HEALTHBody, Mind & Spirit

Winter 20

12

Miracle on ICEChilling therapy can help some heart patients

A Matter of TrustThe importance of a good doctor-patient relationship

Weight Train or AerobicsWhich will help you lose belly fat?

The Heart of the Matter

Most of us are enjoying the great indoors around this time of year—trying to keep warm and waiting out the winter. Fortunately, February does offer a few distractions to warm our hearts. Take Valentine’s Day, for example—a day to celebrate love and friendship. It’s estimated that Americans give more than 160 million Valentine’s cards each year and more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. And, those little conversation hearts? There are 8 billion produced in a year.

Sadly, not all of the heart statistics are so cheery.

Heart disease remains the number one killer of both men and women in our country. So, not only is February a good month to give hearts and flowers—it’s a good time to show your own heart some love and do what you can to keep it working for you.

Make simple changes that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less refined sugar. Limit foods high in sodium and trans fats. Take a walk. We tend to take our hearts for granted. We often don’t appreciate how efficient the human heart works—until there is a problem. Then it commands attention.

My husband, a physician, was not feeling well—he had lost weight and had very low energy. For weeks he ignored the symptoms and then tried to treat himself. Finally, he went to a cardiologist and was diagnosed with a heart valve problem that required open heart surgery. Fortunately, it was successful and he’s recovering nicely. We were lucky.

This experience has been a blessing in some ways. I can relate to patients in our hospitals and their families with a new perspective. Regardless of how many times a procedure or surgery has been performed, when it’s you or a loved one, it’s the ONLY time.

Fleury YelvingtonPresident and Chief Executive OfficerCarondelet Health

Cover Story

6 Miracle on ICE Youngheartpatientmakesa completerecoveryaftera chillingtreatment

Feature 9 A Matter of Trust Gooddoctor-patientrelationship isimportanttoyourhealth

NEEDTOKNOW 4SleeplessnessLinked toHeartAttacks

KIDS’STUFF 4ACureforPeanutAllergies?

EATWELL 5GraspingtheGlycemicIndex

WHAT’SNEW 10KudostoCarondeletHealth

BODY&SOUL 11LearningLifeLessons

Perspective

A Letter from the CEO

Inside

Cover story photos: Troy Thomas

Health Wise is published by the Marketing and Communications Department at Carondelet Health. Address correspondence to Marketing and Communications, Carondelet Health, 1000 Carondelet Drive, Kansas City, MO 64114. 816-943-2565

Michael A. Dorsey CEO • St. Joseph Medical CenterAnnette Small CEO • St. Mary’s Medical CenterCarrie Lehr, MD - Medical EdiltorGinger Bliss • Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development • Carondelet Health Linda Smith • Regional Director Marketing and CommunicationsCyndi Fahrlander • Sr. Marketing and Communications Specialist and Health Wise EditorRandy Knittel • Sr. Graphic DesignerMarlina Yates • Marketing and Communications Specialist

Copyright © 2012 Carondelet Health. Any material in this publication may not be reproduced in whole or part without permission from the Carondelet Health Marketing and Communications department.

Carondelet Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All services are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

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Let’s be perfectly honest, it can be just plain awkward asking your doctor why your body is doing what it’s doing. However, not dealing with lumps and bumps, or other unusual symptoms can be downright hazardous to your health. We asked our medical editor, Carrie Lehr, MD, for information.Is discussing uncomfortable topics more of a problem for men or women?Statistics indicate women are more likely to visit their doctor on a regular basis than men, with many men admitting they find it hard to open up to a health professional about any health problems, embarrassing or otherwise.What topics do patients find most difficult?It can be anything, but for many, particularly touchy discussions involve genitalia, the bowels and sex. Bowel problems, like diarrhea and constipation, may have a benign cause but also could be signs of colon cancer or stomach cancer. Genital symptoms, such as itching, pain, or a strange odor or discharge may be a sign of an STD, or in some cases, cancer. Nipple secretions or changes in the shape of a breast could indicate breast cancer for women and even men.Why do I find it so hard to talk with my doctor?No matter the age or the topic, patients sometimes feel rushed or intimidated by their doctors. Medical language spoken by some doctors can get in the way. Some patients fear they will be judged when talking about mental disorders or drug or alcohol abuse. Ultimately, nothing should be too embarrassing to bring up with your doctor. Your well-being and even your life could be at risk.How can I overcome my fear?Start by telling your doctor the subject is hard for you to talk about. You may want to consider writing a list for your doctor to read. Try telling a friend or supportive confidant first so it doesn’t feel like you’re divulging your biggest secret with the doctor. Rehearsing your questions in advance can help you feel more confident and help you be your own advocate when actually speaking to the doctor. Remember your doctor is there to help you, not judge you.Above all, bear in mind that however embarrassing the problem may be for you, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist has heard it all before, most probably on numerous occasions.

