I can eat my favorite foods again. ‘‘ Josh Ned · when you can’t walk across the room without being short of breath, when you can’t keep up with your kids and grandkids.”

MARCH 2015

Baylor Scott & White

Josh Nedfound the solution he needed for chronic heartburn PAGE 6

I can eat my favorite foods again.

‘‘

‘‘

Baylor Health Care System is now

a part of Baylor Scott & White Health

Is weIght loss surgery for you?Find out whether it could help you shed those extra pounds for good page 4

BaylorHealth.com/allsaints

FdBL031508_Allsaints.indd 1 1/20/15 10:17 AM

If you have a specifi c health condition, good nutrition is especially important—and especially challenging. � rough outpatient nutritional counseling, the dietitians on staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth can help you eat right after a heart attack, weight loss surgery or a diabetes diagnosis.

Or if you have a restricted diet because of a food allergy, intolerance or gastrointestinal issues, our experts can help you come up with a personalized diet plan.

OUTPATIENT NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING CAN INCLUDE:� Instruction on special meal plans� Individualized eating and

lifestyle plans� Computerized nutrition analysis� Review of lab work� Recipe makeovers� Weight loss strategies� Tips for healthy cooking, dining

out and traveling� Managing nutrition supplementation

Trust the Transplant ExpertsFor more information on transplantation services offered at Baylor Fort Worth, visit BaylorHealth.com/Transplant or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

PLAN YOUR PLATENeed to improve your diet but not sure where to begin? Learn more about the outpatient nutritional counseling services offered at Baylor Fort Worth at BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsNutrition or by calling 1.800.4BAYLOR.

QUICK HITS

Your Nutrition Game Plan

MORE

Six out of 10 adults in Texas got colorectal screenings as recommended in 2010. That’s up from 35 percent in 2000—but it’s just below the 2010 national average of 65 percent. Screenings help � nd polyps before they have a chance to become cancerous.

Get Help for What HurtsVisit FindDrRight.com to locate a sports medicine physician near you—and make an appointment today!

Play SafelyExercise is a vital component of good health for young and old. Yet the way to prevent injuries changes as we age. Here are two tips to keep you in the game.

Kids, avoid overtraining. Many experts recommend taking off at least one season a year to reduce the risk of injury. According to one research study, young athletes should not spend more hours training per week than their age. Those who exceeded the limit were 70 percent more likely to suffer an overuse injury.

Adults, avoid undertraining. Build up your exercise level gradually, and avoid the “weekend warrior” temptation to fi t a week’s worth of activity into a day or two.

TAKE THIS QUIZIf you have diabetes, it’s essential that you understand hemoglobin A1c, a test that measures your average blood glucose. Visit BaylorHealth.com/HemoglobinA1c to see what you know.

Beat Blood Sugar SpikesAlthough managing diabetes might seem daunting, a big part of your plan boils down to this: Avoid blood sugar spikes. � e good news is, it really can be as easy as 1-2-3.

1 Add exercise to your life—ideally, right after a meal. Eating raises blood sugar. Exercise lowers it.

2 Fill up on fi ber. Beans, whole grains and some high-fi ber vegetables can actually squash blood sugar spikes. Added bonus: � ese foods are

fi lling, so they help with portion control, too.

3 Find your whey. Recent research suggests that consuming whey protein prior to a high-carb meal helps reduce post-meal blood sugar

spikes in well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients.

MORE

60%

©Thinkstock©Thinkstock2 BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFEMore than 120,000 people are on organ transplant waiting lists in the United States. But a shortage of donated organs means that an average of 18 people die each day while waiting for transplants.

At DonateLifeTexas.org, you can register to be an organ and tissue donor.

FACT: Being an organ donor doesn’t interfere with receiving lifesaving medical care. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared.

FACT: The medical team

treating you is completely separate from the transplant team.

Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, 1400 Eighth Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104, 817.926.2544. Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR for information about Baylor All Saints Medical Center services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more. Marketing/Public Relations Director: Dee Dee Ogrin.

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

All Saints Outpatient Diagnostic Center: 817.922.7780. All Saints Health Foundation: 817.922.7707. Behavioral Health Services: 817.922.1162. Carter Rehabilitation & Fitness Center: 817.922.1139. Diabetes Center: 817.922.1794. Lymphedema Center: 817.922.2530. Neuroscience Program: 817.922.2385. Pain Management Program: 817.922.PAIN. Transplantation Services: 817.922.4650. Volunteer Services: 817.922.2376. Wound Management Program: 817.922.2430.

