing story) allows the mind to relax, focus on things other than the person’s own stresses, and gently calms the brain. It also promotes sleep as the brain calms down, decreasing the incidence of insomnia and sleep disorders. It fights against conditions such as ADHD because it encourages focused thinking and limiting distractions. It is also a relatively free form of entertainment, especially if your books are from the library. Even if children are “too old” to be read to, reading next to them while they read has all the same benefits, and allows children to grow and explore different interests while still deriving the same beneficial quality time and mental health. So crack open a book tonight, and leave that TV remote alone for a while. Let reading time become that bedtime ritual, that beautiful bond, and that symbol of something precious that the child and parent share together forever. +

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OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF AUGUSTA/AIKEN (706) 736-8478 / (803) 642-7269 WWW.OHDAUGUSTA.COM

MAY 26, 2017

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Karla A. Vieras, MD, on May 22, 2017

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH DEATH? December 2012, three days before Christmas. It started as an ordinary day, but soon it would become the turning point of my career. As I entered my office, I noticed a different energy in the room. The receptionist looked at me and said, “Doc, one of your patients died last night.” As a psychiatrist, I am not used to the feelings generated when someone you cared for dies in the prime of their life. I had just seen him the week before. I rush to look at my last progress note that read: “Even though the patient is deeply grieving the loss of his wife, he fi rmly denies suicidal thoughts and finds strength in taking care of his two little children.” The memory of two little ones that I had met only through photos rushed through my mind. I would like to believe that experiencing death makes me a better a physician. It makes more careful, more thorough and more caring. I have seen my late patient’s face many times in other people, and I want to believe that he has helped me prevent other deaths. I truly think that experiencing death has made me a better physician. Has it also made me a better person? That is debatable. Every December, I think about him. Without even noticing, I take a few moments away from my family to think, to grieve and to plead with God that his family was able to find some peace. So how about you? Where did your deaths go? Are they in that corner where the forgotten memories are? Have you stuffed them deep enough inside your soul in order to be able to do your work ... in order to be able to see the next patient? What happens to that energy? What happens to the loss? What happens to those scars? We are great at helping others. We humble our own lives and take away the time to care for others, and we do it while numbing parts of ourselves in the process. And then we look at the newspaper and see our colleagues, our own people taking their lives, and we ask ourselves how did it happen. Why couldn’t they seek help? We vow to be more careful from now on. We vow to talk to others and to take that time to process our own deaths. And then we forget. How are we going to seek professional help? How are we going to admit that we are only human and that as humans we suffer from the same disorders as everybody else? And if we seek help, what would that mean to our career, our license, our hospital privileges? Couldn’t that be career breaking? And you fear that if you seek help, what would that mean? Would someone like me, a psychiatrist, look down on you? Will I judge you? Will I look at you differently if we are in the same social circles? To be completely honest, I do. I actually look up to you. I look up to you because I know how difficult it must have been for you to take that step. I see your courage, your strength and your confidence. And I admire you. I admire that you had insight enough to seek help. I admire that you decided to remember, to process, to grieve, to live. And as time passes, I see you. I see you become a better human because of those deaths. +

What if I seek help?

Karla A. Viera is a psychiatrist.

This book had us right away. All it took was five words of endorsement on the front cover by Mary Roach, perhaps the best science writer in print today. She is the author of such modern classics as Stiff, Bonk and Gulp. Of How We Learn she says, “This book is a revelation. I feel as if I’ve owned a brain for fifty-four years and only now discovered the operating manual. For two centuries, psychologists and neurologists have been quietly piecing together the mysteries of mind and memory as they relate to learning and knowing. Benedict Carey serves up their most fascinating, surprising, and valuable discoveries with clarity, wit, and heart. I wish I’d read this when I was seventeen.” For its part, these are some of the publisher’s words about How We Learn: What if almost everything we were told about learning is wrong? In How We Learn, awardwinning science reporter Benedict Carey sifts through

decades of education research and landmark studies to uncover the truth about how our brains absorb and retain information. What he discovers is that in our zeal to systematize the process we have ignored valuable, naturally enjoyable learning tools like forgetting, sleeping, and daydreaming. Is a dedicated desk in a quiet room really the best way to study? Can altering your routine improve your recall? Are there times when distraction is good? Is repetition necessary? Carey’s search for answers to these questions yields a wealth of

