Medical Examiner by Daniel Pearson

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Boy meets doctor journey through cancer is like no other. Mine began with my visits with Dr. Alice David at Augusta Oncology Associates in the spring of 2011. It has now taken me through a two-week stay in University Hospital, several visits to the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, countless return trips to AOA, and now more appointments at Radiation Oncology Associates. I’m sure mine is not an unusual story. I’m just one person in one city in one country. Just imagine how widespread this disease has by Tom Campbell WRDW News anchor (ret.) become! Here’s what I’ve discovered: A patient has to have patience. A doctor and her staff, including my nurse, Briana Cleary, have to be tremendous listeners. For that I am most thankful. After more than 40 years of interviewing people, I’ve learned anew what a great quality that is for an interviewer, the ability to listen to what others have to say and to expand on their thoughts. I’ve also discovered that all the patients are a tight bunch. That’s what I’ve been most impressed to see. Supporting each other, through good and not so good days, can make a huge difference in making it through that day. This is truly a one day at a time journey. I’ve never been lucky enough to be married or have a family. So now, I have to rely on others to be my family. My co-workers at WRDW-TV have been wonderful to me. Now that I am retired, I know I can continue to rely on them. The only hard part is that delicate balance. When do you ask for help and when can you do it yourself? I’m still learning that, and it’s proving to be sort of difficult for me. However, I’ve figured out a lot on my own over the years, and this too will come to me. The letters and notes I’ve received from viewers have been a huge help to me also. The prayers, especially from those I don’t even know, have lifted me and my spirits. It’s strange. Had I not been sick, I never would have written or talked about anything like this. I would have kept it to myself. So that’s probably the greatest gift cancer has given me: the ability to open up to others. I could write more, of drugs in my body, of tattoos of sorts on my body, of being tired at the strangest times, and of yearning to feel the way I felt “before.” However, every cancer patient knows that, and you accept that. As long as there’s something interesting to read, a ball game on TV or a favorite show on the radio or a friend pays a visit, the future will be fine. +

JANUARY 6, 2012

THE ACTION COUNTERACTION At this moment, a fairly significant percentage of the populace is still focused on their annual fresh start, their personal promise to leave some bad habits behind and use the beginning of a new year to launch some improvements. Usually these resolutions include losing weight and getting more exercise, which, let’s face it, would be good goals for roughly 99% of us. If your goals for 2012 include those two objectives, we say congratulations and best wishes. And we also say: you’d better read this article. What follows is a dose of reality that might help you succeed.

The Exercise-Weight Loss Myth Do not adjust your Medical Examiner. You read that line correctly. Conventional wisdom says you have to ramp up the calories you burn if you want to lose weight. We say that is a myth repeated so often it has become accepted as fact. We say there is usually no connection between exercise and weight, unless it’s weight gain. And we also say we wouldn’t NEW FEATURE make such bold PAGE 2 statements without

SOLUTIONS

the ammunition to back them up. We’ve been saving information here and there from various sources for quite a while for this article in this issue. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Exercise effects and side effects Exercise is good. It is not bad. It’s just not particularly useful for losing weight. In fact, it prevents many people from losing weight. Yes, exercise burns calories. It does plenty of good things. Exercise enhances heart health and helps prevent disease. People who regularly exercise have a significantly lower risk for cancer and diabetes. It has been shown to improve mental health and cognitive ability. It can strengthen muscles and bones and improve respiratory health. It can lengthen life. Exercise has an impressive resumé. On the other hand, here’s a quote from an expert: “In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless.” Those words were uttered by Eric Ravussin, chair in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher. The problem with losing weight through exercise is simple: a significant side effect of exercise and burning calories is hunger and thirst. We don’t need studies to tell us that. We all have first-hand experience. For a real-world example, let’s say your regular workout is a 1-hour walk at a very Please see ACTION page 7

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S LUTIONS of Sick as a dog — Ideas for health happiness and better living that are outside the realm of medicine

Editor’s note: Not every problem in life can be fixed by a pill, a shot, or a scalpel. And that applies even to situations that can have a major effect on our health and wellness. Perhaps what regularly vexes us the most in everyday life is losing keys or important papers. Maybe it’s a troubled marriage, being late all the time, contentious teenagers, chronic procrastination or never-ending problems making ends meet. In this Medical Examiner column we’ll tackle these troublesome issues and try to offer practical solutions.

Who doesn’t love dogs, right? Actually, several people don’t. Perhaps you saw a letter to the editor on this subject in last week’s Augusta Chronicle. In the December 28 issue a reader wrote in to bemoan her neighbor’s two basset hounds who “bark and howl incessantly, day and night,” so loudly, said the letter, that they drown out their television. The dog owner conveniently located the hounds’ doghouse right up against their neighbor’s fence, and “the odor is horrible.” The letter writer said the dogs were treated like livestock. She had never seen them played with or walked, and as for her noise and odor concerns, no one she has contacted in a position of authority — the sheriff’s department, animal control, etc — has done anything. She has talked to her neighbors and they are unconcerned and uncooperative. Meanwhile, the letter writer said she’s going crazy. Is there a Solution? There are a number of possible remedies to this common problem, and believe it or not, none of them involve poison, arson, shotguns, or even a realtor. Here at Augusta Medical Examiner World Headquarters, we have been, to borrow a headline we saw a few inches

from here, sick of a dog. We once had a neighbor who would let out her two dogs at about 6:00 o’clock every morning. These dogs barked incessantly at everything from passing clouds to leaves lying on the ground. And they seemed to favor a corner of her yard that was less than ten feet from our bedroom window. Not fun. On the other hand, we also know first hand about a couple who had a newborn daughter in their own house and a 23-hour a day barking dog next door. They investigated anti-bark dog collars and talked to their neighbors about them. “If you’ll put it on your dog, we’ll buy it.” Their neighbors were happy to help. In fact, they may have agreed to split the cost 50-50. But what if they hadn’t been so cooperative? Civility is the #1 ingredient in the remedy for barking dogs. You must always approach your neighbor with unfailing courtesy and politeness, never resorting to threats, cursing or violence. That is a tall order, but if things ever escalate into the realm of police or the courts, you don’t want to hand the opposition any ammunition they can use against you. Speaking of legal action, the experts say it’s a good idea to keep a detailed log of every attempt to resolve the issues

with your neighbor and his dog from day one. If down the road you ever decide to pursue a lawsuit or seek a restraining order, the detailed information may be useful. Surprisingly enough, the uncooperative or belligerent dog owner provides an interesting psychological case study. Some say such dogs are a deliberate statement of the owner’s hostility to the world in general and as such, they’re no accident. Neither are such things as locating the dog house as close as possible to neighbor’s homes instead of some back corner of the yard. If those students of human behavior are right, the suffering neighbor is in for quite a battle. But that doesn’t mean you have to wave the white flag. One company markets an anti-barking device that looks like a decorative birdhouse. Any barking dog within fifty feet of the birdhouse will hear a high-pitched sound that humans can’t. It’s safe for dogs, but annoying enough to teach them that barking does not pay. The closer the dogs are to the birdhouse the more effective it is, and obstructions like shrubbery and fences also reduce its effectiveness. There are a number of such devices available in both overt and covert versions. Visit your

favorite pet store or Google “ultrasonic bark control.” Some collars and devices use sound waves while others use tiny and annoying (and harmless) electric shocks, some are actually pinchers, and others spray citronella with every bark. Obviously you have to actually get these on a dog, which may be a breeze with your own dog and impossible with your neighbor’s. Even if that’s successful, some of these products will do little more than slenderize your wallet, so do your homework and check product and customer reviews. In fact, while you’re on ye olde internet, here are some additional resources: • www.barkingdogs.net This site has a ridiculous amount of valuable information for anyone embroiled in this thorny issue. They have everything from a dozen or two links to academic studies about the long-term effects of noise exposure and sleep deprivation to how to deal with neighbors, police, and attorneys — even how to choose attorneys best suited for this type of situation. This site offers a lengthy and fascinating discussion of the psychology of the uncooperative barking dog owner. We would call it a mustread. They discuss anti-bark

products at length and even offer suggestions on working with local governments to draft more effective noise legislation. • www.stopdogfrombarking. com Here is another treasure trove of information on every conceivable aspect of the issue, including information that will help you think like a dog. If you understand how they view the world you may be able to eliminate bark triggers in your neighbor’s dog and your own. They also discuss using C.B. technology on recalcitrant neighbors. To the uninitiated, that’s Cookie Bribery. It may not work, but it’s worth a try. • pet store websites In closing, don’t forget that simple is sometimes best. Try those two magic words: hush puppy. +

