Every woman has something in common with every other woman: they all know menopause is coming — or has already arrived.
Beyond that, the similarities evaporate rather quickly. Google “menopause symptoms” and you will get a dizzying array of results. Dozens and dozens of potential side effects. The famous hot flashes. Night sweats. Brain fog, memory lapses. Not just headaches, but migraines. Oily skin and acne. Mood swings, irritability, and anxiety. Weight gain. Loss of libido and painful intercourse. Hair loss or thinning hair. Dry skin. Dry eyes. Brittle fingernails. Bleeding gums. Digestive issues and bloating. Stress incontinence. Osteoporosis.
We could go on. One Google result listed the “top 55 menopause symptoms.” Fifty five! How is that even possible?
Head to Toe? Seriously?
fact, the brain houses our internal thermostat, and the lack of estrogen confuses its settings, leading to hot flashes and night sweats.
It’s like that all over the body. Estrogen helps maintain collagen, which is a key component of joint health and the elasticity of muscles and tendons. Its departure can lead to joint pain and muscle stiffness.
Estrogen plays a hand in how fat is stored and how energy is used, and changes in its role can lead to weight gain. The body’s base metabolic rate can slow, contributing even further.
After estrogen drops, there can be increases in other hormones, like testosterone (yes, even in women) resulting in acne, oily skin, and more facial hair.
THENEWNORMAL
As the image above might suggest, menopause is thought of as the end of childbearing years, a gynecological event. But if that’s all it is, explain the acne, the thinning hair, the sore breasts, the changes in taste, the tingling extremities, and dozens of additional symptoms.
The reason menopause symptoms seem so scattered is all about estrogen. This hormone has been regulating the menstrual cycle for years, but estrogen levels drop significantly as the reproductive stage of life starts to wind down.
One might think the loss of estrogen would have only gynecological effects, but there are estrogen
receptors all over the body — in the bones, skin, brain, muscles, digestive system, and even in the mouth and eyes.
For example, estrogen plays a major role in our on-board computers, the brain. Thinking and memories are a function of synapses, the minute gaps between brain cells. Estrogen keeps these synapses healthy and adaptable (called plasticity). The absence of estrogen compromises the effectiveness of neurotransmitters, the very tools that make synaptic operations happen.
Can you start to see the dominoes beginning to fall? Memory loss. Mood swings, Irritability. In
Estrogen is like an extreme overachiever and multitasker in a workplace. When that person clocks out, everybody notices the drop in productivity. Another common analogy is that menopause is like rebooting a computer with a new operating system. A period of adjustment is bound to result.
No map, plenty of compass
The great news about menopause and its top 55 symptoms (!) is that the experience can be like going to a buffet restaurant. Everyone’s biology is unique, so every plate will be different. As a result, the new normal for you will be different than the new normal for her. No one is going to suffer through all of the 55 top symptoms.
And even if they did, with the help of your doctor and the passage of time, this too, maybe even the entire top 55, shall pass
PARENTHOOD
by Dr. Warren Umansky, PhD
Your child is going off to college this fall and you are worried about her being on her own for the first time in her life. You’ve heard horror stories about what goes on on college campuses. You think you have prepared your child well but you’re not sure. What should you do?
A. Your concerns are justifiable. Maybe it would be best to keep her closer to home for college where you can supervise her better.
B. Tell her that you expect her to come home on weekends so you have plenty of time together. That will give you a chance to check up on her.
C. Send her off with positive feelings and confidence that she will make good decisions.
D. Call her friends who are going off to the same school and tell them to check up on her and keep you informed if she does anything wrong.
If you answered:
A. It’s time to let go. If you have done a good job of helping her make responsible decisions and learn the skills that contribute to living on her own successfully, then you can enjoy watching her grow. If you have not prepared her well, she needs the college experience to learn and grow.
B. Who does this benefit most, you or her? A large part of the college experience takes place on weekends. She needs to navigate through social and sports events and learn to balance them with academic demands. Touch base on the phone daily to get a feel for how she is doing. Don’t be intrusive, and be sensitive to when you have talked enough and she is ready to get back to what she was doing.
C. She is embarking on what many people consider to be the best years of their life. She certainly has heard from friends and social media about what to expect when she gets to campus. You have communicated your good values to her and have been a good role model. Let her feel your love and your openness to support her however she needs you.
D. This is a good way to alienate you from your daughter. If you have nurtured a good relationship with her, she will share how she is doing. If you don’t have a good relationship with her, having her friends tell you what she is doing won’t help that relationship and won’t help her. Use the time left before she leaves for school to have positive conversations about college life and what her plans are.
Congratulations to you on your child wanting to go to college and getting in. That says a lot about the kind of parent you have been. You want to keep in touch with her on a regular basis and be ready to help her through social pressures, academic stress, loneliness, boyfriend issues, and more. She might not need your help for any of these. But you want to listen to her carefully and get early insights into any problems that may appear. Should something come up, be ready to direct her to the resources that are available on campus for tutoring, mental health counseling, and medical services, among others.
Most of all, you want her to know you are there without breathing down her neck while doing it!
Dr. Umansky has a child behavioral health practice in Augusta.
THOUGHTS ABOUT THOUGHTS THOUGHTS
CRAVING THE INEDIBLE: PICA
Editor’s note: Written by local mental health professionals, this series explores how people may think and act when affected by common and lesser-known mental health conditions.
“I kept finding little bits of chalk in Brianna’s room,” her mother admitted, shaking her head. “At first, I thought she was doodling. Then I realized—she was eating it.”
