Medical Examiner 9-3-21 by Daniel Pearson

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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THE CORONAVIRUS/MILK CRATE CHALLENGE

CONNECTION Have you seen the milk crate challenge that has been sweeping social media? The idea is to climb up a tall stack of milk crates and then back down again without falling. Tik-Tok and other platforms are full of videos of disastrous falls (see below) experienced by dim-witted daredevils attempting this pointless challenge. These people all thought they could make it, only to take nasty falls. In those falls lies the coronavirus/milk crate challenge connection:

preliminary confidence followed by a terrible crash. Milk crate challenge victims can hopefully dust themselves off — or only have to wear a cast for a month or so — and learn from their mistake. But there are growing numbers of news reports telling the sad tales of people who refused to wear masks, dismissed the value of the vaccine, and in some cases denied the reality of the virus itself who are now dead from it. Some were defiant to the end while others regretted

their previous stand but sadly accepted that their epiphany came too late. These people were retired grandparents, ordinary hard-working people in their 30s, and even a number of prominent anti-vaccine and anti-mask activists. One was Marc Bernier, a Florida radio host who criticized the COVID-19 vaccine and referred to himself as “Mr. Anti-Vax.” He died this past Saturday night at age 65, three weeks after becoming infected with the virus. Another was Caleb Wallace, a prominent anti-mask campaigner in Texas who also died of COVID this past Saturday at age 30, leaving behind his wife and three young daughters. She told the local newspaper that although her husband refused to get the vaccine, he did take megadoses of Vitamin C, zinc, aspirin, and ivermectin, the deworming treatment used for livestock. “Show me the science that masks work,” he posted on the San Angelo (Texas) Freedom

IF MASKS DON’T WORK...

...then why do we teach our children to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze? Why not just sneeze free and let ’er rip across the room, any room? Why do people sneeze into a handkerchief if one is available? Why have our doctors — yes, even the doctors of people who campaign against masks — why have they routinely worn masks in clinical and surgical settings (the very settings where germ control is particularly vital) for more than a century? How would an anti-masker feel if his or her doctor performed a procedure without wearing a mask? Masks aren’t perfect, but as a scientific fact, they do offer protection. +

Defender’s Facebook page late last year. Well Caleb, unfortunately it looks like not wearing masks doesn’t work either. Our hearts go out to the families of these COVID

victims. Would their loved ones be alive today if they had followed public health recommendations like masking and getting vaccinated? Not necessarily. But probably. +

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

PARENTHOOD by David W. Proefrock, PhD

Your 16 year-old son wants to drop out of school and go to work. He has hated school for as long as you can remember, and this past year he failed most of his classes. He has a part-time job and now wants to work full-time. He is a good worker, and his boss says he is one the best employees he has ever had. What do you do? A. Nothing is more important than education. Don’t let him quit school until he graduates. B. Allow him to quit school and start working on the condition that he attends night school or GED classes until he either finishes high school or earns his GED. C. He is 16. There’s nothing you can do about it. D. Talk to the school counselor about making his educational experience more relevant for him. If you answered: A. By failing his classes, he seems to be making this choice for you. Education is important, but there are other ways to get educated besides high school. B. This is probably the best way to handle this situation and also addresses the fact that he cannot have his driver’s license if he drops out of school. C. He still lives in your home, so it is not true that there is nothing you can do. However, what you do must be in his best interest. It is clear that school has not been the best place for him. D. It’s probably a little late for this. He is already failing, and both you and the school have already had a chance to make his education more relevant for him. Education is important, but education can be much broader than traditional high school. This child has proven that he is a good worker and has experienced far more success working than in school. His future success, however, may require that he get a diploma or equivalency, and you should try to make sure that happens. + Dr. Proefrock is a retired clinical and forensic child psychologist.

ion people can’t be wr than a mill ong. Less

PART F OF A 26-PART SERIES

IS FOR FEAR Fear is a fascinating and complicated subject, one that is often misunderstood. The origins of this emotion we have all experienced are a blend of complex chemicals in the brain combined with experiences logged throughout life, some of them vividly etched in our memories, others borne of events we have forgotten or were too small to remember in the first place. And there are still other fears that have no rational basis or explanation. All humans have both innate fears, as well as learned ones that are based on an event that might have been traumatic. The classic example of a learned fear is the war veteran who experiences extreme anxiety hearing the drone of a helicopter. But other causes for alarm are only loosely connected to the original source of fear. For example, someone could have a panic reaction whenever they smell freshly cut lemons because that scent was in the air on a previous occasion when something tragic occurred; or a former EMT who worked for years on an ambulance known as “Unit 14” might experience anxiety every time he or

she hears the number 14; it’s just a number, but they associate it with stress, panic, emergencies and disasters. Even innate, natural fears require time to develop. A toddler might throw himself off a ledge or a flight of stairs into the waiting arms of his mother or father without fear of accident or injury. Babies generally don’t display fear — toward strangers or unfamiliar faces, for instance — until reaching 7 to 12 months of age. That’s because the portion of the brain that is in charge of fear mechanisms — the amygdala — is not yet fully developed. Once it is, its power is considerable, both immediately and over time. The amygdala

As most of us know from first-hand experience, getting called upon unexpectedly in a big meeting, having an oncoming car veer toward us in traffic, or even hearing a sudden loud noise, are among the thousands of events big and small that can produce an immediate physical response. That’s your amygdala (pronounced ah-MIG-dah-lah) at work. Physical reactions to fear include perspiration, rapid breathing (even hyperventilation), “butterflies in the stomach,” constriction of blood vessels, and increased muscle tension, one of whose side effects is called piloerection, a fancy word for goosebumps, in which the muscles attached to each

and every one of our tens of thousands of hair follicles tense up and contract, resulting in the hair on your arm or the back of your neck literally standing up. It’s not just an idiom. Those are just a few of things we readily sense when fear strikes. What’s going on behind the scenes would fill a book. And it would be a highly technical book at that. In a nutshell (which is about the size of the amygdala - half an inch or so), some chemicals are released in response to fear while others normally present are suppressed. The body has its own internal system that produces natural opioids and benzodiazepines (street name: benzos). Really! When something goes wrong these feel-good chemicals are immediately shut down. The body senses this instantly, much like we would notice immediately if someone slapped his hand across our nose and mouth and we couldn’t breathe. Getting the chemical signals that something is wrong, the adrenal gland instantly injects cortisol into the system (when it’s store-

