FALL 2016 | Volume 2, Issue 4
A Healthier You
St. Thomas More Hospital
my
VICTORY GARDEN Colonoscopy can help you win the battle with cancer before it ever starts. Page 4
Kathy Cravens is back at work in her garden after successful treatment for colon cancer at St. Thomas More Hospital.
TAKE A HOLIDAY FROM WEIGHT GAIN Page 2
PREP FOR A HEALTHY BABY Page 6
GET SCHOOLED ON DIABETES Page 7
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
inspiring health
Priscilla Owusu, MD, a family medicine physician who recently relocated to Southern Colorado, says she enjoys taking care of people at all stages of life; and working in family medicine gives her the opportunity to treat the whole person. “It’s not just about prescribing medication and managing chronic illnesses, it’s about helping your patient have health and wellbeing,” says Owusu, who joined the St. Thomas More Physician Group and began seeing Dr. Priscilla Owusu patients in August. “A lot of social aspects play a role in a person’s health. You have to look at their family members. I look at the whole big picture.” Born in Germany to parents from West Africa, she and her family moved to the Bronx, N.Y., before she started first grade. That’s where she grew up and where she first practiced medicine after completing her training. Working and living in the rushed, highpressure New York environment, Owusu says, made her want a change for herself; her husband; and her two children, a 3-year-old girl and 6-year-old boy. Owusu had frequently visited her uncles in Denver, and was drawn to Colorado’s more relaxed pace.
“I was looking for a place where I could really sit down and talk with my patients,” she says. “I really want to become part of their families.”
NEED A FAMILY DOCTOR?
Call 719-285-2700 or visit stmhospital.org/physician-group to learn more about our providers.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
HOLIDAY
BREAK
Plan now to avoid holiday overeating FROM THE FIRST HALLOWEEN CANDY to the last New Year’s Eve toast, the holiday eating season can be treacherous. But packing on pounds doesn’t have to be on your holiday plate, says April Irvine, RD, clinical nutrition care manager at St. Thomas More Hospital. Her first rule:
“ Stop eating when you’re comfortably full. Ask yourself: ‘Could I still go for a short walk?’”
Because many of her clients overeat for emotional reasons, Irvine is a fan of food journals. “It’s a really great tool, not only for tracking what you eat but your mood or how you feel when you’re eating. Are you eating when you’re bored or stressed?” You could even give it a positive spin by also recording your favorite memories and keeping a gratitude list.
ONE One pound is the average holiday weight gain, not the 7 or 8 you typically hear.
For stress eaters, Irvine advises going for a walk or to the gym instead — even if it’s just for 10 minutes. The good news is, Irvine doesn’t insist you have to give up holiday cookies and egg nog entirely. April Irvine, RD “All foods can fit into a healthy diet. The majority of what you eat should be healthier choices. But if you do have that one slice of cake, that’s OK.”
If you are 55 or older, call 719-285-2630 to learn about the services offered at the St. Thomas More Health & Fitness Center.
Avoid those extra holiday pounds by joining the St. Thomas More Hospital Inspire Running Club. Open to runners and walkers of all levels, the club offers varied distances (1 mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon). For more information and a list of upcoming running club events, contact Emma Glancy at 719-285-2630 or emmaglancy@centura.org, or visit stmhospital.org/running-club.
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ST. THOMAS MORE PHYSICIAN GROUP WELCOMES NEW FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN
inspiring health
SCREENING OUT CONFUSION THE STATISTICS ARE CLEAR. Detecting breast cancer early means it’s more treatable, and survival odds are better. What is less clear for women is when to begin screening. The American Cancer Society adopted new guidelines last year, recommending that women start annual mammograms at age 45. Other experts are sticking to age 40, while others have bumped it up to age 50. St. Thomas More Hospital follows the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Radiology to start at age 40. “Precious lives can be saved if you start earlier screening,” says Dianne Bush, director of imaging and a mammographer at St. Thomas More Hospital. “If you delay screening, you’re going to lose opportunity for prompt care at manageable stages.” Talk to your physician about your risk factors and your opinions, and then custom build the right screening schedule for you.