Dr. Lehr’s office is on the St. Joseph Medical Center campus at 1010 Carondelet Drive, Suite 105. She can be reached at 816-943-6123.

Health IQ

QUIZ

Why Depression Remains Concealed

Q&A

Difficult Discussions with Your Doctor

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Primary care physicians may often be among the first to learn that a patient is depressed but statistics show people are reluctant to talk about it. In fact, a new survey of California adults finds 43 percent of people say they would keep symptoms of depression to themselves during a doctor’s appointment. 1. Patients decline sharing feelings of depression because A. They believe it’s not a primary physician’s responsibility B. They don’t want to take antidepressants C. They are afraid that a diagnosis of depression will be seen by employers D. All of the above 2. How many U.S. adults over 18 years old have depression? A. 7 percent B. 8 percent C. 4 percent D. 10 percent E. 3 percent3. How many Americans will be diagnosed with depression in their lives? A. One in 10

B. One in six C. One in five D. One in 11 E. One in three

4. How many patients fear being sent to a counselor? A. 15 percent B. 12 percent C. 10 percent D. 20 percent E. 25 percent5. Which patients with the most to gain from talking to their doctor about depression, don’t? A. Patients with mild depression B. Patients with severe depression C. Patients with no symptoms D. Patients with moderate to severe depression6. Which of the following is not a symptom of depression? A. Fatigue B. Incontinence C. Irritability D. Indecision E. Stress7. How many patients receiving treatment for depression get relief? A. 80-90 percent B. 60-70 percent C. 50 percent D. 40 percentTo find a physician in the St. Joseph Medical Center area, call 816-943-2584, or 816-228-3335 for a physician in the St. Mary’s Medical Center area.Answers—1 D; 2 B; 3 B; 4 C; 5 D; 6 B; 7 A.

HOW TONeed to Know

KIDS’ STUFFA Cure for Peanut Allergies?Some medical sleight of hand is behind a potential cure for sometimes life-threatening peanut allergies especially common in children. Scientists at Northwestern University in Chicago believe they have found a way to switch off potentially deadly peanut allergy attacks by tricking the immune system into tolerating nut proteins, which are sometimes seen as a threat to the body.A study involved attaching peanut proteins to white blood cells, which then signal the immune system that the protein is not a threat, and becomes tolerant to it. Initial tests were conducted on rats, but allergy specialists anticipate the results will someday be replicated in humans as well. Researchers from the study, published in the Journal of Immunology, believe the findings also open up opportunities to create a balanced immune system. It does this by increasing the number of regulatory T-cells that recognize proteins, such as peanut proteins, as normal in the body while turning off the dangerous cells that cause the allergic reaction.Scientists were also able to attach more than one protein to the white blood cells, meaning other prevalent food allergies, like fish and eggs, could soon be combated, too.

It’s fairly common knowledge that too much sodium in our diets can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Most Americans consume nearly three times the daily recommended amount of salt but with a little work, you can lower your intake.

Learn the LimitsThe USDA advises keeping your intake to 1,500 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day. That means you must pay close attention. Consider that just one teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 mg of sodium and one tablespoon of soy sauce has 1,000 mg of sodium.