BOTH SIDES Fear can be an extremely valuable emotion, protecting us from or reducing the risk from falls, fire, crime, death, and yes, clowns, spiders and snakes (see box on p. 6). On the other hand, humans can be exploited by stoking fears or creating them out of thin air for selfish gain. Politicians, military leaders, unscrupulous evangelists, and others can and do use fear as a tool to win converts to their policies or positions, or to enrich themselves at other’s expense. + Please see FEAR page 6

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 AN EDITORIAL OPINION

Is there science behind mask wearing?

hese two Columbia County mothers were interviewed on WRDW last week during an anti-mask protest in front of Board of Education offices. The report identified them as Jo Turner and Chelsea Haynes, organizers of the event. In response to their statement that masks don’t work, reporter Sloane O’Cone asked them for the source of their information. Long pause. That stumped the panel. “Um... I believe Ashley has more of the info than I do.” O’Cone, meanwhile, cited the World Health Organization, Mayo Clinic, the Centers for Disease Control, multiple peer-reviewed scientific studies, and Dr. Rodger MacArthur, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Medical College of Georgia, all of whom have clinically proven that masks are effective at exactly what they’re designed to do: limit the amount and spread of droplets that can carry disease from one person to another as we speak, sing, laugh, sneeze, and cough our way through daily life. Of course, you have to weigh the evidence presented by those organizations against whatever information Ashley has. These two ladies and their fellow protesters, despite more than 700 COVID cases and over 1,000 students and staff in quarantine in Columbia County schools just since the start of school, want “the air of freedom” for their children. One protester held a sign reading “Comirnaty or Communism” (Comirnaty being the clinical name for the Pfizer vaccine). What if your kids come down with COVID? asked O’Cone. “Treat it like any other cold,” one of the two Mother of the Year candidates said. “Let it run its course.” That is quite a callous response about a disease that has sickened nearly 39 million Americans so far, killing well over 630,000, and that’s in the midst of a deadly resurgence, but it seems an especially reprehensible position to volunteer your own children for. Dr. MacArthur’s response: “Kids are dying. It’s as simple as that. They’re dying in Georgia” and around the nation. “It’s tragic.” +

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It is amazing that such a question would even be asked in the year 2021. But it is being asked over and over by skeptics. Here at Medical Examiner world headquarters in Augusta, we feel that answering this question is a bit like answering whether or not the world is round. It has been established for a long time. There is no need to rehash the information yet again, centuries after the fact. Rather than taking the time for a full answer, we’ll cover the main points of an article published in the The American Journal of Surgery on March 5 of this year. The article’s abstract, its summary, made the following points: • The use of facial masks goes back to antiquity. • The bad smell of infections prompted the original use of masking. • Discovery of the germ theory of disease increased the use of masking in the late 1800s. • Modern masks are the result of physiological and engineering science. • Respiratory viral pandemics demand masking for prevention. The article itself, written by a physician, included the following: “The health-related needs [for masks] took centuries to become established, but not until the germ theory of disease became recognized. The facial mask, seen as an essential defensive tool for prevention of respiratory transmitted disease continues to be the prime personal protective piece of equipment. With air-born contaminations such as the present pandemic SARS- CoV-2 viral infestation, why would there be opposition to the use of this personal protective cover of our airways, when until an immunologic answer is available, it is the best single prevention we have? [Italics ours] “When supported with other measures, like distancing, washing and non-crowding, society would be much safer and secure, with probable less acute and drastic outcomes due to the spread of this virus.” +

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

#146 IN A SERIES

Who is this? ON THE ROAD TO BETTER HEALTH A PATIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Editor’s note: Augusta writer Marcia Ribble, Ph.D., is a retired English and creative writing professor who offers her unique perspective as a patient. Contact her at marciaribble@hotmail.com by Marcia Ribble

t isn’t every doctor who becomes a household name, but you’re looking at one who certainly did. You know his name even though you probably don’t recognize his face. His fame rests upon saving countless lives, and although he died in 2016 (at age 96) he continues to save lives to this day. Perhaps he has saved yours. Or maybe because of this man, you were able to save a life. Maybe a family member or even a complete stranger at a nearby table in a restaurant was choking when a bite of food went down the wrong pipe, and you were able to dislodge the food because of this man. So you do know his name, don’t you? Henry Heimlich was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in February of 1920. He earned his BA from Cornell University and went on to receive his MD from the Weill Cornell Medical College in 1943. After medical school, Heimlich served with the U.S. Navy as the chief medical officer responsible for the well-being of American and Chinese military personnel at a camp in China. After the war he made a small splash with the invention of a chest drainage flutter valve (also called the Heimlich valve), patented by him in 1969. While still in China he also discovered an effective treatment for a previously incurable bacterial infection of the eyelids. Of course, his main claim to fame is the famous and eponymous Heimlich maneuver, first described by the doctor in an informal article in Emergency Medicine in June 1974 entitled Pop Goes the Café Coronary. In the article Heimlich cited the annual U.S. death toll from food choking incidents as 3,900. “The incident generally occurs at the dinner table,” he wrote. “The victim suddenly chokes, turns blue or black, and is dead in minutes. He can neither speak nor help himself...Bystanders frequently confuse the episode with a heart attack, thus the popular appellation ‘cafe coronary.’” Before Henry Heimlich came along, organizations like the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association recommended a series of back blows to dislodge food blocking airways, but the superiority of the Heimlich maneuver took over as the emergency intervention of choice. There are a number of interesting footnotes to Dr. Henry Heimlich’s personal life. His wife, for example, the former Jane Murray, was the daughter of ballroom-dancing entrepreneur Arthur Murray. They had four children, two girls and two boys. One of their sons is investigative blogger Peter M. Heimlich, who has stated, “The only thing my father ever invented was his own mythology.” Peter’s website describes his father as “a spectacular con man and serial liar” and tells of his “wide-ranging, unseen 50-year history of fraud.” So their family life was obviously wonderful. Heimlich was also the uncle of Anson Williams, who played “Potsie” Weber on the 1970s hit TV show Happy Days. Dr. Heimlich died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 17, 2016, after complications from a heart attack suffered about a week earlier at his home. +

