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HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS

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

WHO IS WEARING THE

W

hile nobody is perfect, probably all of us have a few people we greatly admire. We know they don’t walk on water, but sometimes it seems like they could if they really wanted to.

The same goes for organizations. Some are genuinely exceptional and admirable. In Augusta’s large healthcare community, every one of our major hospitals has its admirers (and deservedly so), but according to rankings compiled by independent healthcare analytics fi rms, University is the hospital of choice for most of us. That is true in a number of specific areas of healthcare delivery, such as

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

CONE OF SHAME?

cardiovascular medicine and spinal procedures among others, and in our general, overall hospital preference. That’s saying a lot: this newspaper, for instance, is delivered tono fewer than 14 area hospitals, so it isn’t like University is first in a field of two or three or four competitors. They are #1 in a crowded and competitive field. They are exceptional and admirable.

However.

They are also the leading candidate to wear the dreaded Cone of Shame. Some might say they’ve already been wearing it for a while.

Why? University Hospital has the curious distinction of being the only area hospital that welcomes and encourages smoking on its grounds. That isn’t just rare for hospitals — anywhere, not just in the CSRA — it’s unusual almost everywhere these days.

As the Medical Examiner has said before, a hospital with a designated smoking area is like a Betty Ford Clinic with a designated drinking area.

It’s like going to a Weight Watchers meeting where they offer hot fudge sundaes.

Please see CONE OF SHAME page 2

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

CONE OF SHAME… from page 1 Cigarette smoking is the world’s #1 cause of preventable death. The Centers for Disease Control says tobacco is the world’s “single most preventable risk to human health.” The World Health Organization blames cigarettes for 100 million deaths during the 20th century, and the CDC implicates smoking in almost 20 percent of all deaths in the U.S today.

The CDC says smoking causes more deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, motor vehicle injuries and fi rearm-related accidents combined.

Add up all the American deaths in all the wars the United States has ever fought since 1776, and that total is a mere one-tenth of the death toll from cigarettes, according to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.

The four leading causes of death in

the United States in 2010 were heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and stroke. Cigarette smoking worsens them all, increasing the risk and severity of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times; stroke by 2 to 4 times; and lung cancer by 25 times. Smoking is blamed in 80 percent of all deaths from COPD and 90 percent of all deaths from lung cancer. Overall, smoking kills nearly half a million Americans every year.

If no one smoked, one third of cancer deaths in the United States would be prevented, says the CDC. In light of all those facts (and there are dozens more), here’s the big question: How on earth in 2017 does a hospital — our #1 hospital at that — allow smoking on its grounds? Surely it isn’t because the public clamors for it.

People are choosing to become smokers

How on earth in 2017 does a hospital allow smoking on its grounds? less and less often than in years past.

Most public places, including those that have nothing to do with healthcare, do not allow smoking on their premises.

People really don’t expect to be offered an approved smoking area anywhere, especially at a hospital.

But this is not about individuals who smoke. This is about a leading healthcare institution which chooses to permit smoking on its campus.

More accurately, University Hospital encourages smoking on its campus, and does so in a way that exposes non-smoking patients, visitors and employees to second-hand smoke: one

MASTERS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH 706-210-8890

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

major smoking area it has established is against one wall of its Outpatient Center, a main portal for arriving patients, and it’s impossible to miss, being heavily advertised (promoted you might say) with an array of signs.

Even if a person somehow missed the signs, it’s difficult to miss the stench when the wind is blowing the wrong way.

University’s designated smoking areas (there are more than one) are mainly used by UH employees. The argument could be made that these are people who certainly know better; they work in a hospital, after all. It could also be argued that these are people over which the hospital has at least a modicum of control, unlike the general public.

True, it’s often difficult if not impossible to change the behavior of individuals, whoever they are, patients or employees. All the other hospitals in Augusta and across the nation and the world who do not allow smoking on their property will readily say that it’s a challenge to enforce their no smoking policy.

But they still do it.

Can you imagine local law enforcement establishing a designated intersection where running the red light is permitted? Or saying that speed limits will not be enforced on a certain stretch of a particular highway?

Can you picture a store with numerous signs pointing to a “Designated Shoplifting Area”?

And what about that Betty Ford Clinic with a designated drinking area?

In fact, can you imagine a fi rst-rate hospital which encourages cigarette smoking on its property?

You know what? We can’t either.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “The time is always right to do what is right.” But this month of November, highlighted by the annual Great American Smokeout observed on the 16th, would be an especially good time for University Health to do the right thing and announce a campus-wide tobacco ban and the elimination of its designated smoking areas.

Coincidentally, November is also American Diabetes Month, COPD Awareness Month, Bladder Health Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month and National Healthy Skin Month, among others. Each and every one of those is a topic where tobacco is a major culprit.

Yes, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body. And when a hospital encourages this dangerous and deadly habit by providing a safe haven for it, it harms the employees who take advantage of the hospital’s laxity; the patients and visitors who are exposed to second-hand smoke against their will; and the otherwise sterling reputation of the hospital saddled with a well-deserved Cone of Shame.

There is no doubt that University Hospital will eventually join the 21st century and ban tobacco campus-wide.

Why not do it now? +

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

by Ross Everett

FLU SHOTS AND CAR CRASHES I wasn’t too happy, running down the hospital stairwell, as I tried to squeeze a quick student health visit in during my brief lunch break a few weeks back. I was far from excited to sit and wait for a little ol’ flu shot.

For many, flu shot cons apparently outweigh the pros.

In recent years, only 30-40% of Americans get the flu shot.

We’ve been fortunate, too.

Even well-hyped strains, such as H1N1, have turned out to be relatively mild in years past. We haven’t been punished too severely for our poor vaccination compliance just yet.

There was an article in The New Yorker in January of this year. Its author, Michael Specter, made some aggressive analogies in a straight-to-the-point piece he titled “For God’s Sake, Go Get a Flu Shot.” He raises the issue of noncompliance in the majority of the American public. He quotes a colleague who probably spoke for the masses when she stated, “I never get a flu shot, and I never get the flu.”

