Inspired Tampa Bay: Spring 2016

inspired Tampa Bay the health and wellness magazine of Florida Hospital

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HeartSmart stop that Sneeze! food labelS, decoded good news for aging HipS

a guide for

momS-to-be

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I have to lead by example now.

Seven pounds and growing.

It hasn’t hit me yet.

I’m a mom.

Health care is about the human spirit.

Which is why Florida Hospital goes beyond symptoms and treatments, helping people live healthier, happier lives. Because you’re not just having a baby, you’re delivering a little miracle to the world and your family.

This is more than quality, expertise and compassion.

Discover the Florida Hospital difference at InspiredTampaBay.com

Florida Hospital

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Locations Throughout Tampa Bay Florida Hospital Physician Group

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“most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

—abraham lincoln

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InsPRInG ThIs Issue 2016 4 5

Get movinG! An active lifestyle is good for mind, body and spirit.

5 facts labels don't tell

health 10 heart Cutting carbs can help keep

Good news for aGinG hips

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strawberry fields forever This fruit taste treat is also a nutritional powerhouse.

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no 'ah-choo' for you Here’s a strategy for beating allergy symptoms in springtime—or any time.

back from the brink A team effort saves a man's life after a massive heart attack.

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preppinG for baby 4 things to do before you get pregnant.

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stroke of Genius A new tool improves stroke treatment.

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travelinG abroad?

Be sure to see an infectious diseases specialist before your trip.

WIN!

help u s to cr eate th magaz e idea ine. Ple l ase sh your fe a r e edbac survey k with monke us at y.com and en /r/insp ter the iredtb r a ffe for chanc y e to w our in one $50 A of six mazon gift ca rds.

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | Spring 2016

Doctors are more aggressive about preventing and treating fractures in this joint.

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your ticker in shape.

Nutrition panels on foods are about to change, but they still won't reveal all.

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For better health,

get moving An Active lifestyle is good for mind, body And spirit.

any doctors talk the talk when it comes to exercise, but Migdalia Merida, M.D., an internist with Florida Hospital, walks the walk too. She has competed in triathlons and running events, loves to hike and is as active as she can be.

“That’s how I live my life,” she says.

So when she tells her patients about the importance of physical activity, they listen.

“An inactive, sedentary lifestyle does awful things to your body,” Dr. Merida says. On the physical side, it leads to weight gain and obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis, and it is even linked to some forms of cancer. Mentally and emotionally, lack of exercise is tied to depression, poor

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sleep and higher stress.

On the other hand, regular physical activity can prevent or reverse many of those problems. It can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, help control weight, strengthen bones and improve sleep and mood.

Many of Dr. Merida’s patients come to her knowing they should be more active, but not knowing how. “They set unrealistic goals, like losing 50 pounds,” she says. “That’s overwhelming, so I tell them to work on losing fve pounds.”

She also suggests that people fnd an activity they are passionate about.

“It is most important to do what you love to do, so you will plan for it, look ahead to it and stick to it,” she says.

Activity does not have to be super-

strenuous to be benefcial. “Walking, gardening, whatever you love to do, just try to do it 30 minutes a day at least fve days a week,” she says.

Fortunately, living in Florida presents a wide variety of options for staying active. There are walking and bicycling trails, rollerblading pathways, golf courses and tennis courts, swimming, paddle boarding—almost any outdoor activity you can think of.

“I want patients to fnd an activity they love, start in small increments and enjoy the benefts of physical activity,” says Dr. Merida.

For more health and wellness information or to fnd upcoming events, visit FloridaHospital.com/events.

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facts labels don’t tell you

these nutrition guides are being updated, but they still won't reveal the whole story, an expert says. or 20 years, “Nutrition Facts” labels on packaged foods have guided shoppers. Now the Food and Drug Administration plans an improved label design. Laura MacCleery, director of regulatory affairs for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), tells Inspired Tampa Bay what’s improving, what isn’t, and how to make smart choices.