For 10-year-old Brianna, chewing on chalk felt calming. Sometimes it was paper. Once, even a handful of dirt from the playground at school. Her teachers were concerned. Her pediatrician suggested testing for nutritional deficiencies. But it wasn’t until she was referred to a behavioral health provider that her family heard the word “Pica.”
Pica is a complex and often misunderstood condition, especially when it appears in children or individuals with developmental disabilities. With support and care, Brianna and her family are learning how to manage her symptoms and keep her safe.
What is Pica?
Pica is a psychological disorder in which a person persistently eats substances that are not nutritious and not food, over a period of at least one month. These substances can include:
• Dirt or clay
• Paper
• Ice
• Hair
• Chalk
• Soap
• Paint chips
MEDICAL MYTHOLOGY MEDICAL MYTHOLOGY
PICA
1. “It’s just a phase.” Pica is persistent and not developmentally typical.
2. “Only people with disabilities have pica.”
It can affect anyone, including pregnant women and those with anxiety.
3. “It’s caused by trauma.”
Trauma can play a role, but it’s not the sole cause.
4. “Punishment will stop it.”
Punishment often makes the behaviors worse. Caring support is essential.
5. “It’s harmless.”
Pica can cause serious health issues.
• String or fabric
• Metal or coins
Pica is seen across all ages but is most common in children, pregnant women, and people with developmental disabilities.
Signs and Symptoms
Along with the regular consumption of non-food items, signs and symptoms can include:
• Stomach pain, intestinal
blockages, or poisoning
• Dental problems
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Secrecy or shame around the behavior
Pica is only diagnosed when the behavior is developmentally inappropriate and not culturally supported.
What Causes Pica?
There are many possible causes of pica, but these causes aren’t fully understood. Contributing factors include:
With proper intervention, many people outgrow or reduce pica behaviors. Untreated, pica can lead to serious complications, including infection, poisoning, or internal injury. Early, compassionate care is key.
Need Support?
IPS provides comprehensive behavioral health services including assessment, medication management, and therapy for individuals and families navigating complex mental health and neurological conditions. To schedule an appointment, call 706-204-1366 or visit integratedpsych.care
NORTH AUGUSTA
105 E Hugh St., Suite 103 North Augusta, SC 29841 (803) 441-3937
39-A Varden Drive Aiken, SC 29803 (803) 641-6104
AikenHearing.com
DOES CHOCOLATE PROMOTE HEALTH?
It certainly can. Specifically, a component of some chocolates has been found to offer an array of health benefits. The magic ingredient is called theobromine, sort of a cousin of caffeine, and maybe even a better branch of the family, since theobromine is metabolized more slowly by the body. That translates to steadier levels of energy than what caffeine offers. But energy is just the tiniest tip of the theobromine benefits package.
Before we list a few of its virtues, this would be an excellent time to dampen the mood just a bit: nothing you’re about to read will justify chugging a bag of M&Ms, or saying, “I coulda had a Kit Kat bar! — but instead I had five Kit Kat bars to be extra healthy!”
The specific benefits conveyed by theobromine are delivered by dark chocolate that’s 70 to 85% cocoa. For health benefits, sweet milk chocolate doesn’t cut it.
But here are some of the good things conveyed by the theobromine in dark chocolate, as established by a bevy of studies, the most recent of which was published in April of this year. This UK study found “significant association” between theobromine and slower aging. In other words, it contributes to longer life in humans.*
Theobromine was also found to have beneficial brain effects, including protection against age-related diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The magic ingredient in chocolate also has antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, and seems to help prevent kidney stones and assist with proper fat metabolism (which promotes weight loss)
Dosage: one source said “28 grams” of dark chocolate per day. Theobromine is available in powder and capsule form too. Aim for 300 to 600 mgs per day, say the experts.
* We specifically said “in humans” because theobromine is the reason dogs and cats can’t have chocolate. We already stated that we metabolize it more slowly; for animals it’s even slower, staying in their systems long enough to affect their cardiovascular and nervous systems and lead to vomiting and wheezing. +
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Who is this?
How is it possible that this doctor makes your blood pressure spike when he’s been dead for more than a century? That is quite a trick. How does he do it?
To clarify, he doesn’t do it to everyone, but he does it to enough people that there’s actually a medical term for it. It’s called white coat hypertension, and it describes the phenomenon, experienced by many, of having great blood pressure at home, and sky-high blood pressure at the doctor’s office.
Of course, the white coats themselves worn by doctors have nothing to do with these events, but the man pictured above does.
His name was Ernst von Bergmann. Born in 1836 in what is now Latvia, he was a noted pioneer of all things aseptic and antiseptic. He was a man on a mission to reduce — and eliminate wherever possible — infections in surgery and other clinical applications.
For instance, von Bergmann introduced the concept of heat sterilization of surgical instruments. It was a vast improvement over soap and water, and prior to that, using the same instruments in multiple procedures on multiple patients without cleaning them at all. Heat sterilization greatly reduced surgical infections.
In von Bergmann’s day, the caustic chemical carbolic acid was used to prevent infections in wounds, but his experience in battlefield medicine led him to replace attempts at chemical antisepsis with gauze dressings that had been sterilized using steam
The sterile techniques he other pioneers in infection control developed and advocated laid the foundation for modern surgery, and aptly enough, von Bergmann was a noted innovator in surgery. Some credit him as the founder of brain surgery, and he also contributed tremendously to improved appendectomy techniques, helping transform what had been a risky operation to the routine procedure it is today.