Mr. Specter and I share the same dissatisfaction with that answer. In fact, Specter addressed it head on. “O.K. Let’s play her game,” he wrote. “Turn to whomever you are with and say, ‘I never wear seat belts, and I never get killed in car crashes.’”

Sure, it’s an extreme example.

However, it does apply.

Still, when I shared the article on Facebook back in January, it didn’t take long for a friend to offer his rebuttal.

He raised several good points that I’d like to address today.

First, he stated that the flu vaccine isn’t even a definitive vaccine against the main strain of virus, but is really more of a guess made by the scientists who develop it.

While I’d like to refute him, he’s actually fairly on point here. Yes, the flu vaccine that is given each year really is a glorified guess made by medical scientists. However, they’re pretty darn good with their guesses. Each year, the flu virus makes its way over from Europe. In order to have vaccines prepared for flu season here, scientists study the common strains in Europe during the spring and summer months and predict what the virus will look like when it gets to the US. Their final product typically protects us from 50-65 percent of the strains we encounter each year. While that may not sound overly impressive to you, a two-thirds reduction of risk is an extremely effective prevention as defined in the public health sector.

Second, he stated that the flu — even if he got it — wouldn’t kill him. That’s probably true too. However,

the ability of a given year’s virus to do damage — virulence, as scientists call it — can’t always be accurately predicted. Just the right rearrangement of genes made the 1918 Spanish Flu strong enough to kill about 50 million people, or as much as 5 percent of the world’s population. Even today, nearly 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for the flu, and the death toll for one recent flu season (2012-2013) was 56,000.

But more importantly, that same argument merges in with his third point. He said that one time after getting the flu shot, he got sick a couple of days later. Granted, he didn’t get the flu, but never mind that. I can understand his frustration. It would be easy for a 25 year-old healthy male to avoid the flu shot and probably be just fi ne. Plus, you save the cost of the shot, and you might not get sick after it.

That brings me to the most important point I want to make: I don’t get my flu shot for me. It’s true that the typical, run-of-the-mill yearly flu virus would never be enough to make me severely ill or kill me. That’s not my concern.

No, I get the vaccine to make sure I’m not a carrier that gives it to the really young or really old people, those that it can kill. It’s called herd immunity. If enough people are vaccinated that the flu can’t really take hold in the community, we can potentially protect all the susceptible little children and elderly people.

Then, one day when we’re older, we can only hope the next couple of generations will do the same for us. + Visit vaccinefinder.org to find the nearest flu shot provider.

Editor’s note: the column above was written by Ross Everett, at the time a 3rd year medical student at the Medical College of Georgia. It appeared in the Nov. 15, 2013 issue of the Medical Examiner.

We’re currently looking for a new Short White Coat columnist. See page 14.

The

Advice Doctor ©

Dear Advice Doctor, My neighbor is a royal pain, and I’d like your advice on how to keep my sanity. Every “offense” is more trivial than the last one. Like the other day he got his nose out of joint because I did not bring my trash can in from the street the minute I got home from work. I went inside first, and two minutes later he was pounding on my door. We can’t afford to move, and he gives no signs of going anywhere. Any advice would be appreciated.

— He puts the neigh in neighbor Dear Neighbor, This is not the most serious problem you could be faced with, but it can certainly be annoying.

Officially, a guy whose nose is out of joint has a deviated septum. He could have been born that way or, if he really is as bad as you say, somebody probably punched him in the nose.

Whatever the cause, it means the septum — the bone and cartilage divider between the two sides of the nose — is crooked or off center. In the same way that the two sides of our face are different or breasts are often asymetrical, most people (80 percent) have breathing passages that are not perfectly symetrical. It’s usually no big deal, but when the deviation is significant it can cause breathing problems, sinus trouble, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, headaches and sleep problems like loud snoring or sleep apnea. Maybe that’s why he’s so cranky.

When these problems start to intrude on your life (or in this case, your neighbor’s life), check with an ENT, a doctor who specializes in treating ear, nose and throat conditions. They might initially recommend medication to treat the sinus or nasal issues. If surgery is deemed necessary (called a septoplasty), it is a safe and simple procedure that will help you (and your neighbor) to breathe easy. + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in Examiner issues.

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MEDICAL EXAMINER

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AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

www.AugustaRx.com The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers, and to serve as a central source of news within every part of the Augusta medical community.

Submit editorial content to graphicadv@knology.net Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor E-mail: Dan@AugustaRx.com AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: graphicadv@knology.net Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor.

The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2017 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

#54 IN A SERIES

OLD NEWS

Who is this?

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POINTS OF INTEREST TO FORMER KIDS

by Trisha Whisenhunt

HEALTHCARE UNDER SOCIALISM

I

T

his gentleman might look like just an old country bumpkin, but his remarkable dual career had such an impact that a profile of him on 60 Minutes a few years ago said he has probably saved the life of someone you know, maybe even your own.

Forrest Bird may not be a household name, but the mechanical respirators he invented saved the lives of countless patients with acute and chronic respiratory problems. He is a giant in cardiopulmonary care, but his foray into medicine was purely by accident.

Bird’s fi rst love, appropriately enough, was aviation.

Although born in 1921, his father was a World War I pilot who encouraged his son to take up flying. He must have been a great motivator, because the younger Bird first flew solo at age 14, and by age 16 was pursuing multiple pilot certifications (fi xed wing, helicopters, etc). As a boy he even met Orville Wright.

During World War II, Bird spent a lot of time aloft, delivering new planes from American factories to airfields in Europe, training pilots, and even serving as Gen. George S. Patton’s personal pilot for a time.

With the advent of jets, however, Bird realized pilots would need some kind of breathing assistance to avoid losing consciousness at high altitude. His first mechanical respirators were homemade affairs he built from two strawberry shortcake tins and a hardware store doorknob.

He actually went into production on these and sold them to the U.S. Army.

He continued to tinker and improve, and by 1955 he released the small green box (see below) affectionately known as “The Bird” that became a fi xture in hospitals around the world. Its official name is the Bird Universal Medical Respirator, and it truly became a universal tool.

Part of the inspiration for Bird’s work was his aviation experience, but another was the polio epidemic that swept the nation in the 1950s. His inventions freed them from the unfriendly confines of costly, expensive and fear-inspiring iron lungs.

