Oct21 16 by Daniel Pearson

V IS I T

READ

MEDICAL EXAMINER recipe feature PAGE 7

IS S U

U. C O

US O EDIC NLI AL E X NE A MI N E

M/M

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

OCTOBER 21, 2016

BODY PARTS: THE SERIES

THE TONGUE Another installment in an occasional Medical Examiner series highlighting the amazing design and structure of the human body.

he tongue is one hard-working piece of body hardware, but it might be among the most under-appreciated. We depend upon it to communicate. We enjoy the taste of food and drink because of it. The tongue, along with our teeth, is the first step in the digestion process by which we gain life-sustaining nutrients. And the tongue is considered part of the erogenous zone of the mouth for its important role in sexuality and physical intimacy. With good reason the tongue has been called the strongest muscle in the body. The Bible, for example, says (in Proverbs 25:15), “A mild tongue can break a bone,” and the Bible writer James noted that “every kind of wild animal

It’s like shopping for

FREE!

and bird and reptile and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humans. But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison.” Indeed, who among us has not been injured by our own words or those said by others, even if it was only an unintentional “slip of the tongue”? When we just can’t quite dredge up a fact, it’s on the tip of our tongue. When we make up a fact, we speak with a forked tongue. When we want to say something that might be hurtful but manage to control ourselves, we bite our tongue. Something we say that isn’t intended to be taken seriously is said tongue in cheek. Smooth talkers have a silver tongue. When someone doesn’t know what to say,

we ask “Cat got your tongue?” Sometimes the right word just rolls off our tongue, but at other times we’re tongue-tied because we can’t say something as simple as “Irish wristwatch, Swiss wristwatch,” or “Tie twine to three tree twigs.” Many of these idiomatic expressions have their origins in the physical or medical condition of the tongue. For example, to most of us a tongue-twister is merely a phrase that’s hard to pronounce, but some people are literally tongue-tied trying to say anything: their lingual frenulum — that’s the band of tissue that goes from the floor of the mouth to the underside of the tongue — is so short or thick Please see THE TONGUE page 2

INTERNATIONAL UNIFORM

30% OFF ANY ONE REGULARLY PRICED ITEM

with this coupon. Excludes already discounted items and $19.95 scrub set. Coupon expires 11/26/16.

www.IUISCRUBS.COM 1216 Broad St. 706.722.4653 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 10-4 Closed Sunday Facebook:internationaluniformscrubs

The CSRA’s largest in-store inventory and brand/size selection! 20,000 garments to choose from! 500 new arrivals just this week!

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

OCTOBER 21, 2016

THE TONGUE… from page 1

Historically stylish

downtown ) Augusta living )

that their ability to speak clearly or eat and warm grapes that had been peeled, or cold swallow properly is affected. puréed steak — people found the foods almost Another example: some people speak with a impossible to identify by taste alone. forked tongue no matter how true their every Speaking of eating brings to mind another word might be. That’s because the bizarre (to function of the tongue: as an important place most) practice of tongue splitting is a growing to administer medicine. trend among body modification enthusiasts. Consider what happens when a pill is Much more common is tongue piercing to swallowed. The drug is greeted immediately facilitate wearing jewelry. Both procedures with digestive enzymes in saliva before being carry some level of risk — what doesn’t? — of dissolved and absorbed by the digestive things like infection, loss of system. It then enters the hepatic taste, excessive bleeding and portal system, working its way difficulty speaking (at least until from there into the liver, which one becomes adjusted to the can metabolize the medication to modification). such an extent that only a small Unlike other oft-pierced body amount of the active ingredient parts, the tongue offers some survives the experience and distinct disadvantages: the enters the circulatory system tongue is in almost constant use; for distribution to the body. you can’t take a week off from And even what does can be eating, drinking and talking chemically altered by the trip. while it heals. And the mouth is By contrast, sublingual paradise for bacteria. In addition, (literally “under the tongue”) piercings are often done in Despite popular belief to the administration of a drug can non-medical settings where contrary, every portion of the enable immediate entry into sterilization of equipment could tongue can detect any of the the bloodstream, thanks to the be questionable. five basic tastes. The so-called profusion of capillaries under Anyone contemplating tongue tongue map, charting which the tongue. Drugs for angina modifications of any kind would specific areas of the tongue and allergic reactions are two can exclusively detect different examples of medications where do well to consider all the pros tastes, was disproved as far seconds count. and cons and choose their back as 1974 but persists as a modifier carefully. Not every drug is suitable for commonly held belief. All areas sublingual administration, and Most of us like to talk, after all, and eat. Those are two of the of the tongue are equally good even those that are can cause at detecting every taste. tongue’s biggest jobs. undesirable side effects over Another myth holds that the Adults have 5,000 or more time, such as tooth discoloration. ability to roll the tongue into a taste buds, and each one has As mentioned earlier, the tube-like shape is inherited. If a lifespan of just two weeks mouth is home to zillions of your parents couldn’t do it, you or so before being replaced. can’t either; if they could, so can bacteria, and the tongue can Every taste bud has up to 100 you. Studies have demonstrated be an indicator of disease. individual taste receptor cells. Among the more colorful: this belief to be untrue. + Taste itself is kind of simple “geographic tongue,” in which and kind of complicated. It’s simple in that different colored patches across the tongue only five different taste sensations have been give the appearance of a map; and “black identified: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and what hairy tongue,” which is exactly what it sounds is called umami, a taste described as savory or like, and although alarming to behold, is meaty. considered harmless. But taste is complex in that there are levels Any changes to your tongue’s feel (pain, of intensity in the five basic tastes, making a numbness, loss of taste, etc.) or appearance hundred thousand different flavors possible. should be promptly checked by a doctor. Taste is also a complex bundle of sensations The best things a person can regularly based on taste, temperature, texture and do to be a conscientious tongue owner are aroma. Researchers have blindfolded subjects simple: avoid smoking, and brush the tongue and stopped up their noses and then asked using a toothbrush (or a tongue brush or them to identify ordinary foods. Without the tongue scraper) each time a person brushes sense of smell it was a challenge, and when their teeth. Brushing especially the back of scientists changed the food in simple but the tongue is a great way to minimize bad unexpected ways — for example, serving breath. +

TONGUE MYTHS

Studio, 1, and 2 Bedroom Condos for SALE from $93,500

936 BROAD STRE E T, AUGUSTA, GA THEJBWHIT ESB UILDING.COM Office | 706.723.9572 Adelle Dennis | 706.829.1381 Bonnie Hartley | 706.284.9870 All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted. See agent for details.

OUR NEXT ISSUE: NOV. 4

• MOHS SURGERY • SKIN EXAMS • MOLE REMOVAL SKIN CANCER CENTER Quality Patient Care Since 1969 2283 WRIGHTSBORO RD AT JOHNS RD

• ACNE • PSORIASIS

LAUREN PLOCH, MD JOHNATHAN CHAPPELL, MD

• RASHES

Introducing board certified dermatologist

7067333373 • GaDerm.com

• WARTS

Lauren Ploch, M.D.

CAROLINE WELLS, PAC • CHRIS THOMPSON, PAC

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The

PROFILES IN MEDICINE

Advice Doctor

presented by Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.

The Ultimate Lunch Lady

t wasn’t just random coincidence that brought First Lady Michelle Obama to Burke County last April. She was there because of Augusta resident Donna Martin. Who is Donna Martin, you ask? She is the director of Burke County’s school nutrition program (see headline above), a position she has held for the past 16 years, and President-Elect of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (eatright.org), the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. That is beyond prestigious in the world of nutrition, and having the President and First Lady reach out to seek her advice and opinions on better diets for American kids and their parents and visit her was further icing on the cake (figuratively speaking, of course). But Martin has still greater super-powers: she can convince kids to eat broccoli. Willingly. Do not adjust your Medical Examiner. It’s true. And

Donna Martin at Burke County High School (that’s her on the right) with someone who looks a lot like First Lady Michelle Obama. cabbage. And lima beans, peas, succotash, cooked carrots, collard greens, zucchini, sweet potatoes and green beans. How does she do it? Simple things. “Kids don’t have a lot of time during their lunch breaks, and it takes time to eat a whole apple. It takes a lot longer to eat a fresh salad than a slice of pizza. So we make sure apples on their trays are already cut up. Oranges are peeled and sectioned.”

