Health1 Spring 2012

health SPRING/SUMMER 2012

PERSONALIZED HEALTH CARE IS THE POWER OF ONE

what’s in your

family tree?

HEART DISEASE IS A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR MATT PARK, BUT OSU’S CARDIOGENETICS PROGRAM IS KEEPING HIM OUT OF DANGER PAGE 4

plus

riding for life Pelotonia biking event has one goal: to end cancer page 7

set free Ohio State offers top-notch outpatient rehabilitation page 8

A LOSING PROPOSITION Gastric bypass surgery, friendship help four women lead healthier lives page 10

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square spirit of women new park offers space for reflection

your first step into The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

The nearly completed construction of the Chlois G. Ingram Spirit of Women Park marks an important benchmark in the Medical Center’s expansion. Located in the green space at the corner of Medical Center Drive and Ninth Avenue across from the SAFEAUTO Hospitals Garage, the Park will include attractive and expansive spaces for relaxation, reflection and play. It has elements of the former Spirit of Women Park, including glass tiles etched into the park’s beautiful, soothing water feature. The space is a special place dedicated to extraordinary women who impact the lives of those around them. A rededication event planned for this summer will recognize the Ingram family for its generous support of Ohio State.

don’t leave home without it ID card allows a survivor with a prosthesis to travel easier Breast cancer survivors with prostheses can now travel through airport security with discretion and dignity.

Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute has developed a new identification card that provides a nonverbal way to inform Transportation Security Administration agents about the prosthesis.

“While traveling, I have endured insensitive airport security checks where I felt my privacy was violated. We are simply asking to be treated with some compassion,” says the card’s co-designer Electra Paskett, PhD, associate director for Population Sciences at OSUCCC – James,

and a longtime breast cancer survivor. The card provides space for the owner’s contact information as well as information about the prosthesis and the provider. It is available through Hope’s Boutique at The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center; send back the enclosed reply card to receive one.

a new name a message from Steven G. Gabbe, MD, CEO of The Ohio State University WEXNER Medical Center For those of you who may not already know, I’m pleased to announce that The Ohio State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously in February to rename our Medical Center The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The name celebrates Ohio State alumnus Les Wexner and the Wexner family for their 30 years of

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leadership, advocacy and philanthropy on behalf of our great University and our Medical Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Wexner have many links to our Medical Center. Their children were born here.

Many of their friends and family members have received care here. They have also given generously of their time and resources

to us. They are founders of the annual Celebration of Hope fundraiser and riders in the annual Pelotonia cycling event to benefit cancer research.

Mrs. Wexner serves on our Medical Center Board of Directors.

We are privileged to have Les, Abigail and the Wexner family in our community. They are devoted

to the betterment of our city and state and to improving the lives of generations of families for years to come.

The Wexner family is synonymous with excellence, generosity and humanity, and we at the Medical Center are committed to providing world-class health care that is worthy of their name.

spinning wheels pinwheels celebrate organ transplants Seventy-five hundred pinwheels dotted the plaza in front of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in April, each one representing an organ transplant performed at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Transplant Center since it opened in 1967. We have the region’s only adult

transplant center and are a national leader in scientific advances in transplantation. April is national Donate Life Month, which celebrates both the organ recipients and the donors who have selflessly given the gift of life. Visit lifelineofohio.org to register to become a donor.

Each of these 7,500 pinwheels displayed in front of Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center in April represented an organ transplant performed here since 1967.

high quality, low dose Patients receive lowest possible x-ray, CT doses for safety Patient safety during imaging is paramount at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, which is why we use low-dose radiation for radiology. As a regional leader in low-dose radiation imaging, we are improving how we care for patients. This means producing high-quality images while using the lowest possible X-ray and CT doses, based on each person’s individual characteristics.

Tailoring our radiation standards for each person is a smarter and safer way to provide treatment.

medicalcenter.osu.edu

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header

Factoid

Tree huggers: Matt Park was tested for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart disease that runs in his family.

He has been actively informing family members about the gene so they can be better prepared.

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genetics

all

in the

As a young teenager,

photo: roman sapecki

Matt Park of Chillicothe knew that a specific heart disease ran in his family. His grandmother and his father were both diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that can cause heart arrhythmias and other malfunctions.