But what about his role in making our blood pressure rise in the presence of the very people we want to see it low?
von Bergmann’s antiseptic initiatives arrived at a perfect time in medical history. Safe and effective anesthesia fundamentally transformed the act of surgery: it had been a bloody race against the clock performed against a soundtrack of patients’ screams, but anesthesia made careful, meticulous procedures possible. Surgeons no longer emerged from surgery looking like butchers drenched in blood. As such, it was only fitting that they adopt white coats, and von Bergmann was one of the earliest and most vocal champions of the new dress code, embracing the change as a symbol of cleanliness, as well as a show of respect for science and scientists. (Some people still call them “lab coats.”)
Ernst von Bergmann died in Wiesbaden (in what is now Germany) in 1907 at age 70. +
ADVENTURES IN
Middle Age
BY J.B. COLLUM
With our pool finally ready again, we (my wife, Lorie, and I) decided to throw a pool party. The extroverted side of my ambivert personality (look it up, it is a thing) was jumping for joy at the thought. However, my introverted side was grumbling about what the point of having an oasis in our backyard away from other people was, if we were just going to invite them in to ruin it all. Yeah, it’s tough being me sometimes, though Lorie says it’s harder to live with me. She may have a point.
There was another two-sided coin in play as well once the guests arrived. The young person who lives inside of me with no regard for the middle-aged shell couldn’t wait to play in the pool with the kids with wild-abandon, while the middle-aged part of me looked jealously at the other middle-aged folks sitting on the deck with adult beverages in their hand, nice and dry, in the shade, fans blowing on them, laughing and listening to my world famous poolside music mix that I call “Jawaiian Buffett” (Jamaican/Caribbean reggae with some Hawaiian music and a gracious helping of Jimmy Buffett).
The kid inside me won though, and me doing a flip that somehow turned into a cannonball/back buster was the proof. All of the adults in the pool who were misguided enough to think they could just float, drink their mixed drink or beer and keep their hair dry were quickly disabused of that notion, while all of the kids in the pool cheered the arrival of the big kid who could make waves and whirlpools and throw them around like the pool was a WWE cage match. Uncle Bubba had arrived.
Not all of my nieces and nephews call me that, but it has stuck for some. I’m the uncle who actually plays in the pool instead of telling them to keep it down or stop splashing. I am the bad influence that squirts water in people’s faces and runs into them as I attempt handstands.
There is a price to be paid for all of that though. Lorie caught my eye just before I made my run to begin my tsunami-like entry into the pool and said to me, “Remember your neck. Maybe you shouldn’t do that!” Then as she saw me ignore her and start to run from across the deck,
she shouted “Look out!” to anyone who would listen. Out of nowhere, it was like you could hear the basses and cellos of the theme to Jaws! Women screamed. Children who knew what was coming squealed in delight. Those who didn’t know looked apprehensive at first but took a cue from those were obviously happy about the impending disaster and smiled from ear to ear.
The sound of my impact with the water was like a gunshot, and the spray reached every square inch of the pool. Channel 12 news later reported that their radar caught sight of a strange rain band that was a large circle centered on our backyard but it only lasted a few seconds. Contrary to some reports, we did not have to refill the pool. It did get a little low, but Lorie had already turned on the hose to add water before my stunt. She knows me too well.
I am happy to report that no children were harmed. Somebody did have to climb up a tree to get little Billy down, but he was still laughing about it when they left for the evening.
The party went swimmingly, and the food was the highlight as Lorie made her famous barbecued ribs and others pitched in with delicious sides, desserts, and fresh fruit.
Part of this is me trying to get in my 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week as my cardiologist suggested a few weeks ago. Of course, the two plates of ribs and the generous helping of banana pudding probably negated most of that. That said, it is also just plain fun to feel like a kid again.
Water taking on the bulk of my weight certainly helps, but as Lorie had warned, I would feel the soreness later. I still say it is worth it. Whatever age you are, but especially if you are middle-aged or older, get your exercise in however you can. Make it fun so you’ll do it more often. I plan to do so all summer long in the pool. After that, I’ll have to figure something else out.
+
J.B. Collum is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com
Special Forces Parenting
Special needs children, as that moniker implies, do have special needs that require more out of their parents and/or care-givers. Sometimes, though, they just need the same old regular attention that all kids need.
I’ve heard of quality-time and the grammatically incorrect but still understandable quantity-time arguments. The fact is that children don’t need us on a schedule. Just as you can’t schedule a diaper change, you can’t schedule a time for them to need to talk to you, or for a crisis, or even just to hold them because they are upset. A recent example of this is what inspired this article.
Freyja, my seven year-old granddaughter who has Angelman Syndrome, epilepsy, autism and is non-verbal, woke up last Saturday morning having wet the bed. When Kate, our daughter and Freyja’s aunt, discovered this as she too awoke, she took Freyja out of the wet bed, changed her, and brought her to us so she could change the sheets and clean up as well. Freyja needs routine more than most folks and this broke her routine. Every day she wakes up and cuddles beside Kate in bed while Kate turns on her favorite movies. Eventually, she hatches and is in the right mindset to get up and start her day, but when she is forced to get up immediately upon wak-
ing, she cries, pitches a fit, and continuously tries to pull Kate or someone else back to the bed to get things back to normal.
