Health Watch October 2016

HealthWatch October 2016

Game changing device:

Area hospital receives new device for endovascular treatment PAGE 10

IN THIS ISSUE

Lifting weight off:

Experts offer tips on selecting backpacks for school children. PAGE 2

Cupping craze: Coconut oil pulling: Suction therapy offers body, holistic healing to range of patients.

PAGE 6

Benefits of popular swishing practice divide health care leaders. PAGE 13

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

Sunday, October 23, 2016

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Are backpacks hurting your students’ stance?

BY JENNIFER LINN

jlinn@gainesvilletimes.com The backpack is as much a part of school life as homework.

Students use backpacks to carry everything they need. Unfortunately, the weight of everything they need stuffed into an improperly worn backpack may lead to sore joints and muscles.

Dr. Joseph Powers of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Sports Medicine sees pediatric back pain in patients often, which can be caused by the improper use of backpacks.

“It’s a really common complaint,” he said.

When Powers first sees a patient he suspects may have injuries caused by backpacks, the doctor asks a series of questions.: ■■ What kind of backpack is being used?

■■ How many books are being carried?

■■ Does the book bag have wide, padded straps or thin straps that may dig into a child’s shoulder?

■■ Is the backpack equipped with waist straps?

Powers explained backpacks with padded backs can feel better on a student’s back.

The addition of waist straps helps lock the bag in place.

‘When properly worn, a backpack is supported by the strongest muscles in the body...’

Dr. Jessica Sosso Mayo Clinic

If he receives vague answers, sometimes he’ll have patients bring their bags to the clinic.

If Powers determines the heavy backpack is the cause of the pain, he has a couple of suggestions.

As a general rule of thumb, backpacks should not weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of a child’s body, Powers said.

Dr. Jessica Sosso, a Mayo Clinic Health System family physician, agreed.

She said leaning forward to compensate for the extra weight of a full day’s worth of textbooks and a change of clothing for afterschool activities, for example, can affect the natural curve in the lower back. Extra weight also may cause a rounding of the shoulders and an increased curve in the upper back.

As a result, students may experience back, shoulder and neck pain.

Power added students need to carry backpacks high and tight on their backs. Wearing a bookbag low-slung can throw the child’s shoulders back and put tension and additional strain on the back. A neutral position allows a child to engage their core muscles and take some of the load off of the back, he said.

“When properly worn, a backpack is supported by the strongest muscles in the body: the back and abdominal muscles,” Sosso said.

“These muscles work together to stabilize the trunk and hold the body in proper postural alignment. Improper backpack use presents some dangers to young, still-growing joints and muscles.”

Sosso also suggests these tips:

Wear both straps Slinging a backpack over one shoulder causes a person to lean to one side to compensate for the uneven weight, curving the spine.

Over time, this can cause lower and upper back pain, strained shoulders and neck and functional scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Teenage girls are especially susceptible to scoliosis.

Pay attention to type Look for backpacks with wide straps. Narrow straps can hinder circulation, causing numbness or tingling in the arms, which may cause weakness in the hands.

And look for a backpack with a waist belt.

Tightening the belt helps distribute the weight of the backpack more evenly. It’s also wise to consider the weight of the backpack when empty. For example, a canvas backpack will be lighter than leather.

Find a backpack with reflective strips For students who often walk to school near traffic, the reflective strips makes the child more noticeable to drivers.

“Overall, you should encourage your children to wear their backpacks properly and keep it light,” Sosso said. “Have them use both straps and make frequent stops at their locker throughout the day to avoid carrying all their books at once. And leave nonessentials at home. Urge your children to tell you if they are in pain or have discomfort before a problem becomes serious.”

The Mayo Clinic News Network contributed to this report.

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

Maintain your health with full-body massage

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com At Echo Wellness Center, massage is much more than an indulgence.

The center on Main Street in downtown Flowery Branch is known for “integrated body work,” or using massage for pain treatment and therapy.