“Because of our family history, my siblings and I started getting screened with cardiac ultrasounds every few years,” recalls Park. “However, my scans were always inconclusive, so I was never sure if I had the disease.”

That has changed with the help of Ohio State’s Cardiogenetics Program, the only program in central Ohio that provides detailed genetic screening, counseling and treatment for adult patients with heart problems. Now, the future is a little clearer for Park and his family.

Basic Research

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the muscle mass of the left ventricle of the heart is larger than normal, or the wall between the two ventricles becomes enlarged and obstructs blood flow from the left ventricle. As a result, the left

Genetic testing helps family plan for a healthy future

ventricle is subject to higher pressures with each contraction. Its walls become “stiff” and are unable to relax properly and adequately fill with blood between beats. This type of cardiomyopathy can cause the heart muscle to increase in size, resulting in chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue and dizziness. In addition, the abnormal heart muscle accumulates fibrous tissue over time, which can lead to potentially dangerous arrhythmias.

This condition affects approximately one in 500 individuals, is usually inherited and can affect people of all ages.

In the late 1990s, Park’s father’s heart began deteriorating, so he entered the Mayo Clinic for surgery.

“They asked my father to participate in a research study during his stay, and he agreed,” explains Park.

“Since he definitely had HCM, through the trial they were able to confirm the specific gene mutation that caused the disease.”

Building on that knowledge, Park’s cardiologist at Ohio State’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, Alex Auseon, DO, director of the Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Training Program, recommended that he have a genetic test. “Matt has a known definitive form of heart disease that is directly linked through primary

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ASK YOUR ADVOCATE Peter Kloda, MD

Q. What does genetic testing involve?

A. Genetic testing is a blood draw and a look at DNA samples from the blood to determine whether a person has a genetic predisposition for certain problems. You and your family will learn ways to reduce your risk of getting the condition, detect the condition early and treat the condition if you develop it.

FIND A PHYSICIAN For more information about scheduling an appointment with Dr. Kloda or at OSU Internal Medicine at Stoneridge, call 800-293-5123.

medicalcenter.osu.edu

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genetics

ALL OF a sudden Connor Senn was an 18-year-old freshman walk-on soccer player at Ohio State when he collapsed in 2001 during a match against Akron. Senn died from a heart condition that, at the time, was almost undetectable.

In his memory, Ohio State hosts the Connor Senn Memorial Symposium each May, devoted to creating awareness of sudden cardiac death in athletes. The symposium seeks to educate the medical community and the general public on the local and national scope of the problem by sharing the latest advancements in diagnostic imaging and testing, and promoting training in the proper interpretation of young adult electrocardiograms.

The Connor Senn Memorial Match is a soccer game played each spring. It has raised enough money to both endow a scholarship in Senn’s name and partner with Ohio State’s Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute on research.

For more information, visit heartlung.osu.edu.

family members, which is a good reason to consider genetic testing,” says Dr. Auseon. “Other heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease, have genetic causes, but they are complicated because multiple genes play a role. In Matt’s case, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a powerful genetic disease with a clear connection between the disease and the gene.

Because his father carries this gene mutation, we needed to find out if Matt did too.”

Finding the Key

Dr. Auseon and Amy Sturm, a certified genetic counselor at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, were instrumental in getting Park’s dad’s genetic test results from the Mayo Clinic. This was the key to identifying the exact gene for which Park and other family members could be tested.

“Once we had the exact location on the chromosome of the genetic mutation, we could simply test for the presence or absence of it,” explains Dr. Auseon. “In Matt’s case, we found that he had the gene mutation. Finding a gene mutation like this allows us to give informed counseling about children and other family members. That’s where genetic testing is most powerful.”

Family Ties

your tree

When Park discovered he was positive for the HCM gene mutation, he turned it into an opportunity to help his family. “Matt has been very proactive about contacting his family members about this,” explains Sturm. “Because of this, members of Matt’s family are coming to Ohio State to be tested.”

“In the health professions — especially in genetics — we always say knowledge is power,”

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To learn more about your family’s health history, send back the enclosed reply card for a Heart Health Family Tree handout.

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“ Knowing your family history is so important.

If all the patients I saw were like Matt, we’d be able to prevent a lot more disease.”

Amy Sturm

continues Sturm. “Knowing your family history is so important. If all the patients I saw were like Matt, we’d be able to prevent a lot more disease.”