On this particular morning I had some time, so instead of just watching and listening to her cry, I grabbed her hand and led her to my bed. It was already made up, but I put her on top of the covers, snagged a freshly washed and dried towel that had been placed at the foot of the bed to go into the master bath, and draped it over her like a blanket. In fact, it was actually a bath sheet, which, if you don’t know, is like a bath towel’s friend who really needs to join Weight Watchers. They are the only towels I use, because the regular kind cannot circumnavigate my belly. When I am forced to use a regular towel, I have to decide which part of my body gets to be modest that day as I make my way from the shower to wherever I am changing. I say this so you know that it served well as a blanket for a seven year-old. I then sat beside her, tucked her in well, put my arm around her and turned on one of her favorite movies. She pressed up against me, smiled, and started watching the TV. We did this for no more than half an hour, and she showed she was good to go by getting up without a problem when we were told breakfast was ready.
Once we were done with breakfast, she headed toward her playhouse in the living room and was now back on track. All it took to calm her down was me sacrificing 30 minutes, and it wasn’t really a sacrifice. I got to rest a little longer and snuggle with my sweet granddaughter.
We don’t know how long we’ll get to do that, but it does have an expiration date, so enjoy it while you can. Not everything related to taking care of children, even special needs children, requires enormous energy and time. They don’t all require special skill or even getting dirty. Sometimes they just need you to comfort them and be there for them. We can all do that and we will all be happier if we do it.
Who is this?
Not everyone in healthcare can be Florence Nightingale, right? Despite the long-running series on page 4, there are clunkers in medicine, and we will examine some of them in this series. Unfortunately, there’s enough material to keep this side of the page going for a while.
There are medical providers who killed more people than this man, Donald Harvey, but few are as sick and evil.
Working as an orderly in a series of hospitals beginning in the early 1970s and continuing for nearly 20 years. Harvey played God, deciding who lived and who died while telling himself it was all for the greater good: when he was eventually caught, he claimed he only killed people to put them out of their misery. He was actually doing them a favor.
His very first victim belied that claim.
Harvey walked into the hospital room of 88-year-old Logan Evans, an incontinent stroke victim, who smeared feces on his (Harvey’s) face. Enraged, Harvey smothered Evans with a pillow and a plastic bag.
That happened on May 31, 1970, and before Harvey’s shift ended, he killed a second patient, although it was later determined to be accidental. By the end of the year, the list of patients he had killed stood at 10, including the particularly ghastly murder of 81-year-old Ben Gilbert in July 1970.
Harvey had a contentious relationship with Gilbert, and it only got worse when Gilbert bashed a bedpan over Harvey’s head one day. It actually knocked Harvey out briefly. Harvey had the perfect response: later that night he gave Gilbert a catheter, then rammed a straightened coat hanger up through the urethra, puncturing the man’s bladder and bowel. He went into shock more or less immediately, and died of infection four days later.
Did we mention this man was sick and evil?
Any rational reader would think that would have been Harvey’s final crime. Surely he couldn’t get away with a crime that egregious. But as he told a newspaper reporter in a 1997 interview, he cleaned up the patient and hopped in the shower before notifying nurses that the patient seemed to be in distress.
“No one ever questioned it,” he said.
In 1971, Harvey was arrested for burglary. Drunk at the time, he babbled incoherently to officers about the murders he had committed. The confessions came to nothing. On another occasion, in 1985, VA hospital security guards thought Harvey was acting strangely, so they searched a duffel bag he was carrying. Inside they found a .38-caliber pistol, hypodermic needles, surgical scissors and gloves, drug paraphernalia, books on the occult, and a biography about a serial killer.
Harvey was fined $50 for carrying a firearm onto federal property and invited to resign. Nothing about the incident was noted in his work record to alert future employers.
Over time, such lapses enabled Harvey’s victim count to reach into the dozens. 37 deaths are confirmed; as many as 87 are suspected. The murder that ended the spree was detected accidentally by a forensic examiner who happened to notice the faint scent of almonds, a telltale sign of cyanide poisoning.
Upon his 1987 conviction, Harvey was given 28 consecutive life sentences, but was found severely beaten in his cell on March 28, 2017. He died two days later.
+
The language of lungs
Have you ever been diagnosed with a condition which you cannot pronounce or spell? I have.
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY are lung sounds. They may sound like pulling velcro open. The sounds can be short and high-pitched, or they may last a bit longer and be lower-pitched. Your doctor is more likely to hear crackles when you’re breathing in, but they may happen when you are breathing out. Crackles can indicate fluid in the airways or other lung issues.”
The subject of this article will be revealed later after I give a brief introduction to what came before.
In March of 2024, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I have never smoked. There followed 35 radiation treatments, appointments with a radiologist, pulmonologist and oncologist, numerous scans in machines, and filling out paperwork.
On June 9, 2025, a PET/
CT was performed. I had an appointment with the radiologist the next day to learn the results. He said that there was no evidence of lung cancer. However, he put the stethoscope on my chest and on my back and listened. He told me of other conditions which he had discovered. I have crackles and pleural effusion. Thus, we have the subjects of this article combined with personal experience and research. According to webmd. com “Rales, or crackles,
My sounds were on exhales. There was the purr of a cat, and another one was like my ex-husband snoring. The sounds were not loud, but they were audible.
According to medlineplus.gov “Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity.” This was my second diagnosis the same day.
The doctor prescribed a corticosteroid medication which would reduce inflammation. It was to be taken for three weeks. Each week, the dosage would decrease.
Among the side effects, I mention only 3 from mayo-clinic.org. Problems with mood swings/memory, upset stomach, and weight gain.
Weight gain also appears on other lists of side effects. Although I gained no weight, my abdominal area swelled. That was O.K. I had lost 25 pounds this past year with no intention to do so. I only had only minor problems except for 1 major one.
In 2000, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I had been on an oral medication for years and am now on insulin for about 10 years.