Also, Burke County is taking another innovative and creative step that should be the blueprint for schools and communities across the fruited plain. “We use local farmers for as much of our food as we can. It’s in the field one day and on our plates the next.” If you’ve heard that school lunches nationwide are serving record amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables while kids nationwide are Please see PROFILES page 10

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

W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T

— Sleepless in Sandersville Dear Sleepless, This is indeed a common and growing issue in our society. Why, just the other day I saw a nurse with a pierced nose. Years ago you would never have seen that! Back in the day, piercing was just for members of motorcycle gangs. And before that, only pirates. Today, it could be anyone’s next door neighbor, as you have already discovered. Piercings run the gamut from socially acceptable to outrageous. Some are practically expected, like ear piercings for little girls. Others, like large gauge earlobe modifications you could put a roll of nickels (or quarters) through, are not socially acceptable, generally speaking, and could prevent being hired for some jobs. From a medical perspective, however, there are several piercing questions everyone contemplating one (or more) should get answers for. Is the place of business squeaky clean? Is an autoclave used to sterilize equipment? Are personnel trained and experienced? Do they wear latex gloves, a fresh pair for every procedure? What about their equipment? Do they use new, sterile needles, or do they use a piercing gun? (NOTE: Many piercing guns cannot be sterilized and increase the risk of infection. See also this issue’s tongue article, p. 1.) Socially speaking, consider the possibility of buyer’s remorse. Down the road years from now, will you regret a large-bore hole in your earlobe? Will it be fi xable? How much will it cost to undo? These are questions to carefully consider. + 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.

AUGUSTA

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

Dear Advice Doctor, At about 4 o’clock the other morning I was sound asleep for once (I’ve had insomnia for years) when a neighbor’s car sounded a piercing alarm, and did not stop for a good ten minutes. I wanted to go back to sleep, but of course I couldn’t. I normally get up at six. Is it better in a case like that to lie quietly and rest until you would normally get up, or to just go ahead and get your day started?

MEDICAL EXAMINER

AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

www.AugustaRx.com E. CLIFFORD ECKLES, JR.

DAVID D. BULLINGTON, JR.

W W W.Q N BTR U S T.CO M/PR IVATE- BAN K I N G

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 G E O R G I A’ S C O M M U N I T Y B A N K since 1 9 0 2 www.QNBTRUST.com

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. © 2016 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

#31 IN A SERIES

OLD NEWS

Who is this?

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

YOUR MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICE IS IMPORTANT

eing Andreas Vesalius (above) wasn’t always easy. Although he made historic advancements still remembered today, he did so at great professional risk. Vesalius was born on New Year’s Eve of 1514 in Brussels, scion of a noted family with a long medical history. His father served as apothecary (in modern terms, akin to a pharmacist) to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor; his grandfather served as Maximilian’s Royal Physician. His great grandfather held a medical degree from the University of Pavia (in Italy) and taught medicine at the University of Leuven (in today’s Belgium). By age 19, Vesalius was enrolled at the University of Paris, and it was there that he first became interested in anatomy. Political unrest forced him to return to the city of Leuven before finishing his studies and receiving his medical doctorate in Padua, Italy, in 1537. On graduation day he was offered the chair of surgery and anatomy at the University of Padua, and within a year he published his fi rst anatomical text. This was the earliest work in a distinguished career for which Vesalius is honored as the founder of modern human anatomy. That honor should never have happened — at least not according to the prevailing wisdom of the day. The problem was another giant in medical history: Galen, the Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher who died some 1,300 years before the birth of Vesalius. So great was Galen’s reputation that anyone who dared to question any one of his assertions and discoveries (many of them false, as it turned out) was obviously misinformed and automatically branded as a heretic. Vesalius discovered (in 1541) that much of Galen’s understanding of human anatomy was based on dissection of monkeys, pigs and especially Barbary macaques. The resulting inaccuracies had gone unnoticed for more than a thousand years. Galen assumed that human anatomy was no different from those of the animals he studied. He had little choice: his religious beliefs prevented him from cutting open another human being, dead or alive. By dissecting humans (including one public dissection of a notorious felon), Vesalius established (and illustrated, see above) dozens of previously unknown anatomical facts covering the skeleton, heart, nervous system, muscles, vascular and circulatory systems and abdominal organs. Just one example: Galen described finding holes in the heart to permit blood to flow between left and right ventricles. Although there are no such holes, for centuries in deference to Galen, anatomists found them too. Vesalius was finally brave enough to say they didn’t exist. +

f you receive original Medicare, you also receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every 3 months. An MSN is a list of all Medicare services or supplies billed to Medicare on your behalf during the last 3 months. It shows what Medicare paid and what the maximum amount you may owe your provider. If you did not see a doctor, visit an ER, were not admitted to a hospital or did not take possession of any durable medical equipment or medical supplies, you will not receive an MSN for that 3-month period. The phrase “THIS IS NOT A BILL” is in bold lettering at the top portion of the summary. Many people, once they see that, throw out the MSN without looking at it. If you are one of those who do this, please stop and take the time to read the notice. Why is it important? There could be an error or worse, there could be a service listed which you did not receive — in other words, fraud. Example: if the MSN shows that you took

possession of a wheelchair that you do not have and you throw the bill out without seeing and reporting it, Medicare assumes this was correct. The system shows that you have a wheelchair. Now let’s say a year later you have an injury or accident and will need the use of a wheelchair. Medicare will deny coverage for the wheelchair because records show that you already have one. You didn’t report the fi rst wheelchair as a mistake or fraud, therefore you will have to pay out of pocket for the one you now need. It would seem unlikely someone would miss such an expenditure since they receive bills for the Part B deductible and 20% of the

cost of the wheelchair, but it does happen. Medicare gets calls from people wanting to know what they can do about bills for services and equipment they never got. Medical care fraud is on the rise and the MSN is a key tool Medicare uses to help stop the abuse of the government health insurance program. It’s important to take the time to read your MSN and make sure that it is correct. If you are denied coverage for a service you did receive and you disagree with the denial, you have the right to appeal. The last page of the MSN has step-by-step instructions on when and how to file an appeal. Keep all your receipts and bills and match them with what is on the MSN. If you would like to receive your MSN on a monthly basis, you can request that your summary be sent to you electronically via your email account. Tracking your health care services will aid you in maintaining control over your health care and will help insure you get the most from your Medicare dollar. +

MYTH OF THE MONTH Your toothbrush can make you sick Well...probably not. But this one can’t go in the books as a definite myth. Most toothbrushes are a dream habitat for germs. A single toothbrush can be home to more than a million bacteria, and many families store them exactly like you see here, inviting cross-contamination. And they’re all within a foot or two of the nearest toilet. Germs on a toothbrush are not likely to make someone sick, but it’s not an impossibility. To keep your toothbrush clean, rinse it with hot water after every use; alternate between two brushes to allow each one to dry completely between uses. Don’t share toothbrushes or store them

together with those of other family members. Don’t store them near the toilet, and close the lid before flushing. Washing your hands before brushing helps keep bacteria away from your toothbrush. You can readily find instructions for sterilizing toothbrushes, but it’s more cost effective from a germ and cavity standpoint to regularly replace toothbrushes, especially if you’ve had a cold or the flu. In fact, someone who is sick should use their own separate tube of toothpaste. + — by F. E. Gilliard, MD, Family Medicine 4244 Washington Road, Evans, GA 30809 706-760-7607

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

WHAT EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW res? ABOUT BRAINS IN NEUTRAL

k good eno r skin can ugh cer? son.”

o k

he human brain is a delicate instrument. It contains billions of nerve endings and synapses. It houses our memories. It contains our personalities. Our knowledge. Our ability to function. It does innumerable tasks that we are not conscious of. It operates the delicate process of proprioception: knowing where your limbs are without having to think about it. It automatically maintains your balance while walking. If we sustain head trauma, the brain will repair itself in most cases. New nerve fibers will grow replacing others while retaining most of our memory and function that is stored there. However, the process is not perfect. Subtle changes in memory or attitude occur during this process. The huge memory filing system within the brain may become slightly disorganized. This results in malfunctions of memory. Even personality change. Strokes can do the same thing. I have a friend who was a Baptist deacon, a straight up guy. He had a stroke in his mid 40’s. Now he curses, drinks, and has descended into the bar scene. He is now divorced as he is intolerable to live with.

We hear a lot in the news about brain injury due to sports. Mild concussions were once ignored. Now we realize they result in long-term brain function deficits. We see this in football players, car wreck victims, domestic abuse victims, as well as people who have simple household injuries. Scientific studies have shown that college students who hear a lecture will not retain everything they heard for more than a day. If tested a week later, they will recall approximately 75%. Tested one month later they will recall approximately 25%. If the memory is stimulated at the end of one month by repetition of portions of the lecture, 75% again will be recalled for a short period of time. Taking notes during a lecture requires the brain to direct handwriting, which causes one to ”hear” the words of the lecturer a second time. Reading the notes later allows one to ”hear” the lecture a third time. Repetition increases recall and learning. As the brain ages, we tend to require more frequent refreshment or stimulation of the memory. Simply reading books or newspapers helps the

t s e B brain remain organized and increase information recall. Watching TV or movies help as well, but not to the level reading does. Writing letters, keeping a journal or diary, or other forms of writing will increase functional memory. Handwriting seems to be more efficient than typing, and is therefore more desirable. As we grow older, or as I like to say “become victims of advanced maturity,” our shortterm memory diminishes more than our long-term memory. Suddenly we’re more able to remember what happened years ago than minor events of yesterday. Example: If you came home from work yesterday and left your shoes in an unusual place, will you automatically remember where you left them tomorrow? Or will you have

e n i c i d ME

to make an effort to recall? At age 20 it would be automatic. At age 60 it might not be. You may not recall exactly where you parked you car at the mall yesterday, but you can recall exactly where you parked as a teenager. Granted, parking as teenage was a lot more fun that parking at the mall, but you get the point. You tell yourself it is not important to recall every little detail. The memory storehouse gets full. From time to time I have to forget some thing to make room for new things. We think our brains forget the unimportant things automatically. That is a good way of explaining short-term memory loss. It might even be accurate to some degree. Profound changes become diagnosed medical disorders including Alzheimer’s disease,

senility, traumatic brain syndrome, concussion disorder, etc. None of these are inherently terminal, although they can affect or even destroy the personality of the victim. We do not have a cure. We have a treatments that can slow the process or improve functionality of the remaining abilities. So if you have someone who suffers from declining mental function, write them letters, send them appropriate books to read, and stimulate their memories with conversations to reinforce recent events. Teach your children to do this because one day they may need to do the same for you. Remember, the child eventually becomes the parent of their parents. + Bad Billy Laveau is a formerlyretired MD who wields a pointed sense of humor - and now, tongue depressors too. He speaks and entertains at events for audiences not subject to cardiac arrest secondary to overwhelming laughter and glee. BadBilly@knology.net or 706-3069397. F REE T AKE-HO ME CO PY!

LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR? See our Professional Directory on page 15.

MEDICAL EXAMINER

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

OCTOBER 21, 2016

This newspaper is delivered to more than

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

We are Aiken-Augusta’s Most Salubrious Newspaper

Clinically proven. Doctor recommended.

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Part C of a 26-part series

Hack attacks

MEDICAL EXAMINER IS ONLINE

ne of the key factors in determining how fast you build wealth is your use of debt. We help our clients focus on becoming debt free by retirement, which makes monthly cash flow issues in retirement much less stressful. Before reaching retirement, using debt wisely is prudent to help you reach your goals. High levels of credit card, student loan, car loan, or other personal debt means that you have pulled future consumption forward by using debt. To reverse that trend you will need to focus on decreasing your debt. Here are several key points to consider. • Educate yourself – Many financial mistakes we make are a result of letting short-term emotions dictate long-term decisions. The more educated you are about financial topics, the more likely you are to make good long-term decisions. Make a commitment to educate yourself and your children on personal finances. • Make a list of all of your debt. Organize it from the highest interest rate to the lowest interest rate. Before fi xing the problem, reflect on how did the problem start? Understand that getting out of debt requires you to give up something today in order to get something tomorrow. • Don’t set unrealistic or vague goals. If you do, more than likely you will get discouraged and quit. Be specific. For example: • Goal: Eliminate debt • Specifics: Save an additional $10 a day to reduce debt (Almost $11,000 over 3 years) • Timeframe: 3 years • Measurement: Debt balance beginning to decline and an improving credit score • If you do not feel like you can do it on your own, seek help. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a good place to start. Their website is www.Debtadvice.org. • Once you have manageable debt, focus on spending less than you make. You should save 20% of your salary. Begin by accumulating a cash reserve fund at your local bank. If your employer matches your contributions to your 401k at work, make sure you are contributing enough to get the full match. You are basically giving away “free money” by not receiving this match. • Rather than spend money, think of ways to give your time. Be creative. If we all think back over our lives, many of our most memorable gifts were not toys or presents, but time that a family member, friend, or neighbor spent with us. • Review your credit report several times a year. One website to view your report is www. Annualcreditreport.com. Managing your money is about making good choices, developing good habits, and having the discipline and resilience to stick to them. Getting out of debt requires short-term discipline and maybe a little pain, but the long-term gain will be well worth it. No pain, no gain. + by Clayton Quamme, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with Preston & Cleveland Wealth Management, LLC (www.preston-cleveland.com). Preston & Cleveland is a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm with offices in Augusta, GA and Columbia, SC.

• issuu.com/medicalexaminer •

than s s e L

+ •

a million people can’t be wron g.

Advertise here Call us today! (706) 860-5455

long: maybe it’s one of the medicines you take; maybe it’s time to finally quit smoking; perhaps you’re exposed to airborne irritants on the job, and a dust mask or respirator will do the trick, protecting your lungs and stopping the hacks in a nice two-for-one. Sometimes a persistent dry cough can simply be an annoyance and nothing more, but even so, it’s good to have it checked to find out for sure. On the other hand, some coughs require prompt medical attention, either calling today for an appointment ASAP or dialing 9-1-1 right now. The 9-1-1 shortlist includes whenever you have trouble breathing and any time you cough up blood. Prompt medical attention is called for when a cough not only doesn’t go away but gets worse, and when a productive cough changes its produce, such as a change in the color of mucous. In short, there are good coughs and there are bad coughs. It’s up to us and our doctors to distinguish between the two and then proceed accordingly. +

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PERSONAL DEBT

of companies who already suppor t us

IS FOR COUGH

THE MONEY DOCTOR

ns the te Join

As the old joke goes, when the man who invented cough drops died, there was no coffin at his funeral. Most people would say that’s a good thing. Coughing is bad, right? Maybe, maybe not. We tend to automatically think of coughing as something bad, and it’s sort of true: while coughing isn’t a disease, it can be a symptom of one. But coughs are actually a pretty good thing, as least within limits. Coughing is the body’s way of removing foreign, unwanted material or mucous from the lungs and upper airway passages, and coughing is usually superefficient at accomplishing that goal. In med-speak, a good cough is called a “productive” cough: it produces the phlegm or the half-chewed piece of apple that was giving your upper airways fits. Yes, coughing can be a very good thing, facilitating improved breathing or preventing things from being aspirated into the lungs, with big trouble to follow. On the other hand, there are dozens upon dozens of reasons why a cough is a symptom of something that a doctor needs to check out. Perhaps it’s asthma, an allergy, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, a sinus infection, tuberculosis, whooping cough, pneumonia, pleurisy, COPD, or just a common cold. Unless you enjoy coughing it’s great to get the problem identified and addressed. There again, the list of possible culprits could be

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Southern Girls Eat Clean Curry Chicken A Healthy and Clean Indian Dish I have absolutely fallen in love with curry powder. I love Indian food but rarely prepare it at home. This curry chicken recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is so simple and with very few ingredients you can have it on the table in no time at all offering all the delicious flavor of an Indian curry dish without all the fuss. I ran across this recipe a few months back when I was cleaning out my recipe fi le. I am bad about copying a recipe from a magazine or writing a recipe idea down on a scrap of paper, tucking it into my file and forgetting about it. I have to clean out my fi les every so often or it’s just a big mess. I found this recipe jotted down on an index card. It was not in my handwriting so I have no idea who gave it to me. There was no name attached and I knew that I had never made this dish before. As I looked over the recipe I noticed that it would qualify as clean and healthy. I decided to try it out. The dish was fabulous and everyone loved it. I have made this curry chicken several times over the last few months. It is casual enough for a weeknight meal but still fancy enough to serve when company comes over. The recipe was originally named Honey Mustard Chicken; however (as usual), I changed it up a bit and added a lot more curry powder. I felt that Curry Chicken was a more appropriate name for this dish. You could add a Clean Curry Chicken side of brown rice or quinoa and steamed veggies such 15-20 minutes, basting a few Instructions: as zucchini, yellow squash, more times until the chicken Preheat oven to 375 asparagus or green beans is done. degrees. for the perfect healthy and Remove from oven and Lightly oil a 9 X 13 inch nutritious meal. serve immediately. baking dish. I hope you’ll give it a try.... NOTE: While the chicken is Slice the onions, separate Enjoy! cooking, as an option I whisk into rings and scatter the onion rings in the bottom of together an additional mix of Ingredients: the baking dish. the curry sauce to baste with • 4 pastured, organic or all Lay the chicken breasts on and also to serve on the side natural boneless chicken top of the onions. Season the with the chicken. Leftover breasts chicken with salt and pepper. sauce can be stored in the • 2 yellow onions, sliced In a small bowl, combine refrigerator for up to a week. + (I used Vidalia onions) the honey, Dijon mustard, Alisa Rhinehart is half of the • 1/3 cup of organic local lemon juice, olive oil and blog southerngirlseatclean. honey curry powder. com She is a working • 1/4 cup of Dijon mustard Pour the curry mixture over wife and mother living in • 2 Tbsp. of fresh squeezed the chicken. Evans, Georgia. lemon juice Cover with foil an bake Visit her blog for • 1 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive for 30 minutes. Uncover the more recipes and oil chicken and baste the chicken information on • 3 Tbsp. of curry powder with the sauce. clean eating. • A pinch of salt and pepper Cook for an additional

+ I

M.E.

THE AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER

A W I L D W I N G C A F E O R I G I N A L PA R T Y

GREAT COFFEE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME OR WORK

Like us on Facebook!

1454 Walton Way • (706) 364-0466

BRING IN THIS AD FOR A FREE GLAZED DONUT!

ORDER AT WWW.7SOUTHCOFFEE.COM

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Looking for Likes in all the right places.

Pharma cy 4 11 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.

NEW DRUGS VS. OLD DRUGS: WHICH IS BETTER?

Please Like the Examiner at facebook.com/AugustaRx

Thanks for reading the Medical Examiner!

t’s an age old debate in pharmacy. Which type of drugs are better for the patient? Are the newest, latest and greatest drugs that have only been out a few months better than the old, tried and true standbys? There is no one right answer to that question, but let’s talk about how you and your physician can make the best choice. There are many new drugs on the market that to some patients feel like the answer to their prayers. That may be so, but are they safe? We all see TV ads for class action lawsuits because of dangerous and sometimes life-threatening side effects that were unknown when a drug was brought to the market. There was no warning to the patient or physician about the drug’s potential for harm. Full knowledge of potential side effects and drug interactions only comes with experience. The volume of information produced during clinical trials is only a fraction of the full picture. But new drugs may have a mechanism of action that is more effective than the older drugs on the market. The farther we go in manipulating the body and its processes with medications, the greater the potential for side effects. We simply do not know enough about the human body to anticipate every side effect that may occur. Older drugs are generally better known but often have a higher percentage of minor side effects. New drugs may eliminate some of these minor side effects but can cause other reactions elsewhere that may be more troublesome. Sometimes new drugs can help you reach a goal that was previously unattainable. New diabetic drugs are an example of this. For some patients the older drugs were not effective in getting blood sugar levels down to the desired level. The newer agents can better achieve full control, but at what cost? Will currently unknown side effects from these new agents show upin the future? You must balance the need for the strength of the new agents against the risks of uncertainty. These new drugs have their place, but not everyone needs every new drug that comes to the

Butch Palmer

Salon

By appointment, please. Call today! Butch Palmer: (706) 399-4580 Robert Jones: (706) 449-3627 606 CRAWFORD AVENUE Between Summerville and the medical district since 1982

market. Talk to your doctor and make an informed decision. Another factor in new drugs vs old drugs is money. Older drugs normally have generic versions and more competition, which equates to lower prices. New state of the art drugs generally come with high price tags and more coverage issues on your insurance. There are copay assistance coupons available for a number of new drugs that can offset this price difference. Medicare beneficiaries are not eligible to use copay cards, but can use the free trial offer cards. Commercial, or employer-sponsored insurance plans can use copay cards and get savings from the brand name copays. The benefits vary from card to card. Some of these new drugs have programs which will pay everything the insurance doesn’t pay and can be used for cashpaying patients. Your indovidual insurance situation and medications and their respective copay programs will help you decide which route of medicine you can afford. You should talk to your doctor about being treated with something you can afford and whether you qualify for a manufacturer assistance program. Remember: no medicine is going to help you if you can’t take it because you can’t afford to buy it. The decision you make with your doctor about a medication will be a personal one and may not be right for friends or other family members. Also remember that sharing medicines might be a noble gesture, but does not allow for the recipient’s medicine profile to accurately reflect what they are taking. This means that drug-to-drug interactions may be missed at the pharmacy, and that may put the patent in danger. Each person needs to take his own medicine and come to a decision they can live with and afford. + Questions about this article or suggestions for future columns can be sent to us at cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net Written for the Medical Examiner by Augusta pharmacists Chris and Lee Davidson (cjdlpdrph@bellsouth.net )

The Area Agency on Aging A Division of the CSRA Regional Commission 3 :alton :a\ ([tension, Suite 3 - Augusta, GA 30909

TOLL FREE (866) 552-4464 • Technology Assistive Technology • Assistive Counseling • Benefi•ts Counseling Eligibility Screening • Screening Employment Options • Eligibilty • Family Caregiver Assistance • Employment Options • Case Management Hospital Transition Services • Family••Caregiver Assistance Housing • Case Management • How to apply for • Meals on Wheels • Hospital Transition Services • How to Apply for Services/Benefits • Housing

• Medicaid Waiver Programs • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid/Medicare Savings Program • Medicaid Waiver Programs • Options Counseling • Prescription Drug Assistance • Medicaid/Medicare Savings • Private Pay Services Program • Transportation In-home Services • • Options Counseling • Prescription Drug Assistance • Private Pay Services • Transportation • In-Home Services

IS IT JUST US? or is it getting salubrious in here?

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

Ask a Dietitian

Voted “BEST BARBER SHOP” in Augusta Magazine many times!

Daniel Village Barber Shop 2522 Wrightsboro Road

GOING GLUTEN FREE? READ THIS FIRST by Sohailla Digsby, RDN, LD

lists and less preservatives. 2. Vary your grains and starches over the course of the day (intentionally eating grains/starches other than wheat, such as sweet potatoes, oats, dried beans and brown rice). 3. Unless you’re still growing, make sure your grains/starches fit only on a quarter of your plate, or in the case of bread, limit it to 1-2 slices on your plate. You may find after making these three changes that the stomach discomfort and fatigue you were experiencing was more related to eating too much, or perhaps just eating too much junk. Anyone who eats a pile of pasta with hot bread on the side AND dessert will not feel their best afterwards, but this is quite typical for many, especially on the weekends. Is it fair to blame the gluten? Or what about eating multiple snacks and bars with ingredients that are foreign to you and unpronounceable...could it be one of those that your body is not appreciating? It’s worth giving some thought before making a drastic change in another direction. Whether you have celiac disease or a more difficult-todiagnose gluten sensitivity, if Please see GLUTEN page 11

When the strands of keratin growing out of your head start to get unruly, bring them to us. Head to toe service: Jerry will shine your shoes while we cut your hair. We’re on Wrightsboro Rd. at Ohio Avenue. DANIEL VILLAGE BARBER SHOP

Medical Complex

76 Circle K former Smile Gas

Highland Ave.

effective for weight loss. For those who tend to overeat convenient, calorie-dense foods like pizza, subs, pastas, and snacks that are easily accessible in restaurants and vending machines, switching to a gluten free diet could cause weight loss if it leads to a decrease in calories. However, since gluten free is trending, gluten free alternatives quickly fill the potential calorie void. These often-expensive replacements for wheat typically have less fiber and nutrients, and sometimes higher sodium. They are not a necessary part of a gluten free diet. Eating gluten free can be challenging for family meals, difficult at social gatherings, and can be hard on your budget and tastebuds. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities who truly need to go gluten free, it’s worth these challenges to feel better and they can do so without the gluten-free “junk food.” But for others who are contemplating making the change to a gluten free diet to lose weight, I’d like to offer some suggestions. Before going completely gluten free, try the following: 1. Trade out refined grains for whole grains, choosing products with short ingredient

ARRGGHHH!!! My hair!!! I can’t do a thing with it!

Ohio Ave.

Though there is much interest in going gluten free, most people aren’t really sure what benefits to expect if they do make this drastic change in their diets. Initially, the gluten free diet was prescribed for those with celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease that results in damage to the small intestine when gluten-containing foods are consumed. Only about 1 in every 133 people suffer from this disease, typically diagnosed after chronic stomach pain, diarrhea and fatigue. Gluten is the protein in wheat, barley, rye and in cross-contaminated oats. Gluten is a big part of our diet as Americans. Wheat is an inexpensive grain that makes up a large portion of the calories consumed in meals, from cereals, to sandwiches, to pastas, tortillas and desserts. Though many people have experienced health benefits from avoiding gluten, others are simply following the fad to see if it results in weight loss. After all, it makes sense that cutting out so much of our typical food supply would cause a calorie deficit. Though surprising to some, the gluten free diet has not been proven

736-7230

Wrightsboro Road

Daniel Field

Augusta Mall

Tue - Fri: 8:00 - 6:00; Saturday: 8:00 - 2:00

ARKS

HARMACY

SOME PEOPLE CALL US

VITAMIN P We prefer simply Parks SMOOTHIE SPECIAL!

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE! FRIDAYS ONLY • EVANS ONLY

Hometown. Not big box.

437 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta, SC

803-279-7450 AIKEN: 803-226-0034 AUGUSTA: 706-922-1611 EVANS: 706-855-1616 4216 WASHINGTON RD (NEXT TO ACADEMY SPORTS) 10/31/16.

parkspharmacy.com

NEVER MISS AN ISSUU!

Visit us at issuu.com/medicalexaminer

+ 10

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN A monthly series by an Augusta drug treatment professional

WHAT IS RECOVERY? by Ken Wilson Executive Director, Steppingstones to Recovery Okay, your loved one has completed a treatment program and returned home and is back to work. Now that they have been to “recovery school” they are cured and back to normal, right? Not! as the young ones among us say nowadays. As a brain disease, the feel-good chemicals (like dopamine and serotonin) are still a quart low in their brain. Using drugs puts a halt to the production of these chemicals that make you feel

good. In fact, will take a long time for the brain chemicals to achieve balance and get up to the right mark. How long? We would know exactly when only if the brain had a dip-stick like your car does to help you check the oil level, but a year or two would not be uncommon. If you could see inside their brain you’d see something like the Pet Scan shown on page 16 (the right-hand image). That quart-low brain doesn’t (yet) feel good. It

can’t. It used to feel good — like the left side Pet Scan — onlywhen it was under the influence of chemicals. But in a few hours it would feel bad again. No wonder they were users. Long-face feels terrible. Remember when you were very sad...for days...and could hardly walk and talk and just wanted to get in bed with the covers up over your head and sleep? Yuck. The good news is that the brain will come back, mostly, in a year or two – depending on a number of factors such as drug-of-choice, age, family history, etc. Patience, patience, patience. Along the way he or she will want to feel normal and good and be sorely inclined to relapse. Not! If that happens the process will just have to start over again and slow things down to less than a snail’s pace. Or worse; it can go retro. The process will be better if he/she eats well, sleeps well (no sleeping pills! Patience... sleep will return...in time), and exercises well. No need to explain eating well...we all know what that means nowadays. Then comes, in the biopsycho-social disease of addiction, the psychological Please see YOUR BRAIN page 16

Collect OVER 98% in less than 30 days. What would that do for your practice?

CASH CASH TURN CRUNCH INTO FLOW

PhysiciansBillingRX.com • (706) 901-7279 The Next Generation In Revenue Recovery For Medical Providers

Customer review: “Southern Comfort Shoes

KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!” (NOT LITERALLY.)

SOUTHERN COMFORT SHOES 1001 WALTON WAY (in the former Integrity Medical location)

(706) 434-0129 • MON-THUR: 9-4 • FRI: 9-2 www.southerncomfortshoes.com

Comfort & therapeutic shoes and boots • Diabetic fittings • Custom orthotics • 20 major shoe brands • Board-certified Pedorthist • MD, PT, Podiatrist and Chiropractor referrals welcome

WALK-INS WELCOME!

Martin, President Obama, and two assistants look at bell peppers harvested from the White House vegetable garden.

PROFILES… from page 3 throwing away record amounts of fruits and vegetables, you haven’t heard about Burke County. “We have been able to double the fruit and vegetable intake by students,” says Martin, while helping local farmers in the process. Part of the credit for increased consumption goes directly to Burke’s Farm-to-School program. Those white acre peas that were in the field just yesterday have got to taste better than veggies that were picked and processed three months ago and have been sitting in warehouses waiting to be trucked across six states to sit on still more shelves before eventually landing on someone’s plate. Part of the credit also goes to First Lady Michelle Obama, a tireless supporter of better nutrition and greater physical activity for children nationwide. Where past First Ladies have embraced such platforms as fighting illicit drugs and improving literacy, Mrs. Obama’s focus has been on Let’s Move, a campaign to “solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation” through better nutrition and greater physical activity. So when Martin testified on Capitol Hill about school nutrition before a House sub-committee (above, center), “the White House noticed,” she says, and they contacted her about coming to town last April. “There’s just one problem with that plan,” Martin remembers telling White House planners. “School is out here that week.” That was actually better: for one thing, it made security a simpler affair. For any who question the timing of the First Lady’s visit during Masters Week — it’s not difficult to imagine a gratuitous 15-minute photo op followed by the short hop to Augusta to spend a few days chilling at the Masters with Augusta National member Condoleeza Rice — that’s not how it happened. “She flew in to Bush Field and came straight to Burke County High School and our garden, then went directly back to the airport and flew to New Jersey for another similar event. Her heart is in it.” She has her own vegetable garden on the White House lawn, after all, and it isn’t just for show. The same sense of devotion can certainly be said of Donna Martin, in the trenches of the quest for better nutrition every day. She realizes the accuracy of the solving childhood obesity “within a generation” because that’s how long it’s going to take. Older students raised on school lunches of pizza, Salisbury steaks, white bread and French fries, she says, are not as receptive to hummus and stir-fry and whole grains in the lunch line as the little kids coming along now in healthier times. Of course, everyone needs and deserves the benefits of better nutrition, and that will be one of Martin’s key messages during her presidency of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics during this, its 100th year. “We’re trying to make people in the medical profession realize we are the experts; we are their resource. Everything we do is strictly evidence-based. We can eliminate in-hospital malnutrition. Every step we take toward reducing obesity is a step in reducing renal failure, in stemming diabetes, in preventing orthopedic surgeries. “Prevention is a great job,” says Martin. “The best medicine should taste good.” +