strategies that make learning more a part of our everyday lives — and less of a chore. Carey shows how we can flex the neural muscles that make deep learning possible. Along the way he reveals why teachers should give fi nal exams on the fi rst day of class and when it’s smarter to stay up late prepping for that presentation than to rise early for one last cram session. And if this requires some suspension of disbelief, that’s because the research defies what we’ve been told about how best to learn. The brain is not like a muscle, at least not in any straightforward sense. It doesn’t take orders well, to put it mildly. If the brain is a learning machine, then it is an eccentric one. In How We Learn, Benedict Carey shows us how to exploit its quirks to our advantage. + How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens, by Benedict Carey, 272 pages, published in June 2015 by Random House Trade Paperbacks

Research News No juice for you If you’re reading this and you have yet to reach your fi rst birthday, the headline above is for you. And by the way, congratulations on your reading skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) earlier this week recommended that parents avoid giving fruit juice to children under the age of 1. This is an expansion of their previous stand, which was the recommendation to avoid fruit juice until at least 6 months of age. The problem is not that juice is bad news in itself; instead it is that there seems to be a prevailing — and mistaken —notion on the part of many parents that fruit juice is a somewhat equal substitute for fruit. It is not, and most kids are not getting their recommended daily servings of whole fruit at a time when their bodies are at their most formative stage.

The rap on fruit juice is that it often has significantly more sugar than whole fruit. Unlike juices, whole fruit is a good source of fiber, which acts naturally to slow the body’s absorption of sugars. Fiber also contributes to feelings of fullness, which helps avoid overeating. Over-consumption of juice has been linked to tooth decay, weight gain and a higher risk of diabetes, among other ills. For children older than 1, the AAP recommends juice should take a back seat to actual real whole fruit. The recommendations apply to drinks that are 100% juice, not to juice drinks, which often have only a small percentage of actual fruit juice. From a dietitian’s viewpoint, juice drinks are the nutritional equivalent of soda. Trying to become pregnant? If so, consistently do this

years ahead of time: maintain your weight at a healthy level. An Australian study released on May 18 says that years of gradual weight gain more than doubles the risk of various hypertensive (that is, related to high blood pressure) disorders during pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure were common among women who became pregnant after years of steady if slight weight gain and also lead to a higher risk of chronic high blood pressure later in life. The Rule: total abstinence New research at Ohio State University has found that the tobacco-related risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol is the same for social smokers and for everyday smokers. Researchers say that not smoking at all is the way to go: even occasionally smoking is detrimental to cardiovascular health. +

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MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

by Dan Pearson

Sorry you’re having so much My cousin is nothing trouble at home. but trouble.

Didn’t you have her evicted once before?

Yes. This makes the second time.

So how do you view her now?

As my second cousin twice removed.

The Mystery Word for this issue: ICYBLEC

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Training ____ 4. Fortification made of tree branches 10. Ran away 14. First follower 15. Glowing 16. She picked Seacrest 17. Campus org. 18. Grand ______ 19. Islamic chieftain 20. Have a bad effect upon 22. Monetary unit of Romania 23. Make into law 24. Wonderment 26. Deke’s home from 9-12 28. Downtown building 30. “Love thy________” 34. 9th governor of Alaska 35. Inheritors 36. ____ bandage 37. Doing nothing 38. Common adjective for service and/or weather 39. Hyper abbreviation 40. Some storms have one 41. Chain founded in 1886 42. Chronicle cartoonist 43. Ford model (1957-1979) 45. Transparent liquid 46. It often follows “O” 47. Patch in Aiken 48. Greek goddesses of the seasons 51. Doc’s org. 53. Mr. Barnard 57. Giant in Norse myth 58. Spring back 61. Prostate test abbreviation 62. Four make a bushel 63. Elaborately adorned 64. Brain test (abbrev.)

