Spring 2013 vol 6, issue 2

Fred Mason’s StoryFrom The Heart

Fred Mason of Wytheville, Virginia is a retired Information Systems Audit Manager for Norfolk Southern Corporation in Roanoke, Virginia. Fred and his wife Sara retired back to Wytheville several years ago to enjoy their farm in the Crockett’s Cove section of the county. Mr. Mason has enjoyed a long history of good health and thought he was in shape. After all, in addition to the farm work that Mr. Mason did every day, he had been working out with a personal trainer for six months. At the age of 68, weighing in at 190 pounds and with a cholesterol level under 200, life was good. But on May 19, 2012, Fred Mason discovered that looks can be deceiving. On that day, he became one of the nearly 8 million people who suffer a heart attack every year. That morning, he was drinking his usual cup of decaffeinated coffee for the day and watching the news when he suddenly started having severe chest pains. “I diagnosed my symptoms immediately,” said Mr. Mason. He told his wife Sara that he needed to go the hospital. During the 20 minute drive from their farm to Wythe County Community Hospital, they called ahead to let the Emergency Department know that they were on their way and that Mr. Mason may be having a heart attack. The hospital took him in right away and began a series of tests. An EKG was performed, but results were normal. After about two hours of tests, the Emergency Department physician, Dr. Lowry, suggested that Mr. Mason be admitted to the hospital so that they could review all test results. “This decision probably saved my life,” stated Mr. Mason. Mrs. Mason left to go home and tend to the farm animals. By the time she returned to the hospital, two physicians and two nurses were in Mr. Mason’s room preparing to tell him that he had, in fact, had a heart attack. His cardiac enzyme blood test showed that his Troponin level had gone from .5 to .10. Troponin is a component of the heart’s muscle fibers. The level of Troponin in the blood is considered the most important cardiac marker used for assessing heart attacks, because troponin is the most sensitive of cardiac markers. It can be detected at low levels, and the presence of Troponin indicates a high probability of cardiac muscle damage. When the heart is deprived of oxygen, the muscle fibers are damaged, and their components (including Troponin) leak in to the bloodstream. Within 3 to 4 hours after a heart attack, levels of two types of Troponin (cTnI and cTnT) begin to increase in the blood. Troponin levels peak after about 12 to 16 hours and stay elevated for up to two weeks. Blood is usually drawn to check Troponin levels as an individual arrives at the hospital with chest pain, and then they are checked every 4 to 6 hours after that. Higher Troponin levels indicate greater heart muscle damage, but even smaller heart attacks can be detected by measuring Troponin. “There was little time to delay once I had been informed of the heart attack. I selected to have my treatment at Carilion Roanoke Memorial because I used to live in Roanoke and felt comfortable that I would

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Why A Pediatrician?

Fighting Arthritis

Ear Infections in Children

Safe Fun in the Sun

Visit: www.wcchcares.com(continued on page 2)

(continued from cover)

Fighting Arthritis

If you’re a woman suffering from arthritis, you’re not alone. More than 70

million Americans, most of them women, suffer from one of the more 100

forms of arthritis.

The two most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The cartilage that separates the

bones in the joint deteriorates. The resulting movement of bone-on-bone

causes pain, which can be excruciating, as well as loss of movement.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the lining

surrounding a joint becomes inflamed. In addition to joint pain, its symptoms

include loss of appetite, fever and loss of energy.

Fortunately, there have been a number of new technologies developed to

help relieve the pain of arthritis and improve the quality of life. In recent years,

the use of a group of drugs called biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid

arthritis has shown great promise. Biologics are genetically engineered proteins.

They have been specifically designed to affect a specific part of the body’s

immune system called cytokines, which play a major role in controlling

inflammation.