OCTOBER 21, 2016

The blog spot — posted by Skeptical Scalpel, MD on October 13, 2016

SHOULD TARGET BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A NEEDLESTICK INJURY IN ITS PARKING LOT? A South Carolina jury awarded a woman $4,618,500 for a needlestick injury she sustained in the parking lot of a Target store. She had parked her car, and while walking to the store her daughter picked up a hypodermic needle. As she swatted the needle out of the child’s hand, it punctured the woman’s palm. She went into the store and notified an employee. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis medications were prescribed which she said rendered her sick and bedridden. Her husband had to take time off from work to care for her. Hepatitis and HIV testing proved negative. Her lawyer asked Target for $12,000 to compensate her, but the store offered $750. The plaintiff’s attorney said, “When we started this, we were just trying to get Target to make my client whole, to pay for her medical bills and the time that her husband had to take off work. We tried to be reasonable and not take this to trial. But Target took a really hard stance on it ... and I think the jury sent a message.” Not surprisingly, Target is considering appealing the verdict. I have some problems with this. If the verdict stands, does it mean a store is responsible for anything left in its parking lot at any time? Should stores hire people to comb the premises 24/7? That seems overly burdensome. There is an issue of possible negligence on the part of the plaintiff. Is swatting a needle out of the hand of a child a prudent thing to do? Is it ever OK to swat a needle? South Carolina is a state that has a modified comparative fault law which means that the plaintiff and defendant can be held responsible for damages proportional to what a jury finds is each one’s percentage of fault. This means the plaintiff could recover damages unless she is deemed responsible for 51 percent or more of the negligence that occurred. If she was found to have less responsibility than the defendant, her percentage would be deducted from the total amount awarded. Media reports of the case did not mention this issue. What is the role of post-exposure prophylaxis in this situation? Physicians and others at the Clinical Consultation Center at the University of California San Francisco have dealt with questions on post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV over 150,000 times. According to the Center’s guidelines, the South Carolina case would be classified as a “found needle” resulting in possible exposure to blood from an unknown source person. The Center’s website says, “No documented cases of HIV transmission from a ‘found needle’ outside of a healthcare setting in the U.S. have occurred.” They generally do not recommend post-exposure HIV prophylaxis in these situations. The UCSF guidelines do not address the risk of hepatitis in cases of “found needle.” For a needlestick from an unknown source, the CDC recommends only hepatitis B vaccine for those not previously immunized or who are hepatitis B antibody negative. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. Since the plaintiff in this case suffered no permanent physical damage, the award seems disproportionate. Was this fair? Will the verdict be reduced on appeal? What do you think? +

“Was this fair? What do you think?”

“Skeptical Scalpel” is a surgeon who blogs at his self-titled site, Skeptical Scalpel. This article originally appeared in Physician’s Weekly.

11 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

GLUTEN… from page 9 you do find that going gluten free is beneficial for you, take care to include high fiber foods daily, and plan carefully for a varied, nutrient-rich diet, supplementing with a multivitamin as a backup. Consider enlisting the help of a registered dietitian nutritionist to ensure that you meet your nutrition needs and for help with gluten free recipes and balanced meal planning. The following are some naturally gluten-free, healthy foods that can be prioritized regardless of one’s gluten tolerance level: veggies, including starchy veggies such as potatoes, fruits, beans, dairy, seafood, poultry/meat, brown rice, quinoa. Always focus on moderation and variety, and consider your goals carefully before making any diet change. There are many naturally gluten-free foods in the Best Body Cookbook & Menu Plan that I wrote along with local dietitian and recipe developer Kim Beavers, including this perfect-for-fall meal: Chipotle Chicken Butternut Stew.

Chipotle Chicken Butternut Stew Ingredients • 1 medium onion, chopped (about 11⁄2 cups) • 1 med. butternut squash, cut into 3⁄4-inch pieces (as shown) • 1 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup) • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 1-1⁄2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 2 tablespoons chili powder • 1⁄2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder • 1⁄2 teaspoon cumin • 2⁄3 cup quinoa, rinsed • 1 15-ounce can reduced-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed (or 11⁄2 cups precooked beans) • 1 14.5-ounce can no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes • 21⁄2 cups unsalted chicken broth • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional) Instructions 1. Place the onion, squash, red pepper, and garlic into the slow cooker. 2. Trim any remaining fat off of the chicken, lay it on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker, and sprinkle with seasonings (salt through cumin). Add the quinoa, black beans, tomatoes, and broth. Cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8 hours. Serve with cilantro, if desired. + Suggested side: green salad or raw veggies and hummus Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 11⁄2 cups) Nutrient Breakdown: Calories 340 Fat 4.5g (1g saturated fat) Cholesterol 75mg Sodium 490mg

Carbohydrate 45g Fiber 9g Protein 33g Plate Plan choices: 2 starches, 2 vegetables, 4 very lean meats

Research News The sugar tax Imposing taxes of sugary beverages has been tried and it has failed in a number of U.S. cities. Ditto for super-sized servings of the same. Detractors say people are free to choose their poison without government interference if that’s what they’re determined to do; supporters say the government is often the one left holding the bag for monumental healthcare costs from epidemic levels of diabetes, obesity, heart disease and tooth decay; why shouldn’t healthcare be funded, and in a way that might help stem the tide? The practice has been in place with tobacco taxes for decades. The latest entity to enter the fray is no less an authority than the World Health Organization, which earlier this month officially endorsed the practice of taxing sugary foods and beverages. Will this be a hardship for consumers? “Nutritionally,”

said WHO’s nutrition director, “people don’t need any sugar in their diet.” If you smoke... ...then you might be interested to know that a study conducted by Harvard Medical School has found that smoking has “a long-lasting impact on our molecular machinery, an impact that can last more than 30 years.” By “molecular machinery” they’re talking about DNA. The study found that most of the damage to DNA caused by tobacco use fades within five years after quitting. Most. But not all. Some genetic damage seems to be permanent, which is significant since heart disease and cancer can both be caused by genetic damage. Smokers, of course, already know how unsalubrious their habit is. Information like this isn’t likely to make significant numbers of smokers quit. But it might help young

people decide to never start. Migraine news Researchers at Sapienza University in Rome have identified what they believe could be a simple way to avoid debilitating headaches. The key: a diet low in carbohydrates. They believe that avoiding carbs helps the brain work more efficiently and reduces migraine-causing inflammation. Subjects enrolled in the study were divided into two groups. The control group did a standard lo-cal diet, while the second group was put on a very low carb, low calorie ketogenic diet for one month, then switched to a standard low-calorie diet for five months. The low carb group experienced a significant reduction in headaches after the fi rst month, but the headaches worsened as they transitioned to the standard diet. +

+ 12

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE EXAMiNERS +

by Dan Pearson

I’m thinking about Your photography quitting my day job. sideline must be doing well.

And you really think 100%. Just like the “Active Shooter” is company name says. a good name?

All you do is sports photography, right?

It’s going great.

THE MYSTERY WORD The Mystery Word for this issue: S TILL BLEATT

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE ACROSS 1. How profit sometimes starts 4. Suffer a heart attack 10. Jr. commissioned naval officer 13. South American tuber 14. Venice bridge 15. Hip bones 16. Rocky peak 17. In view of 19. Thrombus 21. County in Ireland 22. Woods of local note 27. Broad silk necktie 31. Like Phinizy Swamp 32. Echolocation 33. CHOG charity partner 36. Money of Western Samoa 37. Stain with mire 38. Wander 40. Blacksmith’s workshop 42. Hebrew for “delight” 43. Formally charge with a crime 45. Private box in a theater 47. Major CSRA employer 48. Burn doctor 49. Smaller shin bone 51. Dental prefix 52. Strengthen 56. Brass wind instrument 58. Lounge lazily 59. Rigidly moralistic 66. Male swan 67. On the ocean 68. White of the eye 69. Minimalist IV (abbrev.) 70. Liveliness 71. Came to the aid of 72. Evergreen tree

QUOTATION PUZZLE

52 56

45 49

Click on “READER CONTESTS”

VISIT WWW.AUGUSTARX.COM

32 36

21 23

31 33

10 15

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

47 50 53

U C A H B P A S U I M M S M H A A S E B S C P I I T N Y Y B E O I T T N Y O N

— Robert G. Allen

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.

