yourhealthtodayVolume 2, Issue 1 • Your Guide to Healthy Living from Georgia Health Sciences Health System • georgiahealth.org

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Angioplasty and stents: When and why?

One-stop care for Parkinson’s

Top 7 health threats for men

10 symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Pregnant? Avoid these foods

The material in Your Health Today is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment.

For more information, please call 800-736-CARE (2273) or visit our website at georgiahealth.org.

Copyright © 2012 Georgia Health Sciences Health System

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Inside this issue

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Page 3Tips for a safe and healthy winter

Pages 4–5

Focus on Women• Alzheimer’s disease: Monitoring

your aging parents

• Pregnant? Avoid these foods

Pages 6–7

Cancer Prevention• A precursor to breast cancer:

Atypical hyperplasia

• New therapy for advanced prostate cancer: Provenge

Pages 8–9

Heart-Healthy Living• Angioplasty and stents:

When and why?

• Statins 101

Pages 10–11

Family Health • One-stop care for Parkinson’s

and other movement disorders

• Top 7 health threats for men

Page 12

In the News• Keeping the pace with

cardiac ablation

ALS Support Group Lunch and LearnWHEN: Second Thursday of each month, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch is served. WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Office Building, 4th floor, Room 4306 CALL: 706-721-2681 for more information

Autism Support Group WHEN: First Tuesday of each month, 6–7 p.m.WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center, 1446 Harper St., 1st floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801CALL: 706-721-5160 for more information

A.W.A.K.E. Support Group Support for sleep apnea patients WHEN: Fourth Thursday of each month, 7–9 p.m.WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Children’s Medical Center, 1446 Harper St., 1st floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801CALL: 706-721-0793 for more information

Blood Cancer/BMT Support Group WHEN: Third Wednesday of each month, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd., 1st floor, Community RoomCALL: 706-721-1634 for more information

Breastfeeding ClassWHEN: Third Tuesday of each month, 7–9 p.m.

WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, 1120 15th St., West Entrance, 1st floor, Patient and Family Resource LibraryCALL: 706-721-9351 for more information

Let’s Talk Cancer Support GroupWHEN: Second Tuesday of each month, 5:30–7 p.m.WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center, 1411 Laney Walker Blvd., 1st floor, Community Room CALL: 706-721-0550 for more information

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group WHEN: Last Monday of each month, 6–7:30 p.m.WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, Augusta MS Center, 6th floorCALL: 706-721-1411 for reservations or information

Weight Loss Surgery SeminarsWHEN: Second and fourth Thursday of each monthWHERE: Columbia County Library (second Thursday); Georgia Health Sciences Alumni Center (fourth Thursday)CALL: 706-721-2609 for more information

Trauma Support Group WHEN: Third Wednesday of each month, noon–1 p.m.WHERE: Georgia Health Sciences Medical CenterCALL: 706-721-0278 for more information

A shoulder to lean onSupport groups at Georgia Health Sciences Health System

georgiahealth.org2

The facts on snacks

After-school snacks can add hundreds of empty

calories to your child’s diet, unless you provide healthy alternatives. The key is to avoid buying high-calorie snacks. Instead, identify nutritious foods your child likes and stock up on them. These could include whole-grain pretzels and crackers, fat-free yogurt, graham crackers, fresh fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and low-fat string cheese. Save sodas, treats and other high-calorie snacks for special occasions.

It’s tea time!

Tea is not only soothing and aromatic, it’s packed

with phytochemicals and antioxidants known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are thought to scavenge free radicals, which can damage DNA and are linked to cancer. What’s more, they are thought to reduce the risk of heart disease. Although green and white teas have the highest level of flavonoids, the substance is present in all real teas, though not necessarily in herbal teas.

Truth in tanning

Tanning salons often claim to offer safe

tanning, but that’s not true. Tanning exposes the skin to damaging amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether it comes from the sun or a tanning bed. The UV source in tanning beds gives off up to three times as much UVA, or longer wavelength radiation, as sunlight. This stimulates the pigment cells and causes tanning. But UVA can also damage the skin's immune system, weakening its ability to prevent skin cancers. If you want a safe winter glow, chose tanning creams over tanning beds.

Breathe easy with a CO detector

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and

potentially toxic gas that is produced by incomplete combustion of liquid fuels such as gasoline, kerosene or propane; solid fuels such as wood, coal or charcoal; and natural gas.