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

Click on “READER CONTESTS”

QUOTATION PUZZLE 31

L T V O O H W H C

DOWN 1. Criticize severely 2. Capital of Latvia 3. Jewish calendar month 4. Lou Gehrig’s affliction 5. South Augusta high school 6. As a square, 208 ft. per side 7. Cafe du _____ 8. Days follower 9. Abbrev. for HPV or HIV 10. First name in Surrey Center 11. Capital of Peru 12. Heroic or grand in scale 13. Slender throwable missile 21. Her maiden name was Doud 23. Benedict beginning 25. Pale 26. George of WBBQ fame 27. Breezy 28. Evans amphitheater

E Y I I O D Y E E N D T L N N C E E V A L — Harold Hulbert

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.

65. Singles 66. Verb: to grow teeth 67. Intel agcy.

I E E T E D N D E R E L S S P E R H

29. Congressman Rick 30. Medical prefix 31. Famous burn patient 32. Red earth pigment 33. Advice or counsel (archaic) 34. Landing spot 35. Cache 38. Lecherous look 39. Behaved 41. Type of horn? 42. British Prime Minister 44. _________ Hill 45. Ghostly apparition 48. Allergenic beginning 49. Portent 50. Augusta painter Ed 51. Skin eruption 52. Castle defence 54. Not secretive 55. Employs 56. Antebellum relative? 58. Decay 59. Before, poetically 60. Augusta musician Phillip

X A M I N E R

8 6

2 1

5 7 3

2 9

U D O K U

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

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

H 1 1 2 3 4 C H 1 2 3 4 5 6

S W 1 2 3 4 5 6 S F 1 2 3 4 5 6

F 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4

C 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 T T U 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5 5

1.JRBFAIFHTMTS 2.TUEHHORLAEI 3.WARVCUUAARS 4.TNCTINIAEHR 5.IDYYCTES 6.TRSCS 7.E

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

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

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM 1

Solution p. 14

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY WORD

MAY 26, 2017

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE

ill and his wife Mary were happily married — except for one thing: Bill was always late coming home from work and it drove Mary crazy. Many suppers were ruined because they got cold waiting for Bill to finally show up. After yet another late arrival and explosion by Mary, Bill got down on his knees and said, “Mary, I swear to you I’ll do better. From now on I’ll be on time for supper every night.” The next day at the stroke of 5:00 pm, Bill locked up his shop as promised and headed for his car. As he walked to his car another car cutting across the parking lot hit Bill and he was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately his injuries were not serious, and Bill was treated and released. He walked into his house at 8 o’clock, and naturally Mary was furious. “Hold on!” said Bill. “I can explain! I got run over by a car!” “Really?” screamed Mary. “It takes three hours to get run over by a car now?”

Moe: What kind of fish is made from just two sodium atoms. Joe: 2-Na?

Moe: What’s your nationality? Joe: My mom is French and my dad’s Greek. Moe: So you’re a Freek? Moe: What’s the difference between a terrorist and my wife? Joe: Tell me. Moe: You can negotiate with a terrorist. Joe: Ha ha. I thought you were going to say terrorists blow up for a reason. Moe: Did you hear about the pregnant bed bug? Joe: No. Moe: She’s going to have her baby in the spring. Moe: My wife yelled at me for being such a procrastinator. Joe: What did you say back to her? Moe: “Just you wait!” I said. “You’ll see!” Moe: I just read six pages in my dictionary. Joe: What did you learn? Moe: Next to nothing. +

Why subscribe to the Medical Examiner? Because no one should have to make a trip to the doctor or the hospital just to read Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper.