Another Bird innovation was borne of his revolutionary advice to transform helicopters in Vietnam from transport vehicles into flying ambulances, a breakthrough that led to vastly improved ambulances and civilian life flight today.

In 1970, Forrest Bird introduced the “Baby Bird,” a respirator/ventilator designed to help small children and infants. It is widely credited with reducing infant mortality from respiratory problems from 70 percent to less than 10 percent.

Bird earned his Doctor of Science in Aeronautics in 1977 and his M.D. degree in 1979 at age 58.

He died at age 94 on August 2, 2015. +

n Venezuela, health care is collapsing under the late president Hugo Chavez’s socialist revolution. Reports from the Venezuelan Pharmaceutical Federation state that more than 85 percent of basic medicines are difficult if not impossible to find. Pharmacy shelves are empty and hospitals are turning patients away due to lack of supplies.

The Venezuelan government isn’t disclosing health care statistics, but a survey of 92 state-run hospitals done by the Venezuelan non-profit, Physicians for Health, states that 78 percent report no medicine or severe shortages, 89 percent of hospitals can’t perform x-rays, and 97 percent of the labs are not functioning at full capacity. Testing machines are broken, there are no chemicals for blood work to be done and no way to develop x-rays. Many patients there are dying due to lack of treatment for catastrophic diseases such as cancer.

According to an article published in the July 2017 issue of National Geographic, the Venezuelan poor are so desperate for help they

are turning to faith healers.

Mediums who adhere to the religious cult of Maria Lionza channel Viking spirits in healing ceremonies. This is just one of the faces of Socialist government and its aftermath. The country is also best by rampant hunger, lack of fuel and the looting and violence that accompanies it.

Many don’t believe this can happen in the United States.

But simply wanting to believe something with no hard facts to base it on is no guarantee of anything. Do your homework and look at the facts. It could happen, along with many other unthinkable scenarios.

Six states in the U.S. have

already legalized doctor assisted death or “Aid in Dying:” Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, Montana, Colorado and Washington, D.C. The current climate portrayed by most of the American media would have us believe our WWII veterans are Fascists, the American Way is wrong, and all free speech is hate speech. How do we fight against this insanity when it is stroked like a cat by those we placed in power?

We are not young enough to enlist in the military or protest in the streets. These options take physical fitness, strength of body and mind, and the ability to stand before an angry, hateful foe.

What we must do is vote, write to our elected officials and control where we spend our money. And we can speak out when it is appropriate by attending county/community meetings and letting our senators and state representatives know we won’t put up with the violence and destruction of our flag, national monuments and physical violence toward our citizens.

If you don’t believe that these behaviors are a precursor to the elimination of our way of life, you have your head in the sand.

Education, moral standards and values, health care and quality of living in general will be forever changed by a misguided and shortsighted generation of paid protestors who in the end will reap what they sow along with the rest of us who stood by and did nothing. +

MYTH OF THE MONTH Wi-Fi and EMFs are killing people!

There is on-going debate about this topic.

For the record, EMF is the abbreviation for electromagnetic field, and Wi-Fi, contrary to popular belief, is not short for “wireless fidelity.” It was originally coined as a take-off on the word hi-fi.

Both EMFs and Wi-Fi are believed by some people to be the cause of a laundry list of health problems ranging from insomnia to infertility to cancer. An example of people who are exposed to EMFs would be people whose house is near high voltage overhead power lines. People exposed to Wi-Fi would be, well, just about everybody.

Wi-Fi uses the same safe radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as radios, microwaves and broadcast TV.

Health agencies around the world have studied the issue. The World Health Organization has concluded that “no health effects are expected” from exposure to radio frequencies used in Wi-Fi, but they encourage on-going research.

As for EMFs, various agencies like NIOSH (the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) say EMFs are not a proven health hazard, although that depends on the frequency and intensity of the fields.

Although the debate rages on, respected organizations say Wi-Fi and EMFs are safe. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road, Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

I

o k

n this day and age of information overload (better known as the internet), we are accustomed to having statistical data to back up what someone says.

However, one must always remember that the odds of being hit by a meteor is a zillionth of a percent, but if you get hit, then in your case it is 100 percent.

To help you concentrate on better health, I have compiled a list of statistics for you to consider. You must decide how these apply to you. Ignoring reality does not make danger go away.

Think about each of these and decide how you might change your lifestyle to improve your longevity … and to improve the welfare of those around you. After all, if you get the flu, it doesn’t affect just you. It impacts those around you financially, emotionally, and physically.

• An asthmatic child is 22 times more likely to visit the ER if the asthmatic child lives with a person who smokes.

• A mother who smokes during pregnancy will lower her child’s IQ by 5 points. I

ABOUT STATISTICAL HEALTH TIPS

don’t have statistics about second hand smoke from the father.

• Cigarettes cost more than $40 per pack if medical costs and loss of work is included.

• Get a tetanus shot every 10 years and you won’t die from tetanus.

• Get a pneumococcal pneumonia shot every 5 years, and your chances of getting pneumonia are almost zero.

• Polio immunization is a no-brainer. It is near 100 percent effective. So are shots for mumps measles, and rubella.

• A flu shot costs $25 — at most. Often they are free.

Is it worth $25 (at most) to lower your chances of getting the flu by 90 percent?

• Drink one less soft drink per day, and all other things being equal you will lose 15 pounds in one year. That applies for sugar-free drinks as well.

• To lose weight, you must eat breakfast. Eat a big breakfast, a reasonable lunch, and a small dinner.

You will live longer and healthier. It is next to impossible to lose weight if you skip breakfast.

E TH

t s e B • Walking or biking are great exercises for good health and losing weight. It works best if you do it in the morning, preferably before breakfast.

• Sleeping less than 6 hours per night increases your health risk. Sleeping more than 9 hours also increases your health risk.

7.5 hours is the best number of hours of sleep per night.

• The path to better health is simple and does not cost anything. Go to bed at 10:30 pm. Get up at 6 am. Walk a brisk mile (two miles is better). Eat cereal for breakfast. Skip soft drinks all day. Keep your BMI under 25. Avoid tobacco smoke like the plague.

