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THE SKINNY ON TEETH • The higher the sugar and starch content in foods, the greater the risk for cavities. • Frequent snacking increases the chance for cavities. • Sticky or dry foods adhere to teeth and increase chances for cavities. • Fruit juices contain sugar and water and are no better for your teeth than soda pop drinks. • Sensitivity-formulated toothpastes can take 4 weeks or longer to begin working. • There are almost 9,000 accidental pockings and piercings with toothpicks per year. • Anyone playing any type of contact sport should wear a stock or custom mouthguard. • According to Consumer Reports, dentists are among the 5 most trusted professionals in the United States. • Nearly 3 million miles of dental floss was purchased in the U.S. during one recent year. • Approximately 94% of Americans say they brush nightly while only 81% say they brush first thing in the morning. +
Teeth: quite a mouthful L
et’s face it: some body parts are highmaintenance little prima donnas. Just listen to a few their constant demands: “Keep me out of the sun or I warn you, I’ll burn!” “Get me plenty of exercise or I kid you not, I’ll quit so fast it will make your head spin. I’ll just stop. Literally. And don’t expect two weeks notice, either.” “You better watch what you eat. If you don’t, trust me on this: I will make your life miserable night and day.” “Wash me. Condition me. Set me. Curl me. Trim me. Color me.” “Feel lucky, kid? Go ahead. Smoke that. Make my day.” Feed me this. Don’t feed me that. Do this. Don’t do that. Pamper me. Support me. Coddle me. Thank goodness for teeth. They are the hardest working parts of the body. Really. They’re very hard. And they do lots of work. More about that in a moment. But compared to the brain, for instance, which hogs a huge amount of oxygen, and the heart, which is always threatening to attack if you don’t treat it right, teeth are like a good wife or girlfriend: extremely low maintenance. Last week I interviewed Martinez dentist Dr. Steven Wilson about what it takes to keep teeth healthy, and what words of wisdom he might pass along to tooth owners everywhere. I settled in with pen and notebook, ready to write. He said, and I quote: “Brush and floss.” And...? That’s only three words, doc. I have an entire newspaper to fill here. I asked him to expand, clarify and elucidate. “Brush and floss daily,” he said, by way of expanding, clarifying, and elucidating. I could see right away writing this article was going to be like pulling teeth. I checked in with Patty, his world-class dental hygienist, but she was equally
succinct. I got the same four words from her. So the deal seems to be that yes, teeth need care, but that the care is simple and ridiculously easy to provide. Seriously, can anyone can say that brushing and flossing every day would be difficult?
Well, okay. Maybe it’s not all that easy for some. But for the rest of us, there’s really no excuse. Nor should there be. Teeth are extremely important. For starters, they play a major role in our self-esteem. If you doubt that fact, answer this question: What is red and bad for your teeth? The answer is as clear as the nose on your face: a brick. If said brick was applied to said teeth with some degree of force, trust us when we say your self-esteem would plummet. Smiling in public would expose you to rude stares and the terrified screams of frightened children. You would have a hard time speaking. Imagine what people would think every time you opened your mouth through your fat lips. Beyond smiling and speaking and their important contribution to our self-esteem, teeth play another extremely vital task: they man the front desk of the body’s nutritional department. They are, as a group, the receptionist. It’s not just that proper nutrition promotes Please see TEETH page 10
JULY 6, 2012
Desiderata • Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. • Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. • Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. • Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. • Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. • Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. • Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. • And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. • Strive to be happy. + © Max Ehrmann 1927 (Desiderata: Latin: “desired things”)
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER LAST WEEK’S MONDAY MESSAGE FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER BLOG
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Proud. And puzzled. As of this issue, ye olde Augusta Medical Examiner will reach the ripe old age of six. Yay, ME! It has been so much more enjoyable than I had expected: being the publisher of MCG’s campus newspaper for 16 years previously, I had every article and photograph handed to me on a disk, ranked in order no less. These three articles go on page one, this story should take up the center spread, etc, etc. Back then, my capable layout artist, Lisa Ackerman (now McArdle), would whip the pages into shape. The Medical Examiner was quite a departure from that model. I would be responsible for all the content. No one would so much as hand me an idea, let alone all the content for a fully mapped complete issue. Over time, of course, the highly talented stable of columnists you now read in every issue emerged. That is a tremendous improvement: no one wants to read the same author for an entire newspaper, let alone issue after issue. Fresh voices make for fresh reading. Sincere gratitude goes out to Helen Blocker-Adams, Cindy Elia, Bad Billy Laveau, Naomi D. Williams, Sandy Turner, Chris and Lee Davidson, Bill Cleveland, Marcia Ribble, and the three student authors of The Short White Coat who have graced these pages: Raul Gonzalez, Hevil Shah, and Ashita Gelhot. They are all masterful writers. Hats off also to the excellent guest columnists who have appeared in the Medical Examiner: the late Tom Campbell, Dr. W.G. “Curly” Watson, Dr. William Bloodworth, Dr. Paul Fischer, Dr. Pam Salazar, Mr. Dennis Skelley, and Dr. Rob Lamberts, among others. The Medical Examiner’s reader
base is a tremendous group of people, the vast majority of whom are total strangers. But rarely do many days go by without an e-mail, a card or a letter, or even a phone call from someone I’ve never met, letting me know how much they enjoy the Medical Examiner. That kind of feedback is a real treat. In sixteen years, it never happened. Now it happens all the time, and it’s greatly appreciated. Delivering papers twice a month may not sound like typical management duty, but it provides a lot of invaluable face-to-face feedback. Thanks to all of you who make thoughtful, positive comments about the Medical Examiner. Last but certainly not least, thanks to our advertisers. Without them, this newspaper would simply not be possible. Their loyal support is greatly appreciated. Thanks to our newest advertisers – MedEx Associates and Roly Poly – and to our charter advertisers who have been there since even before the first issue: Dr. Jan Scholer and Wild Wing Cafe, and Pat and Sue Leeking of the Daniel Village Barber Shop. Thanks to International Uniforms and Scrubs of Evans for their long-term support, as well as to Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, United Hospice, Walton Rehabilitation Health System, Windsor Jewelers, Wilkinson & Magruder, LLP,
Jury Pest Control, Summerville Pharmacy, Health Center Credit Union, Top-Notch Carwash, H+D Photo, Ambient Healthcare (formerly Genesis), and the advertisers in our Medical Services Directory. Thanks also to T2D (Thomas and Thomas Design) for help with our website, and to Peach Mac. The Medical Examiner is built on a Mac, a PeachMac Mac at that. Always has been, always will be. Finally, about that puzzle. We have never quite figured out why the big players in Augusta’s medical community – a group we’ll define as University, GHSU, Trinity, and Doctors hospitals – give us no advertising support. These folks advertise, it sometimes seems, in every publication in town except the one publication devoted exclusively to health, wellness and medicine. They’re on billboards and in the Chronicle and Augusta Family and Augusta Magazine and Columbia County Magazine. They’re on TV. They’re on the radio. They pay for full-page ads in the Metro Spirit and even SuperSaver Coupons. Is there anything wrong with advertising in any of those places? No. But somehow we would expect to be in the mix too. Yet despite our invitations (which are becoming more and more infrequent), we aren’t. It’s puzzling, to say the least. But to them all: the Red Carpet remains rolled out in your direction. Your support would be most welcomed, and in return you could be assured that every person who sees your messages, at least in the Medical Examiner, is someone interested in wellness and better health. No other CSRA publication can make that offer. +
Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center • Skin exams • Mole removal • Psoriasis • Skin cancer surgery
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JULY 6, 2012 M M EE DD II CC II N N EE II N N TT H H EE FF II R R SS T
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Thanks, Trinity! M
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
y name is Dianna Wilson. I would like to tell the CSRA community about my experience at Trinity Hospital. I was recently hospitalized there for several months, and I will tell you this: if for any reason you become sick and need medical attention, please go to that particular hospital. It is located on Wrightsboro Road in Augusta. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for this hospital. During my stay, I was on the first floor. I probably went through every room on that floor. I had the most experienced, nicest, most compassionate nurses anyone could ask for. I can remember each of my nurses because of the treatment I received from each and every one of them. It wasn’t once that I needed or
“When I wanted to give up, they gave me the strength to go on.” wanted anything and it wasn’t there for me. So if you are Susan, Amy, Jennifer, Debra, Sallie, or Heather, you are a great nurse. My doctor is Wendy Davis, M.D. She has a patient/doctor relationship that one can only dream of. When sometimes I wanted to give up because of the pain, it was the nurses on the first floor and Dr. Davis who gave me the strength to go on. Most hospitals give you pain medicine and send you home, but not Trinity. I was able to come home when I
was physically able, thanks to them. There are so many people I can name who helped me through this ordeal, but space doesn’t allow me. God saw something in me, along with Dr. Davis and my nurses, and they sent me home healthy to finish caring for my fiance, three kids, and two grandkids. I’m doing so much better now. I still have a long way to go before I’m completely well, but thank the good Lord I’m here. Last but not least I want to say a special thanks to Pamela Williams, Becky Holling, Vanetta Jones, and Donald Shapiro. I love you all. — Dianna Wilson Augusta, Georgia +
Tell us your story for Medicine in the First Person
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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Money Doctor
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! +
Medical Economics magazine as one of the “150 Best Financial Advisors for Doctors” in the U.S.