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A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble wrote a long-time column in this paper entitled The Patient’s Perspective reincarnated in this new format. Feel free to contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com At various times of year we have storms roll through, bringing strong winds with them. Such was the case recently, but living in a well-built home, I was not at all concerned for my safety. That confidence was premature to say the least. Midafternoon I went out using my walker to retrieve my mail, particularly necessary because the wind had blown my mailbox door open. As usual, I reached in to get the mail, pulled out a few pieces, including a magazine, and successfully put it into the basket of the walker, but there was more mail to fetch, so I grabbed a few more pieces of mail and deposited them into the walker basket. One fairly large flat envelope laid on the floor of the mailbox, pretty well stuck there. I momentarily let go of the walker to get a better grip on that piece of mail and used my fingernails to pry it up, holding onto the mailbox to steady it with my other hand. I had left the walker’s seat up so I could swiftly put that last piece of mail in the basket. As I turned to do so I watched the wind catch the walker using the seat for a sail and slide it not only down the driveway but four houses down the street. For a few seconds I was amused by having a walker with a mind of its own flying down my street, but then the reality of my situation began to sink in. There I was standing at the bottom of the driveway, clinging to the mailbox for support, not knowing what my next step should be. I have fallen often enough that I ruled out walking to the house where I have a spare walker. It was 4 pm, so that ruled out kids coming home from school who could get the walker for me. The only thing which made sense was to push the button on my rescue device, but I wasn’t sure if that would work, given that I’d shut the door behind me. I waited, hoping someone would come to my assistance, hanging on to the mailbox for balance, certain that risking walking to the house and falling on the convrete driveway was not a good option. And suddenly there was my knight in — a slick black sedan. I waved my arms like a crazy woman, fi rst one and then the other, maintaining my grip on the mailbox. He pulled to a stop and rolled down his window. I quickly explained that my walker had abandoned me, pointing in its direction four houses away. He put his car in park, walked what for him was a short walk and brought my walker back to me. I thanked him profusely and blessed him for coming to help me and expressed a lot of gratitude. I let go of the mailbox to take hold of the walker and nearly lost my balance, recovered nicely, and trucked into the house. Within the next half hour the ambulance arrived and I explained to them what had happened, apologizing for not still being outside waiting for them. They were just glad I was OK. Then my grandson walked in to check on me, also glad I was OK. For people living alone, a rescue button that covers us inside and out can be a godsend. +

a million people can’t be wron n a h t g. Less +

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ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH

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Moe: What have you been doing all day? Joe: Just played a few quiet games of tennis, that’s all. Moe: What’s quiet tennis? Joe: Pretty much like regular tennis but without the racket.

ns the te Join

ha... ha...

Moe: What’s black and white and eats like a horse? Joe: I give. What? Moe: A zebra.

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MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED

135

The Mystery Word in our last issue was: SPINAL

...very cleverly hidden (lower left) in the p. 3 ad for MILLER DRUG THE WINNER: DAVID BELL Want to find your name here next time? If it is, we’ll send you some cool swag from our goodie bag. The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST ...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries, you’ll score our goodie package! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 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.

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

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EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC. LAND Land for sale: 14 acres, wooded, beautiful rocky creek flowing through; 45 min from Augusta, walking trails cleared to enjoy while planning future development. Perfect getaway or homesite. Outstanding schools (K-12) 4 mi. away. $49,000 (706) 831-9015 FOR RENT 2000+ sqft warehouse space w/ loading dock, Walton Way Medical District. Available immed. $850.00/mo. incl. utilities. 706-564-1644 ROOM FOR RENT with private bathroom and full house privileges. Martinez $600/mo (706) 840-6860

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SERVICES PETS Dogs walked, cats sat, in the comfort of your home by retired pharmacist. No kennel noise, fleas, disease, transport cost/time. Avail 7 days/wk in Martinez/ Evans. $15 per visit. References. Call for free interview at your home. Call Buddy for your buddy: (706) 829-1729 HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706-877-0421 F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS (706) 760-7607

MISCELLANEOUS WANTED: PARTTIME nursing assistant, bathing, dressing, grooming, etc. for quadriplegic man, must live within 15 minutes of north augusta, $10/hour 803-4395149 Arthur.Shealy@Gmail.com CEMETERY SPACES (2) Sunset Memorial Gardens, Graniteville SC adjacent to lighted military flagstaff, includes granite bench with urn space, installation and inscription. All $4700 ($8600 value). Spaces only: $2700. Call (803) 295-3033 FISHING CLUB wants more grey-haired members. Meet 2nd Thurs of month at Harbor Inn Restaurant, 12 noon. “Adventure Before Dementia” Info: (706) 736-8753

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THE PUZZLE SOLVED B

A W

M A

W A N

W A

M A

D L

SEE PAGE 12

QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: “Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.” — Harold Hulbert