Lessons Learned

Genetic testing can literally be lifesaving. Some of the serious symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can occur before the disease can be detected on a scan. For example, some people who have HCM have cardiac arrhythmias, which can cause sudden death.

This concerned Park. “I worry for my children, and my cousins share the same concerns for their children,” says Park. “But my experience with Ohio State’s genetics program has been great. I know that anyone in my family who tests positive for this gene mutation can be monitored and treated before the disease gets worse.”

IT’S CLINICAL SPOTLIGHT ON HEART GENETICS CLINICS “The Cardiogenetics Program at Ohio State offers consultation, testing and education for hereditary forms of heart disease at several clinics around central Ohio,” says Amy Sturm, a certified genetic counselor at Ohio State.

“Each clinic focuses on different heart disorders based on a patient’s family or personal medical history. It is P4 Medicine at work —

care that is predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory.”

The clinics include:  Medical Genetics Program — aneurysms, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease and familial high cholesterol  Hereditary Heart Rhythm Disorders Clinic — inherited arrhythmia syndromes, family history of sudden cardiac death and long

QT (rare inborn heart condition) or short QT syndrome (genetic disease of the electrical system of the heart) and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (hereditary heart disorder)  High-Risk Family Heart Clinic — high risk of atherosclerotic diseases and strong family history of early onset heart disease For more information on these clinics, please contact 800-293-5123.

pelotonia

riding for

life Pelotonia biking event has one goal: to end cancer

Christopher McClung, MD, suggests the following to reduce side effects:

Avoid the newer seats with holes in the middle, as these increase the pressure on the genitals.

Use upright instead of drop-down handlebars.

Choose a seat that is wide enough that most of your weight is on your pelvic bones, not on your genitals.

Consider a recumbent bicycle, particularly if you are suffering from ED.

Make sure your bike is adjusted properly.

A professional bike fitting can help.

Limit the length and/or frequency of your riding if you experience problems.

BIKE TO THE BASICS SPOTLIGHT ON UROLOGIC PROBLEMS

Pelotonia 2012 is heading north this year  To the development of new drugs that fight diseases such as solid tumors and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  To “idea” grants to creative teams of scientists who collaborate across OSU colleges and departments.  To research diseases like triple-negative breast cancer, multiple myeloma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.  To purchase critical advanced technology and equipment for our cancer scientists, such as a gene-sequencing machine and a cytometer that sorts normal and cancerous cells.

As government funding for cancer research continues to be cut, efforts like Register to ride, donate or volunteer at Pelotonia become more pelotonia.org. important to the fight.

ride on

to Kenyon College in Gambier, starting at the Columbus Commons. There are also two new routes (75-mile and 150mile) in the three-day bicycling event. All of the proceeds from the ride, to be held Aug. 10–12, will benefit cancer research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

In the three years since its inception, Pelotonia has attracted thousands of people — some of whom haven’t ridden a bicycle for years — and raised more than $25 million. Where does all the money go?

Biking is popular for many reasons. It’s fun, and it’s great exercise. With biking enthusiasts in central Ohio gearing up for Pelotonia 2012, training should also involve taking care of your whole body.

Unfortunately, both men and women can suffer urologic problems from frequent, long-distance bicycle riding. “Approximately 50 to 90 percent of cyclists will suffer some genital numbness,” says Christopher McClung, MD, assistant professor of Urology. “Another annoyance can be chafing, saddle sores and vaginitis.”

“Of course, the benefits of biking, such as improved strength and cardiovascular function, far outweigh any negatives,” says Dr. McClung. “However, you should be aware of some problems that can occur.

With the right precautions, riders can deal with these problems, or better yet, avoid them altogether.”

Ideally, you should ride a bike sitting as straight up as possible, with most of your weight on your “sit bones” (the bottom of your pelvis bones), experts at Ohio State say. However, long-distance and competitive riders favor leaning forward over the handlebars and using narrow, lightweight seats.

This position puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels that supply the genital area.

See your doctor if you experience any urologic problems after cycling. For information about scheduling an appointment with Dr. McClung, call 800-293-5123. medicalcenter.osu.edu

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rehab

set

free photoS: roman sapecki

Ohio State offers top-notch outpatient rehabilitation For people who have a neurologic or orthopaedic condition

such as an amputation, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorder, a spinal cord injury or stroke, proper rehabilitation with the most advanced treatments and therapies available at an accredited facility can dramatically improve outcomes.

The comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center encompass a multitude of specialties and subspecialties that include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language pathology, amputee rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation, assistive technology and

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rehabilitation engineering. The program is perennially ranked among the best in the nation, and is the only rehabilitation program in central Ohio certified for both traumatic brain injury and stroke. Our experts help patients with disabling diseases and disorders achieve their highest level of health and function — at home, at work and in the community.

“We are extremely team-oriented,” says Bob Vanecko, director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. “Our success is really due to our collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, because it helps us provide the patient with the right service and the right program at the right time.”

Laura Krietemeyer is an avid kayaker, thanks to a comfortable cushion from the Assistive Technology Center’s Wheelchair Seating and Positioning Clinic. An amputee, she had been unable to sit for long periods of time.

RECOGNITION FOR REHAB SPOTLIGHT ON THE OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION PROGRAM The staff of the Outpatient Rehabilitation Program at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center has nearly 90 types of specializations and certifications in a variety of therapies and for specific conditions. Located at Martha Morehouse Back to the boardroom

optimal functions

Julian Bell of Westerville, whose life includes a busy job as the chief financial officer of the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, has become an appreciative patient of Ohio State’s rehabilitation services since suffering a stroke this past October. His recovery began as an inpatient at Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Services; he continued with outpatient rehab at the Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza. The services helped him regain his independence in several ways. “At first, I couldn’t walk, but after less than two weeks of physical therapy, I was able to give up my wheelchair,” he says. After several weeks of outpatient occupational therapy, he passed the Rehab Program’s driving test and resumed providing his own transportation. He returned to work in late January, just in time to present the financial report at the hospital’s quarterly board meeting.

“We collaborate to create individualized treatment Ohio State’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Program accepts most major health insurance plans. To become a patient, please request a referral from your physician and call 800293-5123 for information on scheduling an appointment.

Medical Plaza, CarePoint Lewis Center and CarePoint Gahanna, we are:  Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) as meeting the highest standards in quality, safety and

outcome measures.  Recognized by U.S.News & World Report as a top20 rehab program for 19 straight years.

“These accolades are external confirmation that our program consistently delivers a high level of

plans for each patient,” explains Carol Eskay, PT, team leader for Outpatient Neuro Rehab and clinical supervisor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network Clinic. “Whatever the patient’s goals are, we incorporate those into the specialized and individualized plans.”

Life Restored

People with permanent disabilities often require a wheelchair or other assistive equipment. Our Assistive Technology Center staff assesses and recommends such devices. We have five certified Assistive Technology Professionals, the most in the region.

Located at the Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza, the Center has a 5,000-square-foot facility where patients are evaluated for equipment and then trained to use it. “Because insurance plans often have complex regulations for assistive devices, our expertise is valuable to our patients,” says Theresa Berner, OT, rehab team leader. “The right devices can keep a person as independent and mobile as possible.”

One such person is Laura Krietemeyer, who had her right leg and a large part of her pelvis removed in 2005 because of cancer. The struggle for proper seating in her wheelchair was difficult. “My life had become very narrow,” explains Krietemeyer. “I couldn’t sit for long periods of time, shop or visit my family.” Krietemeyer’s physician referred her to the Assistive Technology Center’s Wheelchair Seating and Positioning Clinic and her life changed.

“They went above and beyond to find a seating system that worked,” she says. A cushion made from her body’s impression has allowed her the freedom to go where she wants. In the spring of 2011, Krietemeyer kayaked class II and III rapids in the Smoky Mountains with First Descents, an organization that offers outdoor adventure experiences to cancer survivors.

“The cushion changed my life. I can now sit for long periods of time with comfort,” she says. “It’s given my life back to me.”

care,” notes Jerry Mysiw, MD, interim chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “That should be very meaningful to a family member who wants the best possible care for their loved one.”

“ The cushion changed my life. I can now sit for long periods of time with comfort.

It’s given my life back to me.”

Laura Krietemeyer

medicalcenter.osu.edu

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weight loss

a

l sing

Gastric bypass surgery, friendship help four women lead healthier lives

proposition Bridget Geary of Dublin had thought about weight loss surgery for years.