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www.AugustaRx.com The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers, and to serve as a central source of news within every part of the Augusta medical community.
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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.
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Hope IS Possible
Exercise... do I really have to???
Helen Blocker-Adams xercise…Just the thought of that word makes you not want to finish reading this column, right? There’s something about the summer that brings out the exercise gurus, diet gimmicks and lots of skin. The vain part in us wants to look better and feel better. Sad to say, the healthy part of our mindset doesn’t appear to be the driving factor for most people to exercise.
“I do it as therapy. I do it as something to keep me alive. We all need a little discipline. Exercise is my discipline.” - Jack LaLanne fish and salmon, eating yogurt and drinking homemade smoothies. I’ve almost eliminated carbohydrates and sugars from my diet. I try to drink over 60 ounces of water a day. My emotional well-being has been enhanced and the weight loss is quite noticeable too. I think truth be told, if a person could stay healthy, maintain a reasonable weight and not be prone to diseases and didn’t have to exercise, he or she probably wouldn’t. Can we agree on that? But alas, that is not the case. Sometimes something happens in our lives that serves as a wake up call.
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Any self-respecting health professional will tell you that exercise is a primary way to become healthier, to lose weight, and reduce the risk for chronic diseases such hypertension, stroke, heart disease and many others. Nutrition plays a major part in the big picture as well. You can exercise all you want, but if you’re not eating the right foods, eating excessive quantities and at times of the day that are not conducive to losing weight, the exercise will be in vain. I’m pleased about the recent weight loss regimen I have embarked upon. I’m working with a weight loss specialist named TJ Simmons of Champion Fitness & Nutrition located in Augusta. I’m at the gym three days a week at 5 a.m. I’ve lost over 15 pounds and over 21 inches in about six weeks. I’ve changed my eating habits and now I’m eating more fresh fruits and veggies,
Something alarming came across my desk a week ago. It was a press release from the Governor’s office that said Georgia ranks #2 in the nation on childhood obesity and being overweight. That impacted me so much that I’ve added my weight loss specialist to our All Star team for the youth leadership conference that I put on about seven times a year. As part of our July 21st Unlikely Allies Emerging Leaders Conference to be held at Episcopal Day School, he will provide a nutrition and fitness talk and conduct an interactive exercise session for the middle and high school students in attendance. If you’re interested in registering your child, please contact me at the email address below. Medical insurance is sky high. Our President and Congress are constantly working on and making changes to health care reform. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of Americans are in denial. We’re supersizing and not exercising; we’re not eating in moderation
and blaming everyone and everything else for our weight problems. It’s time for the wake up call. My wake up call is that, frankly, I want to feel better. I want to wear smaller size clothes. I want to fit in clothes I wore years ago and I want to live a little longer so that I can continue to make an impact in our community and in our world. What is your wake up call? When you get it, don’t hit the snooze bar. Wake up. We all need to. +
Since starting this column, I also started an annual event entitled “Minority Mental Health Awareness Breakfast.” We’re now in our fifth year, held annually in July, and our next event is scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2012. For information please contact me at hba@hbagroup-intl.com 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
ATTENTION Compensation and medical benefits are available for covered illnesses related to exposure to radiation, beryllium, silica and toxic substances through the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP). Over $420 million has been paid to eligible Savannah River Site workers or their survivors through this program.
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Anyone with questions and/or potential claims is asked to contact the program through the Savannah River Resource Center, 1708 Bunting Drive, North Augusta, SC or call 803279-2728 or 866-666-4606.
YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION AND MEDICAL BENEFITS THANKS FOR READING!
JULY 6, 2012
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOING TO PRISON by Bad Billy Laveau Jerry was not your average kid. His mother said as much. She bragged that he did not hang out late at night like most teenagers did. Nor did he frequent girls of questionable reputations. He was always home by 11 pm, although he had no specific curfew. In the summer he worked as a plumber’s assistant to his father, learning the family business. He did not drink, smoke, or use four letter words. But what his mother did not know was that every Friday evening after supper, Jerry parked his car behind a local garage, and got into a trip car loaded with 40 cases of moonshine and drove to an Atlanta night club on the seedier side of town. Why deliver moonshine to a night club, you might ask? Well, the club owner had figured out that your first two legitimate drinks will anesthetize your tongue, and thereafter, moonshine does as well as expensive imported gin or vodka. It increased the club’s profit margin. Jerry got paid $100 a trip back when a Ben Franklin was rare and represented a good week of work for the average working stiff. Some weeks he worked two nights. And for his
pelvic entertainment, he visited a certain highly skilled lady who required a $20 donation for her time. Therefore, he need not pressure local girls to yield to his hormonal intent. His reputation remained spotless in the neighborhood because all his hormonal urges were nulled. While other teenagers were out spending money on girls and hoping to get lucky, Jerry was lucky every week and had at least $80 profit to show for his actions. And not one girl could point her finger and say Jerry robbed her of her innocence or soiled her reputation. He grew up to become a master plumber and contracted big jobs in resort areas for his day job. The moonshine industry died when the price of sugar went over the top due to Cuban politics. Jerry retired to the plumbing business. He got married, started a family, and put on some pounds around his middle that he did not need or want. He was the typical married father. But then marijuana came into vogue. Old time moonshiners became the marijuana suppliers. And Jerry knew them all. Jerry did not indulge, but got busted when he helped out a former lady friend with the purchase of some
E
TH
t s e B pot. It turned out she was a confidential informant for the DEA, and was setting up Jerry to get herself out of a cocaine charge of her own. Jerry would eventually have to do some federal time. But in the year or so between getting busted and incarceration, Jerry lost his direction and began eating everything in sight. He lived on sweets and Cokes and Big Macs. 70 pounds jumped on him like a duck on a cricket. His doctor diagnosed hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A diuretic and a beta blocker managed his hypertension. Metformin four times a day and two insulin shots a day controlled his diabetes. He was a heart attack going somewhere to happen. While a guest at a federal camp, he came to his senses. He corrected his diet. No more Cokes and sweets. He walked 4 miles each day. He shed
e n i c i d ME
nearly 100 pounds. His blood pressure gradually returned to normal. He discontinued his diuretic and beta blocker. As his blood glucose declined, his insulin requirement dropped to one shot a day, and finally no insulin at all. His Metformin went from 4 tabs to 3, then 2, then 1 per day, and finally none at all. Two years into his incarceration, he was back to his high school baseball weight. His regained the five years of life expectancy that he had lost. His wife left him while he was gone. Now, she wants to come back, but he won’t have her. He lives alone and grows tomatoes by the hundreds in his garden. He has more plumbing work than he can do. He eats correctly and checks his blood sugar every Sunday just to be sure he does not back slide. His weight fluctuates from time to time, but he