The sun is shining. It will be in the mid-80s today. A perfect day for writing! Moving from Augusta back to Michigan and connecting more personally with family and friends has ignited in me a lot of precious memories. For many seniors, reliving the past brings us comfort. This kind of connection is one deeply valued in Georgia as well as in Michigan. Family is where we begin and, if we are really lucky, it is where we end our lives. This reminds me of a poem of Robert Frost’s about a hired man who, as he is dying, returns to a farm where he spent years working. The lines that feel particularly relevant to me are about what home is. Frost tells us that “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” And so the wife takes in the dying man and provides him a safe place to die. At only 78 I don’t feel anywhere near death, but that urge to be where you feel like you belong is a powerful one. It has been powerful enough to persuade me to pack up years’ worth of accumulated “stuff” and move most of it up to Bay City. The name Bay City is appropriate because it is located at the mouth of the Saginaw River, where it empties into Saginaw Bay, which forms the Southernmost parts of Lake Huron. Fishing is every bit as popular here as it is in Georgia. As is hunting and other outdoor sports. Fishing holds such pleasant memories for me. In the spring, summer, and fall,

my dad would wake me up very early after he got home from work, and we’d put our poles in the car and head for our favorite fishing spot on a large dock jutting out into the mouth of the Saginaw River. At the end of the dock was a rectangular building that held a bait shop, fishing tackle and supplies, and a little counter that served things like coffee and hamburgers, nothing fancy, just enough to prevent us from leaving to get something to eat if we got hungry. After getting our bait, usually minnows, we’d go and sit on one of the benches along the outer walls of the building. I’d hook up my bait and cast it out, hoping I didn’t get the much-dreaded line tangles that could keep me busy trying to untangle it. My dad did not believe in him doing those things for me. Real fisherwomen take care of those things, he’d tell me. And I did with rare exceptions. I did not have to take bullheads or pike off the hook. Pike have dangerous teeth and bullheads have barbs that sting badly. Once home with our buckets of fish, he’d go to bed and I would gut and clean the fish, after conking them on the head to ensure that they didn’t suffer. I wasn’t even a teenager yet, but I did a good job of cleaning fish. Mind you, in those days we ate fish with the bones in and always bread on the table in case we swallowed a bone. Nobody ever did swallow a bone. I am curious about cleaning fish today because I cleaned them outside on top of our big wellcap on newspapers. So few people take newspapers today. How do they clean their fish? +

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ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

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The semi-autobiographical novella by Great Savannah River Raft Race as a kid, and Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It, we finally got around to it when I was around and the movie adaptation of it, are among my 16 years old. I had a homemade raft that favorites in their respective genres. The story snubbed its nose at the principles of nautical is about two young men coming of age in Mis- engineering. It was top-heavy and therefore soula, Montana, between the two world wars. highly prone to capsizing. There is a stretch of Their father is a minister and an even more the Savannah River with rapids that was part devout fisherman. Both boys follow their of the race course. My little raft, in addition father’s lead when it comes to fishing. If you to being unstable, was also slow. I’m not sure haven’t read the story or the seen the movie, I how, but I think it actually went slower than won’t spoil it for you, but it speaks of famithe current, despite this being in violation to ly, loss, and, as the title implies, a river runs many of the known laws of physics. At any through it both literally and metaphorically. rate, my buddies got way out ahead of me, Lately, as I cross the Savannah River many and when they noticed this situation, they times per week to go see my took the opportunity to berate father in the hospital, I think me for my slow raft, but since about Norman Maclean and they were also pretty decent I was about to die. fellows, they finally pulled up his poignant story. Despite the great geographical distance and on an island to wait for me. I’d the time gap between its setting like to think they missed my and today, I feel a personal company, but it could have been connection. For most of my life I have lived that I was getting out of range for their insults in South Carolina and worked in Georgia, to reach me and they had some doozies that so crossing that river twice a day has been a they just had to share. regular part of my life. There have been many As soon as they waved to get my attention changes along its banks, even in my relativeso I’d know they had stopped for me, they ly few years of life, but the river itself seems turned around to check out the island. At that timeless. It is one of the few unchanging moment my highly unstable craft tipped over things in my life. I played along it when I visand dumped me out right in front of a very ited my grandmother at her office on Reynolds swift area of the river that squeezed between Street. My father and brother and I spent a two large rocks. My foot got caught under one lot of time on that river and the reservoir that of the rocks. The force of the current pushed was created by it, Clarks Hill Lake. me underwater. I pushed myself up with just Recently in this space you may have read of my arms like a pushup and managed to just my failed attempt to take my father back there barely get my head above water and took a to a cabin at Mistletoe State Park for a long deep breath. I then tried in vain to remove weekend last fall, but how his Alzheimer’s had my foot. I repeated this multiple times and advanced to the point where he couldn’t enjoy was losing strength. Each time it was harder it. We took part in the Great Savannah River to get my head above the water. I yelled for Raft Race when I was a teenager as well, and help but could not be heard. I truly thought we fished and took boat rides both above and that I was about to die. Even if my friends below the Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam many realized I was in trouble, getting back to me in times over the decades. Unlike the father in A their slow, unpowered boats against the swift River Runs Through It, I must admit that my current would take more time than I had left. father was never a very good fisherman, but he I started praying and realized that while I had so enjoyed it that it didn’t matter. struggled mightily to get myself loose, I had He more than made up for it by being an held back from one thing. I was still trying to amazing father. A man who worked a job keep my shoe. What a silly thing to be worhe never really liked for longer hours than ried about when your very life is in jeopardy. he wanted to, but he wanted to take care of I pulled my foot out of the shoe and was his family, so he suffered without complaint, released from the rock. I managed to get back skipped lunches to get more hours and save to my raft, grabbed it and held on tight as I money and generally stayed busy with his work, floated alongside it to the island where I told taking care of our home, our cars, us, and the my friends about the ordeal and took some congregation. Like the father in A River Runs time to rest, rehydrate, and to eat a snack to Through It, he is a Christian minister and has recover my strength. been since before I was born. He held a full-time In the past couple of years, and especially job while also being a shepherd to the flock. within the last few months, with each crisis He still tries to read the Bible, but increasingly with my father or mother, or even my own finds that difficult because of his condition. His health, I have felt like I was pushing up out conversation, when we can understand him, is of that water for the final time I had strength still about spiritual matters quite often. to do it. My health, physical, emotional, and As I have witnessed my father slowly slip mental, was draining out of me fast, but away from us because of the dastardly Alzhei- I didn’t want to give up taking care of my mer’s disease, I have thought a lot about loss. father even though it was literally killing me I even recalled a near-death experience to my with stress and the problems it brings on and son just this week, and it involved the river. exacerbates. Giving up a shoe is hardly an apt I had always wanted to take part in the metaphor for losing your father, but the lesson

