Maria Parham Healthbeat
A publication of Maria Parham Medical Center and The Daily Dispatch January 23, 2013
January is Thyroid Awareness Month BY DIANA E. DESAI, MD MARIA PARHAM ENDOCRINOLOGY
Four County Primary Care to offer extended hours, beginning in February
T
he thyroid influences many dif ferentabody organ systems, including regulation of your metabolism — the rate at which your body turns food into energy. Thyroid hormone helps control your body temperature, appetite, mood, and hear t rate. It can also af fect the smoothness of your skin, strength of your muscles, and texture of your hair. The thyroid gland lies in the lower neck just beneath the skin. It makes and releases thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. When the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood is too high or too low, you may develop the conditions of hyper thyroidism or hypothyroidism, r espectively. Abnormalities of the thyroid occur more often in females than in males. Hyper thyroidism, when thyroid hormone levels are too high, can be associated with symptoms such as weight loss despite increased appetite, increased energy, palpitations (hear t racing), tremor, diarrhea, anxiety/ner vousness, insomnia (dif ficulty
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Dr. Diana E. Desai checks a patient to determine if she has developed abnormalities in her thyroid gland. These abnormalities occur more often in females than in males. sleeping), excessive sweating, and heat intolerance. Some people may also experience bulging, dry, itchy eyes or an enlarged or tender thyroid gland. Three common causes of hyperthyroidism are: 1) Graves’ disease: an autoimmune condition in which your own body’s antibodies
stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone; 2) Toxic nodular goiter: benign tumors in the thyroid begin overproducing hormone; and 3) Thyroiditis: inflammation of the thyroid, often after an illness, causing the gland to temporarily release more hormone. Hypothyroidism,
when the thyroid produces too little hormone, can be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, feeling cold, muscle cramping/ aching, constipation, depression, weight gain, hoarse voice, dr y skin, coarse/brittle hair. Some people may SEE THYROID/PAGE 11
n today’s hectic world, we have so much to take care of that we sometimes forget to take care of a ver y impor tant thing — our own health. With that in mind, Four County Primar y Care is pleased to offer extended of fice hours Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m., with regular of fice hours on Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The Four County Primar y Care physician team consists of Dr. John Faulkner, Dr. Gary Smith and Dr. Patricia Smith. While some physician of fices that of fer extended care utilize a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner, this facility will offer a medical doctor to see patients during the additional hours. The primar y care provider is one of seven physician practices owned by Maria Parham Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital. It is committed to providing
Dr. Patricia Smith
high quality, compassionate, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to all members of your family, from newbor n to seniors. The primar y care team recognizes the importance of open communication, tr ust and respect between patients and their physicians, and encourage the development of a relationship that promotes patient par ticipation in their health care decisions.
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HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
There are many ways to protect your hearing H earing damage from noise is ver y insidious. The hearing loss takes place so gradually that a great deal of damage can be done before it is noticed and a person begins using protective measur es. Pr otecting your hearing is a life-long process. Damage done in early life stays with you forever! Any hearing loss is important. Even what is considered a mild hearing loss of 20 decibels makes it much more difficult to understand conversations, especially in a crowd. Protecting your
hearing merely takes a little care and common sense. Here are some ways to help protect your ears. Several different kinds of ear protectors are available. The simplest ones are small sponge-like plugs that are compressed and inserted into the ear canal where they re-expand to fill the canal. There are several types of these simple plugs. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and disposable. Always keep a supply on hand. Ear molds are another type of plug that are specially fitted for a person and work well to decrease the intensity
of sound. They are most useful for low frequency noise. The molds are made from forms taken of your ear and ear canal by an audiologist. A third kind of protection for the ears is an earmuff. This covers the whole ear and is very protective, especially for high frequency noise. They are most useful around airplane traffic, chainsaws, and other machinery. Ear plugs and earmuffs used together give maximum protection. Avoid excessive noise whenever possible, but when you can’t, be sure to use some form of ear protection. Talk to your doctor
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Protecting your hearing merely takes a little care and common sense. Moreover, it’s a life-long process. if you have question about your hearing. For help finding a physician
in this area, call Maria Parham Medical Center at (252) 436-1800 or
visit mariaparham.com for a listing of medical providers.
Beckford Medical Centers J.E. Kenny, MD F.C. Aniekwensi, MD S.E. Reed, PA-C W.M. Davis, PA-C L.A. Tharrington, MSN, ANP-C Elsa Bagnulo, NP
Henderson, NC 27536 Phone: 252-492-2161 Warrenton, NC 27589 Phone: 252-257-6213 Louisburg, NC 27549 Phone: 919-340-0283
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Tuesday, January 23, 2013
Keeping the cold out: Preparing a winter Hypothermia survival kit T T his is the time of year when the risk of hypothermia increases. Hypothermia is when the core body temperature drops below the normal of 98 degrees. It does not cause any problems until a person’s temperature gets down to 95 or so, but below this the heart may have irregular beats or even stop. The weather is the most obvious factor, but also chronic illnesses and accidents predispose to the problem. Alcohol is a serious depressant that contributes to many of the cases of hypothermia. It can cause a normal, healthy person to fail to heed the warning signs of shivering and cold
hands and feet. Diabetes commonly contributes to hypothermia. The most serious risk is to have a hypoglycemic reaction, which will cause increased heat loss by sweating and also decreased energy production because of the low blood sugar. The other main causes are simply getting stranded in bad weather or accidents where a person is injured and cannot protect himself from the elements. Moisture rapidly robs your body of heat and destroys insulation. This occurs in endurance sports, such as running or ski marathons, wher e a person gets totally exhausted and is
sweating for prolonged periods. This causes a great amount of heat loss. Moisture can also come from precipitation or submersions in water. W indbreakers are impor tant in preventing the loss from wind-chill, especially if a person is wet or sweaty. The most important measures are to dr ess appr opriately, keep dr y, and protect yourself from the wind. Use common sense in avoiding accidents and keep an emer gency sur vival kit in your car. If you do get so cold that you can not register a temperature of at least 96 degrees, you should go to the hospital immediately.
he snow is here and the roads are getting icier. It is time to put a winter sur vival kit in the back seat of your car in case you have an accident, get stranded or come acr oss someone who needs help. It should be kept in the back seat if possible, since it can be more dif ficult or even impossible to get it out of the tr unk after an accident. You could fill your car with things that could be used in an emergency, but selecting a few of the most impor tant items is wor thwhile for anyone who will be driving on winter roads. Essential items include:
1) Dr y mittens, g l o v e s , h e a d g e a r, clothes 2) Flashlights, flares, candles 3) Blankets/sleeping bags 4) Candy bars/nonperishable foods 5) Waterproof matches, knife/hatchet 6) 3 pound metal coffee can with cover for melting water 7) Plastic garbage bags (for windbreaks or containers) 8) Shovel, sand, rope 9) Road map, compass 10) First aid kit,
paper towels, tissues If you do have an accident which leaves you stranded in wint e r w e a t h e r, r e m a i n calm, keep dr y, conser ve your energy, and wait for help to come. It is usually safer to stay with your vehicle, which provides a shelter and something easy for rescuers to spot, than to tr y to walk out of a snowstorm. If you run the car’s motor, do so at inter vals and keep adequate ventilation at all times to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
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HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Advance directives: Making your wishes known A true story ... “I was working at a major trauma center several years ago. One night, a man and his wife were involved in a serious car wreck. Unfortunately the wife died in the accident and the husband was admitted to the hospital with serious, life-threatening head injuries. That man, Mr. Johnson (not his real name) was placed on a ventilator with full life support. His family was notified and four of the five children arrived shortly there after. A series of tests were performed and it was determined that the brain damage to Mr. Johnson was extension and was irreversible. His brain was damaged in such a way that he would probably stop breathing if
taking off of life support. Mr. Johnson’s four children discussed the matter and decided to let their father go. They felt that this is what their father would have wanted and they wanted to honor his wishes. However, they did request to keep their father on the breathing machine until the last child got a chance to see him. When the last son arrived, he became very upset about his siblings’ decision to let their father go. He argued that Dad would never agree to “giving up” and that the medical staff should do everything possible, no matter the time, the cost or the situation it put on their father. He truly believed that this was his father’s wish. Needless to say,
the situation got very ugly very quickly. The son convinced one of his sisters that his belief is what their father wanted. The difference in what the siblings thought their father wanted divided the family and instead of coming together to grieve for their parents, they split camps. After a few days, their father’s condition continued to worsen. Now, only additional life support could barely sustain life. The family and their father’s physician agreed to meet with an advisory board to come to an understanding. The decision was made by the board and the physician to go with the majority of the children’s request to remove life support. Mr. Johnson died quickly thereafter.”
The point of the story? No one really knew what Mr. Johnson’s last wishes were: he did not have any advance directives in place including a living will or a healthcare power of attorney. Had Mr. Johnson written advance directives, his family may have avoided a ugly situation that undoubtedly left scars that may never heal. After all, each child did what they honestly believed their father wanted. If he only had an advance directive. The law of North Carolina provides a way for you to “make your wishes known” in writing so your doctor and family will know how you want to be treated in the event you become unable to tell them.
Declaration of a desire for a natural death (living will)
North Carolina allows you to say whether you want to be allowed to die a natural death or prefer to have medical treatment which would prolong the natural dying process. North Carolina has adopted a form you can use to express your wishes. The form is called a “Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death.” Before your declaration becomes effective, a physician other than your attending physician must confirm that you have a terminal and incurable condition or you are in a persistent vegetative state and, without treat-
ment, death will occur within a short time. Through a declaration you sign now, you can direct the withholding or withdrawing of lifeprolonging techniques in an end-of-life situation. To sign a valid declaration, you must be at least 18 years old and mentally competent. At least two people must witness your signature. Certain close relatives and persons providing you with health care cannot act as witnesses. It is your obligation to let your doctor know that you have a declaration. You may void or change your declaration at any time before you become incompetent. If you choose to revoke your declaration, be sure to let your doctor and family know.
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Healthcare power of attorney
 A power of attorney is a document by which you give another person — your “agent� — the authority to make decisions about the financial aspects of your life. As a North Carolina resident, you may also sign a healthcare power of attorney which gives your health care agent the authority to make decisions about your health care. The authority of a health care agent is generally not restricted to endof-life situations, but applies to all health care decisions when you are no longer capable of making such decisions. To appoint a health care agent, you must be least 18 years old and competent. The person you appoint should be notified in advance. You must sign the document in the presence of
In order to spare one’s family the scars left behind when its members disagree about what your last wishes are, one should have advance directives put in place before one’s health declines. two witnesses who must not be your health care providers, blood relatives, or have a financial interest in your estate. You can revoke this document just as you would a Living Will. There are a
number of safeguards built into the law to protect you.Â
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)
 A DNR, or Do Not Resuscitate, is an order given by
a patient’s physician stating what is to be done or not done in case of a patient going into cardiac or pulmonary arrest. A DNR differs from a living will in that it is an order by the physician as opposed to a living
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This Practice is a Department of Maria Parham Medical Center.
J. W. Jenkins Building 568 Ruin Creek Road Suite 128 Henderson, NC
(252) 436-1380
will, which is a desire of the patient. North Carolina allows for a qualified patient to have a Portable DNR order. The Portable DNR is a special yellow form, available from local EMS Services, to be completed by the patient’s physician. The intent of a Portable DNR is to communicate to EMS, upon their arrival, the existence of a DNR. A Portable DNR is valid for up to eight hours upon arrival at the hospital or until a physician’s order concerning the same has been written. Â
Helpful hints
 The health care power of attorney applies to more than just end-of-life situations and is more flexible than a living will. It may be best to consider signing both documents. If you do not have a living will or health-
care power of attorney and become incompetent, North Carolina law takes over and may allow others to make health care decisions for you. A DNR is a physician order and you should communicate to your personal physician your wishes. A living will, healthcare power of attorney or DNR order that is valid in another state may not be valid here and should be reviewed by a local attorney. North Carolina law provides forms for both the declaration and health care power of attorney. You must be very specific in filling out these forms. If you have questions, it is probably a good idea to contact a lawyer to help you. If you have any questions or comments concerning advance directives, contact: Maria Parham Marketing & Patient Relations at (252) 436-1800.
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Tuesday, January 23, 2013
Offering Diagnosis & Treatment of Heart Related Illnesses Northern Carolina Cardiology is Maria Parham Medical Center’s newest physician practice, joining a growing list of outstanding hospital-owned practices. Northern Carolina Cardiology offers non-invasive heart care through the talents RI WZR %RDUG &HUWL¿HG SK\VLFLDQV 0HOLVVD 'DXEHUW 0' DQG 5RELQ 0DWKHZV 0' %RWK 'U 'DXEHUW DQG 'U 0DWKHZV DUH DOVR RQ WKH PHGLFDO VWDII DW 'XNH 8QLYHUVLW\ 0HGLFDO &HQWHU The physicians at Northern Carolina Cardiology are accepting new patients and accept referrals from your family physician.
J. W. Jenkins Building
(252) 436-1085
568 Ruin Creek Road Suite 102 Henderson, NC
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HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Early care during pregnancy is important Early and regular prenatal care will give you the healthiest baby possible. Many medical problems which may affect a pregnancy can be discovered early and treated to help avoid the potential complications they carry. These illnesses include diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure and hereditary illnesses.
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n spite of the excitement of becoming pr egnant, many women do not seek medical care as soon as they should. However, there are many reasons for seeing your doctor as soon as possible. It is ver y early in the pregnancy that the major risk of complications occur. These complications include both accidental harm to the developing baby, such as from exposur e to x-rays, infections or medicines, and the unavoidable complications, such as miscar riages and tubal pregnancies. Your doctor can advise you about the risks of medicines, alcohol, tobacco, caf feine and other substances. These can be harmful, especially if taken
in the first few months of the pregnancy. Early in the pregnancy the doctor will prescribe vitamins which will provide extra nutrition to the mother and the developing baby. Iron is important, and folic acid helps prevent the risk of defects of the brain and spinal cord. Many medical problems which may af fect a pregnancy can be discovered early and treated to help avoid the potential complications they carry. These illnesses include diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure and hereditar y illnesses. Genetic counseling may be important for couples who are likely to be carriers of certain genes that can cause bir th defects or miscarriages. Also,
if a woman is over 35, she may benefit from genetic studies. Early and regular prenatal care will give you the healthiest baby possible. It is even wise to have an exam and discuss potential risks with your doctor before conceiving. It is ver y impor tant to consult with your physician as soon as you find out your pregnant or even suspect that you may be pregnant. For a listing of family physicians in the area, please go to Maria Parham’s website at mariaparham.com or call (252) 436-1800 for additional information. The Granville-Vance Health Depar tment can also be of assistance for mothersto-be. The important thing is to take care of your unborn child as soon as you can.
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Louisburg Medical Arts, 1501 N Bickett Boulevard, Suite D Louisburg, NC 27549
252-492-8576
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HealthBeat
Tuesday, January 23, 2013
7
Free on-line health resource personalized for you
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aria Parham Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint Hospital, has always been your par tner in health in our community. We are very pleased to offer eHealth, an online tool for you to manage your health, get the very latest healthcar e news and personalize health topics for you and your family. eHealth is your complete health management tool. It’s free and it’s available online, anytime, anywhere! eHealth consists of several healthcare tools including: • My Health Newsletter — Each month you’ll receive an e-newsletter that you have designed around only the topics that matter most to you. • My Health Reminders and My Health Reminders for Loved Ones — Receive reminders of appointments and r ecommended health screenings. • My Health Assessments — Interactive health and wellness questionnaires. • My Baby Expectations — What to expect guide for all stages of pregnancy. The best par t of My Health Newsletter is that you can design the newsletter to include any health related topic that you want to read about. You can also
change it at anytime — adding or subtracting topics as you see fit. Currently, there are over two dozen health topics available. These stories are not hand-picked stories from Maria Parham, but medically-reviewed, current health news/articles from 350+ sources, delivered monthly to your inbox. When you subscribe to My Health Newsletter, you also get free access to My Health Reminders. Not only is My Health Reminders great for helping you with your upcoming appointments, it will show you, based on your age and gender, Centers for Disease Control recommendations for periodic exams, tests and more. If you would like to include other members of your family, you can. My Health Reminders for Loved Ones allows you to add information about loved ones to also receive the same types of health reminders and CDC recommendations. My Health Assessments is yet another health tool available on Maria Parham’s eHealth. My Health Assessments includes comprehensive health and wellness tools that give expert health and wellness recommendations based on easy-to-use interactive questionaires. Each assessment meets rigorous editorial standards to provide you with accurate and trustworthy health and
The My Health Newsletter can include any health related topic that you want to read about. You can also change it at anytime — adding or subtracting topics as you see fit. Currently, there are over two dozen health topics available. wellness information. Are you expecting or know someone who is? Maria Parham is pleased to offer a specialty newsletter just for you! My Baby Expectations is custom designed to grow with you from the time you discover that you are pregnant to your baby’s first birthday. This wonderful program includes pertinent information in each step of your pregnancy, checklists to
help prepare your home for your newest family member, as well as, educational information on important topics such as SIDS and breastfeeding. Also included as part of Maria Parham’s eHealth are Medline and MedlinePlus, programs that utilize trusted health information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. You can research health topics, drug
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information and even look at medical illustrations. How do you sign-up for Maria Parham’s eHealth? There are two easy ways to sign-up for this exciting health tool: Go to mariaparham. com/ehealth and click on “Click Here.� You may also go to mariaparham.com, click on the green box with the letter “p� and then click on “Click Here.� Call (252) 436-1800 and
talk to a member of Maria Parham’s Community Relations team. We will ask you a few questions as we sign you up for eHealth. You will need to know your email address and we will send you an email confirmation and link so you can go to Maria Parham’s eHealth. If you have additional questions, or if you would like more information, feel free to give us a call at (252) 436-1800.
John R. van Venrooy DMD, MPH, PA Diplomate American Board Of Orthodontics Jenkins Building 568 Ruin Creek Road, Suite 007 Henderson, NC 27536
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HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
How to avoid winter weight gain BY ANN MARGARET KANE FERGUSON, MPA
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n Januar y, attention turns to reverting back to pre-holiday numbers and resolving to stay on track with our healthy new year resolutions of a nutritious diet and regular exercise plan. Despite our best intentions, the winter weather is not on our side. Yes, even in the south; although the season is kinder; we are still not immune from the winter weather effects. Shorter days of sunlight and cooler temperatures may cause hibernation. Normally people are not as physically active during the cold, winter months. In addition, the weather may prevent some individuals from going to the gym or exer-
cise class, prefer ring to stay at home cuddled under a blanket or in front of the fire. Also seasonal affect disorder — SAD — results from depression due to insufficient sunlight during the winter. The average winter weight gain is five to seven pounds, according to Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin, founder and director of the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health located in Baltimore, Md. When you couple a reduction in exercise with an increase eating, weight gain is the end result. Well do not fear, information to Avoid Winter Weight Gain is near. Enclosed are some tips to
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decrease weight increases during the season: 1) Keep Moving — Play an exercise tape, Go to the gym even when you would rather not, or be brave and endure the chilly outdoors- with a run to warm you up! 2) Be aware of the foods you are eating. Select low-fat, high fiber meals and snacks. 3) Drink Up! Not with alcohol, but H20 (water). 4) Warm up with a nutritious and delicious bowl of soup that’s broth based. 5) Aim to maintain your health and optimal weight during the cold weather months. Hopefully “In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb.” Winter will be over soon. Let it end a little lighter.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013
What are migraine headaches?
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igraines have a bad reputation. It has gotten to the point that anyone with a severe headache calls it a migraine. Actually, the severity of a migraine headache can var y dramatically — some people with migraines have no pain at all, just visual symptoms or numbness. The cause of migraines appears to be at the brain cell level, where the release of potent chemicals cause the spasm and then dilation of blood vessels within the brain. There is a hereditary tendency towards migraines. Migraines can vary considerably from person to person, at times making it difficult to separate them
from the much more common tension headaches. The diagnosis is made by a person’s symptoms, not by tests, so it is important to relate all your symptoms accurately to your doctor. Many people have a prodrome of symptoms— warning signs before the headache actually begins. This is helpful because it helps confirm the diagnosis and also allows a person to use medicines that will abort or at least lessen the headache. These prodromal symptoms commonly involve the eyes and may include zigzag lines, flashing lights, blind spots, and even temporar y loss of vision. If the involved arteries are in a different part of the brain, numbness and
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stroke-like symptoms may predominate. Migraines tend to occur regularly, but infrequently. They may occur once a year or a couple times a week. They seldom occur more often than that, although they can lead to tension headaches, which can occur daily. Sorting out which are migraines and which are tension headaches can be difficult, but is worthwhile so the best treatment can be used. For help with combating your migraines or other health issues, consult with your family physician. For a listing of family physicians in the area, please go to Maria Parham’s website at mphosp.org or call (252) 436-1800 for additional information.
www.ncophth.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm
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HealthBeat
9
Tuesday, January 23, 2013
Black moles may indicate cancer Breakfast: The most important meal of the day O
B
reakfast is the easiest meal to miss. Ever yone is in a hurry in the morning to get to school or work. Or perhaps a person is dieting and he or she is not hungr y at breakfast, so it seems like a good time to “cut down on calories.” Yet, for a variety of reasons, breakfast is the most important meal to eat. According to a University of Iowa study, children do much better in school and behave better when they eat a good breakfast. Also, children who normally skipped breakfast showed an improvement in their schoolwork when they began eating breakfast. A good breakfast was also associated with less susceptibility to infections and fatigue. Eating breakfast will often prevent the hunger which causes snacking between meals. By avoiding snacks, a child eats a
Eating breakfast sets a person up for eating regular meals, while skipping breakfast will likely promote snack foods or over-eating at dinner. better lunch with foods that are less fattening than most snacks. These better eating habits help prevent childhood obesity. This holds tr ue for adults too. Eating breakfast sets a person up for eating regular meals, while skipping breakfast will likely promote snack foods or over-eating at dinner at the end of the day when less calories are
needed and the excess calories are stored as fat. Eating a good breakfast should become a habit. Any nutritious food can be eaten for breakfast, especially if it contains protein and complex carbohydrates. Low-fat milk, fruit juices and hot cereals are good, but pre-sweetened cereals and sweet rolls should be avoided because of the high sugar content.
ne of the warning signs of cancer is a change in a mole. Moles that grow, bleed or change color may indicate the more serious kind of skin cancer called “black moles,” or melanomas. The more common skin cancers develop as an ulcer, grow slowly and rarely spread, while these black melanomas spread very easily and are very resistant to treatment. In women, melanomas are most commonly found on the legs and in men on the head or neck—the areas of greatest sun exposure. Long-term sun exposure and sun burns are causative factors. Most melanomas actually begin in normal skin with only a quarter origi-
it is very difficult to treat once it has spread. Also, just because a black mole has not changed for a year or two does not always mean it is benign. Melanomas may remain in an “inactive” stage for years before spreading. There is no need to remove all moles to prevent the risk of skin cancer. Fortunately, moles rarely turn cancerous and just watching for changes is usually enough. Moles in high risk areas, however, may merit a biopsy. For a list of physicians in the area who can help you live a healthier life, check out Maria Parham Medical Center’s website, mariaparham.com or call (252) 436-1800 to request information.
Specializing in Diseases of the Kidney & Hypertension
Maria Parham Nephrology & Hypertension RIIHUV VSHFLDOL]HG FDUH IRU RXWSDWLHQWV DQG LQSDWLHQWV ZKR KDYH UHQDO GLVHDVH DQG RU K\SHUWHQVLRQ 2IIHULQJ GLDJQRVLV WUHDWPHQW )RU WKRVH VXIIHULQJ IURP
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Tariq Abo-Kamil, MD Internal Medicine
Lucy Wessinger, NP
Providing Services To Our Communities For Over 37 Years 125 Charles Rollins Rd. • Henderson, NC 27536 Telephone: (252) 492-5831 Fax: (252) 492-3613 www.gvdhd.org
nating in moles. Their identification can be very dif ficult, so almost all moles that are removed by your doctor are sent to a pathologist to check under the microscope. Usually melanomas are rather dark compared to normal moles and they usually are irregular in shape. There may be variations in color, with red and light-colored areas within the black background. They are usually painless and occur most commonly in middle-aged people. If a person has a mole that has changed or that is suspicious in appearance, the treatment is to remove it and examine it under the microscope. Early discover y of this cancer is extremely important since
This Practice is a Department of Maria Parham Medical Center.
J. W. Jenkins Building 568 Ruin Creek Road Suite 006 Henderson, NC
(252) 436-1080
10
HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Getting started exercising: that initial push T
aking up r unning, biking, or any sport to impr ove your physical health sounds great, but it is not always easy to get started. How do you do it? How much should you do? First, get the right equipment. Proper equipment will make participation in your spor t more enjoyable and help prevent injuries. Advice can be obtained from reputable salesmen or knowledgeable friends already in the sport. Local sports clubs can be an excellent source of infor mation and inspiration. It is often helpful to talk to your physician to get an exercise “prescrip-
tion.� After listening to your heart and lungs and evaluating your physical condition, he can tell you at what level to start and how fast to progress. You may start with jogging a half mile, or just walking briskly. Exercising three to five times a week is enough to improve your fitness and health. It is wise to allow a day of rest for your body to repair and rebuild the muscle cells that have been exercised. After more strenuous exercise, a couple days of rest is important. Once you establish a level to star t at, you can normally increase the amount of training by about 10 percent per
week. This may sound minimal, but you would double your level of training ever y two months. Increasing faster is apt to cause problems with tendonitis, stress fractures or other “overuse� injuries. The zeal of getting star ted and the desire to improve quickly can often have a negative ef fect. When a person develops an injur y, it is discouraging and decreases the enjoyment of the sport. This causes
many people to give up. It is the slow and steady improvement that will make any spor t more enjoyable and give you the satisfaction of your accomplishments. Be sure to talk to your physician before starting an exercise program. If you do not have a physician, we can help you locate an excellent doctor in our area by calling us at (252) 436-1800 or by visiting mariaparham. com for a listing of medical providers.
It is often helpful to talk to your physician to get an exercise “prescription.� After listening to your heart and lungs and evaluating your physical condition, he can tell you at what level to start and how fast to progress.
Committed to Your Orthopaedic Needs
Lending you a helping hand throughout life’s journey.
Comprehensive Orthopaedic Care ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
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Rafael Negron, MD, FAAOS %RDUG &HUWLÂżHG 2UWKRSDHGLF 6XUJHRQ
Steven Neunkirchner, OPA-C
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John J. Faulkner, MD
high quality, compassionate, comprehensive and cost-effective health care to all members of your family, from newborn to seniors. The FCPC team recognizes the importance of open communication, trust and respect between our patients and their physician, and encourage the development of a relationship that promotes your active participation in your health care decisions.
(252) 436-0440
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Gary A. Smith, MD
120 Charles Rollins Rd Suite 102 Henderson, NC
2IIHULQJ ([WHQGHG 2IÂżFH +RXUV %HJLQLQJ )HEUXDU\ Monday-Thursday: 7:30am - 7:00pm, Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm
HealthBeat
The Daily Dispatch
THYROID FROM THE FRONT PAGE
experience an enlarged thyroid gland. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimotos thyroid disease. This is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks and destroys the gland. A simple blood test can be ordered by your doctor to determine if thyroid function is abnormal. If you are diagnosed with hyper thyroidism, you can be treated by either anti-thyroid medication, radioactive iodine to destroy the gland, or surgical removal of the thyroid. Left untreated, hyper thyr oidism can cause osteoporosis (brit-
Dr. Diana E. Desai
tle bones) or hear t disease. The treatment for hypothyroidism is simply a daily pill of thyroid hormone. Treatment is lifelong and should be monitored closely by a
physician. Diana E. Desai, MD, is a Board-Cer tified endocrinologist with Maria Parham Endocrinology. An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the endocrine system, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other related issues. She also has special interest in women’s health issues and diseases of the thyroid. Maria Parham Endocrinology is Maria Parham’s seventh hospitalowned physician practice and the only endocrinology practice in the region. The practice is located in the Medical Office Plaza behind the hospital at 120 Charles Rollins Road Suite 206. The of fice number is (252) 436-6240.
General & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Northern Carolina Surgical Associates is a general surgical
practice that provides consultative and operative services in the areas of General, Advanced Laparoscopic, Breast and OncologyUHODWHG 6XUJHU\ (DFK RI WKH VXUJHRQV LV %RDUG &HUWLÂżHG ZLWK advanced training in various specialty areas. Each doctor is dedicated to providing you the very highest level of quality healthcare.
Robert F. Noel, Jr., MD
This Practice is a Department of Maria Parham Medical Center.
Cynthia Robinson, MD
Lakshmi Kanth, MD
0HGLFDO 2IÂżFH 3OD]D 120 Charles Rollins Rd Suite 206 Henderson, NC
(252) 433-0430
Tuesday, January 23, 2013
11
Four County Eye Associates DANIEL BERNSTEIN, M.D.
CYNTHIA A. HAMPTON, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmology Routine Adult and Pediatric Exams/Glasses and Contact Lenses
Office Hours By Appointment
(252) 492-8021 800-331-6744
No Stitch Cataract Surgery: Laser Surgery: Medical and Surgical Treatment of Glaucoma and Diabetic Eye Diseases: Muscle and Eyelid Surgery.
Henderson Professional Plaza 451 Ruin Creek Road, Suite 204 Henderson, NC 27536 www.fourcountyeyeassociates.medem.com
12
The Daily Dispatch
HealthBeat
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
I VISIT MY DUKE CANCER SPECIALIST IN DURHAM 5IF $BODFS $FOUFS BU .BSJB 1BSIBN .FEJDBM $FOUFS JT B %VLF .FEJDJOF BGæ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
For more information, contact The Cancer Center at Maria Parham Medical Center(252) 436-1148.
www.mariaparham.com