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How much sugar. This area will show a big improvement, says MacCleery. Today, if a cookie contains different added sugars— high-fructose corn syrup, fructose and dextrose, for example—the ingredient list at the bottom of the label shows these as separate items, making it easy to miss how much sugar one is consuming.

“Fortunately,” says MacCleery, “the government will soon require that the amount of ‘added sugars’ be shown, along with the percentage of one’s daily value that total accounts for, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet—as it already does for sodium, fat, carbs and fber.” It’s also helpful that this information will distinguish added sugars from the natural sugars present in foods such as fruit.

What to do: For now, the CSPI suggests limiting sugar to 40 grams per day and scanning ingredients carefully for sugar’s aliases. When the new labels debut, they'll help.

Caffeine quantities. The CSPI says these per-serving amounts should be disclosed, but so far that addition isn’t planned for the new labels.

What to do: Check CSPI’s website, cspinet.org, for the caffeine content of coffees, teas, soft drinks, energy drinks, snack foods and desserts.

(A can of Diet Coke, for example, has about 71 milligrams, while a “venti”-sized Starbucks coffee has 415.) Try to exercise moderation.

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Where the “trans fats” have gone. Many packages boast “0g trans fats,” and the government has declared trans fats in foods unsafe. “But watch out,” says MacCleery. “Some companies add saturated fat to replace the trans fat, and it’s also unhealthy.” CSPI says the ideal label should categorize these fat levels as “High,” “Medium” or “Low,” with stoplight color codes in which “High” levels are bright red.

What to do: Don’t be swayed by “trans fat” claims alone—judge each product after examining “saturated fats” too.

The whole story on whole grains. “The government recommends that we consume more whole grains, but sets no rules on how much whole grain a food must have to be described as ‘made with whole grain,’” says MacCleery.

“It could be a mere sprinkling.” CSPI favors labels that show clearly what percentage of grains are whole—but the group hasn’t won that battle yet.

“True” fber content. Here the new labels may actually be a bit worse than today’s, MacCleery warns, because they’ll permit manufacturers to list artifcial “faux fber” additives that aren’t as good for you as natural fber.

What to do: Look for products for which the frst listed ingredient includes the word “whole.”

What to do: Keep an eye out for fber additives and try to get most of your fber from natural sources.

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Good news

for aging hips Doctors are more aggressive about preventing fractures in this joint— anD treating them when they occur. ne of women’s greatest health fears as they age is a broken hip, and for good reason: Especially among the elderly, a broken hip can begin a cascade that leads to permanent disability and a diminished quality of life. Fortunately, advances in prevention and treatment strategies are helping more people avoid the devastating consequences of a hip fracture.

Women are more likely than men to break a hip because they are more prone to osteoporosis, which causes bones to weaken, leading them to fracture more easily—and this danger increases after menopause. May is National Osteoporosis Month, so spring is a good time to “bone up” on that dangerous condition. According to the National Institutes of Health, osteoporosis and other bone disorders can be one consequence of not getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

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Be nice

to your bones

Each year about 1.5 million older Americans sufer fractures because of weak bones, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The academy ofers these tips to help you maintain bone strength:

Orthopedists now suggest prevention strategies much more aggressive than those used just a few years ago. For example, they recommend that women get checked to see whether they’re getting enough vitamin D, and consult their primary care providers about whether it’s wise to take a vitamin D supplement regularly. (See “Be Nice to Your Bones,” below.) There have also been recent advances in surgical treatment for hip fractures. Some fractures can be repaired, while others require hip replacement.

While partial hip replacement has been used in many cases in the past, recent research shows that for many younger, healthier women total hip replacement is appropriate so that a second operation later on is not necessary.

Again, consult your physician, who can refer you to a surgeon if that is right for you.

Understand your individual risk for fracture or bone loss.

This is based on your bone density and other risk factors. Ask your doctor if you need a bone density test. Inquire too about bone metabolism testing, which often can provide additional useful information.

Be active every day.

Strength-building and weight-training activities help build strong bones. Children should exercise at least an hour each day, adults at least 30 minutes.

Maintain a healthy weight.

Older adults who are overweight have a higher-than-average risk of falling—with the danger of a break— while being underweight increases the risk of bone loss.