At 9 years old, she weighed 185 pounds. At her heaviest, the 5-foot-3 Geary weighed 435 pounds, making walking less than 200 feet from the parking lot to the front door of her office a chore. Now 38, “Something just snapped inside and I decided I had to do something big, something permanent, to really make a change,” she says.

It took Geary, who had been diagnosed with prediabetes, months to be cleared for surgery. She had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in March 2011, one of three surgical options offered at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. The other procedures are lap-band surgery and sleeve gastrectomy.

While patients in the past primarily had surgery for weight loss if they were morbidly obese, Dean Mikami, MD, assistant professor of Surgery, says people like Geary are now having the surgery for other health problems, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea.

“Weight loss surgery is just a tool. It’s not a magic wand,” Dr. Mikami says. “Our goal is to educate about wellness.” Adds Bradley Needleman, MD, medical director of the Bariatric Surgery Program: “The surgery may not be successful without lifestyle change and lifestyle change without surgery may not be successful, but together they work great. It gives patients a chance to succeed.”

TAKING A LOAD OFF Weight loss isn’t the only reason some people have bariatric surgery.

Those considering knee, hip or other types of orthopaedic surgery can also greatly benefit from bariatric surgery, according to Jeffrey Granger, MD, assistant professor of Clinical Orthopaedics 10

in the Division of General Orthopaedics at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. Any patient with a BMI (body mass index) of 50 or higher is required to lose weight before a joint replacement surgery can be performed. This is to help reduce the health risk for infections and other

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complications.

Other orthopaedic candidates for bariatric surgery include those:  With X-rays showing end-stage arthritis  In severe pain  With a BMI in the high 30s and higher  Waiting for total joint replacement

W ho have resisted medical anti-inflammatory drugs including injections Obese patients who have bariatric surgery can substantially reduce or even eliminate the need for joint replacement surgery with significant weight loss, according to Dr. Granger.

photo: roman sapecki; LOCATION: CAMELOT CELLARS

SPOTLIGHT ON ORTHOPAEDICS

Then and now: (Top) Erin Nothem, (bottom) Tamaris HenaganSprow, Tricia Larkin and Bridget Geary have new outlooks on life.

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weight loss

Before surgery:

A NEW RELATIONSHIP

 You need a support system.  Keep a food diary.  Start exercising in some fashion.  Look at emotional triggers that cause you to eat.  Learn portion control.

WITH FOOD Before having weight loss surgery, some patients binge and gain a lot of weight, Dr. Mikami says. “It’s one of the worst things a patient can do, because we want patients as healthy as possible going into the surgery.”

Here are some tips from Dr. Mikami and weight loss surgery patients for eating before and after bariatric surgery:

Support System

losing ground

Part of what has helped Geary succeed is the friendships she formed with three other women on the same journey: Patricia “Tricia” Larkin, 42, of Marysville, Erin Nothem, 33, of Upper Arlington and Tamaris Henagan-Sprow, 38, who recently moved to Adrian, Mich. “We all hit it off so well.

We’ve been friends ever since and each other’s biggest supporters,” says Geary, who has lost 135 pounds since her surgery and is training to run a half-marathon.

The quartet met while attending pre-bariatric surgery Living Well classes at Ohio State’s Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza. Patients typically take classes for three to six months before surgery to help lose weight through exercise, to learn to make healthier food choices and to discover emotional trigger points.

“It gives you someone who can relate to things happening in your life,” Larkin says. “The class is so important for everyone.”

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After surgery, be ready for:

 How fast the changes will come.  Hitting plateaus.  Having a more active lifestyle.  Changing friendships and relationships.  Preplanning for meals like barbecues and holiday events so you don’t overeat.  Developing a support system of others who have had surgery.

a lifelong endeavor

Adam Freter, a registered dietitian at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, notes that changing habits is a lifelong endeavor. “Long-term weight loss is about getting back to the fundamentals,” he says. It’s important to get involved with a weight management program, to be held accountable by other people in similar situations, Freter believes. “Most people know how to eat right,” Freter adds. “But poor time management, stress and emotional issues can be big triggers. It’s important to learn how to avoid the behaviors that got you here in the first place.”

The foursome, who has collectively lost more than 600 pounds, has bonded by being able to call each other at all hours of the day and night when they need to. They also send text and Facebook messages to discuss everything from losing friends who no longer like to go out to eat with them because of their lifestyle changes to food cravings and making smarter eating choices. “We all hold each other accountable,” Henagan-Sprow says.

