Thursday, March 27, 2008

Prevent Stroke with Information at Hand

As if women between the ages of 35-54 didn’t have enough to worry about, now a recent article in Newsweek indicates that the proportion of women between those ages having strokes has nearly tripled in the last decade. That is a very alarming statistic!

OK, so why? What has changed? Are women suddenly different now than they were 10 years ago? My answer is, “I’m not sure” to all three questions. I do know that our lives have changed significantly over the past decade.

Consider these questions based on how things were 10 years ago: Could you put your cell phone (if you had one) in the front pocket of your jeans and have nobody notice? Could you sit at the breakfast table and reply to e-mail from work on your day off so you wouldn't be too busy when you got back? Did you know what trans-fat was? Did you even think that women had strokes at 40 years old? If you are like me, you probably answered no to all of these questions.

Clearly life is different now than it was then. It makes sense that changes in our lives make us a bit different too. Science has done a great job of pointing out that women are having strokes three times as often as they were a decade ago, but science has not really been able to say exactly why.

Until those answers are available, the one way to protect yourself is to maximize your knowledge while minimizing your risk. That includes knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke:

1) Sudden numbness or weakness, typically on one side of the body
2) Sudden difficulty speaking
3) Sudden headache
4) Sudden blurry vision
5) Sudden dizziness, or difficulty with balance or coordination

(Other tests of a possible stroke include an inability to form a smile or raise both arms above the head.)

Minimize your risk by: quitting smoking (especially if you are on birth control pills); controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes; lowering your body mass index (BMI) and reducing waist circumferences, both of which have been linked to increased risk.

Many things in life are unavoidable but together we can make some of them preventable.

--John Romano, RN, BSN
Director of Medical Surgical and Neuroscience

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Learning to Protect My Colon and Prostate

A few years ago, when I was a young and naïve newspaper reporter, thoughts of my colon or prostate rarely bubbled to the surface of conscious thought.

I suppose I could have identified their locations in an anatomy book, but really it was more of a good guess – like pointing hesitatingly at Bosnia or Turkmenistan on a globe during a geography test. You know the general region, you have an idea of their shape and size, but other than that, your knowledge of them is blessedly miniscule.

Since I began working at Martin Memorial, I’ve learned more about my prostate and colon – and other body parts – than I ever thought I needed to.

I know now that colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. I know that the American Cancer Society says one in six men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime. I know that screening plays a big role in both kinds of cancers – and that the thought of how those screenings usually are performed can make grown men cringe and squirm.

Why do I bring this up? Well, each week we put together a new podcast called Martin Memorial Healthcast. And the past two weeks’ topics have focused on prostate and colon cancer respectively.

I spoke with Dr. Michael Lustgarten, a urologist on staff at Martin Memorial, and Dr. Howard Maunus, a gastroenterologist also on staff at Martin Memorial, to learn more about the diseases.

If there is one thing that stood out in both of these conversations, it’s that screening is critical. Cancer often can be treated or cured, especially if it’s caught early. Last fall, a report came out that suggested the rate of cancer deaths were dropping in the U.S., in part because there was more education and awareness about colon cancer, which was leading to more people being screened for the disease.

But as Dr. Maunus pointed out in this week’s podcast, we can still do a better job. There are still too many people who don’t get checked out for any variety of reasons. That’s why working with your physician to stay on top of your health is so critically important.

Because you never know when learning about those hidden-away body parts might help save your life.

--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Working Together to Battle Youth Obesity

We all know that obesity is a growing epidemic. Not only adults, but our children are at risk. The co-morbidities associated with obesity are now showing up in what our children are prescribed by their physicians – blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetic medications. It is no longer unusual for a 10 year old to be on a cholesterol-lowering drug or for 13 year old to be diagnosed with Type II diabetes, a rare occurrence 20 years ago. This issue cannot be ignored or we will all pay the cost, both in terms of our healthcare dollars to the quality of future generations.

How did we get here? A combination of food industry practices, media, access and the psychosis of a fast-paced, continuously changing, economically challenging society that calls for everyone to multi-task, work long hours and eat on the run. Food portions have doubled and sometimes tripled in size from 20 years ago. What was once a “normal size” 8-ounce soda is now a 20-ounce soda with over 15 teaspoons of sugar in the drink! We have exchanged the dinner table for the fast food lane – and not just dinner, but for breakfast and lunch as well.

What is being done about this epidemic? Local, state and federal programs are beginning to crop up. The National Institute of Health has recently developed a program called “We Can” which stands for Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition. At Martin Memorial, we are continually exploring what we can do to provide our community with services that address youth obesity. We are partnering with the local public health department, area extension offices, pediatricians and wellness businesses under the “We Can” banner to promote the program at area schools, YMCAs, boys and girls clubs, and Parks and Recreation.

The Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing developed a 6-week HealthyLIFE Youth Weight Management program which combines physical activity with nutrition education. The program targets overweight youth who are at risk for diabetes, but is open to anyone who wants to participate.