When combustion sources are properly maintained and ventilated, the risk of CO poisoning is low. But your equipment can be defective without your knowledge. To avoid problems, consider installing a CO monitor if you live in a home with: • kerosene or propane

space heaters • an attached garage• a gas furnace, stove,

fireplace, clothes dryer or hot water heater

• oil heat• a wood stove

Tips for a safe and healthy winter

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Focus on Women

patients a greater chance of benefiting from existing

treatment and lets families plan for the future,” says

Dr. Smith.

As the U.S. population ages, the instances of

Alzheimer’s disease are growing—and rapidly.

About 5.4 million Americans are now suffering

from this lingering and fatal disease.

“If you are concerned about your aging parents, it’s

important to know the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,’’

says Suzanne Smith, MD, a neurologist who directs

Georgia Health Sciences Memory Disorders Program. “It

is often easier for a relative to recognize symptoms than

the person who is affected.”

According to the Alzheimer's Association, symptoms

include:

➊ memory loss that affects daily life

➋ challenges in planning or solving problems

➌ difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work

or leisure

➍ confusion with time and place that may cause

people to become lost on their own streets or

think they're in another era

➎ trouble understanding visual images and spatial

relationships

➏ new problems with words in speaking and writing

➐ misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace

steps

➑ decreased or poor judgment

➒ withdrawal from work or social life

➓ changes in mood, such as confusion, suspicion or

depression

Memory loss does not necessarily mean a person has

Alzheimer’s disease, but it does indicate a problem that

should be identified and treated.

“If you recognize one or more of these symptoms in

a loved one, consult a physician. Early diagnosis gives

Alzheimer’s diseaseMonitoring your aging parents

georgiahealth.org4

The area’s only Memory Disorders Program

The physicians at Georgia Health Sciences Memory Disorders Program evaluate and care for patients

with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, all from one central location. The program offers:• coordinated diagnosis and care by a team

that includes a neurologist, psychiatrist and neuropsychologist

• a comprehensive diagnostic work-up that includes a neurological assessment, cognitive testing, blood work, CT scans, MRIs, PET scans and other tests

• an individualized treatment plan, medications and follow-up care

• psychiatric care, if needed • education, emotional support and information on

local resources • access to clinical trials

Join the programFor more information or to schedule an

appointment, call 706-721-CARE (2273).

Eating nutritious foods is important during

pregnancy, but what you don’t eat and drink is also

important.

“Everyone knows that pregnant women should avoid

alcohol, but there are other foods and beverages that you

should also forgo during pregnancy,” says Kelli Braun, MD,

an OB/GYN with Georgia Health Sciences Women Center.

Fish and seafood“Some seafood can be great sources of protein

and iron and provide omega-3 fatty acids that can help

promote your baby’s brain development. Others may

contain high levels of mercury and should be avoided,”

Dr. Braun says. These include:

• swordfish

• shark

Also avoid raw fish and shellfish, anything caught

in polluted waters and uncooked, refrigerated smoked

seafood.

Pregnant? > Avoid these foods

Dairy products, meat and eggs

To avoid bacterial

infections that can be dangerous

during pregnancy, thoroughly cook all

meat, poultry and eggs, and eat only pasteurized dairy

products. Avoid the following cheeses unless the label

indicates they are made from pasteurized milk:

• Brie

• feta

• Camembert

• blue-veined cheeses

such as Roquefort

Coffee or teaDon’t drink more than two cups of coffee or tea

a day, and avoid herbal teas. Large amounts of some

types of herbal teas can cause contractions and possibly

miscarriage.

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Learn more at these prenatal events

Registration is required. To register, visit georgiahealth.org/classes

or call 706-721-9351.

Childbirth Education Classes Four-week series When: Wednesdays, Feb. 1–22, April 11–May 2, 6:30–8:30 p.m.Where: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, 7 West, Room 7001. Take the “B” elevators to 7 West.

Childbirth Tour When: Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30–8:30 p.m.; second Saturday of each month, 10:30–11:30 a.m.Where: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center. Meet your guide at the concierge desk on 7 West, near the “B” elevators.

Breastfeeding When: Feb. 28 and April 17, 7–9 p.m.Where: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, 7 West, Room 7001. Take the “B” elevators to 7 West.

Infant CPR Classes When: Feb. 29, March 28 and May 9, 6:30–8:00 p.m.Where: Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, 7 West, Room 7001. Take the “B” elevators to 7 West.