Read Food LabelsNearly 80 percent of the salt we eat is added to foods before they are sold. Processed foods like canned soups, frozen dinners, bacon, even cold cuts are typically high in salt. Read food labels and compare products to make the best choices.

Know the Salt TrapsFast food, and in fact any restaurant food, can be loaded with sodium. Food companies rely on salt for both flavor and as a preservative. Read menus carefully and ask questions when ordering.

Go NaturalFresh foods are naturally lower in sodium than processed foods. Try making your soup from scratch—it won’t only lower the sodium content, but will likely improve the taste as well. Skip the flavor packets that come with rice or pasta dishes and add your own fresh herbs.

Don’t Rely on Salt SubstitutesSome salt substitutes contain potassium chloride. Too much potassium in the diet can cause nausea and diarrhea. In some cases and at high levels, potassium can cause muscle weakness and interfere with the heart’s rhythm. Some medications react with potassium so check with your doctor before using a salt substitute.

Retrain Your TastesThe taste for salt is acquired. You can get used to, and even enjoy, less. Decrease your use of salt gradually and your taste buds will adjust. After a few weeks of cutting back on salt, you’ll rediscover the taste of food itself.

Tame Your Salt Habit

Sleeplessness Linked to Heart AttacksInsomnia is not only a common problem, it’s also a costly one. Having difficulties falling or staying asleep can make you chronically tired, unproductive and according to a new study, it puts you at a higher risk for a heart attack.Researchers found participants who had difficulty with sleep had a 27 to 45 percent higher risk for heart attack compared with those who slept well. The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that people who had trouble falling asleep over the last month were more at risk (45 percent) than those who weren’t able to stay asleep (30 percent). Participants who woke up tired on more than a weekly basis were at 27 percent increased risk.This study is not the first to link insomnia with heart attack but it is likely the largest. Between 1995 and 1996, 50,000 adults participated in the study and 23 percent of the participants had insomnia-related problems. In a follow up 11 years later, nearly 2,400 had had their first heart attack. Factoring in such common heart attack risks as high blood pressure, diabetes and old age, the study still found a strong link between insomnia and heart attacks.On the economic side, a recent study conducted by Harvard Medical School puts the price tag of insomnia at $63 billion a year in lost productivity in the United States. Insomnia can be caused by a number of factors. Medications, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, depression and anxiety are all things that can get in the way of a good night’s sleep. St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Medical Centers conduct sleep assessments to determine what’s keeping you up. For information on the assessment, call 816-943-3033 at St. Joseph or 816-655-5394 at St. Mary’s.

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MOVE EAT WELL

LEARN

Grasping the Glycemic Index

Aerobic Versus Weight TrainingIf you want to spark a good debate between fitness fanatics, just mention a preference for aerobic training over weight training, or vice versa. Research on the benefits of each will likely continue into the next century; but an eight-month study done by researchers at Duke University Medical Center is getting a lot of attention this year. The study compared the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (such as jogging), resistance training (weight lifting) and a combination of the two on belly fat—the fat that poses the greatest health risks.The study included 196 overweight, sedentary adults. Those in the aerobic group did the equivalent of 12 miles of jogging per week at 80 percent of maximum heart rate. Those doing resistance training did three sets of eight to 12 repetitions three times a week. Researchers found that people in the aerobic group significantly reduced the amount of visceral and liver fat and improved risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. Those doing both aerobic and resistance training got similar results. However, those doing only weight training did not get those benefits.Of course, the research doesn’t mean there is no benefit to resistance training—it does improve strength and builds lean body mass. But for those who are overweight and interested in losing belly fat, this research suggests aerobic exercise is the best way to start. Check with your physician before starting a new exercise program.