• Eating right and taking statins will improve your cholesterol, but will not increase your life

e n i c i d ME

expectancy. However, they will greatly reduce your chances of spending your last two years in a nursing home secondary to a stroke.

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes more than 99 percent of all cervical cancers and 12,000 deaths per year. HPV vaccinations in the preteen years prevent HPV. 100 percent of sexually active college coeds have HPV. The odds are on the side of taking HPV vaccinations.

Here are a few words from our elders who knew more than you or I will ever know.

“Youth is wasted on the young.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Was he talking about how we abuse our health while young because we feel bulletproof and invincible?

“Insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

— Albert Einstein.

Was he referring to our repeated, however unintentional, selfdestructive eating and health habits?

Neither of them purported to be a health advisor, but their observations apply to how most of us live. We can and should do better.

“Uncertainty is when you have whooping cough and diarrhea.” That is 100 percent.

I put that in so you would have something to smile about. + Bad Billy Laveau is a formerlyretired MD who wields a pointed sense of humor - and now, tongue depressors too. He speaks and entertains at events for audiences not subject to cardiac arrest secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee.

BadBilly@knology.net or 706306-9397.

F REE T AKE-HO ME CO PY!

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Calling all Bad Billy fans!

More than two dozen of Bad Billy’s personally handpicked stories are collected together in his first book.

Get yours today at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com For personalized autographed print copies, call 706-306-9397

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

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

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Clinically proven. Doctor recommended.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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MEDICAL EXAMINER is

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- said no one ever.

That is certainly said about some local publications, but we actually Like and prefer being article-HEAVY and ad-LITE. ...within reason We’d also kinda like to stay in business too. So:

if your business or medical practice would like to join the

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girls Eat Clean Southwestern Seasoning Blend

EB O

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We love, love, love any food with a Southwestern, Tex-Mex or Mexican flare at our house. I usually prepare at least one dish per week that would fall into this category. I have many recipes in my repertoire that require some type of Southwestern spice blend.

• Tacos or Taco Salad • Mexican Chicken Casserole • Tex-Mex Chicken Pot Pies • Quick Enchilada Sauce • Taco Soup Most of these recipes can be found on our blog.

Before I turned our family onto clean eating, I bought the pre-packaged Old El Paso Taco Seasoning mix. You know those little envelopes of seasoning found in the grocery store? Most store bought brands of spice mix have extra ingredients such as artificial flavors and preservatives.

About a year ago I started making my own spice mixes.

I make several different ones Southwestern Seasoning Blend but, the Southwestern blend is one I use very often. I • 2 tsp. of cayenne pepper mason jar and store it in a had seen several different • 1⁄2 tsp. of cracked black cool and dry place. variations of spice blends pepper The flavor in this spice online and in cookbooks blend is phenomenal and however, the one that I Instructions: a little goes a long way enjoyed the most was a recipe especially if you purchase Place all spices into a small I found in one of my favorite bowl and whisk together until quality spices. It tops Old cookbooks. Against All completely mixed. Store in an El Paso or any store bought Grain, Meals Made Simple by air tight container in a cool brand any day of the week.

Danielle Walker. dry place. + My version is only slightly Ingredients: Alisa Rhinehart is half of the blog different with the addition of • 2 1⁄2 Tbsp. of chili powder southerngirlseatclean.com. She Smoked Paprika. It adds just • 1 Tbsp. of sea salt the right of amount of smokey • 1 1⁄2 Tbsp. of ground cumin is a working wife and mother living in Evans, flavor to the other spices. I • 1 Tbsp. of dried oregano Georgia. Visit her blog generally mix up a batch of • 2 tsp. of onion powder for more recipes and this seasoning about once a • 2 tsp. of ground coriander information on clean month. You can seal it in an • 1 tsp. of paprika eating. air tight container such as a • 1 tsp. of smoked paprika

SOMETIMES THE CURE needs a cure of its own

Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd.

Augusta GA 30909

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: 990 Telfair Street downtown 706-724-0900 3954 Wrightsboro Road (just off Jimmie Dyess Parkway) 706-863-9318

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

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

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

Plus almost 900 doctors offices throughout the area for staff and waiting rooms, as well as many nurses stations and waiting rooms of area hospitals.

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

ASK DR. KARP

NO NONSENSE

NUTRITION Angel from Warrenton, GA, asks, “How can I add healthy autumn flavors to my meals?”

Autumn...what a great time of the year for those special foods. When I think of autumn, I think of pears, pumpkins, squash, raisins, corn, wild rice, cranberries, apples, nuts, maple syrup, molasses and sweet potatoes.

The smells and tastes of

autumn include spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, allspice and cardamom.

So when you go shopping this week, look around for these foods and spices and bring some home. Once they are in your house, you can think about how to reimagine and “autumnize” your usual family meals.

A nice thing about squash, apples, cranberries and pumpkins is that they can be stored at room temperature for relatively long periods of time. Also, autumn spices and flavors easily take the place of fat and salt in your foods and add the zest, interest and taste that will satisfy you.

Let’s re-imagine and “autumnize” some of your usual meals. That summertime grilled chicken served with a tomato, cucumber and basil salad can be transformed into baked cinnamon/garlic chicken with wild rice and acorn squash. Before putting your chicken pieces into the oven to bake, spray with olive oil and sprinkle liberally with garlic, cinnamon and pepper, a little salt and a little sugar.

Bake as usual.

Acorn squash, like spaghetti squash and any of the other autumn and winter squash, is easy to prepare and packed with nutrients and fiber. Just stick a knife through the squash in several places (to allow steam to escape when cooking).

Next, put the squash in the microwave on high, and wait until you can smell the squash and it feels soft on the outside, about 6 minutes depending upon the size.

Next, cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, drizzle on a little molasses and sprinkle some raisins, toasted almonds and cinnamon and you have a great, fast autumn veggie side dish, with no pots and pans to clean!