The material in Baylor Scott & White Health is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor All Saints Medical Center or Baylor Health Care System. Baylor Scott & White Health is published six times a year for friends and supporters of Baylor All Saints Medical Center and is distributed by the Marketing Department of Baylor All Saints Medical Center. Baylor Scott & White Health is published by McMURRY/TMG, LLC. © 2015 Baylor Health Care System. Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75201, or by email to [email protected].

FdBL031508_Allsaints.indd 2 2/5/15 12:01 PM

Trust the Transplant ExpertsFor more information on transplantation services offered at Baylor Fort Worth, visit BaylorHealth.com/Transplant or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

MORE

Six out of 10 adults in Texas got colorectal screenings as recommended in 2010. That’s up from 35 percent in 2000—but it’s just below the 2010 national average of 65 percent. Screenings help � nd polyps before they have a chance to become cancerous.

Get Help for What HurtsVisit FindDrRight.com to locate a sports medicine physician near you—and make an appointment today!

Play SafelyExercise is a vital component of good health for young and old. Yet the way to prevent injuries changes as we age. Here are two tips to keep you in the game.

Kids, avoid overtraining. Many experts recommend taking off at least one season a year to reduce the risk of injury. According to one research study, young athletes should not spend more hours training per week than their age. Those who exceeded the limit were 70 percent more likely to suffer an overuse injury.

Adults, avoid undertraining. Build up your exercise level gradually, and avoid the “weekend warrior” temptation to fi t a week’s worth of activity into a day or two.

TAKE THIS QUIZIf you have diabetes, it’s essential that you understand hemoglobin A1c, a test that measures your average blood glucose. Visit BaylorHealth.com/HemoglobinA1c to see what you know.

Beat Blood Sugar SpikesAlthough managing diabetes might seem daunting, a big part of your plan boils down to this: Avoid blood sugar spikes. � e good news is, it really can be as easy as 1-2-3.

1 Add exercise to your life—ideally, right after a meal. Eating raises blood sugar. Exercise lowers it.

2 Fill up on � ber. Beans, whole grains and some high-� ber vegetables can actually squash blood sugar spikes. Added bonus: � ese foods are

� lling, so they help with portion control, too.

3 Find your whey. Recent research suggests that consuming whey protein prior to a high-carb meal helps reduce post-meal blood sugar

spikes in well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients.

MORE

60%

©Thinkstock©Thinkstock BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints 3

Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, 1400 Eighth Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104, 817.926.2544. Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR for information about Baylor All Saints Medical Center services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more. Marketing/Public Relations Director: Dee Dee Ogrin.

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

All Saints Outpatient Diagnostic Center: 817.922.7780. All Saints Health Foundation: 817.922.7707. Behavioral Health Services: 817.922.1162. Carter Rehabilitation & Fitness Center: 817.922.1139. Diabetes Center: 817.922.1794. Lymphedema Center: 817.922.2530. Neuroscience Program: 817.922.2385. Pain Management Program: 817.922.PAIN. Transplantation Services: 817.922.4650. Volunteer Services: 817.922.2376. Wound Management Program: 817.922.2430.

The material in Baylor Scott & White Health is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor All Saints Medical Center or Baylor Health Care System. Baylor Scott & White Health is published six times a year for friends and supporters of Baylor All Saints Medical Center and is distributed by the Marketing Department of Baylor All Saints Medical Center. Baylor Scott & White Health is published by McMURRY/TMG, LLC. © 2015 Baylor Health Care System. Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75201, or by email to [email protected].


Losing weight isn’t easy, and keeping it o� can be even harder. If you’ve been unsuccessful in managing your weight on your own, it may be time to talk to your doctor.

“When you start � nding that life is passing you by, that’s when people start saying, ‘I need to do something di� erent,’ ” says Michael L. Green Jr., MD, medical director of weight loss surgery at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. “It’s when you can’t walk across the room without being short of breath, when you can’t keep up with your kids and grandkids.”

Medical weight management can include weight loss counseling, prescription medication or surgery. Your doctor will consider:

� Your age, overall health, physical abilities and medical history

� Past e� orts to lose weight � Your current weight� Your tolerance for speci� c

medications, procedures or therapies

� Your expectations for the course of the condition

� Your opinion or preference

IS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY RIGHT FOR ME?Depending on the procedure, weight loss surgery can restrict food intake, absorption or both. But it isn’t a magic wand.

“It’s a tool that if used in the right manner, can help people embark on a healthier lifestyle,” Dr. Green says. “You have to understand how to use the tool and follow up with exercise and diet change, so preoperative education is a cornerstone of success.”

WHAT IS YOUR BMI?Body mass index, or BMI, is calculated based on a person’s weight and height, and it is used as one screening tool for obesity. You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you have a BMI of 40 or higher. (For example, a BMI of 40 for a person who is 5 feet 5 inches tall would equal 243 pounds. At 5 feet 11 inches it would be 287 pounds.)