always corrects it before it gets more than 10 pounds out of line. But why do I tell you all this? Because Jerry is a health success story. He beat obesity. He beat hypertension. He beat diabetes. How? Simply by controlling what he ate and how he lived. And walking. He did not need a health club, third party payment, or sympathy. And if Jerry can do that from prison (where the cost per day of feeding an inmate is $3.75), surely you can do that from home. And it will not cost you one thin dime. Will the Jerry Plan work for everyone? Maybe, yes. Maybe, no. Depends on whether or not you are as good or determined as Jerry. But eating properly, getting rid of fat, and walking will improve the health of all of us, even if our lives are not as colorful as Jerry’s. + 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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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Health 101 by Sandy Turner, RN, EdD, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Assistant Dean for Administration in the GHSU College of Nursing HAVE YOU EVER HAD GOUT? outy arthritis — or just plain gout — is a type of inflammation of the joints that is more common among men, although women do get it. Gout is a process that causes sudden onset of pain in a specific joint after a substance called uric acid builds up in the bloodstream. Typically an attack doesn’t occur in people under age 30 because it takes some time for uric acid to build up. There is a genetic tendency in some families toward the production of excessive uric acid, but many foods that break down into purines will also increase production of uric acid. Gout usually will appear in a specific joint. The joint of the big toe is such a common target there is a specific name for when gout occurs there: pellagra. Seventy percent of all cases of gout occur in the big toe. The joint will be swollen and hot. Even minor irritation, like the pressure from sheets in bed will cause pain. The uric acid crystals form around and in the joint causing inflammation and
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pain. An attack can some on suddenly and last for several weeks, and then may never happen again. But if it does recur, attacks tend to start coming more frequently and with more severe symptoms. Diagnosis is made by drawing blood and checking the uric acid level. Doctors can also tap the joint and see if the crystals are present under the microscope. There is another condition called pseudo-gout that is very similar, except it isn’t caused by uric acid. If a person has several episodes of gout over the years, they can develop chronic gout that needs to be treated long term to make sure they are getting rid of their uric acid. Once someone has their
first attack of gout they usually want to do whatever they can to prevent another one. If it is recognized early and treatment is started, chronic gout may be prevented. Diet is the main thing that needs to be monitored to try to prevent attacks. Usually an observant person can think about what they ate or drank that caused a flare-up. Foods that tend to have more purines are organ meats like sweetbreads, kidney, and liver, plus sardines, anchovies and meat extracts and gravies. I have heard patients say that shrimp and beer are also culprits. Other considerations are to try to keep body weight down, increase liquids and try to keep urine production up so waste products can be excreted. There are some medications that help in decreasing the pain and blocking the uric acid formation, but they all have side effects and can cause problems in themselves. Sometimes medications, like hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or low dose aspirin, will trigger an attack, and a lot of people are on those medications. If you have a family history of gout, you may be at greater risk. Watch what you eat and stay hydrated. If you have symptoms, seek treatment and try to keep from having another attack! + 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 15 pm. 213 N Main St., Dearing, GA 706-556-9080.
Opening Doors to a Cure SEEKING STUDY PARTICIPANTS TO COMPARE CURRENT & NEW CANCER TREATMENTS: Breast Lung Prostate/Genitourinary Gastrointestinal
Hematological Malignancies Skin Cancer Prevention
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For More Information Please Call 706-721-6875 Or visit http://www.mcg.edu/cancer/ for a list of all trials
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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.
Exceptional Living
The 2-Way Street by Naomi D. Williams, MPH, CHES, CIC® Time is one thing that we can’t get back. Once time is spent, it’s gone, never to return again. Showing a person respect isn’t only reflected in how you talk to them, but also in how you value (or don’t value) their time. “Hurry, hurry! We have an 8:30 appointment and we have to be on time in order for mom to get to work on time.” That’s what I said to Noah as we rushed to the doctor’s office. It was my intent to get there at 8:00 am, but my bed was holding me captive. We made it to the office with ten minutes to spare. I was looking forward to this appointment because we would see one of our favorite doctors. It’s usually a quick clinic (in and out within 30 minutes), and I was hoping to get a couple of important plan of care questions answered. As we checked in I overheard that our regular doctor was out and we would be seeing a different physician, one we’ve never seen before. I was okay with that because I knew of this physician and his good reputation preceded him. We waited about five minutes before we were called back and put into a room. We had good distractions with the street view window, the Disney movie playing and chatting with the nurse. Twenty minutes or so had gone by and neither the physician nor the physician’s assistant (PA) had come to our room so, I went looking for the nurse or someone who could help me. I was working on a timeline with a limited grace period. I politely asked the nurse, “Is the doctor close to coming to our room? How long do you think it will be before the he gets to us?” Her response was “Let me go check, he is doing (or went to do) a circumcision.” So I said “If that is the case then I need to reschedule. I have to be to work in less than an hour and still have to get Noah to school on the other side of town.” The nurse replied “Let me get the PA for you.” Within three minutes the PA came in, verified what we were there for and I politely confirmed. The PA then said in an agitated tone “You’re in a big hurry today.” “You’re right. I am. I have to get to work and this is usually a quick clinic and visit,” I replied. I have become greatly frustrated with the attitude and callous disregard of some healthcare providers towards the value of patients’ and caregivers’ time. I understand going to the doctor is nothing like going to a drive thru when it comes to appointments and wait times. I also understand that unexpected emergencies arise which cause delays (I’ve been one of those cases). With that said, what I don’t understand and don’t like is not being informed as to why there is a delay. It really isn’t difficult for staff to inform those waiting that the doctor was delayed in surgery or there was a very sick patient who came in, thus causing all other appointments to be behind. Furthermore, I find it ever so disrespectful to assume that people have nothing else to do but sit in the office, for hours, until it’s their turn. Here is a short example of how one man avenged himself during a clinic visit: While cruising the waiting area I heard a nurse call, “Mr. Smith (not his real name), Dr. Time is ready for you.” “Oh really,” Mr. Smith said. “Well, I’ve been waiting for over two hours for him. He can wait ten minutes for me. I want to see what this verdict (at the end of the Casey Anthony trial) will be.” The nurse and I chuckled and I silently applauded the gentleman for making that stand. I don’t advocate being late for appointments, but I do support open communication, not allowing people (including healthcare providers) to treat others without common courtesy, respecting myself and others. Is this article about time? Not really. The point is to show respect by valuing people’s time. Give options. Give me the choice to reschedule my appointment. Even if I won’t be seen for three to six months from now, let me make that decision. I used healthcare providers in my examples but these points apply in any area of life. +
JULY 6, 2012
Ask a Diet itian
and hot cereals; nut butters on whole grain bread or crackers; low fat cheese on spaghetti sauce, chili, or scrambled eggs; monounsaturated oils on salads or as dips for breads; flavored low fat yogurts added to oatmeal; or healthy spreads such as avocado dips and hummus added to sandwiches and wraps. While you are focusing on food, don’t neglect the other important aspects of good health like regular exercise and adequate rest lest you find yourself in the Yellow Pages looking for a doctor when what you really need is a physician. +
THERE IS NO “U� IN MEDICAL EXAMINER. AND IF YOUR AD ISN’T ON THESE PAGES, THERE IS NO “YOU� EITHER.
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.