Blueberry pancakes can quickly morph into pumpkin/ cranberry pancakes with cinnamon. Begin with low fat Bisquick, use egg substitutes or egg whites instead of eggs, add a tablespoon or two of canned pumpkin, some chopped up raw cranberries and then adjust the amount of skim milk to get the desired consistency. Another autumn idea is to cut an apple into small chunks, put

in a small bowl along with some light maple syrup and cinnamon, and microwave for about 2 minutes. Use this as a topping on your pancakes. You can also add cut-up raw apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon in your breakfast cereal; much better nutrition, lower sugar and cheaper than buying those sugar-loaded “applecinnamon” cereals. Another hint is to think about using those small seedless concordtype grapes in the place of blueberries. You can use them in just about the same way you use blueberries, in fruit compotes, in cereals, etc. They add a “taste of autumn.”

What’s the “no-nonsense nutrition” advice for today?

When you go shopping, put some autumn fruits, veggies and spices into your shopping cart. Then at home, stop for just a minute before preparing your usual foods, think and re-imagine.

Adding autumn flavors to your life is a way of experiencing and celebrating the season. Besides, I’m ready for some new flavors and tastes this time of year, aren’t you? +

Have a question about food, diet or nutrition? Post or private message your question on Facebook - www.Facebook.com/AskDrKarp - or email your question to askdrkarp@gmail.com If your question is chosen for a column, your name will be changed, to insure your privacy. Warren B. Karp, Ph.D., D.M.D. is Professor Emeritus at Augusta University. He has served as Director of the Nutrition Consult Service at The Dental College of Georgia and is past Vice Chair of the Columbia County Board of Health. You can fi nd out more about Dr. Karp and the download site for the public domain eBook, Nutrition for Smarties, at www.wbkarp.com Dr. Karp obtains no funding for writing his columns, articles or books and has no fi nancial or other interests in any food, book, nutrition product or company. His interest is only in providing freelyavailable, evidenced-based, scientific nutrition knowledge and education. The information is for educational use only; it is not meant to be used to diagnose, manage or treat any patient or client. Tthe views and opinions expressed here are Dr. Karp’s alone and do not reflect the views and opinions of Augusta University or anyone else.

Dr. Karp

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017

9+

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

It’s Pumpkin Season! Let’s talk health!

by Emelina Perez, MS-Dietetic Intern

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WE KNOW THE FEELING.

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Our next issue date: November 17, 2017

Read crisp, farm-fresh Examiners any time 24/7 at issuu.com/ medicalexaminer

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The aesthetically pleasing bright orange color is indicative of its high betacarotene content. Betacarotene is the converted by the body to vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin known for its role in healthy vision. This vitamin also plays important roles in the immune system, maintenance of healthy bones and skin, and normal cell growth. A deficiency of vitamin A can lead to night blindness and an increased risk for infections.

One cup of cooked pumpkin easily supplements with 426 micrograms of vitamin

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all is here, and there are pumpkins everywhere— pumpkins of all varieties are being sold to carve, to put out as decorations, to make pumpkin pie, and used as the flavoring in the infamous pumpkin spiced latte. This fruit is extremely diverse in both decorative and culinary uses however; its health benefits are often overlooked.

Almost all parts of the pumpkin may be eaten or used for its nutritional benefits. The flavorful orange flesh can be used in several sweet and savory dishes such as pastries, incorporated in hand-made pastas, and added into sauces or soups.

The seeds in the center can be eaten raw or roasted as a snack, added to salads, soups or cereals for texture and extra nutrients. Additionally, the pumpkin peel has been shown to provide health benefits.

Pumpkin is a lowcalorie, nutrient dense and antioxidant-rich food. A serving of cooked pumpkin is one cup and provides only 30 calories. An ounce or 1⁄4 cup of pumpkin seeds contains 160 kcals with 8 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber.

The seeds are also very rich in calcium and iron.

A, which is about half of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA).

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of iron, offering 2.7 mg per serving. The RDA for iron is 8 to 15 mg for women and 8 to 11 mg for men. Iron aids in metabolism, normal cellular function, in the synthesis of some hormones and connective tissues, and in growth. According to the National Institute of Health, a lack of iron in the diet may lead to anemia.

The pumpkin peel may be difficult to consume; however, there is suggested evidence that pumpkin extract is useful in healing patients with severe burn injuries. A recent 2017 study by Bahramsoltani et al. used pumpkin peel extract on mice to test its healing and antioxidant powers. This study’s findings showed that pumpkin extract improved the burn wounds healing. This is likely due to its moisturizing effect and the antioxidants reducing the oxidative stress to the damaged skin.

In summary, pumpkins are useful not only for fall festivities, but they are beneficial for nutritional and medical uses. For more information on how to utilize pumpkin or other seasonal fruits and vegetables for their health benefits, contact your local registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who is a food and nutrition expert credited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

To find an expert near you, go to http://www.eatright.org/ find-an-expert. +

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT DOES YOUR GARAGE DOOR PROTECT?

The aftermath of Las Vegas

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In an article for Becker’s Hospital Review, writer Kelly Gooch compiled a number of facts that have emerged since the October 1 shooting in Las Vegas that resulted in the deaths of 58 people attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival, along with 546 others who were wounded. The article’s “6 things to know” included the following: • Total medical costs connected to the attack could total tens of millions of dollars, according to gun researcher Garen Wintemute, M.D., a gun violence researcher with the University of California-Davis.

• Another violent incident researcher, Ted Miller, M.D., with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, went even farther, estimating the eventual final lifetime cost for all survivors will exceed $600 million.

• A study by Health Affairs quoted in Kaiser Health News found the average emergency room visit cost nationally for an individual gunshot victim is $5,254, ballooning to almost $96,000 as the average inpatient gunshot wound cost.

Nationwide, treatment for inpatient and ER gunshot victims adds up to $2.8 billion annually.

• A number of organizations are working to help cover all or part of the medical expenses of Las Vegas victims. Both Nevada senators have urged health insurers to do everything they can to assist victims. For example, since victims were from across the country, costly out-of-network charges could be levied against people being treated in another state (Nevada).

The senators urge the insurance companies to waive any and all such charges. A number of GoFundMe accounts have also been established. +

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Suneel Dhand, MD, on Oct. 28, 2017 (edited for space)

10 COMMUNICATION DO’S FOR DOCTORS It’s something that isn’t taught anywhere near as much as it should be in medical school, but every practicing physician quickly realizes that communication is everything in health care. It’s the foundation of the doctor-patient relationship, and what patients will judge you on. Sure, doctors are among the busiest professionals out there. We have an incredibly hectic job, but it’s imperative to remember the importance of that interaction with your patient, essential not just for the patient experience, but also your success as a physician. Here are some things you should always do.