Fit

Is Your Back Too Old to Fix?If you have back pain, you’re not alone. Although back pain can come from many sources, it’s estimated that as many as 95 percent of people over the age of 50 suffer some spinal degeneration. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition in adults over 60. “In addition to low back pain and loss of feeling or abnormal sensations in the legs, thighs, feet and buttocks, it can cause loss of bladder and bowel control,” says Jeffrey MacMillan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with St. Mary’s Medical Center. Until recently, patients who might benefit most from surgical procedures often could not take advantage of them because they might be too sick or too old to undergo traditional surgery. What is now available to these patients is the interspinous process device. This minimally invasive procedure involves placing a spacer between the spinous processes (part of the vertebra that serves as the attachment point for muscles and ligaments) in the back of the spine. “Its role is to keep the space for the nerves open by spreading the vertebrae apart. Some studies have shown a success rate exceeding 80 percent for appropriate patients,” says Dr. MacMillan. The spacer is indicated for patients over 50 and diagnosed with LSS, who experience relief from their buttock and leg pain when sitting or bending forward. The procedure itself is short—typically 15 to 20 minutes. Light activities and travel can occur almost immediately, with most normal activities resumed within two to six weeks.

Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Back in the early 1980s, David J. Jenkins, MD, and his colleagues at the University of Toronto set out to establish the best foods for diabetic patients to eat, based on the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates that break down quickly during digestion and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high Glycemic Index (GI) number. Carbohydrates that break down more slowly, releasing glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, have a low GI. Pure glucose serves as a reference point and is at the top of the scale of 0-100.It’s not surprising that most fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains are lower on the GI scale; while white bread, white rice and sugared cereal are high on the scale. “Choosing low GI carbs over high GI carbs will help minimize fluctuations in your glucose and insulin levels,” says Gregg Klosener, DO, with Advanced Family Care on the St. Mary’s Medical Center campus. “Your body performs best when your blood sugar is kept relatively constant.”Dr. Klosener adds that those who follow a low-GI diet lose weight more easily and reduce their risk of heart disease and diabetes.

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A father’s quick action, and two days on ice, save a

young man’s life.

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When Ed Garrett Sr. watched his 33-year-old son, Eddie, lean forward and fall out of his chair, it took just a few seconds to realize he wasn’t

playing—it was serious. Dead serious. “We were sitting here talking and watching TV and watching my grandson, Alex, play on the floor,” said Garrett. “Eddie said something to Alex and he leaned forward and reached down like he was going to pick something up and then he just fell over. At first I thought he was just playing—playing with Alex. But then, he wasn’t moving and so I spoke to him. I said, ‘Eddie, what are you doing?’ And he didn’t move, didn’t say anything. So I got up and touched him and rolled him over. He wasn’t breathing.”Garrett didn’t know what was happening, but he began applying CPR while directing his wife to call 911. “I’ve had things happen with my mother in the past, and she’d come to, and I thought in the back of my mind Eddie’s going to come to, he’s going to come to and he wasn’t,” said Kathleen Garrett, Eddie’s stepmother. “I called 911 and put (the dispatcher) on speaker phone and she told Ed what to do.” “I was apparently doing it wrong, but I did it anyway,” says the elder Garrett. Davina Garrett, the younger Garrett’s wife, was eight months pregnant with their second child. She tried to keep Alex engaged and away from her husband, who she feared might have just died in front of their eyes. “I just started praying,” she says. “I was trying to focus on Alex, who believe it or not kept me sane through all of it. I didn’t want him even remotely having any idea of what was going on, that there was something wrong with his daddy.”The father continued to do CPR on his son for about 15 minutes. “The dispatcher said if he got tired to have someone else continue, but I knew he wasn’t going to get tired. He wasn’t going to stop,” says Kathleen Garrett. He only stopped after paramedics arrived. After several attempts with a defibrillator, they got a pulse.The younger Garrett was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center as a Code ICE patient. “Code ICE has been a protocol for several years, although only in the last two or three years has it really been adopted by a number of hospitals in the community,” says Eric Hockstad, MD, FACC, a cardiologist with the Carondelet Heart Institute who treated Garrett after he arrived at St. Mary’s Emergency Department. Patients arriving without any obvious brain function are essentially in a coma. If they’ve been in that state for a very short time, research has shown that cooling the patient