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TreaT those achy joints!

Make your home “fall-proof.”

Remove obstacles for easy passage and add safety features such as grab bars and non-slip mats where needed.

Consider bone-boosting medications.

Besides calcium and vitamin D supplements, other medications also can sometimes help slow bone loss and increase bone strength. Check with your physician.

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | Spring 2016

Get enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium-rich foods include dairy products, leafy greens and seafoods, while D is found in faty fsh, egg yolks and vitaminfortifed orange juice and dairy products.

If there is one sure sign of aging, it’s the achy joints that remind you that you aren’t as young as you used to be. If those aches and pains progress to the point where they are affecting your daily activities, however, you may be suffering from osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, causes pain, swelling and reduced motion in your joints. It can develop in any joint, but most often affects the knees and hips, says Jonathan Phillips, M.D., a sports medicine physician at Florida Hospital. Osteoarthritis breaks down the cartilage, the tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. The bones rub together, causing infammation; that’s what leads to the pain, stiffness and loss of mobility.

In early stages, osteoarthritis is treated with anti-infammatory medications. Those can be delivered orally, via injections into the joint or—Dr. Phillips’ preferred choice— topically. “Topicals have fewer side effects than oral meds,” he says.

A more advanced treatment option is called platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP. The patient’s own blood is drawn, treated so that it contains a high concentration of proteins called growth factors that promote healing, and injected into the joint. “We have had an almost 80 percent success rate with PRP,” Dr. Phillips says.

Physical therapy is also important in living with osteoarthritis. “Medications help symptoms, but they don’t fx anything,” he says. “The fx comes from strengthening the muscles around the joint and modifying activity to lessen the pounding on the joint.” That does not mean giving up exercise, however. On the contrary, movement helps lubricate the joint, work out the stiffness and promote healing. You may need to change what you do—no more running on asphalt, for instance—but it is important to continue low- or moderate-impact exercise.

“If you don’t move it, you will lose it,” warns the doctor.

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strawberry fields forever

well known as a colorful taste treat, this fruit is also a nutritional powerhouse rich in vitamin c.

DiD You Know?

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside, a distinction that means they are not classifed by botanists as true berries, which house their seeds on the inside. Indeed, the seeds—the average strawberry sports 200—are actually each considered a separate fruit.

Powers

Spring 2016 | inspiredtampabay.com

A recent Harvard study reported that women ages 25 to 42 who regularly consume strawberries and blueberries are at lower risk for a heart attack. The reason: the fruits’ high concentrations of anthocyanin, a favonoid that may help lower blood pressure and improve

blood-vessel function. Strawberries also may help in lowering bad LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein (a blood marker that may indicate infammation). They’re also known to contain powerful antioxidants, and they’re a signifcant source of fber and vitamin C. Because vitamin C–rich foods assist in the body’s absorption of iron, pair strawberries with iron-rich foods such as spinach or dried fruit.

BuY · store · Grow Strawberry harvesting season in the Sunshine State runs from December through March. If you like the harvesting experience, you might want to try planting your own strawberry patch next season. Strawberries grow best when planted 18 to 30 inches apart, in sandy soil with excellent drainage and full sun.

Strawberry plants sprout lots of runners that will form new plants if left unchecked. Cut these runners, and you’ll have a higher berry yield.

Strawberries spoil quickly—pick them the day they ripen and use within three days. Refrigerate them, either in a single layer in a dish lined with paper towels or in a colander, and hold off on washing them until you are ready to use them. There are two principal methods: Put them into a colander and rinse with cold water, or wash each one gently with a damp cloth or paper towel.

You should cut away the leaves and the portion surrounding them, because that area can be a hassle

to clean—but do so after washing because this can change the texture and favor.

Finally, whenever possible, dietitians recommend choosing certifedorganic strawberries. That’s because of pesticides—the Environmental Working Group ranks strawberries No. 4 in its “Dirty Dozen Plus” list of fruits and vegetables with the largest amounts of pesticide residue.