Once every month or so, the group goes to dinOhio State’s Comprehensive Weight Manner together. “I know we’ll all be able to keep the agement Program has helped thousands of weight off and continue the journey of life in our people safely and successfully lose weight healthy bodies because of the great support and and keep it off. Offering both nonsurgical guidance we’ve received from OSU and from the and surgical weight loss options, our team friendship the four of us have created,” Nothem of weight loss experts personalizes a weight shares. “We discuss topics that nonbariatric loss plan to meet your specific needs. surgery people wouldn’t be able to relate to. It’s Contact us at go.osu.edu/ weightloss or become a sisterhood that none of us expected, but 800-293-5123. we are lucky to have found.”

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ASK YOUR ADVOCATE Veronique Bartman, MD

Q. How do I know if I am a candidate for bariatric surgery?

A. Weight loss surgery is a last resort for people who are extremely obese and have not been successful with at least six months of exercise and a nutritional weight loss program. Extreme obesity is a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. You may also be eligible with a BMI of 35 or more if you have diseases made worse by obesity such as diabetes or sleep apnea or have severe joint problems.

FIND A PHYSICIAN For more information about scheduling an appointment with Dr. Bartman or the OSU Family Practice at Worthington, call 800-2935123.

endocrinology

A small gland that can cause big problems

thyroid troubles The thyroid gland, located at the base of your throat,

glad glands

is like the throttle control for your body’s metabolism.

By secreting hormones, the thyroid regulates how fast or slow your body uses energy. It also regulates body heat and bone growth. It is prone to a number of disorders that tend to be more common in women, although men can be affected too.

“The most common thyroid disease is hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland,” says endocrinologist Laura Ryan, MD, with Ohio State’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. “Approximately 2 percent of the general U.S. population suffers from hypothyroidism, but in women over age 65, it rises to 10–15 percent.”

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are difficult to recognize because they aren’t specific. “Weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, menstrual irregularities or heavy cycles, cold intolerance, dry skin and hair loss are the most common symptoms. However, you If you think you may have a thyroid condition, contact your primary care doctor. If you are looking for one close to you, call 800-293-5123.

can have many of these symptoms and have a perfectly normal thyroid function,” says Dr. Ryan.

If left untreated, hypothyroidism can make you feel lousy, but it can also contribute to heart failure and hypertension, and exacerbate high cholesterol. It can be controlled with a daily thyroid replacement pill that boosts the level of your thyroid hormone.

Thyroid nodules are the second most common thyroid disorder. “Often, thyroid nodules are too small to be felt, but they are frequently diagnosed when someone has a head or neck scan for another problem,” says endocrinologist Jennifer Sipos, MD, assistant professor of Medicine. “Nodules are noncancerous about 95 percent of the time, and don’t require treatment unless they cause extreme difficulty swallowing or breathing.” If they are particularly troublesome for the patient, they can be removed surgically.

The third most common thyroid problem is an overactive thyroid — called hyperthyroidism — and it’s just the opposite of hypothyroidism. “Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid is making too much hormone,” says Dr. Sipos. “With hyperthyroidism, the idle on the car is revved up. Symptoms include being hot, anxious and irritable, and experiencing unexplained weight loss, frequent bowel movements and insomnia. Medications may help, but sometimes the thyroid needs to be completely shut down with a radiation treatment.”

Ultrasound can detect conditions of the thyroid, a gland that secretes hormones that regulate the metabolism.

Conditions include underactive thyroid, nodules and overactive thyroid.

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› aroundthe medical center NEWS FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Cancer is the world’s leading killer, claiming more lives than any other disease, act of violence, addiction, war or natural disaster. One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. The demand for cancer services will strain existing treatment systems, as the incidence of cancer is expected to rise by 20 percent by 2030 in Ohio alone. Increases are expected particularly for melanoma and cancers of the thyroid, liver, pancreas and breast.

To better provide services to this growing population, a new James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute is under construction and will open in 2014. The new building expands capacity to 276 beds, from 210 beds in the current James facility. It will have a calming setting designed to promote patient recovery and wellness, while integrating education and research collaboration among OSUCCC – James scientists, who bring ideas and expertise from 11 of

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Ohio State’s 14 colleges. It will help attract and retain world-class cancer investigators, talented young minds and the best doctors who will revolutionize cancer care and prevention through P4 Medicine (medicine that is predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory).