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I dare you! Exceptional Living

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Editor’s note: Exceptional Living appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner each month, addressing issues that all of us can benefit from involving people with special — let’s call them exceptional — needs.

by Naomi D. Williams, MPH, CHES, IC® That’s right, I dare you. No, I double dog dare you. It’s the dawning of a new year. Resolutions are being made. Changes are being sought. Yet I dare you to not compare! Live your life and run your race as only you can. About six months ago I committed to start working out, exercising on a regular basis in an effort to help a friend get her blood pressure under control. A group of friends got together and formed a Motivation Workout group. Each of us have a different lifestyle, body shape and type, and are at different fitness levels. A few weeks ago I was out running with a new associate, whom I met through Black Girls Run! who was a bit discouraged because she wasn’t able to run as long as I could and frankly was intimidated by the abilities of others compared to her performance despite her efforts. As we jogged side by side I encouraged her to run her race. We all start at different points and have various reasons for why we do what we do. Some people run to win and get the medal, others do it for the pure enjoyment of being outside and moving, and yet others do it to compete against themselves and to prove a point that only they understand (that’s me). Are any of these reasons wrong? Nope. April 2012 will mark a year since I started running with my son and we’ve even participated in a couple of 5k races. I’ve never won a race or even come close to winning, but I finished — and I wasn’t

last! But you know even if I were last it wouldn’t matter because the goal is to finish. I recently went running by myself on the canal and there was a couple who started their workout a few seconds before me and as we kept a nice steady pace they slowly began to pull away from me until they were no longer in sight. I made it to my turnaround point and was headed back when a streak of blue flew past me; it was the woman from the couple that I started with. And about two minutes later the guy passed me. I started to get discouraged, feeling slow as molasses. We started about the same time, but they went farther than I did and here they were passing me on the way back. But I was determined to finish, and not just finish but to finish strong. I decided to run my race in the way that only I can run it. I’m not a track star. I’m not a super athlete. I am however, a goal setter. I am dedicated. I am persistent. I’m not a quitter; I’m a finisher. I did finish that run and strong indeed; I set a personal record in completing five miles in less than an hour. Now for some that time sounds good and to others (like the couple that passed me) it’s rather slow. But that’s okay. We each run our own race. As we go into this new year I’ve set some audacious, bigger-than-my-britches goals for my son and myself! Morale of the story: it’s not about being THE best, but being YOUR best. Aim high. Shoot for the moon and if by chance you miss you will still land among the stars! Go ahead, I dare you. No, I double dog dare you not to compare. Happy New Year! +

What’s your story? Nearly all of us — even doctors and nurses — are sometimes patients. Perhaps you were recently injured playing your favorite sport, or years ago you somehow got hurt without even leaving your favorite recliner. Maybe you were diagnosed with a dreaded disease, mugged in a dark and lonely parking lot, or you stubbed your toe in the safety of your own bedroom. On the other hand, perhaps you needed medical attention 5,000 miles from home. Whatever your medical experience, we’d like to hear your story for our Medicine in the First Person feature. It can be frightening or funny, ordinary or extraordinary, just a few paragraphs long or quite a lengthy tale. We’ll publish your encounters with the medical profession as often as we receive them. + Send your submissions for Medicine in the First Person to the Augusta Medical Examiner via e-mail: info@AugustaRx.com or to PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397. (The Medical Examiner reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit any submission at its sole discretion.)

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appears exclusively in the Medical Examiner’s 3rd Friday issue of even months, written by Augusta’s own Bill

Why would anyone pay for a subscription to a free newspaper? That’s certainly a legitimate question. The answer: as a major regional medical center, patients come to Augusta hospitals and physicians from all over the Southeast. The MCGHealth Medical Center alone sees patients from every single county in Georgia, not to mention South Carolina, Florida, and beyond. Add to that the regional reach of Eisenhower Army Medical Center and both Veterans Administration hospitals, the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, Walton Rehab and University Hospital, and it’s clear that many people seeking treatment in Augusta are not local residents. Furthermore, some of our most loyal readers are in town only occasionally. Or their treatments and visits to Augusta are only temporary. Even local residents may find it more convenient to walk to their mailbox than visit one of our many newsstands. Subscriber copies are mailed the day prior to the issue date so they will be received by most readers no later than the publication date printed on the paper. Copies are sent by First Class mail in a sealed envelope so they’ll arrive promptly and in crisp condition. Rates are $16 for a 6-month subscription (12 issues), $32 for a full year (24 issues). Complete the form below and drop it in the mail with your payment. Thank you! +

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www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment consult your doctor. © 2012 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

JANUARY 6, 2012

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Hope IS Possible

When silence isn’t golden Helen Blocker-Adams

his column marks the beginning of my fifth year of writing for this fine publication. I think I’ve missed one deadline in four years. Not bad, huh? Having the opportunity to share my thoughts regarding mental health and mental wellness, and having a small influence in sending an inspirational and hopeful message is what I crave every time I write. I thank you for reading my columns. It’s really neat to be greeted by someone I’ve never met who

tells me they read my column. I find it equally appealing when someone I know tells me they read my work. I have to admit that my life has had some extreme circumstances that took a little wind out of my sails this past year. Thank goodness, they propelled me right into the arms of God and I’m developing a strong relationship with Him in a way I’ve never experienced before. I think my body is affected by that. Generally every year as soon as the weather changes, I come down with a cold and sometimes the flu. To date, I haven’t had any symptoms. I thank God for that. Emotional well-being does impact our mind, body and soul. When we’re stressed — overly stressed, that is — it can wreak havoc on our body and immune system. Yes, I have had more stress this year than most, but I’ve also strengthened my prayer life this year. And that is the difference. Now, I certainly

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. may still get a cold, but it’s very possible I will not. Economically it has been a challenging time for many of us. In the Augusta/CSRA there have been two shootings and killings of police officers. That’s a terrible sign that people are more stressed, confused, angry, hopeless, hungry, and helpless than ever. The lack of respect that too many of our youth have toward authority is appalling. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is coming up and he made a profound statement many years ago that is one of my favorites. “The ultimate tragedy of our time,” he said, “is not the oppression and cruelty of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” That’s something to think about. I personally believe too many people are NOT doing anything. They are simply

making excuses, sitting on the sidelines, turning the other way, or thinking the problem will be resolved by someone else. YOU AND I are the someone else. That is the challenge I’d like to issue as we close the book on 2011 and begin a fresh new year. Sure, you may not have enough money, bills may be past due, you don’t like your job, you just lost your job, your child has been arrested, the car and the roof both need repairs, and the list goes on and on. There is always going to be something. Something that will distract us and keep us from doing the right thing. But we simply cannot afford to have that attitude moving forward. Young people today are crying out for help, but are we listening? The kids getting in trouble are making the headlines and we’re forgetting

that a larger percentage of our youth are on the honor roll, starting businesses, volunteering and mentoring. If you can’t find an organization you’d like to wrap your arms around this year, then I would like to recommend you contact United Way of the CSRA. They have a vast number of organizations you can connect with. If you can’t volunteer, maybe you can donate to them. There is a way for everyone to pitch in. Identify a school you’d like to visit and spend time a few hours a month helping. You will find that more gratifying than you can imagine. I can give you lots of examples, but folks, resolve to do something positive in 2012. Pray about it. Find your place. Pray for our young people. Believe me when I tell you that if you break your silence, 2012 will be a Happy New Year — all year long. + Helen Blocker Adams is President/ CEO of The HBA Group, Intl and Executive Director of the Southeast Enterprise Institute, Inc. Visit her website at www.helenblockeradams. com. If you like politics, visit her blog at www.projectlogicga.com. You can reach her via email at hba@hbagroup-intl.com Helen’s new book, Unlikely Allies: 8 Steps to Bridging Divides that Impact Leadership can be purchased by visiting www.hbagroup-intl.com or www.authorhouse.com

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WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THINKING IN CRAZY by Bad Billy Laveau Mary was an only child with that gangly look teenage girls tend to have before they grow up, in Mary’s case to be unfashionably tall and strangely quick of wit. Her grades were good. Mary’s father was an above average real estate person and made a decent living. Not the kind that made him rich in the bank, but the kind that supported and educated a family. Mary’s mother had the indiscretion of being more than a little schizophrenic. She was a stay-at-home mom who went to church sometimes and functioned decently in public and did an outwardly crazy thing no more than occasionally. From early childhood, her father told Mary that her mother was crazy and was to be tolerated, supported, loved, and cared for. After all, she was a good person, just one unfairly burdened with a

unique affliction. However, Mary’s mother had the good sense to get cancer and die when Mary was 15. That was before schizophrenia could rub off and take serious grasp on Mary’s core. And so the rearing of Mary rested firmly in the hands of her father. By the age of 16, Mary was already prepared for adult life, having roleplayed with her father every pick-up line known to man, or at least the ones her father knew. He guided her away from cheerleading and onto the debate team. She drove an unobtrusive brown Dodge. She wore sensible clothes, ignored fads, placed in the top 5% nationally on her SAT, excelled in college, and then got into Medical School on her first try. She was an oddity, a female in med school. At six feet, unfashionably tall. (Both are common now, but not back then.) While most male med students worked 80 hours

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t s e B a week and chased nurses in their spare time, Mary worried about such esoteric things such as potassium level fluctuations and T-wave inversions on EKGs. On her final oral exam before graduation, when asked what was the most important thing in her life that prepared her to be a good doctor, Mary responded, “Having a schizophrenic mother. She taught me how to think in crazy.” There was stone silence in the room. None of the professors had ever heard that before, much less considered the real life applications of insanity. She graduated. Mary was truly unconventional. She took a series of ER jobs that took her hither and yon for 6-month stints in places that interested her: New Orleans (Voodoo and Cajun culture); Atlanta (Southern international culture); New York (Yankee international culture); El Paso (western border town); the hills of Kentucky (hillbilly heaven); the flat woods of south Georgia (redneck central). She loved them each in their own special way. When her biological clock said it was time for

e n i c i d ME

motherhood, she courted and married a men’s clothing shop owner. She catered to his insecurities by telling his friends that she worked in a doctor’s office. She managed to get pregnant before his ego could no longer stand her making more money than he did. Mary said, “Don’t sweat it. Sell the store. Lay by the pool at the country club. Play golf. You don’t have to make any money.” He left. A few years later, he was murdered by a casual gay pelvic affiliate. It took six months to find his body in a mountainous ravine. Mary paid for the funeral, wore a black veil, and played the grieving ex-wife who still cared. His parents never knew of their son’s misadventures on the seedy side of the line. Later in life, Mary weathered a deluge of catastrophes: a minor stroke, a pulmonary embolism, a heart attack, and surgical removal of 75% of her liver due to cancer. I once asked her how she managed to withstand all those cascading hindrances, any one of which could be, and usually were, fatal. An impish gleam flashed in her eyes. “You must pick the right parents. Good genetics

are important. But, knowing how to think in crazy is even more important. When the world is crazy around you and seems to be going to Hell in a hand basket, you are prepared to deal with it. God rest Mother’s soul. She did her job well.” Mary lived and practiced on for a number of years while sending her daughter to medical school, before dying peacefully in her sleep. She died a perfect 10, having broken all Ten Commandments at least once. It makes one wonder: Is insanity in a loved one a blessing or a curse? That depends on your mental state. Certainly to Mary and those closely associated with her, her mother’s curse was a blessing. And for me? Well, let’s see how much hate mail I get from handling such a serious illness with dark humor. But if enough people know how to think in crazy, maybe the mail won’t be too bad. But fear not; I can take it. I learned from Mary. Next thing you know, I might try frying bacon without a shirt on just to see if I am half as tough as Mary. + Bad Billy Laveau is a retired MD with a pointed sense of humor. Bad Billy speaks and entertains at public and private events for audiences not subject to cardiac seizure secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397

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Health 101 by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Assistant Dean for Administration in the GHSU College of Nursing HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINES?

t seems that most people these days take some medicines on a regular basis. Not that long ago people rarely took medicines and many children went through their childhood medicine free except for immunizations. But now with so many drugs on the market, medicines are used for just about everything, not just to get you better when you’re sick. Medicines have an effect (the purpose for which it is taken) and a side effect (other things that a medicine might do when taken). Another important consideration is the medicine’s interactive effect on other drugs, or what may

happen when it is mixed with other medicines. The effect you want for a medicine you take for your blood pressure, for instance, may have a side effect of slowing your pulse. Or you may take a medication to slow your pulse rate, but the side effect is that it lowers your blood pressure. So it is important to know exactly why you are taking that particular medication and what kinds of other effects you should expect. It is also important to know what will happen if you stop taking it, and if you do, whether it can be stopped “cold turkey” or if it should be discontinued gradually. For example, if you suddenly stop taking a medicine that slows your

pulse, how will that affect your heart rate? A side effect of a medication or the additional effects other than the primary effect may be something expected, like swelling of the ankles for some blood pressure medications or a lower potassium with a fluid pill. But an adverse or allergic effect is one that wouldn’t normally be expected, and one that would make you unable to take that medication. A rash or difficulty breathing are examples of allergic responses. Some blood pressure medications cause a cough which is a type of allergic reaction. The longer you take a medication you are allergic to the worse the reaction can become so it is important to stop it and make note never to try it again or any medicine in that category. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about allergic drug reactions you experience. Another concern is the problem of interactions. Many drugs when taken with other medicines will interact with each other. Even overthe-counter drugs and herbal products (St. John’s Wort, for instance) can interact with prescription medicines. It is important to tell your prescriber and the pharmacist everything you are taking and when you take them. Your