Prepare for baby!To schedule an appointment with an experienced OB/GYN, call 706-721-CARE (2273).

• king mackerel

• tilefish

• Mexican-style cheeses

such as queso blanco,

queso fresco, queso de

hoya, queso de crema

and asadero

Cancer Prevention

Women who have breast biopsies generally

expect to discover that their tumor is benign

or malignant. But sometimes they discover

something in between: atypical hyperplasia.

This accumulation of abnormal cells may occur in a

breast duct or lobule and can be a forerunner to breast

cancer. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms for this

condition. “Atypical hyperplasia is often discovered

during a breast biopsy to evaluate a suspicious area found

on a mammogram,” says Edward Kruse, MD, a surgical

oncologist at Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center.

Scientists believe that atypical hyperplasia is

part of the complex process by which breast cancer

develops. It begins when cell growth goes awry, causing

an overproduction of normal-looking cells. These

cells stack up and take on an

abnormal appearance. Without

intervention, they can

continue to multiply, change

and develop into cancer.

A precursor to breast cancer Atypical hyperplasia

georgiahealth.org6

3D mammography improves breast imaging

Clear, concise mammograms are important in detecting breast cancer in the early stages. Georgia

Health Sciences Medical Center recently became the first health system in Georgia—and one of only about a dozen in the nation—to implement 3D breast tomosynthesis. Also known as 3D mammography, this technology promises to improve breast cancer detection.

By digitally combining multiple X-rays, it reduces distortions created by tissue overlap or density and creates clearer, more detailed images than traditional 2D mammography. Further, it pinpoints the size, shape and exact location of a lump or tumor, because the image is not flattened like a standard mammogram.

See the differenceFor more information or to schedule an

appointment, call 706-721-9729.

What are the risks?If you have been diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia,

your risk of developing breast cancer is four to five times

higher than that of a woman without the condition.

Women diagnosed with this precancerous condition

before age 45 have the greatest risk of breast cancer

when compared to women who are diagnosed at older

ages, especially those age 55 and older.

Treatments and follow-up careSurgery is usually recommended to remove the

abnormal cells. “Women with atypical hyperplasia may also

need more frequent screenings and possibly medications to

reduce their risk of developing cancer,” Dr. Kruse says. © is

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Here’s some good news for certain men with

advanced-stage prostate cancer: Georgia Health

Sciences Cancer Center is offering a new

prostate cancer therapy known as Provenge®.

The first FDA-approved drug that uses the body’s

own immune system to fight prostate cancer, Provenge

offers a targeted alternative to chemotherapy drugs,

which attack both cancerous and healthy cells.

Biologically engineered for each patient “Provenge is made from your own immune cells, so

each dose must be tailored to your immune system,” says

Teresa A. Coleman, MD, an oncologist specializing in

prostate cancer at Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center.

The drug is administered through intravenous infusions.

Battling advanced prostate cancer Provenge® immunotherapy

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Before each infusion, a physician collects special blood

cells from the patient that help the immune system recognize

cancer as a threat. The cells are mixed with a protein found

on most prostate cancer cells and other substances to rev up

the immune system. They are then given back to the patient

in a series of three infusions at two-week intervals.

“Provenge activates the body’s own immune cells to

seek and attack prostate cancer cells. By stimulating the

natural ability of your body’s immune system, the therapy

may help you live longer and experience fewer side effects

than chemotherapy,” says Martha Terris, MD, a urologist

specializing in prostate cancer at Georgia Health Sciences

Cancer Center.

Moderate to mild side effects The most common side effects of Provenge include:

• chills • fatigue • fever • headaches

• back pain • nausea • joint aches

Is Provenge right for you?You may be a candidate for this therapy if you have

advanced prostate cancer and:

• you are on hormone therapy and your prostate

specific antigen (PSA) levels are rising

• your cancer has spread beyond the prostate

• you are not taking narcotics for cancer-related pain

Expand your options with a clinical trial

Georgia Health Sciences Cancer Center offers dozens of clinical trials, including Phase I trials

not available at other area hospitals. This allows cancer patients to access innovative therapies available only at select centers that partner with the National Cancer Institute and major pharmaceutical companies.

Take the next step in treatmentTo learn more or schedule an appointment, call

706-721-CARE (2273).

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Heart-Healthy Living

Angioplasty and stents: When and why? A Q & A session with John Thornton III, MD, a cardiologist at Georgia Health Sciences Cardiovascular Center

georgiahealth.org8

What are coronary angioplasty and stenting?

A: These therapies are used to open clogged heart arteries. Performed in a cardiac catheterization lab by trained cardiologists, they involve temporarily inserting and blowing up a tiny balloon at the point of arterial blockage. Known as angioplasty, this procedure helps widen the artery. In addition, the physician may place a wire mesh tube called a stent at the site of the blockage to support the arterial walls. If these stents are coated with medication, they are known as drug-eluting stents.

Does everyone with heart disease eventually need angioplasty and stents?

A: No. The current guidelines support attempts to manage chronic coronary artery disease with medications and lifestyle changes. Angioplasty and stenting is generally reserved for patients whose symptoms persist despite medications.

Stents have not been shown to be effective in preventing heart attacks and prolonging life except in patients actively having a heart attack or in other select situations.

What are the risks?

A: With angioplasty alone, your artery may renarrow in a process called restenosis. The insertion of a bare metal stent reduces the chance of restenosis to less than 20 percent. Drug-eluting stents reduce the risk to less than 10 percent.

Further, blood clots can form within stents. Therefore, it’s important to take aspirin or prescription blood-thinning medications as prescribed.

Why is the procedure needed?

A: Angioplasty and stents are used to treat the buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels leading to the heart. The treatment is a less invasive way to open clogged arteries than open-heart surgery. These procedures may be needed when medications or lifestyle changes don’t improve your heart health, if you have a heart attack or if you experience worsening chest pain known as angina.

Want a second opinion?If you’d like a second opinion on your cardiac

diagnosis or treatment, the skilled cardiologists at Georgia Health Sciences Cardiovascular Center can help. To schedule an appointment for a cardiac workup or second opinion, call 706-721-2426.

H igh cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart

disease and stroke. But a class of drugs known

as statins can lower your cholesterol and reduce

your risk. Medications such as Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor and

others fall into this category.

“Statins work by blocking a substance your body

needs to make cholesterol and by helping your body

reabsorb built-up cholesterol on your artery walls,” says

Preston Conger, MD, a cardiologist at Georgia Health

Sciences Cardiovascular Center. Statins are particularly

helpful in reducing low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or

“bad” cholesterol.

Are statins right for you?That’s a decision you and your physician must make.

If your total cholesterol level is 240 or higher or your LDL

level is 130 or higher, your physician may recommend a

statin.

Statins 101 Get the facts on these

cholesterol-lowering drugs

9georgiahealth.org

But high cholesterol is only one of the risk factors for

heart attack and stroke. “Your physician may consider

other factors before prescribing a statin,” Dr. Conger

says. These include:

• a family history of high cholesterol or

cardiovascular disease

• a sedentary lifestyle

• age

• poor general health

• having high blood pressure, diabetes or peripheral

artery disease

• being overweight or obese

• smoking

Lifestyle changes may helpIf your only risk factor is high cholesterol and you are

motivated to make lifestyle changes, your physician may

work with you to see if that helps.

“Whether you take a statin or not, lifestyle changes

are essential for reducing your risk of heart disease,” says

Dr. Conger. He recommends you:

• stop smoking

• eat a healthy diet that is low in fat, cholesterol and

salt

• maintain a healthy body weight and exercise at

least 30 minutes most days

• manage stress

Possible side effects Statins are generally well tolerated, but they can

cause muscle and joint aches, nausea, diarrhea or

constipation and elevated liver enzymes. People who take

statins may need blood tests to check liver function.

Preventive heart care Concerned about elevated cholesterol? Georgia

Health Sciences Cardiovascular Center offers a team of renowned specialists dedicated to preventing, diagnosing and treating the full range of cardiovascular diseases. To schedule an appointment, call 706-721-2426.

Family Health

Parkinson’s disease and other movement

disorders can gradually strip away a

person’s motor ability, taking a real

toll on patients and their caregivers. What’s

more, these diseases can lead to serious

complications that also require care.

“Studies show that people with

Parkinson’s disease have better outcomes when

they receive interdisciplinary care at a movement

disorders center,” says Shyamal Mehta, MD, a neurologist at

Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center.

The area’s only Movement Disorders Program Dr. Mehta, along with Kapil D. Sethi, MD, and

John C. Morgan, MD, are all neurologists who specialize

in movement disorders. They are key members of an

interdisciplinary team at Georgia Health Sciences

Movement Disorders Program. The team delivers

coordinated care to more than 250 patients a month from

one central location.

Designated by the National Parkinson Foundation

as 1 of approximately 40 Centers of Excellence, the

program has the expertise and technology to diagnose

and treat Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor,

Huntington’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome and other

movement disorders in adults and children.

Comprehensive, one-stop care In addition to neurologists, the team includes

neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists and licensed physical,

occupational and speech therapists.

Together, they offer a full range of therapies

to slow the progression of these diseases

and manage symptoms. This includes

botulinum toxin injections and other

medications for dystonia and spasticity.

Surgical careWhen medications fail, surgical

options such as deep brain stimulation (DBS)

may be the answer. During DBS, a battery-operated

neurostimulator is surgically implanted in the brain to

stimulate targeted areas that control movement.

In addition, neurosurgeon Cole A. Giller, MD, offers

Gamma Knife radiosurgery, or targeted radiation therapy,

to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and other

movement disorders.

Support and social services A medical social worker evaluates patients and helps

them access in-home care, prescription assistance and other

resources. An outreach coordinator arranges educational

events, serves as a liaison between the center and local

support groups and educates patients and caregivers.

The program’s staff also conducts leading-edge

research in which patients can take part.

Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders

Delivering one-stop care and support

georgiahealth.org10

Leading-edge care for movement disorders

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 706-721-4581.

(5) Stroke. Again, it’s all about a healthy lifestyle.

Giving up tobacco, eating well, being active,

limiting alcohol and keeping chronic conditions under

control will reduce your risk of stroke.

(6) Type 2 diabetes. Left uncontrolled, this

disease can lead to dangerous complications.

Eating well, being active and losing weight are your best

defenses.

(7) Suicide. Untreated depression increases the

risk for suicide, yet men may be slower to seek

treatment than women. If you feel sad, unhappy or angry,

see your physician.

“Taking steps to prevent one of these threats often

reduces your risks for others, so making just one or

two changes can lead to a longer, healthier future,”

Dr. Salazar says. “It’s also important to have regular

checkups and follow all screening guidelines.”

When it comes to health, it’s important to

know your risks and take steps to minimize

them. According to statistics compiled by

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top

health threats for American men include:

(1) Heart disease. This is a leading cause of death

in men. To reduce your risk:

• Stop smoking.

• Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean

protein and less saturated fat and sodium.

• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

• Manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and

high cholesterol or blood pressure.

(2) Cancer. “Lung, skin, prostate and colorectal

cancers are of particular concern to men,” says

William Salazar, MD, an internal medicine physician at

Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center. Fortunately, the

steps that will help prevent heart disease will also reduce

the risk of cancer in men. It’s also important to:

• Protect yourself from the sun.

• Limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day.

• Complete all required cancer screenings.

(3) Accidents, especially car crashes. To prevent

accidental injury or death, wear your seat belt.

Don’t speed, drive fatigued or drink and drive.

(4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases. To protect

yourself from diseases such as bronchitis and

emphysema, don’t smoke,

avoid pollutants, wash your

hands frequently to prevent

infections and get an annual

flu shot.

Top 7 health threats for menThey may surprise you

georgiahealth.org 11

Protect your healthTo schedule an appointment, call

internal medicine at 706-721-1450.

In the News

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Lydia Louise Hitchcock was always racing but

getting to fewer and fewer places. Exhaustion

was keeping the 64-year-old from working around

the six acres she shares with husband Jerry in Toombs

County. “I got to where I didn’t have any energy, was

short of breath,” she says.

When physicians discovered an erratic heartbeat

was the cause, she was referred to the experts at Georgia

Health Sciences Medical Center, where Adam Berman,

MD, director of Cardiac Arrhythmia Ablation Services,

used the new robotically precise Stereotaxis magnetic

navigation system to remove the small areas of heart

tissue that were causing her arrhythmia.

Dr. Berman, who is also a Georgia Health Sciences

University associate professor, teaches other physicians

how to use the technology as well.

Hitchcock said she could “already feel a difference”

when she woke up in the recovery room. “I feel good, like

I should,” she says.

Restoring the heart’s rhythmAblation therapy keeps woman’s heart beating on time

For advanced cardiac careIf your cardiac arrhythmia is not responding to

medications, you can learn more about ablation services at georgiahealth.org/cardio or 706-721-2426.