The next step in breast screenings The latest technology in breast screenings is tomosynthesis, or three-dimensional mammography. Rather than creating just two images of each breast, tomosynthesis uses up to 200 low-dose X-rays to create a series of 3-D images. “Having so many images means greater accuracy and fewer callbacks due to false positives,” Bush says. The St. Thomas More Health Foundation is currently raising funds to bring this new technology to our community. To make a donation or learn more, please call the foundation at 719-285-2162 or visit stmfnd.org.
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Join us at the 5TH ANNUAL MARGARITAS & MAMMOS on Monday, Oct. 17, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Evangelical Free Church! Enjoy a delicious dinner, mock margaritas, breast health education, prizes, and giveaways. To register, visit stmhospital.org/margaritas-and-mammos or call 719-285-2179. St. Thomas More Hospital is part of the Centura Health Cancer Network, delivering integrated, advanced cancer care across Colorado and western Kansas.
A shot at good health
Vaccines can help protect older adults against serious illness FALL MARKS THE BEGINNING OF COLD AND FLU SEASON, but a flu shot isn’t the only vaccine older adults will want to consider. Becki Vettese, RN, infection preventionist at St. Thomas More Hospital, recommends the following four vaccinations for seniors:
VACCINE
PROTECTS AGAINST:
FREQUENCY:
Influenza
The flu — and getting the flu vaccine means you’ll be 60 percent less likely to need to see your doctor for flu symptoms. Pneumonia — including 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria that can cause serious illness. It is recommended for all adults 65 and over. Shingles (herpes zoster), a painful rash caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox — but one that can lead to even more serious health complications. It is recommended for all adults 50 and over.
Annually
Pneumococcal Shingles
FIGHT THE FLU by getting an annual flu shot at your doctor’s office, the Fremont County Public Health Department, or most local pharmacies.
STMHOSPITAL.ORG FALL 2016
Prevnar-13 (PCV13) then Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) 12 months later One time
DON’T
FORGET THE KIDS! Download vaccine schedules for children and teens at stmhospital.org/inspire.
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timely treatment
Kick me!
SCREEN
me too!
TIME
Avoiding a colonoscopy? You need a kick in the pants. MOST AMERICANS KNOW that reaching the half-century mark means it’s time for a colonoscopy. Yet, about one-third of U.S. adults 50 and over who should be getting screened for colon cancer aren’t, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. They may think they don’t need one because they feel fine. But often there are no symptoms until cancer is advanced. “Unfortunately, colon cancer doesn’t usually have early warning signs,” says Vincent Yu, MD, general surgeon at St. Thomas More Hospital. “Colonoscopy is the gold standard for detection.” In fact, colonoscopies don’t just find cancer, they often prevent it. Cancerous and noncancerous polyps can be removed during the colonoscopy, before they have a chance to grow into full-fledged tumors. Most polyps found through colonoscopy are benign, Yu says. But if a precancerous polyp is removed completely during colonoscopy, no other treatment may be needed.
Dr. Vincent Yu, General Surgeon
“I was one of those people who said I didn’t need a colonoscopy,” says Cravens, a 60-year-old resident of Cotopaxi in Fremont County. When she became pale and prone to fainting, her primary care doctor determined she was anemic, and the blood loss was in her stools — a sign of colon cancer. He sent her to Yu, who removed more than a foot of her colon during surgery in March 2014. Two years and two surveillance colonoscopies later, she remains cancer-free. “I feel great. They saved my life,” Cravens says. After putting off colonoscopy for years, Kathy Cravens discovered she had colon cancer.
Once tumors have grown, surgery to remove the cancerous section of colon and nearby lymph nodes is the standard treatment.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY
The American Cancer Society recommends a screening colonoscopy every 10 years for adults at average risk between ages 50 and 75. Adults over 75 should discuss screening with their physician. Those with family history of colon cancer, polyps, or conditions that increase the risk of disease should be screened more frequently.
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Kathy Cravens knows this all too well.
ELECTING TO MAKE SURGERY BETTER
PREP Holiday
And if you’ve got a life that never seems to slow down, why not see your prep day as a forced kickyour-feet-up day? Staying close to a bathroom is mandatory, so grab that book you’ve been longing to read or download the entire series of “Game of Thrones” and learn the origins of Hodor’s name. And just in case things get a little sore, keep some diaper ointment on hand.
Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 49,000 men and women will die of colorectal cancer this year. Yet, if colorectal cancer is found early before it has spread outside of the colon, 90 percent of patients will survive five years. (The five-year survival rate is the standard for measuring successful treatment, but many patients live longer — sometimes decades longer — than this.) So, while a colonoscopy may sound ominous, it’s actually just two days every 10 years that could save your life.
WARNING SIGNS
While colorectal cancer often has no symptoms, see your doctor right away if you have: Change in normal bowel habits lasting more than two weeks Blood in your stool Unusual abdominal or gas pains Very narrow stool Feeling the bowel is not emptying Weight loss Unusual or unexplained fatigue
If you are experiencing any of these conditions or symptoms, talk with your physician or call 719-285-2760 to schedule a colonoscopy or other procedure with general surgeon Dr. Vincent Yu.
Patients who prepare mentally and physically for surgery have fewer complications, less pain, and faster recovery times, researchers say.
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One of the biggest reasons people avoid colonoscopies is due to misconceptions about the “horrible” prep. But colonoscopy prep today isn’t all that bad, most patients find. The newer preps are lower in volume; taste better; are taken in separate doses; and can even be mixed with light-colored Gatorade, Crystal Light, or Sprite. Some even say drinking it through a straw helps it go down easier.
Most surgeries are elective — you decide if and when surgery is right for you. Many people choose to have their surgeries near the end of the year when medical insurance deductibles have been met. Today, more than half of all surgeries are done on an outpatient basis, which means you probably won’t stay in the hospital overnight. It’s good to go home, but it also means that patients need to manage their own pain medications, keep incisions clean, and handle their own postoperative care.
Joyce Horn, RN
“Make sure you have people available to help you after your procedure,” says Joyce Horn, RN, director of surgical services at St. Thomas More Hospital. “Patients sometimes underestimate the effects of surgery and don’t have the support they need, especially those living alone or caring for small children.” Horn says another concern is that many patients try to do too much too soon. “People get back into their busy lives and overdo it, and it slows down healing and recuperation,” Horn says.
TO PREPARE FOR SURGERY: Stop smoking. Ask how much pain to expect and how best to manage it;
reduce dependence on opioids or marijuana, as both can make postsurgical pain relief tougher. Practice relaxation techniques. Stress can cause headaches, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. If you’re diabetic, keep your blood sugar levels controlled prior to surgery. Avoid aspirin and other medications that interfere with blood clotting for five to seven days before your surgery. Discuss all needed changes in medications, including pain medication, vitamins, and other supplements, with your doctor. Know your insurance plan. Exercise regularly. Get your house in order, including food supply, arranging items you’ll need so they’re handy, and perhaps moving furniture.
STMHOSPITAL.ORG FALL 2016
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family health
First Steps
Start preparing for a healthy baby, long before conception MANY WOMEN who are preparing to have a baby overlook one important step: seeing a doctor before getting started. “If we could just get people to come in and see us when they’re thinking about starting a family, we could really optimize the health of both the mother and baby,” says John Heavrin, MD, an OB-GYN with St. Thomas More Physician Group.
During that preconception check, your doctor also can make sure you are Dr. John Heavrin up-to-date on vaccinations; review any medications you are taking; test for heart-health issues such as high blood pressure; and make sure any chronic conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, are in check. Once you’ve got the all clear by your doctor, here are four steps you can take to improve your odds for conceiving and delivering a healthy baby: Snuff that cigarette. If you smoke, stop. And, avoid secondhand smoke. Up to 13 percent of fertility problems might stem from tobacco use. Smoking also raises your odds of miscarriage, preterm labor, ectopic pregnancy, and giving birth to a baby with health problems. See your dentist. And start flossing. Women with unchecked gum disease are more prone to miscarriage, preterm birth, and preeclampsia, research shows. Put down the wine glass. There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. Alcohol can cause problems for baby even before you know you are pregnant. Tip the scales in your favor. Overweight women take longer to conceive, and are less likely to get pregnant. Overweight women who do become pregnant have double the risk of miscarriage, pregnancy-related diabetes, and preeclampsia. And infants born to obese women are more likely to need intensive care or have a congenital abnormality.
3 STEPS ON THE
parenthood path 1 Schedule an appointment with a St. Thomas More Physician Group obstetrician by calling 719-285-2735. Visit stmhospital.org/physician-group to learn more about our three OB-GYN providers.
2 Register for a childbirth education class and take a virtual tour of the Birth Center at stmhospital.org/birth.
3 Take a live tour of our recently expanded and renovated Birth Center by calling 719-285-2043.
DADS MATTER, TOO Males account for about one-third of all infertility cases. Reduce your chances of infertility by taking these steps: Stop smoking. Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Play it cool: Heat from long-distance running, cycling, hot tubs, saunas, and electric blankets can hinder fertility. Drop excess pounds: Being overweight can impact sperm and cause hormone changes that reduce fertility. Cut out any illicit drugs/marijuana, and check with your doctor about any prescriptions.
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INSPIRE ST. THOMAS MORE HOSPITAL
POT SHOTS Smoking marijuana may affect ovulation, and it decreases sperm quality and sperm count. Doctors don’t know yet if it causes birth defects because there has not been enough research, but they warn women against using it.
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For starters, Heavrin says, you and your physician can make sure you’re ovulating. As many as one in five women has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that impairs fertility and increases the rate of miscarriage. “It’s practically an epidemic,” Heavrin says.
DIABETES 101 UPPING YOUR SMARTS CAN LOWER YOUR A1C
Shannon Minich, RN, teaches the basics of diabetes management at St. Thomas More Hospital.
IF YOU’VE GOT DIABETES or prediabetes, it might be time to head back to school. Diabetes school, that is. Multiple large studies have found that managing diabetes through a healthy lifestyle — with or without diabetes medication — helps slow the progression of the disease, reduce complications, extend life, and improve quality of life. However, by some statistics, fewer than 25 percent of people with diabetes actively manage their condition. “So often, people aren’t managing their diabetes because they don’t know how, or they’re working off outdated information,” says Shannon Minich, RN, a diabetes educator at St. Thomas More Hospital. “Coming to a class when you’re first diagnosed or after years of dealing with the disease can make a huge difference.” In fact, a 2014 study of more than 1,200 people with diabetes found that education can help lower blood sugar levels. And every 1 percent decrease in A1C, which measures average blood sugar levels, significantly reduces the risk of complications from diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, limb amputation, and premature death.
BUILDING SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS Minich leads a free monthly diabetes education class and support group for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, as well as for their family members and caregivers. The classes feature guest speakers who provide education on topics such as: › Foot and eye care
PHOTO: MINICH BY STEVE BIGLEY; VEGETABLES © SERALEX – ADOBESTOCK.COM
› How to have a successful appointment with your doctor › Improving coping skills and reducing stress; problem solving › Helpful resources › How to reduce and even avoid complications of diabetes › Current fads and facts › The latest in diabetes management research, medications, and devices “Our class empowers patients by teaching them in a practical way how to take control of their blood sugar,” Minich says. “It also allows people to share their experiences in a nonjudgmental environment and make connections with others who are going through the same experience.” Patients work with certified diabetes educators to learn diabetes management skills. They also learn from each other, and provide support to one another. “Diabetes is a chronic condition that is mostly managed day to day by the patient,” Minich says. “Our job as educators is to give them the skills so that they don’t need to rely only on medications to control their condition.”
St. Thomas More Hospital’s FREE diabetes support and education classes are held from 11 a.m. to noon on the third Tuesday of each month. The classes are led by diabetes educator Shannon Minich, RN, and offer the latest tips on nutrition, exercise, medications, and monitoring. To register or learn more, call 719-285-2712.
November is National Diabetes Month. More than 8 million Americans have undiagnosed diabetes; some 1.4 million are newly diagnosed each year. If you have one of these risk factors for diabetes, get your blood sugar levels checked by your doctor:
› Overweight › Inactive › Family history › Hispanic, Native
American, or AsianAmerican heritage
St. Thomas More Hospital is holding its annual diabetes management event on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 8:30 a.m.-noon at Evangelical Free Church. It’s FREE for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, and for their caregivers/family. Register by calling 719-285-2712 or going online to stmhospital. org/calendar.
› High blood pressure STMHOSPITAL.ORG FALL 2016
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Over 75 years of pioneering health care for you.
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Join our health experts to learn how you can make small changes that make a big impact on improving your health! For a complete list of classes and details, visit stmhospital.org/calendar.
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
THURSDAYS, OCT 13-NOV 17 12:30-3 P.M.
WEDNESDAYS, NOV 2-22 6-9 P.M.
This chronic disease self-management six-week program provides education and support to those living with ongoing health conditions such as lung disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or asthma. Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, Community Room Cost: FREE Registration: 719-285-2217
5TH ANNUAL MARGARITAS & MAMMOS MONDAY, OCT 17 4:30-7 P.M.
Our signature women’s event offers education on breast health, a delicious dinner, giveaways, (nonalcoholic) margaritas, and prizes. Don’t miss it! Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street Cost: FREE Registration: stmhospital.org/margaritasand-mammos or 719-285-2179
Prepare yourself, your partner, and your baby for labor and delivery; and learn about what to expect in your third trimester. The final class of this series will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 22 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Location: St. Thomas More Hospital, Community Room Cost: $25 for you and a support person; scholarships available upon request GET Registration: stmhospital.org/ READY childbirth-education or 719-285-2058
DIABETES MANAGEMENT TUESDAY, NOV 15 8:30 A.M.-NOON
During National Diabetes Awareness Month, learn how to gain control of your diabetes and prevent complications with education from our diabetes experts! Breakfast will be served. Location: Evangelical Free Church, 3000 East Main Street Cost: FREE Registration: stmhospital.org/calendar or 719-285-2712
Save the Date! Pamper Your Heart
Monday, Feb 13
COPING WITH GRIEF DURING THE HOLIDAYS THURSDAY, DEC 8 11 A.M.-1 P.M.
The holidays can be a difficult time for those suffering a loss. Learn how to seek support, acknowledge your feelings, and take care of your physical health. Lunch will be served. Location: Garden Park Building, 201 North 6th Street Cost: FREE Registration: stmhospital.org/calendar or 719-285-2061
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INSPIRE
INSPIRE is published quarterly by St. Thomas More Hospital as part of our Mission to nurture the health of the people in our community. The information herein is meant to complement, not replace, advice provided by a licensed health care provider. To comment or unsubscribe, email us at inspire@centura.org. INSPIRE is produced by Clementine Healthcare Marketing. Executive Editor: Jillian Maes.
St. Thomas More Hospital is part of Centura Health, the region’s leading health care network. Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy, contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 303-804-8166. Copyright © Centura Health, 2016.
S T M H O S P I TA L.O R G