All participants undergo cholesterol screening, a fitness assessment and metabolic rate analysis. Sessions include fitness activities and fun games such as dodgeball. The educational portion includes healthy cooking, reading food labels, portion control and a supermarket tour. The next session begins during spring break on March 31.

This session requires that parents attend every session, as we recognize that it has to be a whole family affair in order to create a healthier environment for the child. Parents will receive all the screenings as well. To find out more about this program, call the center for health and healing at (772) 223-4916.

--Lani Kee, MS
Manager, Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Beware the Ides (and temptation) of March

There has always been something magical about the month of March for me, especially since my birthday’s smack in the middle of it.

It’s also time for spring training, which means sun-dappled days of watching baseball, languidly munching a hotdog and peanuts, then washing them down with a cold one.

It’s also St. Patrick’s Day, which means Guinness and Harp, Black and Tans, corned beef (hold the cabbage, please) and maybe a little Bailey’s in the coffee.

It’s March Madness, which means poring over your brackets (non-gambling version, of course) then sitting in front of as many TVs as possible to keep track of how poorly you’ve done. (Did I really pick Boise State to beat Louisville? Never bet with your heart.)

Of course, the best place to watch a bajillion games at the same time is a sports bar. And the best thing to do at a sports bar while watching games is to have a beer. And the best thing to do at a sports bar while watching games and having a beer is to eat chicken wings and burgers with fries and nachos and – well, you get the picture.

Throw an early Easter into the mix, along with the obligatory chocolate bunnies, peeps and perhaps a ham dinner, and you’ve got yourself a Category 5 Gut Bomb just waiting to go off.

While the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays get all the ink for their well-deserved reputations as diet busters, let’s not leave March out of the caloric criminal lineup. And though it may be too late for some of us, let this be a warning to the rest of you.

Save yourselves. Get thee to a gym. Rethink that sixth slice of meat lovers’ pizza. You’ll thank me later.

--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Eat Well for Your Sake – and Your Kids’

Recently I sat in the cardiovascular intensive care unit with a patient who had undergone open-heart surgery. As we reviewed the nutrition therapy recommended for heart health after surgery – low fat/cholesterol/sodium, portion-controlled – he looked at me and said, “Obesity is going to bankrupt our country.”

We proceeded to discuss the dangers of an increasingly overweight American youth (more than 9 million American children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight) and the fact that if we as a nation don’t eat better and exercise more, starting with our youngsters, we will truly break the American healthcare bank.

With that in mind, I read with interest the view of Dr. Vincent Marks of the University of Surrey that our perception of an obesity epidemic, with dire consequences, has been exaggerated. This contradicts what experts have been saying for years.

A number of studies have found that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in childhood are associated with an increase in CVD as an adult. Given that CVD (including stroke, hypertension and rheumatic heart disease) has been the No. 1 killer in the United States since 1900 (except for 1918 when a worldwide influenza epidemic took first place), that is pretty strong evidence that we have to teach our children how to eat healthfully while they are young and impressionable (and we are paying for their groceries).

Four of six risk factors for CVD (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes) are nutrition related and all (including tobacco use and physical activity) are under our control.

To help you make healthier choices for you and your children (and the future of our nation), the American Heart Association presents the following strategies for individuals over the age of 2:

  • Balance dietary calories with physical activity to maintain normal growth.
  • Set aside 60 minutes each day for moderate-to-vigorous play or physical activity.
  • Eat vegetables and fruits daily and limit juice intake.
  • Use vegetable oils and soft margarines low in saturated fat and trans-fatty acids instead of butter or most other animal fats in the diet.
  • Eat whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined grain products.
  • Reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods.
  • Consume nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products daily.
  • Eat more fish, especially oily fish, broiled or baked.
  • Reduce salt intake, including salt from processed foods.

    --Rosemarie Lembo James, RD, CNSD, LD/N
    Clinical Director of Nutrition Services

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Getting Older, Gracelessly

Standing in line last Saturday to register for a 5K run, I overheard a mom talking to her daughter.

“You can’t run in the 14-year-old division yet. You’re not 14,” the mom said earnestly.

“But I’m almost 14,” the girl moaned in that “my parents are stupid they’ll never understand me” voice that only teen-agers know how to use.

As I stood there, joints aching in the early-morning chill and waiting for the Advil to kick in, I had to smile at their conversation. It didn’t seem that long ago I was trying to speed up time so I could drive, go to college, start making money (still waiting for that).

Heck, I even fudged my age to get into a 35-and-over basketball league a few years back. Sure I was 34 years old and not that far under the age minimum, but like that 13-year-old girl at the race last week I just wanted to add a little more life experience to my birth certificate.

Funny how things change. This Saturday I turn 37. And while that’s not necessarily old, it’s certainly older. And that increased age seems to bring more physical limitations.