With co-existing health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, weight loss surgery may be appropriate for people with a BMI of 35 or more.

Go to BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss to fi nd out your BMI and learn more about weight loss surgery.

What Are You Weighting For?If you’re tired of carrying around extra pounds, weight loss surgery may be for you

Free Seminar!To sign up for a free weight loss surgery seminar, visit BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

MORE

diseases, genetics and chemical exposure (such as asbestos).

HOW IT’S TREATED: Without medication, the prognosis is bleak. “Life expectancy after diagnosis is just three to � ve years,” Dr. Millard says. “� ankfully, two newly FDA-approved medications may help slow its progression and turn back the clock on scarring.”

3 CYSTIC FIBROSISAMERICANS AFFECTED: 30,000

� is inherited condition is characterized by an inability of the lungs to e� ectively clear mucus from the bronchi, the main passageways of the lungs. “� ese individuals experience chronic lung infections, and many will require transplantation,” Dr. Millard explains.

HOW IT’S TREATED: Individuals born with cystic � brosis have a di� cult road ahead, requiring treatment several times each day as well as frequent hospitalizations. “But exciting new medications for treating CF are on the horizon,” Dr. Millard says. “� ese treatments may be able to repair the basic genetic defects and allow these individuals to lead normal lives.”

Your Lungs: What Can Go Wrong?The low-down on three chronic conditions that cause trouble for the lungs, and the treatments that are making a difference

Every time you take a breath, it kicks-starts a complex series of events that brings oxygen from the air into the blood that circulates through your entire body. It’s a fascinating process that can sometimes hit speed bumps.

“At least 40 million Americans are currently diagnosed with a chronic lung condition,” says Mark Millard, MD, medical director of the Martha Foster Lung Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Here, he brings us up to speed on three conditions that cause trouble for the lungs (and have nothing to do with smoking), as well as the latest treatments.

1 ASTHMA AMERICANS AFFECTED: ABOUT 26 MILLION

� e most common chronic lung condition, asthma is characterized by in� ammation and spasms of the airways, which causes wheezing and shortness of breath. � ough asthma has a strong genetic component and usually develops in childhood, Dr. Millard says some cases do appear in adulthood. “� ose are often more serious and di� cult to treat.”

HOW IT’S TREATED: Daily medications can help keep symptoms at bay, and the latest inhalant medications are very e� ective at reducing in� ammation and spasms, Dr. Millard says. You can also reduce your risk of an attack by avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke, allergies and pollution.

2 PULMONARY FIBROSISAMERICANS AFFECTED: 140,000

� is progressive disease causes scarring and sti� ness in the lungs, making it di� cult to breathe. “It stems from a defect in how the lungs repair themselves—they scar instead of heal,” Dr. Millard says. Causes may include autoimmune

Yes! You can

exercise if you have

asthma. Talk to

your doctor about

creating a plan.



WHAT IS YOUR BMI?Body mass index, or BMI, is calculated based on a person’s weight and height, and it is used as one screening tool for obesity. You may be a candidate for weight loss surgery if you have a BMI of 40 or higher. (For example, a BMI of 40 for a person who is 5 feet 5 inches tall would equal 243 pounds. At 5 feet 11 inches it would be 287 pounds.)

With co-existing health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, weight loss surgery may be appropriate for people with a BMI of 35 or more.

Go to BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss to fi nd out your BMI and learn more about weight loss surgery.

Free Seminar!To sign up for a free weight loss surgery seminar, visit BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

diseases, genetics and chemical exposure (such as asbestos).

HOW IT’S TREATED: Without medication, the prognosis is bleak. “Life expectancy after diagnosis is just three to � ve years,” Dr. Millard says. “� ankfully, two newly FDA-approved medications may help slow its progression and turn back the clock on scarring.”

3 CYSTIC FIBROSISAMERICANS AFFECTED: 30,000

� is inherited condition is characterized by an inability of the lungs to e� ectively clear mucus from the bronchi, the main passageways of the lungs. “� ese individuals experience chronic lung infections, and many will require transplantation,” Dr. Millard explains.

HOW IT’S TREATED: Individuals born with cystic � brosis have a di� cult road ahead, requiring treatment several times each day as well as frequent hospitalizations. “But exciting new medications for treating CF are on the horizon,” Dr. Millard says. “� ese treatments may be able to repair the basic genetic defects and allow these individuals to lead normal lives.”

Your Lungs: What Can Go Wrong?The low-down on three chronic conditions that cause trouble for the lungs, and the treatments that are making a difference

Every time you take a breath, it kick-starts a complex series of events that brings oxygen from the air into the blood that circulates through your entire body. It’s a fascinating process that can sometimes hit speed bumps.