Janni Arena, a neuromuscular therapist with Echo Wellness Center, said many people view massage as nonessential or extravagant.

“We get that a lot,” Arena said. “Most people have had some experience with massage, and it is seen as an indulgent thing. But I think it’s good if we can change that.”

She wants people who suffer from chronic pain to know massage may relieve their continuous discomfort. As a neuromuscular therapist, Arena treats clients who have a complaint or pain anywhere in the body.

“I’ll ask how long it’s been going on and they’ll say, ‘Oh, about three or four years,’” she said with a laugh. “And a lot of problems that you think are a serious thing that require surgery or a doctor, many many times is just knots in the muscles that have formed from a repetitive motion or poor posture.”

Poor posture is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to pain in the body. Arena said often it is just due to too much sitting. Today, many people sit with their arms stretched in front of them, whether it is writing, typing on a keyboard or holding a steering wheel.

Arena said this action causes the muscles on the front of the body to get “short and tight,” while the muscles in the back form knots from being overworked.

“A lot of people think they just need a back massage,” Arena said. “But what really needs to be done is the full body, particularly the front.”

This involves stimulating — or massaging — soft tissue, breaking up knots and loosening tight muscles.

But first, new clients to Echo Wellness Center typically start with a posture assessment. Arena said a good therapist begins with “a very thorough assessment.”

The purpose is to determine the client’s needs, instead of simply giving him or her the massage requested.

“If you go to a doctor, you don’t walk in and request your medicine,” she said. “Any really good therapist is going to think about what the person is going for in their particular situation.”

In general, the benefits of massage include

freeimages.com

Stimulating or massaging soft tissue breaks up knots and loosening tight muscles.

Echo Wellness Center Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; open Wednesday by appointment Address: 5516 Main St., Flowery Branch Phone number: 770-965-3246 Website: echowellnesscenter.com

increased blood flow and oxygen, lengthened and strengthened muscles and stimulated nerve function, to name a few.

But Arena said, when used properly, it can do even more.

“There are very few things massage cannot benefit, but there are many things it can benefit that people don’t realize,” she said.

For anyone considering trying massage, Arena said to consider the body like a car.

“You don’t skip a dental checkup or a medical checkup,” she said. “You even take your car routinely to the shop. But a lot of people skip maintenance on their own body.

And they shouldn’t.”

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

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BGW’s den�sts use the latest digital equipment, including 3D technology for dental radiographs, which means the X-rays serve as more useful tools than ever before.

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“We also have the advantage of no need for chemicals or film, a near instantaneous image plus the ability to contrast the image by using color and enlarge it to get a be�er look at any area,” Benne� said.

An added benefit is how comfortable the process is for the pa�ent. The machine automa�cally detects the �lt of the pa�ent’s head as they use the bite block, and the device smoothly rotates 360 degrees around the head as it generates thousands of frames in a single rota�on.

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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KEEPING YOU IN THE GAME SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

The cups are heated and placed into position instantly creating a suction on the skin.

Cupping therapy helps pain, sinus problems

BY KRISTEN OLIVER

koliver@gainesvilletimes.com During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, American swimmer Michael Phelps was often seen with circular marks all over his body.

The marks prompted conversations with the press about a traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing cups all over the body.

Known as cupping therapy, the process is practiced at Flourish Acupuncture and Healing Arts at 615 Green St. in Gainesville. And Flourish’s Tamara Clarke is a national- and state-certified licensed acupuncturist and diplomate of Oriental medicine.

Cupping uses glass or plastic cups to create suction that pulls skin and tissue away from the body. Clarke said while traditional massage pushes skin and tissue, cupping is almost a reverse massage. It pulls the tissue upward.

Clarke described the process of using cupping therapy on her clients.

“I put salve on the skin first,” she said.

“Then you take a cotton ball, soak it in alcohol and set it on fire. You take the flame and put it inside the cup for a moment. As it heats, it creates a vacuum, that then pulls the skin and tissue up into the cup when it’s pressed on the skin. You can actually see it raised inside of the cup.

“These are called fire cups,” Clarke said.

“And there are others that have a little gun

that you put on the end, and it pulls the air out and creates the suction.”

Clarke said the two main purposes for cupping therapy are pain treatment and lung or sinus problems.

“In treating pain, it can be anywhere on the body, but mostly the larger muscles,” she said. “So shoulders, back, hips, hamstrings, calves. But it can do a lot for the sinuses, too.”

In traditional Chinese medicine, the different vertebrae are connected to different parts of the body, to the 12 Chinese organs.

The lungs are connected to the T-3 vertebrae, so placing the cups adjacent to that vertebrae on the upper back can help with phlegm and sinus pressure, Clarke explained.

The therapy predates Christ, possibly dating back to as early as 3000 B.C. and certainly was used by Hippocrates in ancient Greece.

Thanks in part to Phelps, the therapy is gaining popularity today.

“It’s interesting because, before Michael Phelps made it popular in the Olympics, it was typically me telling people, ‘I think cupping would be really good for you. Are you OK with me adding that at the end?’” Clarke said.

“And most people say yes, but some people would say no.”

Since the end of the Olympics, however, Clarke said she has a number of people calling to request the therapy.

■■Please see cupping, 7

John L. Hemmer, Jr., MD Robert J. Marascalco, MD W. David Weiss, MD John G. Vachtesevanos, MD Gary Davis, III, MD Benjamin M. Puckett, MD Kris Wheeler, MD C. Cullen Scott, MD Filippo Chillemi, MD

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

cupping ■■ Continued from 6 “Especially kids, 13, 14, 15 years old, that are playing sports and have sport injuries,” she said. “Particularly a lot of leg stuff. But we’re discovering (after) one treatment, and their problem is often gone.”

Clarke said some hesitation is still involved with cupping therapy. A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information found while cupping can have a positive, potential effect in the treatment of specific conditions, further rigorously designed trials are warranted.

Clarke said she experiences some client hesitation because it can leave temporary, circular marks on the skin. It also can be painful if the recipient has nerve pain.

“It’s really important to go to somebody who knows how to do it and when it is appropriate,” she said. “Because there are definitely times when it is not appropriate. As it becomes more popular with more awareness, I’ve heard of people adding cupping to their practices that haven’t had the training really. So you just have to be careful.”

Clarke said when she was living in Colorado, she treated a man who had been on antibiotics for pneumonia for nearly two months.

Clarke gave him herbs and conducted a treat-

Se habla Español

SCOTT ROGERS | | The Times

Licensed Acupuncturist and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine Tamar Clarke heats and places the therapy cups on a client’s back at Flourish Acupuncture and Healing Arts.

ment of acupuncture and cupping.

Two days later, she said he felt healed. He then went skiing on top of a mountain.

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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New device changes endovascular treatment

BY BEKAH PORTER For HealthWatch

Schedule an annual physical for Alonzo McKee, and he’ll be there, no questions asked.

On June 4, the 77-year-old Oakwood resident stopped in for his yearly checkup at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, expecting the uneventful. They would take his blood pressure, count his heartbeats and determine if his blood sugar was OK. Then that would be that.

“But it didn’t go quite like that,” McKee said. “The doctor, he was feeling around on my lower stomach, and he said something didn’t feel quite right there. And that’s how it all started.”

“Not quite right” proved to be quite the understatement.

Lodged deep in McKee’s stomach was a bulge in the aortic artery, the largest artery in the human body. It originates from the left side of the heart and extends down to the abdomen.

While the blood vessel typically measures about 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter, McKee’s had ballooned to 9 centimeters — a number alarming the hospital’s vascular staff. It was

an aneurysm, a bulging weak area in the wall of an artery. “(McKee’s aneurysm) was much larger than is normal, and it was impending rupture,” said Dr. Anu Whisenhunt, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and a vascular surgeon with the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Vascular Center.

Medical professionals repair an abdominal aortic aneurysms when they reach 5.5 centimeters. McKee’s was almost twice the size that doctors determine dangerous enough to warrant surgery.

Within hours of the initial scan that discovered what was essentially a lethal ticking time bomb, McKee was told he’d be undergoing emergency surgery.

“When the doctors first started talking about the aneurysm, I didn’t really know what it was or what to think,” said McKee, a retired sales representative. “But there they were, telling me that it was just about to bust.

So I said they should go ahead and do what they had to do.”

In this case, that involved reaching for the unfamiliar.

■■Please see device, 11

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Dr. Anu Whisenhunt of the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates Vascular Center looks at an image of a aeortic aneurysm prior to the use of the new Gore Excluder Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis.

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Current guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians recommend annual low dose CT scans for patients aged 55-77 who are at risk for lung cancer. Medicare now pays for the lung cancer screening for patients of this age group and most large companies are now covering the screening under preventative services for patients that meet the required criteria.

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device

An opened vasular stent is shown at the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Surgical Associates Vascular Center.

■■ Continued from 10 Earlier in the year, the Northeast Georgia Health System obtained access to a new industry device intended for exactly McKee’s situation.

The GORE EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis had just become commercially available to physicians a few months earlier as the first FDA-approved device to treat endovascular treatment of common iliac artery aneurysms.

Whisenhunt knew McKee’s situation called for something state-of-the-art.

“We had just been talking about when we should be using this device when (McKee) showed up on our doorstep needing it,” she said.

The IBE is an implantable two-pronged device, also called a stent by some doctors, allowing surgeons to repair the aneurysm without cutting off blood flow to other parts of the body. While this might seem simple in theory, it has proven to be anything but in the past, Whisenhunt said. Without the IBE, blood could stop flowing through the artery that provides blood flow to the lower half of the body.

“Typically, if we didn’t have this device, we would have had to put him at a

SCOTT ROGERS The Times

higher risk for no blood flow to his pelvic region, which could result in such issues as not being able to walk without pain to impotence,” Whisenhunt said.

“It worked out great that we had this on hand when (McKee) came in.”

Furthermore, the IBE allowed for a less-invasive procedure, which results in fewer days in recovery and less pain.

“Originally, this procedure would have been a major open procedure, meaning more incisions, but our time was cut down beyond half,” she said.

While previously McKee would have

stayed in the hospital for about a week, he was in and out in three days.

“Thank the Lord, you know,” McKee said. “I’d had a triple bypass before, and that was a lot more rough. But this? I just had a little pain walking and really, it wasn’t much, and it didn’t last long.”

He’s glad he only had to spend a few days away from the home he shares with his wife, Barbara. But even more importantly, he’s glad he got to go home at all.

“Honestly, those doctors, they saved my life,” McKee said.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

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Device sets new standard About 200,000 new cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms are diagnosed annually, according to W. L. Gore & Associates, the company that created the GORE EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis device used to save the life of Oakwood resident Alonso McKee. In addition to preventing the typical blood flow loss associated with AAA repairs, the IBE also sets a new industry standard by being available off-the-shelf, in a one-size-fits-all solution. Other devices must be specially fit to the individual patient, prolonging the time between discovery of the AAA and its surgical repair.

This could not be more important to Northeast Georgia residents, said Dr. Anu Whisenhunt, a vascular surgeon with the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Vascular Center.

“We have such a large population with vascular disease,” she said. “I have seen so much here than I have seen before in other locations.”

Vascular disease carries the same risk factors that cause heart disease, such as obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood sugars, excessive cholesterol and family history.

Whisenhunt said those with the listed conditions should ask their primary care physicians if they need an ultrasound to check for aneurysms.

Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic Offers Cardio Oncology Clinic For Better Cancer Care The Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic Oncology Department, in conjunction with the Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, have established a collaborative initiative to offer our patients comprehensive cancer therapy while minimizing their cardiac risk.

Some of the cancer treatments may cause damage to the heart, especially if you already have or are at risk for heart disease. Our goal is to reassure our patients that their heart health will be monitored before, during and after therapy if needed.

Whether you have or are at risk for cardiovascular disease, our oncologists, cardiologists, nurses and healthcare professionals are dedicated to protect your heart during and after chemo or radiation therapy.

1240 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, SE • Suite 500 • Gainesville, GA 30501 | www.ngdc.com | 770-536-9864

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

Xenoestrogen can upset body’s estrogen levels

BY HAILEY VAN PARYS

hvanparys@gainesvilletimes.com Xenoestrogens are hiding in nearly everything you touch on a daily basis.

“You would have to live in a glass bubble to avoid them,” said Dr. Amber French with Northeast Georgia Medical Center. “It’s any kind of estrogen that’s not made by your body.”

These chemicals, also known as foreign estrogens, live inside objects such as plastics, filtered water and makeup products. The chemicals are a part of a bigger group called endocrine disruptors, French said. Endocrine disruptors can stop or speed up the way your body processes certain chemicals.

Birth control, for example, is one endocrine disruptor that purposefully disrupts your body’s ability to become pregnant. Another endocrine disruptor is used to treat certain types of cancers.

However, xenoestrogens can mess with a person’s natural levels in the body without realizing it. They bind to the estrogen receptors and sometimes block the body from producing at a natural level, confusing the body.

It can lead to estrogen dominance, which is linked to breast and uterine cancer.

Symptoms of having too many xenoestrogens in the system can feel equivalent to feeling hormonal or having a permanent state of PMS. “You can’t test for it,” French said. “We are all exposed to it.”

It’s not only women who are susceptible to the negative effects of xenoestrogens. French said recent studies show a decreased level of testosterone and lower sperm counts in men because of the chemicals.

It’s impossible to completely cut xenoestrogens out of one’s life, but ways exist to decrease the prevalence of them in the home and workplace.

French has tried cutting xenoestrogens out of her personal life.

“We don’t have bottled water at my house,” French said.

She also reads all of the ingredients on the back of the product. If you can’t read all of the ingredients, don’t buy it, she said.

She suggests making small steps to achieve the overall lifestyle change needed to cut out the bad chemicals.

Eating organically can cut out some of the chemicals. French said dairy is always going to have a higher level of toxic estrogens in it, since it comes from pregnant cows.

Being more conscious of what people put into their bodies will help as well.

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Dr. Amber French of Lakeside GYN in Dahlonega keeps her patients aware of how to avoid xenoestrogens, which are in many things.

Tips to avoid xenoestrogens ■■ Drink water out of glass or metal instead of plastic bottles ■■ Eat organic foods not covered in pesticides ■■ Wash some types of fruits and vegetables. See Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen List at www.ewg.org ■■ Don’t eat canned food since the lining is full of xenoestrogens ■■ Buy fresh or jarred foods ■■ Avoid pesticides and herbicides — take your shoes off at the door if you’ve been gardening or walking in dirty areas

Tips courtesy Christine Holcomb, a group mentor on the Advisory Team for the Healing Strong group

She also said it’s important to consider what women put on their face. Some makeup product brands have higher levels of xenoestrogens in them. Check the labels for parabens or phenoxyethanol.

Sun tanning lotions and sunscreens are also big culprits, French said. It can also hide in detergents, fabric softeners and other household cleaning products.

“You are in full contact with these things,” French said. “You wear your clothes all day, you sleep on your blankets at night. These things are getting into your skin.”

To combat the effects of xenoestrogens, French suggests taking I3C supplements over the counter.

“It will help detox,” French said.

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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

Benefits of ‘oil pulling’ divide health industry

BY HAILEY VAN PARYS

hvanparys@gainesvilletimes.com Coconut oil seems to be a trendy topic as of late.

You can put it in your hair to moisturize it or on your face to wipe away dirt. And it can be added as an ingredient for cooking, among other things.

While these claims are more common uses of coconut oil, another use has more unsubstantiated claims.

Coconut oil pulling involves swishing and pulling around one tablespoon of the substance in your mouth and between your teeth.

It claims to prevent tooth decay and loss, whiten teeth, boost the immune system and reduce the risk of heart disease, gum disease and gingivitis.

Veerappan Subramaniyam, known to his patients as Dr. Ramesh with The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Cumming, thinks the links are coincidental.

“There is no research directly linking oil pulling with a reduced risk of heart disease,” Subramaniyam said via email.

However, he said data proves pulling can improve oral health. Furthermore, research shows a “definite” link between good dental health and heart disease.

“I believe that the regular practice of ‘oil pulling’ could reduce the risk of heart disease but (it) certainly is not proven yet,” Subramaniyam said. “The particular use of coconut oil, which is highly absorbable, may confer a marginal advantage over other types of oil, in that it can favorably affect one’s lipid profile.”

Dentist Richard Smith of Blue Ridge

agrees.

“There are no known benefits of coconut oil pulling,” Smith said.

Smith said the method has mostly been used in Middle Eastern countries for the better part of 3,000 years, but they have a different lifestyle.

The Middle Eastern culture and diet has a big part to play in their dental health, not how often they swish coconut oil in their mouths.

“They don’t eat as much refined sugar,” Smith said.

Instead of coconut oil pulling, he said the best thing for teeth is to floss every day and brush a few times a day.

“Prevention is inexpensive, while fixing is expensive,” Smith said. “Most people wait until it hurts, and then they go to the dentist.”

He estimated more than 50 percent of the population doesn’t see a dentist as often as they should.

“You only get one shot with teeth,” Smith said. “Unless you’re under 6 (years old).”

However, if you want the benefits coconut oil pulling claim to have, he suggests another way.

Using antimicrobial mouth washes, such as ones available at any health, drug and some department stores, are just as helpful.

He also suggests buying products with the American Dental Association seal of approval on the label. The association is funded by the dental community, and it seeks to prove and disprove what products claim in their labels.

“It’s all independent; it’s not funded by any companies,” Smith said.

For more information on the ADA’s work, visit www.mouthhealthy.org.

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

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Dr. Givogre has more than 20 years experience in Regenerative Medicine techniques and injection treatments.

Coconut oil pulling involves swishing around one tablespoon of the substance in your mouth and between your teeth. freeimages.com

Lanier Interventional Pain Center

John L. Givogre, M.D.

2335 Limestone Overlook Gainesville, GA 30501 Just off Limestone Parkway at Windward

770-297-0356 • lanierpain.com

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com

Hospital conducts unusual surgery Being a urologist, I am used to treating unusual and unique cases. Often times, other hospitals refer patients to us, because they simply cannot treat them.

Last fall, I was referred a patient for polycystic kidney disease. Polycystic kidney disease is when clusters of cysts develop in the kidneys. It can lead to high blood pressure, increase in size of the kidneys and loss of kidney function.

In this particular case, the patient’s PKD was so severe, it led to the loss of kidney function. His kidneys also weighed a staggering 23 pounds. The average pair of kidneys weighs less than 1 pound.

The patient was on dialysis three times a week and in and out of the emergency room because of the pain. He also had difficulty breathing because of the pressure on the diaphragm.

By the time I saw him, his kidneys were wrapping around his abdomen and causing vital organs to shift and become cramped.

Along with PKD, the patient was suffering from a genetic disorder (osteogenesis imperfecta), which mainly affects bones, and a blood condition (Von Willebrand disease),

which causes excessive bleeding due to the body’s inability to clot. This blood disease made surgery especially challenging, because it increased the chance of excessive blood loss.

The patient requested to have his kidneys removed because of the pain he was enduring. I told him about the potential complications with surgery, because of his prior and ongoing illnesses. I suggested he seek further opinions before removal.

Six months later, this gentleman was back in my office. After several opinions, he still wanted his kidneys removed.

We had a long talk about the risks of this surgery. I explained he may not be able to receive a transplant immediately after removal. He said he understood the risks and wanted to proceed.

I enlisted the help of his nephrologist, Dr. Lalitha Band of the Kidney Care Center of Georgia; my Northeast Georgia Physician Group partner, Dr. Devandar Katkoori; Dr. Lalitha Medepalli, a cardiologist at The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center; Dr. Kam Wong, anesthesiologist with Anesthesia Associates of Gainesville;

Dr. Richard LoCicero, a hematologist with The Longstreet Clinic, PC; and a team of inpatient care and critical care doctors at NGMC. With this team, I felt entirely prepared and comfortable with proceeding with this complicated surgery.

After five hours in surgery, we successfully removed both kidneys. We had a room in the intensive care unit ready for the patient, just in case he needed the extra level of care.

The patient healed well and is continuing his dialysis. He has no pain and will hopefully qualify for a transplant in the near future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the nurses and specialized technicians at NGMC who were behind the scenes and made this surgery a success. The community is blessed to have access to such high quality health care, close to home.

For more information about NGPG Urology, visit www.ngpg.org/urology or call 770-219-8765.

Raj Ayyathurai is a doctor with the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Urology.

For The Times

Dr. Raj Ayyathurai recently worked with a patient with polycystic kidney disease.

GAINESVILLE HEART AND VASCULAR GROUP At Gainesville Heart & Vascular Group, we believe that the patient is the center of our practice. We are committed to providing the best possible care through diligent clinical evaluation and appropriate use of state-of-the-art technology. Guided by compassion for each individual, we strive to provide convenience and peace of mind to our patients by providing most services under one roof. Our ultimate goal — help our patients achieve a better quality of life.

S E RV I C E S O F F E R E D • Adult Consultative Cardiology • ECG, Holter and Event Monitoring • Exercise Treadmill Testing • Echocardiography • Transesophageal Echocardiography • Stress Echocardiography • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (Nuclear Scans) • Peripheral Vascular (claudication) Testing • Cardiac Catheterization (leg and wrist access)

• Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting • Peripheral Vascular Angioplasty and Stenting • Renal Angioplasty and Stenting • Pacemaker Implants • Loop Recorder Implants • Pacemaker and ICD Management • Anticoagulation Management • Lipid Management • Pulmonary Hypertension Testing

We would enjoy an opportunity to meet with you to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.

Dr. David Johnson • Dr. Bernardine King • Dr. Vivek Nautiyal Dr. Josh Lovelock • George Pattam, PA-C • Elizabeth Mathis FNP-C

535 Jesse Jewell Parkway, SE, Suite C, Gainesville Phone 770.534.9014 • www.ghvg.net

Cardiovascular disease affects over 80 million people in the United States.

Risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease include age, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use and family history of cardiovascular disease. Symptoms associated with cardiovascular disease include chest pain, shortness of breath, arm/leg pain, loss of consciousness and fatigue.

We at the Gainesville Heart and Vascular Group specialize in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Established in 1994, the Gainesville Heart & Vascular Group, formerly known as the Gainesville Heart Group, is recognized as the first cardiology practice dedicated to the care of heart patients in Gainesville and surrounding areas.

Its founder, Dr. David P. Johnson is a Gainesville native who had a dream of providing full-time and full-service cardiac care to the community. He and his partners played an integral part in bringing the Open Heart Surgery Program to Gainesville in 2002.

Our staff has a reputation of applying a personal touch to our care and cherishing the relationship we have with our patients. Our staff, including physicians, enjoys residing and being an active part of the Hall County community.

Our office has a wide variety of services, including general cardiology consultation, electrocardiography, echocardiography / 2-D Doppler, stress echocardiography, nuclear stress testing and ankle brachial pressure index. Our physicians are staffed round the clock, 365 days a year, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

Cardiac catheterizations, including coronary and peripheral artery stenting, stress testing, transesophageal echocardiography and pacemaker devices are performed at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

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Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Times, Gainesville, Georgia |

gainesvilletimes com