Inspire Winter 2018 by St. Thomas More Hospital

WINTER 2018 | Volume 4, Issue 1

A Healthier You

St. Thomas More Hospital

Super

CHOICES A focus on fresh foods can help fight inflammation and keep your heart healthy. Page 4

After a quadruple bypass, Tom Alger is eating — and feeling — healthier.

TIPS TO PREPARE FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY Page 3

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NUMBERS? Page 6

IS IT JUST THE SNIFFLES? Page 7

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

inspiring health

THE

DO diet

Do Make a plan. Plan what you’re going to eat each day. If you’ve planned a

salad, you’re less likely to surrender to pizza’s temptation. When you want cake, put that in your plan, and adjust what you eat the rest of the day.

it a meal. Eat slowly and mindfully, with the meal your focus. Do Make People who munch while watching TV or working at their computer tend to eat more.

Do Make a move.

Ten minutes at a time is enough — 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes at lunch, and 10 minutes after dinner get you the 30 minutes you need.

Becki Vettese, RN, health coach and personal trainer Favorite winter activity: Snowshoeing Favorite winter food: Any kind of soup

Healthy New Year Get your year started right with one of our health and wellness classes. Check out the schedule at stmhospital.org/events.

SPECIALIZED CARE

IN YOUR HOME TOWN

IF YOU HAVE A HEART CONDITION or other specialized health care need, St. Thomas More Hospital hosts several specialty clinics on a regular basis. The clinics listed below are held in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at 1338 Phay Avenue. For information or appointments to any of these clinics, please call the number next to the specialty: Cardiology (every Wednesday) 719-776-8500 Nephrology (first and second Tuesdays) 719-561-5264 Pacemaker Clinic (quarterly) 719-776-5021 Pulmonology (first and second Monday) 719-564-1542 Radiation Oncology (first Thursday of each month) 719-557-5460

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One-stop health care on the campus of St. Thomas More Hospital WHETHER IT’S A BLOOD DRAW, physical therapy, or well-baby checkup, many health care services will soon be available in one spot: St. Thomas More’s new medical office building. And for patients who need a hospital service, such as imaging, they can walk right next door. “It’s going to be one-stop shopping for patients. In the past, we’ve been at as many as five different locations. So, this will be a change for the better,” says St. Thomas More Administrative Director Rick Kamerzell.

Rick Kamerzell kicks off construction of the new building.

The new building is expected to open in late February and will house:

FIRST FLOOR

• General surgery practice • Orthopedics (including an X-ray suite) • Lab • OB-GYN

SECOND FLOOR • Pediatrics • Primary care

Join our

C e l e b r at i o n

St. Thomas More will host a festive grand opening to celebrate its newest addition. Details will be shared online in the coming month, so visit stmhospital.org/events to learn more.

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TIRED OF STARTING OFF EVERY NEW YEAR with a list of resolutions about what you’re not going to do? This year, try a new approach by adopting “do” resolutions, says Becki Vettese, RN, health coach at St. Thomas More’s Health & Wellness Center. She offers three easy things you can do to create a healthier lifestyle in 2018.

JOINT EFFORT

inspiring health

A little advance work can speed joint replacement recovery

IF JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IS IN YOUR FUTURE, you have some work ahead. “We’re going to do great surgery,” says Lee McFadden, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Centura Orthopedics at St. Thomas More in Cañon City. But you can help make your recovery faster and easier with some preparation. Here are some basic tips to get you ready: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

2 MONTHS BEFORE SURGERY

3 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY

SURGERY WEEK

AFTER SURGERY

If you smoke, stop. Smoking impacts circulation, delays healing, and will slow your recovery. Lose weight, if necessary. Excess pounds make recovery more difficult and put additional stress on new joints. See your dentist. Your mouth is awash in bacteria. To prevent bacteria from traveling to the surgery site, many surgeons recommend no dental procedures, including cleanings, six weeks before or after surgery. Schedule therapy. If your surgeon recommends physical therapy, make appointments now. Pile on the protein. Protein builds muscle and helps wound healing. So, increase intake before and after surgery. Go shopping. Check with your surgeon, but you might want to stock up on: • Sterile gauze pads • Hydrogen peroxide • Medical tape • Plastic wrap to cover the wound during showers • Over-the-counter medications such as multivitamins, baby aspirin, and Tylenol • Some patients will need a walker; talk to your doctor and, if needed, buy one now Check your diabetes. A high A1C could mean postponing surgery, because high blood sugar can increase chances for infection. Create a care plan. Line up your post-surgery caregivers, including those who will walk your pets for the first week or so. Plan meals. Cooking won’t be on your menu for a while, so prepare and freeze a few meals.

Dr. Lee McFadden

TO LEARN MORE

about joint replacement surgery, go online to stmhospital.org/orthopedics or call 719-285-2646 to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists.

Clean and clear. Fall-proof your home. Pick up throw rugs, clear a path for a walker, and move kitchen and bathroom supplies to a convenient height. Infection control. Shower with antibacterial soap for five days presurgery. The day before surgery, put clean sheets on your bed and get clean towels ready. Get moving. You’ll need to take it easy for several weeks, but walking and exercising as instructed will speed your recovery. Get into therapy. Knee replacement patients start physical therapy within days of surgery, and typically continue therapy for several weeks. Hip replacement patients continue therapy at home using instructions provided by their surgery team.

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INFLAMMAT ON

N TI N B

enjamin “Tom” Alger II went to his physician when swelling from a knee injury wouldn’t go down.

“One thing led to another, and he asked me if I ever have chest pain,” Alger says. “I said, ‘No, not really, but I do get a cold sensation across my chest from time to time.’” Alger was prescribed medication and scheduled for a stress test. The results were not good. “The next thing you know, I’m getting a call to have an angiogram,” he says. “And after that, they tell me, ‘Everything’s plugged. Stents won’t do it; you need triple bypass surgery.’” In the operating room, Alger’s surgery turned into a quadruple bypass given the amount of blockage found during the procedure. It’s amazing Alger hadn’t already had a heart attack. “I don’t really go to the doctor if I don’t have to,” Alger says. “I only go in when I have a reason. All of a sudden, I had this horrendous pain in my knee. If I hadn’t gone in for the knee pain, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Too much of a good thing BEHIND THE BLOCKAGE

Alger had severe atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in the arteries caused by excess cholesterol in the blood. Many experts believe atherosclerosis is caused, at least in part, by inflammation. Inflammation is a natural response to help the body fight acute illness or injury, but it also occurs in response to other unwanted substances in the body such as sugar, cigarette smoke, and excess fat. Chronic inflammation, which can last several months or years, leads to the eventual destruction, thickening, or scarring of healthy tissue. That can result in more serious problems like, in Alger’s case, heart disease. “Inflammation is a complex process in terms of the heart. Any part of the heart can be inflamed,” says David W. Albrecht, MD, FACC, cardiologist with St. Thomas More Cardiology Specialty Clinic. “If the lining of the arteries that supply the heart muscle is inflamed, then it’s more likely to form plaques.” Those plaques can then become unstable and crack or fissure, leading to the formation of a blood clot, which then blocks the artery, causing a heart attack or stroke.

BEYOND THE HEART

PHOTO BY STEVE BIGLEY

When Tom Alger visits the grocery store now, his food choices have changed. He avoids fats and sugar, and has a new appreciation for the produce department.

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Chronic inflammation affects not only the heart, but nearly every part of the body. It’s been tied to gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, lung disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, and gum disease. Unfortunately, some causes of chronic inflammation, such as age and genetics, can’t be controlled. Inflammation can be genetic, but research is still ongoing as to exactly which genes affect inflammation and how, Albrecht says.

FIGHT INFLAMMATION with

food

Beyond not smoking, eating the right foods — and staying away from the wrong ones — is a great way to reduce your risk for chronic inflammation. Certain foods have anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, a healthy diet is key to fending off excess fat, which is another source of inflammation. Here are three foods that fight and three foods that fan inflammation:

FOODS TO AVOID

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FOODS TO EAT

FOOD

REASON

LOOK FOR

Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids ward off inflammatory proteins C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.

Salmon, tuna, sardines, anchovies, and other cold-water fish

Nuts

Rich in monounsaturated fats, which fight inflammation and provide protein and fiber.

Walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, and pistachios

Brightly colored produce

Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables support the immune system and fight inflammation.

Blackberries, cherries, strawberries, spinach, kale, and broccoli

Sugar

Processed sugar feeds inflammation messengers in the body called cytokines.

Sugar comes in many forms; look for ingredients ending in -ose

Trans fats

Trans fats found in partially hydrogenated oils lead to systemic inflammation.

Fried food, processed snacks, margarine, and storebought baked goods

MSG

This food additive triggers the pathways that lead to inflammation.

Asian foods, fast food, prepared soup, salad dressing, and deli meat

However, other risk factors can be controlled. Albrecht recommends not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling stress, and following a healthy diet to reduce inflammation. Most importantly, talk to your doctor about your risk factors and whether or not you’d benefit from a C-reactive protein test, which checks for inflammation throughout the body. If your levels are abnormal, your doctor may recommend an aspirin regimen or statin medications such as Lipitor or Crestor to reduce your risk for heart disease.

FREE Health Screenings Sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet isn’t the only way to protect your heart. Join us at the Pamper Your Heart event on Monday, Feb. 12, at Evangelical Free Church. Wear red and enjoy a heart-healthy dinner, FREE health screenings, and a chance to win a door prize. Call 719-285-2179 to RSVP today!

Quit Smoking Smoking is the No. 1 cause of inflammation, which is tied to heart disease and a host of other problems. If you want to stop, your chances of success are better when you do it through a program. St. Thomas More Hospital offers a FREE Tobacco Cessation program. For more information, call 719-285-2010.

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preventive medicine

The MORE you know Knowledge is power when it comes to your health WHICH MOTTO BEST DESCRIBES YOUR HEALTH: “The more you know,” or “What I don’t know can’t hurt me”? If you’re leaning toward the latter, we’ve got some bad news. What you don’t know can — and will — hurt you when it comes to your health. That’s why it’s important to know your numbers, particularly your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. “You can have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol and not feel it,” says Steven Olson, MD, a family medicine physician with the St. Thomas More Physician Group. “That can put you at risk for diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease without knowing it.”

Dr. Steven Olson

The good news is, screenings for these conditions are quick and simple, and can be done in a doctor’s office or at a health fair. “Health fairs are convenient,” Olson says. “Just be sure to share the results, especially abnormal ones, with your primary care physician.” And once isn’t enough. Annual screenings are recommended, as your numbers will change over the years and for a number of reasons, including:

Low blood pressure can be just as dangerous as high readings and can be lifethreatening. Events that can lower blood pressure include pregnancy, dehydration, blood loss, anaphylaxis, and lack of vitamin B. There is no specific number considered “too low.” Instead, physicians act when it causes symptoms such as fainting, fatigue, and lack of concentration, among others.

RAISE/LOWER EFFECTS

MENOPAUSE

About 10 years after menopause, a woman’s risk for heart disease jumps, likely fueled by postmenopausal weight gain and the marked decline in the heart-protective hormone estrogen.

QUITTING SMOKING

Quitting improves blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. Blood pressure returns to normal just 20 minutes after your last cigarette, and heart disease risk is cut in half one year later.

WEIGHT GAIN

Excess weight negatively affects all your numbers, particularly if your body mass index is 30 or above. Losing just 5 to 10 percent can improve your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.

EXCESS ALCOHOL

Moderate drinking can raise good cholesterol, but overdoing it has negative effects on total cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Stick to one drink per day for women and two for men.

GET SCREENED Join us at Evangelical Free Church on Saturday, April 28, for the 5Health Fair to take advantage of a variety of FREE and low-cost health screenings. See back cover for details.

too low?

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EVENT

ARE YOU GOING

INSPIREKids

GOING VIRAL When sniffles hit, it’s important to distinguish between a simple cold and something more serious RUNNY NOSES USUALLY MEAN A COLD, but can also signal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Both are common, and it can be hard to tell them apart. While RSV usually goes away on its own, it sometimes can be serious enough to require hospitalization, says St. Thomas More pediatrician Amanda Nedzinski, DO. Dr. Amanda Nedzinski

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

FEVER. RSV can cause fever, but doesn’t always. Like flu, slightly different strains circulate each season. COUGHING. Coughing is a sign of healing, Nedzinski says, because it means mucus is loosening up. “But sometimes coughing makes it hard to breathe.” DIFFICULTY BREATHING. “We need to see kids if they are working hard to breathe, making funny noises, or breathing so hard that the skin between the ribs sucks in.” RECOVERY TIME. “RSV symptoms can last 10 to 14 days,” Nedzinski says. “But if your child isn’t getting better after day six, they should probably be seen.” Treatment can’t cure RSV since it is a virus, but it can help make breathing easier.

Call the doctor if: Your child is struggling to breathe, or isn’t getting better after six days.

Go to the emergency room if: Your child is struggling to breathe, it’s late at night, and you’re not comfortable waiting until the next day to have him or her seen.

NEWBORN CARE At St. Thomas More, pediatricians like Amanda Nedzinski, DO, visit babies in the hospital and again when they are 3 to 5 days old. During the visit, they check weight, jaundice, and overall health, Nedzinski says. “We make sure babies are getting enough to eat, are peeing and pooping, and doing everything they should be.” Expecting and new parents can meet the team at St. Thomas More’s Pediatric Clinic Meet & Greet, the first Thursday of each month. For more information, call 719-285-2091.

HOW BAD IS IT FOR MY BABY TO SLEEP IN THE BED WITH ME? A: “It can be very harmful. It increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS),” says St. Thomas More Family Nurse Practitioner Ashley Huynh, DNP, RN, FNP-BC. “During the first six months, it’s very easy for babies to suffocate in blankets, which they can’t push off, or soft mattresses. And if mom or dad rolls over on top of baby, that can be very dangerous. If parents want their baby in the room, a better solution is for baby to sleep in their own crib or bassinet.” Ashley Huynh, DNP, RN, FNP-BC

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Coming Soon Whether it’s a blood draw, physical therapy, or well-baby checkup, many health care services will soon be available in one spot: St. Thomas More’s new medical office building. And for patients who need a hospital service, such as imaging, they can walk right next door.

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