LET’S FIX THAT. GIVE US A CALL TODAY! 706.860.5455
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men like curvaceous women, or Uncle Bill advising that women want muscular men. (The truth is that love is blind!) If there is truly a problem it can be determined by a health care professional using anthropometric measurements and diagnostic tools. Once you have cleared the health evaluation and have the green light for weight gain, be sure the “go-toâ€? foods are the right choices. As is the case for everyone, the focus should be on nutrient dense foods vs. empty calorie foods. These are also the foods that provide more bang for your buck because they are more nutritious. Foods like whole grain breads, cereals, pastas; lean protein sources; low fat dairy products; and fruits and vegetables. Following are a few tips for pumping up your plate: • Frequent Meals – eat five or six times a day, avoiding empty calorie snack type foods (i.e. potato chips, candy, etc). If you work away from home, pack healthy portable or finger foods that can be eaten easily, such as a carton of low fat yogurt and disposable spoon. Be sure to refrigerate temperaturesensitive foods or include ice packs in your meal sack. • Beverages – replace empty calorie beverages with nutrient dense choices. Try substituting lowfat milk hot chocolate for coffee, and healthy smoothies for soft drinks (smoothies also make a quick grab-and-go for breakfast). If you must have coffee, try adding low fat milk. Avoid drinking large quantities of beverages with meals. Instead try having beverages between meals. However, some beverages should be available as needed to help with eating (think dry foods such as peanut butter, etc). • Use milk — Prepare soups, hot cereals, and beverages using milk instead of water. Add powdered milk to stews, casseroles, and ground meat dishes (like meat loaf, spaghetti, etc). • Garnish with healthy foods such as nuts added to salads
MA
ave you ever attempted to look something up on Google or in the Yellow Pages only to find that you have used the wrong term for the information you seek? Frustrated, you search the newly suggested word and actually find what you originally sought. Searching for information on “weight gain� using any reference medium is a little like this, because it instantly provides information on how to lose weight. You check your spelling. Sure enough, you did type in “weight gain.� You try a quick switch of words, since “gaining weight� nets the same results. If “weight gain� produces results about losing weight, maybe typing in “weight loss� will be the gateway to information about gaining weight. Nope, that doesn’t work either. In a “super-size-me� world, the idea that someone might need to gain weight confuses even the most sophisticated computer. Mention this problem — being below your optimal weight — to anyone, and the immediate reaction will usually be one of two responses: first, an offer by the other person to siphon off some of their personal extra baggage for transfusion into the underweight individual (“You can have my second chin because I only need one! Ha ha�). Typical suggestion #2 is to eat without hesitation any highfat, high-calorie food normally considered as “junk.� The problem with both of these approaches is the simple fact that what is being added is fat, without regard for muscle and bone mass or overall health. In reality, the first approach really needs to be an evaluation by a physician for a determination of weight status: is the individual indeed underweight? And, if so, what is the underlying cause? Many illnesses can manifest themselves in unintended weight loss, as sometimes does advancing age. The problem could also be a distortion of body image, where one perceives himself as too thin, no matter what the scale says. This can be case in adolescent boys wishing to be more muscular to win over the hearts of the fairer sex, or to be more competitive athletically — and then win over the hearts of the fairer sex. Other times it’s well-meaning Aunt Betty suggesting that
S TO
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
+8
P harmacy 411
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) • GHSU Hospital, 1120 15th Street, South & West Entrances • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Medical Office Building, Harper Street, Parking Deck entrance • GHSU Hospital, Emergency Room, Harper Street, Main Entrance • GHSU Children’s Medical Center, Harper Street, Main Lobby • GHSU, 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.
JULY 6, 2012
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
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.
LOOK! FREE DRUGS! Ever since drug companies were given legal permission to do direct-to-consumer advertising instead of pitching physicians only, nearly all drug ads come with an ending line like, “Can’t afford your medication? We can help.” Exactly how does this work? We all know the drug companies are in business to make money, after all. How does giving away free medicine help make them money? Historically, these programs have always been there and available for those who could not afford higher-priced medications. Doctors were told about these programs so they could relay that information to patients in need. Now everyone knows, so we have a whole society walking into doctor’s offices saying “I think you should prescribe this medication for me because according to the ad I saw on TV this is exactly what I need, and the drug company will pay for it.” Hold on for just one minute. Remember the doctor has been extensively trained throughout years of medical school and post-school training to evaluate symptoms and treat condition appropriately. As part of the general public, we don’t have that training. So until you and I graduate from medical school, it’s generally better to leave decisions about which medicine we need to the physicians. But let’s say the physician agrees that a certain drug is just the ticket for you. He writes a prescription and sends you off to the drugstore. The cost comes back as hundreds of dollars, so much that it would severely cut into your food budget for the month. Here is the perfect time for the drug company to step in and help defray the cost. By offering patient assistance programs for their products, the drug companies will help needy patients obtain their needed medications. A program is only good for that one company’s products, but there are sites — such as www.RxAssist. org — that will help you find assistance programs for which you can qualify from multiple companies at one time. Each patient must decide if this is good or bad, because most of these programs require financial information to determine whether you qualify for the programs. Do you want to give a drug company that makes a certain product your personal information?
Or to a third-party screening that will then give it to the drug companies that you may need now or later? I have no personal knowledge of how these companies handle your data, but any time personal and financial information is being shared, the fewer hands in the pot the better. I did find that RxAssist is sponsored by several drug companies so becoming qualified through RxAssist would only make drugs from its sponsor companies available at reduced cost. Low-cost drug programs are run in a variety of ways. Some programs provide a card to take to your local pharmacy which gets you a low price on one certain medication. Other programs are meant to be handled by mail, with the medicine coming directly from the drug company or through a mail-order pharmacy contracted by the drug company to administer their assistance program. Keep in mind that in exchange for the convenience of getting the meds mailed to your house, you assume the risk of potential problems. What if a package gets misdirected, lost or stolen? It’s not your fault, but extra time will be involved in getting your medicine replaced. I have seen temperature-sensitive drugs arrive via mail-order at room temperature and above. Let’s face it: in the South it is hard to keep a package in refrigeration for even a day or two. Generally for optimal drug safety it’s best to use only one pharmacy, but now you will presumably be using two pharmacies — one local and one somewhere out there providing your low-cost meds. Communication between them to avoid drug interactions gets that much more important. You cannot assume that your local pharmacy will be informed by your doctor or insurance that they need to include low-cost mail-order Drug X in their interaction checking. The same goes for all of your doctors. Everyone involved in your care must know everything you are diagnosed with and taking in order to prevent potential problems. So in summary, if you qualify and choose to use an assistance program, be aware of the old adage that nothing is free. Be aware of the hidden costs and work to minimze them to protect your health. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net
is now
Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )
THERE IS NO “U” IN MEDICAL EXAMINER. • Specialty Pharmacy • Home Infusion Ser vices • IV Nursing Same phone numbers! Same convenient location! 3630 Wheeler Road • Augusta, Georgia phone: 706.447.4343 • tollfree: 877.436.4584
www.ambienthealthcare.com
From hospital to home, quality of care continues
Visit our blog! http://www.augustarx.com/news/
AND IF YOUR AD ISN’T ON THESE PAGES, THERE IS NO “YOU” EITHER. LET’S FIX THAT. GIVE US A CALL TODAY! 706.860.5455
JULY 6, 2012
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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Augusta Area Dietetic Internship Graduates
DO DINNER AND A BAND INSTEAD.
