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The Good Living Magazine from Otsego Memorial Hospital
Citation preview
heart health 5 SIMPLE SECRETS
BREATHE! HOW REHAB HELPS
SYMPTOMSYOU’D NEVERSUSPECT
A FOUR-WHEELEDFRIEND
T H E G O O D L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E F R O M O T S E G O M E M O R I A L H O S P I T A L
WINTER 2012
HOLIDAYSTRATEGIES
STAY-SLIM
cover_OTS411_REV1.indd 4 11/29/11 1:20 PM
COVER IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
OTSEGO STAFF
CEOTHOMAS R. LEMON
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MARY SANDERS
MARKETING & FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
CHRISTIE PERDUE
MARKETING COORDINATOR KIMBERLY RULEY
WAINSCOT STAFF
EDITOR IN CHIEFRITA GUARNA
SENIOR EDITORTIMOTHY KELLEY
ART PATRICE HORVATH
Otsego Health & Life is published by Wainscot Media, 110 Summit Avenue, Montvale, NJ 07645, in association with Otsego Memorial Hospital. This is Volume 3, Issue 4. © 2012 by Otsego Memorial Hospital. All rights reserved.
Material contained herein is intended for informational purposes only. If you have medical concerns, seek the guidance of a healthcare professional.
THE GOOD LIVING MAGAZINE FROM
OTSEGO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
3P R E V E N T I O N5 secret weapons for heart health Studies suggest simple (but not obvious) ways to help keep your ticker strong.
4 R E H A B R E P O R TBack to breathing free For patients with COPD, pulmonary rehab can be the key to renewed health and vigor.
7C L I N I C A L U P D AT EUnusual signs of heart disease This deadly illness can show itself in unexpected ways—especially in women.
8H E A LT H Y L I V I N GHolidays needn’t go to waist5 ways to say “no, thanks” to seasonal weight gain—and stay merry.
10F R I E N D S O F O T S E G OTrips for treatment OMH joins with two partners to provide a new “cancer van” to take patients to medical appointments.
7
4
10
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HOW TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE? WE’VE ALL HEARD THE
classic advice: Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains; go easy on salt and
fatty foods; get exercise; don’t smoke; and watch that cholesterol. But
there’s more. “It can be confusing,” admits Cary Bailey, an acute care
nurse practitioner at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale’s Prairie
Heart Institute in Carbondale, Illinois, “because it seems every week
we hear that something we thought was good is really bad.” However,
research does offer other simple steps we can take toward heart-attack
prevention every day. Here are fi ve:
1GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP. In one large study,
women who had fi ve hours’ sleep or less per night were 39 percent
more likely to develop coronary heart disease within 10 years than those
who slept for eight hours. Quality of sleep counts too. Breathing prob-
lems such as obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing stops briefl y
many times during the night, have been linked to an increased risk of
heart problems. So allow seven to eight hours a night for sleep.
If you still wake up unrefreshed, see your doctor.
2SEE YOUR DENTIST. Both tooth loss and untreated gum
disease have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascu-
lar illness. Doctors believe bacteria from gum disease enter the blood-
stream and cause infl ammation of other tissue—including the lining of
the arteries, producing atherosclerosis. And in data from a major survey
of nearly 42,000 people ages 40 to 59, the more teeth a person lacked, the
more likely he or she was to suffer from heart disease.
3 EAT BARLEY. The Food and Drug Administration approved
a rule that allows foods containing barley to carry labels claiming
that they “may reduce the risk of heart disease.” The reason? Barley
contains soluble fi ber, which can help lower LDL (low-density lipopro-
tein) cholesterol levels.
4CONSUME OLIVE OIL AND NUTS. In a recent Span-
ish study, Mediterranean-style diets rich in healthy fats from
virgin olive oil and certain nuts outdid a low-fat diet in improving cho-
lesterol, blood pressure and blood-sugar levels. Virgin olive oil retains
natural antioxidants and other nutrients thought to reduce dangerous
infl ammation in blood vessels, researchers say, while almonds, walnuts
and hazelnuts contain unsaturated fats believed to aid the heart.
5HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE. No, this isn’t your cue to
jangle your nerves with a caffeine overload. “Whether high caf-
feine intake increases the risk of coronary heart disease is still under
study,” says the American Heart Association. But drinking one to
three cups of coffee a day may be heart-protective, according to a
study of more than 27,000 women in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. Compared with abstainers, moderate java drinkers had a 24
percent reduction in the risk of “infl ammatory deaths.”
These tips have a trait in common, suggests Bailey. “They contribute
to the goal of reducing the body’s degree of infl ammation,” she says.
