‘Lifestyle’ Calendar LW2 Get the Skinny: Kids in the Kitchen LW3 Making a difference LW4
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The Arizona Republic
December 2017
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Trending now: Healthy news just for you Kids and Teens
Study Equates Screen Time with Teen Suicide Increase
THE SCOOP: While this is only an association and can’t prove a clear connection, experts agree that parents should pay attention to the amount of time children are using their electronic devices. THE BOTTOM LINE: Limit children’s screen time to an hour or two a day and encourage more in-person social interaction, experts suggest.
End-of-year elective surgeries Common procedures for non-emergent medical conditions Story by Meghann Finn Sepulveda | Photo by Rick D'Elia
SOURCE: NPR
20s:
IUDs may lower risk of cervical cancer THE MESSAGE: Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) appear to stimulate an immune response in the cervix that kills human papillomavirus (HPV). THE SCOOP: While the HPV vaccine is effective if women get it before they are exposed to HPV at age 11 - 12, it is not effective for women who are older. Therefore, this finding could be helpful in preventing the disease in women in their 20s and beyond. THE BOTTOM LINE: Further research is needed before healthcare professionals can begin recommending the IUDs for HPV prevention as the study has only shown a lowering of HPV risk. SOURCE: WebMD
30 to 40s:
More than 100 million adults now have high blood pressure THE MESSAGE: The rules have changed for determining high blood pressure, which means more people fall into the high blood pressure category. THE SCOOP: The new normal is now 120/80. This means that 103.3 million adults with blood pressure readings above this are now considered to have high blood pressure, with 81.9 million of them recommended to take high-blood-pressure medication. THE BOTTOM LINE: Talk with your physician about the new guidelines and discuss your options, including risks, medication and lifestyle changes. SOURCE: MedPage Today
50 PLUS:
Move to protect your vision THE MESSAGE: What isn’t improved by exercising? Not much. Now add protecting your eyesight to the list of reasons to move more. THE SCOOP: Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness in people over 40. Researches from UCLA found that those who were most active had a 73 percent reduction in risk for developing the disease. The risk appeared to fall by 25 percent for each additional 10-minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. THE BOTTOM LINE: While more research is needed to confirm these findings, this is yet another reason to get off the couch and exercise. SOURCE: WebMD
W
ith the clock ticking towards 2018, many people are opting for elective surgical procedures because they’ve most likely hit their insurance deductibles and reached out-of-pocket maximum expenses. While not all individuals with certain health conditions have the option or desire to postpone surgery,
some are taking advantage of the most optimal time of the year to schedule an elective procedure. Joint replacement
Gynecological procedures
Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which parts of an arthritic or damaged joint are removed and replaced with a metal, plastic or ceramic device called a prosthesis, which is designed to replicate the movement of a normal, healthy joint, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. After years of suffering, following a meniscus tear injury, 56-year-old Chip Hain was no longer benefiting from regular cortisone injections and other nonsurgical treatments to alleviate pain and stiffness in his knee. The avid golfer knew it was time to explore other options. “It got to the point where I couldn’t even walk the golf course without a knee brace,” he said. “I could not tolerate the pain.”
Many women opt for elective gynecological procedures for contraception, to control abnormal uterine bleeding and to treat fibroids. “Women who have completed child bearing and are looking for a permanent sterilization solution can undergo a laparoscopic tubal ligation,” said Giuseppe Ramunno, M.D., an OB-GYN at Abrazo Central Campus. “The fairly quick and highly effective procedure is performed in an outpatient setting and is tolerated very well.” During the procedure, doctors insert a camera through the belly button and make a small incision above the pelvis to either band, transect, or coagulate (burn) the fallopian tubes to prevent fertilization. Another common gynecological procedure is endometrial ablation for women with abnormal or heavy uterine bleeding. “Often performed in-office, this technique applies a heat source to destroy the lining of the uterus, which will then no longer respond to hormones, thicken or shed, and either eliminates or significantly reduces bleeding during menstruation,” Ramunno said. The majority of women respond well to the minimally invasive procedure and experience minor side effects, such as cramping or discharge that usually only last for a few days. Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which says they can vary in shape and size and most commonly occur in women between the ages of 30 and 40. Uterine fibroid surgery is performed to alleviate heavy bleeding, reduce pain, and in some cases, treat cancer. “We use a variation of techniques to surgically address uterine fibroids and achieve great results,” Ramunno explained.
Moving forward That’s when he turned to Ted Firestone, M.D., a joint replacement specialist at HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center. An X-ray showed the cartilage surrounding Hain’s knee had completely worn away and the bones were rubbing together, which was causing extreme pain. “There is only so much that can be done to alleviate pain when arthritis becomes severe,” Firestone said. “While it is ultimately up to the patient to make the decision to move forward with surgery, people normally opt for joint replacement after exhausting all conservative treatment options.” Earlier this year, Hain made the decision to undergo knee replacement surgery. “The procedure has come a long way,” Firestone said. “Our less invasive surgical techniques allow patients to leave the hospital the next day, sometime the same day, use little or no narcotics, and resume mobilization much faster.” Hain was quickly back on the golf course and shot par just six weeks after surgery. Today, he says he’s feeling great and his knee is strong. “I often think that I should have had the procedure much sooner,” he said. “It has greatly improved my overall quality of life.”
GETTY
THE MESSAGE: A new study that looked at data from half a million teens from 2010 to 2015 is seeing an association between the time spent on electronic devices and an increase in teen suicide/depression, particularly among girls.
Reconstructive surgery
T
rauma, impaired breathing or a birth anomaly, are all medical reasons why someone might choose to undergo rhinoplasty, a nose reshaping surgical procedure to correct these conditions. “Rhinoplasty is most commonly performed to fix a deviated septum to unblock the airway after cartilage in the nasal passages has warped,” said Pablo Prichard, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon and chief of plastic surgery at HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center. “This is especially beneficial for people who have a hard time breathing through their nose and sleeping at night.” Results may not be completely symmetric, although the goal of rhinoplasty is to create facial balance and correct proportion, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “There is always a cosmetic component to the reconstructive procedure,” Prichard explained. Following surgery, patients often experience temporary pain and soreness, but the outcomes are usually very good. “The procedure is performed in an outpatient environment and does not require a hospital stay,” Prichard said. “Most people go back to work within a week of surgery.”
Chip Hain (right), had knee replacement surgery in July. The surgery was done by Dr. Ted Fireston (left). Today, he is back enjoying his favorite activity, hitting the links at Estancia Golf Course in Scottsdale.
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