don’t ignore vein pain - srmc · bedridden people and people who use a wheelchair are among those...

Welcome, residents!SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH IS NOW A TEACHING HOSPITAL

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Don’t ignore vein pain And more advice from our expert vascular surgeons

F A L L 2 0 15

2 SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH

T ickets: $45 for individuals or $90 for couples. Price includes full meal and beverages. Sponsorships include:

$250 Silver Sponsor (includes reservations for four individuals and recognition).

$450 Gold Sponsor (includes table reservation for eight individuals and recognition).Live entertainment will be provided by the Mikele Buck Band. Sponsored by Southeastern Health Foundation Advocates.For more information or to purchase tickets, call 910-671-5583 or email [email protected].

Friday, Oct. 16, 2015Doors open at 7 p.m.

Event goes until 11 p.m.

Southeastern Agricultural

Events Center

Horse Arena

Fall 2015, Issue 3

HEALTHWISE is published quarterly as a community service for the friends of SOUTHEASTERN HEALTH.

300 W. 27th St.Lumberton, NC 28358

910-671-5000www.southeasternhealth.org

SOUTHEASTERN HEALTHPresident and Chief Executive Offi cerJoann Anderson, MSN, FACHE

Coordinator of Public RelationsAmanda L. Crabtree

2015 Southeastern Health Board of Trustees

Offi cersMichael T. “Bo” Stone, ChairJerry L. Johnson, Vice Chair/Secretary

Trustees• Kenny Biggs • Chancellor Kyle Carter • Faye C. Caton • Larry Chavis • Danny Cook • Dennis Hempstead • Randall Jones • Wayland Lennon • Alphonzo McRae Jr. • Joseph Roberts, MD• Kenneth Rust • Jan Spell • Joseph R. Thompson • W.C. Washington

Ex offi cioJoann Anderson, MSN, FACHE,

ex offi cio, President and CEOJohn C. Rozier Jr., MD, ex offi cioDr. Dennis Stuart, ex offi cio, Chair,

Network Operating CouncilCoble D. Wilson Jr., ex offi cio, Chair,

Southeastern Health Foundation

Medical Staff Offi cersTerry S. Lowry, MD, President-ElectJoseph E. Roberts, MD, Immediate Past

President Richard Johnson, MD, Chairman,

Department of Medicine Eric Miller, MD, Chairman, Department

of Surgery

MemberAmerican Hospital Association; NCHA; Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance; Premier, Inc.; The Advisory Board Company

Accredited byThe Joint Commission

Please address all letters to: Southeastern HealthP.O. Box 1408Lumberton, NC 28359

Information in HEALTHWISE comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specifi c content that may affect your health, please contact your health care pro vider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations.

2015 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. HSM31376

WWW.SOUTHEASTERNHEALTH.ORG • FALL 2015 3

CLEAR PATHWAYSVascular surgery restores health to veins and limbs

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WHY WON’T IT HEAL?Get answers about chronic wounds—and how we can help

GET FIT—FASTShort workouts can add up to a huge difference

SCHOOL'S IN THIS SUMMER Teaching hospitals benefi t the whole community

NEED A DO-OVER? Your health goals are still within reach

COOL, SWEET, DELICIOUSFruit salad is nature’s dessert

BALANCING ACT Find out how to keep your blood sugar balanced

NO BUTTS ABOUT IT Quit smoking for good!

READY TO LOSE?Bariatric surgery may be the answer

AN INSIDE LOOK Arthroscopy gets to the bottom of knee pain

Go online for more.Visit our Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/sehealth

for event information, SeHealth

news and updates, and more.

Better bedtimesReading to kids before lights-out can ease them into slumberland.

And it can help them form a good sleep-hygiene habit.American Academy of Pediatrics

Facebook “f” Logo C MYK / .ai


hormone insulin. But other things can cause lev-

els to rise as well. These include: • Eating more

carbohydrates than usual. • Inactivity.

• Side effects of other medications. • Illness or

injury. • Stress. • Dehydration.

And if you’re on insulin or diabetes medica-

tion but aren’t getting the right amount, that can

cause high blood sugar too.

The lows Too much insulin or diabetes medication can

have the opposite effect—it can lower blood

sugar. Other factors that can cause levels to fall

include:

• Not eating enough.

• Drinking alcohol, especially on an empty

stomach.

• Side effects of other medications.

• More physical activity than usual.

The middle ground Your doctor can tell you what your target blood

sugar range should be. It depends on factors

such as your age and overall health.

THE STORY of “Goldilocks

and the Three Bears” was all about

fi nding middle ground.

Goldilocks tried porridge that was too hot

and too cold, chairs that were too big and too

small, and beds that were too hard and too soft.

Only with time did she fi nd things that were “ just

right.”

If you have diabetes, there’s a lesson in that

well-known children’s story. Diabetes can cause

blood sugar levels to be too high or too low—

and both can lead to problems. But with careful

attention, you can keep your blood sugar at a

level that’s just right for you. That’s time well-

spent, because it can help you stay healthy.

The highs By defi nition, diabetes occurs when blood sugar

levels are too high because of problems with the

DIABETES

Finding your level groundLEARN WHAT CAN CAUSE BLOOD SUGAR TO BE TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW

Regular A1C tests, which show average blood

sugar readings over the past few months, can

tell you if you’re meeting your goals. But home

glucose monitoring—on a schedule determined

with your doctor—provides more immediate

feedback.

It’s helpful to record your blood sugar read-

ings. Include time of day; what you’ve eaten;

how active you’ve been; and what’s going on in

your life, such as illness or stress. This may make

it easier to identify what causes your readings

to be high or low—and when you may need to

change your care plan.

In general, keeping readings on track depends

on: • Eating smart. • Being active. • Taking med-

ications as directed. • Getting regular checkups.

• Taking good care of yourself, physically and

mentally.

Sources: American Diabetes Association; National Diabetes Education Program

Southeastern Health’s accredited Diabetes Community Center offers information about all aspects of living with diabetes. Call 910-618-0655 to learn more.

Have pump, will travel If you wear a glucose pump to manage your diabetes, tell the folks at airport security about the pump before your screening begins. You won’t have to disconnect it.American Diabetes Association


SCRAPES, BLISTERS, SORES—we

all know about these minor skin injuries. They

come and they go, mostly mending on their

own.

But sometimes, a wound can linger for

months, causing pain and making life miserable.

Treating these chronic wounds—and stopping

similar sores from cropping up in the future—

requires special care.

How they happenThe most common chronic wounds are venous

ulcers, pressure sores and diabetic ulcers.

Venous ulcers. These are caused when

veins in the legs are unable to push blood back

toward the heart. The blood pools, which causes

swelling, inflammation and sores. It’s the most

common type of lower body ulcer.

People at highest risk include older adults,

women and those who are overweight.

Prevention includes wearing compression

stockings to keep blood moving through veins

in the legs.

Pressure sores. When someone stays in one

position too long, the ongoing pressure ham-

pers blood flow—especially at boney spots like

the tailbone, hips or heels. And that can trigger

sores.

Bedridden people and people who use a

wheelchair are among those most likely to get

these ulcers, which are also called bedsores.

Prevention includes keeping skin clean and

dry and changing positions often.

Diabetic ulcers. These develop as a result

of nerve damage, a common consequence of

diabetes. A loss of feeling—often in the feet

or legs—means even minor injuries can go

Only a little TLC may be requiredNot every cut or scrape needs professional attention. In fact, you can usually care for

minor wounds yourself. Here’s how:

• Rinse the wound with clean water. Clean around the wound with soap and water, but

keep soap out of the wound to avoid irritation.

• Consider applying an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection

and to speed healing.

• If the wound could get dirty or chafed by clothing, protect it with a bandage. Wash

your hands before applying the bandage, and change the bandage daily.

Of course, some wounds may need a doctor’s care, including those that:

• Spurt blood or won’t stop bleeding. These wounds require medical attention right

away.

• Are deep or have jagged or gaping edges that won’t come together. In that case, you

may need stitches.

• Are from a puncture injury, such as stepping on a nail. Also see a doctor if a wound

feels warm or tender; if it swells, turns red or starts to ooze; or if you develop a fever.Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American College of Emergency Physicians

CHRONIC WOUNDS

Understand why they can happenunnoticed, allowing infection to set in.

Prevention includes tight control of blood

sugar, daily foot checks, frequent visits to the

doctor, and wearing proper shoes and socks.

Healing optionsTreatment of a wound will depend on its type

and severity. In general, though, wounds should

be kept clean and covered; blood flow, main-

tained; and infections, treated with antibiotics.

In some stubborn cases, certain people with

chronic wounds may need hyperbaric oxygen

therapy. It involves breathing pure oxygen while

in a sealed, pressurized chamber. This can help

wounds heal.

In other cases, surgery may be needed to get

rid of dead tissue.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Diabetes Association; Association for the Advancement of Wound Care

If you have a wound that needs help healing, Call Southeastern Wound Healing Center at 910-738-3836. Find us at 103 W. 27th St., Lumberton. No referral is required.


Clinical trialsFind advanced cardiac care close to homeWould you like to help test a promising new

treatment for your heart condition? And do so

knowing that it may help thousands of people

fi nd a better way to live well with heart disease?

These are just a couple of the benefi ts of

volunteering for a cardiology clinical trial at

Southeastern Regional Medical Center (SRMC)

under the direction of the Duke Heart Center

Clinical Research Unit (CRU). You’ll also have

expert medical care from Duke cardiologists

and free or subsidized health care throughout

the trial. What’s more, you won’t be uprooted

from your family and home. “You can take

advantage of a novel therapy and have all—or

nearly all—of your care right in Lumberton,”

says Latasha Oxendine Phillips, clinical research

coordinator for Duke Cardiology of Lumberton.

Since 2011, when the Duke Heart Center

CRU designated SRMC as a research site for

clinical trials under the management of Melvin

Echols, MD, and Oxendine Phillips, nearly

200 area residents have participated in cardiol-

ogy trials through this partnership.

With the Duke team recruiting volunteers for

18 trials by October, you might be able to join

their ranks. Here’s a look at three trials accept-

ing participants:

Leadless II trial. This study is designed to

test the effectiveness of a new type of pace-

maker. Unlike standard ones, it doesn’t require

wires (or leads) connecting it to the heart. It’s

also implanted through a catheter, eliminating

the need for a chest incision.

ALLSTAR I/II trials. Here doctors will learn

if implanting stem cells into the heart after a

heart attack will help reverse tissue damage.

REHAB-HF. This trial will see if older

adults hospitalized for congestive heart failure

can improve their health—and avoid repeat

readmissions—if they start a 12-week cardiac

rehabilitation program while still in the hospital.

How can I learn more?If you or a loved one might be interested in

taking part in a cardiology clinical trial, call

910-272-7241 or 910-272-7248.

VASCULAR SURGERY

Saving lives

and limbs

60,000 MILES. That’s the

combined length of all the blood

vessels—including the veins, arteries

and capillaries—that carry oxygen

and other nutrients to every part of

your body. When this vast network is

affected by vascular disease, blood

vessels may become blocked or rup-

tures may occur. The result could be

loss of a limb—or even your life.

A team of experts at Southeastern

Health Heart and Vascular managed by

Duke Medicine want to keep that from

happening to you. This Southeastern

Health Heart and Vascular Duke

Medicine team is saving lives and limbs

by providing gold standard treatment

for vascular disease—right here in

Robeson County.

Two members of that team with

specialized training in treating

vascular disease—vascular surgeon

Lina Vargas, MD, and interventional

cardiologist Matthew Cummings,

MD—answer questions about vascular

health and explain how to protect

your many miles of blood vessels.


What exactly

do vascular

surgeons do?

They diagnose and treat

problems in the blood

vessels and the lymphatic

channels. They’re specially

trained to use both mini-

mally invasive techniques

and open surgery to restore

blood fl ow to parts of the

body—except the heart

and brain—where trauma,

disease or other issues have

damaged or blocked a

blood vessel.

“When we suspect a

patient has a blockage,

we do an angiogram,”

Dr. Cummings says. In this

diagnostic test, doctors

inject dye into the arteries

through a long, narrow

tube called a catheter. The

dye makes blockages show

up on x-rays. According to

Dr. Cummings, blockages

can often be cleared during

the same procedure, using

wires, small balloons and

other equipment inserted

through the same catheters.

“When severe blockages

can’t be fi xed this way,

we can do open surgery,”

Dr. Vargas says. In these

bypass procedures, sur-

geons use either a healthy

segment of a patient’s

blood vessel or a synthetic

tube to carry blood around

the blockage.

How will

I know I have

vascular disease?

“You’ll probably be in pain,”

Dr. Vargas says. “Where the

pain is depends on where

the blockage is.”

Severe arm or leg pain,

along with wounds that won’t

heal, are signs of one of the

common vascular diseases:

peripheral arterial disease

(PAD). The cramping pain

from PAD can be debilitating,

according to Dr. Vargas. And

sores that don’t heal can lead

to amputations.

“Don’t just tough it out,”

Dr. Vargas says. “The sooner

we see you, the easier it is

to treat you. And ultimately

you’ll have a better outcome.”

“Opening these block-

ages brings almost imme-

diate relief,” Dr. Cummings

says. “Often within one or

two days patients are say-

ing, ‘Doc, I can walk to the

mailbox. I can play with my

grandkids.’”

Although pain is com-

mon, many people have

no symptoms. So ask your

doctor to monitor your

vascular health regularly,

especially if you:

• Smoke.

• Are older than 50.

• Are African American.

• Have diabetes, high

cholesterol or high blood

pressure.

What if my

condition is

really complicated?

The clinicians at

Southeastern Health Heart

and Vascular have the ad-

vanced training, the expe-

rience and the technology

to treat complex vascular

disease. “In our small

community of Robeson

County, we have the same

cutting-edge treatments

larger centers have,”

Dr. Cummings says. “And

we can pick up the phone

anytime to consult with

our colleagues at Duke.”

Local treatment plus ac-

cess to a world-renowned

institution: That’s a win-

win for patients.

How can I

lower my risk

for vascular disease?

Vascular disease can lead

to other serious problems:

blood clots, kidney failure,

ruptured blood vessels,

and life-threatening

strokes. But, says

Dr. Vargas, “Vascular

disease is preventable.”

That’s why it’s wise to:

• Quit smoking. Your

doctor can help.

• Work with your doctor

to control diabetes, high

blood pressure and high

cholesterol.

• Eat a healthy diet.

• Get 150 minutes of

moderate exercise every

week.

In the long run, taking

good care of those miles

of blood vessels may help

you add many years to

your life.

Common vascular proceduresArtery bypass graft: A healthy segment of a patient’s

blood vessel or a synthetic tube creates a bypass around

blocked blood vessels (open surgery).

Atherectomy: Small lasers or rotating shavers remove

fatty buildup from blood vessels (minimally invasive).

Balloon angioplasty: Tiny balloons are infl ated inside

blocked arteries to force them open. If needed, mesh

tubes (stents) can be inserted to support the blood vessel

walls.

Carotid endarterectomy: Procedure to remove the

damaged or thickened lining from the carotid artery,

which reduces the risk of stroke.

Vascular access for hemodialysis: Makes lifesaving

treatments possible for people with kidney failure.

Numbers to know

The percentage of North Carolinians who smoke*—

the No. 1 risk factor for vascular disease. *Adults during 2013

1-800-quit-n� (1-800-784-8669)The number to call if you’d

like help to quit smoking.

20.3%

Q Q

Q

Q

Have you been screened? A simple test can help diagnose peripheral arterial disease, which affects 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 50. For more information, talk to your primary care provider.

Matthew Cummings, MD

Lina Vargas, MD

1-800-quit-n�


No gain with painExercise is good for arthritis. But if you

have more joint pain two hours after

exercising than before you started, you’ve

overdone it. Ease up at your next workout.

Arthritis Foundation

Super-charged stepsNordic walking, brisk walking with poles,

can burn up to 40 percent more calories

than a regular walk. It uses more muscle

and provides a total-body workout.

American Council on Exercise

EXERCISE is one of the best things you

can do to help keep your heart healthy. It helps

reduce total cholesterol, lower blood pressure

and cut the risk of diabetes, and it helps you

maintain a healthy weight.

To get moving and stay on track:

• Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been

active for a while.

• Work up to whatever amount of activity your

doctor recommends.

The American Heart Association recommends

that all adults do at least 30 minutes of mod-

erately intense exercise five days a week and

strengthening exercises twice a week.

• Keep things interesting by trying different

activities. Walking, biking or swimming can be

fun, but so can working in the garden.

• Stop exercising if you have severe pain or

swelling, but expect a little muscle soreness at

first.

• If you have to stop exercising for a while,

don’t get discouraged. Just start again, and work

up to your previous level.

Take 10“Not enough time.” That’s a common lament—

especially when it comes to exercise. But with

minor tweaks to your schedule, the benefits

CrossFit Q.F.E., Robeson County’s first and largest CrossFit box, is a program of Southeastern Health. The gym is located at 109 E. 24th St. in Lumberton. For membership information, call 910-738-5433 or log on to www .crossfitqfe.com.

of exercise can be yours if you simply take it

10 minutes at a time.

Finding time Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate

intensity exercise every week. Weight loss, better

sleep and lower risk for heart disease are all

compelling reasons to be active. And as long as

your weekly total is 150 minutes, exercising in

10-minute increments (that’s only three times

each weekday) is as effective as doing longer

workouts.

It’s your moveWhere do you find openings for three

10-minute activity breaks? Try looking here:

Morning. Time your commute on public

transportation so you can get off early for a brisk

walk. If you drive to work, stride through a park

near your office before clocking in.

Noon. Spend the last 10 minutes of your

lunch hour hiking up and down the stairs.

Evening. Repeat your morning routine, and

boom! You’ve done your time for today.

Sources: American College of Sports Medicine; American Council on Exercise


Peering inside painful kneesARTHROSCOPY HELPS DOCTORS DIAGNOSE AND TREAT KNEE PROBLEMS

MILLIONS OF PEOPLEevery year hobble into a doctor’s

office because something is wrong

with one or both of their knees.

From the outside, it can be hard

to tell exactly what’s causing that

knee trouble. But from the inside,

those problems can quickly come

into focus.

To get that unique inside-out

view, an orthopedic surgeon can

put a pencil-sized camera—an

arthroscope—directly into the knee

joint.

Detailed images from the cam-

era are sent to a display screen,

allowing the surgeon to diagnose

the problem and, if needed, use

other tiny tools to treat it.

The process rarely requires an

overnight stay in the hospital.

Usually, there’s less pain and a

quicker recovery compared to

traditional open-knee surgery.

Why get scoped? Arthroscopy—sometimes called a

knee scope—can be used to repair,

remove or otherwise treat prob-

lems like:

• Tears in the anterior cruciate

ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate

ligament (PCL).

• Torn meniscal or articular

cartilage.

• Broken bones.

• Swollen tissues lining the joint.

• Cysts that sometimes form

behind the joint.

What you need to know If a knee scope is in your future,

you may need to stop taking

certain medications in the days

leading up to the scope. You’ll likely

be told not to eat or drink several

hours before the procedure.

At the surgical center, you’ll meet

with an anesthesiologist, and the

two of you will decide what type

of anesthesia—local, regional or

general—is best for you.

Once the anesthesia takes effect:

• Your doctor will make a few

small incisions around your knee.

• He or she will inject fluid to

clean the joint and to make struc-

tures clearly visible on the camera.

• The doctor will insert the cam-

era; diagnose the problem; and, if

treatment is needed, fix it.

After that, the fluid is drained,

the incisions closed, and you’ll

spend an hour or two in recovery

before going home.

Healing at home Your knee will likely be swollen and

painful after the scope. Prescription

medications can help ease the

pain. To reduce swelling, keep your

leg elevated and use ice as recom-

mended by your doctor.

It’s also important to keep the

area clean and dry and to watch for

signs of infection or unusual bleed-

ing. You may need to use crutches

for a time and do special exercises

to restore your range of motion

and strength.

Sources: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes of Health

Achy knees getting you down? Find an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Southeastern Health by using our online physician directory at www.southeasternhealth.org.


A group of 25 medical residents began working at

Southeastern Health in June.

‘Teaching hospital’ means so much more

Medical students Alexander Carrese and Kayla McManus


WHEN YOU HEAR the term teaching

hospital, you probably immediately think of

Duke Medicine, UNC Health Care or Mayo

Clinic. Southeastern Health can now be listed

with these elite organizations who marry ex-

traordinary care with training opportunities for

future physicians and health care providers.

In February 2013, Southeastern Health

President and CEO Joann Anderson and the

organization’s board of trustees formalized a

commitment with John M. Kauffman Jr., DO,

dean of Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace

School of Osteopathic Medicine, to train

medical students at Southeastern Regional

Medical Center (SRMC) and other affi liates of

Southeastern Health.

The partnership became reality when the

fi rst medical students arrived on the SRMC

campus in July. More than 40 students began

their third- and fourth-year rotations as part of

their osteopathic medical training, and 25 newly

minted physicians who selected Lumberton and

Southeastern Health as their residency training

ground entered three residency programs (train-

ing programs where physicians train before they

enter practice) in the areas of family medicine,

internal medicine and emergency medicine.

Funded by $1.6 million in grants, Southeastern

Health will unveil a newly renovated

8,200-square-foot space for the medical

education program just before students arrive

in July. The space will be the education hub

of the organization, offering student lockers,

a 100-seat classsroom, a small classroom, an

electronic medical library, and a resident/

student lounge and meeting room, as well as

administrative offices for the medical educa-

tion program.