“Vascular infl ammation is part of many cardiac disorders.” ■
STUDIES SUGGEST SIMPLE (BUT NOT OBVIOUS) WAYS TO HELP KEEP YOUR TICKER STRONG
secret weapons 5
FOR HEART HEALTH
3 OTSEGO HEALTH & LIFE
PREVENTION
Heart Health_OTS411_02.indd 3 11/17/11 12:13 PM
rehab report
4 Winter 2012
back to breathing freeFor patients With CopD, pulmonary rehab Can be the key to reneWeD health anD vigor
“o.k., take a Deep breath,” your healthCare
provider instructs. “and one more. Good.”
You feel the stethoscope against your chest, but
what you may feel even more is your inability to really
take a deep, full breath. You could be one of thousands
of people who suffer from a variety of respiratory dis-
eases that can make even the easiest task feel like you’re
climbing a mountain. Joyce ross, a chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (CopD) sufferer, knows firsthand
the debilitating nature of the disease, which is why
she chose pulmonary rehabilitation to combat the
symptoms.
pulmonary rehabilitation is an integral part of
the clinical management and health maintenance of
those patients with chronic respiratory diseases such
as asthma or CopD (which includes emphysema
and chronic bronchitis) who remain symptomatic or
continue to have decreased function despite standard
medical treatment.
at otsego Memorial hospital (oMh) in Gaylord,
pulmonary rehabilitation is offered to those patients
who have undergone pulmonary function testing—a
group of tests that measure how well the lungs take
in and release air and how well they move gases such
as oxygen from the atmosphere into the body’s
OTS411_rehab_REV1.indd 4 11/28/11 1:27 PM
5 otsego health & liFe
circulation—and from those results have been determined to be qualifying
candidates for the program.
ross, a 76-year-old Gaylord resident and oMh pulmonary rehab cli-
ent, is a former smoker who kicked the habit 36 years ago, but had a reac-
tion to a prescription medication and was left short of breath, making even
her regular household chores seem like a daunting task. her primary care
provider, Michael Samalik, M.D., recommended a pulmonary function
test in order to see how well her lungs were performing, and prescribed
an inhaler as a short-term remedy. When her test results came back, it was
revealed that ross was now among the millions of americans suffering
from CopD.
but she didn’t simply sit and take
in her diagnosis. Instead, she got up and
decided to do whatever it took to ease the
symptoms and slow the progression of
her disease. her pulmonary function test
results and diagnosis made her a fabulous
candidate for pulmonary rehabilitation.
after her recent graduation from the oMh
pulmonary rehab program, she enrolled in the phase III–Maintenance,
the pay-as-you go program at oMh, because she enjoys the physical activ-
ity and socialization provided by the program.
“the exercise makes me feel much better,” says ross. “and being able
to talk with others going through the same type of things helps as well.”
“regular exercise improves your quality of life,” says Denise Schmid-
lin, Director of the oMh pulmonary rehabilitation program. “It
improves endurance, strength and stamina, and helps to maximally restore
function to allow patients to remain independent in their
daily activities.”
ross has also benefited from the educational component of her
rehab program, especially the nutrition and exercise sessions. the lecture
series is held via reMeC, an interactive video conference for pulmonary
rehabilitation patients across northern Michigan, and includes topics
such as medications, nutrition, exercise, blood pressure and dealing with
a diagnosis.
Implementing aspects of the pulmonary rehab program in a client’s
daily life is a key to being successful, and ross has done just that now that
her energy has returned. She enjoys riding her bike, going for walks and
gardening again.
“It was unbelievable what I was having a hard
time doing before,” she says. “but about half-way
through my sessions I felt an improvement in my
energy level, and now I can do so much more.”
ross participates in the oMh pulmonary
rehabilitation program twice a week, and appreci-
ates the care and attention that the rehabilitation
staff delivers to all of the clients. before, during
and after their activity sessions, clients have their
oxygen level, blood pressure and heart rate checked, and are given guid-
ance on whether to slow down, rest or continue with the activity.
“the girls are wonderful; the program is wonderful” says ross. “I
would recommend this program to anyone, and I have.”
oMh pulmonary rehab is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on
tuesdays and thursdays. Denise Schmidlin, Director of Cardiac and
pulmonary rehab, can be reached by calling 989.731.7866. For more infor-
mation about the oMh pulmonary rehabilitation program, or other
services offered under the umbrella of the oMh rehabilitation Ser-
vices Department, please visit the otsego Memorial hospital website at
myoMh.org, or call the oMh Information hotline at 989.731.oMh1. ■
otsego memorial hospital’s on-premises cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
department (above) helps patients like joyce ross improve their energy, stamina
and strength. at right, ross is shown with omh exercise specialist julie sheppard.
