ANGELINA JOLIE’S preemptive surgery started a national conversation about genetic screening. What would you do?

BoldBeautifuland

SPRING 2014

CARDIAC REHAB CAN SAVE YOUR LIFEpage 56

Meet your new knee: a patient’s success story

DOCTORS GIVE TIPS ON PICKING A DOCTOR

Does it matter where you get your mammogram? YES!

Philip Cusumano, MD, FACP, M. Randy Dalbow, MD, and Robert G. Vyge, MD, all board-certified in internal medicine, are accepting new patients at Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine—now in its new location at 117 Sea Island Parkway. Beaufort Memorial Lady's Island Internal Medicine provides a full range of general adult outpatient medical care, from diagnosis and treatment to case management and total coordination of care across the life spectrum.

Call 843-522-7240 to schedule an appointment.

New location:117 Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s IslandLady's Island Internal Medicine accepts most major medical health insurance plans, including commercial insurance, Medicare and Tricare.

Robert G. Vyge, MD Philip Cusumano, MD, FACPM. Randy Dalbow, MD

Eric Gearhart, PA-C A retired Navy officer with 26 years of service, board-certified physician assistant Eric Gearhart is the former battalion medical officer for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and department head of family medicine at Beaufort Naval Hospital. He was most recently with Beaufort Family Care.

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS2 Opening Thoughts

A new year filled with new opportunities.

46 Virtual Health What to believe online, how to digitize your family health history, and more!

50 Foundation-Building New faces join the BMH Foundation board of trustees.

56 Healthy Insights BMH Senior Clinical Exercise Specialist Graham Jones helps cardiac patients build a better heart.

FEATURES 3 On the Cutting Edge

Minimally invasive surgery options expand with new technology.

4 Best in Breast Care The Women’s Imaging Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.

6 Joint Return The Joint Replacement Center offers patients anything but an ordinary recovery experience.

10 Occupational Hazards Do bus drivers or lab technicians have healthier hearts? Here’s how to thrive in any job.

16 The New Rules of Play Calling all helicopter parents: Learn how to keep your kids safe while keeping your head.

20 Shopping for Two The pregnant girl’s guide to the grocery store.

22 Back to Basics A timeline for managing your aching back.

25 Burn, Baby, Burn We’ve got 17 ideas for revving up your metabolism—vroom!

34 Rock Your Health Four ways music can make you and your doctor a star.

38 Breaking Up with Salt It’s America’s favorite seasoning. Find out why you should shake it off.

42 Disgusting! (or Not?) A surprising look at gross habits that actually may be good for you.

49 All in the Family Longtime friends of BMH and Duke University chair this year’s fundraiser.

52 What’s Up, Doc? Choosing a primary care provider can be tough. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision.

ON THE COVERActress and activist Angelina Jolie has beauty, brains and bravura, on- and off-screen. Read about her decision to undergo genetic testing—and then a double mastectomy.

28

SPECIALOut of the White CoatFor two BMH doctors on the move, staying active helps keep stress at bay.54

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 1

A s I refl ect on the past year, I see a common theme: change. It has been taking place all around us. And, while some of the change has brought great challenges, more often it has brought great oppor-

tunities. And in this new year it will be no different.The Affordable Care Act has continued to impact the entire healthcare landscape.

And whatever your opinions or beliefs about healthcare reform, it is here to stay and we are working harder than ever to realize every opportunity it will bring to improve the care we provide locally, to you and your family, as your community hospital.

I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you a few things now underway at Beaufort Memorial that are fi lled with opportunities to pro-vide the community with care for a life, lived better:

We are redesigning our birthing services to give mothers and families the delivery experience they want, in an environment that is both caring and serene.

We are establishing a growing practice of board-certifi ed OB/GYNs, located on our campus, who will be ready to serve the needs of mothers-to-be throughout their pregnancies and deliveries at Beaufort Memorial.

We are expanding our ever-growing network of Beaufort Memorial physician partners to include a wide range of specialties throughout our entire service area.

We are providing new services and imaging studies in our Women’s Imaging Center to identify and monitor high-risk breast patients. And, we have added breast tomosynthesis software to provide 3-D imaging of highly dense breast tissue, which means better visualization, more accurate screening and a lower risk of biopsy.

We are providing one-on-one assistance to anyone who is interested in enrolling in a healthcare plan through the Health Insurance Exchange so that all those who qualify can obtain the healthcare coverage they need.

We are improving the joint surgery experience through our new Joint Replacement Center, which has already provided care to more than 200 patients with outstanding results and a fun (yes, I said fun!) environment.

We are planning renovations to our Intensive Care Unit to provide more avail-ability for patients who require this highest level of acute care.

And, we are launching a patient portal to give all Beaufort Memorial patients 24/7 access to test results and the ability to message physicians, request prescription refi lls and appointments and keep track of important health information.

As the president and CEO of YOUR community hospital, I take great pride in lead-ing an organization that has cared for this community for nearly 70 years. And if there is one thing I can promise you, it’s that I will continue to look for ways to improve the care we provide through growth, innovation and quality.

I hope you’re off to a great new year, and I wish you and yours the best of health in 2014.

Rick ToomeyPresident & CEO

A New Year Filled with New Opportunities

OPENING THOUGHTS

BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

President & CEO

Richard K. Toomey, DHA, FACHE

The BMH Board of Trustees

Gerald “Jerry” Schulze, Chair

Terry Murray, Vice Chair

David Tedder, Secretary/Treasurer

Andrea Allen, MS, LMSW

Kathleen Cooper

David House

Terry Murray

Faith Polkey, MD

James Simmons, MD

Patricia Thompson, MD

Ex-officio members

J. Chadwick Tober, MD, Chief of Staff

Bill Nettles, Chairman, BMH Foundation

Bill McBride, Beaufort County Council representative

BMH Editorial

Courtney McDermott, Director, Marketing & Communications

PRODUCTIONEditorial

Editor-in-Chief: Sally Kilbridge

Editors: Erin Feeney, Matt Morgan, Ellen Olson, Tom Weede

Copy Editor: C.J. Hutchinson

Design

Chief Art Director: Tami Rodgers

Art Directors: Andrea Heser, Rod Karmenzind, Kay Morrow

Production

Senior Production Manager: Laura Marlowe

Special Projects Coordinator: Jenny Babich

Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine

Production Technology Specialists: Julie Chan, Sonia Fitzgerald

Circulation

VP/Business Intelligence Group: Patrick Kehoe

Postal Affairs & Logistics Director: Joseph Abeyta

CLIENT SERVICES Chief Client Officer: Beth Tomkiw

VP/Client Services & Strategy: Paul Peterson

Account Managers: Carey Ballard, Annika Honkanen, Lauren Keeton,

Gerry Kubek, Mendy Metcalf, Barbara Mohr, Ryan Smeets

ADMINISTRATION Chief Executive Officer: Matthew J. Petersen

Chief Operating Officer: Fred Petrovsky

Executive VP/Sales: Chad Rose, 888-626-8779

VP/Content: Jeff Ficker

Creative Director: Marc Oxborrow

Vim & Vigor Founder: J. Barry Johnson

Chairman Emeritus: Preston V. McMurry Jr.

Beaufort Memorial Hospital955 Ribaut Road

Beaufort, SC 29902843-522-5200

843-522-5585 – Doctor Referral Service

Living Well, a subtitle of Vim & Vigor,TM Spring 2014, Volume 30, Number 1, is published quarterly by McMurry/TMG, LLC, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & VigorTM is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the general public and its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & VigorTM is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim & VigorTM does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2014 by McMurry/TMG, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues). Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions and address changes, write: Circulation Manager, Vim & Vigor,TM 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 42

F ive years after making its debut in the operating room, da Vinci Si Surgical System has become one of Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s brightest surgical stars.

The high-tech robot is being used for an increasing number of operations, from the single-site gallbladder surgery to the partial nephrectomy, an organ-sparing procedure for kidney cancer patients.

New AdvANcemeNts ANd Better OutcOmesMost recently, the robot-assisted surgical system has been put to use by urologist Michael Staley, MD, to perform laparoscopic prostatectomies, offering patients positive results for early-stage prostate cancer.

“With the recent advancements made to robotic tech-nology, it is now easier to remove the prostate laparo-scopically, resulting in quicker recovery, less pain and a better outcome for the patient,” says Staley, the only phy-sician in the area currently performing the minimally invasive procedure.

BMH is also the only healthcare provider in Beaufort County offering single-site gallbladder surgery. Using the latest generation of the da Vinci Si, surgeons are able to remove a patient’s gallbladder through a 1-inch incision in the navel. Traditional laparoscopic surgery requires four small cuts in the abdomen.

PuttiNg the rOBOt tO wOrkImprovements in the robot’s wristed instrumentation have enhanced surgical precision, control and stability. The upgraded system also features HD-3D optics with 10 times the magnification, providing better visualiza-tion of the operative field.

“It’s a vast improvement over traditional laparo-scopic surgery,” says Deanna Mansker, MD, one of two BMH physicians performing the single-site procedure. “We can move the robot’s tools 360 degrees, allowing us to reach angles we couldn’t with standard laparo-scopic instruments.”

In its initial years in the OR, the robot was used solely for gynecologic procedures, such as hysterectomy and uterine fibroid removal. But with the increased dexterity of the new model, it’s now possible to equip the robot with more advanced instruments that open the door for other specialists to use the technology.

“With better instrumentation and visualization, we can perform more complex procedures with better outcomes,” says Stephen Sisco, MD, the first surgeon in the area to perform single-site surgery. “As the technology continues to evolve, we’ll look at ways to expand its use.”

New technology allows BMH to expand the scope of minimally

invasive robot-assisted surgeries

CuttingEdgE

On the

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Get to Know the RobotFor more information on da Vinci surgeries, visit

www.bmhsc.org and click on the “Medical Services” tab at the top of the page.

Dr. Stephen Sisco performs surgery with the da Vinci robot.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 3

Y ou’re following doctor’s orders and getting your annual mammogram.

Good for you! Mammograms remain the best option for detecting breast cancer early and reducing the risk of death from it.

But a mammogram is only as good as the facility where it’s performed.

Not all imaging centers are created equal. Only a select few are designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. Last spring, the Women’s Imaging Center (WIC) at Beaufort Memorial Hospital was awarded the prestigious accreditation.

“You have to go through a rigorous review process to show you’re meeting the highest standards of the radiol-ogy profession,” says Jackie Brown, clinical manager of WIC. “For patients, it means they can rest assured they’re getting the best breast care from screening to diagnosis.”

While accreditation for mammography is required in all U.S. facilities, other diagnostic services do not need to be certifi ed. Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence

go above and beyond the mandated mammography certifi cation and achieve accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

“It’s not something you decide to do overnight,” says WIC Mammography Supervisor Mary Stutts. “There is a signifi cant application process involved in earn-ing accreditation.”

UNDER THE MICROSCOPEAt the Women’s Imaging Center, a panel of board-certifi ed physicians and physicists who are experts in the fi eld conducted peer-review evaluations in each of the modalities. They determined that the WIC achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifi cations, facility equipment, quality-control pro-cedures and quality-assurance programs.

“We’re very proud to have been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, especially since we achieved it less than two years after opening,” Brown says. “We

Beaufort Memorial’s Women’s Imaging Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence for meeting the radiology profession’s highest standards of care

BreastCareBest in

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went through the process voluntarily to ensure we’re providing our patients with the highest level of care.”

The imaging center holds another unique distinction. It is the only mammography facility in the area offering same-day results.

“Women get so nervous waiting to hear if their screen-ing mammogram is normal,” Stutts says. “Instead of sending them home not knowing the results, we tell them before they leave. They don’t have to wait a week or two to get a card in the mail.”

Diagnosing a suspicious LesionAt WIC, an on-site radiologist reviews every X-ray as soon as it’s taken. Should the scan reveal anything sus-picious, further diagnostic testing can be performed on the spot.

The radiologist may recommend a diagnostic mam-mogram, which includes more X-ray images of the area of concern. In women with very dense breasts, a breast ultrasound may be more helpful. It is used to distinguish between cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and solid masses.

The next step could be a biopsy, when a small sample of the abnormal tissue is removed from the breast to deter-mine whether it is benign or malignant. BMH is accred-ited in both stereotactic breast biopsy, which uses X-rays to help guide the physician’s instruments to the site of the abnormal growth, and ultrasound-guided biopsy.

Before either procedure is performed, the patient is typically referred to a surgeon by her primary care phy-sician. At WIC, surgeons are available four days a week, making it possible to expedite the process.

With the streamlined system, a patient can go from screening to diagnosis in just two days.

Mary Stutts prepares a patient for her mammogram at Beaufort Memorial’s Women’s Imaging Center.

Check. Check. And Check.No imaging technique is 100 percent foolproof. That’s why the

American Cancer Society recommends a multiprong approach to

ensure the early detection of breast cancer. It includes:

• Yearly mammograms for women starting at age 40

• Clinical breast exams about every three years for women in their

20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and older

• Monthly breast self-exams for women starting in their 20s

“If you do a self-exam once a month, you’ll become familiar with your

breasts,” says Brooke Jenkins, breast ultrasound technologist at the

BMH Women’s Imaging Center. “What you’re looking for isn’t necessarily

lumps and bumps, but any change in how your breasts look or feel.”