“At least 40 million Americans are currently diagnosed with a chronic lung condition,” says Mark Millard, MD, medical director of the Martha Foster Lung Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Here, he brings us up to speed on three conditions that cause trouble for the lungs (and have nothing to do with smoking), as well as the latest treatments.

1 ASTHMA AMERICANS AFFECTED: ABOUT 26 MILLION

� e most common chronic lung condition, asthma is characterized by in� ammation and spasms of the airways, which causes wheezing and shortness of breath. � ough asthma has a strong genetic component and usually develops in childhood, Dr. Millard says some cases do appear in adulthood. “� ose are often more serious and di� cult to treat.”

HOW IT’S TREATED: Daily medications can help keep symptoms at bay, and the latest inhalant medications are very e� ective at reducing in� ammation and spasms, Dr. Millard says. You can also reduce your risk of an attack by avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke, allergies and pollution.

2 PULMONARY FIBROSISAMERICANS AFFECTED: 140,000

� is progressive disease causes scarring and sti� ness in the lungs, making it di� cult to breathe. “It stems from a defect in how the lungs repair themselves—they scar instead of heal,” Dr. Millard says. Causes may include autoimmune

Yes! You can

exercise if you have

asthma. Talk to

your doctor about

creating a plan.

©Thinkstock

READY FOR RELIEF?To fi nd a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Fort Worth, visit BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

©Thinkstock BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints 5


After a decade-long bout with heartburn, Josh Ned is pain-free and back to eating the foods he loves

MOST OF US ONLY DEAL with occasional heartburn after a particularly greasy or spicy

meal. But Josh Ned’s heartburn was anything but occasional.

“I was taking over-the-counter medication for heartburn about 10 times a day,” says the 32-year-old McKinney resident. “I couldn’t eat anything spicy or sweet. Even apple juice and orange juice were o� the list.”

After nearly a decade of discomfort, Ned � nally mentioned his heartburn to his doctor last spring, who sent him for an upper endoscopy, a procedure used to determine the cause of heartburn.

It showed that Ned had gastroesophageal re� ux

disease, or GERD, a condition in which the valve between the esophagus and stomach doesn’t close properly, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation and severe damage. � e � x was medication—one that Ned would only have to take once a day. He was thrilled.

“I haven’t had heartburn since starting the new medication,” Ned says. “I can eat my favorite foods again—Tex-Mex, barbecue, cranberry juice and smoothies. I just feel so much better.”

Ned may have waited years to ask his doctor about heartburn, but you don’t have to. Here are the answers to some common questions about GERD.

Burned Out

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

HOW CAN I TELL WHETHER IT’S GERD?A doctor will need to diagnose GERD, but symptoms include:

3 Frequent heartburn3 Regurgitation of food or a sour

taste in the back of your mouth3 Chest pain3 Di� culty swallowing3 Cough3 Hoarseness or sore throat3 Feeling as if there’s a lump in

your throat

“Di� erent people have di� erent symptoms. More common than not, people will have heartburn or discomfort in their stomach or chest,” says Praveen Srungaram, MD, a gastroenterologist on the medical sta� at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney. “But those symptoms overlap with heart and lung issues. Talk to your doctor to make sure it’s not your heart or lungs.”

IS GERD DANGEROUS?GERD itself isn’t dangerous, but it can lead to other conditions.

“When stomach acid is constantly coming back up into the esophagus, it starts to eat away at the esophageal lining,” Dr. Srungaram says. “� at can lead to in� ammation, bleeding and, in some cases, Barrett’s esophagus.”

Barrett’s esophagus is a condition where the tissue of the esophagus, after repeated exposure to stomach acid, begins to resemble tissue found in the intestine. It’s an uncommon complication of GERD, but it can lead to esophageal cancer.

HOW IS GERD TREATED?Your doctor may recommend trying over-the-counter antacids to curb the pain associated with heartburn. But if that doesn’t work, other medications are available to help reduce acid production and strengthen the esophageal valve. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damage to the esophagus.

“If you’re � nding that you have to take medicine on a regular basis or you still have symptoms after eight to 12 months, it’s probably a good idea to see a specialist,” Dr. Srungaram says.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT GERD?Although you can’t prevent GERD, there are steps you can take to reduce heartburn.

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess belly fat directly contributes to heartburn because it puts pressure on your stomach and causes acid to back up into your esophagus. Aim for a waist circumference of no more than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men.

Loosen your belt—literally! Avoid tight-� tting clothing around your abdomen for the same reason as above—it puts unnecessary pressure on your stomach.