—PATTI VERBANAS

reCiPe EASY STRAWBERRY JAM Courtesy of Whole Foods Market INGREDIENTS 1 lb. organic strawberries, hulled 6 Tbs. sugar Optional flavorings: 2 slices lemon, seeds removed, or 1 sprig fresh rosemary Emmentaler or Jarlsberg 2 Tbs. chopped fat-leaf parsley PREPARATION Place the strawberries in a food processor and pulse until just coarsely chopped, or chop them roughly with a knife. Place in a medium saucepan, and add the sugar and favoring you’d like. Cover, and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts and the berries soften and release some of their liquid, 4 to 5 minutes. Uncover, lower heat, and simmer until the berries begin to fall apart and the mixture is thickened and no longer watery, 12 to 15 minutes.

Ladle into a glass jar; eat warm, or cool to room temperature. Cover, and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

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No ‘ah-choo!’ for you

Here’s a strategy for beating springtime allergy symptoms.

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To fnd a physician who can help you get control of your allergies, visit FloridaHospital.com or call (844) 504-9378.

facts about allergies l Nasal allergies are

estimated to affect roughly 50 million Americans.

l In 2012, more than

13.4 million visits to physician offices, hospital outpatient departments and emergency departments were due to allergic rhinitis.

l Allergic diseases,

including asthma, are the fifth most prevalent chronic diseases in people of all ages, and the third most common in children.

Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | spring 2016

re you sneezing more these days? Florida’s nearly year-round growing season means allergies don’t vary by the time of year as much as they do elsewhere. Still, spring is a great time to learn how to identify, treat and manage allergies to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle.

“Florida has a wider variety of plant species than other places,” says Randy Kiriluk, M.D., a family medicine physician with Florida Hospital Physician Group. “Many allergies here that act up in the warmer months are related to various trees and native grasses,” he says, “while allergies to mold and dust are more common in winter.”

Allergies most often begin in childhood, but can in fact start up at any age.

How do you know if your sneezing and congestion are allergy-related? “By their persistence,” he says. “A cold goes away in seven to 10 days. Allergies wax and wane but never go away, and they recur from year to year.”

The simplest treatments for allergies are medications called antihistamines. Over-thecounter drugs such as Claritin and Zyrtec are commonly suggested. Decongestants may also help, and nasal sprays like Flonase or Nasanex are another option. “About 80 percent of cases are controlled by medications, and 20 percent still have symptoms,” says Dr. Kiriluk.

In those cases, allergy immunotherapy, which is exposure to the allergens through allergy shots, is the next line of treatment. A blood test and/ or a skin test can determine which allergens are causing the patient misery. The shots are given twice a week at frst, with very small doses of the allergen, to prompt the immune system to produce antibodies. “It can take a couple of years to develop immunity,” he says. “Though no treatment is 100 percent guaranteed to be successful, allergy shots have proven to be fairly effective.”

It also helps to avoid your specifc allergens as much as possible. Keep windows closed, and use a HEPA (high-effciency particulate arrestance) air flter and a HEPA vacuum cleaner to keep allergens out of the house. “A lot of treatment is avoidance,” he says. “It’s diffcult, but you can zone in on what you need to stay away from.”

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Cut carbs for

heart health

One clue tO yOur future well-being is nOt in the stars, but On yOur plate. eart disease is still the numberone cause of death in the United States, but health experts have learned what it takes to help keep the heart healthy. And a proper diet is at the top of the list.

“A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons in fghting heart disease,” says Aung Tun, M.D., a cardiologist with Florida Hospital.

That’s because the primary cause of heart attack—and stroke, for that matter—is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. “Diet plays a major role in plaque creation,” he adds.

Cholesterol was thought to be the main culprit in plaque formation, but Dr. Tun says that carbohydrates are now considered just as important.

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The body turns carbohydrates into triglycerides, a particularly dangerous form of cholesterol, he says, and a major cause of blockages. “So I now tell patients to cut down on carbohydrates and cholesterol too,” he says.

It’s also important to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy fats.