“We’ve eliminated a lot of the wait time,” says breast ultrasound technologist Brooke Jenkins. “If something shows up in the screening, you don’t have to go home and worry about it for days. We can start the diagnostic test-ing right away.”

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Beaufort Memorial’s Women’s Imaging Center

Want to learn more about our imaging services? Visit www.bmhsc.org and look for “Women’s

Health” under the “Medical Services” tab. To make an appointment for a screening mammogram,

call 843-522-5015. Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Medical Services also offers mammograms

with same-day results.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 5

When Wlodek Zaryczny began having trou-ble with his knees, he chalked it up to a lifetime of athletic overload. Playing var-

sity soccer in high school and college, 45 years of serious tennis, running half-marathons with his kids and contra dancing with his wife had all but worn away the cartilage in his knees, leaving bone rubbing on bone.

It was painful, but better than facing the prospect of knee replacement surgery.

Or so he thought.“I just dreaded it,” Zaryczny admits. “I had shoulder

replacement surgery two years ago and didn’t want to go through it again.”

All his worrying turned out to be for nothing.Last fall, Zaryczny had surgery on his right knee at

Beaufort Memorial’s new Joint Replacement Center. He was so pleased with the experience, he set a date right away to have his left knee replaced.

“If you have to have joint replacement surgery, this is the place to go,” says Zaryczny, director of Beaufort County public libraries. “The care was exceptional, the

culture was supportive and everything was extremely well coordinated. They really try to make it fun. I’ve never seen it done like that anywhere else.”

ANYTHING BUT TRADITIONALBased on a wellness model, the innovative program treats patients more like cruise ship guests than invalids. For starters, they only have to wear a hospital gown on the day of surgery. During the rest of their stay, they are dressed in their own clothing.

Every morning, patients receive a newsletter with the day’s activities. They take walks, play games and attend group exercise sessions at the “Sandbar Gym.” An ortho-pedic care coordinator serves as a kind of cruise director, keeping them informed and helping them with anything they need throughout the journey. On their last day at the center, they enjoy a special Lowcountry dinner with their fellow patients.

But the fun factor isn’t just for kicks. It has been shown to speed recovery and improve outcomes. Patients at the Joint Replacement Center are able to walk sooner and far-ther, require less pain medication and spend fewer days in the hospital. Rather than the typical three- to four-day hospital stay, they’re ready to be discharged after just two days.

“The level of discomfort is dramatically different than what it used to be,” says Beaufort Memorial orthopedic surgeon Edward R. Blocker, MD. “The program has advanced patient care by leaps and bounds.”

It certainly surpassed Zaryczny’s expectations.“It was a phenomenal experience,” the Bluffton resi-

dent says. “It’s nothing like traditional surgery.”

KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECTZaryczny had put off total knee replacement for years, opting to try cortisone and joint fl uid therapy fi rst. It worked for a while, but in time the injections lost their effectiveness. >

Royal treatment and up-to-the-minute care promote patient recovery at Beaufort Memorial’s new Joint Replacement Center

Joint Return

S P R I N G 2 0 1 46

Two days after surgery, a celebratory Lowcountry meal with fellow travelers and first mates before heading home.

Wlodek Zaryczny arriving with his wife, Tedi, at Hunting Island.

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Get Hip to It!Want to learn more about Beaufort

Memorial’s Joint Replacement Center? Visit www.bmhsc.org or call

843-522-7435.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 7

“Dr. Blocker had told me my body would let me know when it was time to have surgery,” Zaryczny recalls. “I had reached that point. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t take a walk on the beach with my wife. Even dancing had become a problem.

“It was affecting every aspect of my life. I’ve always been active, and I didn’t want to give that up.”

As soon as his surgery was scheduled, BMH Orthopedic Care Coordinator Andrea Sadler met with Zaryczny to give him an overview of the program. He received more information about pre-op preparation and post-op treat-ment at a total joint education class. He was also given a comprehensive education notebook that covered every detail of the process.

“I didn’t go into it cold,” says Zaryczny, who is in his 60s. “It was extremely helpful knowing what was going to occur.”

MAKING RECOVERY FUNThe day of the surgery, Zaryczny “checked in” to the Joint Replacement Center on the fourth fl oor of the hospital. Rather than report to the busy pre-op holding area, he was able to relax in his room with his wife, Tedi, until nurses came in to prep him for surgery.

Just hours after the operation, a physical therapist helped him get out of bed and walk down the hallway. Over the next two days, he walked increasingly longer distances to destinations with names like Lady’s Island, St. Helena and Fripp. Each destination was linked to its own group activity—for one there was a cornhole board, for another a putting green with an automatic ball return.

He participated in more activities during the group physical and occupational therapy held each day in the gym.

“A little friendly competition motivates patients to work harder,” Sadler says. “And it makes it more fun to do the exercises.”

Tedi and the couple’s daughter, Kalina—the patient’s offi cially designated “fi rst mates”—reported for duty daily and contributed measurably to his good spirits and healing as well.

Along with the recovery protocol, BMH streamlined and standardized every aspect of the joint replacement process, from the procedures used during surgery to the combination of pain control medications. Patient care was carefully coordinated with the entire staff, including surgeons, fl oor nurses, the OR team, physical and occu-pational therapists, and even dietary employees.

“It has accomplished what we hoped it would,” Blocker says. “We’ve made a very good program even better.”

Time to Take ActionGot an achy joint that’s slowing you down? Your body

will tell you if it’s time to consider surgery.

“My philosophy is to treat the patient, not the X-ray,”

says Dr. Edward R. Blocker, an orthopedic surgeon at

Beaufort Memorial Hospital. “It doesn’t matter if you

have severe arthritis. If the pain isn’t keeping you from

your daily activities, it’s best to take a conservative

approach first.”

Your doctor may recommend cortisone shots or a

series of joint lubricant injections called Supartz. When

those remedies are no longer providing effective relief,

surgery may be your next option. Whether you are a

candidate for joint replacement surgery depends on a

number of factors, including your age, general health

and the condition of your joint.

To schedule an appointment with Blocker, call

843-522-7100.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 48

Zaryczny perfects his putting on the Sandbar Gym “green.”

Wal king for 30 minutes a day can help reduce your riskfor heart disease and diabetes. What are you waiting for?

Step by Step

Living with

HazardsOCCU PATI O N A L

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HazardsOCCU PATI O N A L

BY ALLISON THOMAS

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 11

Do bus drivers or lab technicians have healthier

hearts? Discover which jobs are easiest—and toughest—on your ticker, and how to keep pumped, on the job and o�

Salary, benefi ts, hours, commute. These are important considerations

when deciding whether to accept a new job.

Another—and one most of us don’t think about—is how a career will affect your heart. Studies show that your job

can signifi cantly affect your blood pressure and over-all cardiac health.

So, what makes for a heart-healthy job? To a great extent, how you feel about your position, says Nieca Goldberg, MD, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association.

“Generally people who are happy in their job, who feel like they’re in a supportive work environment and have control over their work situation are less likely to have high blood pressure and heart prob-lems,” she says.

That said, certain professions have been found to be easier on your heart overall while others … not so much. Here’s a look at which jobs are considered healthiest for your heart, which aren’t and what you can do to keep your heart in peak shape no matter what your 9 to 5 may bring. >

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O CC U PAT I O N SMEDICAL LAB TECHNICIANWhy it’s tops for your ticker: While there’s no such

thing as a perfect career, job search portal CareerCast.com named medical lab technicians to its Best Jobs of 2013, a list that focuses on jobs with “High pay, low stress, a robust hir-ing outlook, a healthy work environment and minimal physi-cal exertion.” Lab technicians work largely out of the public eye in a productive environment, performing routine testing related to disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Borrow these benefits: Jobs entailing regular interaction with the public can certainly be more stressful than those that take place in a closed environment, but there’s an upside, says Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the Center for Social Epidemiology, a nonprofi t foundation that studies the con-nection between environmental and occupational stress and cardiovascular disease. “Working with the public can also be stimulating, and many may actually fi nd it more rewarding.” That said, if you fi nd you need a break from all that stimula-tion, why not sign up for a lunchtime yoga class? It’s a great way to grab a few minutes of quiet and—even better than being a lab technician—offers physical benefi ts like increased fl exibility as well as stress relief that can also be good for car-diovascular health.

Heart-HealthyO CC U PAT I O N S

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIANWhy it’s tops for your ticker:

thing as a perfect career, job search portal CareerCast.com named medical lab technicians to its Best Jobs of 2013, a list that focuses on jobs with “High pay, low stress, a robust hir-ing outlook, a healthy work environment and minimal physi-cal exertion.” Lab technicians work largely out of the public eye in a productive environment, performing routine testing related to disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Borrow these benefits: Jobs entailing regular interaction with the public can certainly be more stressful than those that take place in a closed environment, but there’s an upside, says Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the Center for Social Epidemiology, a nonprofi t foundation that studies the con-nection between environmental and occupational stress and cardiovascular disease. “Working with the public can also be stimulating, and many may actually fi nd it more rewarding.” That said, if you fi nd you need a break from all that stimula-tion, why not sign up for a lunchtime yoga class? It’s a great way to grab a few minutes of quiet and—even better than being a lab technician—offers physical benefi ts like increased fl exibility as well as stress relief that can also be good for car-diovascular health.

Heart-HealthyO CC U PAT I O N S

Heart-HealthyO CC U PAT I O N S

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way to grab a few minutes of quiet and—even better than being a lab technician—offers physical benefi ts like increased fl exibility as well as stress relief that can also be good for car-

PERSONAL TRAINER

Why it’s tops for your ticker: When you have a job that essentially requires you to be physically fi t as you help clients reach their own fi tness goals, you know you’re in a heart-healthy work situation.

“They may not get much physi-cal activity while they’re training and directing you, but personal trainers are working out regularly as part of their jobs,” Schnall says. “If the physical demand levels of any job are too high, it

can be hard on your heart. But a reason-able amount of activity is certainly good for you.”

Borrow these benefits: You don’t have to work in a gym to keep your heart in shape. But you may want to consider employing the services of a trainer to help you keep up with your own fi tness. Split the fee with a couple of friends or co-workers and enjoy the benefi ts of small-group training: increased motivation and accountability at a reduced cost.

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 13

FLORISTWhy it’s tops for your ticker:

It’s easy to see why Monster.com included this job as one of its top 10 Healthy Professions. Besides creating beautiful bouquets and arrangements, fl orists also enjoy the health benefi ts of being close to nature. In fact, a 2010 study found that spending time around plants produced lower levels of the stress hormone corti-sol, and a reduced pulse rate and blood pressure reading.

Borrow these benefits: If your pol-len allergies would make it impossible to switch careers and become a fl orist, never fear. You can take regular walks through your local park or nature preserve at lunch, or add an (allergy-friendly) plant or two to your work envi-ronment and enjoy the calming benefi ts.

FdVVSP1400_10-15_OccHazards.indd 13 10/21/13 11:32 AM

go

to

Check It OutAre you at risk of developing cardiovascular dis-

ease? Go to www.bmhsc.org and click on the HEALTHaware box at the bottom of the page to take

our free interactive HEARTaware Risk Assessment.

If your level of job stress has you worried about

your health, take comfort in knowing that you

can control your lifestyle habits—and thus reduce

your heart disease risks. A recent study found that

taking control of smoking, alcohol intake, physical

inactivity and obesity may reduce the effects of

workplace strain on your heart.

“Job strain and job stress are risk markers for

heart disease, but it’s not as big of a risk factor

as high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes or

cigarette smoking,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, a

spokeswoman for the American Heart Association.

So, while you might not have the opportunity to

switch careers, you can still take action.

“Even if your job puts you at greater risk, you can

turn it around and make it healthier by improving

your habits,” Goldberg says.

Show Your Heart Who’s Boss

O CC U PAT I O N S

BUS DRIVERWhy it’s tough on your ticker: According

to Schnall, bus drivers tend to have the worst high blood pressure levels of any occupation, and it’s not hard to see why. Besides being sedentary, driving a bus requires your full attention at all times. If focus lapses for even a moment, the consequences could be catastrophic. Schnall refers to this type of work as threat-avoidant vigilant.

“Many jobs require varying degrees of this type of attentiveness, but some of them are just off the charts in terms of this experience,” he says. “Airplane pilots and air traffi c controllers also fall into this category.”

O CC U PAT I O N S

Make it healthier: Besides taking your scheduled breaks and vacation days, fi nding ways to relax dur-ing your downtime is crucial to maintaining your overall health and protecting your heart. Get out and enjoy nature, listen to music or work on a creative project at home that you enjoy. Schnall also recom-mends exercise.

“Physical activity may reduce stress to some extent if you work out on a regular basis,” he says.

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SHIFT WORKERWhy it’s tough on your ticker: Whether

you’re a security guard or a power plant employee, working night or rotating shifts can be hard on your body. In recent years, we’ve learned that not getting enough sleep not only leaves you tired but can affect your eating habits and weight as well. And working rotating night shifts long term has even been linked to an increased risk for diabetes in women.

Make it healthier: After you’ve rested up, it’s important to fi nd some way to get physical activ-ity, Goldberg says. “If you work in a job where it’s possible to take the stairs instead of the elevator, that’s one way to get some physical activity while you’re at work,” she says. “Walk to work if you can, get off the bus at an earlier stop and walk, or park farther from the building if you drive.”