The 31st class of the Augusta Area Dietetic Internship of University Hospital graduated on Friday June 22. These nine graduates have successfully completed 44 weeks of supervised practice in clinical, community and food service management rotations here at University Hospital as well as many other facilities in the area. They are the authors of the recent “Don’t Lick the Beaters� series of monthly diet and food articles that appear monthly in the Medical Examiner. The graduates are qualified to take the national registration exam to become a registered and licensed dietitian. Pictured above, Front Row: left to right- Allie Hanson and Brooke Vinson. 2nd row- Rob Benson, Stephanie Chavez, Dana Greear and Lightsey Laffitte Jett. 3rd row- Julie Tokarev, Lydia Jolly and Crystal Walker. +
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+ 10
JULY 6, 2012
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Voted “BEST BARBER SHOP” by the readers of Augusta Magazine
Daniel Village Barber Shop 2522 Wrightsboro Road
736-7230
THERE, THERE. IT’S OK. It’s true, we’re closed the week of July 4. But cheer up! We reopen bright and early Tuesday morning, July 10.
Visit danielvillagebarbershop.com today for your personal barber’s hours, local community news, information on the history of hair and haircuts, local art and music, and all kinds of fascinating and useful information!
We’re on Wrightsboro Rd. at Ohio Avenue. 76 Circle K former Smile Gas
Highland Ave.
Medical Complex
Ohio Ave.
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Wrightsboro Road
Daniel Field
Augusta Mall
Tue - Fri: 9:00 - 6:00; Saturday: 9:00 - 3:00 Best of Augusta 2008/2009: “BEST BARBER SHOP”
+
GRAPHIC ADVERTISING Publisher of the Medical Examiner Proudly celebrating our 24th year in Augusta publishing
1988 — 2012
TEETH… from page 1 points at all, the occasional dental health; dental snack or soft drink is not health also promotes the issue as much as it is proper nutrition. If you the presence or lack of disagree, smack the corresponding dental care. aforementioned brick In other words, every time into your mouth and you drink sweet tea or cola, then try to eat — better Kids, don’t be surprised if your conscientious mother will you then find a place to yet, just imagine doing tries to keep you away from sweets. brush and floss? After every that. You certainly snack, will you do the same? won’t be eating any As eighteenth century We can’t entirely avoid apples, or chewing much of anatomist Baron Georges things like starches and sugars anything. Cuvier put it, “Show me your that attack tooth enamel. After Granted, not many of us get teeth and I will tell you who all, bread, milk, fruit and some hit in the mouth with bricks. you are.” vegetables contain sugars and But far too many people seem Consider some enemies starches. to have very little regard of teeth: sugar, carbonated But at least those foods for proper dental care. That beverages, poor diet, and provide nutrition, something can have quite unpleasant frequent between meal that can’t be claimed about soft consequences. snacking. drinks and snack foods. If we We’ve all heard some witty Eliminating those diet can avoid or minimize those, person say that a given body elements, or keeping them we’re helping ourselves top to part — the heart, for example to a minimum, doesn’t bottom, teeth included. — will last a lifetime. That is help our teeth only; having Good, nutritious food can not true of teeth. Ignore them those items in our diet to a still turn into something bad long enough and they will significant degree is known to if it’s nestled in between our abandon ship. But before they significantly contribute over pearly whites for awhile. That’s do, they will very likely make time to obesity, high body fat, why it’s always a good idea to your life miserable. Before it’s high cholesterol, stroke, heart follow up meals with brushing, over you’ll beg someone to pull attacks, cardiovascular issues, and to keep the in-between out the complainer(s). lack of exercise, and more. snacking to a minimum. And therein lies another While poor diet gets no Incidentally, I was finally factor that makes lax dental able to get Dr. Wilson care puzzling: not to pick on to elaborate a little on hearts, but they will attack fundamental principles of with seemingly no warning. dental care. In addition to Teeth, on the other hand, will “brush and floss daily,” the generally use varying methods gold standard, he added two (see The Skinny, page 1) to warn more important points: their owners over an extended 1. Have a dental checkup period of time that trouble every six months, and is brewing. Their message 2. Never go to bed without cannot be ignored (or so one at least brushing — and would think), and is plain: to preferably flossing too. either improve tooth care, seek Although Dr. Wilson didn’t professional dental care, or specifically mention it, there is both. one additional maxim that all dental professionals know: it’s As teeth go, so go you not necessary to brush all your Here’s a cool thing about Judging by the number of these teeth. Just the ones you want to teeth: broadly speaking, if little flossers we see in parking lots, keep. + you’re taking care of your plenty of people are taking dental teeth, you’re taking care of care seriously. Now let’s work on yourself, head to toe. — by Daniel Pearson not littering.
+
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Our next issue: July 20, 2012. Don’t miss it!
JULY 6, 2012
The blog spot — Posted July 4, 2011 at burntorangescrubs.blogspot.com
What equipment do I need to start medical school with?
“
Hey readers, and happy Fourth of July! I have a bit of downtime and wanted to go ahead and answer a popular question that is on a lot of the minds of the lucky, hardworking people who will be starting medical school soon. “So I’m starting medical school in the fall, what equipment do I need?”
It’s a common question when you’re about to start med school.
”
MUSTS: 1. Stethoscope. I am a way bigger fan of my Harvey Elite than I am of my Littmann SE II. I think Littmann has a giant following but that the Welch Allyns are overlooked. Be sure you get one with a bell and diaphragm! a. Note: I take blood pressure using the bell; you’ll notice a big difference since the sounds seem loud and deep. Plus since the bell is a smaller radius typically, it’s easier to keep pinned on the elbow than a bulkier diaphragm side. 2. Reflex hammer (not the tomahawk-esque ones, but the metal ones with the round rubber-covered end real neurologists use. Reason being, you get a lot more leverage and they’re weighted better. The rubber tomahawk ones feel like they have more weight in the handle than the head, where you need the force to get transmitted). 3. A pocket-sized note pad to write down tips and useful information. OPTIONAL/TO CONSIDER: 1. Otoscope/ophthalmoscope. And I mean really optional. All the clinics and hospitals you’ll be in will have their own and these can get really expensive. (Around $500+). I’ll be selling mine at some point, and they aren’t really useful unless you’re going to do volunteer work in the field or any place where resources are scarce. 2. Penlights. Optional until you hit the wards. I can always see the need to check cranial nerves in a pinch and would be a great thing to keep in your coat pocket. 3. Pocket calculator 4. Extra battery for your PDA. If you have a Droid like mine, especially! 5. A little pocket-book for anti-microbial therapy. 6. Hand sanitiser 7. Notecards so you can make flash-cards on the go. Useful when you’re in a new setting and are getting a lot of information thrown at you to learn quickly. “A tiger top tube is for what?” “Wait, what is the red top for?” It’ll help you be more independent too. Later when you start rotating you’ll get a way better idea of what you need. As I start clinics in just a few months, I’ll let you guys know what works and what helps the most. Happy + summer! + Editor’s note: is there a favorite web log you enjoy reading that is in any way related to health and wellness? Send us the link and we may feature it here in a future issue. Send your suggestion to to info@AugustaRx.com.