The former include unsaturated fats like olive oil, while the latter are saturated fats and trans fats, typically found in processed foods. “Unsaturated fat is actually protective for the heart,” Dr. Tun says. “It helps stabilize plaque so it doesn’t break loose, which cuts down the chance of heart attack.”

Sodium is also known to play a

role, in that it retains fuid in the body, which tends to raise blood pressure. But drastic sodium reduction isn’t needed for most people, he says. “Lately we have learned that a reasonable amount of sodium—about 4 grams a day— won’t affect blood pressure.”

A plant-based diet has been proven time and again to help all areas of health, including the heart, so loading your plate with whole grains, fruits and vegetables is always a good idea. “They have lots of vitamins and little caloric content, so there is less chance of obesity,” he says.

The ideal diet: Less carbohydrates and cholesterol and as much fruit and vegetables as possible.

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Take This heart-healthy list To The grocery sTore Berries are packed with phytonutrients and soluble fber.

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Flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, fber and phytoestrogens.

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Asparagus is flled with betacarotene, folate and fber.

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Dark beans are high in fber, B vitamins and minerals.

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Red, yellow and orange veggies are packed with carotenoids, fber and vitamins.

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Oranges, cantaloupes and papayas are rich in beta-carotene, folate and fber.

l Choose foods with

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Tomatoes provide lycopene, vitamin C and alpha- and-beta-carotene.

l Select beverages and

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Broccoli contains vitamins C and E, potassium, folate, calcium and fber.

Eat this, not that, for a healthy heart

l Include fsh at least

twice a week in your meal plan, especially fsh containing omega-3 faty acids (e.g. salmon and trout).

l Select fat-free (skim)

and low-fat (1 percent) dairy products.

l Reach for fber-rich

whole grains.

l Choose poultry and fsh

without skin.

Don'ts

Do's

Sometimes all it takes is a few tweaks to your diet to improve your chances of living a long life with a healthy heart. The American Heart Association recommends these do’s and don’ts: l Go heavy on foods

containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. trans fats.

foods with added sugars.

For information on upcoming health and wellness events near your home, visit FloridaHospital.com/events.

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Spring 2016 | inspiredtampabay.com

Back from the brink A teAm effort sAves A mAn’s life After A mAssive heArt AttAck.

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Can an aspirin Prevent a heart attack?

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ways to keep your heart healthy:

Anything that gets you to move your body and burn calories is good for your heart, note the experts at the American Heart Association. Here, some simple ways to keep your heart pumping:

1 Start walking. It’s easy, it costs nothing and it’s one of the best exercises you can do to prevent heart disease. Aim for 30 minutes a day.

2 Get your heart rate up.

Incorporate 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (think stair climbing) at least fve days per week and 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity (biking, swimming) at least three days a week.

3 Pump it up. Add moderate to highintensity musclestrengthening activities to your routine at least two days per week.

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | Spring 2016

cardiologists to keep Hodul alive. Overall, he t was a meal they won’t soon forget. spent 15 days in the hospital.

George Hodul, 72, a retired mechanical Dr. Sawar calls the level of care given to engineer, and his wife, Joyce, 69, were Hodul during that time “unmatched in most having dinner on July 23, 2014, when he of this country. Everyone came together and lost his appetite, felt sweaty and clammy, went above and beyond their call of duty.” and pushed his dinner plate away. “My wife When Hodul frst arrived, staff volunteered got me an aspirin and called 9-1-1, while I to work past the end of their shifts. Staff lay down on the foor,” Hodul says. “I don’t members from across remember a lot after that.” multiple hospital teams Hodul wouldn’t wake up worked together to save again for three days. his life. Hodul’s daughter In the emergency was impressed. “As a room, Asad Sawar, physician, I found that M.D., an interventional Florida Hospital exceeded cardiologist with Florida my expectations,” she says.