“i would recommend this
program to anyone, and
i have.”
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7 otsego health & life
clinical update
unusual signs of heart disease
this deadly illness can show itself in unexpected ways—especially in women
if anyone should be familiar with the threat of
heart disease, it’s pam Welsh, 64, of Johannesburg, as it claimed the
lives of both her mother and father. Yet in 1999, when she was having
jaw and face pain, she never once thought it was her heart.
“i had just had a tooth pulled two weeks before my face pain
started, and i was sure it was pain from that,” recalls Welsh, “i even
went to two different emergency rooms while on vacation, and at
each i was told it was pain related to my tooth.” the pain in the face
continued, and she developed additional symptoms such as extreme
fatigue and difficultly breathing while walking.
Fortunately, Welsh followed up with her primary care physician,
Robert Mee, d.O., at the Otsego Memorial Hospital Medical Group
Family practice. Right away dr. Mee knew there was a serious issue,
most likely related to her heart. “there are times when we have to
consider unusual symptoms as a presentation of a disease process,”
says dr. Mee. “Heart disease can cause some seemingly unworrisome
symptoms at times in women.” according to dr. Mee, a high “index
of suspicion” and consideration for risk factors in women—and in
patients with other disease processes such as diabetes—is imperative
to enable doctors to identify blockages of the coronary arteries before
they become critical.
Recognizing Welsh’s symptoms immediately, dr. Mee coordinated
care with Munson Medical center, and she was seen by a cardiologist
that afternoon. “When dr. Mee said i needed to see a cardiologist i
was shocked,” Welsh recalls. “i always thought heart attacks came with
chest pains, and i didn’t have any chest pains.”
Welsh was admitted to Munson Medical center in traverse city,
and within a day she had received a triple bypass. She says she was
told at the time that if she had waited a day or two more she could
have died.
today Welsh sees both dr. Mee and her cardiologist every
six months. She has lost more than 60 pounds, and works to live a
healthy life so that she can enjoy her two great-granddaughters.
“Without dr. Mee, i would not be here today,” says Welsh. “He
saved my life by recognizing my unique symptoms immediately.” ■
pam welsh is checked out by her primary
care physician, robert mee, d.o.
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You can tell from the nip
in the air and the car-
ols on the airwaves:
Most of us will soon
be celebrating with
family, friends—and
fattening food. From Thanksgiving pumpkin
pie through eggnog on New Year’s Eve, this sump-
tuous season is the calendar’s biggest threat to your
trim waistline. And while a New England Journal of
Medicine study a few years ago had some good news
(we don’t pack on as many pounds as we fear), it brought a
warning, too: The weight we do add during this season tends
to stay on.
So must you be a stay-at-home sourpuss, munching on
celery? No, insists Janet R. Laubgross, a Fairfax, Virginia, clini-
cal psychologist who specializes in weight management. You
can be socially active and still face the scales happily, she says,
if you heed fi ve tips:
1. PLAN.“It’s essential to mentally prepare for events you know will
be stressful, such as Christmas dinner with the in-laws,” says
Laubgross. “If you gear up beforehand, you’ll feel less need to
soothe yourself with food.”
SHU
TTER
STOC
K
holidays needn’t goto waist
5 WAYS TO SAY “NO, THANKS” TO SEASONAL WEIGHT
GAIN—AND STAY MERRY
TIP: “If you’re drinking wine with dinner, wait until your entrée is served to take the � rst sip. You’ll be more sensitive to your body’s fullness cues and less likelyto overeat.” ~ DIETITIAN LAURA CIPULLO
8 WINTER 2012
HEALTHY LIVING
HealthyLivingOTS411_REV1.indd 8 11/17/11 12:13 PM
Restaurant meals are easy, because most eater-
ies now post their menus online. Decide what to order
in advance, so you won’t be tempted while sitting at the
table—keeping in mind that fried foods and butter generally
should be avoided.
Also, never leave home very hungry—or very full. “If
you’ve starved yourself beforehand hoping to save calories,
you’re likely to gobble every bite in sight!” warns Laubgross.
On the other hand, she adds, you should also avoid the other
extreme—a pre-dinner binge: “No matter how stuffed you are,
you’ll still be tempted to indulge in tasty morsels.” Your best
bet: Prep for an evening fête by eating a sensible lunch, fol-
lowed by a light snack two hours before you leave home for
the social event.
Finally, when you see a party spread, ask yourself,
“Which of these foods do I really like?” Permit yourself small
portions of these and enjoy them to the hilt—then pass on the
other fattening items.
2. DE-STRESS.“I know this is easier said than done,” says Laubgross, “but
when we’re stressed we tend to overeat and overdrink.” Work
on keeping pressure levels down by sticking to your regular
routine as much as possible.