When the pain is chronic and severe and loss of function is interfering with

quality of life, then joint replacement is a common procedure performed by

orthopedic surgeons. The hip and knee are the two most commonly replaced

joints. More and more hospitals are offering this hi-tech procedure in which a

surgeon removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial joint called

a prosthesis or implant. For more information, talk to your personal physician.

receive good treatment and care there. It took us 61 minutes to make the trip by ambulance from Wythe County Community Hospital to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital,” Mason said. “Things happened pretty much routinely from that point.” Dr. Eric Williams, cardiologist, monitored Mr. Mason over the weekend and prepared him for surgery the following Monday. Mr. Mason had two stents inserted in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). “I was told I had a non-STEMI heart attack,” Mr. Mason explained. Non-STEMI is a shorthand medical term for “non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.” These types of heart attacks are often abbreviated as “NSTEMI.” While they may not be as serious as the STEMI heart attack, they are still heart attacks and result in heart muscle death. A non-STEMI heart attack does not show an elevated ST segment on an electrocardiogram. A NSTEMI should also be recognized quickly and is best treated by medications and early angioplasty and stenting. After Mr. Mason’s surgery, the next step to his recovery involved three months of cardiac rehabilitation at Wythe County Community Hospital’s Rehabilitation Department. He chose the one-hour sessions three times a week. “The cardiac

rehab staff could not have been better. Chelsea Johnson, my cardiac rehab specialist, was simply amazing and reassured me that I was going to be just fine. They were so engaged and cared so much about my recovery. I have to say the equipment and staff were unsurpassed. I feel like I can honestly say that after having my heart attack and going through rehab, I am living a normal, productive life and I am healthier than before I had the attack,” says Mason. Mr. Mason is the sole caretaker on his farm where his cow/calf operation requires feeding up to a herd of 150. “My biggest worry about being away from the farm to continue my rehab was that I was prohibited from driving a tractor for six weeks and hay season was upon me! But thanks to family and friends, the record hay crop got in the barn and I was able to finish up my rehab without worry,” Mason said. Mr. Mason was a very unlikely candidate for a heart attack. “I didn’t smoke, wasn’t overweight, and always tried to keep fit and busy. I urge everyone to know the warning signs and get help as quickly as possible. Seek medical attention even if you are not sure but the signs are there. There is so much literature and education available for people to know the most common symptoms of a heart attack, but sometimes even potential heart trouble can creep up without you ever knowing.”

New Techniques Are Providing Relief For Women

Matthew Aney, M.D.Pediatrics

Why Does My Child Need A Pediatrician?

“More than 90

percent of all

children will have

at least one ear

infection by two

years of age,” states

Dr. Kenneth

Rogotzke,

Otolaryngologist at

Wytheville ENT.

What causes an ear infection?

Ear infections of the middle ear, also known

as otitis media, can be caused by bacteria or

viruses. Risk factors include day care (usually with

more than ten children) and smoking in the

home. Allergies may contribute but are not

usually the direct cause of infections.

When should I see an ear, nose and throat

specialist?

The following are guidelines, which have

been jointly adopted by the American Acad-

emy of Pediatrics and the American Academy

of Otolaryngology (ENT physicians):

1. If your child has three or more infections

prior to age six months.

2. If your child has four infections in six

months – or

3. If your child has six or more infections

in a year.

4. If your child has fluid that lasts more than

three months with associated hearing loss.

5. If your child has signs of significant

hearing loss.

What will an ear, nose and throat

specialist do?

A specialist will help determine whether a

surgical procedure may be helpful. Tympanos-

tomy tubes may be suggested if your child fails

to improve with antibiotics or has fluid which

will not clear. Tubes are especially helpful in

reversing hearing loss due to fluid trapped

behind the eardrum. An ENT specialist may

also perform a myringotomy (draining fluid

from the middle ear through the ear drum).

This can be used to determine the specific type

of bacteria causing an infection.

Ear Infections in Children Board Certified Pediatricians represent the highest level of medical care you can choose for your child. Pediatricians are specialists and advocates for children, devoting themselves to the medical care for your child, from birth through young adulthood. They will provide your child with the best and most appropriate care. Every pediatrician has spent at least three years after medical school learning about the care of infants, children, and adolescents. Other non-pediatric physicians may have only spent three months training in pediatrics.