is still there, and I thought about it after telling my son that story. I must let go of the conceit that I can continue taking care of my father in his worsening condition. I don’t have the equipment, the skills, or the strength anymore. It isn’t just me either. My wife and mother have continued to decline in health as we have tried to do that. I have finally accepted this and know that I have to keep living. It is what my father would want for me if he was still all there to think about it. It is what I would want for my wife and children too if I were in his situation. I hope that I can continue for many more years to share great times with my children and grandchildren as the river that is our family continues to run through the years, flowing past many changes, but always with the common thread of our love and devotion to one another. As we pass on stories about the family and friends we have lost, this river will remain. Nobody is ever truly gone as long as someone remembers them. + J.B. Collum is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

FEAR… from page 2

bought, it’s called hydrocortisone). Cortisol is part of the daily mix of chemicals the body produces, but in a situation of stress, anxiety, or fear, we get a jolt of it, putting the fight or flight mode in full swing. Cortisol increases blood sugar and promotes metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates. In combination with adrenaline (another A 2008 analysis of online chemical whose presence queries that involved the escalates in times of fear and phrase “fear of...” resulted in stress), cortisol is thought to this Top Ten list: be the chemical mechanism 1. flying for capturing so-called “flash 2. heights bulb memories.” These are 3. clowns the moments stored away 4. intimacy that turn an early childhood 5. death incident we may not even 6. rejection remember (being bitten by 7. people a dog, for example) into a 8. snakes lifelong phobia. 9. failure In addition to its temporary 10. driving effects, fear and the chemical changes it induces can Another list was compiled over time result in a host based on a 2005 Gallup poll of chronic health issues. of 1,000 US teenagers (aged Cortisol’s side effect of 13 to 17). These are their releasing glucose instead of Top Ten fears: storing it (should that become 1. terrorist attacks the norm), can cause tissue 2. spiders atrophy and chronic fatigue. 3. death/dying/being killed Cardiovascular changes over 4. failure in life time can promote high blood 5. war 6. heights pressure, which in turn can 7. criminal or gang violence damage the heart, vascular 8. being alone system, and kidneys. The 9. the future immune system can become 10. nuclear war depressed and therefore less + effective, and stress-related illnesses such as ulcers may appear. Fear causes a lot of trouble. And sometimes it isn’t really the fearful person’s fault; it isn’t that they are the “Nervous Nelly” type. It’s their own body turning against them. In some instances faulty sensors create the problem. Simply put, sometimes the brain can incorrectly sense that cortisol levels are low when they are actually high. The result is the dual issue of already-high cortisol combined with even more cortisol being stirred into the mix to correct a shortage that doesn’t exist. A person whose body chemistry was in that state would be extremely prone to fear, stress and anxiety even in the absence of any triggers. The opposite situation exists in a person with a damaged amygdala. They may be incapable of experiencing fear. In summary, all of us want to be able to count on good fear, the kind that keeps us from danger of various kinds, and not be unexpectedly waylaid by unwanted fear, the kind that sabotages our presentation at work or school or church. What is the answer? Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing chronic stress and anxiety that is negatively affecting your life. There may be a physical issue that can be addressed and corrected. But don’t be eager to look to medication for the answers to irrational fears and anxiety. Drugs that treat these issues can be expensive. You can run out of them. You can forget to take them. You cannot unexpectedly find yourself in a panicinducing moment — say in a meeting at work — and pause the world while you take your medication and wait for the drugs to take effect. A better option might be available: unlearning fearful reactions and behaviors for true and permanent control. +

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top with reserved fronds and enjoy! Kim’s Note: This salad is wonderful even without the greens. Yield: 6 Servings Nutrition Breakdown: Calories 110, Fat 7g (1g saturated, 5g monounsaturated), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 95mg, Carbohydrate 12g, Fiber 3g, Protein 1g, Potassium 214mg, Phosphorus 25mg. Percent Daily Value: 20% Vitamin A, 2% Calcium 10% Vitamin C, 4% Iron. Carbohydrate Choice: 1 Carbohydrate Diabetes Exchanges: 1 Vegetable, ½ Fruit, 1 Fat +

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To cut the fennel, slice off the green frond stalks; chop some of the frond greens to use as garnish ~ two teaspoons. Slice the fennel in half and use your knife to cut out the core (triangle looking shape). Slice the fennel crosswise as thinly as possible and add to the dressing with the apple. Toss the parsley, celery and onion in with the apple mixture. To serve, drain off the extra dressing. Place 3/4 cup greens on each plate and top with about 1/3 cup apple mixture,

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Ohio Ave.

Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Alternatively, you could add the dressing to a zip-top bag—this makes adding the apples to the dressing easy and helps in coating the apples thoroughly. Cut the apple in quarters and remove the core. Slice very thin. Once sliced add apple to the dressing mixture to keep them from turning brown.

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SEPTEMBER

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ASK DR. KARP

NO NONSENSE

NUTRITION

Eric, from Toronto, Canada, asks: “is one type of food more important than the others? My friends all seem to be overdosing on protein while avoiding carbs. And what about fatty foods? People either seem to be on high fat diets or avoiding fat. I’m totally confused about what type of food is the healthiest to eat.”