Goldberg also emphasizes the importance of sleep hygiene. “No caffeine or alcohol before bed-time, keep your room dark with no TV in bed, and stay off your smartphone, tablet or computer and just rest,” she says.

Desk Jockey DetoxWhen your boss hits you with a 9 a.m.

deadline or a client threatens to pull

his account, remember to breathe.

Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the

Center for Social Epidemiology, says

deep breathing is a fundamental

relaxation technique that’s beneficial

in temporarily managing stress. Try it

for five minutes.

1 Take a slow, deep breath and let

your stomach push out as your

lungs fill with air.

2 Hold your breath for a count

of six.

3 Exhale slowly to a count of six to

eight as your stomach deflates.

ASSEMBLY LINE WORKER

Why it’s tough on your ticker: The pressure of working on an assembly line often causes job strain, a term that describes jobs with high levels of demand and little personal control. “There’s high pressure; you have to speed things up. The belt controls you; you don’t control the belt,” Goldberg says. Multiple studies on job strain

offer convincing proof that working in a high-demand/low-control environment is a risk factor for heart disease.

Make it healthier: If your occupation produces high job strain, take a break when you’re able, Goldberg says. “Relax and do deep breathing exercises,” she says. At the end of the day, try to leave anxiety behind in the workplace. Don’t take it home.

SHIFT WORKERWhy it’s tough on your ticker:

you’re a security guard or a power plant employee, working night or rotating shifts can be hard on your body. In recent years, we’ve learned that not getting enough sleep not only leaves you tired but can affect your eating habits and weight as well. And working rotating night shifts long term has even been linked to an increased risk for diabetes in women.

Make it healthier: After you’ve rested up, it’s important to fi nd some way to get physical activ-ity, Goldberg says. “If you work in a job where it’s possible to take the stairs instead of the elevator, that’s one way to get some physical activity while you’re at work,” she says. “Walk to work if you can, get off the bus at an earlier stop and walk, or park farther from the building if you drive.”

Goldberg also emphasizes the importance of sleep hygiene. “No caffeine or alcohol before bed-time, keep your room dark with no TV in bed, and stay off your smartphone, tablet or computer and just rest,” she says.

ASSEMBLY LINE Why it’s tough on your ticker:

relaxation technique that’s beneficial

Desk Jockey DetoxWhen your boss hits you with a 9 a.m.

deadline or a client threatens to pull

his account, remember to breathe.

Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the

Center for Social Epidemiology, says

deep breathing is a fundamental

relaxation technique that’s beneficial

in temporarily managing stress. Try it

When your boss hits you with a 9 a.m.

deadline or a client threatens to pull

his account, remember to breathe.

Peter L. Schnall, MD, director of the

Center for Social Epidemiology, says

deep breathing is a fundamental

relaxation technique that’s beneficial

in temporarily managing stress. Try it

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 15

Keeping your kids safe while

keeping your head

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P arents worry. We can’t help it. Our antennas are on high alert when it comes to common hazards like swimming pools and busy intersec-tions. And we expend a lot of anxi-ety weighing the dangers of safe zones, too.

But before you go into full helicopter parent mode and encase your child in Bubble Wrap, know that there are ways to help your little ones stay safe and have fun at the same time.

Read on to learn more about the potential dangers of five playtime activities, how to make them as safe as possible and just how much parental guidance is required for each one.

Bicycling hover faCtor:

Many kids get their first taste of freedom when they learn how to ride a bike. But before your youngsters pedal off into the sunset, make sure they know how to stay safe.

“Bike safety always starts with wearing a hel-met,” says Barbara Huggett, director of research and development for the National Child Safety Council. Make sure the helmet fits correctly: It should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side to side. The helmet straps should always be buckled, but not too tightly. Huggett recommends a helmet with reflective strips to increase visibility.

“And if riding at dusk, dawn or after dark, use lights. Don’t assume cars can see you,” she says.

It’s also important to gauge your child’s skill level in determining where he can ride. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, it can be hard for kids to judge the speed and distance of cars until about age 10, so limit riding to sidewalks, parks or bike paths. No matter where they ride, teach your children to stay alert and watch for cars and trucks.

pl yaThe new rules of

By ellen ranTa olson

S P R I N G 2 0 1 416

Hover Scale

no hovering required.

Don’t fly too far.

helicopter parents, start your engines!

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 17

Swimming

hover factor :

Swimsuit? Check. Goggles? Check. Floaties? Check. You’ve got the family geared up for a day of fun in the sun, but before you dive in, be sure you know basic water safety.

“When on, in or near water, an adult must be actively supervising the kids at all times,” Huggett says. “Any water—even kiddie pools—can be dan-gerous, and you can’t rely on things like arm floaties to save a life. This holds true even after kids learn how to swim. They still need to be closely watched in the water.”

Whether it’s a backyard pool or a nearby lake, teach kids to never swim alone. Insist that they only go in the water when an adult is available to super-vise. When taking part in boating or other water sports, be sure everyone is wearing the appropriate flotation device—and that it fits properly.

“Even if you know how to swim, if a wave knocks you out, you’ll need something to keep you afloat,” Huggett says. And, parents, give yourself a little peace of mind and learn CPR. If something bad does happen, knowing how to administer CPR might mean saving a life.

Playing team SPortS

hover factor :

Joining a sports team offers multiple social, emotional and physical benefits for kids. It also gives parents reassurance, knowing that another responsible adult (the coach) is keeping an eye on things. But organized sports aren’t without risks. Each year, 2.6 million children receive medical treatment for sports inju-ries. Keep your kids in the game by helping them prevent injuries.

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Before the season starts, make sure your child gets a physical exam by a doctor. Many leagues require this, but even if yours doesn’t, it is still a good idea to rule out potential medical conditions.

Teach your little athletes the importance of staying hydrated. They should take a water bottle to practice and to games; help them remember to hydrate before and after activity, not just during. And make sure enough time is allotted to the activity-appropriate warm up and cool down.

And no matter what the sport, you need to impose an off-season. Huggett says, “Kids should get 10 con-secutive weeks of rest from any one sport every year.”

Jumping on a trampoline

hover factor :

Few things have more of an allure for kids than the oversized trampoline. Jumping, flipping, flying—you can’t beat it. But as the saying goes, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and on trampolines, kids get hurt far too often.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 98,000 trampoline-related inju-ries occurred in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available, resulting in 3,100 hospitalizations.

“Trampolines are certainly dangerous,” Huggett says. “And the risk only increases when their use isn’t properly supervised by an adult.”

So how can parents make it safer for kids to get their jump on?

“Don’t allow multiple children on the trampoline at once. Kids may want to jump together, but it really makes it more dangerous. And only use trampolines that are enclosed by a safety net. Otherwise, the risk for falling on the ground is just too high,” Huggett says.

Skateboarding

hover factor :

There aren’t many activities with a higher cool quotient than skateboarding. But along with the increased balance, agility and coordination this sport provides comes a risk for injury. More than 82,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for skate-board-related injuries each year. Parents can take preventive steps to ensure their kids roll safely.

Every skater should wear a helmet, no matter what. Pads on elbows and knees are also a good idea, and mouth guards will help protect those pearly whites in case of a tumble. When heading out to ride, kids should stay on a smooth, dry surface in a well-lit area far from traffic.

“If an area has a ‘no skating’ sign posted, obey it,” Huggett advises. “It’s probably for your own safety.”

Teach your kids to check their boards for prob-lems before each use. If any cracks or broken parts are found, hold off on riding until after repairs. And while most kids want to imagine themselves as the next Tony Hawk, make sure they know how to fall correctly, because even the most skilled skaters take a spill from time to time.

“They should know how to minimize the impact of a fall by crouching down as they lose balance to reduce the distance to the surface,” Huggett says.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 19

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Defend the DomeA helmet is only as good as its fit. To make

sure your kiddo’s head is safe and secure, learn how to fit a helmet in three easy steps. Visit

safekids.org/video/bike-helmet-fit-test to watch the video.

Play It SafeChildren with special needs or disabilities may require more

supervision, but don’t deprive them of playtime at the park.

“They need the social interaction and physical exercise kids

get on the playground,” says Kristen Ferguson, a physical thera-

pist at Beaufort Memorial’s HealthLink for Children, an outpa-

tient center specializing in pediatric rehabilitation. “And it helps

both typically developing and differently developing children

learn to respect and value other people regardless of ability.”

It’s fine to offer assistance to children with physical limitations,

but let them choose the activity.

“Don’t push them to climb up a ladder if they’re afraid of

heights,” Ferguson says. “It’s more important for them to have

a positive experience.”

S P R I N G 2 0 1 420

The Pregnant Girl’s Guide to Groceries Shopping for Two

Pour on the produce. Fruits and vegetables are great

choices. Select a wide variety in

a range of colors for the biggest

nutrient punch. Just make sure

you wash everything well to reduce

the risk of toxoplasmosis (an

infection that can harm the baby)

and pesticide contamination.

Pull a Popeye. Spinach

and other iron-rich foods

are great choices for you and

your baby. Iron is key in building

hemoglobin in your blood, and

you circulate up to 50 percent more

blood when you’re pregnant.

Say cheese. Hard, pasteurized

cheeses and other dairy products

are good sources of calcium and

vitamin D, nutrients that help build

your baby’s bones and keep yours

strong, too. But steer clear of soft

cheeses. They can contain germs

called listeria, which are particularly

dangerous to unborn babies.

Keep yourself—and your baby—

strong and healthy with these smart

food choices

Navigating the grocery aisles is tough enough when you’re eating for one. Add a baby bump and the decisions get more complicated. Use this handy guide

to remember which foods belong in your shopping cart—and which should stay on the store shelves.

BY STEPHANIE THURROTT

Have a Lot

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 21

Steer Clear

Take care with carbs. If you’re queasy, go ahead and

have those crackers. “I personally

think women should eat whatever

is going to make them feel OK, but

it’s not something to do long term.

Once the queasiness starts to go

away, introduce more nutritious

foods,” says Laura Riley, MD, an

obstetrician-gynecologist and the

author of You & Your Baby: Pregnancy.

Have one fish, two fish. Experts recommend

up to 12 ounces of fish a week,

since fish is packed with omega-3

fatty acids. Choose shrimp, salmon,

pollock, sardines, catfish and light

tuna, and avoid varieties that are

high in mercury such as shark,

swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel.

Nibble on nuts. Nuts provide

protein and other nutrients, but

are high in calories (83 calories in

12 almonds). If you’re at a healthy

weight to begin with, an extra

300 calories a day in the second

trimester and 450 a day in the third

are enough to nourish your baby

and you. Exceed those numbers and

you’ll likely gain more than the rec-

ommended 25 to 35 pounds—extra

weight that can be hard to drop.

Curb the coffee. Keep your

caffeine intake from coffee, tea,

chocolate and other sources below

200 milligrams a day. Herbal teas are

generally fine, but some types may

be risky; get your doctor’s opinion.

Avoid alcohol. “We don’t

know the threshold above

which alcohol is safe, and it

probably varies from fetus

to fetus,” says Bonnie Dattel,

MD, who chaired the edito-

rial board for the American

Congress of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists’ book Your

Pregnancy and Childbirth:

Month by Month. “But

if you had a glass of

Champagne before you

knew you were preg-

nant, don’t panic.”

Shun the sushi. Raw

fish could be contaminated

with parasites.

Hold the hot dogs. If you must have hot dogs,

heat them to 160 degrees

to kill potential bacteria.

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Get Ready for the Big Day!BMH’s Baby University offers classes to prepare you for your

baby’s arrival. To learn more, visit www.bmhsc.org and click on “Maternity” under the “Medical Services” tab

or call 843- 522-5570.

Exercising for TwoAlong with your diet, you need

to watch your workouts when

you’re expecting. If you already

exercise regularly and your

doctor says it’s OK, keep it

up. In the first trimester, it will

help boost your energy level,

says Meghan Deagan, a certi-

fied perinatal instructor with

Beaufort Memorial’s LifeFit

Wellness Center.

Not in the exercise habit?

Start off slowly with a workout

like swimming or walking.

“Being pregnant is like gain-

ing 25 pounds,” Deagan says.

“Swimming is an excellent option

because it takes the load off your

back and joints.”

If you can’t make it to the

pool, aim for 30 minutes of

walking daily.

“Exercise will

help improve

your preg-

nancy,” Deagan

says. “And your

recovery from

the delivery will

be better.”

Basics

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A timeline for managing that ache in your back

BY COLLEEN RINGER

TO Back

GET OFF THE COUCHWhen back pain strikes, you shouldn’t get too comfy on the

couch. Being sedentary can make things worse. “It used to be that people would go to bed for a week with back pain,” Hanscom says. “But we don’t recommend that anymore. The key is to keep moving and minimize bending.”

Go for a walk, and try some light stretching (see box, next page) to keep your muscles from getting stiff and the pain from intensifying. If the twinge is still strong, try an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Work It OutThe best way to beat back pain? Prevent it from happening

in the first place, which means exercising regularly and

combining stretching exercises with core-strengthening and

cardio workouts. Need a little guidance? These three DVDs—all

available at amazon.com and other retailers—offer a push-

and-play way to get your back (and the rest of your body)

in shape.