It’s also perfectly acceptable to avoid high-strain situa-
tions. “We all have notions about what we’re supposed to do,
yet in reality life presents us with only a few real obligations,”
says Laubgross. This means it’s O.K. to skip certain parties or
leave others early, especially if the temptation to overindulge
is high.
Does shopping in a teeming mall make you want
to tear your hair out? Try buying presents online or from
a catalog. “And remember: It’s not necessary to get the
absolute perfect gift for every single person you know,” says
Laubgross.
When all else fails, just take a break. “Excuse yourself
from cocktail hour at your family’s house, and step outside for
a breath of air,” says Laubgross. Then you can rejoin the group
feeling refreshed.
3. SWEAT.Yes, we know—during this busy time it’s easier than ever to
let your exercise routine slip. Don’t! Even if it means breaking
up workout sessions, with 15 minutes on the treadmill in the
morning and a 20-minute walk after work, keeping active will
help you burn excess calories and thus stay trim.
But it goes beyond the digital “calories burned”
display. “Exercise also boosts confi dence and helps lower anxi-
ety,” says Laubgross. “Because many of us deal with feelings of
social uncertainty by medicating with food, regular physical
activity may just help you avoid bingeing at the New Year’s Eve
buffet table.”
4. BE FIRM.“If a hostess offers you a second helping of her famous—and
fattening—chocolate caramel cream pie, all you have to do is
say, ‘No thank you,’” says Laubgross.
A small voice inside may whisper that it’s rude to say
no. After all, food is a symbol of love and a currency of hospi-
tality. So have a smile and ready answer: You need to take care
of you. Of course, it’s the job of a host or hostess to make sure
you’re offered everything you might wish to consume. But
you’d be surprised how few parties will stand or fall based on
the amount you personally eat.
“In most cases, I don’t think it’s good to get into a litany
of excuses about why you’re passing on that sugary cocktail
because you end up apologizing for yourself,” says Laubgross.
And you can always compliment a spread without partaking.
5. KEEP MOVING.Remember: If you’re truly tempted by a favorite treat, enjoy it
and then move on. “Otherwise you’re likely to overeat the rest
of the week, unconsciously trying to get a taste of that delicacy
you really wanted,” says Laubgross.
Don’t park yourself in front of the chow cart or dessert
table. Circulate, and think of why you decided to attend this
social event in the fi rst place. Enjoy your loved ones, friends—
and possible friends-to-be. Isn’t that what truly makes the
holiday season special? ■
TIP: “Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, including salad, and eat them � rst. � e � ber will help � ll you up and leave less room for those dangerous higher-calorie foods.” ~ DIETITIAN SARAH AMER
9 OTSEGO HEALTH & LIFE
HealthyLivingOTS411_REV1.indd 9 11/17/11 12:13 PM
friends of otsego
You maY see the “Road to RecoveRY” van in town, on
the highway or parked outside the otsego County Volunteer Center, but no
matter where it is, it is saving lives. otsego Memorial Hospital foundation
was one of three regional organizations to fund the purchase of this new van
to help transport local cancer patients to radiation treatments in Petoskey.
the road to recovery program has been in operation since 1998 in
otsego County. it represents a partnership between the American Cancer
society and the otsego County Volunteer Center in assisting with the trans-
portation of individuals undergoing radiation treatment by picking patients
up at their homes and taking them to and from medical appointments in
Petoskey. the American Cancer society provides the vehicle and fuel, and the
Volunteer Center provides a team of up to 60 volunteer drivers for the van
and keeps up the maintenance on the vehicle.
in the last two years, road to recovery has assisted 54 cancer patients,
making more than 560 trips in total. All of this travel put serious wear and
tear on the old van, leaving it with bald tires and the danger of an impending
breakdown.
otsego Memorial Hospital foundation joined with northern Michigan
regional Hospital and dCP Midstream to purchase a brand new passenger
van, replacing the old one, which had more than 200,000 miles on it.
otsego memoRial hospital joins with two paRtneRs to pRovide a new “canceR van” to take patients to medical appointments
trips for treatment
10 winteR 2012
“this is a special program that enhances healthcare in otsego County
and the surrounding area,” says Christie Perdue, foundation and Marketing
director at otsego Memorial Hospital. “it’s a great example of how partner-
ships can build programs and save lives.”
the road to recovery program is made possible through the dedica-
tion of community volunteers, who drive the van in all sorts of weather
and throughout the entire year. for more information on the road to
recovery program, please contact the otsego County Volunteer Center
at 989.705.6584 or the otsego Memorial Hospital foundation office at
989.731.2342. ■
the american cancer society’s “road to recovery” program van
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