Thanks for the important question, Eric. Here is the simple fact: every tissue and organ in your body needs all the nutrients, not just a selected few. This is true for tissues as diverse as muscles and eyeballs. That is why, in normal, healthy people, emphasizing one specific nutrient to the detriment of the others, whether it is protein, a vitamin or a mineral, makes no nutritional sense. When you read or hear people tell you that omega fat or whey protein or zinc is the way to go, do not walk away. Run! They have a basic misunderstanding of how the human body works. In order to be healthy, your body not only needs all the essential nutrients, but it needs their intake to be balanced. That means that no one nutrient is the magical answer or should be overly emphasized compared to another. What is the correct balance of nutrients for a normal healthy human? This has been studied for many years and what we have found out is this: every normal healthy person should get about 12-

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15% of their daily calories from protein, about 25% from fat, and the rest — the vast majority of calories — should come from carbs. Surprised at how little protein and how many carbs? The truth is that carbs need to be the type of food that contributes most of the calories in your diet. Isn’t it ironic, then, that there is this senseless overemphasis on protein and de-emphasize on carbs today? It’s the exact opposite of a healthy diet. Besides being healthier for your body, carbs are much healthier for your wallet and the planet. Carbs are much less expensive to buy, growing them is much more environmentally-friendly, and many carbs have a much longer shelf life than high-protein or high fat foods. Think of the cost of rice and the long shelf life of rice, compared to steak, chicken, lard or butter. Think of the environmental impact and energy efficiency of

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 growing rice, corn or wheat compared to feeding corn or hay to cows and chickens being raised for market. The differences are vast. Very cool that what is healthiest for you to eat is also healthiest for the planet, don’t you think? Here is an important key to nutrition. It is not just eating any old carb, any old protein or any old fat. We know that the healthiest, balanced diet comes from eating mostly whole grain carbs, plant proteins and unsaturated fats, such as are found in nuts and fish. The healthiest, balanced diet does not come from eating highly processed carbs, like white bread or high-sugar cereals, or eating high saturated fat proteins, like steaks or burgers or from eating fats found in sour cream, butter or bacon. This is not to say that you can’t eat sour cream, butter or bacon. You can. It is a matter of how much and how often. Moderation is a good word to keep in mind and, specifically in the case of steaks, burgers, butter, bacon, sour cream, etc., the key is eating just a little and not too often. There is an urban myth that all calories are not created equal. This is not correct. The fact is that 100 calories of pasta is exactly the same as 100 calories of grilled veggies. A calorie is a calorie,

independent of whether it is coming from carbs, fats or proteins. The difference is in the total number of calories per portion of these foods and what other nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals they contain. Another difference is the way in which different foods are metabolized in your body. You need calories from all the major food groups in your diet. Each type of food serves a specific function in your body. Fatty foods and alcohol contain the most calories per serving. Carbs, like protein, have the least calories per serving. Remember, you do not need to carry around a calculator to eat the correct ratio of nutrients. Simply follow a known, healthy, eating plan, like The Mediterranean Diet or The DASH Diet and you will be in the correct intake ranges. What is the “No-Nonsense Nutrition” advice for today? The healthiest type of food to eat is “all of them, in balance.” Emphasizing one type of food to the exclusion of the others makes no nutritional sense. Every tissue and organ in your body needs all the nutrients, in a correct ratio, to be healthy. What is this ratio? Getting most of your calories from high-fiber whole grain carbs, with about only 15% of your calories from mostly plant proteins and about a quarter of your calories from unsaturated fats. As an added bonus, eating this way is a lot cheaper, too. +

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 ensure 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 find 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 financial or other interests in any food, book, nutrition product or company. His interest is only in providing freely available, evidencedDr. Karp 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. Although Dr. Karp is a Professor Emeritus at Augusta University, the views and opinions expressed here are his and his alone and do not reflect the views and opinions of Augusta University or anyone else.

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Ask a Dietitian

9 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

JEWELRY SURGEON

the

HEALTHY EATING MAY PREVENT DISEASE AND IMPROVE IMMUNE FUNCTION

by Cheryl Gullickson MS, RD, LD. Cheryl is a registered dietitian and a member of the Augusta Area Dietetic Association. Choosing a healthy diet can play a role in preventing and treating chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and some autoimmune disorders. But did you know that healthy eating habits may also help boost your immune function to help fight infections? An unhealthy diet that is high in saturated fat and added sugars, excessive calories that lead to weight gain and contribute to a lack of physical activity can cause chronic inflammation in the body that increases the risk for infection and diseases. Elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein or CRP, and interleukin-6, aka IL-6) may be seen when chronic inflammation is present. One study of older adults examined inflammatory markers and found that those individuals who ate more calories, saturated fat, and carbohydrate had higher levels of CRP and IL-6. Other studies have also

shown that diets high in fat and sugar are associated with higher levels of these inflammatory markers. Unhealthy weight gain has also been associated with an increase in inflammation in the body. But can healthy eating habits help prevent or reverse inflammation? A recent study published in the Journal of Aging showed that calorie restriction of about 12 percent per day decreased markers of inflammation that lead to aging and chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. The participants who ate less over a two-year period had lower levels of inflammatory markers when compared to control subjects who followed an unrestricted diet. When inflammation is present, the body may have more difficulty fighting infections. A study of older adults who received the pneumonia vaccine and also ate more fruits and

vegetables had a better immune response after the vaccine than individuals who ate minimal fruits and vegetables. Is there a magic supplement that can help build immunity? The evidence is lacking to recommend any specific vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplement to help boost immunity. However, controlling weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar as well as staying physically active (follow your doctor’s advice for a safe level of exercise) are the keys to staying health. A Mediterranean diet eating pattern has been associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers and prevention of chronic diseases. It is a healthy eating plan that can be part of an immune-boosting lifestyle to maintain good health. To follow a Mediterranean Diet, choose more fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, dried beans, olive oil, and fish. Below are food group ideas for eating the healthy Mediterranean way:

FOOD GROUP

SUGGESTED DAILY INTAKE

MEAL PLANNING IDEAS

Vegetables

Choose 4 or more servings of vegetables daily including at least once raw serving daily. One serving size is ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw

Select vegetables that have a variety of colors—dark green, orange, yellow, red, purple

Fruit

Choose 3 or more servings of daily. A serving = small piece of whole fruit or ½ piece

Fruit makes a great healthy dessert

Whole Grains

Choose 3-4 servings daily. One serving is equal to a slice of bread or ½ cup cooked cereal, rice, pasta

Select whole grains such as oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat breads.