1. Knock. Before entering the room, always knock on the door as you walk in. Knocking just displays a sense of politeness and consideration.

2. Greeting. Walk in calmly, confidently, and in a professional but friendly manner. Ideally, shake hands.

Smile. Of course, a smile doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it generally displays a sense of openness and friendliness. Obviously, it may not be appropriate to smile if it’s a bad clinical situation, but a measured smile may still be appropriate when you first meet. Using the patient’s fi rst or a more formal “Mr” or “Mrs” is a judgment call.

3. Sit down. Always sit down with the patient. Research shows that when doctors sit down, patients perceive them to be in the room significantly longer than doctors who stand up (even though they were found to actually spend less time in the room than the doctors who stood).

Patients are more satisfied with their care and expressed better understanding of their condition when their doctor sits down. And it’s more comfortable for the physician too.

4. Let the patient speak. Studies show that physicians interrupt their patients after an average of just over 20 seconds of speaking. Nobody doubts how busy you are and the need to focus, but give your patients a chance to speak! Remember the famous saying: if speaking is silver, then listening is gold.

5. Other techniques. Maintain good eye contact, but not freakishly constant eye contact—which can be intimidating. Look away every so often like you would during a regular conversation. Lean in and use hand gestures to emphasize important points.

6. Involve the family always. Often, it’s more important to talk to the family than the patient, especially if the patient is elderly or disoriented.

7. Ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions typically start with words like “how,” “what,” “when, ”or a phrase like, “Tell me about that abdominal pain.”

Closed-ended questions seek yes and no answers, such as: “Do you have abdominal pain?” There is a way to balance these questions while staying focused and time efficient.

8. Avoid technical jargon. It’s easy to assume other people understand all the lingo. The reality is that they probably don’t. Use common sense and imagine you are talking to someone who knows nothing about medicine.

9. Always give a chance to ask questions. Make sure the patient understands everything you’ve told them.

Never end a conversation without asking if they have any questions. Remember, it’s their life on the line.

10. Ending. Finish your conversation on a positive note whenever possible. End with a statement of encouragement, such as, “You’ll get through this just fine.” Words like that can mean a lot. Be sure you or a staff member lets them know how they can contact you again if they have any questions or concerns. +

Give them more than 20 seconds

Suneel Dhand is an internal medicine physician and author.

Imagine that your dream job, the one you imagined yourself in from your earliest memories childhood, was one that required about a decade of expensive, specialized, full-time training.

Unless you were a trust-fund baby, had a rich uncle, or won the lottery you would take on your dream job at long last carrying a mountain of debt.

This isn’t a dream scenario for many doctors; it’s a nightmare, and it’s their life.

Many a freshly minted physician embraces life on Day 1 of their official “M.D.-added” medical career with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt alone. A quarter of a million dollars is not an uncommon amount.

But then what? Graduating from medical school is like graduating from driver’s ed.

Ok, so you have a license. But you still need a car. You need insurance. Maybe new tires or some mechanical attention.

Ditto for the new doc, who needs (or thinks he needs) a building, equipment, staff, and more.

No wonder that, even with a decent income, a young doctor can easily be middle-aged before he finally pays off the last of his debts to education — and

that was in years past. Average salaries in medicine are on a downward trend these days.

Enter Cory Fawcett, who has written several books about doctors and debt, attacking the latter like something lethal and virulent — which it is.

If that sounds like a lifeline thrown to many physicians, it gets even better: he is a doctor himself, so he really knows whereof he speaks. That is a valuable commodity indeed.

Doctors are not necessarily skilled money managers, and skilled money managers usually aren’t doctors. Fawcett knows both sides of the issue intimately.

In his books, two of which we show here, he offers practical, realistic advice that can help doctors, new or veteran, to pay off debt, avoid debt, make wise choices and establish realistic

goals that will benefit their practice, their patients, their family, and their life overall.

Example: what will a resident choose to begin his medical career? Establish a free-standing solo practice? Joining an established practice as a partner?

Becoming a physician employee of a hospital? Big city? Little town?

You won’t see many books on Amazon rated 5-star by every single reviewer, but that’s the case with one of these, the other sporting a 4.7-star rating.

Numerous physician reviewers say it should be required reading for every young doctor or soon-to-be doctor (and seasoned M.D.s too).

One physician, long advised to keep debt for tax deduction purposes, found after reading the Eliminating Debt book that being debt-free beats any return in any market. He found that one book alone to be “worth 100 times what I paid for it.”

That sounds like a great investment. + The Doctors Guide to Eliminating Debt and The Doctors Guide to Starting Your Practice Right, by Cory S. Fawcett, MD, paper and Kindle versions, published in 2016

by Aloha Publishing.

Research News The sexual harassment disconnect The topic of sexual harassment in the workplace has been in the spotlight in recent weeks like never before, with a pair of Hollywood moguls and a (formerly?) respected former president among the principal targets.

It isn’t a small problem: the federal government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said in 2015 that sexual harassment accounted for one-third of the 90,000 charges fi led with the Commission that year. They and other experts say only about one in four victims ever report an incident, so the number of cases is far higher.

The question of why incidents aren’t reported, sometimes for decades, is not an entirely complicated one: victims are embarrassed,

afraid, ashamed, and fear that in a he said-she said situation — where “he” is often wealthy, powerful and perhaps famous, and “she” is none of the above — their allegations will not be believed, dismissed as a power grab or a monetary scam.

The more puzzling question might be why do bystanders not speak up?

Recent studies done at the University of Southern California suggest a reason, and it’s one many of us may be able to identify with (if we’re being honest).

To greatly simplify their research and its findings, the USC team found that it’s common for people to state how they would react if they were ever faced with certain situations. It’s quite another matter, they found, for people to follow through as they predicted they would in the real situation.