Hospital, and his team George Hodul’s wife gave Once Hodul woke up, diagnosed a massive him an aspirin as soon as with his organ systems heart attack caused by the signs of a heart atack functioning and a new a blocked artery. By the appeared. That was a smart stent in his blocked time Hodul got to the heart move, according to the artery, he began cardiac catheterization lab, “for all american Heart association. rehabilitation—frst practical purposes he was Most heart atacks occur in the hospital, and dead on the table,” says Dr. when the blood supply to then at the Shimberg Sawar. “He was one of the the heart is blocked due Cardiovascular Prevention sickest patients we have to plaque buildup. When and Rehabilitation Center seen in the past 15 years. plaque becomes fragile and at Florida Hospital Pepin His condition deteriorated ruptures, it can lead to blood Heart Institute. It took quickly, and there was a clots that block blood fow a while to regain his high suspicion he might or break of and travel to strength, but thanks to not make it.” Indeed, other parts of the body—a his regular workouts at Hodul “coded”—meaning phenomenon known as an the Health & Wellness he needed immediate embolism. aspirin “thins” Center at Florida Hospital lifesaving interventions— the blood and helps prevent Wesley Chapel, his heart six different times. But clots from forming. people is now doing just fne. thanks to a full team of at high risk for heart atacks “I’m probably in better physicians, cardiovascular often take a daily low-dose shape now than before techs, nurses and other aspirin—but be sure to check it happened,” he says. medical professionals, with your doctor before “It’s kind of a miracle. A Hodul is now feeling good. making any changes to your lot of things lined up for He says, “It’s like it never medical care. me, and everyone at the happened.” hospital—from the doctors “The frst three days to the nurses and even the were extremely diffcult,” maintenance crew—were fantastic.” says Hodul’s daughter, Pamela Hodul, M.D., Sometimes “it takes a village,” and a surgeon at the H. Lee Mofftt Cancer sometimes it takes an incredible team Center in Tampa. During that time, her of hospital personnel to save a life. Says father suffered organ failure in his kidney, Hodul’s daughter to the team at the hospital: liver and respiratory systems. Specialists in “Thank you for giving me my dad back.” all those felds joined Dr. Sawar and other

I

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Prepping 4 things to do before you get pregnant.

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ou’ve decided now is the perfect time to add to your family. But just how much pre-planning should go into your decision to get pregnant? Pre-planning for months or even years before becoming pregnant helps you maintain some control around the timing of conception and ensures the best health for both mother and baby.

If you’re thinking about having a baby but don’t know where to start, consider these four “baby steps” of a pregnancy plan that walk you through the important stages on the path to becoming a new mom.

Make a prepregnancy healthcare visit with your doctor.

Spring 2016 | inspiredtampabay.com

This appointment allows you to ask questions, address concerns and make healthy lifestyle changes as directed by your healthcare provider. Your doctor will ask questions about any previous pregnancies, whether you suffer from (or have a family history of) diabetes or high blood pressure, inquire if you have any active or past infections and ask if you’re on any medications. You should come prepared with a list of questions, including what supplements you should be adding to your diet along with best workout practices for a mom-to-be.

Embrace healthy living.

Know your most fertile days.

This step has four parts: 1. Nutrition. Maintain a well-balanced diet and take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid to help prevent brain and spinal cord defects.

2. Exercise. Establish a daily exercise program (as recommended by your healthcare provider), prior to your pregnancy and stick with it through your pregnancy.

3. Emotional health.

Get plenty of sleep and introduce methods of stress reduction such as meditation.

4. Do away with unhealthy habits.

Eliminate alcohol consumption, stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, wean yourself off caffeine, and avoid illegal drugs and hazardous substances and chemicals (i.e., paint and harsh cleaning agents).

Identifying your fertility window of opportunity is critical to a successful pregnancy. Ovulation typically occurs 14 days before menstruation begins and your fertile days start fve days before ovulation.

(Sperm can live up to three days.) Signs you’re ovulating include breast tenderness and changes in your cervical mucus (the amount increases, texture becomes stretchy, slippery and clear).

Experts counsel hopeful mommies to observe these signs and measure and chart out your basal body temperature.

Think you’re pregnant? Get to the doctor.

The sooner you know you’re pregnant, the sooner you can take better care of yourself and your baby. Early signs that you might be pregnant include the absence of menstruation, morning sickness (nausea/vomiting), frequent urination, tender swollen breasts, darkening of the areola (area around the nipple) and, last but not least, food cravings.