down may allow recovery with significantly more brain function than if they’re not cooled down.” That’s why we call it Code ICE,” says Dr. Hockstad. “We actually use ice to lower the body temperature. It’s also being adopted in the field, and paramedics can begin cooling patients down before they even get to the hospital.” According to Dr. Hockstad, when the brain loses blood flow for a short time and then regains it, the healing process can be impaired because of inflammation. Cooling down the brain by lowering the patient’s body temperature helps reduce the amount of inflammation and protects the brain from further damage from what is known as a reperfusion injury. Davina Garrett found the scene at the hospital distressing. “It was hard to touch him, because he was cold to the touch. His body temperature was 82 degrees,” recalls Davina. “He would have hated it if he knew it, because he hates being cold—just hates it. It was like a cold suit they wrapped around him.” The protocol calls for patients to remain in the medically-induced coma and on ice for 24 hours to sometimes 48 hours. Patients are sedated and given medications to prevent shivering that would raise their body temperature. When the time comes, doctors slowly raise their body temperature. Once their body temperature reaches a certain point, the patient is allowed to wake up.And awaken Eddie did. “He opened his eyes and looked over at me like, ‘What’s going on?’” says his father. “He was trying to talk, and of course he had all the tubes in and stuff. He wanted to know where he was. He started writing stuff like ‘Where am I?’ And ‘What happened?’ It was the best feeling of my life seeing him open his eyes and start talking to me, because I don’t think they expected him to wake up.” Davina Garrett thought it nothing short of miraculous. “While he was on ice, the doctors would say things like IF he wakes up and were preparing us for some challenges. But he remembered who I was and Alex and pretty much everything,” she recalls. Garrett remembers very little of that day and what followed his collapse. “As far as I knew, I was in some sort of accident,” he says. “I thought maybe a car accident. Everything had to be filled in by my wife, my stepmom and my dad. I’m thankful it happened where it did, and not while I was driving. I could have hurt someone else and my family. It was a blessing it happened here in front of my father, who is strong enough to do CPR as long as he did.”“This gentleman was very fortunate,” says Dr. Hockstad. “He got a great outcome, partly because he is young, partly

MiracleonICEby Mike Fahrlander

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because it was a witnessed arrest and his family started CPR right away, and he was enrolled in the Code ICE protocol as soon as possible.” Once Garrett was stabilized, doctors found the reason his heart had stopped. He has a condition called cardiomyopathy that can lead to sudden death, or dangerous heart rhythms (ventricular fibrillation). And while the Code ICE protocol had provided essentially a complete recovery, there was still the issue of a weakened heart to deal with. Garret has had an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) placed inside his chest as a precaution should his heart stop again. The ICD monitors his heart rate, and provides a shock if it gets out of rhythm. “With the defibrillator, Eddie’s prognosis is good,” says John K.Lee, MD, an electrophysiologist with the Carondelet Heart Institute. In addition to the ICD, Eddie has been placed on beta blocker therapy and ACE inhibitor therapy in an attempt to improve his cardiac function. “But we need to determine why his heart stopped. He may have other causes of cardiac arrest that may be inheritable.”Davina Garrett says she constantly puts her hand on her husband’s chest at night to make sure it’s working.One thing that’s working perfectly is the family’s faith, which they say has played a big part in the healing process. “I know God was with us throughout the whole experience,” says Kathleen Garrett. “The only thing it could be was it wasn’t his time to go. And I truly believe it was a miracle.” For now, Garrett has few restrictions apart from avoiding large electromagnetic fields, such as generators and arc welding equipment. He went back to work, and welcomed his daughter into the world a week later. Doctors expect him to enjoy many more Thanksgivings, Christmases and birthdays, of which the younger Garrett’s occurs appropriately enough on Valentine’s Day. 