Perhaps you’ve heard someone spout off about how they would respond to witnessing a crime in progress, or overhearing a rude or racist action or remark. Then perhaps you’re with them in just such a situation and they do nothing. Maybe you have even been the one to predict your own response, only to discover that for whatever reasons you were not so inclined to act when the real thing happened.

That, as it turns out, is standard human behavior.

The USC researchers recommend workplace training, beginning with new-hire orientations, encouraging bystanders to report what they see or otherwise take action, which companies can foster through written policy and by establishing direct and anonymous lines for reporting incidents of abuse. +

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS

THE MYSTERY WORD

+

by Dan Pearson

Then you probably already You’ve heard of the Sure. I’ve actually know that it’s the only man-made structure Great Wall right? been there. visible from space.

No way!

It’s true.

That Chinese restaurant on Furys Ferry Road?

Seriously?

The Mystery Word for this issue: BOLECAP

© 2017 Daniel Pearson All rights reserved.

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

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Major artistic work 5. It follows Monte 9. What CHOG used to be 12. Arm/hand connector 13. Back introduction (sometimes) 14. Central Avenue’s erstwhile Cafe du _____ 16. Dysentery can be this type of disease 18. HIV is one of these 19. Ernie of the PGA 20. Bullets 21. Frighten 22. The ______“America’s Finest News Source” 23. Stops 24. Elbow support (at times) 27. Intended 28. Unit of little weight 29. _____ test 31. Knee lgament (Abbrev.)

34. Abruptly and without courtesy 38. Anne of Green Gables setting (Abbrev.)

39. Jeopardize 40. Earlier; previous 41. Aspirin category (Abbrev.)

44. 1st grade adhesive 45. Fold 47. Seat at the bar 50. Coniferous tree 51. Its capital is Tehran 52. Right-angle building wing 55. 6th Jewish month 56. Astros’ park 59. “What’s the ____?”

60. Sulk 61. Abdominal landmark 62. Ink that denotes debt 63. It can fall over a crowd

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— Mitch Hedberg

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2017 All rights reserved

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DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once.

Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line.

Solution on page 14.

by Daniel R. Pearson © 2017 All rights reserved. Built in part with software from www.crauswords.com

64. Not kosher DOWN 1. Like most thermometers 2. NASCAR service areas 3. Exploit 4. Camus’ The ___________ 5. Replay option 6. Moses’ brother 7. Writer Anais 8. Lyric poem 9. Imaging type 10. Cancer spread 11. Small group of trained people 12. It used to be WWF 15. Applications 17. Weight/Height ratio meas.

21. One of seven 22. Bedtime story introduction 23. Monetary unit of Ghana 24. Liquid entree 25. Crescent-shaped figure 26. Cremate

T T M E E I H E S N N

27. Animal with lustrous fur 29. Among 30. Romaine lettuce 32. Blood blockage 33. Small harplike instrument 35. One of the Great Lakes 36. Adversary 37. Mountain range in Western Russia 42. Heart of note in Augusta 43. Fire residue 45. Dressed 46. Weapon used by police 47. Cranial cavity 48. It can follow the gospel 49. Cereal grass 52. Overhanging edge of a roof 53. Willing; gladly (poetic) 54. “Bad” cholesterol ltrs.

56. Speed meas.

57. Three-word debt document (Abbrev.)

58. Impair; disfigure

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by Daniel R. Pearson © 2017 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.

Solution p. 14

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

K R 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 H A K 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

O 1 2 3 4 5 6 2

— Malcolm Forbes

3

1.DEHKMPRTW 2.AEIEIOOVH 3.AEODLRRRT 4.PNEKRDIL 5.SLR 6.EE 7.M 8.E 9.N 10.T

SAMPLE:

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

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by Daniel R. Pearson © 2017 All rights reserved

WORDS NUMBER

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

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

13 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

lights don’t work, your bumper is ready to fall off and your tailpipe is dragging on the road shooting sparks everywhere.” Writing in his ticket book, he says, “That’ll be $300.”

“That’s great,” says the driver. “They wanted twice that much at the garage.”

Moe: I like to make jokes using baby bird noises.

Joe: They’re always good for a cheep laugh.

A

mother texts her son this message: “Hey, sweetie. What do IDK, LY and TTYL mean?”

The son texts back, “I don’t know, love you, talk to you later.”

The mother replies, “That’s ok, hon. Don’t worry about it. I’ll ask your sister.”

Moe: Ugh. I swallowed some food coloring.

Joe: Are you okay?

Moe: I think so, but I feel like I dyed a little inside.

Moe: What do you call a British spy who needs a shave?

Joe: I give. What?

Moe: Stubble-0-7.

Moe: My friend bought a limo more than a year ago and he hasn’t booked a single customer yet.

Joe: Wow. All that time and nothing to chauffeur it.

A policeman puts his blue lights on and pulls over a car. He walks up to the driver’s side window and tells the motorist, “Your brake

Two guys are tearing down Washington Road when they come to a red light. The guy driving floors it right through the intersection.

“Are you insane?” yelled his friend. “You’re going to get us killed!”

“Don’t worry,” said the driver. “My brother does this all the time.”

This happens at red light after red light.

The passenger is getting more and more frantic, but the answer is always the same: “Don’t worry; my brother does this all the time.”

At long last they finally approach a light that is green, but this time the driver stops.

“Are you crazy?” asks the passenger. “You blow through every red light, but now we get a green and you stop? Why?” “I had to. My brother might have been coming.”

Moe: I entered my pet snail in a snail race.

Joe: Did it win?

Moe: No, and I can’t believe it. I removed its shell thinking it would make it faster.

Joe: That didn’t work?

Moe: No. It just made it more sluggish. +

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

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SUBSCRIBE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers.

If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!

NAME ADDRESS CITY

ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble wrote a long-time column in this paper entitled The Patient’s Perspective reincarnated in this new format. Feel free to contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com Doctors’ offices make a difference for patients. On a gray, gloomy day recently I had an appointment at one of my doctor’s offices. The minute I walked in I could feel my mood improve positively. I had never really noticed the lighting before. I’m just guessing, but I think they had a good 50 percent more lighting than I’ve seen in doctors offices before, maybe even more than that.