“Approximately 99 percent of over-the-counter home pregnancy tests are accurate at detecting pregnancy hormone levels,” says Jacquelyn Stone, M.D., one of the OB hospitalists at Florida Hospital.

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You’re pregnant!

Now what?

Once you see that double line on the pregnancy stick, here are the steps to take: l Schedule an appointment with

your gynecologist to confrm the pregnancy.

l Continue healthy living habits,

including eating right and taking vitamins.

l Stop immediately if you smoke,

drink alcohol, use illicit drugs or abuse caffeine.

l Discuss your expected and

desired weight gain with your provider.

l Conquer stress with relaxation

techniques and exercise.

Florida Hospital is excited to offer a personalized delivery experience for moms throughout Tampa Bay. From your very frst physician appointment to the big day, our providers and highly skilled team members will be with you every step of the way to provide an inspired experience.

For more information or to fnd a physician, please call (844) 504-9378.

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | Spring 2016

we're here to help!

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Blood fow to the brain is restored.

A wire mesh device captures the clot and pulls it out of the body.

Stroke of

A long, narrow tube is inserted in the upper thigh and threaded through the arteries and veins to the brain.

fgenius

A new tool for treAting stroke removes A clot from the brAin fAst so dAmAge is minimized And recovery cAn begin.

Spring 2016 | inspiredtampabay.com

T

he numbers aren’t pretty: According to the American Heart Association (AHA), stroke is the number-fve killer in the nation.

Someone in the United States dies every four minutes from a stroke.

And even when strokes are not fatal, they’re most often debilitating. But fortunately, a new treatment has brightened prospects for people who suffer strokes.

Strokes, also known as brain attacks, occur when the supply of blood to the brain is blocked or reduced, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. This blockage is usually caused by a blood clot in one of the arteries in the brain. A stroke requires immedi-

ate attention; the quicker a stroke victim can get treatment, the better his or her chances for survival and reduced disability.

The AHA recently updated its recommended treatment guidelines for stroke victims to include a device that can pull a stroke-causing clot from the blood vessels in the brain.

This treatment, called intracranial mechanical thrombectomy, begins with an incision in the patient’s upper thigh. A long, narrow tube is threaded through the arteries and veins of the body and is directed into the brain, where a wire mesh device captures the clot and pulls it out of the body via the tube. The results are so promising that the AHA updated its

stroke protocols for the frst time in 20 years. It was also the frst time a device was included in the group’s recommendations.

“Treating acute strokes with this procedure has proven to be very effective,” says James Lefer, M.D., a neurointerventional radiologist who is with Florida Hospital. “Our facility has been actively involved in intracranial mechanical thrombectomy since the devices frst came to market in 2012.”

According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, intracranial mechanical thrombectomy almost doubles the chances of a positive outcome. And that, we can all agree, is a stroke of very good luck.

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S t r o k e Stat i S t i c S Almost

800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year.

SignS of stroke Stroke costs an estimated

To recognize the signs of stroke in someone, think

each year in the U.S., which includes health care costs, medications and missed work days.

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

$34 billion

F-A-S-T:

F = Face

A = Arms

Why time matters One in four strokes are in people who have had a previous stroke.

80%

Every minute without treatment during a major stroke, the brain loses: 1.9 million neurons

7.5 miles of nerve fbers

Ask the person to raise his or her arms. A stroke victim will feel weakness, numbness or lack of coordination in one arm.

S = Speech

14 billion synapses

Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. A stroke victim will have slurred speech or will not be able to understand or produce speech.

T = Time

If you observe any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

of strokes are preventable.

Source: American Heart Association

HOW TO AvOID A STrOkE

Exercise. People who exercise five or more times a week can reduce their risk for stroke.

Eat healthy. Cut back on saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugar and red meat. Incorporate more vegetables, fruits,

whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds and nuts.

Limit alcohol. Excessive drinking can increase blood pressure and your risk for stroke. Drink in moderation—no more than two drinks a day for a man, one a day for a woman.