Treating Heart Disease is a Community Effort

It’s no secret that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. Yet, many people remain unaware of heart attack and stroke symptoms. In

an effort to boost awareness of heart attack, stroke and sudden cardiac arrest, and educate people about treatment, St. Mary’s Medical Center has joined the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District and other area businesses in a community program called Vital Heart. The program focuses on community education, prevention, training and public access. The American Heart Association reports that people often wait several hours before seeking medical assistance or calling 911 when experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. “Calling 911 at the first sign of symptoms gives a person the best chance for a good outcome,” says Captain Mike Wallace, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. “Some people don’t even call 911, but instead drive themselves to an emergency room. Many of those will die before they ever reach the hospital. That’s why we need community involvement.” The Vital Heart program also aims to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest. “In sudden cardiac arrest, the heart unexpectedly stops beating. When that happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, causing death within minutes,” says David Blick, MD, FACC, with the Carondelet Heart Institute. “Sudden cardiac arrest victims who get cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) within three to five minutes have the best chance of surviving.” Recently, the American Heart Association revised some of its guidelines for CPR, hoping to increase the chances that someone could help when they see an adult suddenly collapse. The Hands-Only technique can be used in most cases and it doesn’t require mouth-to-mouth breathing; it relies on hard, fast compressions to the center of the victim’s chest. AEDs have changed in recent years, too. When they were first introduced, they were used primarily in medical facilities by trained personnel. Today, AEDs are small, portable, safe and easy to use. The Vital Heart campaign not only strives to get people trained in CPR and the use of AEDs, but also to increase awareness of the location of AEDs throughout the community.Central Jackson County Fire Protection District offers CPR classes to the community. For information, call 816-229-9118.

Minutes Matter when it comes to heart attack and stroke. Recognizing the signs of heart attack and stroke, and calling 911, is the first step.

Heart attack warning signs:•Chest discomfort•Discomfort or pain in the upper body•Shortness of breath•Cold sweat•Nausea or lightheadedness

Stroke warning signs:•Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or

leg, especially on one side of the body•Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or

understanding•Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes•Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance

or coordination•Sudden, severe headache

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There’s a saying that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Becky Worley laughs about that and says, “God must really trust me.” At 39, Worley has had more health challenges than most women. So, she knows how to take them on—one day at a time, with a lot of support. For years, Worley put up with horrible menstrual cycles. Heavy bleeding interfered with how she lived her life. She would have to plan events and trips around her period. For one week out of four, she couldn’t sleep and always carried a change of clothes. She says she’d soak through two heavy pads and a tampon in a matter of a couple hours. The loss of blood made her anemic and she felt bad more often than she felt good. She finally got tired of it and talked to her gynecologist about her options.Worley had just recently started with a new gynecologist after her doctor of many years retired. She says she got lucky when fate brought her to Lisa Amsterdam, MD, an OB/GYN with Rockhill Women’s Care, Inc., at St. Joseph Medical Center. And indeed she did. Dr. Amsterdam was one of the first in the area doing total laparoscopic hysterectomies and had, in fact, trained several physicians in the Kansas City area doing the procedure.“Hysterectomy is one of the most common major operations performed in the United States today,” says Dr. Amsterdam. “And although abdominal hysterectomy is still done, there are now options that are minimally invasive requiring very small incisions—about a quarter- to a half-inch in length.”During a total laparoscopic hysterectomy, a thin tube equipped with a camera is inserted into the patient allowing the physician to see the pelvic organs. The surgical instruments are inserted through the other small incisions and the uterus and cervix are cut and removed. Because of her age, Worley’s ovaries remained. “We like to leave the ovaries when women are premenopausal,” says Dr. Amsterdam. “They will continue to produce hormones that provide protection against heart disease and osteoporosis.” Because the surgery requires small incisions, recovery from a total laparoscopic hysterectomy is usually much faster than the traditional hysterectomy. Worley was back to work a week after