“
11 +
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you. — Friedrich Nietzsche
From THE Bookshelf True story: a kid in 1988, soon to graduate from high school, is tooling along in dad’s Oldsmobile on the way to play miniature golf when his life changes forever in a split second. True story: a kid in 1988, soon to graduate from high school, is tooling along on her bicycle when her life ends forever in a split second. That, in two sentences, is what this book is about. The author, Darin Strauss, is not an investigative journalist who has plucked some obscure event from the past to turn it into his latest book. No, Darin Strauss is the kid in paragraph one. The driver. The killer. The girl on the bike is from his school, another imminent graduate-to-be. The death is by all accounts an unavoidable accident, but if you were Darin, would that allow you to tuck the episode away in your file of fading memories? Not likely. And that, too, is what this memoir is about, which makes its appeal almost universal. All of us have chapters of our lives we wish had never happened, and now that they
have, we would just as soon forget. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible. We are left to live with whatever is rattling around inside our closet. How do we move on? Or can we? How do we deal with the regret and guilt? What about the people we have hurt? How can we face them? Strauss had to face the parents of the classmate he killed. What is the ratio between acceptance and guilt on the one hand, and selfjustification on the other? Some best-forgotten episodes can simply be written off as the foolish indiscretions of youth. But as Strauss’ story demonstrates, sometimes the event is so traumatic or so life-
altering that it will never be far from the surface. And to that point, you might think the curse of such a life is to always have grief and regret and what if..? as your constant companions. But as Strauss discovered, it can be just as unsettling to one day come to the frightening realization that you are beginning to forget; that you killed someone and it has been days since that thought has crossed your consciousness. When you consider how we feel about the worst decisions and situations of our lives, it’s a brave act to tell a story that begins, “Half my life ago, I killed a girl.” Strauss’ painfully personal tale, however, has been named a best book of the year by NPR and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and is a National Book Critics Circle Award Winner. It’s a hopeful book: if someone can move on after causing another person’s death, there’s hope the rest of us can deal with our indiscretions too. + Half A Life by Darin Strauss, 208 pages, published in 2011 by Beautiful Books
the
Clipping File Official definitions There are all kinds of hot-button words bandied about in the food world that are supposed to send us reaching for our hard-earned cash. But what do they really mean? Here are some words and their official definitions according to Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Clip and save. Light: one-third fewer calories or half the fat compared to the regular food Low calorie: less than 40 calories (per serving) Low cholesterol: less than 20 mg of cholesterol and 2 grams of less of saturated fat Low sodium: less than 140 mg of sodium Reduced: 25 percent less of the specified element (such as fat, calories, or sodium) compared to the usual product High fi ber: 5 or more grams of fiber per serving Lean: (in poultry, meat or seafood) 10 grams of fat or less, 4-1/2 grams of saturated fat, and less than 95 mg cholesterol per
3-ounce serving High in: compared to the official Daily Value of a nutrient, provides at least 20 percent more Good stress/Bad stress It’s not a term everyone knows, but the “Yerkes-Dodson curve” has been around for more than a century. It’s not a baseball pitch, but instead is a bell curve measuring stress and performance. On the upslope — in low stress situations, that is — people may have a lax or overconfident attitude and fail to accomplish the tasks before them. In low stress situations, researchers have found that the brain must work harder to perform even mundane tasks, as mental focus wavers. At the top of the bell curve is the perfect balance of anxiety and performance. It’s the wired feeling that gets a speaker, athlete, or performer up for an important performance. It’s being in peak focus for that all-important meeting or job interview.
The far side of the bell curve, the downslope, is where anxiety has escalated beyond our ability to cope, and as a result we become nervous, jittery, unable to focus, think, or perhaps even speak. Of course, the upslope, peak and downside of stress differ for every person and every situation. The trick is finding your optimal stress level and managing circumstances to avoid the slippery slope toward panic. Among the options for managing stress: preparation, proper diet and rest, building self-confidence, and managing breathing. The Wall Street Journal (6/19/12) gave these 5 signs of toxic Worry Overload: 1. Dreading the day ahead 2. Imagining scenarios of failure 3. Avoiding people, places and events 4. Needing alcohol or medication (licit or otherwise) to relax And our personal favorite: 5. Worrying that you aren’t worrying enough. +
+ 12
THE EXAMiNERS +
How was your annual checkup?
JULY 6, 2012
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Great. No problems.
by Dan Pearson
That’s good news.
He said I’ll live to be a hundred.
His exact words were “You’ll live to be 100 or die, whichever comes first.”
Really?
The Mystery Word for this issue: MATCHOS
© 2012 Daniel Pearson All rights reserved.
EXAMINER CROSSWORD
PUZZLE
All Mystery Word finders will be eligible to win by random drawing. We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!
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Click on “Reader Contests”
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QUOTATION PUZZLE L T V O O H W H C
I E E T E D N D E R E L S S P E R H
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. 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.
by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved
E1
X A M I N E R
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6 2 3 1
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9 1 4 5 1
8 4 6 7 3 8 5 7 6 8 6 5 8 by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built with software from www.crauswords.com
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 numbers (such as 5 thru 8 in this puzzle). A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.
’ 1 2
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3
1 2 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4
M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
— Ronald Reagan
1.HHBCCSWEE 2.EEEVVOUAA 3.MTLLNEEN 4.RRETPP 5.OYY 6.ONO 7.ENN 8.EE
SAMPLE:
1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =
L 1
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V 3
E 4
I 1
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B 1
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D 5
by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved
BY
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 TO ENTER! 1
20 21 22 ACROSS 1. Gordon, for example 23 24 25 26 5. Restless letters? 27 28 29 30 31 9. Accustom 14. Off-Broadway theater 32 33 34 35 36 award 37 38 39 15. _____-shaped 16. Mortise partner 40 41 42 17. Thick cord 43 44 45 18. Treatable 20. Adjective for a fibrous 46 47 48 49 abdominal tumor 50 51 52 53 54 55 22. Respect 23. Sick 56 57 58 59 24. Word before set or bag 60 61 62 26. Aiken street 27. Endocrinologist’s focus 63 64 65 30. Navigation instrument by Daniel R. Pearson © 2012 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com 32. Circular band Solution p. 14 33. Slang for slightly 31. Affirmative vote DOWN inebriated 33. Stadium flag 1. 38th U.S. president 34. Grant born in Augusta 35. Heavy hammer 2. Slender woodwind 37. Newt 36. New Haven medical school 3. In slang, criticizes harshly 38. Type of strength (adj.) 38. Large cask 4. Abounding 39. Bleat of a sheep 42. Period of receding ocean 5. Masters month 40. Command to a horse level 6. Feat 41. Messy 44. Idle, lazy, slothful 7. Type of radio 42. 12th month on the Jewish 45. Common sclerosis abbrev. 8. Prostate exam (abbev.) calendar 46. 6th U.S. president 9. Inflammation, generically 43. Inborn, innate 47. Stupefy with drink 10. Straighten up 45. White poplar tree 49. Hartford-based insurer 46. Encourage in wrongdoing 11. Invincible 51. Increased in size 12. Actor’s parts 48. Some 52. Cluster 13. Foe 49. White linen vestment 53. Monetary unit of Cambodia 19. Ghastly, ghostly 50. By ______; intentionally 54. Female sheep 21. Medical College lead-in 52. Small falcon 55. Common drink wedge (sometimes) 56. Miscellaneous variety 57. Beginning for a wife? 24. Noun related to 38-A 59. Hawaiian honeycreeper 58. Period of history 25. Cut out, excise 60. Bullwinkle, for one 27. Maddox (teammate of Tom 61. 26 on the Periodic Table and John) 62. Regard or consider 28. Liberty partner 63. Sprinkle 29. Predecessor 64. Individual facts 30. Sunlight’s effect on skin 65. Otherwise
WORDS NUMBER
THE MYSTERY WORD
JULY 6, 2012
13 +
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
Tips to Stay Cool When It’s Hot The Patient’s Perspective Steps to keep older Americans safe in the hottest weather
W
ith summer’s hot and steamy weather here, right now is a good time to start thinking about ways to beat the heat. This is even more important if you are 65 and older. People in this age range are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They are more likely to have chronic medical conditions that affect the normal way the body responds to heat, or they may take prescription medications that impair the way the body regulates its temperature. Plus, as we age, our bodies may not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes and the brain makes us less aware that we are thirsty. But there are simple steps you can take in the summer months to guard against dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, say the experts. Protect yourself in the heat Keep cool. Use your air conditioner. If you don’t have one, try what people used to do before air conditioning: opening windows on opposite ends of your home to increase air flow. You can also try running a fan. On really hot days, place a bowl of ice in front of the fan to cool the circulating air. If you don’t have air conditioning, try to spend the hottest part of the day in an air conditioned place, such as a public library or an enclosed mall. Even a few hours a day in a cooler environment will help your body stay cooler. Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors, but if you have to be outside, seek shade and use sun block. Another way you can cool down on very hot days is to take a cool bath or shower. Stay hydrated. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids. Water is best, and you should stay away from drinks with alcohol, caffeine, or sugar. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because these can cause cramps. However, if a doctor has advised you to limit how much fluid you drink, find out how much is okay to drink in hot weather. If you are responsible for the care of an older adult, or if you visit one — at their home or
by Marcia Ribble
T
in a nursing or assisted living facility — make sure they have water available at all times, and that they’re regularly drinking. This is especially true for those who may not have air conditioning. When it’s appropriate, nurses and nurses’ assistants should look for opportunities — such as when they give a patient a pill — to encourage them to drink more water or juice. Cover up. When you go outdoors, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes; wear a hat and lightweight, light-colored clothing; and apply sun block. Pace yourself. If you have to be active outdoors, try to limit your activities to the cooler morning and evening hours, and rest often in shady areas to help your body cool down. Start slowly and gradually pick up the pace of your activity. Immediately STOP and find a cooler place to rest if you find that exertion leaves you gasping for breath and makes your heart pound. Every conscientious medical professional should adjust patients’ therapy based on the humidity and heat. This is especially important for patients who get outpatient care and may not have the benefit of air conditioning. + — Submitted by Frances Winburn, Patient Transition Representative, Golden Living Augusta and Golden Living Windermere. For more information, she may be reached at 770.710.4026.
OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING THE SECOND MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH FROM 6:00 TO 7:00 P.M.
2604 PEACH ORCHARD ROAD AUGUSTA GA 30906 For more information, call 706-798-5645
We publish every 1st and 3rd Friday
oday I received an email from a friend. Her story is a great example of how patients can harm themselves when they don’t communicate with their doctors. This woman is in her fifties, deep in menopause, and dealing with post-mastectomy issues. She had a double mastectomy several months ago from a cancer that was found to be dependent on estrogen. After her surgery she was told to get off estrogen for the symptoms of menopause and take Tamoxifen to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of the cancer. That is not what she has done. After the changes in medication she said she felt awfully tired, depressed, and lacking in energy for daily living. In addition, she felt her osteoporosis was being accelerated and she was losing height. So what did she do? Did she discuss her post-surgery problems with her oncologist? No, she instead talked with her osteoporosis doc and persuaded that doctor to put her back on estrogen and progesterone. And she quit taking the Tamoxifen. With follow-up appointments with all her doctors imminent, she has decided to tell the osteoporosis doc that she is feeling a lot better now, and to tell her oncologist basically nothing about the changes she has orchestrated herself, even though all her other doctors have advised her not to take any estrogen. The weird thing is that she is aware that she may be setting herself up for very serious problems in the future in exchange for a temporary fix in the present. That’s a pretty sad situation, and I haven’t been able to persuade her to be honest with her oncologist when honesty might be the one thing which could save her life. Why hasn’t she been truthful with her oncologist? Because she is afraid that she will end up with the humped shoulders her mother and grandmother had to deal with — even though that’s a problem highly unlikely to actually kill her, like the cancer, if metastasized, could. Do her doctors know about her fears? Are they able to help her make better informed choices?
Talk is cheap. Not talking can be deadly.
No, because she is not keeping them connected and aware of changes in her medications. She also isn’t telling them about her feelings and the way she is using them to attempt to maintain control over her life. She is far from being alone in this kind of thinking and acting which has the potential to be self-destructive. Some folks refuse to get recommended tests like Pap smears, mammograms, skin cancer checks, and tests for colorectal cancer. Their fears can be legitimate: the costs may be high for some folks without health insurance that covers the tests, and there may be other issues that stop people from taking care of their medical needs adequately. But as my friend’s story shows, this way of behaving can be a way to get oneself in trouble. This column is designed to persuade us all to take better care of ourselves, by being frank and honest with our doctors, even when (or especially when) we are ashamed, embarrassed, confused, afraid, and avoidant. Shows like The Doctors and Doctor Oz are routinely discussing the issues many of us face, encouraging us to refuse to allow embarrassment or negative thinking to stop us from following our doctors’ orders with better compliance. We still need to ask questions and we still need to check things out ourselves, but it is false economy to just refuse to comply with our doctors’ orders without good cause. + Marcia Ribble received her PhD in English at Michigan State and recently retired from the University of Cincinnati where she taught composition. She taught writing at the college level and loves giving voice to people who have been silenced. She can be reached with comments, suggestions, etc., at marciaribble@hotmail.com.
If you could travel back in time to the present moment, what would you do differently? — Robert Brault
+ 14
JULY 6, 2012
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
THE MYSTERY SOLVED The Mystery Word in our last issue was: BLUEBERRY ...carefully hidden in the page 15 ad for MORNINGSIDE ASSISTED LIVING Congratulations to Alexia Roundtree, 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 anything else we may be able to 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.
The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12
SENDING US A CLASSIFIED? USE THE FORM BELOW AND MAIL IT IN, OR GO TO WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM AND PLACE & PAY CONVENIENTLY AND SAFELY ONLINE. THANKS!
EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC.
Hosp. $445 a month includes utilities and Internet service. Please contact 706589-0238 ask for May.
FOR SALE Brand new contemporary townhome/end unit in The Vista on Hwy 1, minutes from MCG. 1450 sqft. Two bdrm, two baths, office. Walk-in closets, lots of upgrades. Hardwood throughout, custom tiled kitchen/bathrooms. Floor to ceiling windows, pristine condition. Ready today. $125K - OBO. 803-5078991.
TOWNHOME Great location, everything new, 2 master suites, sunroom, all appliances. $98,000 (706) 504-4023
LOFT APT. Above commercial building on Walton Way; newly renovated, updated and private; nice 1-BR 900sqft layout; convenient to MCG, VA & ASU. $675/mo, references; 706-589-3548. 7612
GETAWAY 14 acres natural wooded with beautiful rocky creek flowing through. Available immediately to enjoy while planning future devel. Hiking trails cleared, hunting, fishing, golf near outstanding Glascock school system. Call owner: 706-798-4359 81712
HOUSE FOR SALE 3 bedroom, 2 full bath, 2-car garage. Off Dyess Pkwy near Ft. Gordon. $99,900. Call 706-3395548 or 706-210-4334 TOWNHOME large furnished room (dresser, bed, night stand, linens) for rent with private bathroom in convenient and very nice neighborhood near Doctors
HOMESBYOWNER.COM Sell • Buy • Rentals • 706.564.5885 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
SERVICES HOME HEALTH CHECK-UP Biological and chemical contamination will make you sick. Help your doctor! We Cure Sick Homes. 706-772-9898 www.commandonow.com 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
BIBLE BY PHONE - Free daily Bible readings; for Spiritual Encouragement and
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.
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
WHAT’S YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE?
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SEE PAGE 12
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING FORM Name Address Work number (if applicable) ( ) Home phone ( ) Category of ad (leave blank if unsure):
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
LAWN SERVICE Commercial, residential. Call Vince: (704) 490-1005
(OURS IS COFFEE)
Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds
Growth. Call 706-855-WORD (9673)
QUOTATION
In case we need to contact you. These numbers will not appear in the ad.
QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.” — Harold Hulbert
AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .25
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(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
WORDS BY NUMBER “We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.” — Ronald Reagan
Multiply by number of times ad to run: x Total submitted: $
The Augusta Medical Examiner publishes on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Your ad should reach us no later than 5 days prior to our publication date.
Thanks for reading!
www.AugustaRx.com
JULY 6, 2012
15 +
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER The HBA Group, Intl Presents
THE BEST MEDICINE
Hope IS Possible
5th Annual Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Breakfast
ha... ha...