EXHALE: CORE FUSION

BARRE BASICS FOR

BEGINNERS

This reinvention of the bal-

let classes you took as a

kid focuses on improving

flexibility and posture and

increasing core strength.

There are seven 10-minute

workouts, so you can target

every muscle group without

getting bored.

BELLY BLASTING WALK

Don’t let the title fool you:

This routine incorporates

moves that will strengthen

your entire core, including

your abs, back and glutes.

Plus, the moves are simple—no

confusing choreography here.

YOGA TO THE RESCUE FOR

PAIN-FREE BACK, NECK AND

SHOULDERS

Yoga instructor Desirée

Rumbaugh leads you through

a 30-minute flowing sequence

designed to ease your aches

and pains. And the 30-minute

tutorial shows how to perform

the moves safely.

DAY

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 23

WELCOME TO OUCH-VILLEUh-oh. You overdid it in the garden, in your exercise class,

picking up your toddler … fi ll in the blank. And there’s a stabbing, aching, throbbing sensation in your back. The good news is that the most com-mon cause of a backache is overactivity (a pulled muscle), which means the pain should go away with time and a little TLC.

“Apply ice and rest a day,” Pinchback says. “You can also try sleeping in a fetal-type position with your knees pulled up to your chest to stretch the muscles.”

Also consider wearing a back brace, which you can get at most drugstores, suggests David

Hanscom, MD, a board-certifi ed orthopedic surgeon and the author of Back in Control:

A Spine Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain. “It can help you get through the day by unloading pressure from the

spine,” he says.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a backache. Your hand is up, isn’t it? That’s probably because back pain is almost as universal as the common cold.

“About 80 percent of adults will experience back pain dur-

ing their lifetime,” says Warner Pinchback, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “It causes an extreme amount of lost work hours, too.”

In fact, it’s one of the most frequently cited rea-sons for taking a sick day.

Don’t want to have to devote your time off to back pain? We hear you. Our timeline walks you through the potential progression of back pain and offers tips on squashing those aches sooner rather than later.

DAY

1

DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLANYou’ve entered chronic back pain territory. Chronic back pain

is defi ned as lasting more than three months and often has a neurological component, but that doesn’t mean you’re facing a lifetime of pain.

“There’s always something you can do to improve your back pain status,” Pinchback says. “As orthopedic surgeons, we are interested in the quality of life and making sure patients are com-fortable so they can get back to a normal func-tioning state.”

Your doctor may suggest making permanent lifestyle changes—from the way you sleep to the way you eat—or, in rare cases, having surgery. And contrary to popular belief, exercise can help relieve persistent pain, so don’t be surprised if it’s part of your treatment plan.

“Strengthening your core, back and leg mus-cles will often eliminate the need for surgery altogether,” Pinchback says. “But even when you don’t have back pain, you need to exercise on a regular basis to stay strong.”

PICK UP THE PHONEStill hurting after a couple of weeks? It’s time to make an

appointment with your physician. “If the pain is 80 percent the same intensity as

when it started, then it’s time to see the doctor,” Hanscom says. “Back pain is just a symptom. There are many things that can cause it.”

But don’t panic. Even if the pain has lasted this long, it’s still probably just a strain. And in that case, treatment options can include prescription medication, starting an exercise or physical ther-apy program, or both, Pinchback says.

“If that doesn’t work, then more investiga-tive studies, such as an MRI or a CT scan, will be needed to determine where the pain is coming from,” he adds.

If you’re experiencing leg pain with your back-ache, it could be a sign of a herniated disk. If you notice numbness in your arms or legs, it could be a sign of spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spi-nal canal) or it might be a side effect of arthritis, which can damage the spine.

Just keep in mind that time can heal most (back) wounds. “Because the back is complex, sometimes treatment options have to be delayed to give things time to respond,” Pinchback says.

DAY

14

DAY

90

EASY BACK STRETCHES

HAMSTRING

STRETCH Lie on

your back, one foot

on floor with knee

slightly bent. Raise

the other leg toward

the opposite shoul-

der, using a towel

to gently increase

the stretch.

COBRA STRETCH

Lie facedown, keep

hands by shoul-

ders, and gently

raise your torso a

few inches.

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FdVVSP1400_22-24_BackPain.indd 24 10/21/13 11:40 AM

Back It Up

Beef up your back. Go to www.

bmhsc.org and click on the “Health

Resources” tab at the top of the

page to watch a video on “Five

Easy Ways to Build Stronger Bones.”

VIDEO

Is Surgery an Option?If you’ve gone through all the

conservative treatments and

still have no relief for your

back pain, it may be time to

see a surgeon.

“The problem with back pain

is that it’s very difficult to diag-

nose,” says Scott Strohmeyer,

MD, of Beaufort Orthopaedic

Sports & Spine Center. “We can

determine if there is an anatom-

ical reason for the pain.”

Lumbar spinal stenosis, for

instance, is a narrowing of the

spinal canal in the lower back,

known as the lumbar area.

The narrowing can squeeze

the spinal cord and the nerves

that branch out from it caus-

ing pain, numbness or weak-

ness in the lower back and legs.

If your symptoms limit your

daily activities, surgery may

be recommended.

But such cases are rare.

“Back pain is usually not a

surgical problem,” Strohmeyer

says. “With proper therapy,

such as spinal stimulation, it will

go away 99 percent of the time.”

Dr. Scott Strohmeyer can be

reached at 843-525-0045.

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… Your metabolism, that is. Try one, a few or all of these 17 WAYS to rev up your body’s engine

BY JENNIFER DAACK WOOLSON

BURN,BURN�...

BABY,

25S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

It’s the rate at which your body

turns food into fuel, and it

plays a huge role in your abil-

ity to lose weight. A number of factors are

at play, including gender, age and genetics.

And while you can’t change those, there’s

plenty you can do. Here are 17 ways to boost

your metabolism and torch more calories

every day.

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1 START SMARTEat breakfast within 30 to 60 minutes of waking up. Not

only do breakfast skippers have more trouble losing weight, but they also miss the chance to kick-start their metabolism for the day as their bodies change over from food-storage to food-burning mode.

“Eating breakfast is your best opportunity to maximize what your body is already doing,” explains Haylie Pomroy, the author of The Fast Metabolism Diet.

2 EAT FREQUENTLY“Processing food has a ther-mic effect,” explains Jennifer

McDaniel, a registered dietitian and an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokeswoman. “When you eat, your metabolism goes up to digest, absorb and process that food.”

That’s not to say you should binge just to benefi t from the burn, but fre-quent meals and snacks will keep your blood sugar more stable so your hunger doesn’t get out of control.

3 GO GREEN There are no magic bullets to increase your metabolism,

but drinking green tea is about as close as you can get. Studies have found that drinking several cups per day or taking green tea extract can help fi re up your metabolism for a short time after you drink it. Tea’s combination of caffeine, fl avonoids and the antioxidant catechin can help your body burn fat.

4WET YOUR WHISTLEStudies have found that those who drink more water—

particularly cold water—show a 30 per-cent increase in their metabolism rate for about 30 to 40 minutes afterward. McDaniel adds that drinking water also helps you feel more full, meaning you likely won’t mistake thirst for hunger.

5FORGO FAKES Food additives, including arti-fi cial colors, sweeteners and fat

substitutes, are stressful to your body, particularly your liver. To optimize that organ’s essential role in metabolism, get back to nature. Eat real foods, not processed ones—and eat organic when-ever possible, Pomroy says. She recom-mends micronutrient-rich powerhouses like kale, kiwi, quinoa, avocado and pink grapefruit.

6 BRING THE HEAT Foods that contain capsaicin, such as jalapeño, cayenne and

chili peppers, have been shown to raise your metabolic rate for about 30 minutes after you eat them, McDaniel says.

7SAY NO-NO TO THE YO-YO Steady exercise and sensible eat-ing are more effective for weight-

loss efforts than repeated extreme low-calorie diets that cause your weight to drastically fl uctuate and slow down your metabolism.

8 GET INTENSE To really rev up your burn rate, Jessica Matthews, an exercise

physiologist and a spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise, recom-mends high-intensity interval training, which alternates periods of intense exer-cise and rest during a single workout ses-sion. One study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that a 45-minute session of high-intensity exer-cise can raise your resting metabolic rate 37 percent for up to 14 hours. Now that’s a nice return!

9MOVE A MUSCLE Strength or resistance training can make a dramatic difference

to your metabolism. “Resistance training builds lean muscle mass, which is more metabolically active than fat,” Matthews says. “By changing your body composi-tion, your body will burn more calories—even while at rest.”

10 STAND, STROLL OR STRETCH YOUR WAY THROUGH THE DAY

Every little bit of physical activity helps. The more you move, the more your body composition moves to a higher muscle-to-fat ratio. Give your metabolism a boost by doing jumping jacks during commercials, walking while you talk on the phone, or setting an alarm on your computer to stand and do a quick stretch every 30 minutes.

11 ADD SOME FAT Seems wrong, right? But our bodies actually have a good

kind of fat called brown fat that burns calories! Where can you get some of that? “Chronic exercise is what helps convert white fat to brown fat by releasing a hor-mone called irisin,” McDaniel says.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 27

12 PREP FOR STRESS Equip your body to handle life’s stressors and you’ll

reduce your adrenal gland’s production of the hormone cortisol, which can mess with your metabolism. Get a massage, practice yoga or try deep breathing exer-cises to calm your mind and help your body cope with stress.

13 LOVE YOUR LIVER“Your liver is responsible for more than 600 meta-

bolic functions,” Pomroy says. Take good care of it by limiting the toxins it has to fi lter, including alcohol, drugs, pesti-cides and cigarette smoke.

14 KEEP COOLMcDaniel says that exer-cising (or even just sitting)

in the cold can raise your metabolic rate slightly since your body uses more energy to keep warm.

15 CHECK YOUR MEDS Certain prescription medi-cations for depression can

lower your metabolism, Matthews cau-tions. And if you’re struggling with weight gain, ask your physician to check your thyroid. If it’s not producing the right levels of hormones, a prescription medication could help regulate your metabolism.

16 LOWER YOUR LEVELS Conditions like diabetes,

high cholesterol and high blood pressure can throw your hormones out of balance and tax the organs that help manage metabolism. Work with your doctor to get chronic conditions under control.

17 GET SERIOUS ABOUT SLEEP Sleep deprivation can lead

to a jump in cortisol production, plus increased ghrelin and lowered leptin—hello, munchies! McDaniel recommends a snoozing sweet spot of six and a half to eight hours a night to keep your metabo-lism from getting sluggish.

FdVVSP1400_25-27_Metabolism.indd 27 10/21/13 11:48 AM

to

ols

Calorie Countdown

Estimate how many calories you’ll burn riding your bike or

walking the dog. Go to www.bmhsc.org/livingwell and

click “Health Library.” You’ll find a Calorie Burner Calculator

under “Wellness Tools.”

A Surefire Way to Slow Your MetabolismWhen you’re trying to

lose weight, you know you

need to cut back on your

calorie intake. But cutting

back too much can affect

your metabolism.

Extreme calorie restric-

tion can make you gain

weight because it can sup-

press your metabolism up

to 20 percent.

so, if you’re thinking that

forgoing lunch would be a

good strategy, think again.

“Food is energy,” says

Roxanne Davis-Cote, BMH

clinical nutrition manager.

“When you skip meals, you

are essentially robbing your

body of the energy neces-

sary to help you feel great

all day long.”

Instead of starving your-

self, make smart, healthy

food choices. Because protein

helps build muscle mass and

has the biggest thermogenic

effect—meaning it takes

the most energy to digest—

include lean protein sources

such as buffalo, chicken,

tofu and legumes. then

reach for natural, high-fiber

carbs like quinoa, sweet

potatoes and berries to pro-

vide energy and help stabilize

your blood sugar.

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Stan

dard

THE

Angelina Jolie has beauty, brains

and bravura, on- and o� -screen

BY ALISSA M. EDWARDS

29S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

“We built a family,” Jolie told Marie Claire in a January 2012 interview. “[Brad] is not just the love of my life, he is my family.”

It was her love and commitment to her family—and to being with them for as long as possible—that pro-pelled her to undergo genetic testing and ultimately a double mastectomy in April 2013. Here, our experts discuss her bold decision and explain how genetic test-ing works, who should be tested, what the test could reveal and what your options are if you test positive.

QWHAT IS GENETIC TESTING, AND WHAT DOES IT REVEAL?“Genetic testing is the process of screening

blood or cheek cells for alterations in genes that can lead to health risks,” explains Barbara Biesecker, PhD, a spokeswoman for the National Institutes of Health National Human Genome Research Institute.

It can be used to screen for diseases that could be passed on to children, to screen embryos for disease, to determine appropriate treatment options and even to make a concrete diagnosis in someone experienc-ing symptoms.

Jolie was tested for mutations on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are known tumor suppressors.

“All of us carry these genes, but when there’s an abnormality in one of them, it signifi cantly elevates our risk for breast and ovarian cancer,” Biesecker says. “It’s estimated that 1 in 500 women carries these mutated genes.“

Jolie, it turned out, is one of them. >

ABOUT ANGELINAJolie fi rst turned heads in the mid-1990s in several small fi lms like Hackers (1995) and Foxfi re (1996) before earning a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomi-nation for her breakout role in HBO’s Gia, in which she played a drug-abusing model, when she was 23.

Since then, the bombshell brunette has continued to shine on the silver screen. From her Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy award-winning performance as a woman in a mental institution in Girl, Interrupted (1999) to her Academy Award nomi-nation for her performance as a mother fi ghting to fi nd her lost child in Changeling (2008) to her spell-binding role as suspected sleeper agent in Salt (2010), there’s a common thread in the boundary-breaking roles Jolie chooses and the actress herself.

Off-screen, her work is equally impressive. She’s a human rights activist, a special envoy for the Offi ce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and a philanthropist through her organization, The Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which aims to eradi-cate extreme rural poverty, protect natural resources and conserve wildlife.

FAMILY FIRSTBut what Jolie lives for isn’t acting awards or acco-lades for her charity work—it’s her family. Engaged since April 2012 to Brad Pitt, her partner of more than eight years, the couple has an impressive brood of six—three adopted (Maddox, 12, Pax, 10, and Zahara, 9) and three natural (Shiloh, 7, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 5).

NGELINA JOLIE WAS BORN WITH STAR POWER IN HER DNA. After all, she’s the daughter of Hollywood actress and producer Marcheline Bertrand and Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight.

But enviable good looks and box offi ce-busting acting chops weren’t all she inherited. Jolie, 38, also inherited a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which dramatically

increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.Her decision to seek genetic testing in January 2013—and undergo a double

mastectomy a few months later—captured the attention of the public and media. Her decision was a personal one, but the actress, mother and human rights activist chose to go public to help other women understand their options.

NGELINA JOLIE WAS BORN WITH STAR POWER NGELINA JOLIE WAS BORN WITH STAR POWER

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9 THINGS You (Probably)

Don’t Know About Angelina1ANGELINA ISN’T HER REAL NAME.

She was originally named Angelica.

Her father began calling her Angelina

when she was about a year old.

2SHE HAD A CLOSE CASTING CALL.

She was considered for the role

of Kelly Kapowski on Saved by the Bell.

3SHE’S A JET-SETTER. Since 2001,

Jolie has visited nearly 30 countries

as a Goodwill Ambassador and a spe-

cial envoy for the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees.

4SHE’S A PILOT. Jolie holds a private

pilot certificate for single-engine,

land-based aircraft.

5SHE’S A NATURAL BLONDE. Her

mother dyed her hair brown when

she was 5, and she “decided to keep it

that way.”

6SHE DIDN’T ALWAYS WANT TO BE

AN ACTRESS. Her childhood dream

was to be a funeral director.

7SHE HAS A CELEBRITY BESTIE. The

actress regularly spends time with

singer Gwen Stefani.

8SHE LOVES REPTILES. Jolie has

owned several, including two snakes.

9She does her own stunts (some-

times). She suffered cuts and minor

burns while filming 2001’s Lara Croft:

Tomb Raider.

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Genetic Test PrepThinking about getting tested? First

things first.

Make an appointment with a genetic

counselor to be sure you get the right

test and understand what the results

will determine.

“Genetic testing isn’t always straight-

forward,” says Adam Buchanan, a genetic

counselor at the Duke Cancer Institute.

“Sometimes the results you get don’t pro-

vide you with the answers you seek. You

may not know definitively if you are at risk

for developing cancer.”

The counselor may ask you to provide a

history of the cancer in your family, possibly

going back three or four generations.

“There are dozens of available tests,”

Buchanan says. “You want to make sure

you are getting the one that will be most

beneficial based on your family history.”

A counselor also can help prepare you for

the decisions you will have to make should

the test come back positive. While there

may be many ways to monitor and direct

treatment for patients predisposed to some

cancers, for others, the options are few.

But, Buchanan says, “some patients still

find testing helpful even if there aren’t many

management options.”

on

lIn

e

Find a Genetic CounselorMany genetic counselors offer telephone and Web-based cancer counseling services. You can search for

a provider on the National Society of Genetic Counselors website, www.nsgc.org.

positive allows you to seek out earlier, more frequent screenings, make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk or take more proactive measures—as Jolie did.

“Almost universally, people are glad they know, whatever their results,” Gordon adds.

Q IF I TEST POSITIVE, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?Some women opt for more regular and care-

ful screening for early detection, “which may also include taking medications like tamoxifen and birth control pills to reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer by as much as 50 percent,” Gordon says.

Others, like Jolie, choose to undergo surgery to remove the ovaries or breast tissue before cancer has a chance to develop. “Removing the ovaries can cut your risk of breast cancer in half and nearly eliminate your risk of ovarian cancer,” Biesecker says.

“I decided to … minimize the risk as much I could,” the actress wrote in her New York Times edito-rial. “I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.”

Jolie also plans to have her ovaries removed in the future, she told People magazine.

“Preventive surgery is easier for women like Angelina who have found a partner and started a family already,” Gordon says. “Having a strong sup-port system is hugely benefi cial.”

“I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive,” Jolie wrote in her edi-torial. “We knew this was the right thing to do for our family.”

FEARLESS AND FABULOUSThough she may have Hollywood magic in her blood-line, Jolie’s dynamite combination of beauty, brains, strength and heart has earned her millions of fans.

With her breast reconstruction complete and two new movies—Malefi cent to be released later this year and Salt 2, due out in 2015—Jolie is looking forward to a healthy future with her family. And she’s proud of her decision to take that future into her own hands.

“Life comes with many challenges,” reads her New York Times editorial. “The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”

“I carry a ‘faulty’ gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer,” she wrote in her New York Times op-ed, “My Medical Choice.” “My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer.”

QWHO SHOULD BE TESTED FOR BRCA1 AND BRCA2 MUTATIONS?

Women who have been diagnosed with early onset (premenopause) breast or ovarian cancer and those with multiple blood relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer should be tested, Biesecker says. Jolie’s mother died of ovarian cancer at age 56 in 2007, and her aunt died of breast cancer at age 61 in 2013, making Jolie a prime candidate for testing.

For women determined to be high risk by their healthcare provider, the test is considered preventive care and is covered under the Affordable Care Act—which means no out-of-pocket cost. For those who aren’t high risk or aren’t insured, the cost had been as high as $3,000—a point Jolie lamented in her article.

“Thankfully, that cost has come down since the Supreme Court ruled that a gene can’t be patented,” Biesecker says.

It is estimated that about 5 to 10 percent of all can-cers are hereditary. A genetic counselor or a primary care physician can help you look at your family his-tory and determine whether you should be tested.

QWHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING TESTED?Undergoing genetic testing can be an emo-

tional roller coaster, especially while you wait for results, but it’s worth it, says Ora K. Gordon, MD, a cancer geneticist and the co-author of Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions When You’re at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer. “If you already perceive yourself to be high risk, confi rmation can provide a sense of empowerment to change.”

If your results are negative, you may want to con-sider further testing. “BRCA1 and BRCA2 are not the only hereditary genes that can increase breast cancer risk,” Gordon says.

Genetic testing is also available for hereditary colon and related cancers, as well as other rare cancer syndromes, Biesecker adds.

Since many of these cancers can be prevented, treated or circumvented if found early, testing

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 33

Health

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4 WAYS MUSIC CAN MAKE

YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR A STAR

RockYourBY

STEPHANIE PATERIK

Healt

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 35

TRACK 1

“Under My Skin”

When lead surgeons walk into an operating room, one of the fi rst orders of business is select-ing a soundtrack for the surgery. It could be a

Beethoven concerto or a Beastie Boys concert—whatever helps them focus, says Matthew L. Bush, MD, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and the author of a recent study on music in operating rooms.

“I’ve been in a wide variety of operating room theaters and have heard every type of music under the sun,” Bush says. “The reality is physicians are people too, and just as diverse as real people’s tastes are, that’s just the same for surgeons and operating staff as well. That might be surprising for some.”

Surgeons say they listen to music to boost concentration, tame anxiety and stay alert. And a landmark 1994 study revealed this surprising fact: Surgeons performed better

ovies like to portray hospitals as painfully quiet places, where focused nurses hand scalpels

to unblinking surgeons, and nobody breathes a word. But in reality, medical centers are bursting with noise—beeping heart monitors, humming equipment, chatter and music. Yes, music. From Brahms to Billy Idol, from Tibetan bowls to African drums, music fi lls operating theaters and doctors’ offi ces, and plays a larger role in our care than we may realize. Research shows that a familiar tune can steady a surgeon’s hand, help a patient heal and unite everyone on your medical team. So the next time you face a health challenge, grab your earbuds, open a playlist and consider these four ways a song could enhance your life.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 436

when they listened to Pachelbel’s Canon, the soothing wedding song, than with no music at all. But a surgeon’s favorite music was best.

There are exceptions. Loud rock ’n’ roll can hamper communication in the OR, according to a study that Bush wrote last year. He urges team members to discuss music preferences before surgery so everyone can focus and patients get the best care. He lets the nurses choose songs for surgery and gets the anesthetists’ blessing.

“It allows people to relax and provides a lovely day together. It allows us to provide high-quality care for patients as a team.”

TRACK 2

“Peaceful Easy Feeling”Doctors aren’t the only ones who listen to music in the operating room—patients can, too. Christy Brewer, a nurse anesthetist and

the author of the thesis Attitudes on the Use of Music During Anesthesia Administration, says she turns up patients’ favorite tracks before administering anesthesia.

“I had a patient the other day who listened to Garibaldi,” she says, referring to the Italian composer and organist. “It made him feel really good. He got to pick something, and he loved it.”

Music relaxes people in unfamiliar situations, she explains in her thesis. The proof is on their faces and heart monitors.

“One of the benefi ts of playing music is patient com-fort—it’s something familiar to them when they enter the room. It gives them a sense of control,” Brewer explains. “They’re a little less anxious. Their heart rate and vital signs are a little bit better.”

She has a soft spot for bluegrass and woodwinds, but in her book, patients get top billing.

TRACK 3

“Haven’t Got Time for the Pain”

Concentration and relaxation are great, but can music help us handle pain? Mounting evidence suggests the answer is yes.

Snap on some headphones and listen to soothing music while being put to sleep before surgery, for instance, and

you might need less anesthetic, according to research published in Frontiers in Psychology in 2011. What’s more, you may recover faster and need fewer pain and anxiety medications.

Music gives us such dramatic results because it can change us at a physiological level. It actually calms the activity of neurons in the brain, as scientists discovered in 2008.

Not bad for something that is relatively inexpen-sive and doesn’t cause harmful side effects. (Except for albums by David Hasselhoff. We can’t vouch for those.)

TRACK 4

“Keep on Keepin’ On”

Listening to music—and playing musical instruments—is a prescription for long-term health, much like eating vegetables and jog-

ging, says Mitchell Gaynor, MD, an oncologist and the author of The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery From Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice and Music.

Gaynor once pledged allegiance to traditional cancer treatments only: chemotherapy, radiation and bone mar-row transplants. Then, a patient gave him a round metal musical instrument played with a wooden mallet.

“I was just fortunate enough to take care of a Tibetan monk who gave me a Tibetan singing bowl,” he says. “It’s made with layers of metal, and it sounds like all of these church bells because each will vibrate at a dif-ferent frequency.

“I was struck by the amount of peace and harmony I felt when I heard that and started using it with patients. I started seeing really remarkable results, seeing people get over fear and sleep better.”

Now it’s not unusual to hear the melodic hum of singing bowls or the rhythmic beat of African drums in Gaynor’s private practice. He has even composed CDs that trig-ger healthy brain waves and leads meditation and music workshops for cancer patients.

He has heard music in burn units and pediatric emer-gency rooms. And he says dozens of studies suggest it helps treat pain syndromes, insomnia, overeating, stress, traumatic brain injuries and autism.

“We’re living in a very stressful world right now, and this is a way of retuning yourself,” Gaynor adds. “Sound is really the most fundamental way of bringing wellness and healing into your life.”

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DO

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Music Therapy on Your Mobile Phone

Your smartphone is a powerful tool when it comes to music therapy. You

can find hundreds of helpful apps through iTunes. Check out Coro Health’s MusicFirst apps tailored

for chemotherapy patients, the elderly and their caregivers, and

dementia patients.

The Sounds of Healthy Music

Music and medicine have been partners

since ancient Greeks depicted Apollo,

the god of healing, holding a lyre.

And modern science tells us music can

help us relax, minimize pain and bounce back

from illness.

But not all music is equal in the eyes of medicine,

says Mitchell Gaynor, MD, an oncologist and the

author of The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from

Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice and Music.

Here are some sounds of music known to boost

your health:

• Classical. People who listen to Beethoven,

Vivaldi and Bach report lower anxiety and breath-

ing levels while undergoing minor operations,

according to a 2012 study in the Annals of the Royal

College of Surgeons.

• Easy listening. The same study showed

that people who pipe in Frank Sinatra experience

similar benefits.

• Rhythmic drums. “Drumming improves

immune function, even in cancer patients,” Gaynor

says. He discovered the practice at a yoga retreat.

• Sonic therapy. Gaynor uses sonic therapy,

sending various tones into patients’ ears to calm

their heart rates and brain waves.

• Woodwinds. Most people prefer woodwinds,

like flutes and clarinets, and an easy four-beat

melody to soothe nerves.

WITHSALTUPBREAKINGBY AMANDA KIPPERT

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The rules of dinner party etiquette decree that adding salt

to your food before tasting it is an insult to the cook. Why?

You’re assuming the dish needs it, suggesting it lacks sea-

soning. As my husband reaches for the saltshaker at dinner

each night, I remind him of this. “But we’re not at a din-

ner party,” he insists. “Every night is a party,” I respond.

Whether you’re a stickler for etiquette or not, breaking off that relation-

ship with your saltshaker can earn you more than points with the chef. It can

potentially save your life. A diet too high in salt—as 90 percent of Americans’

diets are, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is one

of the main culprits of high blood pressure. And high blood pressure can lead

to heart disease and stroke, two guests unwelcome at any dinner party.

SALTIt’s America’s favorite seasoning. Here’s why to shake it o�

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 39

WHERE’S IT COMING FROM? We don’t necessarily need to add salt to any-thing, since salt naturally occurs in a lot of the foods we eat. Most unprocessed fi sh and meat contains less than 120 mg of sodium per serving, meaning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifi es them as low-sodium foods.

For instance, 3 ounces of unprocessed salmon or cod contains between 56 mg and 89 mg of sodium. Shellfi sh has some of the highest naturally occurring salt content. Raw scallops contain 333 mg of sodium in 3 ounces.

Whole-grain foods are on the low side. One cup of cooked brown rice has just 10 mg of sodium, and one cup of air-popped popcorn has 1 mg of sodium. (Beware of movie theater popcorn, which not only has plenty of salt but also might be smothered in fatty butter.)

Some fresh fruits and vegetables con-tain sodium and some do not. Carrots, for instance, will give you 76 mg of sodium per cup while an apple has just 1 mg. One cup of cooked Swiss chard has 313 mg of sodium, while a cup of cucumbers contains 2 mg. But beware of canned veggies: A cup of cooked fresh spinach has 126 mg of sodium versus 746 mg in a cup of canned spinach.

DROWNING IN SALTU.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend we limit our salt intake to 2,300 milligrams a day, max. And for certain groups at higher risk of heart disease—those older than 50, blacks, or individuals with chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure or diabetes—1,500 mg a day is more than enough.

Unfortunately, says Kim Larson, a regis-tered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, most of us are soaring right past those guidelines, blissfully unaware that we’re taking in an average of 3,400 mg of sodium a day.

“It’s easy to see why,” Larson says. “More than 70 percent of our salt comes from pro-cessed, packaged foods.”

These American staples of speedy lunch-grabbing and dinner-making may be our No. 1 enemy in the fi ght against heart disease. But that doesn’t mean our saltshaker gets a full reprieve.

“I think it would be a great idea to take the saltshaker off the table,” Larson says. “That’s probably the number-two way in which we increase the salt in our diet.”

THE UPSIDE OF SALTSalt isn’t all bad. In fact, we need salt in our bodies. It’s a vital mineral our body can-not manufacture itself, so we rely on food to provide it. Salt maintains the fl uid bal-ance in the body, Larson explains, assisting with nerve impulse transmission and mus-cle contraction.

Salt’s chloride ions help regulate blood volume, blood pressure and the pH of body fl uids. Too little salt in the body can lead to the potentially fatal, but rare, condition called hyponatremia, which is most often found in athletes, such as marathon runners, who take in too much water and overdilute the sodium content in the body.

“Sodium attracts and holds on to water,” Larson says. “So, people who take in too much salt retain water, their blood volume increases and the heart works harder.”

You might be surprised where your salt is coming from. Watch that Swiss chard—but

FEEL FREE TO INDULGE IN AIR-POPPED POPCORN.

SALT IS HARMFUL

BECAUSE IT HOLDS ON

TO WATER, increasing

blood volume and making

your heart work harder.

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ALT SEASONINGSWith heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S., the Department of Health and Human Services launched the Million Hearts initiative in 2011, calling for the pre-vention of 1 million heart attacks during the next fi ve years. It asked Americans to reduce their sodium intake by 20 percent as one of the benchmarks to success.

Larson says there are three easy ways to cut down on your daily salt intake:

1. Don’t add extra salt to foods. “There are a lot of wonderful salt-less seasonings out there now,” Larson says. “I really like to recommend herbs, spices and fl avored

The quickest way to reduce your salt intake, starting this minute:

TAKE THE SALTSHAKER OFF THE TABLE.

vinegars.” In addition to table salt, try to avoid soy sauce as well. (One tablespoon can contain as much as 1,000 mg of sodium.)

2. Cook at home as often as possible. “Restaurants typically load their foods with salt,” she says.

3. Use fresh ingredients. “Eliminate packaged, processed and frozen food items,” Larson says. Choose fresh vegeta-bles over canned, make pasta sauces from scratch instead of buying jarred and nix the microwaveable meals. Learning how to cook may be the best thing you can do for your heart.

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REC

IPE

Cooking for Your HealthDownload our free recipe book full of delicious dishes

that will make your heart happy, happy, happy. Just visit www.bmhsc.org/health-resources.

Are Fancy Salts Any Healthier?Be it Hawaiian black lava

salt or Himalayan pink salt,

it’s still just salt, says Kim

Larson, a registered dieti-

tian and a spokeswoman for

the Academy of Nutrition

and Dietetics. She warns

people not to get caught up

in the hype of fancy salt.

“They still have the same

effect on blood pressure,”

she says. “There’s no nutri-

tional advantage.”

Marketing gimmicks

may lead you to believe

that these “natural” salts

contain additional miner-

als that your body will

thank you for, but Larson

says a gimmick is all it is.

The other minerals are

too scarce to give you any

extra advantage.

You may find an advan-

tage, however, in how much

you use. Because kosher

and sea salts have larger

granules, you’re actually

getting less sodium per

teaspoon. Sea salt contains

1,570 mg of sodium per

teaspoon compared with

2,300 mg of sodium per tea-

spoon of regular table salt.

If you must use salt, choose

a larger type and sprinkle it

on only at the very end of

cooking to maximize flavor.

(OR NOT?)Disgusting!

I have a son who burps, bites

his nails and says he’s allergic

to the shower. And he has lots

of company. A number of chil-

dren (and adults) have these

inclinations. But as it turns out, some

of these socially unacceptable habits

have redeeming health benefi ts.

So, even if Miss Manners might not

approve, go ahead and be gross. But

not in front of me, please.

WHY SOME GROSS HABITS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU

BY BARRIE GILLIES

Disgusting!Disgusting!Disgusting!Disgusting!

S P R I N G 2 0 1 442

BITING YOUR NAILSTHE UPSIDE: The germs you ingest through nail bits and grits may boost your immune system.HOW IT WORKS: The young immune system is strengthened when exposed to everyday germs, and what better microbial meet-and-greet than the grime-harboring space beneath our nails?

“Ninety percent of your cellular makeup is germs, not human cells,” says microbiologist Philip Tierno, PhD, the author of The Secret Life of Germs. “In fact, their presence keeps the immune system strong.”

As a child grows, his immune system needs to come into contact with microorganisms to develop.

“Exposure to germs teaches the immune sys-tem to distinguish between harmless and harm-ful bacteria. Too little exposure can lead to an immune system that doesn’t know how to regu-late itself, which in turn can lead to autoimmune disorders such as allergies. It’s possible that bit-ing your nails would expose a person to benefi -cial germs that, in turn, would boost his or her immune response.”CAVEAT: According to Tierno, most micro-organisms are harmless, but some can make us sick, so don’t dismiss good personal and household hygiene. Be sensible about cleanli-ness: Make sure everyone in the family washes their hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) after being in crowded public areas, after using the bathroom, and before eating or preparing food.

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SPITTING WHILE WORKING OUTTHE UPSIDE: Getting rid of excess saliva may help you breathe more comfortably when exercising vigorously.HOW IT WORKS: When working out at a high intensity, you might feel like spitting more than you normally would.

“Saliva production is regulated by the autonomic ner-vous system, and the sympathetic branch of that, which is active during exercise, stimulates a thicker saliva that is rich in mucus,” says Stephen Hawkins, PhD, a spokes-man for the American College of Sports Medicine. “Most people are mouth breathers during exercise because of the volume of air required, so the feeling of this thicker saliva stimulates spitting.”

And the only way to get rid of the uncomfortable glob is to spit it out.CAVEAT: While spitting discreetly during your morn-ing jog wouldn’t raise a neighborly eyebrow, hawking up phlegm in public is taboo. So, keep a pack of tissues on hand if you’re a regular spitter.

KISSING YOUR DOG ON THE MOUTHTHE UPSIDE: “There’s pretty good evidence that children in families with pets have a tendency to have fewer aller-gies,” says Mary Ruebush, PhD, author of Why Dirt Is Good.HOW IT WORKS: Kids are going to kiss and be play-fully licked all over by their pets. And all that smooching is good.

“Dogs and cats have a variety of worm parasites, and exposure to those germs helps train a child’s immune sys-tem to take care of them,” Ruebush says. “If your immune system doesn’t get exposed to animal parasites, it may respond against harmless things like dander and pollen. That’s when you get allergies.”CAVEAT: Of course, genetics plays a role in allergies as well. If you come from a family with a lot of allergies, there’s a good chance your kids will develop a reaction to animals or other allergens. But, in general, children are likely to benefi t in countless ways from the affection and microbes of pets.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 45

NOT SHOWERING THE UPSIDE: Showering too much, especially in hot water, can strip your skin of its natural oils. So feel free to take a break from daily dousing as a way of pampering your bod. Bonus: The time saved is a boon to stressed multitaskers. Treat yourself to a few extra minutes of day-dreaming over your morning cup of joe.HOW IT WORKS: “Washing your body every other day pre-serves your skin’s barrier layer,” says Michele Green, MD, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology. “This is especially important in winter when the air is drier and you need your body’s natural lubricants.”CAVEAT: Don’t take this as a license to skip soaping up after you’ve hit the gym for a sweatfest, joined your kids for mud wrestling or hung out with sniffl y strangers during fl u sea-son. Those are germs you should wash down the drain without delay.

BURPINGTHE UPSIDE: Burping is one way for the body to relieve stom-ach discomfort.HOW IT WORKS: “Gas in the esophagus and stomach is mostly swallowed air from ‘gulping down’ food, chewing gum or drinking sodas,” says Rajeev Jain, MD, a spokesman for the American Gastroenterological Association. “When the gas pressure reaches a critical point, an involuntary refl ex occurs to expel the gas.”CAVEAT: If you do a lot of burping you may bring up acid from the stomach, which will irritate the esophagus. And excessive burping may be a symptom of acid refl ux, a condi-tion that will require a change of diet or over-the-counter ant-acids. Talk to your doctor about how much is too much.

SUCKING ON YOURBABY’S PACIFIERTHE UPSIDE: The germs you share with your baby may help her avoid allergies later in life.HOW IT WORKS: When your baby drops her pacifi er and you “clean” it with your saliva, you transfer the normal fl ora from your mouth into your baby’s, Ruebush says. “These are good germs that [can] keep her healthy.”CAVEAT: Of course, you don’t want to suck on her binky if you have a raging cold. And always protect your newborn from strangers or relatives who are sick. Her immune system can’t yet handle all the disease-causing viruses and bacteria. But as her defenses develop, she’ll do just fi ne.

FdVVSP1400_42-45_DisgustingHabits.indd 45 10/21/13 1:48 PM

Fight the FluWhen it comes to the flu, your best

defense is a shot in the arm.

“The flu vaccine is one of the best

ways to protect yourself from getting the

flu,” says Beaufort Memorial Infection

Prevention Coordinator Bev Yoder.

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention also recommends washing

your hands often with soap and water,

especially if you’ve been in contact with

someone who is sick. Be sure to rub your

hands for at least 15 to 20 seconds.

“That’s about how long it takes to sing

‘Happy Birthday,’ ” Yoder says.

If soap and water aren’t available, use

an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. And avoid

touching your nose, mouth and eyes.

Germs spread this way.

For Yoder’s primer on hand washing,

visit www.bmhsc.org and click on the

YouTube icon.

go

to

Germ-Fighting Freebie

Pick up a free sample of hand sanitizer at the new office of

Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine,

117 Sea Island Parkway, in Beaufort.

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 446

VIRTUAL HEALTHBY LAURIE DAVIES

Your Family PortraitHeart disease, cancer and diabetes can run in families. That’s why knowing your family history is important.

Yet, a recent survey found that only one-third of Americans have tried to collect and record their family’s health history.

The U.S. surgeon general’s “My Family Health Portrait” can make this effort fun and easy. The online tool helps users organize, update and save information—even creating a graph representing health concerns that may be generational.

Access the tool at familyhistory.hhs.gov.

The majority of adults in the U.S.

take one or more dietary supple-

ments at least daily. Keeping them

straight—especially if you take prescription

medications—is essential.

The My Dietary Supplements

(MyDS) mobile app can help.

The app offers an easy way

to track the vitamins, minerals,

herbs and enzymes you’re taking. Users

can access the latest medical information

on each supplement or email their supple-

ment list to their healthcare provider.

MyDS, created by the National

Institutes of Health Office of Dietary

Supplements, is free and can be down-

loaded at myds.nih.gov.

SavvySupplementA Tangled Web

The Internet has opened up a virtual world of health information,

tools and advice. Patients and caregivers, however, must also navigate

a minefield of medical misinformation.

For example, a group of neurologists reviewed the most frequently

watched YouTube videos about movement disorders, only to find

that the people in the videos did not even have movement disorders.

Their conclusion, published in a letter to the editor in the New

England Journal of Medicine, is that patients suffering from neurological

disorders could end up confused about treatment options.

This quick checklist from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

can help you evaluate online health content.

� Can you easily see who sponsors the site?

� Is the sponsor a government agency, a medical school or other

reliable health-related organization?

� Is there contact information?

� Can you tell when the content was written?

� Is your privacy protected?

� Does the site make claims that seem too good to be true? Does it

promise miraculous cures?

When in doubt, talk to your doctor about any health concerns. He

or she is your best resource for diagnostic options or treatments that

apply to your specific health needs.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 47

If you need help making it into your running shoes and

out the door, pick up your GPS-enabled smartphone and down-

load the free Endomondo app. It focuses on the social aspects

of fitness, which might be the motivation you need.

Get Moving For example, the app allows users to race

against a friend’s time, track your bike ride

so friends can follow your workout, and

jump into a challenge to compete against a

whole group. People can even send pep talk

messages that play as you train. It’s like hav-

ing a tiny coach in your ear.

You say that, like Iron Man, you work

alone? Consider this: Kansas State University

researchers have found that under cer-

tain conditions, a virtual workout partner

can improve workout performance

even when that partner does not

cheer you on. Silence may be

golden, but so, too, is a little

friendly competition.

FdVVSP1400_46-47_VirtualHealth.indd 47 10/21/13 1:53 PM

Move FAST to Strike

Out StrokeWhen stroke strikes, act

FAST. Look for “Face” droop, “Arm” weakness, “Speech” difficulty, and know it’s “Time” to call

911. Visit www.stroke association.org to

put this information in your hands with the free

“Spot a Stroke FAST” app.

online

This year, more than 795,000 Americans will

have a stroke. on average, that’s about one

stroke every 40 seconds.

if that got your attention, consider this:

80 percent of those strokes could have

been prevented, according to the national

Stroke Association.

“The key is to reduce the risk factors,”

says Beaufort Memorial Hospital Stroke

Coordinator Sheri o’Brien. “Healthy living

is the way to control your risk.”

So what can you do to reduce your

chances of suffering a stroke?

• Keep your blood pressure in check.

• if you have atrial fibrillation, follow your

doctor’s recommendations.

• Stop smoking.

• Drink in moderation.

• Maintain your cholesterol number

below 200.

• Control your diabetes.

• Treat circulatory problems.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• eat healthy foods.

A Stroke of Prevention

Changing the Change

This isn’t your mother’s menopause. Relief from symptoms is closer than ever. Talk to your doctor about your options.

vim&

Drumroll, please …We are happy to announce that Vicki and Steve

Mix will serve as honorary chairs for the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation’s annual Duke Symphony Orchestra concert fundraiser, to be held this year on March 22. Longtime supporters of both BMH and Duke University, the couple has been involved in the fundraiser throughout its 11-year run.

“We always enjoy the concert as well as hosting some of the students at our home that weekend,” says Vicki. “My husband, my daughter and my sister-in-law are all graduates of Duke, so it’s easy—and special—for us to bond with the students. We are proud of the Duke students for volunteering their talents to our cancer program and our hospital. It’s really a win-win.”

Proceeds from the concert support BMH’s Healing Arts Program at the Keyserling Cancer Center and in the main hospital.

Steve and Vicki are no strangers to Beaufort Memorial. In addition to helping to make the Duke Symphony Orchestra concert a success, they have co-chaired the Valentine Ball and been loyal sup-porters of the BMH Foundation. Following in her mother-in-law’s footsteps, Vicki has served on the Foundation board.

Steve works in the hospital’s outpatient rehabili-tation program. An avid lepidopterist (for the unini-tiated, that’s butterfly specialist), Steve even donated his breathtaking display of South American butter-flies to BMH’s Healing Arts Program.

“We knew the perfect place in the hospital for the butterfly display,” says BMHF Executive Director Alice Moss. “The piece hangs in our Women’s Imaging Center for patients and guests to enjoy while they wait. It is unique, beautiful and soothing.”

Join Steve and Vicki at this year’s concert at the USCB Center for the Arts, when Conductor Harry Davidson will return with more than 60 Duke

students to perform works of well-known and emerg-ing classical composers.

“The conductor really engages the audience,” says Vicki. “It adds a lot when he gives you background on the composer and the history of a piece before it is per-formed. We know this will be a special evening.”

Longtime friends of BMH and Duke will chair this year’s Duke Symphony Orchestra fundraiserFamily

All in the

Vicki and Steve Mix with the butterfly display they donated to Beaufort Memorial’s Women’s Imaging Center.

on

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Make Plans NowGeneral admission tickets are $35; patron tick-

ets start at $75 and include premium seating and an invitation to the conductor’s reception

after the concert. To purchase tickets, visit www.bmhsc.org or call 843-522-5774.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 49

Overseeing the proper use of the thousands of gifts the BMH Foundation receives every year (THANK YOU!) is a board comprising 15 representatives from

around our community. Elected at the Foundation’s November annual meeting, Tom Cameron and Laura Beall are the two newest additions to the board. Their commitment to our community, passion for the hospital and ability to help grow support will be use-ful as we continue to fulfi ll our mission of providing excellent care to everyone in the Lowcountry.

Tom Cameron helped pioneer dividend growth investing in the early 1960s. He is a co-founder and the chairman of Dividend Assets Capital LLC, and from 2000 to 2009 was chairman of Cameron & Associates Inc., following nearly 50 years in the fi nancial services and investment fi elds, primarily in the Philadelphia area. Chairman of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange for four years in the early 1970s, Mr. Cameron has served on boards and committees of numerous organizations, including The Franklin Institute, the American Heart Association of

New Faces of the FoundationBMH Foundation board welcomes two new trustees

FOUNDATION-BUILDING

A big THANK YOU to the community from the Foundation board!

Newly elected trustees Tom Cameron and Laura Beall.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 450

You Made It Happen!Gifts from the community made possible the

following equipment and services described in

this issue of Living Well.

da Vinci Robotics

Your support purchased the da Vinci simulator,

allowing our doctors to continue improving

their robotic surgery skills (see page 3).

Digital Mammography

Foundation funds enabled the purchase of

multiple digital mammography units to serve

patients in our Women’s Imaging Center and

at Bluffton Medical Services (page 4).

Cardiac Rehab

Gifts from the community funded all equip-

ment in the very first cardiac rehab facility,

which opened in 1995, and Foundation support

continues to enhance the program (page 56).Officers of the BMH Foundation Board of Trustees: Arthur Levin (secretary), Bill Harvey (chairman), Liz Malinowski (treasurer) and Hugh Gouldthorpe (vice chairman).

Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Hollings Cancer Center. He holds an A.B. from Harvard and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and during World War II he served in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Cameron and his late wife, Carol, were among the earliest residents of Spring Island in the late 1980s. He is a member of the BMH Foundation’s Kate Gleason Society.

A native of North Carolina, Laura Beall is a gradu-ate of Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C., where she earned a B.S. in psychology and a teaching certificate. Mrs. Beall, who is fluent in Spanish, taught elemen-tary school. Her husband’s position with Flowserve Corp. took the couple to locations throughout the U.S., Mexico and Argentina. Residents of Oldfield since 2009, Laura and Andy Beall have been active in their local community and church and have sup-ported the BMH Foundation both through their gifts

and by hosting events. In addition, Mrs. Beall has worked on several Valentine Ball committees. After moving to Beaufort County, she received a breast can-cer diagnosis, and she continues to enthusiastically share her experience with the Keyserling Cancer Center and its importance to her treatment and return to good health.

Other NewsAt their annual meeting, Foundation trustees also approved a slate of officers for the coming two years. Elected to lead the board were William B. Harvey III, chair; Hugh Gouldthorpe, vice chair; Liz Malinowski, treasurer; and Arthur Levin, secretary.

Special thanks went to Bill Nettles for his service as chairman of the Foundation board and nearly 10 years of service as trustee. “Bill’s commitment to Beaufort Memorial goes well beyond countless meetings and planning sessions to the role of ‘chief advocate,’ which he has performed consistently and effectively,” notes Jerry Schulze, chairman of the BMH board.

It’s All About YOU! Trustees welcome your questions and comments

regarding the use of funds and priorities for our community hospital. Call 843-522-5774 or email

BMHFoundation@bmhsc.org.

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 51

In the age of laptops, smartphones and tablets, unlimited information is just a tap away. But when it comes to choosing a primary care physician, your

best bet may be to go old school and simply ask around.“Word of mouth is a great place to start,” says internist

Randy Dalbow, MD, of Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. “Asking for recommendations from someone you trust—a co-worker, neighbor, family mem-ber or friend—is certainly better than picking a doctor at random from the phone book.”

The Internet can offer some help, but not much. You’ll fi nd basic information like the doctor’s educational back-ground, offi ce hours and address. (Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s website also includes board certifi cations, spe-cialties, short bios and for some doctors even videos.)

To confi rm that a doctor’s license is valid, go to the South Carolina Medical Board website. It will also list any disciplinary action that has been taken against the Drs. Erik Baker and Roger Ulrich

Choosing a primary care provider isn’t as easy as shopping for a car. Four Beaufort Memorial physicians o� er suggestions on what to consider when deciding who will care for you and your family

What’sUp,Doc?

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 452

Drs. Robert Vyge and Randy Dalbow

physician. Beyond that, there’s little reliable information online to assess the quality of a primary care practitioner.

“It’s very difficult to judge doctors,” says internist Erik Baker, MD, of Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Primary Care. “You can ask around and check their credentials—do your due diligence—but at the end of the day, it’s best to choose the person with whom you feel the most comfortable.”

However you go about choosing a doctor, healthcare experts recommend you do it before you come down with the flu or are sick in bed with bronchitis. Studies have found you’re more likely to get an appointment on short notice if you have an established healthcare provider than if you’re cold-calling physicians all over town.

NarrowiNg DowN the SearchWhen picking a doctor, think about your personal healthcare needs. If you have a chronic medical condition like asthma, high blood pressure or diabetes, look for an internist. He or she will specialize in treating adults with severe chronic illnesses or several different conditions.

Want a one-stop doc for both you and your kids? Consider a family medicine specialist. These physicians serve all ages and can address the full range of problems people typically bring to their doctors.

Now that you’ve decided what kind of physician you want, check the list of doctors in your healthcare plan. Begin whittling down the possibilities based on the prox-imity of their offices to your house and their hospital affiliations.

Look for doctors who are board-certified. This higher standard means they have passed a rigorous exam in a specialty like internal or family medicine.

It may also be beneficial to choose a primary care pro-vider who is part of a network, such as Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners. If you need a specialist, your doctor can often quickly arrange an appointment with a colleague in the network.

So Many Questions, So Little TimeMost doctors don’t have time to be interviewed by pro-

spective patients. however, they usually will set aside

extra time for “new patient” appointments or annual

checkups. an appointment to refill a prescription offers

another good opportunity to assess a doctor.

come prepared to ask the questions that are most

important to you. Does the doctor explain things in a way

you can understand? Do you feel comfortable talking to

him or her about your more personal medical issues?

Save the more routine inquiries concerning payment

and appointment cancellation policies for the office

staff. For more tips on what to consider when look-

ing for a doctor, visit www.bmhsc.org and click on

“Primary care” under the “Medical Services” tab.

that LoviNg FeeLiNgRegardless of credentials, you won’t know if you click with a doc-tor until you’ve had at least one or two face-to-face meetings.

“Bedside manner is the most obvious thing patients will notice about a doctor,” says Roger Ulrich, MD, a family medicine special-ist with Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Primary Care. “And that’s a subjective thing.”

A shared philosophy of care is equally important. Some patients want a doctor who aggressively treats problems, while others prefer a more conservative approach.

“There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a doctor,” says internist Robert Vyge, MD, of Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. “But in the end, you want to be able to leave the office and feel the doctor has listened to you and under-stands your needs.”

Ready to Make an Appointment?

Go to www.bmhsc.org and click on the “Find a Provider” tab at the top of the page to learn more about the hospital’s medical staff.

Primary care providers include:

Dr. Erik Baker, internal medicineDr. Roger Ulrich, family medicine

Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Primary Care11 Arley Way, Suite 201, Bluffton

843-706-8690

Dr. Randy Dalbow, internal medicine Dr. Robert Vyge, internal medicine

Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine117 Sea Island Parkway, Lady’s Island

843-522-7240o

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S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 53

Michael Staley, MDMost people would assume a guy who can run 20 miles of rugged mountain trails and complete two marathons would be in top physical form.

Dr. Michael Staley thought so, too—until he tried a high-intensity cross-training program with his wife, Gina.

The program, used by the police and military, com-bines a wide range of activities like jump roping, pull-ups, rope climbing, sprinting and kettlebell training, performed one right after another at a fast pace.

“I thought I was in good shape because I was running six and a half miles uphill,” says Staley, a Beaufort Memorial urologist who practiced 13 years in Asheville, N.C., before moving to the Lowcountry last summer. “It was humbling to find out I wasn’t that fit after all.”

His wife, who recently took third place in her age group in a regional cross-training competition in Florida, persuaded him to stick with it.

Because the exercises require minimal equipment, Staley is able to work out at home before going to the office every morning.