It takes longer to recover from a game of basketball. It gets harder to lose the weight gained during a pizza binge. I actually have checked my blood sugar and cholesterol levels. I’ve gone to a doctor, even when things weren’t wrong.

Working for a healthcare provider has made me more cognizant of what I should be doing to stay healthy. As 40 closes in, I know that all of the choices I made years ago could come back to haunt me – which makes the choices I make today that much more important.

It’s frustrating not to be able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, without my body contradicting me. It’s distressing to hear joints crack every time I get out of a chair. It’s maddening to still be carrying around 10 (OK, 15) extra pounds that would’ve been lost a decade ago simply with some strenuous exercise.

But it’s all part of getting older. And it’s certainly better than the alternative.

--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator

Monday, March 10, 2008

Paging Housecall Readers

If you’re a loyal Housecall reader (hi Mom!) then you’ve been receiving a lot of information on health-related topics since we started the blog last November.

Communication being a two-way street, we’d also like to hear from you as well.

Got a topic you’d like to read about? Have a question you want information on? Want to get an autograph from celebrity Martin Memorial bloggers like John Romano or Lisa McCluskey?

Just click on the “comments” link directly beneath this post and we’ll do the best we can to answer them all.

--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator

Thursday, March 6, 2008

30,000 Volunteer Hours and Counting

When Pat Donovan was first approached about volunteering at Martin Memorial, she emphatically declined. She was semi-retired and looking forward to spending time at the pool, exercising and enjoying the proximity to the water.

But the routine soon grew monotonous and Donovan decided to look into joining the Martin Memorial Auxiliary. Nineteen years later, Donovan has made her mark not only on the Auxiliary, but the entire health system.

On Feb. 27, Donovan (at right in the picture below, with Joan Lemke, president of the Auxiliary) earned her 30,000th hour of volunteer service. It is the most hours recorded by a volunteer in the Martin Memorial Auxiliary’s 66-year history.

“It seems like it was so long ago, but it wasn’t,” she said. “The hospital has changed quite a bit since I started.”

Donovan’s tenure is notable for more than just her longevity. She has spent most of her time in the Auxiliary as gift shop coordinator, selling flowers and stuffed animals, balloons and souvenirs to hospital patients and their guests. When she started, the gift shop was nothing but a small room with a table or two, tablecloths tossed over them to spruce things up.

Slowly but surely, things began to improve at the gift shop, thanks largely to Donovan’s experience running a business with her husband. The shop was expanded and cleaned up. More merchandise was made available. Helium was brought in to inflate balloons. Visa and Mastercard were set up so that customers could pay by credit card.

Soon, the shop became profitable. In the first 10 years Donovan was there, the gift shop made $1 million. In 2007, the total profits reached $2 million, taking just eight years to earn the second million dollars.

“She does so much for the hospital,” Lemke said. “It’s practically been a full-time job.”

--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

A Plan for Stan the Man

The patient doesn’t have insurance, has no co-pay and spends every day flat on his back in a hospital bed. And while there is absolutely no chance he’ll get up and walk out of the hospital some day, it won’t be for a lack of medical attention.

The patient resides at Martin Memorial and there isn’t another like him in a Florida hospital. Of course technically he’s not a man – or a human – at all.

Rather, he is a highly sophisticated patient simulator purchased by Martin Memorial to help train nurses entering critical care areas – such as intensive care, emergency department and surgical areas – as well as nurses new to the hospital.

The simulator is called iStan by manufacturer Medical Education Technologies, Inc., but nicknamed Stan the Man at Martin Memorial. The health system purchased him with the help of Peter and Gayle Grimm, Harbour Ridge residents who provided a gift to the Martin Memorial Foundation.

On March 3, Martin Memorial had a demonstration of what Stan can do. And to be honest, it was a little freaky for anyone who’s seen the “Terminator” movies and worries about machines taking over the world.

He breathed, often loudly. He blinked. He sweated. He talked. In other words, it was like sitting next to someone on a long airplane flight.

A computer can program Stan to have all kinds of different ailments and problems, which will be diagnosed and treated by the nurses according to the symptoms he presents. He had two heart attacks on Monday, but fortunately he was surrounded by nurses who brought him back to life.

Even his skin feels real-ish. A coworker of mine touched one of his toes and recoiled quickly, as if she were sticking her hand in a barrel of fish guts. “It’s creepy!” she said of the realistic skin attached to the toe.

And yes, standing above this automated hunk of electronics and plastic and engineering wizardry, it is a little un-nerving to see him blink at you with one eye dilated. “What are you looking at?” I imagined him saying.

What nursing leaders are saying is that Stan will be a big help with training. That will assist Martin Memorial in retaining and recruitment of nurses, while at the same time continuing to promote patient safety by increasing the clinical staff’s level of training.

After all, with a piece of such high technology around, Stan’s already made one thing obvious – he’s no dummy.

-- Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator