Saturday, November 11, 2017 • Page 1B
CT Lung Scan Offers Early Detection at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital Memorial Hermann Greater Heights For The Leader November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a fitting time to take action against the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women. Smokers and former smokers, generally considered at high risk for lung cancer, are encouraged to schedule a lung CT (computed tomography) scan at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. Medicare often covers the cost of the scan. “Lung cancer is often not discovered until its final stages, so about 75 percent of lung cancer patients typically present with symptoms when the cancer is more advanced and the disease is no longer curable,” says Aparna Surapaneni, M.D., a radiation oncologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. “Our goal is to identify patients at a much earlier stage when treatment is more effective and the patient has a much
Photo supplied Aparna Surapaneni, M.D., a radiation oncologist affiliated with Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital.
higher chance for cure.” Lung CT Scan Versus Standard Chest X-ray Unlike a standard chest X-ray, the lung CT scan takes multiple cross-sectional images of the entire chest.
Dr. Surapaneni cites convincing results from the National Lung Screening Trial, which studied more than 50,000 heavy smokers. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the trial compared the rate of lung cancer detection from CT scans compared to X-rays. Its findings, published in 2013, showed that lung CT scans were far more accurate and able to diagnose cancer at an earlier stage. In fact, individuals who received the low-dose lung CT scans had a 15 percent to 20 percent lower risk of dying from lung cancer than those who received standard chest X-rays. Candidates for Screening “Usually the recommendations for screening are highly correlated with a history of smoking, even if the individual has no symptoms,” Dr. Surapaneni explains. “A person between 55 to 79 years of age who has smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years should be screened. Individuals who quit smoking within the past 15 years are also recommended to
be screened.” A Quick and Comfortable Test The order for a screening lung CT scan can be obtained from a patient’s primary care physician. “The test itself is painless and utilizes a very low dose of radiation exposure, resulting in a low rate of exposure,” Dr. Surapaneni says. “There’s no IV, nothing to drink and no fasting requirements. The entire procedure, from entering and leaving the procedure room, only takes about 10 minutes. The scan itself is completed in less than one minute.” Affordability Not an Issue The cost of the CT lung scan is reasonable. Medicare covers the cost for eligible individuals. Most major commercial insurance carriers also cover the cost. If the patient has a problem with insurance approval, Memorial Hermann Greater Heights also offers at a cash price. To schedule a lung CT scan at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, call 713-867-3336.
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Northwest ChiropraCtiC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com
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How does alcohol affect your health? By Monica Thomas, MPH, RD, LD For The Leader
Photo by Betsy Denson Nancy Ann Gonzalez has been dancing at 610 for almost a year, and has lost 35 pounds to boot.
All she wants to do is dance By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com If your morning commute takes you to the stoplight on TC Jester near 610, then you probably are aware of the dance moves of Oak Forest’s Nancy Ann Gonzalez. For the past 11 months Gonzalez has made that corner part of her morning workout, and her enthusiasm for exercise has gotten her noticed by her neighbors who gave her a recent shout out on social media. What people may not know however is that the effort is part of a lifestyle change that Gonzalez started a year and a half ago – and one that has resulted in a 35 pound weight loss. “Physical fitness is very important to me,” said Gonzalez. “My husband had a heart attack three years ago, and wound up having a triple bypass. We are parents to a seven-year-old and I would like to be around for her. Plus, my mother passed away when she was 45 from cancer, which is my current age. I’d like to be here for my daughter as much as possible.” Gonzalez runs to 610 and TC Jester to get her heart rate up and then does what she loves the most – dances. “I was in ballet and tap since I was three years old, then in drill team in my teenage years,” Gonzalez said. During her morning regimen she includes a lot of elements such as fast walking, running,
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dancing, high jumps, donkey kicks, jumping jacks, pushups, and sit-ups. She usually runs and dances anywhere from three to five days a week. “I try to clock in 25 to 30 miles a week,” she said. “I usually give myself an hour and a half a day to work out.” Gonzalez says she enjoys exercising in that particular spot for no particular reason. “One day, I just decided to allow myself to be me,” she said. “I felt safe because it was a public area and I had read that females had gotten attacked at Memorial Park a couple of years back, which is where I used to run for many years before I decided to run in our area.” Gonzalez says that people sometimes honk but she is not sure if they are honking at her, or at fellow neighbors trying to get where they need to get during their morning drive. “I am also listening to my playlist and have my headsets in,” she said. “I usually don’t look at the people in their cars directly, or wave. I’ve only had two people actually come up to me while I’m exercising, one to ask me out to dinner. I told him I was married. Mostly everyone in the neighborhood has been incredibly respectful and receptive in allowing me to do See Dance P. 2B
A night of drinking alcohol heavily can lead to that pesky hangover feeling. However, is a hangover really the only side effect we should be worried about? The National Institute of Health assessed the latest research which showed that alcohol consumption both light and heavy can have long term effects on our health. It is important to note that alcohol can affect people differently based on gePhoto supplied Alcohol can affect people differently netics, family history, diet, etc.
Ana M. Torres, M.D. , P.A. 713.863.9200 427 W. 20th St. Ste #503 Houston, TX 77008 www.Thetorrescenter.com
obstetrics / Gynecology
based on genetics, family history, diet,
and lifestyle. Alcohol and Your Organs The organ most often associated with the negative effects of alcohol for many cancers including mouth, consumption is the liver. However, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver and what most people do not realize is breast cancer. Additional research that alcohol consumption can also found drinking five or more drinks negatively affect the brain, heart and per day can increase the risk for colon pancreas. When we think of the im- and rectal cancer. Also, studies have pact alcohol has on the brain, we of- found that women who have even a ten think of short-term outcomes like few drinks a week have a significantly memory loss and slow response time. higher risk of breast cancer, especialBut, alcohol can also have long last- ly if they lack sufficient folate in their ing effects by changing the way the diet. Alcohol can increase the estrobrain looks and functions. Research gen hormone, which may also explain has found that alcohol consumption the higher risk. The take home mescan interrupt the communication sage with alcohol and cancer is the pathways in the brain and physically more you drink the higher your risk change brain structure by shrinking for cancer. its’ cells, leading to an overall smaller brain size. The shrinking can alter Alcohol and Your Immune your motor coordination, tempera- System Our immune system acts as our ture regulation, sleep, mood, and various cognitive functions like learning armor to fend off disease, bacteria and viruses; but chronic alcohol and memory. Long term excessive drinking can consumption can weaken the cells weaken the heart muscle causing a that make up this armor, leaving us condition called alcoholic cardio- vulnerable. Those who drink excesmyopathy. This condition ultimately sively are found to have a higher risk results in the heart not being able to for pneumonia and tuberculosis. Adcontract effectively or pump enough ditionally, chronic alcohol abuse can blood to adequately nourish the or- lead to immunodeficiency where the gans. Other heart conditions as a re- body’s immune system can begin to sult of regular or chronic alcohol con- attack itself. sumption include heart arrhythmia in the upper and lower ventricles, as What about the Benefits of well as hypertension (high blood pres- Alcohol Consumption? Research has found that moderate sure) and stroke. The pancreas does not receive much focus when thinking drinking has its benefits; but what is about the negative effects of alcohol; moderate drinking? For men, modhowever, it plays an important role in erate alcohol consumption is one metabolic processes and food diges- to two drinks per day. For women, tion. Drinking alcohol can damage no more than one drink per day. pancreatic cells, influencing metabol- Drinking moderately has been provic processes and ultimately causing en to help keep blood pressure in a inflammation. Chronic inflammation healthy range, as well as protect the can lead to a serious condition called heart by reducing the buildup of fat in pancreatitis, which can be painful and the arteries and increasing levels of HDL, your “good’ cholesterol. While very difficult to treat. alcohol is very much a part of our Alcohol and Cancer Risk culture, a night of relaxation or a treat There are many factors that play at dinner, we need to be aware of our a role in cancer risk, but our lifestyle intake levels. It is important for us to choices can have a direct effect on educate ourselves on the health risks that risk. Numerous studies show and not just focus on the short-term that alcohol is a lifestyle risk factor or “fun” effects we associate with al-
Dr. Stephanie Fulton Stephanie Fulton, M.D.
1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com
Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575
Everything you need. Right in Greater Heights. 713.222.CARE memorialhermann.org/ccc 1431 Studemont Street Houston, TX 77007 I-10 at Studemont