DOWN 1. Jugular ________ 2. Common intestinal bacteria 3. Fortune-telling cards 4. Russell St. school 5. Aug. 5-16, 2016 sports venue 6. Operated 7. Ernie of the PGA 8. Like summer weather in Augusta 9. List variety 10. Peyton’s little brother 11. 30-D group, for short 12. Bend downward 15. Annoying 18. Delete 20. Classic movie station 23. Top ____ 24. Skill 25. Christiania today 26. ________ Hebdo 28. Nematocyst 29. Paddled 30. Mr. Reznor of 11-D

G T R E M O I S I

33. Cordele, Georgia’s County 34. Sano start 35. Lowest point 37. Started 39. Citizen army 41. Desert in East Asia 44. Political power or influence 46. Will Farrell holiday film of 2003 49. It lies west of the Bay of Biscay 50. Popular ISP 53. _____ Mountains 54. Aromatic spice 55. Arm joint 57. Criticize severely 59. _____ smear 60. Exploit 61. Pharmaceutical sales agt. 62. Sick 63. Edible brown mushroom 64. Where the Wild Things ___ 65. Young boy

X A M I N E R

7 6

4 9

8 5 1

3 8 9 6 5 4

8 1 2 6 3 9 4

3 9

U D O K U

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

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.

I 1 2

G 1

1 2

L 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5

S 1 2

Y 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1.HHTTFIGGWWUU 2.LOOOSSAAIIFE 3.CVVUNDY 4.KLEET 5.NEED 6.TD 7.S

SAMPLE:

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

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

N Vletters, ACATthen Simply unscramble the exploring ION begin : ( our ads. When you find the correctly spelled word hidden in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

13 +

THE BEST MEDICINE ha... ha...

man had been unemployed so long that he finally decided if he was ever going to earn a living again he was going to have to be his own boss. He decided to open a medical clinic, so he rented a suitable building and put up a big sign that said: “Guaranteed: We’ll cure you for $500! — and if we can’t, we’ll give you $1,000!” The town doctor didn’t appreciate the competition, but he thought it was a good opportunity to earn a quick thousand dollars. He went to the clinic and told the man he had completely lost his sense of taste. Pointing to a medicine cabinet in the exam room, the man said, “Nurse, please put 3 drops from vial #22 on the patient’s tongue.” When the nurse did so the doctor sputtered, “That’s gasoline! You just put gasoline in my mouth!” “Congratulations!” the man said. “You’ve got your taste back. That will be $500.” The doctor was furious, but came back after a couple of days with a plan to recover his money. “I have lost my memory,” he announced this time. “I cannot remember anything.” The man said, “Nurse, please put 3 drops from vial #22 in the patient’s mouth.”

“Oh no you don’t. That’s gasoline!” said the doctor. “Congratulations!” said the man. “You’ve got your memory back! That will be $500.” The doctor again leaves angrily but comes back after several more days. “My eyesight has failed,” he said. “I can barely make out anything.” “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any medicine for that. Since I can’t cure you, here: take this thousand dollars.” Looking at the money the doctor said, “But this is only five hundred.” “Congratulations!” said the man. “You got your vision back! That will be $500.” Moe: Do you believe these rumors about clowns being spotted all over the country? Joe: I didn’t believe it until I saw them debate each other on TV. Moe: I just watched a documentary on marijuana. Joe: Personally, I think that’s how all documentaries should be watched. Moe: Do you think places like Summerville are funny? Joe: I think they’re hill areas. Moe: What did the baby corn say to the momma corn? Joe: “Where’s pop corn?” Two scientists had been trying to conceive ever since their wedding. When the blessed event finally came, she was carrying twins. They named one Jessica and the other one Control. +

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

+ +

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

STATE

ZIP

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

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 Watching a baby grow and develop is a fascinating, amazing process. At birth the baby is a floppy, uncoordinated being, unable to even hold its head up. The baby’s body slumps over when held upright. The arms and legs cannot move with any kind of purposefulness. A newborn is less able to direct her or his movements than a jellyfish. And yet, if you look into the baby’s eyes, there is a light of intelligence already present in that diminutive person in the process of becoming. That intelligence is already capable of organizing its experiences and creating categories from those experiences. This is what mom smells like. This is how mom holds me. This is how mom snuggles me. This is how mom treats me when I am wet, poopy, or hungry. This is how mom’s voice sounds when she sings or talks to me. The sounds, smells, feelings, sights of mom begin to build up a very complex moving picture with touch and smell-o-vision included until those images have created an extremely complex narrative that is the child’s understanding of motherhood. The same building up of experiences occurs with everything in a child’s environment. This is daddy. This is the cat. This is the dog. These are my hands. I can open and close my fingers and grasp things. I can rock and roll until I can roll over. I can reach for things I want. I can bat away what I don’t like, such as foods I want to reject. I can stick out my tongue and make everybody laugh. I can smile when I am happy and cry when I’m not. When I vocalize people respond to me, so my vocalizations become more purposeful. Layers and layers of experience build up in my memory at a rate of thousands of insights every day. As my awareness of my environment build, my bodily awareness also builds. I eat my fingers and I have two sets of sensations developing—what my mouth feels and what my fingers feel. I learn that I have toothless gums that can bite without hurting my fingers. I learn that I have a wet moveable tongue that can feel my fingers and lick them. My fingers add to the awareness. I have hard gums, a soft tongue, lots of drool, and if I stick my fingers down my throat I have an intense gag reflex, probably something to avoid in the future. What we sometimes forget as adults, with largely automatic responses, is that that ability to allow our experiences to teach us never leaves. We remain living, breathing computers assimilating and defining experiences, building enormously complex patterns of knowledge we may not even realize exist. Neuroscientists have estimated that we process around 10,000 bits of information per second, responding automatically to most of it, but as we age we can choose to turn off a lot of that automaticity and be open to mindfulness to our lives. Mindfulness has a lot of potential benefits. We may recognize when we need medical help better if how our body felt yesterday changes today. We may choose to get out and socialize more if we become aware that we are eating to fill relational holes. We may become aware that doing some gardening might fill an old void which contained playing in the dirt. We can think about how we can fi ll those needs if we are sick, old, handicapped, or otherwise impaired. The fi rst step to success, as always, is knowing that we have an unfulfilled need. One of my needs is storytelling. These articles allow me to at least partially fulfi ll my storytelling need. What do you need to be healthier? +

+ 14

OCTOBER 21, 2016

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

THE MYSTERY SOLVED

118

IONissue was: Tlast The Mystery Word VinAour A C N S TILL OTABLET

...very cleverly hidden (in the bricks) in the p. 16 ad for AUBEN REALTY APARTMENTS However, we had no winner! Want to find your name here next issue? The new Mystery Word is on page 12. Start looking!

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

Augusta Medical Examiner Classifieds

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

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

AD COPY (one word per line; phone numbers MUST include the area code): .25

.50

.75

1.00

1.25

1.50

1.75

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.25

3.50

3.75

4.00

4.25

4.50

4.75

5.00

5.25

5.50

5.75

6.00

6.25

6.50

6.75

7.00

7.25

7.50

7.75

8.00

8.25

8.50

8.75

9.00

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

Send this form with payment to:

AUGUSTA MEDICAL EXAMINER, PO BOX 397, AUGUSTA, GA 30903-0397 Total ad cost by number of words as shown above: $ 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 7 days prior to our publication date.

This is how many back issues of the Medical Examiner are available at issuu.com/medicalexaminer You can subscribe to the online edition free!

EXAMINER CLASSIFIEDS HOMES, APARTMENTS, ROOMMATES, LAND, ETC. HOUSE FOR RENT: 2bdrm, one bath, kitchen with stove and refrigerator, bonus room, laundry closet with W/D hook ups, basement, screened porch, handicap ramp. Double pane windows. Near N. Augusta Public Safety and NA community Center. Within walking distance of Greeneway. Ideal for a couple or single person. $650.00 per month, a security deposit of $650.00 is required with first month’s rent. No pets ! Rental Application required. Prefer 1 year lease. Call 803 599 0781 for appt to see. FOR RENT 1827 McDowell St., 1 mi to MCG. 2 bdrm, 1.5 bath, LR, DR, den, kitchen. Tile/hardwood floors. New roof. (706) 738-2331 ROOM FOR RENT with private bathroom and full house privileges. Martinez $600/mo (706) 840-6860 FOR SALE 3 bedroom/2 bath, single garage Townhouse in Martinez. Master/ bath down, 2 upstairs bedrooms share bath, large loft for office, playroom, den; wood-burning fireplace, covered back porch. Freshly painted with new flooring, lighting and ceiling fans. Easy access to Riverwatch Parkway, Washington Rd, I-20, Augusta. 1987 sq.ft. $147,900. 706-836-7001. ROOM FOR RENT 1 room, private bathroom, 2bdrm MH on private lot. Clean quiet neighborhood. Non-smoker. $600 monthly. Must be stable, verifiable references and income. Cable and Internet included. Warrenville, 5 min from Aiken, 20 min to Augusta. (803) 270-2658 POND VIEW! Evans all-brick 2-story with solar panels. Avg. electric bill $170 in Northwood, 3,400 sqft. Call 1-800401-0257, ext. 0043 24/7 for price and details.