Fats/Oils

Use several tablespoons daily in place of butter or margarine

Choose healthy oils and fats, such as olive oil, canola oil, and avocados

Beans/Seeds/Nuts

Choose several servings of each weekly

Try a natural peanut butter, handful of nuts, or bowl of low sodium beans as an alternative to meat at mealtimes

Fish and Seafood

Choose several times a week

Fish high in Omega-3 oils (salmon, tuna, sardines) are healthiest for the heart

Low Fat Dairy, Eggs or Poultry

Choose one daily

Try low fat yogurt or cheeses, eggs as an entrée, or lean poultry without the skin +

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

CRASH

COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2000 than in World Wars I & II combined

How do you feel about roundabouts? Or as some people call them, rotaries? People seem to either love them or hate them, with the smallest group, the “I don’t care much either way” group, in the middle. But like them or not, they are here to stay, and traffic engineers say they will be appearing in ever-growing numbers. Some states (New York is one) have mandated that every new intersection, and every intersection up for an overhaul, upgrade, or redesign, should be converted to or originally built as or a roundabout whenever possible. Of course, not every intersection is a candidate for the roundabout treatment. They aren’t well suited for intersections where one road has very heavy traffic and the other road has very light traffic. Sometimes there are geographical limitations; there just isn’t enough room, or there are physical barriers that can’t easily be removed. Why are roundabouts the next big thing in road design? (Believe it or not, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the first modern roundabouts in the United States were constructed in Nevada in 1990.) Two factors come into play that are at first glance opposing objectives. One goal is to keep traffic moving. The smooth and orderly flow of traffic is a key safety consideration on all roads, but increases in importance as the vehicle count on any roadway increases. Anything that isn’t smooth and orderly — sudden lane changes, stop-and-go traffic, driving much slower or much faster than surrounding cars, construction zones — increases the chances of accidents and injuries. Smooth and orderly traffic flow is Safe Roadway Design 101. But the second goal of roundabouts, conversely, is to slow traffic down. The very design of these intersections make it an absolute necessity. But in doing so, roundabouts accomplish a huge boost in safety. Consider typical accident scenarios in traditional intersections: someone runs a red light or a stop sign and T-bones another vehicle. Both are traveling at full speed. The consequences are often devastating. Or maybe a driver starts a left turn and doesn’t see the approaching car behind a large truck. One car is traveling full speed, the other is almost stopped. The resulting crash is almost head-on. Collisions like that are eliminated by roundabout design. All traffic is traveling in the same direction, and at slow speeds, typically only 15-20 mph. At worst, roundabout collisions are minor rear-enders or low speed scrapes. Fatal accidents are no stranger to traditional intersections, but are extremely rare in roundabouts. One study found that drivers viewed new oundabouts unfavorably, but a follow-up study a year later discovered opinions had improved dramatically, illustrating the point that sometimes the problem with roundabouts is nothing more than a lack of familiarity. Once we get the hang of them we’re good to go. One of the keys to their safety, however, is good design. Unlike the illustration above, a flat center circle is inviting accidents. Drivers unfamiliar with the area driving in conditions with poor visibility (at night, in fog or rain) could easily see headlights straight ahead and not even notice that the intersection is a roundabout until it’s too late. Signage, landscaping, and lane markings are all important elements in helping roundabouts live up to their full potential in making travel safer. Then it’s up to drivers to go with the flow. +

CAN YOU SOLVE ThE THIS REBUS?

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

HUMAN BEHAVIOR THRIVING TOGETHER

After the COVID-19 pandemic is over, some experts are wondering, “What’s coming next?” But they aren’t talking by Jeremy Hertza, Psy.D. about another virus. As all of us are together at home, many of us are noticing problems we may never have seen before. We’re seeing how our children are struggling with paying attention to schoolwork; how our marriages or relationships aren’t thriving with more time together; how we’re all feeling really isolated, missing school, work, friends and all the normal outlets we normally would have. Frankly, many of us are talking about a second epidemic of reactionary mental health problems because of COVID-19. Social distancing is essentially a situation that is breeding mental health problems, and doing so in a way that’s taking away all of our traditional coping mechanisms. Here’s how it’s playing out: Parents are homeschooling kids and realizing their children have learning problems. On top of that, they’re managing work. Their spouse is home too, and they’re not used to spending so much time with their spouse. Ultimately, it’s a pressure cooker of stress. My patients are telling me now that they are exhausted all the time, even if they’re not doing much. My response is that we all have a bucket, and there’s Free weekly help groups usually room to handle more in that Virtual or audio-only bucket. The problem is that right now, To sign up or get more our buckets are half to three-quarters information: full already with just what’s going on around us, and there’s no room for any info@nbageorgia.com other stress coming our way. So it’s no wonder we feel exhausted, emotionally drained, and stressed. My answer: Community. When we share our problems in a group, that gives us an outlet. It also helps us see that we’re not alone in this when other people share they have the same problem. But sharing also has to be in a space where you don’t feel as though you’ll be judged, and where a facilitator can help everyone focus on how to solve a problem, not just feed off one another’s anxieties. To help, NeuroBehavioral Associates is starting free weekly COVID-19 anxiety groups for children and adults, offered virtually or audio-only, depending on preference. For children, groups will be divided by age group, and adult groups will also be divided by preference; women-only, men-only, marriage and parents are some of the possible options. Groups will have 10 to 12 participants max. To sign up, email info@nbageorgia.com. By talking together, we hope people can feel more connected with each other and not feel so alone; gain skills to manage the current situation; and not just maintain relationships but use this period to further develop relationships. Let’s not just survive this, but let’s end up better off than we were before, with a better support system and new coping skills we never had. +

COVID-19 STRESS? ANXIETY?