Don’t lie down after eating. Wait at least three hours before going to bed.

Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces the e� ectiveness of the esophageal valve.

Avoid trigger foods. Di� erent people have di� erent heartburn triggers, but common culprits include spicy dishes, fatty foods, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and ca� eine. Large meals of any type can also trigger heartburn.

“Within a few days of starting the medication, I saw a difference. It makes me wish I would’ve talked to my doctor a lot sooner.”

—Josh Ned

6 BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints


After a decade-long bout with heartburn, Josh Ned is pain-free and back to eating the foods he loves

MOST OF US ONLY DEAL with occasional heartburn after a particularly greasy or spicy

meal. But Josh Ned’s heartburn was anything but occasional.

“I was taking over-the-counter medication for heartburn about 10 times a day,” says the 32-year-old McKinney resident. “I couldn’t eat anything spicy or sweet. Even apple juice and orange juice were o� the list.”

After nearly a decade of discomfort, Ned � nally mentioned his heartburn to his doctor last spring, who sent him for an upper endoscopy, a procedure used to determine the cause of heartburn.

It showed that Ned had gastroesophageal re� ux

disease, or GERD, a condition in which the valve between the esophagus and stomach doesn’t close properly, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation and severe damage. � e � x was medication—one that Ned would only have to take once a day. He was thrilled.

“I haven’t had heartburn since starting the new medication,” Ned says. “I can eat my favorite foods again—Tex-Mex, barbecue, cranberry juice and smoothies. I just feel so much better.”

Ned may have waited years to ask his doctor about heartburn, but you don’t have to. Here are the answers to some common questions about GERD.

Burned Out

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

HoW CAN I TELL WHETHER IT’S GERD?A doctor will need to diagnose GERD, but symptoms include:

3 Frequent heartburn3 Regurgitation of food or a sour

taste in the back of your mouth3 Chest pain3 Di� culty swallowing3 Cough3 Hoarseness or sore throat3 Feeling as if there’s a lump in

your throat

“Di� erent people have di� erent symptoms. More common than not, people will have heartburn or discomfort in their stomach or chest,” says Praveen Srungaram, MD, a gastroenterologist on the medical sta� at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney. “But those symptoms overlap with heart and lung issues. Talk to your doctor to make sure it’s not your heart or lungs.”

IS GERD DANGERoUS?GERD itself isn’t dangerous, but it can lead to other conditions.

“When stomach acid is constantly coming back up into the esophagus, it starts to eat away at the esophageal lining,” Dr. Srungaram says. “� at can lead to in� ammation, bleeding and, in some cases, Barrett’s esophagus.”

Barrett’s esophagus is a condition where the tissue of the esophagus, after repeated exposure to stomach acid, begins to resemble tissue found in the intestine. It’s an uncommon complication of GERD, but it can lead to esophageal cancer.

HoW IS GERD TREATED?Your doctor may recommend trying over-the-counter antacids to curb the pain associated with heartburn. But if that doesn’t work, other medications are available to help reduce acid production and strengthen the esophageal valve. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damage to the esophagus.

“If you’re � nding that you have to take medicine on a regular basis or you still have symptoms after eight to 12 months, it’s probably a good idea to see a specialist,” Dr. Srungaram says.

WHAT CAN I Do To PREVENT GERD?Although you can’t prevent GERD, there are steps you can take to reduce heartburn.

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess belly fat directly contributes to heartburn because it puts pressure on your stomach and causes acid to back up into your esophagus. Aim for a waist circumference of no more than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men.

Loosen your belt—literally! Avoid tight-� tting clothing around your abdomen for the same reason as above—it puts unnecessary pressure on your stomach.

Don’t lie down after eating. Wait at least three hours before going to bed.

Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces the e� ectiveness of the esophageal valve.

Avoid trigger foods. Di� erent people have di� erent heartburn triggers, but common culprits include spicy dishes, fatty foods, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and ca� eine. Large meals of any type can also trigger heartburn.

“Within a few days of starting the medication, I saw a difference. It makes me wish I would’ve talked to my doctor a lot sooner.”

—Josh Ned

Understanding Over-the-COUnter MedsWhen heartburn rears its ugly head, do you reach for over-the-counter (OTC) medications? Here, we take a look at the most common options.Antacids 3 Contain alkaline substances that

directly neutralize stomach acid3 Good for episodic heartburn3 Include Tums, Rolaids, MylantaH2 blockers 3 Reduce stomach acid production3 Include Zantac, Pepcid, TagametProton pump inhibitors (PPIs)3 Strongest acid suppression3 Use if H2 blockers aren’t

controlling symptoms3 Include Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium

If OTC medication isn’t cutting it or you notice you’re taking more and more, talk to your doctor.

