Appalachian Health: Winter 2017

Appalachian an Health LIVING WELL WITH ARH

Don’t Ignore These 8 Symptoms Join ARH Heroes No Flu for You!

WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 2

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HEALTH NEWS

BERRY THE POUNDS

JOIN OUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE HEROES

The resveratrol in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries works to turn flabby white fat into calorie-burning beige fat, making it easier to lose weight.

—Washington State University

Making high-quality care available to all community residents is the ARH Foundation’s core goal.

ARH Foundation Mission Statement

To further healthcare, education and community involvement in Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia through philanthropy and fundraising for Appalachian Regional Healthcare.

Lend Your Support

You can make a donation to support the ARH Foundation or your area's Patient Assistance Fund by calling (859) 226-2512.

The ARH Foundation wants to make it simple for you to invest in the future of healthcare in Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. Community support is vital to our rural healthcare system. It enables ARH to maintain the latest technology, quality facilities and services that have made ARH a regional healthcare leader. To make a donation, please see the box at left.

Patient Assistance Funds are just one of the foundation’s programs. ARH Cancer Centers have been working hard to raise donations. These funds help provide transportation assistance through the use of prepaid gas cards and overnight accommodations for out-of-town patients who may need multiple days of treatment in a row, or are too ill to travel back home following treatment.

Recently, the Middlesboro ARH Cancer and Infusion Therapy Center held its first annual Appalachian Hoedown in the Crater fundraiser, raising more than $6,500 for the local Patient Assistance Fund.

Nap for brain health People who took a 60- to 90-minute nap after lunch every day had better brain function than those who took shorter naps, longer naps or no naps at all. This was reported after studying nearly 3,000 people age 65 and older.

—Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

TIDY UP Above left: Samantha and Brittony Beason played mountain melodies on their dulcimers. Above right: The Broken Spur Dance Club performed and taught square-dancing steps to the crowd. Top: The Middlesboro ARH oncology staff at the Hoedown fundraiser. From left: Kayla Hatfield, Cheri Duncan, Dr. Mohamed Shanshal, Tina Fuson and Judy Gulley.

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Women working in a messy kitchen scarfed nearly twice as many cookies as those in a tidy one, according to research. A disorganized environment is linked to increased stress and weakened willpower.

—Cornell University

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POWER FOOD HOW SWEET IT IS

VITAMIN-PACKED SWEET POTATOES LEAVE WHITE SPUDS IN THE DIRT. A PRIMARY SOURCE of nourishment for native Americans, early European colonists and soldiers during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, sweet potatoes later were relegated to holiday tables, served as a complement to Thanksgiving turkey or holiday roast. Today, sweet potatoes are making a comeback: orange-fleshed mashes, fries and tots are commonly found on restaurant menus and in frozen-food aisles at grocery stores. Though fried potatoes of any color should be eaten sparingly, baked or boiled sweet potatoes offer exceptional health benefits.

POWER UP

50%

of U.S. sweet potatoes are grown in North Carolina

2X

Sweet potatoes have twice the fiber of a white (Irish) potato

When shopping, choose sweet potatoes that are firm and smooth, without bruises or discoloration. Store them unwashed in a cool, dry place and use within three to five weeks. Sweetness increases during storage. Don’t refrigerate—the cold turns the potato’s natural sugars to starch. Like white potatoes, sweet potatoes can be baked, grilled, boiled or microwaved. Lightly season with salt and pepper or highlight their sweet side by sprinkling with brown sugar and cinnamon. For healthy potato chips, slice thinly, brush lightly with olive oil and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees (or until lightly browned and crisp). Try adding thinly sliced, cooked sweet potato to your sandwich, or pop sweet-potato slices on the grill until browned to your liking, then drizzle them with lime juice. And of course, you can mash them.

DID YOU KNOW? Sweet potatoes and yams are two different vegetables, with sweet potatoes offering more nutritional benefits and being more widely available in the U.S.

1

U.S. president who was a sweet-potato farmer (George Washington)

2,700+ Years humans have been cultivating sweet potatoes

Appalachian Regional Healthcare | WINTER 2017

Considered one of the healthiest vegetables of all, sweet potatoes are the root of a tropical vine in the morning-glory family. Brimming with beta-carotene, fiber and vitamins A (five times the recommended daily intake), C and E, they’re a good choice when it comes to adding cancer-fighting nutrients to your diet and improving digestive health.

Compared to white (also called Irish) potatoes, they have more vitamins, more fiber, fewer calories and fewer total carbs—despite having more sugar. They’re also fat-free.

BUY | STORE | SERVE

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Symptoms to Act on Now

WINTER 2017 |

WWW.ARH.ORG

Everyone is busy. It’s a fact of life in our fast-paced world.

So the last thing any of us wants to do is make a doctor’s appointment for a seemingly manageable problem. But for these eight symptoms, that appointment could save your life.

See your physician if you experience any of these problems.

Unexpected weight loss

Blood in the stool

Skin changes

Sudden confusion

While sudden, unexpected weight loss may sound like the stuff of infomercial dreams, it can signal serious problems, including endocrinesystem disorders, diabetes and cancer.

Losing 10 pounds or more without trying is cause for concern.

Changes to bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation lasting more than two days, accompanied by blood in the stool can be a symptom of hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome or colorectal cancer.

Any mole or freckle that changes color, shape, texture or size could be a natural part of aging or it could be skin cancer. There are many types of skin cancer and luckily, if caught early, most are easily treated by removing the offending mole.

A sudden bout of confusion, inability to concentrate or a change in personality could be caused by any of the following: dehydration, low blood sugar, an infection, a stroke, a brain tumor or bleeding in the brain.

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15 minutes

A typical office visit with a primary care doctor takes only 15 minutes. That’s time you can afford to spend on your health!

FIND A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR AT WWW.ARH.ORG.

Shortness of breath

Seeing flashes of light

Swollen legs

Flashes, bright spots or other unexplained oddities in your vision may indicate the onset of a migraine or a detached retina, which can quickly lead to permanent blindness without swift medical intervention.

Hot, red and swollen legs or pain in the back of your calf can be symptoms of vein problems, thyroid issues or heart failure.

Pain in the back of your legs also can indicate a blood clot that could be fatal if not treated promptly.

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Being tired all day, every day despite an early bedtime should be addressed by a medical professional.

Persistent fatigue could indicate depression, sleep apnea, anemia, hypothyroidism or cancer.

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Appalachian Regional Healthcare | WINTER 2017

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath is called dyspnea. Many people suffer from dyspnea occasionally, but if it is sudden, severe and limits your activities, you should seek medical attention.

Breathing problems could indicate asthma, lung infection, blood clot, stroke or heart attack.

Constant fatigue

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NO FLU FOR YOU!

WINTER 2017 |

WWW.ARH.ORG

3 ways to reduce the impact of this seasonal menace.

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W

hy take the chance that the flu—with its fever, dry cough, sore throat, body aches, and chills—will strike you this year? The influenza virus, a contagious infection of the respiratory system, affects 10 to 20 percent of the population annually. Each year the flu is different, and more or less severe.

Since 2010 in the U.S., deaths from the flu or its complications have ranged from 12,000 to 56,000.

Fortunately, there are preventive steps you can take to avoid the flu.

GET A FLU SHOT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine every season. It will reduce your risk of coming down with the flu, and of spreading it to others.

This is especially important if you spend time with someone at higher risk of flu complications (see side column) or if you have a child who is too young to be vaccinated.

Ideally, have your shot at the start of the season, which means in October or November.

The vaccine is very safe, there typically are no serious side effects, and it’s often covered by insurance.

Talk to your doctor before getting a flu shot if you have an allergy to any

of the ingredients in the vaccine, a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or an acute illness. To receive a flu vaccine, visit your primary care physician or ARH pharmacy.

AVOID GERMS This might seem to be common sense, but it bears repeating: Try not to have close contact with anyone who’s infected. And if you’re sick yourself, stay home and get well. When someone who has the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus is expelled into the air and may be inhaled by others. That’s why health experts recommend sneezing or coughing into the crook of your arm.

Other ways to protect against both spreading germs if you’re sick and catching germs if you’re not: Wash your hands frequently, and keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth (touching these areas can spread the bacteria).

KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG Boost your immune system by staying on top of fundamental healthy habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, drink a lot of fluids, maintain a balanced diet, and manage stress.

IS IT THE FLU—OR JUST A COLD? SYMPTOM

COLD

FLU

Fever and chills

Rarely

Yes (100.4 degrees or higher)

Cough

Yes

Yes (dry)

Yes (scratchy)

Yes

Rarely

Yes

Decreased appetite

Rarely

Yes

Congestion

Yes

Yes

Sneezing

Yes

Yes

Duration

2–14 days

7 days to several weeks

Onset of symptoms

Gradual

Sudden

People in these categories are at higher risk for developing complications from the flu and should see a physician as soon as they notice symptoms: • Children under 5 • Adults older than 65 • Pregnant women • People with weakened immune systems • People with chronic illnesses, including asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes • People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more

GET FLU AND OTHER VACCINATIONS AT YOUR ARH PHARMACY AGES 18 AND UP can get these vaccinations from one of our highly trained ARH pharmacists: •

Flu

•

Pneumonia

•

Shingles

•

Whooping Cough

•

Meningitis

Flu and pneumonia vaccines are covered with no co-pay by most insurance. Contact your local ARH pharmacy for more information.

Some people may have a health condition or allergy that prevents them from being able to get flu shots. If you have questions about whether or not you can receive the flu vaccine, please contact your primary care physician.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare | WINTER 2017

Sore throat Body aches, fatigue

ARE YOU AT HIGH RISK?

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WEST VIRGINIA

Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital 130 Kate Ireland Drive Hyden (606) 672-2901

Beckley ARH Hospital 306 Stanaford Road Beckley (304) 255-3000 Summers County ARH Hospital 115 Summers Hospital Road Hinton (304) 466-1000

McDowell ARH Hospital Route 122 McDowell (606) 377-3400

KENTUCKY

Middlesboro ARH Hospital 3600 West Cumberland Ave. Middlesboro (606) 242-1100

Barbourville ARH Hospital 80 Hospital Drive Barbourville (606) 546-4175

Morgan County ARH Hospital 476 Liberty Road West Liberty (606) 743-3186

Harlan ARH Hospital 81 Ball Park Road Harlan (606) 573-8100

Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center 260 Hospital Drive South Williamson (606) 237-1700

Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center 100 Medical Center Drive Hazard (606) 439-6600

Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. ARH System Center—Hazard 100 Airport Gardens Road Hazard, KY 41701

Whitesburg ARH Hospital 240 Hospital Road Whitesburg (606) 633-3500

REG I

ES RS

ERED NU T S

SIGN-ON ONUS* B

You’ll find the perfect fit at ARH — on the job and off.

As an ARH nurse, Brittany has everything she needs to provide exceptional care to the patients she treats each day, but her commitment to caring for her community doesn’t end there. In her free time, she volunteers to do stroke screenings, blood pressure checks and prevention education at local events around town.

It’s nurses like Brittany that make ARH so special — a home away from home, with nurses who love what they do.

EOE M/F/D/V

*Contact us to see if you qualify.

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