Quit smoking. If you smoke, speak with your doctor about help with

quitting. Along with myriad other health issues, smoking doubles your risk of stroke.

Speak to your doctor if you have health issues that put you at risk: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, circulation issues or carotid artery disease.

florida hospital (844) 504-9378 | Spring 2016

Eighty percent of strokes are preventable. Here’s how you can lower your risk:

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3/2/16 12:26 PM

Traveling abroad?

Why it’s important to see an infectious diseases expert before your trip.

T

Spring 2016 | inspiredtampabay.com

aking a trip outside the United States can be exciting, but it can also pose some health risks.

Whether you’re taking a honeymoon cruise through the Caribbean, a family trip to Mexico or a business jaunt to Europe, you should consider visiting an infectious diseases specialist to learn more about protecting yourself in different parts of the world.

“You put your health in jeopardy once you leave your country because basic necessities may not always be available,” says Parul Aneja, M.D., an infectious diseases specialist with Florida Hospital. “We take for granted things like clean running water, but other countries may not be as developed. You need to prepare for that.”

Visiting a travel clinic is the frst step you should take once you’ve booked your overseas trip. At this appointment, you’ll review your travel itinerary with an infectious diseases specialist, including the countries you’ll be visiting along with your plans once you’re there.

“We look at exposure risks for each activity,” says Dr. Aneja. For example, a business trip to a hotel

is different from adventure travel in a jungle. “I have access to the travel recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which inform us what’s going on in different countries, including disease outbreaks in certain parts of the world,” she says. This information may suggest the need for vaccinations against those diseases, notes Dr. Aneja.

Food is another important consideration. “Whether your group is traveling with a cook or you prefer eating your meals with the locals, you’ll need to be on guard in terms of what goes into your mouth,” says Dr. Aneja. Travelers

So what exactly is a travel clinic?

Travel clinics offer counsel on avoiding illness and injury on overseas trips. They specialize in providing medical care such as vaccinations to international travelers.

Some examples of immu-

also need to consider issues such as hand hygiene, medications to carry, insect precautions, proper attire and sexual activity—even terrorism. “There are kidnapping risks in certain parts of the world, which often comes as a surprise to someone who hasn’t traveled a lot overseas,” she warns. Other topics that should be considered before you travel: Do you need travel insurance? What type of contact information should you carry?

But don’t delay. “The day you book your plans for an overseas trip, make an appointment at a travel clinic,” she says. “Some vaccinations need at least a month in advance of travel to be effective.”

nizations recommended for international travel include shots for typhoid, hepatitis A and B, chicken pox and malaria. To find a clinic near you, visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ page/fnd-clinic/

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When you believe in a greater purpose to health care, you see things differently. Because health care isn’t only about illness and injury, or even medicine.

It’s about the human spirit.

Which is why for over a century, Florida Hospital has gone beyond symptoms and treatments, helping people live healthier, happier lives.

This is more than quality, expertise and compassion.

Discover the Florida Hospital difference at InspiredTampaBay.com

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Florida Hospital

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Centra Care Urgent Care

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Locations Throughout Tampa Bay Florida Hospital Physician Group

2/29/16 12:27 PM

FLORIDA HOSPITAL HIDDEN RIVER CORPORATE CENTER THREE 14055 RIVEREDGE DR., SUITE 250 TAMPA, FL 33637

With a statewide health care system of 22 hospitals, Florida Hospital proudly serves the Tampa Bay region through a network of 6 Florida Hospitals, 4 Centra Care Urgent Care Centers and more than 45 Florida Hospital Physician Group practices.

Find a medical expert near you!

Connerton Zephyrhills

PASCO Wesley Chapel

1

Florida Hospital Carrollwood

2 Florida Hospital Connerton, Long Term Acute Care

North Pinellas

Tampa 275

3 Florida Hospital North Pinellas

Carrollwood

4 Florida Hospital Tampa 5 Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel

PINELLAS

6 Florida Hospital Zephyrhills

HI LL SBORO UGH

Find a Florida Hospital Physician: FloridaHospital.com (877) 231-3100

Tampa Bay

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