“Let your doctor decide if any further evaluation might be needed,” says Joseph Shelton, MD, a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. “If you self-treat a more serious condition, it could delay a crucial diagnosis.”

For example, Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition that can develop after years of acid reflux. With advances in over-the counter relief, Dr. Shelton explains, “people may be less likely to get evaluated for possible Barrett’s.”

Get Rid of GERDFor a referral to a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Baylor Fort Worth, visit BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

MoRE

BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints 7


Talking on your cellphone all day. Saying yes to tanning and no to sunscreen. Skipping screenings. Find out how risky these actions really are when it comes to cancer

NOBODY’S PERFECT. But with cancer prevention, it pays to be as close to impeccable as possible. Here, we

rate your habits on a one-to-� ve scale based on advice from Baylor Scott & White Health experts.

GETTING YOUR BRONZE ONSun-kissed, golden skin might look great, but melanoma does not. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a working group of the World Health Organization, people who use tanning beds before age 30 increase their lifetime risk of melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) by 75 percent. So if you want a tan, hit the bronzer bottle, not the bed—self-tanner options are inexpensive, easy to use and completely safe.

SKIPPING YOUR SCREENINGSHealth screenings aren’t exactly fun, but their bene� ts are well worth the tedium, says James Fleshman, MD, a physician on the medical sta� at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. For example, he says, “colonoscopy screening starting at age 50 and every 10 years thereafter in a patient with no risk factors can prevent cancer from ever occurring by detecting and removing precancerous polyps.”

� e same principle holds true for mammograms, says Michael Grant, MD, a physician on the medical sta� at Baylor Dallas. “For women over age 50, studies show that screening mammograms can help reduce the number of deaths caused by breast cancer,” he says.

In laymen’s terms? You can’t overcome cancer if you don’t even know it’s there. Talk to your doctor about setting up your screening schedule.

How Bad Is It?

Not too much to worry about.

Stop it right this minute!

RISK RATING

©Thinkstock

OPTING OUT OF ORGANICIf the pressure to buy all organic produce has you avoiding fruits and veggies entirely, take note: Whether organic foods translate to a lower risk of cancer because they are less likely to be contaminated by cancer-causing compounds is largely unknown, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says. So, while choosing organic produce certainly won’t hurt you (although it can be a bit pricier than conventional options), it may not be completely necessary. More important than organic versus nonorganic is fresh food versus junk food. Eat those veggies!

TALKING ON YOUR CELLPHONE ALL DAYHold the phone—literally. A recent report by the IARC found limited evidence of a possible connection between cellphone use and brain tumors. One of the studies examined for the report, which looked at cellphone use in several countries prior to 2004, showed that the heaviest cellphone users had higher risks for malignant

brain tumors. Heavy use was de� ned as 30 minutes per day for 10 years.

Although the evidence is not conclusive, it is enough to warrant concern, the ACS says. What can you do? Use an earpiece or a landline (remember those?) to limit time spent with your cellphone to your ear.

Organic or not—eat those veggies!



Talking on your cellphone all day. Saying yes to tanning and no to sunscreen. Skipping screenings. Find out how risky these actions really are when it comes to cancer

NOBODY’S PERFECT. But with cancer prevention, it pays to be as close to impeccable as possible. Here, we

rate your habits on a one-to-fi ve scale based on advice from Baylor Scott & White Health experts.

GeTTING YoUr BroNZe oNSun-kissed, golden skin might look great, but melanoma does not. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a working group of the World Health Organization, people who use tanning beds before age 30 increase their lifetime risk of melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) by 75 percent. So if you want a tan, hit the bronzer bottle, not the bed—self-tanner options are inexpensive, easy to use and completely safe.

SKIPPING YoUr SCreeNINGSHealth screenings aren’t exactly fun, but their benefi ts are well worth the tedium, says James Fleshman, MD, a physician on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. For example, he says, “colonoscopy screening starting at age 50 and every 10 years thereafter in a patient with no risk factors can prevent cancer from ever occurring by detecting and removing precancerous polyps.”

� e same principle holds true for mammograms, says Michael Grant, MD, a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas. “For women over age 50, studies show that screening mammograms can help reduce the number of deaths caused by breast cancer,” he says.

In laymen’s terms? You can’t overcome cancer if you don’t even know it’s there. Talk to your doctor about setting up your screening schedule.

How Bad Is It?

Not too much to worry about.

Stop it right this minute!

rISK rATING

©Thinkstock

oPTING oUT oF orGANICIf the pressure to buy all organic produce has you avoiding fruits and veggies entirely, take note: Whether organic foods translate to a lower risk of cancer because they are less likely to be contaminated by cancer-causing compounds is largely unknown, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says. So, while choosing organic produce certainly won’t hurt you (although it can be a bit pricier than conventional options), it may not be completely necessary. More important than organic versus nonorganic is fresh food versus junk food. Eat those veggies!