The Sudoku Solution 1

WORDS BY NUMBER “I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” — Abraham Lincoln

MAY 26, 2017

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

MARIJUANA… from page 6

MEDICAL EXAMINER

We measure how much THC is in the body by testing how many nanograms per millileter (ng per mg or ng/ml) are in urine. A nanogram is a measurable particle, a little less than a third of an ounce. Most industrial drug tests “cut off” or do not register anything below 50 ng per ml, or 50 particles of THC in less than a third of an ounce, i.e. So if you have 40 ng per ml, the drug screen comes back negative, while 60 ng per ml gets you a termination slip from some employers and required evaluation and counseling from others. Now listen to this! It has been demonstrated in lab experiments that a mere 4 ng per ml of THC equals about .04 BAC (breath alcohol content) and 8 ng per ml equal about .08 BAC, which is Georgia’s cut off level for DUI! .04% BAC means 30% impairment, .08 BAC equals 50% impairment (about 2 twelve-oz beers for most people). If these limits were adopted as lawful for Driving While Impaired charges, DUI schools would no doubt see double and triple enrollments. Pilots in training for their FAA licenses submitted to an experiment years ago. A number of pilots landed their plane within 9 inches of the center runway line prior to smoking one THC joint. A whole day after smoking a joint, they averaged landing the plane 6 to 9 feet on either side of the same center runway strip! Huh? Yep...that’s why we smoke...to get a delayed reaction in our nervous system so we’ll feel relaxed! Combine all this information together and it seems as if we’re choosing to put ambulances at the bottom of the cliff instead of a guardrail at the top. Knowledge of the facts and acting on scientific evidence can keep most of us from crashing if we make informed decisions about what we put into our bodies. I hope that will be you! +

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

Read it for life.

Never reads the Examiner

Author’s note: I gleaned much information for this column from this website: learnaboutsam.org – or “learn about smart approaches to marijuana.” I hope you go there and spend a lot of time there with your kids!

Reads the Examiner occasionally

Never misses an issue

On paper. Online. +

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY 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

DERMATOLOGY

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

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

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

FAMILY MEDICINE

F. E. Gilliard MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607 Industrial Medicine • Prompt appts. Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

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

PHARMACY

YOUR LISTING HERE

SENIOR LIVING

Augusta Gardens Senior Living Community 3725 Wheeler Road Augusta 30909 SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY 706-868-6500 www.augustagardenscommunity.com

SLEEP MEDICINE Sleep Institute of Augusta Bashir Chaudhary, MD 3685 Wheeler Rd, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555

TRANSPORTATION Caring Man in a Van Wheelchair-Stretcher Transports • Serving Augusta Metro 855-342-1566 www.CaringManinaVan.com

VEIN CARE

Medical Center West Pharmacy 465 North Belair Road Evans 30809 Vein Specialists of Augusta Dr. Judson S. Hickey Your Practice 706-854-2424 Periodontist And up to four additional lines of your www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 2315-B Central Ave choosing and, if desired, your logo. Floss ‘em 706-854-8340 Augusta 30904 or lose ‘em! Keep your contact information in Parks Pharmacy www.VeinsAugusta.com 706-739-0071 this convenient place seen by tens of 437 Georgia Ave. thousands of patients every month. N. Augusta 29841 Jason H. Lee, DMD Literally! Call (706) 860-5455 for all 803-279-7450 116 Davis Road the details www.parkspharmacy.com Augusta 30907 Medical Weight & Wellness 706-860-4048 Specialists of Augusta THE AUGUSTA Maycie Elchoufi, MD MEDICAL EXAMINER Steven L. Wilson, DMD 108 SRP Drive, Suite B Psych Consultants Family Dentistry Evans 30809 • 706-829-9906 AUGUSTA’S 2820 Hillcreek Dr 4059 Columbia Road MOST SALUBRIOUS YourWeightLossDoctor.com Augusta 30909 Martinez 30907 NEWSPAPER (706) 410-1202 706-863-9445 www.psych-consultants.com

WEIGHT LOSS

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M.E.

PSYCHIATRY

MAY 26, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

BICYCLE

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