AUGUSTAGAHOMESEARCH.COM Foreclosures • MLS • Builders • Rentals (706) 564-5885

MISCELLANEOUS SUNSET MEMORIAL GARDENS Opening and closing at Sunset Mem. Gardens in Graniteville. Sale: $760 (Value: $1520+) Call 706-736-0596 ANTIQUE maple dinette set with buffet corner cabinet table with pull-out leaves. Four chairs with two captain’s chairs. Excellent condition. $300. Double bed early 1930s with mattress spring coverlet shams $150. Call (706) 860-2170 CEMETERY SPACES (2) Sunset Memorial Gardens, Graniteville SC adjacent to lighted military flagstaff, includes granite bench with urn space, installation and inscription. All $4700 ($8600 value). Spaces only: $2700. Call (803) 2953033 FISHING CLUB wants more grey-haired members. Meet 2nd Thurs of month at Harbor Inn Restaurant, 12 noon. “Adventure Before Dementia” Info: (706) 736-8753

SERVICES CELIA DUNN, DMD 584 Blue Ridge Drive, Evans GA 30809 (706) 650-9700 HOUSE CLEANING Your house, apartment, rental move-outs. Thorough, dependable. Weekly, or whatever schedule you prefer. References. 706-877-0421 F. E. GILLIARD, MD FAMILY MEDICINE Acute & Chronic Illnesses Occupational Medicine PROMPT APPOINTMENTS (706) 760-7607

THE PUZZLE SOLVED N O T C H

E C O L I

C R I S P

M O N T E

P U A S P E

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

R R E S I A L T O N S I C C O C K R S H Y A L A F O R G T L O F I B R E I B A A N I C S C L E H E L P

T O I D E R O R K A S S O B E M E E G E U L A N F O L A L R A E D

E N S L I A I N G C N I D A

O A R E D

T R E N T

R O C K Y

C L O V E

E L B O W

SEE PAGE 12

QUOTATION QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION: Page 12: “Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist.” — Robert G. Allen

The Sudoku Solution 7 9 4 8 3 6 1 2 5

6 1 8 5 4 2 3 9 7

5 3 2 9 7 1 8 6 4

3 4 1 6 8 7 9 5 2

9 8 7 2 5 4 6 3 1

2 5 6 3 1 9 4 7 8

8 2 3 1 9 5 7 4 6

4 6 9 7 2 8 5 1 3

1 7 5 4 6 3 2 8 9

WORDS BY NUMBER “If God wanted us to fly He would have given us tickets.” — Mel Brooks

OCTOBER 21, 2016

15 +

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

The Short White Coat “STICKTOITIVENESS” I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and every so often I find a gem on a corner I have walked or driven by countless times. The most recent gem: Dave. The day I met Dave was like most others in South Florida, hot and unpredictable. What drew my attention to the man sitting on the corner of the street? His art. Each piece was complex and profound. I approached Dave with a big smile and asked if I could hear the story behind his art and share it. Without any hesitation, Dave returned a smile and said yes. The next thing I know, I’m sitting on the concrete sidewalk with a pen in one hand and a notebook on my lap. As his story unfolded, I

found myself leaning in, all the more intrigued. Dave, a U.S. veteran, had lived on the streets for several decades, struggling to find access to medical care and shelter. He had a donations basket placed next to his art pieces (made of palm leaves), and told me bits and pieces of his story while pausing to welcome each passer-by as they approached. A man who experienced undeniable struggle spread his love to all that came his way. A young couple walked by his art and stopped to commend him for its creativity and beauty. His response, “God is my boss.” They were two of many who stopped to take a moment and admire his work. Dave took

A med student’s notebook the time to not only converse with all who walked his way, but to truly be present in the time spent with each person, sharing joy in the form of laughter, songs and stories. Each piece had a story with a common theme: “STICKTOITIVENESS.” I smiled when I fi rst heard it because I found it to be the most important lesson for children and adults alike: “Stick to it.” Despite the hardships and obstacles we

face, sticktoitiveness will always see us through. I found myself pleasantly surprised to see Dave giving away not only smiles and laughter, but art pieces as well. Every child who pointed and smiled at his art received a piece of it for free. I watched him tell each child that their form of payment would be R.A.K.; three Random Acts of Kindness. Dave took the time to explain to each child what random acts of kindness are. Every parent showed the same reaction, progressing from stern and serious (what does this guy want?), to mildly welcoming (I suppose this is okay...), to heartwarming gratitude (I think this moment just made my day). At fi rst, I was struck by how astonished the adults were at another person’s genuine kindness. However,

my second, and more honest thought was that I was surprised too. Witnessing someone without much (in a material sense) being so generous was inspiring. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with news about politics, the economy and other aspects of life we cannot fully control, maintaining perspective will keep us healthier and happier. Despite the path we are on, it’s to our benefit to stay positive and hopeful with a large dose of sticktoitiveness! + by Jasmine Rivas, a third year medical student at University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Feel free to contact her with questions or feedback: jrivas@umhs-sk.net

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY ALLERGY

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

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

COUNSELING Resolution Counseling Professionals 3633 Wheeler Rd, Suite 365 Augusta 30909 706-432-6866 www.visitrcp.com

DENTISTRY

DERMATOLOGY

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

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

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

FAMILY MEDICINE

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

OPHTHALMOLOGY Roger M. Smith, M.D. 820 St. Sebastian Way Suite 5-A Augusta 30901 Practice closing 706-724-3339 in December 2016

PHARMACY

YOUR LISTING HERE

SENIOR LIVING

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

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

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

VEIN CARE

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

WEIGHT LOSS

I+

M.E.

PSYCHIATRY

+ 16

AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER

OCTOBER 21, 2016

YOUR BRAIN… from page 10 leg of the stool part. Nothing deep here...a psychologist or psychiatrist is not necessarily in this equation although some times they are a great asset. This part of recovery is just learning how to think well again, and doesn’t come naturally to many people because their “thinker” has been broken for a long time. Poor circulation in the frontal lobe (see Pet Scan) nets poor decision-making and a poor conscience, ya know? Yeah, you do know. The greatest movement to grace the 20th century was the 12-Step self-help groups that came along in the late 1930’s and beyond such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. These groups are free except for donations in each meeting (no, if you’re not an alcoholic or addict your money won’t be accepted!). The steps didn’t just come out of thin air...the concepts there are from the Holy Scriptures (both the Jewish Scriptures that Christians refer to as the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament). The earliest recovery groups who formulated the steps in workable form were fundamentalist Christians, and only later on did they add terms to allow non-Christians to join their group via phrases such as “God as we understood Him” and “power greater than ourselves.” Following these steps with a Sponsor can nicely restore someone in recovery to healthy thinking. Let’s not leave out the Sociological aspect, the third leg of the stool. Recovery often requires a change of playmates, playgrounds, and playthings. But don’t bother to tell your loved ones that...they’re not going to listen to you, right?!!! But they will listen to their own kind who have been down their pathway. And when they start listening and acting, THAT’s the beginning of recovery! Until then, patience, patience... +

Like this newspaper? The Genuine. The Original. Oh, we almost forgot: The Beautiful. OVERHEAD DOOR COMPANY OF AUGUSTA/AIKEN (706) 736-8478 / (803) 642-7269 WWW.OHDAUGUSTA.COM

The best way to support the Medical Examiner is by supporting our advertisers.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT