Baptist Health Flourish - Kentuckiana (Fall 2015)

Be a healthier you

FA LL 2 01 5

What your hair, skin and nails tell you about your health

Looking Here's

at You

tips to avoid concussions

plus: HOW TO BREATHE EASIER

| IS IT HEARTBURN OR A HEART ATTACK?

HEALTH TIPS

HEAD OFF

CONCUSSIONS Think of a concussion, and you might picture football players clashing helmets.

While concussions are most commonly seen in contact sports, they also occur in everyday situations.

“Not every hit to the head causes a concussion, and not every concussion is caused by a hit to the head,” said Christopher Pitcock, MD, a family and sports medicine physician with Baptist Health Medical Group in Louisville.

The brain is surrounded by spinal fluid that protects it from hitting the skull.

But when the head or body is whipped from one direction to another — as in a car or bike accident, a fall, or sports — the brain can crash into the skull, causing a concussion.

Concussions can’t always be prevented, but follow these tips to help stay safe:

ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT, and make sure that children are using a seat belt or the appropriate car seat for their age and size.

FOR SENIORS, help prevent falls by removing tripping hazards and installing safety equipment, such as handrails and bathroom grab bars.

knowledge is power

Learn more about concussion evaluation and treatment at BaptistSportsMedKY.com.

2 BAPTIST HEALTH

Here’s a No. 1 ranking we wish we didn’t have: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more prevalent in Kentucky than in any other state.

In Kentucky, 9.3 percent of adults have the respiratory disease, which includes conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, compared with 6.3 percent of Americans nationwide.

Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, and people exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk.

The bad news: COPD is incurable.

The good news: it’s treatable and preventable. “You can still prolong your life by quitting smoking,” said Scott Kellie, MD, a pulmonologist on the medical staff at Baptist Health Louisville and Baptist Health La Grange. “Smoking cessation will also improve your quality of life.”

Maintaining general health and being vaccinated for influenza and pneumonia also help reduce the severity of the disease.

See a doctor if you have signs of COPD, such as frequent bronchitis, increasing shortness of breath, chronic cough with productive mucus and chest tightness.

COVER: BRITT ERLANSON GETTYIMAGES; THINKSTOCK

ADD SAFETY GATES, window guards and bathtub mats to make your home safer for kids.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET when participating in activities like biking and playing sports.

Breathe Easier, Kentucky

HEALTH TIPS

DRINK UP The amount of water you need to drink daily depends on your weight and activity level. According to the Institute of Medicine, the average adult male requires roughly 13 cups of liquids a day. Females need about nine cups daily. The old adage of “drink eight glasses of water a day” is a good start, but aim for more.

Here’s how: DRINK A GLASS with each meal, between meals, and before, during and after exercise. Food provides about 20 percent of your daily water needs, so reach for foods such as watermelon, which is 90 percent water.

NUTS AS

Superheroes

HEALTHIER FOOTBALL RITUALS WITH FOOTBALL SEASON UPON US, you may be looking forward to parking it on the couch to cheer on the Wildcats or Cardinals while enjoying a few cold ones and eating snacks covered in cheese and bacon. Heaven, right? Luckily, there are some easy ways to better balance your health with your hobby.

Three-in-Ones Walnuts have the most omega-3 fatty acids of any nut, making them the best to help prevent heart disease, cancer and premature aging.

PMS-Fighters Walnuts, peanuts and soy nuts can help relieve PMS symptoms, like irritability and depression, because they contain the mineral manganese.

Brain Power Peanuts, while technically legumes, are high in folate, a mineral that helps keep our minds sharp.

THINKSTOCK (3)

A Handful Will Do It A serving size of nuts is typically an ounce, or about one handful. This equals: 14 walnut halves • 16 cashews • 24 almonds • 28 peanuts Build a Better Burger

Swap Snacks

Hold Commercial Break Contests

A four-ounce turkey burger has roughly 150 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, while the beef version has 225 calories and 12 grams of fat.

Instead of buffalo wings, try this buffalo hummus from Livestrong.com: Blend garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, water and olive oil with some cayenne pepper sauce, minced garlic and sea salt. Serve with veggies or pita chips.

Put up a scoreboard and challenge friends or family to see how many squats, pushups or sit-ups they can do during each commercial break.

Nuts about nuts

Do you know which nut is the better bet when it comes to nutrition? Find out in an online infographic at BaptistHealthForYou.com.

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E

ven if a bad hair day turned into weeks of untamed tresses, you probably wouldn’t think to call your doctor. The same might be true if you noticed changes to your skin or your nails.

We tend to dismiss problems with our hair, skin and nails as being temporary nuisances — and most of the time, we’re right. But other times, these external features hint at what’s happening inside the body, signaling health conditions, such as thyroid disease, diabetes and heart disease.

Is your body sending you a message?

Read on to learn what your hair, skin and nails might be telling you.

Outside

Looking Looking In In Your hair, skin and nails say a lot about your health

4 BAPTIST HEALTH

HAIR EVERYONE loses 50–100 strands of hair daily. Stress, iron deficiency or hairstyling damage can cause additional hair loss. But if your hairbrush has been alarmingly full lately, a health condition may be to blame.

Hair loss can be a sign of hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to make enough thyroid hormone. These hormones regulate metabolism, the rate at which the body turns food into energy.

An underactive thyroid causes bodily functions — including hair growth — to slow down. In people with hypothyroidism, hair becomes thin and also feels dry and brittle, the result of the body producing less sebum from sweat glands in the scalp.

Hypothyroidism develops so slowly that symptoms — such as dry skin, fatigue and weight gain — may be difficult to notice. Because

hair doesn’t grow continuously, instead following a months-long cycle of growth and rest periods, hair loss may not occur until several months after the onset of hypothyroidism.

The good news: Hypothyroidism is controllable with medication, and hair lost will likely grow in with time. Blood tests will determine whether you have a thyroid disorder.

Hypothyroidism is more common in women than in men. Many men, of course, lose hair as they age, but that doesn’t mean they should assume hair loss is normal. Studies suggest that men who are bald on the top of the head are at higher risk for coronary heart disease. Younger men, especially, should keep tabs on other heart disease risk factors, such as being overweight and having high blood pressure or cholesterol.

SKIN ONE IN 10 Kentuckians has diabetes, like more than 29 million people nationwide.

Yet more than a quarter of those with the disease haven’t been diagnosed. Skin can offer some of the earliest clues to a diagnosis of diabetes, a disease marked by high blood sugar.

When it removes excess blood glucose through urination, the body loses fluid, causing dry skin.

Dryness leads to cracking and itching, which, in turn, can lead to infections. Feet are especially prone to infection, as diabetes can cause nerve damage that limits the body’s ability to feel pain from injuries. Additionally, blood glucose promotes the breeding of bacteria and fungus.

Those reasons explain why up to a third of people with diabetes experience skin conditions, including: • Styes around the eyelids and boils around hair follicles, caused by bacterial infections • Athlete’s foot, jock itch and vaginal yeast fungal infections • Itching in the lower legs • Darkened patches of skin on the sides of the neck, armpits and groin called acanthosis nigricans.

But skin issues alone don’t warrant a diabetes diagnosis. These problems have benign causes, too. See a doctor and take a simple blood test to determine if you have diabetes.

MASTERFILE; THINKSTOCK (3)

NAILS UNSIGHTLY nails might need more than a manicure. While many nail abnormalities can be explained by injuries or nutrient deficiencies, others are signs of underlying health conditions. These symptoms may be worth a visit to the doctor, not the nail salon.

Changes in color: Healthy nails maintain consistent color. Look for changes to the lunula at the base of your nail: A “little moon” that’s red instead of white could be a sign of heart failure, among other issues.

If your nail turns mostly white, a condition known as Terry’s nails, that’s a possible sign of health conditions like diabetes or congestive heart failure.

When the nail lifts away from the nail bed and causes the separated portion to become opaque white or discolored (onycholysis), that’s a sign of a

thyroid disorder.

Nail fungus: Poor circulation and lowered ability to fight infection make people with diabetes vulnerable to a fungal infection called onychomycosis. While nail fungus is also common in people who don’t have diabetes, those who do should take it seriously, as infections can lead to more serious complications.

Changes in texture: Although even healthy nails aren’t always perfectly smooth, the lines and ridges on your nails may have significance.

The horizontal grooves (Beau’s lines) indicate where nail growth has been disrupted, sometimes by diseases like diabetes. Watch, too, for changes in the thickness of nails: Thin, brittle nails are a sign of hypothyroidism, otherwise known as an underactive thyroid.

FIND YOUR BALANCE

Think you might have a hormonal imbalance?

Schedule an appointment with your doctor or call 502.897.8131 to find a physician.

A Balancing Act Hormones are the body’s chemical communicators, relaying information needed for important processes like growth, metabolism and fertility.

“When glands make too much or too little of a hormone, the messages get lost in translation,” said Jahangir Cyrus, MD, an endocrinologist with Baptist Health Medical Group. Hormonal imbalances account for a number of problems affecting hair and skin.

An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) causes body functions to slow down, which can cause hair loss and dry skin, while an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause oily skin.

In women, an excess of the male hormone androgen can be caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome, whose symptoms include unwanted body hair, acne, and patches of dark skin.

Too much testosterone, produced by the adrenal gland, can also cause extra body hair in women.

Dr. Cyrus warns against focusing on the symptoms instead of their cause, as hormonal imbalances can have consequences beyond the effects to hair and skin. Your primary care physician can test you for hormonal imbalances and refer you to a specialist, if needed.

Flourish FALL 2015 5

heartburn or heart attack?

heart help is here

Heart attack symptoms include more than just chest pain. Find out more at BaptistHealthTalks.com.

Follow this chart to figure out if it’s indigestion or something more serious OUCH, THAT BURNING SENSATION IS BACK AGAIN. Probably just a case of heartburn, right?

Actually, it could be something more sinister.

“A heart attack can be confused with heartburn,” said Rebecca MacFarland, MD, a cardiologist with Baptist Health Medical Group. “You can get chest burning or pressure with heartburn, and you can get the same thing with a heart attack.”

So how do you know whether you’re feeling chest pain because of the burger and fries you had for lunch or because of something more serious? Here’s a guide:

Think Before You Eat

Some foods have heartburn written all over them. “While they tend to be the more acidic eats, triggers can vary from person to person,” said Rebecca MacFarland, MD, a cardiologist with Baptist Health Medical Group.

Here are some of the biggest culprits: ➺ Spicy foods ➺ Fatty foods ➺ Tomato-based foods ➺ Coffee ➺ Citrus ➺ Alcohol ➺ Chocolate ➺ Onions Being pregnant or taking certain medications can also cause you to feel the burn.

START

WHERE DO YOU FEEL THE PAIN?

My chest, plus my neck and maybe my jaw

NO

Just my chest

YES

HAVE YOU EATEN RECENTLY? YES

NO

IS AN OVERTHE-COUNTER MEDICINE, SUCH AS TUMS®, GIVING YOU RELIEF? YES

NO

IT COULD BE A HEART ATTACK. Get medical treatment immediately.

“Chest pressure or chest burning associated with fatigue and shortwindedness is more likely to be cardiac and not heartburn,” said Dr. McFarland.

“In addition, cardiac chest pain is usually not associated with food.” If you’re not sure what’s going on, call 911. “You don’t want to mess around,” she added.

THINKSTOCK

IT’S PROBABLY HEARTBURN. Chances are, stomach acid is creeping up You feel better after a few antacid tablets. where it doesn’t belong — your esophagus That said, if you have heartburn more than — and causing that burning sensation. “It twice a week, you may have what’s known as usually happens because of something you GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), so it’s ate,” said Dr. McFarland. Another giveaway: worth mentioning to your physician.

6 BAPTIST HEALTH

ARE YOU HAVING ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS FATIGUE OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH?

APPLES:

The Perfect Fall Fruit

IN SEASON

Eating just one a day boosts your health and brightens a dull menu

A

pples have been grabbing headlines since Adam and Eve, and for good reason. They’re an ideal snack, thanks to their convenient grab-and-go packaging, 4 grams of fi lling fiber and disease-fighting antioxidants. Apples are a no-brainer in desserts, but they add crunch and sweettart flavor to salads and meat dishes as well. In Kentucky, apple season is big. With more than a dozen orchards scattered around the state, you’ll fi nd popular varieties such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, Rome and Jonagold, a staple at farmers’ markets through October.

Experiment outside your apple comfort zone starting now, by punching up your standard pork dish with tart Granny Smiths.

Pork Stuffed with Apples Serves: 4 | Calories per serving: 464

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely chopped ¼ cup golden raisins ¼ cup celery, finely sliced ¼ cup dry white wine 1 Tbsp. butter

MAKE IT HEALTHIER Use two tablespoons of low-sodium vegetable broth instead of butter.

1 Tbsp. shallots (or sweet onion), finely chopped Salt and pepper to taste 4 thick-cut, boneless pork chops 1 Tbsp. oil 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Toss apple, raisins and celery in wine and soak for 15 minutes.

THINKSTOCK

2. Discard wine and set raisins and apple aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté shallots/sweet onion and celery in butter and salt until tender.

Turn off heat, add shallots/ sweet onion and celery to apple mixture and toss well. (Don’t wipe out skillet; you’ll reuse it for browning the chops.)

3. Slice center of each chop to

MAKE IT HEALTHIER Choose a lean cut of pork, such as New York top loin.

make a pocket for the stuffing.

Insert two tablespoons of apple mixture into each chop.

Sprinkle both sides of chops with salt and pepper.

4. In the same skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat, add chops and brown on both sides.

Place chops in a baking pan and cover with foil. Bake for 20 minutes then remove foil and bake until juices are clear and pork reaches 160 degrees internal temperature, about 15 more minutes.

eat to lose weight

An apple a day can help keep the pounds away. Learn more about weight-loss options at BaptistHealthTalks.com.

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Nonprofit Org US Postage PAID Columbus WI Permit No. 62

4000 Kresge Way Louisville, KY 40207

CONNECT WITH US: BaptistHealthLouisville.com • BaptistHealthLaGrange.com

FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

NEED A DOCTOR? Call 502.897.8131.

Jahangir Cyrus, MD,

endocrinology • page 5

Scott Kellie, MD, pulmonology • page 2

Rebecca McFarland, MD, cardiology • page 6

Christopher Pitcock, MD, family and sports medicine page 2

Mark Your Calendars WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY SEMINAR

New! Second Tuesday of each month, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Baptist Health La Grange, 1025 New Moody Lane.

Day and evening sessions monthly.

Baptist Health Louisville, 4000 Kresge Way. Physician-led seminar about weight-loss options.

Register: BaptistHealth Louisville.com or 502.897.8131 for both locations.

STOP SMOKING

STROKE CLUB

Five-week program presented in 30-minute sessions.

Register: BaptistHealth Louisville.com.

For those who have experienced a stroke, and their loved ones. Details: 502.896.7441.

Day and evening sessions offered regularly Baptist Health Louisville, 4000 Kresge Way.

LOOK GOOD … FEEL BETTER

Twice monthly Charles and Mimi Osborn Cancer Center, first floor Cancer Resource Center, 4003 Kresge Way, Louisville.

Free tips for makeup, skin care, nail care and hair-loss solutions for female cancer patients.

Details: 502.896.3009.

NUTRITION AND CANCER

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m.

Charles and Mimi Osborn Cancer Center.

LIVING WELL WITH DIABETES

Details: 502.222.8563.

SAFE SITTER CLASSES

Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Baptist Health La Grange, 1025 New Moody Lane.

Fee: $45. Register by Oct. 2: 502.222.8563.

Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Baptist Health Louisville, 4000 Kresge Way. Fee $40. Register: 502.897.8131 Youth ages 11 to 13 learn to handle emergencies when caring for young children.

NEW HEALTH PLANS October

Baptist Health Plan (formerly known as Bluegrass Family Health) to unveil new health insurance plans.

Details: BaptistHealthPlan.com.

BASIC BABY CARE

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

Baptist Health Louisville, 4000 Kresge Way. Tips for caring for you and your newborn.

Register: 502.897.8131.

Flourish is published three times a year by Baptist Health’s Marketing office. Designed and produced by McMURRY/TMG, LLC. Flourish makes every effort to ensure that the information it contains is medically accurate and up-to-date. All material is for informational purposes and is intended to complement, not substitute for, the advice of your physician. Before trying any medical treatment or changing your present routine or program, consult with your physician, who can discuss your individual needs, symptoms and treatment. For more information, contact Julie Garrison, Regional Marketing and Public Relations manager, at Julie.Garrison@BHSI.com or Baptist Health, 4000 Kresge Way, Louisville, KY, 40207.

THINKSTOCK

Third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m.

Baptist Health La Grange, 1025 New Moody Lane.

Free class teaches how a healthy diet can prevent cancer or speed a cancer recovery.

Details and to register: 502.897.8131.

Third Thursday monthly, 1–3 p.m.

Baptist Health Louisville, 4000 Kresge Way.