When taking the steroid, my blood glucose numbers soared. I take readings at least twice a day and keep a log of these numbers along with times of shots and amounts of insulin.
My A1C is checked by my primary care physician every 3 months.
Because I am conscientious about maintaining my health, especially control of the diabetes, I am on a small amount of insulin which has not been increased with the high blood sugar readings while taking the medication. I am doing the best I can with the situation.
We each have challenges in our life. Hopefully, the challenges only come one at a time.
by Dolores Eckles Evans, GA
IT’SYOURTURN!
Your turn for what? To tell the tale of your medical experiences for “Everybody Has a Story.” If it was up to us, this feature would be in every issue of the Medical Examiner. After all, everybody has a story of something health- or medicine-related, and lots of people have many stories. Send your interesting (or even semiinteresting) stories to the Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903 or e-mail to Dan@AugustaRx.com. See our “No Rules Rules” below. Thanks!
“My leg was broken in three places.”
“Now THAT hurt!”
“The cause was a mystery for a long time.”
“I
retired from medicine seven years ago.”
“This was on my second day in Afghanistan.” “He was just two when he died.”
“We had triplets.”
“The smoke detector woke me up.”
“I sure learned my lesson.”
“They took me to the hospital by helicopter.”
“I thought, ‘Well, this is it’.”
“He doesn’t remember a thing.”
“And that’s when I fell.”
“At first I thought it was something I ate.”
“OUCH!” NOTHING SEEMED TO HELP, UNTIL ... “I’m not supposed to be alive.”
“I lost 23 pounds.”
“It took 48 stitches.”
“She saved my life.”
“The nearest hospital was 30 miles away.”
“Turned out it was only indigestion.”
“It was a terrible tragedy.”
“The ambulance crashed.”
“It seemed like a miracle.”
“It was my first year of medical school.”
TRYTHISDISH
by Kim Beavers, MS, RDN, CDCES
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Chef Coach, Author Follow Kim on Facebook: facebook.com/eatingwellwithkimb
PANNA COTTA BRULEE
Fire up your kitchen torch and put on protective eye gear! There’s nothing more fun than caramelizing sugar to achieve that burnt, sweet flavor. You don’t even need tons of sugar to do it — just a teaspoon or two will do the trick.
Ingredients
• 2 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup plus 8 additional teaspoon superfine or regular granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup low-fat milk
• 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder
Directions
In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, ¼ cup sugar, and vanilla extract. Set aside and allow the mixture to come to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, pout the milk into a small saucepan off the stove, and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Set aside to allow the gelatin to soften 5 minutes. Then place the pan over low heat to warm the milk and melt the gelatin, being sure not to let it boil. Stir until the gelatin has melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir the warm milk mixture into the yogurt mixture and combine thoroughly. Pour about ½ cup of the mixture into each of four crème brulee dishes or small bowls. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until set, at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.
Just before serving, sprinkle 2 teaspoons of the remaining sugar over each panna cotta.
Then immediately use a kitchen torch to carefully
caramelize the sugar. Serve. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 panna cotta)
Recipe provided with permission from The Greek Yogurt Kitchen cookbook by Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN. For more information see: http://tobyamidornutrition. com/
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? BASED ON A TRUE
Decades ago, I lived in the body of a college student. Slept on a top bunk because I did not anyone coming in and sitting on my bed.
Mother did not allow bed-sitting. Bad for the mattress. Messes up a well-made bed.
My student mind was open, but had many places to be filled. Genetics. Physics. Mi-
STORY
(most of the time) A series by Bad Billy Laveau
leave. I can replace you by daylight. Besides, once you get to private practice and only work 70 hours a week,
What happens to you is not important. What you think about what happens to you is most important. If you predicate your worth on the opinion of others, you are courting trouble. Depression. Chronic anxiety. The opinion of others is a worthless commodity.
Growing up, I was a farm hand on a tobacco farm. I am glad I went thru that, but
My medical professor taught me that 108 hours a week wasn’t all that bad. Shut up and go to work. Complain to your mother. She will believe you and care if you are tired. Sick patients don’t care how you feel. Do your job. Don’t worry about how you feel at the moment.
Look at the end of the tunnel. The rewards are worth it.
Where your physical body is at the moment is not nearly as important as what you think about where your body is.
Here is a joke to illustrate my point. In grade school long ago, corporal punishment (paddling) was proper. And when you got home, your Daddy gave you another paddling for acting up in school. Nowadays, it is illegal and parents sue the school system. Tom Hanks did a stand up when he said, “Used to back in school, an overweight woman with an attitude would paddle your
butt, something that later in life you pay good money for.” His joke illustrates that what you think about what happens is more important that the physical act itself.
Chose to live in a mindset that is pleased with your physical setting.
Hamburger steak has the same nutritional value as a ribeye steak. A greyhound will get you there the same as a private jet. The only real difference is the dollar cost and your opinion.
Your budget may be limited, but your opinion is unlimited. Don’t make yourself miserable unnecessarily. You have freedom of activity. If you are angry, you could choose to sit naked in the middle of the street at midnight and set you hair on fire. Or, you can sit in your back yard and calmly watch the birds and squirrels. You have the choice. You can live crappy. Or you live happy. Chose a happy place to survive and thrive.