Jeremy Hertza, Psy.D., is a neuropsychologist and the executive director of NeuroBehavioral Associates, LLC, in Augusta, on the web at http://nbageorgia. com. Contact him at 706-823-5250 or info@nbageorgia.com.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

11 +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The blog spot From the Bookshelf — posted by Diana Londoño, MD, on August 30, 2021 (edited for space)

PHYSICIANS ARE HURTING. WE’RE HUMAN Physicians in this pandemic, despite fear and anxiety in some, fearlessly showed up every day to take care of the sickest patients with limited information in the early days of what this virus was, could cause or how contagious it really was. But they showed up. Once a vaccine was available, we welcomed a sigh of relief and a glimmer of hope. We could almost imagine that the dark days could come to an end. We could see, hope, and yearn for normalcy. However, after months waiting for a vaccine, hope was again denied as Delta has surged. We are reliving the trauma and fear that we could bring home a virus to our unvaccinated children. I have seen many of the most committed and compassionate health care workers leave medicine. While the world fights over a shot, the medical field is fighting to keep their desire to serve. We are no longer hailed as heroes who served when most stayed home, courageous to battle infections in the front lines when no one knew what would happen. When we continue to champion the importance of vaccines which 96% of us have received (per an AMA survey published in June 2021), we are now called murderers, have been ambushed, or have been yelled at by mobs because we urge others to get vaccinated or wear a mask. Passion and the ability to speak freely about a topic are the backbones of American ideals. However, terrorizing, demoralizing, ambushing, and screaming at physicians who are needing the strength to find the compassion to continue to treat is misplaced. I applaud and admire those who are willing to die for their cause. Initially, I was angry. However, I then admired that some are so passionate about not believing in COVID or vaccines that they are willing to die of it and with it. I am not willing to die for that, but I admire your conviction. My hope is that when we all look back at our lives, we have no regrets. I hope there will be no regret that the cause you were willing to die for was based on misinformation because, sadly, many people can benefit from creating misinformation. It is not physicians. We are not benefitting from this. We are suffering. We, as physicians, have taken an oath to protect you, to keep you safe, to do our best for you even when we were in harm’s way. How can patients continue to trust us to know it is in your best interest for you to remove your gallbladder, to perform your emergency heart surgery, or take care of your children, if you cannot trust us saying vaccines are safe? 96% of us believe in them, and thus we are fully vaccinated. Of course, you can focus on the 4% to prove a point. Of course, you can continue to ambush us, call us murderers, harass us while we speak up at school board meetings. Even if we do not experience this personally, it chips away at our humanity as physicians. We collectively suffer. Once the back-and-forth stress has reached the breaking point, what is next? Who will care for you? Who will have the compassion to fix your broken bones after your car crash? Who will carry you with empathy when you are diagnosed with cancer? Moving parts — metals and humans — have a breaking point. Let’s show each other love. Let’s stop humiliating each other. Let’s eliminate unnecessary suffering. We have all had enough. We all are hurting. This is what makes us human. Let us find humanity, not disunity. Let’s never find out what our human breaking point is, but instead, let’s work to unite humanity. +

96% of doctors surveyed are fully vaccinated

Diana Londoño is a urologist

This is a book that reminds us before we even open the cover that cold case crimes can be solved, that silent victims can still testify, even from the grave. People have a curious fascination with the often gruesome science of forensics. After all, the number of CSI-type shows on television is practically without counting. There are even entire networks, like ID (Investigation Discovery) that are devoted to crime and punishment 24/7/365 (not counting commercials). As you might surmise if you are a bit of a detective, having an author whose name is Nigel indicates the book might have a bit of a British slant. True, not that that’s a bad thing. Actually, pretty much the whole world of forensics is examined in all its fascinating detail in this book, including Britain, France, and even right here in the US of A. Nigel McCrery takes us to the scene whenever and wherever there was a fascinating case or a

breakthrough in forensic methods. He breaks it down into a handful of categories, areas like ballistics, blood, trace evidence, poisons, DNA, and so on. Looking back on the history of the science and its present state, it’s a wonder they managed to catch and convict the right perp even half the time back in the day. And it’s equally amazing that anybody gets away with anything these days with the forensic tools available today.

The sad truth when it comes to forensic science is that the cost of each and every advancement was paid over the centuries with rivers of shed blood and untold lives cut short by acts of violence and mayhem. Blood spatter experts, for instance, unknown to detective work in the not too distant past, hone their craft when blood is spattered and splattered. But thankfully, people have been willing to work in and gradually refine, expand and improve the art and craft of forensic science to the point where, today, it provides the basis for many, many TV shows. Plus it helps solve (and no doubt prevent) countless crimes. If the often gruesome but always fascinating history of forensic science appeals to you, this is a book you’ll definitely enjoy. + Silent Witnesses: A History of Forensic Science by Nigel McCrery; 288 pages, published in September 2014 by Chicago Review Press

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+ 12

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

The Examiners +

by Dan Pearson

It’s a situation at home. Things could be worse. What’s on your mind? I’ve got a son trapped Have you talked to him about it? You seem preoccupied. in a female’s body.

Oh come on, why not? Because my wife’s due It’s 2021, not 1950. date isn’t for another month and a half.

I really can’t.

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Criticize harshly 5. Gordon’s intro 9. Bob of This Old House 13. Pacers’ school (in brief) 14. ____ Flu 16. Nation east of Iraq 17. Voice of Shrek’s Princess Fiona 18. Synagogue leader 19. Former Dawg Gurley 20. Monetary unit of Thailand 22. Dougherty County seat 24. Classic car brand 25. Sid, former Brave 26. Inner prefix (med.) 28. Jane’s ex 29. Macon county 32. Malt beverage 33. Diarist Anais 34. Boston diamond 36. Chop 37. Prostate test abbrev. 38. Letters always associated with “bad” 39. First word of an Edith Wharton title 40. White of the eye 42. Anagram of 37-A 43. Take home 44. Bold, for one 45. Lair 46. Thermometer type 48. Containing iodine 50. Synonym of 39-A 51. Johns, artist born in Augusta 53. Actor who died in 2008 from drug intoxication 57. Type of list 58. Pelvic exercise 61. Roof overhang 62. Second-hand 63. Intestinal bacteria

9 15

2 6 3 9 9 7 5 1 1

61 64

7 8 6 9 4 3 9 1 7

1 6

31 35

EXAMINER SUDOKU

We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!