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doctor or pharmacist can look up any potentially significant interactions and tell you. Have you ever realized that when you take a medication that coats your stomach, that can cause another problem? It can keep other medicines from being absorbed. So medicines with calcium or antacids or glucosamine need to be taken alone at least 2 hours before or after other medicines so the others will be able to work. When taking a medicine you should know how long it is supposed to last in your system and how frequently it should be taken. A pain medicine may only last 3 hours, but, if taken too frequently it could cause damage to the liver or kidneys. Some pills may be cut in half, others cannot. Codes on the bottle after the name, like XL or ER, mean long acting or extended relief and if cut they could inactivate

them. A coated pill is meant to dissolve in the intestines instead of the stomach. Cutting them compromises the protective coating so they dissolve too soon and in the process change their effectiveness. If there is a score or line on the pill it can often be broken apart easily and an equal amount of the medicine should be in each half. Keep in mind that cutting a pill in half cuts the dosage in half and may cut its effectiveness in half — or even more. On the other hand, perhaps a pill is too large for you to comfortably swallow. Instead of trying to choke one down once every eight hours, perhaps half a pill every four hours will work better without diminishing the dose you have been prescribed. The key is talking to your doctor and pharmacist about your medicines. You may need to show him what you are taking to be sure you are getting the optimum benefit from them all. +

HEALTH 101 – Information to help you make positive changes in your life to improve your health by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, Director of the Good Samaritan House, A Free Community Health Center Open Mondays 1-5 pm. 213 N Main St., Dearing, GA 706-556-9080.

JANUARY 6, 2012

Ask a Diet itian W

hen someone possesses vast knowledge on a particular topic they are said to “know their onions.” This made me ponder how many people “know their onions” when the topic is literally onions. Do you know the difference between a shallot and a leek, or between a storage and spring onion? How about optimal storage – any idea why you should not put onions next to potatoes? When learning about onions it’s best to start from the ground up, since that it where it all begins. Botanically, onions are known as Allium cepa, but in the market place are often known by their colors, such as a red, white, or yellow. Onions can be generally classified as either a storage onion or a spring/ summer onion. As the name suggests, storage onions are stored for several months after harvesting in the late summer and early fall. These are the yellow, red and white varieties commonly seen at your local grocers and are what most people reach for when a recipe calls for onions. Conversely, the spring/ summer onion which is grown fall to spring is not stored, but is instead shipped shortly after harvesting. This group includes the “sweet” onions like Georgia’s own Vidalia onion. While the storage and spring/summer groups comprise the most familiar onions used in the kitchens, there are other members of the Allium genus which are often called onions even though, technically speaking, they aren’t. For example some people call leeks and shallots onions, but neither one technically falls into this group. One look at a leek and you can understand why they are thought to be onions: they appear very much like an overgrown scallion, a spring/ summer onion. In fact, leeks

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

are related to garlic, onions, and shallots. Like the spring/ summer onion, leeks have a sweet flavor and make a good addition to a variety of dishes. Shallots also have properties of both onions and garlic, and their taste is a pleasant blend of both. With their bulbous shape and thin copper outer skin, shallots resemble a small yellow onion. However, once the skin is peeled back the shallot begins to look more like garlic with its small, segmented cloves. One benefit of shallots over garlic is that each clove is not individually wrapped in a sheath, which makes it much easier to separate and prepare. Home storage of onions depends on the onion type. For instance, sweet onions have a high water and sugar content and are therefore more prone to spoilage, while yellow, red, and white onions have already been cured and usually last longer in storage. The environment will also impact storage time, since onions can turn bitter if placed in bright light and will spoil more quickly in damp places where they can absorb moisture, such as under a kitchen sink. Since potatoes are known to both give off moisture and produce a gas which causes onion spoilage, the two should not be stored together. Proper storage also includes the right temperature, which again differs depending on the type of onion. The storage onions are best kept in a cool, dry space where the air can circulate freely around them. Spring/summer onions are best kept refrigerated and used shortly after purchase. Beyond inhibiting spoilage, refrigeration also helps alleviate the stinging sensation and tear-eliciting

effect produced when cutting an onion allows sulfuric compounds to come in contact with enzymes to form volatile compounds. Other methods of reducing this problem include peeling onions under cool running water, and cutting off the top and peeling the outer layers while leaving the root end intact (the root area contains the highest concentration of sulphuric compounds). Being a contact lens wearer affords some protection, as does wearing the newer protection of onion goggles (http://oniongoggles. net/). Also, younger onions have fewer compounds than older onions thereby producing less of an irritating effect. Nutritionally speaking, onions are low in calories and fat and contain vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. More importantly, onions contain phytochemicals which hold great promise in disease prevention, and the antioxidant quercertin, which has been shown to slow the oxidative damage to cells and tissues of the body. As with any food, it’s not nutritious if it is not eaten. The onion has a little of a doubleedged sword in this regard in that raw onions tend to leave a lasting impression … onion breath! The simplest solution is to fully cook the onion, thereby reducing the odds of onion breath while also enhancing the flavor of the dish. It is this practice that inspired Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) to pen this sage advice: This is every cook’s opinion No savory dish without an onion, But lest your kissing should be spoiled Your onions must be fully boiled. +

Author Cindy Elia, M.S., R.D., C.D.E. is the Nutrition Specialist for the CSRA Area Agency on Aging, your gateway to aging resources. Got a question? Drop us a line: info@AugustaRx.com.

CALL 706.860.5455 TO ADVERTISE IN THIS PAPER

ACTION

… from page 1

brisk pace. You really hustle for a full hour. The sweat pours off you. You feel the burn. After that you’re naturally thirsty, so your routine is to swing by McDonald’s after for a sweet tea, just a medium. You need to rehydrate, after all. And you’ve earned a tiny reward: a chocolate chip cookie. Just one. Obviously you don’t want to cancel out all the benefits of your workout, right? Well, sadly enough, you just have. And then some. For a 175pound person, it takes about an 65 minutes to work off 340 calories (180 for the sweet tea and 160 for the cookie) by very brisk walking (4 m.p.h). So your reward for walking an hour and then quenching your thirst and hunger is actually a slight weight gain, but let’s call it even. Does that mean you shouldn’t have walked? That you wasted your time and effort? Not at all. You did well and you should keep it up. And if you wish, keep rewarding yourself afterward. Just don’t be puzzled after repeating your routine for months and never losing a pound. (In fact, think of the people who might walk more leisurely for just 30 minutes and then have the same snack.) If you know your weight and the calories you’d like to burn, go to www.healthassist.net/calories/, enter those two numbers and you’ll have a list of hundreds of occupational, household and sports activities before you showing you how much time you’ll have to spend on each to burn the designated calories. Another side effect Believe it or not, another way action is counteracted is by inaction. Sports medicine and exercise researcher types have carefully studied exercisers and non-exercisers and compared the two with surprising results. Let’s say the typical exerciser is someone with a desk job who hits the gym for 30 minutes on the way home several times a week, maybe even every day. Let’s compare that person with someone else who is too busy to exercise. Maybe they think their regular activities are sufficient. Or maybe they wish they could exercise, but due to their schedule constraints they avoid elevators and escalators and use the stairs whenever possible, they park far from stores instead of at the closest space they can find, and they use a rake instead of a leafblower. According to the experts, the 30-minute exerciser loses this one to the so-called non-exerciser. Typically, human nature tells us that not only does our exercise entitle us to treats (see above), but also to veg out on the couch. Exercise researchers have found that all-day movement (of more or less any variety) is better than short bursts of intense activity. It’s better in terms of calories burned, muscle tone, health and aerobic benefits, and more. Again, the point is not that the gym rat should quit. Remember, exercise is good. But at this point we have already established that even an hour of exercise probably doesn’t burn as many calories as we might expect, and that any hoped-for weight loss can inadvertently be cancelled out by a simple drink and/or snack. So the exercise is definitely good; it’s just not the key to weight loss. One more thing It turns out these exercise researchers get to be quite the students of human nature. They have discovered that human willpower is much like a muscle. In a perfect world that would mean that the more we use self-control the stronger the muscle becomes. Unfortunately, they have found that when people exercise their self-control muscle by, let’s say, jogging for a mile or playing tennis for an hour, the muscle tires and they then feel a sense of guilt-free entitlement to polish off a bag of chips or skip other forms of activity. It’s simply human nature at work, and we are, after all, humans. The gym rat who lives in the big city takes a cab, but his non-exercising opposite might have enough energy to walk those eight blocks; the 5-mile jogger may feel entitled to a less-thanhealthy drive-thru supper, his all-day-is-exercise-day neighbor might have the energy to shop for food and cook it at home. Both gyms and fast food eateries have their place. That isn’t our point. Instead, it’s to establish how difficult it is, being human beings and all, to rely on burning calories as the cornerstone of any weight loss plan. By all means, exercise regularly. It pays enormous dividends. But plain and simple, if you’ve embarked on a New Year’s project to lose weight, the key to success is not exercise. It’s what you eat. +

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

Around town: • Barney’s Pharmacy, 2604 Peach Orchard Rd. • Birth Control Source, 1944 Walton Way • ASU Student Bookstore • Blue Sky Kitchen, 990 Broad Street • Columbia County Library, main branch lobby, Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans • Enterprise Mill (North Tower), 1450 Greene Street, Augusta • Daniel Village Barber Shop, Wrightsboro Road at Ohio Ave. • Hartley’s Uniforms, 1010 Druid Park Ave, Augusta • International Uniforms, 1216 Broad Street, Augusta • Marshall Family Y, Belair Rd, Evans • Mellow Mushroom, 12th and Broad Streets, Augusta • 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... 500+ doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

JANUARY 6, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

P harm acy 41 1 EDITOR’S NOTE: Very little if anything about healthcare is inexpensive, and that includes medicine. Tiny pills can command large prices. Over-the-counter medications may be less expensive, but are they also less effective? Find the answers to lots of your drug store questions in this column written by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson exclusively for the Medical Examiner.

WHY AM I ON SO MANY MEDICATIONS? A popular conversation in the pharmacy these days centers on the number on prescriptions that a single person may be taking in a given day. This is a valid point of concern for a lot of people, especially our senior citizens. Sure, people require more medication as they age and the body fails in little ways. But when a younger person is on three medications for a single condition or an elderly patient has to juggle a dozen or more medicines things can get a little confusing. The explanation is in the method of prescribing medications for different common conditions. A high dose of any medication can cause many unacceptable side effects. Look at the common saying “too much of anything can be a bad thing” and think about even water has its limits. Too much water and you dilute out your body’s electrolytes including potassium which regulates your heart beat. Does this mean do not drink water? No! It means use the accepted guidelines and do not fall for the premise that if some is good, then more is obviously better. Let’s start with two of the more common medical conditions occurring today - high blood pressure and diabetes. To treat high blood pressure a physician may use beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB’s), just to hit the popular categories. So which category is right for you? Actually it’s not which one but which ones that is the appropriate question. You may start with a single medication for high blood pressure, but as the disease progresses you will require more and more medications for this single condition. These multiple types of blood pressure medications are designed to work on different receptors and different parts of your body and ultimately work together to control your blood pressure. While ACE inhibitors and ARB’s work by preventing the production of a substance in your kidneys that ultimately constrict the blood vessels and raise blood pressure, other classes such as beta blockers work directly on the heart. There are also diuretics that work with

the kidneys and help to eliminate extra fluid that our bodies may be retaining. By eliminating this fluid we reduce the pressure load that our hearts pump against. This does not address related diagnoses like high cholesterol leading to plaque buildups in our arteries which can cause related heart disease. That will add at least one if not two more medications to decrease the cholesterol levels, which can be effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes. If you are diabetic, you can count on multiple medications to prevent side effects from high doses of any one medicine too. We have medicines to make your pancreas secrete more insulin as well as medicines to reduce the sugar released by the liver. Some medicines can cause your cells to become more sensitive to insulin present in your body. That allows for utilization of sugar instead of its just accumulating in your body. We also have insulin that can be added to what our body makes if we quit producing enough to cover our needs. That only covers the major classes of diabetic medications that doctors have at their disposal. The goal is to reduce your blood sugar to an acceptable level to prevent serious complications. One can see that each class has a different effect on blood sugar and that the different classes can be used to attack out of control blood sugar at different points in the body’s sugar production and utilization cascade. So it only makes sense that two medications work better than one. This also allows for lower dosages of each medication reducing the possibility of side effects from higher dosages. If you factor in that many of the common conditions in today’s elderly patients are progressive and interlinked with each other (both in being risk factors for each other and generally occurring at the same ages), you reach the conclusion that we are lucky everyone isn’t on six or seven medications. A word of advice to end this column would be to consult your pharmacist anytime you add to or change your medication profile. We are here to help and will work with your insurance and your physician to try to accommodate your needs without breaking your bank account. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

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The Short White Coat by Hevil Shah

cannot believe that 2012 is already here and how quickly 2011 came and went. I also cannot believe that in a few months, I’ll be graduating medical school and have an M.D. after my name. It’s a scary thought to know I have grown up so much to get to this point, but I know deep down inside I’m still a kid at heart. In fact, my entire family is: to ring in the New Year, and also celebrate my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary, we were at Disney A med student’s notebook World last week. The last time we had gone as a family was almost 20 years ago. And while I enjoyed the rides and the shows, the fireworks at night, and a family picture with Mickey, I could not help but wonder how different the world of medicine would be if it was more like Disney World: 1. WAITING FOR 2+ HOURS IS OKAY. Like everyone else, I hate the wait at doctor’s offices. There are a number of reasons why physicians see a large number of patients in their clinics. And while each day is scheduled to be ideal, minimizing wait times is hard to achieve. Some patients may require more time for treatment and counseling, the physician may be called away to do an admission, a patient may come in late, or the office might be short-staffed in checking in and triaging new patients. For whatever reason, there always seems to be a longer than expected wait. But at Disney World, no one cared how long they waited. December 26th through 31st is the busiest time of the year for the park. For a few of the days that we were there, the park reached maximum capacity by early afternoon and had to stop accepting new visitors. The lines on some of the favorite attractions like Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom and the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios were backed up to a 2 to 3 hour wait. But surprisingly, as I people–watched, no one seemed to be bothered by the wait. In fact, after finishing a ride (which typically lasted shorter than a doctor’s office visit), some people would stand back in line again for another 2 to 3 hours if they liked the ride enough. 2. CUT AND BRUISES ARE OKAY. When I did Pediatrics and Family Medicine rotations during my third year, I had a number of parents who would bring in their children after school to the clinic because of cuts and bruises the child got on the playground. There was an occasional stitch here and there, but for the most part the parents just needed a little bit of reassurance that everything was okay.

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At Disney World, kids were falling left and right with all their pent-up excitement. While there was naturally a brief pause for concern by the parents, usually they would pick up their child, brush off the child’s knees or elbows, and continue doing whatever they were doing. Most of the kids didn’t even shed a tear, even after some of the more horrific trip-overs I saw. 3. SPENDING $4 FOR AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH IS OKAY. No doubt about it, vacationing at Disney World is very expensive. With high ticket prices, not including the taxes and parking fees, my family and others have to save up for some time to be able to enjoy the parks. But what I found so surprising is how easily people opened up their wallets for $3 Cokes or $4 ice cream sandwiches. Granted, my family and I brought our own food from home, but for a family of four like ours, even quick snack adds up to $28. What I would give if I could see donations coming in that freely to our community clinics in the Augusta area. Or if I could convince the same people to not spend $4 on ice cream, but to instead spend it on their $4 prescriptions. There is undeniably something magical about Disney World. I’m not talking about the rides or the shows or the fireworks, but in the changes it makes to society in general within its boundaries. People are nicer, more relaxed, and more casual and adventurous with their injuries and their money. If only I could translate that same effect into the world of medicine. Who knows? Maybe, after I graduate in May, I’ll have a hand in making that difference. But until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! +

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The blog spot From THE Bookshelf Posted Nov. 27, 2011 at http://asystoleisstable.blogspot.com/

The Honor of Responsibility and Trust The patient has been temporarily paralyzed by the drugs, and you’re the one keeping them alive by squeezing air into their lungs...but...no pressure. Gulp. I was holding the mask as tightly against her face as I could, sealing the rubber to her cheeks in the effort to keep highly oxygenated air from leaking out. Looking down at her from the head of the bed I saw the patient from a different vantage point, a place that made her look so vulnerable. And she was vulnerable. A few minutes prior to closing her eyes she had been nervously chatting and laughing away as we prepared her for surgery. The dose of propofol and the inhaled sedatives smoothed her face and left her body limp. Now we had injected medication into her intravenous line to paralyze her. Once her muscles were relaxed we could slide a tube down her throat and into the trachea, providing the means to ensure that her airway would remain open and her lungs could be well ventilated with oxygen during the surgery. I removed the mask to prepare for the intubation. Her skin was pale, the freckles standing out now that the nervous blush had faded from her cheeks and neck. She was perfectly still and we were moving into action. It struck me then how explicitly patients trust their doctors and nurses. Of course I have always understood this as a general concept in healthcare but this was suddenly a much more concrete example. Patients literally put their lives in our hands on a daily basis. Why have I never said to a patient, “Thank you for trusting me with your most precious possession”? Why has a patient never said to me, “Please do not be hurried or harried, distracted or inattentive, because today you are responsible for my survival”? I suppose these are silent agreements and understandings that we have in all of our patient interactions. Yet the fact that we don’t outwardly acknowledge these understandings means that maybe we’ve forgotten that at the core, it is an honor to be in this role. I’m not so unrealistic to think that one is thankful when the bleep goes off for the 47th time on a Christmas eve night shift... but I hope that at the end of the day when I am bone tired and flopped-out on the couch in the call room I’ll remember this, and take even just a tiny measure of satisfaction from the honor of responsibility. No pressure. +

“

Why are these things never said?

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As any parent knows, when a child is born healthy and whole, you can’t help but feel that a miracle has occurred before your very eyes. After all, there is no limit to the number of things that can — and often do — go wrong. This is the story of one of those perfect, miraculous births. And one of those other births. The imperfect kind. You see, a few years ago author Brian Doyle and his wife had twin boys. One boy was the picture of health and the other, well, he was going to need a lot of sophisticated medical assistance to survive. Twin #2, Liam, was born with three chambers in his tiny heart. That would be one short of the standard four chambers. Liam would undergo open heart surgery at age five months and again at a year and a half, and would still ultimately require a heart transplant. This book, a quick read at a mere 186 pages, has been described as barreling through the topic “like a freight train.” To be sure, Doyle’s writing style is definitely on the unique side. But you can’t make it through many pages without

developing a profound regard for the heart itself, not to mention the incredible skill of the doctors who specialize in repairing it. That kind of deepened respect, for the heart particularly, is something we would all benefit from. After all, without the heart life would end instantly. Instead, it pumps efficiently away at the rate of some 100,000 beats per day. That adds up. Since this same date last year that multiplies out to 35 million heartbeats — in just one year! Yes, we depend on our hearts to the tune of billions of heartbeats over a lifetime. With an enhanced appreciation for its prodigious workload, we’re hopefully less

likely to engage in behaviors that make this hardest-working organ have to work even harder. This book also is Doyle’s celebration of the surgeons whose skill saved his son’s life — and who every day save the lives of heart patients here in Augusta and around the world. We’ve probably all heard the old joke about the auto mechanic who complains about his cardiologist’s fees compared to his. The cardiologist replies by suggesting the mechanic try working on car engines while they’re running. That certainly puts things in perspective. And Mr. Doyle, if you’re reading this — and why wouldn’t you be? — thank you for setting a fine example for Medical Examiner readers. You see, every issue we publish our standing invitation for “Medicine in the First Person,” asking ordinary people to tell the stories of their medical adventures. We wish we got more. Maybe after this issue we will. Thanks, Brian! +

The Wet Engine: Exploring the Mad Wild Miracle of the Heart by Brian Doyle, 186 pages, published in 2005 by Paraclete Press

the

Clipping File Ask questions. Get answers. The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has developed a general set of key questions every patient should draw from to stay informed about important healthcare matters. As AHRQ so aptly points out, knowing the answer to crucial questions “can help you feel better, let you take better care of yourself, or save your life.” Here are their ten basic questions. Use them as appropriate 1. What is the test for? 2. How many times have you done this procedure? 3. When will I get the results? 4. Why do I need this treatment? 5. Are there any alternatives? 6. What are the possible complications? 7. Which hospital is best for my needs? 8. How do you spell the name of that drug? 9. Are there any side effects? 10. Will this medicine interact

with medicines that I’m already taking? The AHRQ website (www. ahrq.gov) also has a Question Builder anyone can use to create a customized list of questions prior to any medical appointment or procedure. The Question Builder is at http://www.ahrq.gov/ questions/qb/. It’s never a good idea to trust important questions to your memory alone; write them down. Arthritis supplement The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the good news that a supplement taken by study subjects with osteoarthritis offered “significant” improvements in hand function and pain reduction within three months. Grip also improved, but not as significantly. Subjects took 800-milligram tablets of chondroitin sulfate. Ask your doctor.

Press on to success! We would be remiss, this being the first week of January, if we didn’t at least mention the many among us that are trying to make it through their first week of cigarette-free living. First, congratulations! Secondly, your average Medical Examiner reader wouldn’t be caught dead — despite the proven lethality of these products — with a lit cigarette between his or her lips. So the question of the moment might be, What can we do to encourage and motivate these temporarily miserable souls? One suggestion is to remind them of the mountains of cash they’re saving. A packa-day smoker is saving $150 a month. A two-packer is saving $300 each month. That’s $3,600 a year in direct costs alone. In the event of relapse — they do happen — encourage the quest to begin anew without delay. +

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JANUARY 6, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD

by Dan Pearson

Warning labels I know what you mean. are getting out A bag of Planters says of hand. “may contain peanuts.”

I know, right? Have you ever read the warning label on Dasani bottles?

May? It better!

What, “may contain water”?

Actually, they say “may cause urination.”

The Mystery Word for this issue: SOYSCAIN

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

PUZZLE

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

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM TO ENTER! 1

Click on “Reader Contests”

QUOTATION PUZZLE

20 21 22 ACROSS 1. Downtown Port follower 23 24 25 6. Pacers’ school, for short 26 27 28 29 30 10. Having no light 14. Rolling In the Deep singer 31 32 33 34 35 36 15. ER’s Wylie 37 38 39 16. Adam and Eve’s starter home 40 41 42 17. Rasps 43 44 45 18. Crude dwellings 19. Flexible tube 46 47 48 49 20. Hubble, for one 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 22. Hawk’s nest (var.) 23. Snakelike fish 57 58 59 24. Former Augusta Golf 60 61 62 property 26. Smoothly, flawlessly 63 64 65 30. River in central Europe by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com 31. The Desert Fox 32. Buchwald or Carney 35. Recently deceased DOWN 33. Rights grp. 36. Addict 1. Finn craft 37. Like Wrigley’s walls 38. Airport 2. Garfield’s co-star 38. Abigail nickname 39. Put in order 3. Shout 39. Rand’s _______ Shrugged 41. Perfection 4. On sheltered side 40. Swiss capital 42. Juniper 5. Diminished 41. Twitch 44. Follower of 41-D at times 6. Wicked; not sacred 42. Make (like maybe at Ft. Gordon) 7. Broth 43. Chaz’ mom 45. Roman Catholic 45. Friend and ally, informally 8. Class 46. Breath sounds 9. Sounds of contentment 46. Spring back 47. Lyric poem 10. Liquid-challenged 49. Dental org. 48. Towed or pushed vessel 11. Worship 50. Separated 52. Epic poetry 12. Amber, for example 51. Remorseful 53. A lie (often with “tall”) 13. Joints for prayer? 57. Bereft, in poet-speak 54. Into the Blue star 21. Basic biological unit 58. Arizona native 55. Inert gaseous element 59. Hood-shaped, like certain 22. Shakespearian before 56. Fancy shooter marbles 25. Belair Frontage employer flowers 58. Hee follower 26. Child’s bed 60. Verge 27. Davis III 61. Writer of an eponymous 28. Islamic chieftain Bible book 29. 11, 12 and 13 62. _____ grease 32. WJBF letters 63. Prophet 34. Family 64. Occident 65. ________Bridge Solution p. 14

F H Y P U E H U A O B M T A R T Y O P — Bob Ross (1942 - 1955)

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above. 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.

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

X A M I N E R

U D O K U

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

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle. All the listed letters following 1 are the 1st letters of each word; the letters following 2 are 2nd letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues and entering unique and minimal choice letters (such as 5 thru 8 in this puzzle). A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

L 1 2 3 4 5

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

1 2 3 1 2

M 1 2 3 4 U 2 3 4 5 6

— Bill Waterson

1.SHALNABIM 2.TREPOOIA 3.DROKOLT 4.PHUDEE 5.SNIA 6.DDN 7.GI 8.N 9.G

SAMPLE:

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

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

A Y E A O Y K U Y S O O W D O B I U D K J O T S R O

JANUARY 6, 2012

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

PAM TUCKER OFFERS

Cold weather safety tips This week’s ice cold Monday night, Tuesday and Tuesday night offer a reminder that it is winter, even in the South. Along with cold weather come falls on ice, auto accidents from sprinkler run-off freezing on roads, and fires caused by people thawing frozen pipes with blow torches. Here are some prevention pointers. Every year, it’s a problem. Runoff from sprinklers freezes on the roadways, causing hazardous driving conditions. It may seem like a harmless oversight, but it ends up causing accidents. Please turn off the automatic timers on your sprinkler systems now! Tips to help keep your pipes from freezing: Before cold weather (or before the next cold snap) follow

these recommendations: • Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer’s directions. • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break. • Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located and are in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Pipes in these areas should be insulated. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes.

Even 1⁄4” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing. Preventive steps for cold weather • Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children. • When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because

strikte SOFTBALL ou r cance HITTING CLINIC

the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing. • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst. • If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55°F. To thaw frozen pipes If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. • Keep the faucet open. As

you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt more ice in the pipe. • Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, and electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode. All open flames in homes present a serious fire danger, as well as a severe risk of exposure to lethal carbon monoxide. • Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen Please see BRRR page 15

TELL YOUR STORY Share your Medicine in the First Person experience!

Saturday, January 21 12 - 3 pm at Patriots Park ORGANIZED BY MOLLY LILLIS COLUMBIA COUNTY ALL-COUNTY 2ND BASE, GREENBRIER HIGH SCHOOL

Assisted by Coach Mark Hamlin $20.00 includes Souvenir T-Shirt & Hitting Instruction

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE CANCER CENTER RELAY FOR LIFE GEORGIA HEALTH SCIENCES MEDICAL CENTER Register online: http://tinyurl.com/hittingclinic For more information call 706.833.8377

More info, page 3

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR MEDICAL EXAMINER? Take your pick:

St. John Towers, Sit-A-Spell Coffee Shop on Broad Street, Walton Options on Walton Way, The Partridge Inn lobby, Daniel Village Barber Shop, and GHSU’s Cancer Center. See a list of many of our newsstand and drop-off locations in the center pages of every issue. +

+ 14

JANUARY 6, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

...carefully hidden (on the scrub) in the page 1 ad for INTERNATIONAL UNIFORM Congratulations to Steve Swenson, who scores a $20 Wild Wing Cafe gift certificate, two free movie passes courtesy of Health Center Credit Union, a free Top Notch Car Wash gift card, and whatever else we can scrape together on short notice. Win this stuff! The new Mystery Word is on p. 12. Start looking!

The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST ...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then be the first to find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries you’ll score our goodie package: gift certificates from Wild Wing Cafe, Top Notch Car Wash, Cheddar’s, and movie passes from Health Center Credit Union! SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (WInners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher.

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential. Call Vince: (704) 490-1005

WANTED

SERVICES

HIRING Edible Arrangements Evans/ Aiken is now hiring for temporary part time helpers. Apply in person at 4216 Washington Rd Evans Ga. No phone calls please.

LYNN’S CLEANING SERVICE over 20 years experience in the CSRA with an eye for detail. Call 706.833.2658 or email lynn_dubose@hotmail.com 1612

HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, ETC.

SAY IT THE WRITE WAY Online editing, proofing, writing and drafting service. Visit http://sayitthewriteway.webs.com or email proofing-editing@live.com

TOWNHOUSE One bedroom townhome in Town Club on Berckman Road. Gated community with security system. Minutes from ASU. Gym & pool on site. Info: call 706-564-1107

SPARKLING CLEAN Looking for offices to clean. No contract req. Husband & wife team have years experience and give FREE on-request estimates. Call 706.831.8552 or 706.831.8553

TOWNHOME Great location, everything new, 2 master suites, sunroom, all appliances. $98,000 (706) 504-4023

BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)

HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell • Buy • Rentals • 706.564.5885

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

12012

21712

WEST AUGUSTA Luxury 3 BR / 2 BA Townhouse, 1-car attached garage located off Pleasant Home Road $725 /mo 706-228-4655 TOWNHOME 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhome. 2 master suites, like new, end unit with extra parking, single garage, covered patio, $125,000. 706-799-0394

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

USE THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT IN, OR GO TO WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM AND PLACE & PAY CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY ONLINE. THANKS!

(OURS IS COFFEE)

CAREGIVER/COMPANION Need a ride to the doctor, store, etc. or someone to come in to visit and help you. Great References, reasonable rates. Call (706) 589-1698 or email msmagic4@yahoo.com.

Thanks for reading the Medical Examiner!