her surgery, compared with a six-to-eight week recovery from an abdominal surgery.Through the treatment, Worley and Dr. Amsterdam developed a good rapport. They trust and respect each other. “She is very knowledgeable and really listens to you,” says Worley. “It’s like talking with a friend.”That relationship became even more important for what came after the hysterectomy. During a post-surgery checkup, Worley told Dr. Amsterdam about a lump she had found in her breast. That lump hadn’t been there during her routine checkup a few months before. Mammography led to a biopsy and a breast cancer diagnosis. “Dr. Amsterdam has been great,” says Worley. “She got me in touch with physicians at St. Joseph and the Breast Center. She keeps an eye on my progress and checks in on me.”Worley’s cancer is an aggressive one. She underwent chemotherapy before having a mastectomy and will have radiation therapy, as well. She lost her hair, but has kept her sense of humor. She has continued working throughout her treatment and her prognosis is good. “She is such a positive person and has a great attitude,” says Dr. Amsterdam. “She hasn’t let the diagnosis get her down. She’s a fighter.” And even after she recovers from breast cancer treatment, Worley will have to go another round. She’ll go back to Dr. Amsterdam for surgery to have her ovaries removed. “Because Becky’s cancer is so aggressive and is effected by her hormones, there is a greater chance of cancer recurring in her breasts if the ovaries remain,” explains Dr. Amsterdam. “The benefit we got from leaving them is no longer worth the risk.”“I trust Dr. Amsterdam completely,” says Worley. “I know we’ll get through all of this. And when it’s all over, I’m taking a vacation!”To find a physician in the St. Joseph Medical Center area, call 816-943-2584, or 816-228-3335 for a physician in the St. Mary’s Medical Center area.

A Matter of Trustby Cyndi Fahrlander

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What’s New

We Want to Hear from You

Carondelet Health is dedicated to providing the best possible care to our patients. In order to do that, we believe it’s important to understand the health care experience of those we’ve served.

St. Mary’s and St. Joseph Medical Centers established Patient Advisory Councils at each facility to learn from the valuable insights of patients and their families. From them, we can discover opportunities for improvement and better understand our strengths.

If you or a family member has been a patient at either of the hospitals and you’re interested in applying for the council at St. Mary’s, contact Terri Self at 816-655-5707. To apply for the council at St. Joseph, contact Tina Jones at 816-943-4556.

St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Medical Centers are now on Facebook and Twitter! Follow us to get the latest news, events and health information.

facebook.com/stjosephkcfacebook.com/stmarysmedctr

twitter.com/stjosephmedctrtwitter.com/stmarysmedctr

At St. Mary’s Medical Center, we want to do whatever we can to help you stay healthy and promote a healthy community. That’s why we started the Inside Track walking program at Independence Center. It’s free. And registration is easy. Just go to InsideTrackSM.com to sign up, or if you’re at the mall, look for a registration form at the kiosk by the upper level Guest Services booth. Many health experts recommend walking 10,000 steps a day for optimal health. But you don’t have to get those steps in all at once. Ten minutes here and there over the course of a day add up. You can count the steps you walk each day with the free pedometer you’ll receive after you register. Then, using InsideTrackSM.com, you can track your progress with the step calculator, or if you already know the distance you walked, you can enter the distance. You’ll earn additional prizes as you progress.With your registration, you’ll be the first to know about upcoming health events and get tips to help you stay with your walking program. For more information, visit InsideTrackSM.com or call 816-655-5361. 

the the

Take Steps to Better Health

Getting on

Kudos to Carondelet HealthHospitals Earn Chest Pain Accreditation St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Medical Centers have earned

Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers.The medical centers undertook rigorous re-evaluation and refinement of heart care processes to integrate the industry’s best practices into their cardiac care services. The accreditation

shows St. Joseph and St. Mary’s work seamlessly with area emergency medical services to ensure

patients receive the treatment they need during the critical early stages of a heart attack.

As Accredited Chest Pain Centers, the hospitals have shown that patients coming to the Emergency Departments complaining of chest pain or discomfort are given the immediate treatment necessary to avoid as much heart damage as possible. Protocol-based procedures developed by leading experts in cardiac care are part of the Carondelet Heart Institute’s cardiac care services. “This accreditation further demonstrates our dedication to excellence and quality care for our patients,” says David Ireland, CEO, Carondelet Heart Institute. “It shows that when patients come to the Carondelet Heart Institute at St. Joseph and St. Mary’s, they can trust us to provide the best possible outcomes in heart care.”