TALKING oN YoUr CeLLPHoNe ALL DAYHold the phone—literally. A recent report by the IARC found limited evidence of a possible connection between cellphone use and brain tumors. One of the studies examined for the report, which looked at cellphone use in several countries prior to 2004, showed that the heaviest cellphone users had higher risks for malignant

brain tumors. Heavy use was defi ned as 30 minutes per day for 10 years.

Although the evidence is not conclusive, it is enough to warrant concern, the ACS says. What can you do? Use an earpiece or a landline (remember those?) to limit time spent with your cellphone to your ear.

Organic or not—eat those veggies!

©Thinkstock©Thinkstock

Make the CallTo learn more about getting screened for lung cancer at Baylor Fort Worth, call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

If you’re at high risk for lung cancer, screening with a low-dose CT scan can catch the disease early, when treatment is most effective.

“If everyone who was eligible got screened, it could prevent 12,000 deaths a year,” says Clinton Park, MD, a radiation oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth.

Without screening, only about 15 percent of lung cancer is diagnosed at stage one, before it has spread. “When we do screening, two-thirds of diagnoses are at stage one,” Dr. Park says. “That’s a big difference.”

Consider lung cancer screening if you meet all the following criteria:

3 Age 55 to 803 Current smoker or have quit within

the past 15 years3 Have smoked at least 30 pack-

years (a pack a day for 30 years, two packs a day for 15 years, etc.)

More

Should You Be Screened for lung cancer?

BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints 9

FdBL031508_Allsaints.indd 9 2/5/15 12:01 PM

TOOLTRYING TO GET PREGNANT?

� Use our ovulation calculator at BaylorHealth.com/OvulationCalculator to predict when you’re most fertile.

QUIZWhat’s Your Allergy IQ?Where are those dust mites most likely to be hiding? And what food is most likely to trigger an allergic response?

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/AllergyQuiz to take the quiz and fi nd out.

VIDEO“There was absolutely nothing wrong with me—or so I thought.”

RECIPEGRILLED PORK & PEACH SALADIf you’ve never tried adding fruit to your salad, now’s the time to start.

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/Recipe to get this recipe, plus many more.

Bill Dippel didn’t know he had colon cancer until his physician suggested a routine colonoscopy screening.

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/MyStory to watch Bill’s story.

ANY SOLDIER WHO HAS gone on a dangerous mission knows that

being swift, strong and focused can make the di� erence between failure and success. � anks to a recent study

at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research

(BIIR), the lipoprotein receptor LOX-1 could be that di� erence when it comes to creating vaccines for viruses like HIV.

HOW VACCINES WORKTo understand the importance of the research � ndings, you � rst have to understand how vaccines work. “Vaccines trigger an immune response by introducing a weakened version of a virus or bacteria to dendritic cells, which induce, regulate and orchestrate the immune response,”

says SangKon Oh, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

But until now, researchers have had di� culty developing e� ective vaccines for certain viral infections, like in� uenza and HIV. “� is is either because the virus can mutate, making it di� cult to destroy, or because it remains latent, which makes it di� cult to � nd,” Dr. Oh says.

HOW LOX-1 HELPSLOX-1 is a receptor on the surface of dendritic cells (immune system messengers) that senses in� ammation caused by fungal, bacterial or viral infections and then activates the immune response, says co-investigator Gerard Zurawski, PhD.

In this National Institutes of Health-sponsored study, BIIR researchers took existing vaccines and “aimed” them directly at LOX-1. “By fusing an antibody binding, LOX-1 and a virus protein, we were able to stimulate a much more e� ective, powerful immune response that was directed speci� cally at the body’s defense barriers, like the skin and mucous membranes,” Dr. Zurawski says.

HOW IT COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE� eir � ndings could be the key to developing new vaccines against infections that have previously eluded scientists—and that’s created quite a buzz in the research community. In fact, the study made the cover of the journal Immunity in October 2014 and has garnered BIIR funding for future research from the Gates Foundation and others.

“It’s our hope that we will see or even participate in the development of new vaccines for illnesses like HIV in the not-so-distant future,” Dr. Oh says.

Now that’s a mission we can all get behind.

Seek and DestroyADVANCING MEDICINE

More Research Like ThisVisit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine and clinicaltrials.sw.org for more of our stories about groundbreaking discoveries in medicine.