FOOD IS MEDICINE
TASTY TIPS FROM REGISTERED DIETITIANS WITH THE AUGUSTA DIETETIC DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
and probiotics in gut health
by Ari Redcross MS, RDN (Inpatient Dietitian)
Have you ever heard the phrase, “You are what you eat?” Well, there are microorganisms that can provide benefits to our gut health. Our gut—also known as the gastrointestinal tract—is the largest part of our digestive system and includes organs such as the stomach, esophagus, small intestine, and large intestine. Inside the gut, we have the gut microbiome, an ecosystem of microscopic organisms (primarily bacteria). Think of your gut microbiome like your fingerprint—everyone’s is a little different. It begins to develop from the moment we are born.
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in many functions, including keeping us healthy. When bad bacteria enter our gut, or when we take antibiotics due to illness, doctors may recommend eating yogurt or incorporating probiotic foods afterward to help replenish the good bacteria.
There are multiple types of “biotics,” but today we’ll focus on two: probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help restore and maintain healthy gut bacteria. They assist in digesting food, preventing harmful bacteria from taking
over, and improving nutrient absorption, among many other benefits. While probiotics are available as supplements, they’re also found in various foods. It’s important to note that supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so consuming probiotics through food is often a safer and more effective option. Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting any new supplement.
One common food group that contains probiotics is fermented foods. During fermentation, beneficial bacteria grow, and eating these foods allows our body to absorb and use them to support the gut microbiome. Examples of probiotic-rich foods include yogurt (both dairy and non-dairy), kefir (a yogurt-like beverage), cheeses (such as Swiss and Parmesan), miso, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh (a soy product) and kombucha. Some grocery stores may also carry probiotic-infused teas and other products.
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are the food source for probiotics. In the digestive tract, probiotics break down prebiotics through fermentation, which helps them thrive. These prebiotics provide energy that supports both a healthy immune system and a strong gut. You can find prebiotics in starchy foods such as rice, potatoes (especially boiled and chilled),
Please see FOOD IS MEDICINE page 10
CRASH COURSE
More Americans have died on US roads since 2009 than in World Wars I & II combined
As you might surmise from the pull-out quote below, this installment of Crash Course is about the relationship between sleep and safe driving.
The connection is missed by many drivers. If we’re being honest, most of us have been at least drowsy while driving, and maybe we’ve even experienced what is called “micro-sleep,” where a person falls asleep for just a second or two. Maybe it’s nothing more than the chin hitting the chest, and that wakes us back up. Even so, there are several concerning things about such an occurrence.
you going to freely admit that to police or the other driver? Probably not.
beans, legumes, and oats.
They’re also found in onions, garlic, and fresh fruits like raspberries and peaches. Some packaged foods may also have added prebiotics.
By eating a variety of colorful foods and including more fermented and starchy foods in your diet, you can help keep your gut—and your digestive system—healthy. Consider trying a new probiotic or prebiotic food to support your overall well-being!
{ { HIT THE HAY
not some other car
First, a driver may not realize, even after the fact, that many uncounted seconds of complete stupor can precede the head jerk that eventually wakes him back up. They mistakenly think the entire event is the quick jerk. The reality is terrifying, and it’s another reason for great concern.
That reason is that even “just” a few seconds at highway speeds can mean traveling hundreds of yards. Whatever looked clear and safe and free of obstacles the last time the driver was awake and lucid is now way back in the rear-view. New dangers may be fast approaching, but the driver is not only completely unaware, but is hurtling toward them at tremendous speed.
How do we know that?
We actually don’t, but common sense suggests that the long, monotonous miles of interstate driving — at high speeds — present a greater risk of drowsy driving that driving through neighborhoods (at much slower speeds) with regular turns, stop signs and other required actions.
There’s something else we really don’t know for sure: how many drowsy driving crashes happen every year. After all, if you were driving sleepy and hit another car, are
Here are the known (and estimated) facts: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2022, 693 people died in crashes that were classified under the drowsy driving category. As bad as that might sound — that’s a lot of people — a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that the true prevalence of drowsy driving fatalities is more than 350% greater than reported. Based on their research, the AAA Foundation thinks there are roughly 328,000 drowsy driving crashes each year. Their findings are that drowsy driving fatalities are in the vicinity of 6,400. That is a lot of people. Compared to the human toll, the economic cost is nothing, but that nothing still adds up to $109 billion annually, according to NHTSA
What is the solution to this problem?
• Drivers need to get adequate sleep before trips, and when the drowsies strike, take action. Stop in a safe place. Get out. Walk around. Or set an alarm and doze for 15 or 20 minutes before driving on.
• Road builders can install grooves, bumps, and other passive crash-prevention technologies to alert drivers who aren’t maintaining their lane.
• Doctors can warn patients about medications that cause drowsiness and caution them about driving safely.
• Employers can promote safe driving in their safety programs for everyone, white collar and blue collar workers alike.
• You can be the most alert driver on the road and get hit by a drowsy driver, so every driver needs to be alert at all times. There is no safe time for distracted driving. +
PICKLED CABBAGE SLAW
Prep time: 30 minutes
Makes: 6 cups
Ingredients
• 4 cups water
• ½ green cabbage, shredded (about 6 cups)
• 1 med. carrot, shredded or sliced thin (about ½ cup)
• ¼ medium red onion, sliced thin (about ½ cup)
• 1 jalapeño pepper or other hot pepper, minced (optional)
• ½ cup vinegar (try apple cider or distilled white)
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
3. Bring water to a boil on high heat.
4. Put cabbage in a colander over the sink. Slowly pour boiling water over the cabbage.
Rinse the cabbage with cold water and drain well.
5. In a large bowl, stir together cabbage and remaining ingredients.
6. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
7. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes:
∙Enjoy as a topping for pupusas, tacos, quesadillas or grilled fish.
∙No fresh hot pepper? Use ½ to 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes.
Thanks to the OSU Extension Latin Heritage Workgroup for this recipe. Source URL: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/imported-publication/pickled-cabbage-slaw
*Please note some vinegars are a source of fermentation. Such as apple cider vinegar with the mother.*
Ok get this: there are more hydrogen atoms in a single molecule of water than there are stars in our entire solar system. This article is fascinating. This one here about the universe Which one? Tell me.
ACROSS
1. Third son of Adam & Eve
5. White of the eye
11. Or’s partner
14. Hip bones
15. Voyeur
16. No in Glasgow
17. Republic in W Africa
19. Bush Field abbrev.
20. Apple covering
21. Blues Brother (to friends)
22. Prefix with day and week
23. Pelvic exercise
26. Not absolute; proportional
28. Variety of sour cherry
31. City in NW France
32. Nickname for The Jungle Book’s author?
33. Abnormal growth; tumor
37. Word that sounds like a letter of the alphabet
38. Transistor with four terminals
39. Video cable (abbrev.)
42. Page 1 hormone
43. Canoe propulsion system
44. Hope in soccer
47. Large vessel conducting blood into the heart
49. Flood
53. Memento
54. Rotating machinery part
55. Place for extra care (abbrev)
56. Coffin stand
58. Soviet secret police
59. Street child (derogatory)
64. Meadow
65. Latin for “as a whole”
66. Month of Jewish calendar
67. It’s human to do this
68. Formosa’s name today
69. Jungfrau range
by Dan Pearson
You know we only have one star in our solar system, right?
The Mystery Word for this issue:
LUCSIAGR
Simply unscramble the letters, then begin exploring our ads When you find the correctly spelled word HIDDEN in one of our ads — enter at AugustaRx.com
We’ll announce the winner in our next issue!
E X A M I N E R S U D O K U
DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.
1. Bro’s sib
2. He beat Tom in two Super Bowls (XLII and XLVI)
3. Breaker intro
4. Medical District main street
5. Foretell (Scottish)
6. Another word for phone
7. The 1960 Pulitzer Prize winner
8. Lyric poem written in couplets
9. Kidney-related
10. James Brown ________
11. Deficiency in red blood cells
12. Indigenous
13. Make less sensitive (or noisy)
18. Gives in
23. New Zealand parrot
24. Islamic chieftain
25. Stare with open mouth
26. Reprimand
27. Classic movie TV station
29. English court of yore
30. Hobbit series (in brief)
34. Private theater box
35. Capital of Yemen
36. Governing bodies
39. Saturate; immerse
40. Matthews’ first name
41. Its residents speak Persian
42. Long period of time
44. Cell prefix
45. Roman military catapult
46. Lower back (adj.)
48. Iris and pupil cover
50. Finger or toe
51. Braves all-star right fielder
52. Italian for “all” (in music)
56. Carotene prefix
57. 11-D preventer
60. Type of truck
61. Sick
62. Young dog
63. “The Big Easy” formerly of the PGA Tour
DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line.
Solution on page 14.
Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.
— Duke Snider
— Christopher Lasch
THEBESTMEDICINE
ha... ha...
Aredneck tells his friend, “I got my COVID test results back today. It says 50. I got no idea what that means. And, my IQ test came back positive.”
Moe: Man, getting old stinks.
Joe: What makes you say that?
Moe: Last night I was in bed for about 20 minutes when I heard somebody cough by my front door.
Joe: Okaaay...
Moe: That’s when I remembered I left the pizza guy at the door and came into the bedroom to get my wallet.
Moe: I quit my job today and I’m going to travel the world until I run out of money!
Joe: Wow! Well, see you around then.
Moe: Don’t worry. I should be back in time for supper.
Moe: Well, this is ironic.
Joe: What?
Moe: The word hyphenated is non-hyphenated, but non-hyphenated is hyphenated.
Moe: There sure are a lot of celebrities in California. When I lived out there, Dwayne Johnson’s house was on one side of my place, and on the other side was a Hallmark store.
Joe: So you’re saying you lived between The Rock and a card place?
Moe: I can’t believe how hot it’s been. Joe: Tell me about it. It was so hot yesterday, I ate my salad without dressing.
Moe: I got a call from the elementary school down the street this morning.
Joe: What did they want?
Moe: They wanted me to come in for a conference. They said my son is constantly telling lies.
Joe: What did you tell them?
Moe: “I’ll say he’s telling lies,” I said. “I don’t have any kids.”
Moe: Some of the genetic research scientists are doing totally creeps me out.
Joe: Like what?
Moe: Like I heard they’re modifying crabs with cheetah genes.
Joe: Oh, that could go sideways in a hurry. Moe: No kidding. Some of it is good, though. Like they’re genetically modifying watermelons with cockroach DNA.
Joe: That sounds totally crazy.
Moe: No, it’s genius! When you cut the watermelon open, the seeds run away.
Staring at my phone all day has certainly had no Effect on ME!
By popular demand we’re making at-cost subscriptions available for the convenience of our readers. If you live beyond the Aiken-Augusta area, or miss issues between doctor’s appointments — don’t you hate it when that happens? — we’ll command your mail carrier to bring every issue to your house!
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
Choose six months for $24 or one year for $46 . Mail this completed form with payment to Augusta Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta GA 30903- 0397
Dear Advice Doctor,
If you’ve ever heard people say summer colds are the worst, believe them. Ordinary people get their colds in the winter when it makes sense, but I manage to catch a bug every summer without fail, and it is the pits. I’ve had winter colds too, so I can compare the two, and summer is hands down more miserable. Any suggestions on how I can avoid this annual torture?
— Summertime Blues
Dear Summertime,
First of all, thank you for sending in your letter. Especially this time of year and in this part of the country, we all want to catch bugs — or completely avoid them. They’re nasty!
And they’re annoying. Nobody wants a mosquito buzzing in their ear, or to even so much as see a cockroach. And that is as it should be: these creepy critters are known carriers of disease. Along with other pests like rodents, fleas, and bedbugs, they can trigger allergic reactions in some people and worsen asthma symptoms, especially in children.
Depending on what the infestation is, it can interfere with sleep, and on a chronic basis at that. Sleep deprivation can lead to stress, anxiety, poor decision making, and fatigue, all these things added to the disease risk bugs present.
But bugs and other unwelcome invaders are more than just an annoyance. Far more. Squirrels and mice in the attic and termites in the walls can compromise a building’s structural integrity. Thermal insulation can be destroyed, running up the electric bill. Insulation wiring can be chewed away, creating a risk for fires. Unchecked, termites can eventually cause a structure to collapse.
The benefits of pest control are pretty clear.
Some people are leery of pesticides, and it’s good to be judicious in their careful use. They should be used by homeowners exactly as spelled out on the package label, or entrusted to professional pest control services, and there is certainly no shortage of choices there.
Thanks for writing, and I hope I answered your question.
Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about health, life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
The Celebrated MYSTERY WORD CONTEST
...wherein we hide (with fiendish cleverness) a simple word. All you have to do is unscramble the word (found on page 12), then find it concealed within one of our ads. Click in to the contest link at www.AugustaRx.com and enter. If we pick you in our random drawing of correct entries, you’ll score our goodie package!
SEVEN SIMPLE RULES: 1. Unscramble and find the designated word hidden within one of the ads in this issue. 2. Visit the Reader Contests page at www.AugustaRx.com. 3. Tell us what you found and where you found it. 4. If you’re right and you’re the one we pick at random, you win. (Winners within the past six months are ineligible.) 5. Prizes awarded to winners may vary from issue to issue. Limited sizes are available for shirt prize. 6. A photo ID may be required to claim some prizes. 7. Other entrants may win a lesser prize at the sole discretion of the publisher. 8. Deadline to enter is shown on page 12.
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
ACUPUNCTURE
Dr. Eric Sherrell, DACM, LAC
Augusta Acupuncture Clinic 4141 Columbia Road
706-888-0707 www.AcuClinicGA.com
CHIROPRACTIC
Karen L. Carter, MD 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com
Care|Skilled Nursing|Companion 706-426-5967 www.zenahomecare.com IN-HOME CARE
Elder Care LLC Certified Home Health/Caregiver 706-231-7001 everydayeldercare.com
Institute of Augusta
Bashir Chaudhary,
I NEVER HAVE A BAD HAIR DAY
I had a head full of hair when I was born. But soon my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes slowly started to fall out. My parents were alarmed, and they took me to the doctor to find out why this was happening. The doctors informed them that I had alopecia areata.
What is alopecia? That is a question I get asked a lot. Many people have never heard of it. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body’s hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss or preventing hair from growing in the first place. There are different types of alopecia, but the one I will be talking about, the one I have, is alopecia areata.
Once all my hair fell out, my parents asked me if I would like to try wearing a wig. I was in kindergarten at the time. We took a trip to a wig shop and I found one that I liked. I wore it occasionally, but it didn’t take long before I realized wigs are not for me.
To my surprise, not long after kindergarten my hair started coming back, very thick and curly. From around 3rd grade until 8th grade, I had a full head of hair, and then it all fell back out again.
When that happened in 8th grade I remember exactly how it felt. When my hair fell out, I remember itching, a burning sensation, and clumps of hair falling out. Within weeks I went from thick curly hair to having none at all. The change was very quick and very sudden.
Throughout high school, kids made comments about me not having hair, and sometimes they were not nice. But I am a very strong woman, and I never let words hurt me. After all, I was quite content with who I was and by then I was used to my appearance — and the comments.
Especially as an adult I have been approached by many people in the community who are curious about my situation. The most common question is if I have cancer or if I am going through treatment. And sometimes people do ask me if I have alopecia. Many people have never heard of it, however, and I enjoy educating people on my disease.
Now I’m 31, and as confident as ever! I’m proud of who I am and what I look like. I still cannot grow all of my hair and for the most part I am bald. To this day I do not wear wigs and you will see me in public confidently embracing my beauty. When my hair falls out, I still get the same itching and burning sensation, so I know whenever the disease flares up. However, my eyebrows and eyelashes only fell out once and then it never happened again.
More than once people have suggested that I should go into modeling, and that having alopecia actually compliments my appearance. Modeling is something I would absolutely love to do, and I hope one day that opportunity will present itself. People have told me that my confidence, strength, and bravery is inspiring to them, and that, in turn, inspires me. I’ve had multiple people reach out to me for guidance about their diagnosis, and I am always glad to give support to anyone who has alopecia.
Having alopecia has taught me that beauty does not derive from hair. I’m naturally beautiful just the way I am and honestly, I would not change one thing.
I believe everything happens for a reason, and alopecia has helped shape me into the successful woman I am today.
by Whitney Harris Augusta, Georgia
At Seniors Helping Seniors® Mid-South Georgia, we match mature, experienced caregivers with older adults who need a helping hand and a kind heart. Our senior caregivers offer not just support, but real empathy and shared life experience. It’s more than just help in the home - it’s like getting a little help from friends.