R A F T C R I B R A L E S

O D I E

Y E L L

A L E E

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

U N H C O E L L Y L A T I E R N D R H O A M W E

S O U P

C A T E G O A R B Y C P A E P P I O S S T

A H S E A R D E T A C R A R D A E N G E D

D E H Y D R A T E D

A D O R E

R E S I N

K N E E S

C L A N

L A T E

U S E R

T A L E

A L B A

N E O N

T A W S

SEE PAGE 12

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

PERSONAL TRAINER Certified by United States Sports Academy in Science of Bodybuilding and Strength Training for Athletes. Significant improvements for all sports at all ages. Natural techniques for relief of all common sports-related injuries employing positioning and myofascial release. Rapid recovery and strength gains. One free session to 1st 10 applicants. E-mail Hme3065805@aol.com or call 803-257-5421

THE PUZZLE SOLVED

SENDING US A CLASSIFIED? WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE? Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

NUTRILITE the world’s leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements based on 2009 sales, specially formulated to deliv. the unique benefits of plant concentrates. To learn more, contact 706.564.5885. Nutrilite.com, www. amway.com/samuelschristopher, or www. espring.com

QUOTATION

In case we need to contact you. These numbers will not appear in the ad.

QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “You do your best work if you do a job that makes you happy.”

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

— Bob “Joy of Painting” Ross

.25

.50

.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00

4.25

4.50

4.75

5.00

5.25

5.50

5.75

6.00

6.25

6.50

6.75

7.00

7.25

7.50

7.75

8.00

8.25

8.50

8.75

9.00

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

Send this form with payment to:

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

The Sudoku Solution

COFFEE IS GOOD MEDICINE VISIT DRUGOFCHOICECOFFEE.COM FOR YOUR REFILLS TODAY

Multiply by number of times ad to run: x

5 8 7 2 9 6 1 3 4

3 1 9 5 8 4 7 6 2

4 2 6 1 7 3 8 5 9

8 3 2 6 5 7 9 4 1

7 9 4 3 1 8 6 2 5

1 6 5 4 2 9 3 7 8

2 7 3 9 4 1 5 8 6

9 5 8 7 6 2 4 1 3

6 4 1 8 3 5 2 9 7

WORDS BY NUMBER “Nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around.” — Cartoonist Bill Waterson (Calvin and Hobbs)

Total submitted: $

The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 5 days prior to our publication date.

Thanks for reading!

www.AugustaRx.com

JANUARY 6, 2012

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

BRRR… from page 13 area, if the frozen area is not accessible or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber. • Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe Protect your pets! • Don’t leave dogs outdoors when the temperature drops. Most dogs, and all cats, are safer indoors, except when taken out for exercise. Regardless of the season, shorthaired, very young, or old dogs and all cats should never be left outside without supervision. Short-coated dogs may feel more comfortable wearing a sweater during walks. • No matter what the temperature, wind chill can threaten a pet’s life. A dog or cat is happiest and healthiest when kept indoors. If your dog is an outdoor dog, however, he must be protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow the dog to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in his body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the

wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic. • Pets that spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes energy. Routinely check your pet’s water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic food and water bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet’s tongue can stick and freeze to metal. • Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, which may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine. • Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze (and all household chemicals) out of reach. Better yet, use antifreeze-coolant made with propylene glycol; if swallowed in small amounts, it will not hurt pets, wildlife, or your family. +

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+ I

M.E.

— Pamela Tucker, Director Columbia County Emergency & Operations Division

THE AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

M E D I C A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C T O RY Family Care Center

CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE FAMILY MEDICINE CPC-EVANS

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2011 WINDSOR SPRING ROAD

706.650.7563

706.798.1700

CPC-CENTRAL

CPC-N. AUGUSTA

706.868.7380

803.279.6800

CPC-CROSSROADS

CPC-AIKEN

3614-D DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE

105 HUGH STREET

1701 MAGNOLIA WAY (OFF DYESS PARKWAY)

410 HITCHCOCK PARKWAY NEW CPC OFFICE AS OF AUG. 1

706.922.6600

803.649.6941

Evans, South, Crossroads, Central and North Augusta offices open 8:30 am-8:00 pm Monday thru Thursday and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Friday Aiken office hours, effective August 1: 8:30 am-8:00 pm Mon & Tue and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Wed thru Fri CPC-Crossroads open weekends for CPC patients with acute care needs. Please call ahead.

26 PHYSICIANS • EVENING HOURS • 6 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS •

Primary & Urgent Care

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No appointments • All major & secondary ins. accepted 3686 WHEELER ROAD GROVETOWN

(across from Doctors Hospital)

Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm; Sat: 9am-6pm

GOING BEYOND CARING We offer:

(old Post Office Building)

706.922.6300

Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm

Skilled & Non-Skilled Nursing Companion/Sitter Services Hospital Support • New Baby Support Special Needs Pediatric Care Post-Hospitalization Care and Support Intermittent or Continuous Care

706.434.3500

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME • SIMPLY WALK IN www.urgentmd.com

m $

PER SQUARE PER ISSUE

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ADVERTISE/RENEW IN 3 MONTH INCREMENTS PER ISSUE: $49 SINGLE, $89 DBL

■

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TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL 706.860.5455

■

JANUARY 6, 2012

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Mood-boosting strategies to beat the post-holiday blues

La Maison ON TELFAIR

Our January Wine Dinner A 7-Course Wine & Food Experience featuring Dr. Loosen Estate and Truchard Estate wines

by Kathy Crist

The holiday season is a festive time of year, when family and friends get together, gifts are exchanged, delicious treats are shared, and music and laughter fill the air. However, following New Year’s Day, the cheerful mood may turn into the doldrums. Loved ones return to their homes thousands of miles away, the credit card bill arrives, decorations are back in boxes and the scale reveals that too many treats were eaten. So how can you fight the post-holiday blues? • Exercise: When you exercise, the brain’s executive functions (like planning, organizing and multitasking) can improve and dementia is less likely to occur, so take an exercise class or join a walking group to add spark to your step. • Eat healthy foods: You feel better when you eat a healthy diet; therefore, substitute junk food with fruits, vegetables and healthy fats like fish, nuts Kathy Crist and seeds. Outside help is available to plan and prepare healthy meals for you if you find cooking difficult. • Get out of the house: Don’t stay cooped up at home all day; engage in an outdoor activity that will make you feel alive and happy. Go to the park or take a trip to the hairdresser. Local home care agencies can transport you to where you want to go, so you are not homebound. • Socialize: The human touch releases uplifting endorphins like serotonin, and reduces blood pressure and heart rate, making you more relaxed and content. Have lunch or go to a movie with a friend. If you can’t leave the house, consider hiring an agency to provide caregivers as companionship to play games, helping with a craft project or simply engaging in conversation – all in the comfort of the your own home. There are many other ways you can enhance your mood. For example: • Volunteer: Taking time to help others is one of the best ways to feel better about yourself and regain perspective. • Listen to music: Music entertains, distracts you from negative thoughts and encourages daydreaming. It can soothe patients with dementia, treat anxiety and insomnia, and lower blood pressure. • Start a hobby or learn a skill: Take up painting, scrapbooking or chess. Challenge yourself by trying something that stimulates your creativity. • Get a pet: Petting a dog or playing with a cat enhances your mood and lowers stress, so keep yourself company with a furry friend. • Laugh: Follow the adage “laughter is the best medicine.” Watch a comedy movie or TV show or read a funny book.

Right at Home is locally owned and operated by Kathy Crist. Kathy is very involved in the supervision of all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. For more information, contact Right at Home at www.csra.rightathome.com, 803-278-0250 or by email at kathy@rightathome-csra.com. To sign up for Right at Home’s free “Caring Right at Home” eNewsletter, visit www. caringnews.com.

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80 PER PERSON

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