Click on “MYSTERY WORD” • DEADLINE TO ENTER: NOON, AUG. 30, 2021

N O I Simply unscramble theA letters, T then begin exploring C our ads. When you A find the correctly spelled word V hidden in one ONof our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com

9 3

64. Requirement 65. Kelly of note 66. Throw 67. Makes leather DOWN 1. Ear _____ 2. _______ Minor 3. Ella’s singing style 4. Danger 5. Coen brothers film of 1996 6. Eggs (Latin) 7. ____ eye 8. Short coat (of the Middle Ages) 9. A or B, for instance 10. Resolve differences (with “out”) 11. Locally, it often precedes A 12. Common conjunction 15. World’s longest river 21. Natal beginning 23. Ancient tower 25. Mr. Hogan 26. Vote for 27. Recently

28. Stroke abbrev. 30. Master (in Africa) 31. Ring-shaped bread roll 32. Massage reactions 33. Ft. Gordon occupant (abbrev.) 34. Fed. med. agency 35. So far 37. Before surgery, in short 38. M.D. asst. 41. Installment of a TV show 42. Not sweet, in wine terms 45. Type of deposit 46. Metal-bearing mineral 47. ________ Blvd. (near MCG) 49. Copenhaver, to friends 50. Downtown street 51. Joseph (in Juarez) 52. Capital of Yemen 54. Greek goddess of the Earth 55. Uniform 56. Clarets 57. Pull 59. Gunk 60. Ernie of the PGA Solution p. 14

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

QUOTATIONPUZZLE F B I O B

E Y F R

W E C I

T I S H A N W L D T D E A C O

R L W N N N E E I I G

2 4 3 1 G ’ V 8 5 7 8 H E D 4 9 ’ T T 1 6 T 9 3 5 7 — Al Boliska 6 2

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.

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.

G G 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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

U 2 3

— Dalai Lama

1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 W R T 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6

1.IWWWLOASSGNY 2.UOOOOSHEAFT 3.AUCMTTNNR 4.DETTTOK 5.KITE 6.INER 7.MGF 8.UE

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

K 1 2 3 4 9.SL

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS NUMBER

THE MYSTERY! WORD The Mystery Word for this issue: BLOMMSAITE

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

9 6 7 5 2 3 8 4 1

8 4 3 2 6 9 7 1 5

5 9 2 1 7 8 4 6 3

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

member of the Taliban being pursued by coalition troops became hopelessly lost in the desert. Desperate for water, he saw what looked like it might be an oasis far off in the distance. He stumbled toward it across the scorching sands only to find a British soldier there selling ties. “Water,” the Taliban member gasped. “Please. I need water.” “There is no water here,” the British soldier said. “The well is dry. Would you like to buy a tie instead? They are only 100 pounds.” “Fool! Infidel!” shouted the Taliban man. “I do not need your over-priced tie. I need water! I must find water.” “Fine,” said the soldier, “I don’t care. And I will prove to you that I am a much better human being than you.” Turning to the horizon and pointing to a tall dune the soldier said, “If you continue over that hill to the east for about two miles, you will find our Officer’s Mess. They have all the ice cold water you need.” Cursing, the Talibani staggered away over the hill. Several hours later he came crawling

The

Advice Doctor

back to the British soldier and collapsed at his feet in exhaustion and dehydration. “What happened?” asked the soldier calmly. “They won’t let me in without a tie.” An alien on a military intelligence expedition discovers Earth and investigates. Returning to his home planet he reports his findings to his commanding officer. “The dominant life form on Earth has developed satellite-based nuclear weapons,” the alien says. “Should we consider them a threat?” the officer asks. “I don’t think so, sir. They have them aimed at themselves.” Moe: Do you know what the movies Titanic and The Sixth Sense have in common? Joe: I do not. Moe: Icy dead people. A screwdriver walks into a tavern and takes a seat at the bar. The bartender sees him and heads his way with a drink. He says, “Hey bud, we’ve got a drink named after you, so here’s one on the house” Confused, the screwdriver asks “Wait. You have a drink named Steve?” A snake walks into a bar. “How do you do that?” asks the bartender. Universal Studios can’t afford Vin Diesel’s contract for the next Fast and Furious movie. They’re going to replace him in the next one with Vin Unleaded. +

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Staring at my phone all day has had no Effect on ME!

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Dear Advice Doctor, People don’t seem to realize the complete world meltdown we’re in right now. It has even affected me, and I’m nobody - except on my job. There I am THE key employee. I was supposed to get a raise before all this happened, but now that’s on indefinite hold, which I think is unfair. At least I still have job and I’m still getting paid. But I think my raise should happen now. Retroactively, in fact. I’m prepared to play hardball - unless you think I should keep being patient. — My promised raise “flu” out the window Dear My Promised, I realize this is a frustrating and disappointing turn of events. And remember, it’s disappointing for millions, not just you. After all, baseball is “America’s pastime.” We all want to see the games return. Opening Day is always so full of hope and promise, and we need that right now. But what about this idea: could you play hardball in your own yard? Do you have a few mitts, a bat and a ball? That’s really all it takes. The tools of the game are very simple considering all the enjoyment we get from it. But let’s say you don’t have a bat or mitts. You can’t even play hardball. Then what about a Nerf ball? Experts say one of the key ways to survive this global shutdown with our sanity intact is to get regular exercise. Daily exercise is always important, but it’s especially important now when we have to create our own reasons to even leave the house, or for some people, just to get off the couch or not be in pajamas 24/7. Even a simple game of catch with one of your kids out in the fresh air and sunshine can get the blood stirring. It’s good for both physical and mental health. If you don’t have a ball, what about a Frisbee? Surely you can find something to throw back and forth. Just make sure it has been sanitized! One more thing: remember that exercise is supposed to be a daily event. So play hardball every day. Or softball. Or Nerf ball. Or Frisbee. One thing’s for sure: nobody plays catch less than 6 feet apart, so you’re covered there. And if you can’t play catch, go for a walk. Figure out something you can enjoy and then do it every day. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for writing! + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about health, life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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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

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

...cleverly hidden in the woman’s hair in the p. 15 ad for READ US ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET

THE WINNER: TIMOTHY WILLIFORD! 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!

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER THE PUZZLE SOLVED B U D S

A S I A

E A L H E S C T J T O U S G E

S C A T

H F O A A V Z R A A N G R E O N D O T E N I W P S A L E R A Y P E D I O D I A S P E R D O K E E D E C N E T

R T I A N B B I A L B R E E D N F L D S P A E N C E L G E L O L I O S S

I R O N

L A A N D D Y

B W A N O R A R A E D G E A N E T A

B A Y G E E T L

B A B E L

V I T A M I N

E V E N

SEE PAGE 12

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 for 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. 8. Deadline to enter is shown on page 12.

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QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION If it weren’t for Edison we’d be watching TV by candlelight. — Al Boliska

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The Celebrated TheSUDOKUsolution MYSTERY WORD CONTEST 2 4 9 8 5 1 7 6 3

...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!

QuotatioN

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WORDS BY NUMBER Not getting what you want is

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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