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Dying from a Broken HeartDying from a broken heart is a common metaphor in literature, but research is showing those who suffer intense emotional pain from the loss of a loved one are at significantly increased and prolonged risk of an early death.Studies have long shown that parents who lose a child are at greater risk of suffering from mental health disorders like depression. But new research from the University of York shows a general heightened risk of death among bereaved parents, especially among mothers. Scientists analyzed a random 5 percent sample of death registrations in the U.K. over a 35-year period, from 1971 to 2006. They compared the risk of mortality of parents whose child had survived beyond the first year of life with that of parents whose child had died before reaching a first birthday. They found parents who lost children in Scotland were twice as likely to become widowed in the first 15 years of the loss, and mothers in Wales and England were more than four times as likely to pass away as those parents who had not lost children. Researchers believe stress from losing a loved one may weaken immune systems and increase unhealthy coping strategies, such as drugs and alcohol, that can lead to death. And, although the correlation lessened over time, it lasted for up to 25 years.Although “heartbreak” does not ordinarily imply a physical defect in the heart, there is a condition known as “broken heart syndrome,” or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, where a traumatic event can trigger the brain to release chemicals that weaken heart tissue.

Body & Soul

Knowledge cannot just be obtained through a classroom, coursework, residencies or apprenticeships. As I reflect upon the last 20 months with Carondelet Health, I am more aware of my inadequacies than capabilities. I am looking forward to experience. Maybe that is where the answers lie.As a resident in neurology, the curriculum was heavily weighted on the inpatient service. Rotations were monthly, resulting in a fragmented understanding of chronological neurology. By the end of residency, I was very aware of acute neurological illness as well as chronic illness without much knowledge of the middle. What about continuity of care? With no experience of the whole picture, how can I possibly be ready to respond correctly to the inquiry: “In your experience, doctor…”The complete picture of a relationship from start to end became possible as a stroke fellow. The insights of my primary subspecialty were beginning to surface. I still did rotations, but only

rotated within that specialty. By October of that year, I was starting to see patients, the same patients, again in clinic.With the passage of time, I have established “regular” patients. They are looking to me for insight while I am looking to them for the very same thing. I see patients recovering from stroke on the medical center’s inpatient rehabilitation unit every day—some are on the unit for weeks. What I’ve learned from those patients is shaping me in profound ways. I’ve seen recoveries that are nothing short of miraculous. I’ve come to realize—and appreciate—that some of those recoveries have little to do with science and much to do with faith.

There is a future for those stricken with acute neurological illness and finally I get to be there with the patient from the beginning and feel complete.

The Return Trip EffectScientists have confirmed something every traveler suspects: The trip back from someplace always seems shorter than the trip to get there. Researchers say our expectations are to blame.A paper in a recent edition of the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review dubbed it “the return trip effect” and found that trips home do seem 17 to 22 percent shorter than initial trips. Researchers found that the effect was caused not by increasing familiarity with the route, but because people expected the initial trip to be faster than it was, making the trip back seem shorter. The researchers interviewed about 350 people, some taking a bus ride, others were biking. In all cases, although the trips were exactly the same length, most participants felt the return trip took less time than the initial trip. The bike-riding students reported that the initial trip took an average of 44 minutes, while the return trip took 37. In reality, both took 35 minutes. Richard A. Block, a psychologist at Montana State University, chalks the illusion up to the pressure to reach a destination on time, and the return trip’s effect on a positive feeling once you get home.

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Dr. Day is with St. Joseph Neurology Associates and is the medical director of the stroke program.

Learning Life LessonsBy Jason S. Day, MD

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“I’m the face of heart disease. It’s not an old person’s disease. It’s not just a man’s disease. It’s a fight we all need to take up.” Start with a Personal Heart Health Screening from the Carondelet Heart Institute.

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