“I really have to push myself to get out of bed, knowing I’m going to be doing something that’s so physically demanding,” he says. “It’s always exhaust-ing. When I’m through, every muscle group in my body is completely fatigued.”

In addition to the intense morning drills, Staley continues to run some evenings and on weekends.

“It’s a great outlet to get rid of energy,” says Staley, who ran his last marathon in 2012 in Savannah. “I find it relieves my stress.”

His children—11-year-old Maris and 9-year-old Jack—also are a welcome distraction from the pres-sures of work. The family spends a lot of time together on their boat or attending the kids’ sporting events.

“It’s all for one and one for all,” Staley says. “We move as a pod.”

Dr. Michael Staley is a board-certified urologist with Coastal Carolina Urology Group. He also sees patients at Bluffton Medical Services. He can be reached at 843-524-7607.

Gotta Get MovingIndoors or out, a little healthy exercise is a great escape from the pressures of work for two Beaufort Memorial physicians

Out Of the White Coat

Dr. Michael Staley’s family keeps him busy—and fit—with outdoor activities like cross training, boating and sporting events.

Michael staley, MD

S P R I N G 2 0 1 454

Chad Tober, MdThere was a time Dr. Chad Tober took to the skies when he wanted to get away from it all. A licensed private pilot with his own small plane, he would take off on a whim and fly wherever his compass took him.

Sailing provided him with that same sense of free-dom. During his 10 years on the teaching faculty of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the board-certified vascular surgeon kept a sailboat on Lake Erie and got out on the water whenever he could.

“Unfortunately, you can only sail three or four months of the year there,” says Tober, who grew up in the Chicago area. “It’s one of the reasons I moved to Beaufort. I wanted to be near the water where I could sail more.”

But he soon discovered the currents and shoals in the Lowcountry made for a very different sail-ing experience. So instead of a sailboat, he bought a motorboat. On weekends, he and his wife, Tei, began exploring the local rivers and creeks of their new coastal home.

Moving to the Lowcountry to take a position on Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s medical staff also freed Tober from his academic duties, allowing him to focus on his practice.

As the first full-time vascular surgeon in Beaufort County, it wasn’t long before he was busy with work, leaving him little time most weekends for recre-ational pleasures. In the last two years, he has taken on the additional job of chief of staff.

“When I want to escape, I go to the upstate and hike,” Tober says. “I don’t get up there as much as I would like, but I always enjoy it. It feels great just to stretch my legs and breathe the fresh mountain air.”

In town, he and his wife like to hop on their bikes and pedal around their neighborhood. Four or five times a year, they make it out to Hunting Island State Park to walk the trails or lie on the beach. They also enjoy entertaining friends at their Beaufort home.

“Right now, I’m focused on my work,” Tober says. “When I pull out of the leadership role as chief of staff, I’ll have more time to get outside and do the things I love again.”

Dr. Chad Tober is a board-certified general and vascu-lar surgeon with Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists. He can be reached at 843-524-8171.

When Dr. Chad Tober isn’t focused on his work, he and his wife take advantage of Beaufort’s proximity to water, mountains and beaches.

chad tober, Md

S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 55

This year, some 915,000 Americans will have a heart attack. At least 30 percent of them will eventually have a second, possibly fatal car-diac event.

What’s most troubling about these American Heart Association statistics is that there’s a proven way to reduce the chance of a recurrence, but it’s dramati-cally underutilized.

Cardiac rehabilitation, a medically supervised pro-gram that encompasses exercise, education on heart-healthy living and counseling to reduce stress, has been shown to stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of cardiovascular disease.

A Mayo Clinic study found that patients who partici-pate in cardiac rehabilitation after having heart interven-tions have a 45 percent lower mortality rate.

Yet despite the clear benefits, only 14 to 35 percent of eligible heart attack survivors and 31 percent of coronary bypass patients participate in cardiac rehabilitation.

Why? They simply don’t know about it. And their phy-sicians don’t refer them because they themselves may not fully understand the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation.

Typically, cardiac rehabilitation is recommended four to six weeks after an intervention or heart attack. Hour-long sessions are scheduled three days a week for 12 weeks. Patients are on a heart-rate monitor the entire time they are exercising and during recovery. In addition, a cardiac nurse checks their blood pressure regularly.

Along with the exercise therapy, patients are taught how to reduce risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes, and how to become more active and eat healthier foods.

The goal of the program is to keep them out of the hos-pital and living a healthier, happier life.

Building a Stronger HeartBMH Senior Clinical Exercise Specialist Graham Jones helps patients with coronary disease reduce their chances of a second cardiac event

HealtHy InsIghts

Rehab Your HeartAccording to the National Institutes of Health, car-

diac rehabilitation can help patients who have had:

• A heart attack

• A cardiac condition such as stable angina

• Angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting

• Heart failure

• A valve replacement or a heart transplant

• A pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator

During cardiac rehabilitation, Graham Jones, senior clinical exercise specialist at the BMH LifeFit Wellness Center, helps patients prevent a second heart attack or other cardiac event.

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Cardiac Services at Your Fingertips

To learn more about Beaufort Memorial’s cardiac rehabilitation services, click on the “Medical

Services” tab, then “Heart & Vascular Services” at www.bmhsc.org or call 843-522-5636.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 456

The BMH Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following tribute gifts received May 18, 2013, to September 18, 2013. To make a tribute gift, please call 843-522-5774 or go to www.bmhsc.org and click on “Make a Gift.”

TRIBUTESIN HONOR OFDr. John B. Adams, II

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart FraserMr. and Mrs. Stephen S. MakgillMr. and Mrs. Ronald Manyin

Dr. Erik BakerMr. and Mrs. Gene Cooler, Jr.

Mrs. Geneva BaxleyMr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Anderson

Beaufort Eye ClinicMr. Roy R. Marr

Dr. Robert BellMr. and Mrs. Frank J. BoothMr. and Mrs. David M. Crowley

Mrs. Colleen BibleMrs. Olive Warrenfeltz

Dr. Edward BlockerMr. and Mrs. Richard R. KellerMr. and Mrs. Jeffry E. Nadeau

BMH 4th Floor TeamMr. and Mrs. Richard R. KellerDr. and Mrs. Evan C. Reese, Jr.

BMH Birthing CenterDr. and Mrs. Lawrence R. Coleman

BMH Cardiology DepartmentMr. Roy R. MarrMr. and Mrs. Robert V. Pinkston

BMH Emergency Room StaffMs. Melinda M. EllisMr. and Mrs. Charles E. McFarlandMr. and Mrs. Benjamin Pinckney, Sr.Ms. Mary R. Thibault

BMH ICU StaffMr. and Mrs. Edgar MoserMr. and Mrs. Benjamin Pinckney, Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wiederhorn

BMH Orthopedic TeamMr. and Mrs. Richard R. Keller

BMH StaffMrs. Miriam S. KalinowskyMs. Lydia Velez Morales RodriguezMr. and Mrs. James P. White

Dr. Irina BorissovaMr. and Mrs. Hullie Cohen

Dr. E. Perry Burrus, IIIMr. and Mrs. George DaleMr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Jones

Dr. Majd ChahinMr. Raymond A. O’DohertyMrs. Theda Parks

Mrs. Carol Ann ConverseMr. Charles J. Karmendy

Ms. Summer A. CookMr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Anderson

Mrs. Patricia CookeMs. Jacoba J. Campfi eldMs. Kathleen Young

Dr. Philip CusumanoSavannah River Baptist Association

Dr. Nicholas P. DardesLt. Col. and Mrs. Darrell M. Smith

Dr. Mark T. DeanMr. and Mrs. Edward Rosse

Dr. Carl DerrickMrs. Johnsie A. Nabors

Dr. Roderick T. DippelMr. and Mrs. Frederick M. Corley

Mrs. Sue Fillmore and Team MarthaCustomInk

Ms. Victoria FlowersAnonymous

Dr. John FontanaMs. Christie Trumps

Dr. Kurt M. GamblaMr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Jones

Dr. Linda HawesMr. and Mrs. Kenneth MuenchenMr. Leon C. Sell

Mr. Charles HolleyMr. and Mrs. Dick Van Haert

Mr. David A. HomykMr. and Mrs. Cory L. Smith

Dr. Andrea HucksMr. and Mrs. Wilfred G. AutryMr. and Mrs. Robert F. McTierMr. Gene Rugala and Mrs. Edie SmithDr. and Mrs. Allan Yard

Dr. Jonathan HutchingsMs. Letha Van Dyk

Dr. Arthur S. JenkinsMr.* and Mrs. James Marion Gray

Mr. Russell JeterMr. and Mrs. Marvin H. Dukes, Jr.

Dr. Stacey JohnstonMr. Leon C. Sell

Mrs. Becky JonesMr. and Mrs. Kenneth CoskyMr. John C. DelaceyMr. and Mrs. Robert E. Neumann

Mr. Graham M. JonesMr. Cecil M. Minich

Dr. H. Kevin JonesMr. and Mrs. Kenneth CoskyMr. and Mrs. Edgar MoserMr. and Mrs. Robert E. NeumannMr. and Mrs. Frank E. Schwab

Mr. Samuel C. KempMr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Anderson

Dr. Steve KesselMr. and Mrs. Thomas A. BurckhalterMr. and Mrs. Roger F. CarlsonMrs. Patricia A. de SatnickMr. and Mrs. Larry E. KaufmanMr. and Mrs. Robert F. McTierMaster Sgt. Eugene J. Nebelung (ret.)

Mr. Kevin KremerMr. and Mrs. Paul A. Mannheim

Mr. Anthony LoweryMr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Anderson

Dr. Peter N. ManosMr. and Mrs. Frank E. FowlerMr. and Mrs. Joseph A. MixMr. and Mrs. Edward RosseMr. and Mrs. Gray Sanders

Mr. Jason MeyerMiss Hannah Grace

Mrs. Megan MeyerMr. and Mrs. Stephen T. Powell

Ms. Candy S. MoultrieMr. and Mrs. Edward Rosse

Dr. Lynn NortonMr. and Mrs. Frank Gale

Dr. Louis PlzakMr. Frank H. Kean

Ms. Emily R. RadutaMr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Anderson

Ms. Kim RainesMr. Cecil M. Minich

Ms. Monica RichmondMr. Gary Suback

Mrs. Brittany RobinsonDr. and Mrs. Evan C. Reese, Jr.

Dr. Ralph F. SalzerMr. and Mrs. Joseph N. BratekMr. and Mrs. Joseph Z. CooperMr. and Mrs. Lee EllisJim and Pat PalmerMs. Karen C. Phillippi

Dr. Thomas W. SchultzMr. and Mrs. Carl R. White

Dr. Stuart SmalheiserMr. and Mrs.* Robert W. TorreyDr. and Mrs. Owen E. Tucker

Mrs. Starr L. SpearmanColonel and Mrs. John E. Spearman, Jr.

Dr. Scott E. StrohmeyerMs. Jean A. DaleyDr. and Mrs. Carl J. SmithMr. Warren W. Wilcox

Mrs. Mary StuttsFather Carl E. Bauer, Jr.

Ms. Alicia TaylorMr. Ben Powell

Ms. Jennifer ThibaultMr. and Mrs. Stephen T. Powell

Dr. J. Chadwick ToberMr. and Mrs. Wilfred G. Autry

Dr. Samuel C. TraskMr. Stephen M. Peskoe

Ms. Maureen VeyMrs. Olive Warrenfeltz

Ms. Holli WilkinsFrances and Russell Jeter

IN MEMORY OFMrs. Margaret Bible

Mrs. Olive H. Warrenfeltz

Mr. Fred F. FuerstMrs. Barbara Fuerst

Mrs. Jamie Kirk HahnMr. Clint Campbell and Mrs. Karen Peluso

Ms. Grace HolcombMr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Gilmour

Mrs. Pearl S. JodoinMs. Deborah Ann Harriott

Mr. Gary W. KleinMrs. Barbara M. Klein

Mr. Vincent F. KlemmBailey Broncos HospitalityMrs. Joyce C. FoleyMrs. Roberta R. FooteMr. and Mrs. Stewart FraserMr. and Mrs. Kelson E. SlaymanMrs. Barbara W. Titus

Mr. Lee V. Landing, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Mix

Mrs. Elizabeth L. MazarinMr. and Mrs. John H. ShafferMs. Alice B. Moss

Mrs. Anza Lee O’QuinnMr. and Mrs. Waldo A. Phinney, Jr.

Dr. Gary L. RobinsonMr. Clint Campbell and Mrs. Karen Peluso

Mr. Talbird R. SamsMr. and Mrs. Jason Meyer

Mr. Charles R. SchallerMr. and Mrs. Jacques S. Theriot

Mrs. Brenda SellMr. Leon C. Sell

Mrs. Chelle SmithMs. Sharon C. Clampitt

Mrs. Anita SweeneyMr. Albert Sweeney and Family

Mr. Fred WillsonMr. and Mrs. Charles Asselin

*deceased

C ardiovascular H ealth • da V inci S urgery • Bone & J oint H ealth

Attendees canregister by visitingwww.bmhsc.org or by calling 843-522-5957.

Beaufort Memorial Hospital presents

We invite women and men to join together for a fun-filled day of music and dance designed to improve heart health and overall wellness.

Saturday, February 229 a.m. - NoonPinckney Hall, 114 Sun City Lane • Sun City