MORE

A specialized immune receptor could hold the key for an HIV vaccine

ABOUT THE STUDYLOX-1 Receptor’s Role in Mediating Immune ResponsesThe cell-recognition lipoprotein receptor could boost immune response to infections like infl uenza, tuberculosis and HIV.

Key PlayersBaylor Institute for Immunology Research

National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Tulane National Primate Center in Louisiana

CEA (France)

Left three images: ©Thinkstock10 BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints


TOOLTRYING TO GET PREGNANT?

� Use our ovulation calculator at BaylorHealth.com/OvulationCalculator to predict when you’re most fertile.

QUIZWhat’s Your Allergy IQ?Where are those dust mites most likely to be hiding? And what food is most likely to trigger an allergic response?

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/AllergyQuiz to take the quiz and fi nd out.

VIDEO“There was absolutely nothing wrong with me—or so I thought.”

RECIPEGRILLED PORK & PEACH SALADIf you’ve never tried adding fruit to your salad, now’s the time to start.

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/Recipe to get this recipe, plus many more.

Bill Dippel didn’t know he had colon cancer until his physician suggested a routine colonoscopy screening.

� Visit BaylorHealth.com/MyStory to watch Bill’s story.

ANY SOLDIER WHO HAS gone on a dangerous mission knows that

being swift, strong and focused can make the di� erence between failure and success. � anks to a recent study

at the Baylor Institute for Immunology Research

(BIIR), the lipoprotein receptor LOX-1 could be that di� erence when it comes to creating vaccines for viruses like HIV.

HOW VACCINES WORKTo understand the importance of the research � ndings, you � rst have to understand how vaccines work. “Vaccines trigger an immune response by introducing a weakened version of a virus or bacteria to dendritic cells, which induce, regulate and orchestrate the immune response,”

says SangKon Oh, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

But until now, researchers have had di� culty developing e� ective vaccines for certain viral infections, like in� uenza and HIV. “� is is either because the virus can mutate, making it di� cult to destroy, or because it remains latent, which makes it di� cult to � nd,” Dr. Oh says.

HOW LOX-1 HELPSLOX-1 is a receptor on the surface of dendritic cells (immune system messengers) that senses in� ammation caused by fungal, bacterial or viral infections and then activates the immune response, says co-investigator Gerard Zurawski, PhD.

In this National Institutes of Health-sponsored study, BIIR researchers took existing vaccines and “aimed” them directly at LOX-1. “By fusing an antibody binding, LOX-1 and a virus protein, we were able to stimulate a much more e� ective, powerful immune response that was directed speci� cally at the body’s defense barriers, like the skin and mucous membranes,” Dr. Zurawski says.

HOW IT COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE� eir � ndings could be the key to developing new vaccines against infections that have previously eluded scientists—and that’s created quite a buzz in the research community. In fact, the study made the cover of the journal Immunity in October 2014 and has garnered BIIR funding for future research from the Gates Foundation and others.

“It’s our hope that we will see or even participate in the development of new vaccines for illnesses like HIV in the not-so-distant future,” Dr. Oh says.

Now that’s a mission we can all get behind.

Seek and DestroyADVANCING MEDICINE

More Research Like ThisVisit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine and Researchers.SW.org for more of our stories about groundbreaking discoveries in medicine.

MORE

A specialized immune receptor could hold the key for an HIV vaccine

ABOUT THE STUDYLOX-1 Receptor’s Role in Mediating Immune ResponsesThe cell-recognition lipoprotein receptor could boost immune response to infections like infl uenza, tuberculosis and HIV.

Key PlayersBaylor Institute for Immunology Research

National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Tulane National Primate Center in Louisiana

CEA (France)

CLASS

Ready to Lose the Weight?Sign up for a free weight loss surgery seminar at Baylor to learn everything you need to know.

� Register at BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss or by calling 1.800.4BAYLOR.

WHAT’S ONLINE

BaylorHealth.com

Left three images: ©Thinkstock BaylorHealth.com/AllSaints 11


If too much weight stands between you and a fulfilling life, you’re not alone. Thousands of Americans have

battled a serious weight problem and failed. Don’t be one of them. Take your life back with The Weight

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“i’ve been watching from the sidelines.”

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of those medical centers, Baylor Health Care System, Scott & White Healthcare or Baylor Scott & White Health. BHCSWLS_5_2014

Call us today at 817.922.1988 or visit BaylorHealth.com/AllSaintsWeightLoss

1400 Eighth Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76104

Baylor All Saints Medical CenterP.O. Box 31Fort Worth, TX 76101

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBAYLOR SCOTT &

WHITE HEALTH


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I can eat my favorite foods again. ‘‘ Josh Ned · when you can’t walk across the room without being short of breath, when you can’t keep up with your kids and grandkids.”