As a symbol of the building’s strength, a 31-foot, 1,240-pound steel beam carrying messages of hope for a cancer-free world from nearly 1,000 James cancer survivors was installed on the front side of the building on level five, 64 feet above ground. It is one of more than 10,000 pieces of steel in the building.

BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

learn, share, CONNECT

That’s Why I’m Here Chris Spielman has written a new book that follows the 11-year journey through cancer that brought joy and suffering to the Spielman family, as well as hope and inspiration to thousands of others. That’s Why I’m Here: The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story traces his storied football career, recalls his courtship of Stefanie Belcher, documents the growth of their four children and shares the deep spiritual faith that gave their family wisdom and comfort in times of struggle.

The Ohio State football legend and four-time Pro Bowl linebacker wrote the book for football fans and for people whose lives have been touched by cancer, for people whose own faith has been tested and for people who want to know more about Stefanie, a woman of beauty, grace and strength.

Stefanie passed away on Nov. 29, 2009.

Says Charles Shapiro, MD, director of Breast Medical Oncology and the Breast Research Program at the OSUCCC – James and Stefanie’s primary oncologist: “This book is a guide for selfless giving. Many aspire to live in such a fashion, but few demonstrate it so openly and naturally in day-to-day living as Chris and Stefanie did.

“Stefanie and Chris served as my inspirational leaders, although they didn’t know it. They taught their lessons by example, as effortlessly and naturally as one would breathe. It has been said that the highest form of charity occurs when the giver and receiver don’t know each other, thus making any recognition or reward impossible.

Stefanie and Chris clearly fit into the ‘selfless givers’ category. And all of us were receivers.”

For a copy of the book, return the reply card enclosed in this magazine. Quantities are limited.

Integrating Art and Science Incorporating the art and science of caring for the whole person — body, mind and spirit — is at the heart of all the services provided by Ohio State’s Center for Integrative Medicine (CIM). With the goal of both preventing and treating disease, the CIM approach enhances traditional Western medicine with additional resources, including whole medical systems, mind-body medicine, biologically based practices, manipulative and body-based practices and energy medicine. The CIM offers both patient care and classes.

For more information, visit go.osu.edu/CIM.

“ Stefanie and Chris served as my inspirational leaders, although they didn’t know it. They taught their lessons by example, as effortlessly and naturally as one would breathe.”

Charles Shapiro, MD

Safe Signals People with autism can be vulnerable or unable to communicate when they are in danger. It is for this reason that OSU Health System Nursing, The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, Ohio State’s Burn Center and Autism Speaks have created educational materials that promote fire and burn safety in

the home for people ages 18–26 with autism. The “Safe Signals” project includes a video, workbook and vinyl clings with important information on how to stay out of harm’s way around the house. The materials reinforce ways to prevent accidental injury while providing quick “signals” that are constant

reminders of safety. This is the first resource of its kind, according to Lisa Murray-Johnson, program director for patient education at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center. To receive the Safe Signals materials, visit autismspeaks.org/ family-services/autismsafety-project/in-home.

Global Diabetes Summit Hosted by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Diabetes Research Center, the Global Diabetes Summit will have a community event Nov. 17. “Focus on Health and Wellness: Life Choices” will feature health screenings, diabetes experts and special guests and take place at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St. Registration is $10.

For more information, visit diabetesresearch.osu.edu.

Convenient, Fast Care Receive treatment for sunburn, bug bites and poison ivy this summer at the Medical Center’s FastCare clinics.

FastCare clinics are open in the Market District Giant Eagle in Upper Arlington and in the Giant Eagle in Gahanna. They provide quality, convenient care for common illnesses such as allergies, sinus infections, sore throats, earaches and other ailments. No appointment is necessary, and evening and weekend hours are available.

Visits start at $59, and your insurance can be billed.

For more information, visit go.osu.edu/FastCare.

Take Control of Your Health The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center offers OSUMyChart, an online connection linking patients to their healthcare providers. This program provides patients personalized and secure access to portions of their electronic medical record. You can request a doctor’s appointment, renew a prescription, view health summary information, see lab and radiology results and access your medical chart with a smartphone.

If you are an OSUWMC patient, ask your healthcare provider to sign you up. medicalcenter.osu.edu 15

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