A friend at work had an unusual dental related problem recently. About a month ago he had to have a small steel plate inserted in his mouth. A week later he noticed the plate was starting to rust. He went back to his dentist, who asked him if he had a change in his eating or drinking habits that may have caused the problem. My friend explained that he had tried hollandaise sauce for the first time recently and liked it so much he put it on everything. The dentist said the solution was to remove the steel plate and replace it with a chrome plate. When my friend asked why chrome the dentist replied, “There is no plate like chrome for the hollandaise.” +
Conceived and Organized by Helen Blocker-Adams, 2012 CSRA Mental Health Advocate of the Year
In conjunction with the Fifth Annual Observance of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Theme: Relationships Strengthen Teamwork Thursday, July 19, 2012 7:30 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. – Registration Program/Breakfast: 7:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Be My Guest Catering & Events 4216 Washington Road (near Academy Sports) - Evans, Ga. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Doris Clanton, Associate General Counsel for the Division of Aging Services, Georgia Department of Human Services Office of General Counsel SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS: Jessica Morris, Press Secretary, Congressman Paul Broun and Kristie Gregory, Congressman John Barrow For more information or questions, please email Helen Blocker-Adams at
hba@hbagroup-intl.com
Enjoy a relaxing and refreshing break every Wednesday at the Medical Examiner’s blog site. Just visit www.AugustaRx.com/news and look for the Hump Day Hiatus.
THERE IS NO “U” IN MEDICAL EXAMINER.
AND IF YOUR AD ISN’T ON THESE PAGES, THERE IS NO “YOU” EITHER.
It is never too late to be what you might have been. — George Eliot
LET’S FIX THAT. GIVE US A CALL TODAY! 706.860.5455
M E D I C A L S E RV I C E S D I R E C T O RY Knob
Hill
ASSISTED LIVING CENTER, INC. A specialty care community offering:
Spinal Cord Injury Care • Traumatic Brain Injuries Respite Care • Specialized Rehabilitation Care Specialized Dietary Requirements Adult Day Care • Alzheimer’s Care
Approved for VA and Medicaid and private pay Knob Hill Assisted Living Center is just off Washington Rd. near Windmill Plantation, approx. 3 miles from Evans WalMart
For more information or to make a referral, please contact us: KNOB HILL ASSISTED LIVING CENTER Ryan Hunt • huntglobalinc@gmail.com 2822 Knob Hill Farm Road • Evans, GA 30809
706-860-0541
Home Health Check CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE
BACTERIA, MOLD, MYCOTOXINS, VIRUS AND VOCs Cause Asthma, COPD, Fibromyalgia, Fatigue, Congestion, Eye Irritation, Respiratory Problems, Stuffy Head, Sore Throat, Skin Conditions and more.
39
$
COMMANDO SERVICES
LOCAL HOME INSPECTION CALL TODAY!
706-772-9898
FAMILY MEDICINE CPC-EVANS
CPC-SOUTH
363 NORTH BELAIR ROAD
2011 WINDSOR SPRING ROAD
706.650.7563
706.798.1700
CPC-CENTRAL
CPC-N. AUGUSTA
706.868.7380
803.279.6800
3614-D DEWEY GRAY CIRCLE
CPC-CROSSROADS
105 HUGH STREET
CPC-AIKEN
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: 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 •
TO ADVERTISE HERE CALL 706.860.5455
+ 16
6 ARTICLES IN 6 COLUMNS TO
6 Ways Dogs Can Benefit Health Could owning a dog keep your heart healthy? Research has supported a connection between owning a dog and reduced risk of cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels. A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that male dog owners were less likely to die within one year after a heart attack than those who did not own a dog. Dogs and Anxiety A study by the Medical College of Virginia found that for hospitalized patients with mental health issues, therapy with animals reduced anxiety levels significantly more than conventional recreational therapy sessions. Dogs and Loneliness Researchers in Australia have found that dogs improved the well-being of elderly nursing facility residents by promoting their capacity to build relationships. Dogs and Rehab In prolonged care settings, therapy dogs can be integral in the process of rehabilitation. A review of the literature looking at the function of service dogs proved that dogs can assist people with disabilities in performing
JULY 6, 2012
AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER
everyday activities, thereby significantly reducing their dependence on others. Dogs and Activity “Who is going to walk the dog?” turns out to be important for the health of the family and the dog. Studies have shown that adults with dogs walk on average almost twice as much as adults without dogs. Dogs and Doctors A national survey in Australia found that dog and cat owners made fewer annual doctor visits and generally had significantly lower use of general practitioner services.
6 Personal Cell Phone Rules • Your personal cell phone at work? Turn off the ringer, or at least set it to vibrate. • Use it only for calls of an emergency nature. • Let calls go to voice mail and answer them all at a set time. • Find a private place to make necessary personal calls. • Do not use your cell phone in the bathroom. Period. At work or at home. • Do not bring your cell phone into meetings.
CELEBRATE OUR 6TH ANNIVERSARY
•••
•••
6 Ways to Avoid Overthinking
you’re fixating on the very things that can defeat you. Instead, think, “What would help is...” • Consider the big picture. One big reason for overthinking is not knowing what comes next in order to make forward progress. Think beyond the step immediately before you.
• Realize that striving for perfection is a recipe for disaster. If your decision turns out to be less than perfect, adjust and learn. • On a related note, stop fixating on worstcase scenarios. Ask yourself what’s the absolute worst that could possibly happen and your response if it does. Anxiety about that feared but unlikely outcome may disappear completely. • Give yourself a time limit to make a decision. You can overthink, just do it quickly. Set a timer, and for 15 minutes write down everything that comes to your mind, pro and con. When the 15 minutes are up, make your decision and move on. • Distract yourself. Do something else — exercise, cut the grass, switch gears at work, or do something fun — to get your mind off the thing you can’t stop thinking about. Sometimes the perfect option will materialize out of thin air. • Overthinking is likely to accompany negative thoughts, which means
6 Ways to Ruin Your Kids GIVE IN – No matter what your children want, they get it, whether it’s the toy in line at the supermarket or the video game console that will cost you a week’s pay. This will help them learn that you do not have to earn or work for the things you want. AVOID DISCIPLINE – If your child acts up, throws a fit or bullies another child, do nothing. Don’t look or be “mean” by disciplining them ALWAYS TAKE THEIR SIDE – When a teacher or other adult reports an act of misbehavior, always side with your child. You know your child can do no wrong, so back up your conviction with action. FIGHT IN FRONT OF THE KIDS – Calling your
spouse terrible names, getting in screaming matches and threatening him or her in front of your children will help teach them to act the same way to you, their friends, and their teachers. SET A BAD EXAMPLE – Cutting in line, lying, cursing and stealing in front of your kids make the biggest impressions. Your children look up to you and will imitate your example. BE AN ABSENTEE PARENT – Working late, choosing happy hour over a soccer game, choosing TV over your kids, or just plain ignoring your kids will teach them to seek comfort from inappropriate people or give them the chance to experience depression.
It’s certainly not encouraging. • Let me know anything I can do. Yes, please think of some chores for me and call me from your hospital bed. Better to take the initiative. Don’t ask. Just do it. • I’m sure you’ll be fi ne Then please tell my doctors, because they seem to be needlessly worrying, so much so they put me in the hospital. • Have you tried...? Let me cut you off right there before you tell me about the latest St. John’s Wort or alfalfa sprouts miracle cure. But thank you for your good intentions. • My Uncle Ned had the same problem and... This better be good, because I don’t want to hear how miserable he was at the end. Please. Spare me the details, unless it’s something really encouraging, and even then, I probably don’t want to hear it.
6 Things to Never Say to a Sick Person • You look great! When they really don’t, it’s either a straight-up lie, or it suggests, “Wow, you look horrible, but I was expecting a lot worse.” Either way, skip it. • You look terrible. Or tired. Or thin. Or weak. Or pale. Why do people want to say this kind of thing?
6 Secrets to Six-Pack Abs Oops. Looks like we ran out of space. +
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