Ready to learnTwo students who voluntarily chose

Southeastern Health for their training were

drawn to the pleasant atmosphere they experi-

enced during short training opportunities here

as well as the vast array of disease processes

found in the patients treated throughout the

organization.

Alexander Carrese, of Connecticut, and Kayla

McManus, a Maryland native, are eager to settle

in Lumberton and begin the hands-on learning

phase of their medical education.

Carrese, the son of a physician, was drawn

to medicine not because of his father’s career,

but because he was diagnosed with avascular

necrosis of the femoral head as a young child.

Being in and out of doctor’s offices from ages 6

to 18 and having approximately seven surgeries

during that time has given him an insight into

medicine that piqued his interest in becom-

ing a caregiver. His area of interest is sports

medicine.

McManus was also infl uenced to practice

medicine by exposure to a health care experi-

ence in her childhood, but it was related to her

best friend’s mother’s bout with breast cancer.

Through her empathy for her friend’s family, she

learned about caring for others during medical

crises and began asking questions that would

later lead to acceptance to medical school. She

is pursuing a career in emergency medicine.

These students’ passion for becoming

physicians is shared by their classmates, all of

whom will have a strong presence throughout

Southeastern Health over the coming months

and years. Some may decide they would like to

pursue a career with SeHealth after their med-

ical school and training is complete, which will

help to boost the availability of physicians

for this region, where access to providers has

long been a barrier to care for residents of

the rural area.

A bright future for Robeson CountyThe presence of these students and residents

will not only enhance the patient experience,

but will positively impact SeHealth from both

a fi nancial and patient care perspective. A

study in the March 2015 Journal of Graduate

Medical Education demonstrated that teach-

ing teams increased patient satisfaction while

decreasing costs and shortening hospital

stays.

The students’ presence will also have an

economic effect on the communities where

these students live, shop, and enjoy down-

time between their studies, which should

strengthen Robeson County’s huge potential

for economic growth.

Teaching hospital is a term that means so

much more than a medical center commit-

ted to training future health care providers.

The facets of that meaning will be evi-

dent over time as the medical education

program grows into its full potential and

the lives it affects will start to tell their own

story of compassion, growth, learning and

success.

“We are extraordinarily excited for the

transformation of SeHealth into a teaching

hospital,” says Robert Hasty, DO, FACOI,

FACP, vice president of Medical Education for

Southeastern Health and associate dean for

Postgraduate Affairs for Campbell University

Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic

Medicine. “This will improve the health care,

patient experience, and value of health care

for the patients of Robeson County and

beyond. Over the next 20 years, SeHealth will

have trained over 1,000 caring and expert

physicians. Training physicians in Robeson

County will also give hope and confi -

dence that our community can accomplish

anything.”

For more information about Southeastern Health’s medical education program, go to www.southeasternhealth.org/residencyprogram.


See our success Visit www.sesurgicalandweightloss.org and see our patients’ success stories. You can even register for a free seminar to fi nd out if bariatric surgery is right for you.

QUESTIONSBariatric Surgery

to consider

Sources: Hormone Health Network; National Institutes of Health; Obesity Action Coalition

SHOULD I HAVE BARIATRIC SURGERY?

If you’ve struggled to lose weight, you may

have asked yourself that question.

The answer could depend on the answers

to several other questions you might wonder

about as well. Some of those questions may

include:

Q Am I a candidate for the surgery?

A Bariatric operations are intended

only for people who are seriously overweight.

Normally, you must have a body mass index

(BMI) of 40 or higher. However, you may be a

candidate if you have a BMI of at least 35 along

with a serious obesity-related health problem,

such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep

apnea. Or you may opt for the adjustable

gastric band—a type of bariatric surgery—if

your BMI is 30 or higher and you have at least

one obesity-related condition, such as heart

disease or diabetes. You can calculate your

BMI online at www.morehealth.org/bmi.

Q How does the surgery work?

A There are several different opera-

tions. All involve either limiting the amount

of food the stomach can hold or actually

reducing the stomach’s size. In some cases,

these procedures are combined with proce-

dures that reroute food through your digestive

system. This limits how many calories are ab-

sorbed by the body. Each surgery has its own

benefi ts and risks.

Q What are some of the possible risks?

A Certain risks, such as bleeding and

infection, exist with many types of bariatric sur-

gery. Other risks are directly related to the partic-

ular surgery you have. It’s possible, for example,

for leaks to occur if your operation involves

altering your digestive tract. Down the road,

complications such as nutritional defi ciencies—a

result of poor nutrient absorption—hernias and

nerve damage are possible too.

Q Am I ready to make the lifestyle

changes the surgery requires?

A Surgery isn’t a cure-all. It’s most effective

if you make a lifelong commitment to eat-

ing healthfully and getting regular exercise.

Ongoing follow-up appointments with your

doctor are important too. There will be a team

of people—counselors; dietitians; exercise

specialists; and, of course, your doctor—to help

you. But it’s important to realize you’ll play a

major role in ensuring your surgery’s success.


True or False? If a planned surgery is in your future, the outcome is entirely in

your surgeon’s hands.The answer: False. While your surgeon is certainly the person most responsible for the

results of your operation, you have a major role to play too.

Because your surgery isn’t an emergency, you have the chance to prepare for it. And that

prep work can help you become more informed about the surgery’s likely results—and even

help you heal faster and reduce your risk of complications.

Here are four key ways to get ready:1 Ask the right questions. Arguably, the most important thing you can do before any

surgery is make sure you need it in the fi rst place. So be sure to ask your surgeon why

the operation is necessary and why you need it now.

There might be a reasonable alternative to try fi rst, including one called watchful

waiting. With this approach, you and your doctor might wait to see if your condition

gets better or worse over time. If it worsens, you might need surgery right away. If it

improves, you might be able to delay the surgery or avoid it altogether.

Also fi nd out the surgery’s risks and benefi ts. All operations have some risks. And

you want to be certain that your surgery’s benefi ts very likely outweigh its risks.

2 Be mindful of medicine. Tell your surgeon about any medicines (pre-

scription and over-the-counter), vitamins, herbs or supplements that you

take. Some might affect your response to anesthesia or recovery. For safety’s

sake, your surgeon may tell you to adjust what you take.3 Don’t let details slip. Before your surgery, make sure you have

any preoperation test or screening—such as x-rays—your surgeon

advises. Get written instructions for your care after discharge and a

number to call if you have a concern. Also, arrange for any medical

equipment or special care your surgeon says you’ll need.4 Ditch the cigarettes. Smoking heightens your chance of

complications during and after surgery. And the sooner you

stop before your surgery, the better. It’s especially important

not to smoke on the day of your surgery. If you smoke, tell

your surgeon and ask for help to quit—for good.

Sources: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; American College of

Surgeons; American Society of Anesthesiologists; National Institute on Aging

Prepping for surgery: 4 points to ponder


Ready to leave the butts behind? You’re not alone—our smoking cessation program can help you succeed. Call 910-671-5782.

Keep trying to quitDon’t be unnecessarily hard on yourself if

you’ve stopped smoking before and need

to stop again. It often takes several tries

to quit smoking for good. So do yourself a

huge favor: Try again.

Be aware that continuing to light up can

harm you in ways you might not suspect.

You know that smoking raises your risk

of lung cancer. But did you also know

that smoking makes you vulnerable to a

heart attack, stroke or dangerously fragile

bones? Or that it can make it harder to get

pregnant and—if you do conceive—cause

premature labor?

Get started nowBefore today ends, do at least one of the

following:

• Pick a fi rm quit date within the next

two weeks. That’s enough time to prepare

yourself but not so far in the future that

you’ll lose your resolve.

• Tell your family, friends and co-workers

that you are about to quit, and ask for

their encouragement.

• Make an appointment to ask your doc-

tor about nicotine replacement options or

other medicines that might increase your

chances of successfully quitting.

Sources: National Cancer Institute; Offi ce on Women’s Health

A do-over for good healthIT HAPPENS to nearly everyone. You decide something has to change—maybe you

need to join a gym, quit smoking or lose that spare tire around your middle. You plan your

course of action, get rolling and then suddenly, for whatever reason, all those good intentions

come to a grinding halt. Maybe it’s time to jump-start them again.

Here are three strategies for successfully reviving health goals gone awry.

1 REFLECT. Think about why your resolution fi zzled out. Ask yourself:

• Was it realistic? If you never exercise, deciding to hit the gym every morning proba-

bly isn’t realistic. Attainable goals—like “I’ll get off the bus three blocks

before my stop and walk the rest of the way”—set the stage for

success you can build on.

• What got in the way? Boredom, lack of time and not

having a concrete plan are common obstacles.

• What worked? Every time you try a new


Rainbow fruit salad

IngredientsMakes 12 servings

Fruit salad:1 large mango, peeled and diced

2 cups fresh blueberries

2 bananas, sliced

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

2 cups seedless grapes

2 nectarines, unpeeled and sliced

1 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

Honey-orange sauce:1/3 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1½ tablespoons honey

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Dash nutmeg

Directions• Prepare the fruit.

• Combine all ingredients for the sauce

and mix them together.

• Just before serving, pour honey-orange

sauce over the fruit.

Because it’s made from fresh fruit, this salad

is naturally low in fat and sodium, and it’s

cholesterol-free.

Nutrition information Serving size: ½ cup. Amount per serving: 96 calories

1g total fat (less than 1g saturated fat), 23g carbohy-

drates, 3g fi ber, 1g protein, 3g dietary fi ber, 4mg sodium.

Source: National Institutes of Health

2 cups fresh strawberries, halved

1 large mango, peeled and diced

Sweet eats!

behavior, whether it’s quitting tobacco or fi nding ways to relieve stress, you

discover two things: what doesn’t work—and what does. That’s valuable

knowledge to apply to your next try.

2 REFINE. Once you’ve settled on a realistic resolution, tweak it until

it’s specifi c. You might refi ne “Exercise more” to “Walk more this week”

or “Take two 10-minute walks every day.” Or “Eat less junk food” might

become “Freeze grapes for afternoon snacks.”

Another key refi nement: Write down a detailed plan for meeting each

goal.

3 REDESIGN. Does the treadmill bore you? Try kickboxing or rowing. Is

life’s chronic time crunch sabotaging your efforts to eat more veggies?

Switch from fresh to quicker-to-fi x frozen. They’re equally nutritious. Does

driving tempt you to smoke? Stock your car with toothpicks to nibble on

instead.

As you redesign resolutions, consider adding strategies that help with

motivation:

• Track your progress in a journal.

• Partner with someone who shares your goal. Cheer each other on—and

hold each other accountable for sticking to the plan.

• Program an electronic device to send you reminders, such as “Schedule

a health screening,” “Meet your exercise buddy” or “Take time to de-stress.”

Finally, if your resolve dissolves again, go easy on yourself. You can

always take what you learned today and try again tomorrow.

Sources: American Institute for Cancer Research; American Psychological Association; Mental Health America

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSenatobia, MS

Permit #368

Southeastern Regional Medical Center300 W. 27th St.Lumberton, NC 28358

Main number 910-671-5000Phone registration 910-671-5096Billing and insurance 910-671-5047Financial assistance 910-671-5038Information desk 910-735-8110Human Resources 910-671-5562Gift shop 910-735-8164Home health 910-671-5600Medical equipment 910-738-3560

Check out our website www.southeasternhealth.org

Does one side of the face droop? Is it numb? Can they smile? Is the smile uneven?

If someone shows signs of stroke, call 911 right away.

FACE

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

ARM

Can they correctly repeat a simple sentence? Is it slurred or hard to understand?

SPEECH

Call 911 immediately, even if the signs go away. Note the time when the first signs appeared. It will help with treatment options.

TIME

Source: American Stroke Association

FF..F.FF.F AA..SS..T.T.T.F.A.S.T.AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER

THE SUDDEN SIGNS OF STROKE

STROKE

Seconds countHAVE YOU EVER HEARD your boss say time is money?

If so, you probably didn’t need to ask for an explanation: Wasting time

on the job is the same as wasting the company’s money.

When it comes to recognizing the signs of a stroke, the message

should be just as clear: Time is brain. Because wasting time be-

fore getting help is the same as wasting brain cells.

A stroke interrupts the fl ow of blood and oxygen to your

brain. Once the stroke starts, brain cells begin to die. And

dead brain cells can’t be revived.

However, fast medical treatment may halt a stroke as

it’s occurring.

Most strokes are caused by blood clots. If you

get to the hospital and are diagnosed quickly,

a clot-busting medication may be able to

help.

The medication is called tissue

plasminogen activator (TPA).

It should be given within

4½ hours of a stroke’s

onset. So call 911

at the fi rst sign of

stroke.

Stroke symptoms

are sudden and may

include:

• Weakness or numbness

in the face, arms or legs, especially

on one side of the body.

• Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.

• Trouble talking or understanding what others are

saying.

• Severe headache for no known reason.

• Confusion.

• Loss of coordination or balance.

Sources: American Stroke Association; National Institutes of Health

don’t ignore vein pain - srmc · bedridden people and people who use a wheelchair are among those...

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