PEDIATRICIANS are specialists in (1) Child Development, (2) Preventive Medicine, and (3) Child and Adolescent Behavioral and Psychology. Children are not just little adults. They have special needs both in sickness and in health, as they develop. Children are changing all the time, and as they change, many parents need advice and reassurance. Pediatricians discuss these changes and help parents anticipate normal development. They also direct the care of developmental problems and coordinate continuing care for children with chronic illness and disability. Pediatricians have been at the forefront of preventive medicine, using vaccines to decrease or eliminate the threat of illnesses such as polio, whooping cough, measles, chicken pox, and bacterial meningitis. Despite this, however, children can and do get seriously ill. When children are sick, their symptoms can be misidentified or missed altogether. Pediatricians are experts at identifying and treating illnesses in children of all ages. Pediatricians identify and treat behavioral and developmental problems in children. A pediatrician can help when your toddler or child can’t tell you what is wrong, or when your teenager won’t. Pediatricians understand the importance of listening to your child, and to you.

PEDIATRICIANS: • Arethebestauthoritiesonmedicalservicesavailabletochildreninthe community. They work with pediatric medical sub-specialists who have the expertise to ensure comprehensive care of the highest quality. • Ensureaccesstothecomprehensivecarerequiredbymanychildren with chronic illness and disability and are partners with parents throughout a child’s lifetime. • Identifyandtreatlife-threateningillnessesininfants,children, and adolescents. • Aretrainedtoprovidecomprehensive,highqualityhealthcarefor children and continually update their knowledge on medical advances pertaining to children. • Stayuptodateonthelatestmedicationsforchildhoodillnessesand prescribe correct medicine dosages according to the weight and age of the child, ensuring that there are no mistakes.

PEDIATRIC OFFICES: • Containchild-sizemedicalequipment,whichaugmentsthequality of care for children of all ages. • Makespecialeffortstoincludeacomfortableandfriendlypediatric environment. • Employstaffmemberswiththeexperiencetohelpeaseyourchild’s anxiety and understand your child’s needs.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH –A PEDIATRICIAN IS THE EXPERT!!!

KennethRogotzke, D.O.

Otolaryngologist

Safe Fun in the SunHow To Protect Your Family This Summer

Summer is the season when people love to be outside. But if you’re not careful, the summer heat can cause any number of serious health issues. Here are four ways to play it safe.

1) Avoid Sunburn

Just one serious case of sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer. Use plenty of sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) when you’re outside. If you don’t have sunscreen, cover up exposed skin. Wear a long sleeve shirt and a hat, even on cloudy days.

2) Protect Your Eyes

Overexposure to sunlight can damage the eyes. Wear sunglasses that offer 99 - 100 percent UV (ultraviolet) protec-tion. And teach your children never to look directly at the sun.

3) Don’t Overdo It

Any combination of high temperatures, strenuous activity, and not enough water can cause heat exhaustion. Heat stroke, a much more serious heat-related illness, can cause brain damage or even death. So whenever it’s hot outside, limit your outdoor activities, wear light clothing and drink plenty of water.

4) Be Safe, Not Sorry

Never leave a child or pet in a parked car. Temperatures inside a parked car can soar to a dangerous level in minutes.

Signs of Heat Stroke

• Throbbingheadache • Dizzinessandlight-headedness • Lackofsweatingdespitetheheat • Red,hot,anddryskin • Muscleweaknessorcramps • Nauseaandvomiting • Rapidheartbeat,eitherstrongorweak • Rapid,shallowbreathing • Behavioralchangessuchasconfusion, disorientation, or staggering • Seizures • Unconsciousness

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

• Confusion • Dark-coloredurine • Dizziness • Fainting • Fatigue • Headache • Musclecramps • Nausea • Paleskin • Profusesweating • Rapidheartbeat

Wythe County Community Hospital

600 West Ridge Road

Wytheville, VA 24382

WYTHE COUNTY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

HealthPoint is published as a community service by Wythe County Community Hospital. It in no way seeks to diagnose or treat illness or to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. For individual guidance, consult your physician. For more information about Wythe County Community Hospital or anything found in this publication, please call 276-228-0200.

Spring 2013 vol 6, issue 2www.wcchcares.com

Important News and Helpful Advice for a Healthier Life inside:

Fred Mason’s Story

Why A Pediatrician?

Fighting Arthritis

Ear Infections in Children

Sources: American Cancer Society, WebMD