The walls bounced the light all around the waiting room. I realized I could read the newspaper better than I could at home, and my home is well lit to combat my seasonal affective disorder.

It was only a couple of years ago that I realized the connection between dim light levels and a significant loss of motivation, more hours of sleeping, and a lack of willingness to engage with the world around me. In the Northern winters I was becoming a hermit, going out only when I had to. Before moving to Georgia, I compared the number of days of sunlight here and in Ohio.

Georgia was the winner, by far, in the number of sunny days.

Moving here helped a lot, but winter and stormy days still affect me; however, I didn’t realize that indoor lighting affected me, too, until that day at the doctor’s office. In previous visits, I had become aware that everyone there, the doctors, nurses, tech staff, and patients, were usually quite open, friendly, and willing to help one another. Conversations between strangers were more frequent than in other doctors’ offices, and, interestingly, they were hardly ever about medical issues that had brought the patients in that day.

I’ve had lovely discussion about knitting, holidays, good vs less functional walkers, picnics, sporting events, and an enormous variety of foods. I use a walker and the doors are heavy, so almost always someone gets up to help me negotiate the doors.

People will ask, “Don’t you have someone with you to help you?”

I tell them no, and can tell they feel I need their support, whether I do or not. That support is precious to me, because I feel less alone, more connected to the whole of the loving human race when it’s offered.

My intuition, that the light in the office makes a real difference, is something that would probably need a double blind study to confi rm, but for me the difference is real. It’s palpable, not just in people’s actions and reactions, but through the fact that many people are there for serious illnesses, but almost never act like they have profound problems. It’s a setting where one might almost expect gloomy faces, walled off from others, but that’s not the case at all.

The receptionists know us by name when we walk in. The lab folks greet us with smiles and laugh when several of us have walkers or wheelchairs in a small space, bumping into one another. There’s a wonderful line by the poet Robert Frost, “There’s a place, where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” It refers to an old, dying farmhand who goes back to the farm where he worked for years, just to end his life where he belongs. The office feels like that home. +

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Choose ____ six months for $20; or ____ one year for $36. Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903-0397

MEDICAL EXAMINER www.facebook.com/AugustaRX

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

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

...cleverly hidden on the side of the vase in the p. 16 ad for HEAD CAPITAL ADVISORS THE WINNER: STANLEY GREENBERG Want to find your name here next time? If it is, we’ll send you some cool swag from our goodie bag. The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

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SEE PAGE 12

The Celebrated WORDS

BY NUMBER plants died because I did not MYSTERY WORD CONTEST “My fakepretend to water them.”

...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries, you’ll score our goodie package!

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

WRITER WANTED

— Mitch Hedberg

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QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: “Retirement kills more people than hard work ever did.”

READ EVERY ISSUE ONLINE

— Malcolm Forbes

The new scrambled Mystery Word is found on page 12

WWW.ISSUU.COM/ MEDICALEXAMINER

The Medical Examiner has for years published a monthly column by an Augusta medical student as a chronicle of his or her thoughts and experiences during medical school. Are you interested in becoming the next author of The Short White Coat?

Please call (706) 860-5455 or write to Dan@AugustaRX.com

Want to reach Augusta’s multi-billion-dollar medical community? +

MEDICAL EXAMINER

Our target audience is • 25,000 CSRA healthcare professionals • 500,000 area residents who are interested in better health and better living If these are people you’d like to reach, call 706

.860.5455 or visit www.AugustaRx.com

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

IT’S A QUESTION OF CARE How do I stay connected with my loved ones as they age?

by Amy Hane, a licensed Master Social Worker in South Carolina and Georgia, an Advanced Professional Aging Life Care Manager and also a Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager.

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AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Often, as the people we love age, their ability to interact with us in what we consider to be a quality fashion decreases.

This is typically because their vision, memory and hearing are beginning to be compromised.

• Walk down memory lane. It can be helpful to talk with them about the past: their childhood, their early years working or married life, what it was like to travel (if they were blessed enough to do that) and raise children. We know that as our memory fades, the most recent memories fade the soonest while our remote memory is intact for much longer.

• Engage through games. You can ask them to engage in a game with you, but choose one you know they’ve played in the past, as it might be difficult for them to learn a new activity. An example of this might be a card

AS YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE

game they used to play regularly or chess or checkers, as these are common games they probably would find simple if they have a history of playing it.

• Be their date for events. You can attend social events with them, whether it’s inside or outside their home. If they reside in assisted living, you can attend events at the assisted living community with them.

• Attend church together. You can take them to church with you or take them to their church and be their guest. This is a great way to spend time with your loved one in an environment in which they feel comfortable.

• Make a day of it. You can provide support and spend time with your loved ones by attending doctor appointments with them. Go out for lunch or dinner afterwards to make an outing of it. +

PEOPLE LOVE THE ONLINE EDITION TOO ISSUU.COM/MEDICALEXAMINER

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PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ALLERGY

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

AMBULANCE SERVICE

AMBULANCE • STRETCHER • WHEELCHAIR

706-863-9800

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

FAMILY MEDICINE

DENTISTRY

Dr. Judson S. Hickey Periodontist 2315-B Central Ave Augusta 30904 706-739-0071

F. E. Gilliard MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road Evans, GA 30809 Floss ‘em or lose ‘em! 706-760-7607 Industrial Medicine • Prompt appts.

Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048 Steven L. Wilson, DMD Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445

DERMATOLOGY

Urgent MD Augusta: 706-922-6300 Grovetown: 706-434-3500 Thomson: 706-595-7825 Primary Care Rates

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

SENIOR LIVING

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

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

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

Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 Medical Center West Pharmacy 706-733-3373 465 North Belair Road www.GaDerm.com Evans 30809 Vein Specialists of Augusta Resolution Counseling Professionals 706-854-2424 G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 Augusta 30909 706-854-8340 706-432-6866 Parks Pharmacy Karen L. Carter, MD www.VeinsAugusta.com www.visitrcp.com 437 Georgia Ave. 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 N. Augusta 29841 Augusta 30901 803-279-7450 706-396-0600 If you would like your www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com www.parkspharmacy.com medical practice listed Your Practice in the Professional And up to four additional lines of your choosing and, if desired, your logo.

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017