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Medical FOCUS
For Summer Heat, Staying Cool is the Rule
By Rachel Ray
Everyone from the weather man to the cashier at the gas station is talking about how hot it is…already! People, we live in Louisiana, we start talking about the heat index in March! It’s now July and it is without a doubt going be a scorcher of a summer! The heat can be very serious, very fast if the right precautions aren’t taken. It isn’t always “fun in the sun”; the sun and heat should be taken very seriously. Heat emergencies fall into three categories of increasing severity: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that usually occur during heavy exercise or hot environments. Before the actual cramps are the early symptoms such as: profuse sweating, fatigue and thirst. If these symptoms occur, rest and cool down. Drink clear juice or a sports drink.
Heat exhaustion is a result of excessive heat and dehydration. The symptoms include: paleness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fainting. Rest and water will help mild heat exhaustion; however, ice packs and a cool environment will help as well. For a more serious case, IV fluids are necessary, especially if vomiting keeps the patient from getting enough fluids.
A heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness. The symptoms are: warm flushed skin while the victim is not sweating. The victim will also have a very high temperature and may be delirious, unconscious or having seizures. Heat stroke is an emergency condition. These people need to have their temperature reduced immediately, and this can be best accomplished in the hospital environment.
Heat illnesses are easily preventable by taking simple precautions in hot weather. Children, the elderly and the obese are at the highest risk. If you are drinking alcohol or taking certain medications, you are also at a higher risk for heat illness. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb to heat illness if he or she ignores the warning signs. The important thing is to stay well hydrated! Also, be sensible about exerting yourself in hot, humid weather; don’t go out to mow the yard at noon, do it early in the morning or after about 5:00pm in the afternoon. The clothing you wear makes a difference as well. The less clothing and lighter color of the fabric, the easier it is to cool off.
Hopefully you will think about these tips as you and your family and friends go out on the lake or beach this summer. Have a great time, and remember to stay cool!
Women Report Greater Levels of Knee Pain than Men
By Christopher J. Rich, MD, MBA
People with osteoarthritis (OA) in their knees often talk with their friends or neighbors comparing notes about their achy joints. On a much larger scale, that's what researchers have done with knee-pain patients from coast to coast. Here's what they learned: Women report greater levels of knee pain than men, but are less likely to have talked with a surgeon about knee replacement as a treatment option.
Researchers found that women respondents were more likely to “primarily” see a Rheumatologist for treatment of the OA than an Orthopaedic Specialist. Only 24 percent of women respondents reported that their doctors had discussed knee replacement as an OA treatment option. Women and men perceived the severity of their OA and the frequency of pain at nearly the same level. However, women respondents were more likely to describe their “most painful day” and their pain on a “typical day” as “extremely/very painful” compared to men. Women respondents also reported experiencing the following on a daily basis:
Lower back pain and stiffness (56 percent)
Crepitance – the sound or feel of bone rubbing on bone (50 percent)
Pain in the hips, groin, inner thigh or buttocks (45 percent)
Women were significantly more likely to have tried more OA treatments including drugs (both over-the-counter and prescription), herbal supplements, magnets, relaxation therapy and water therapy. According to the study, women are also more likely than men to say their OA has had a considerable impact on their quality of life. When asked which activity they would resume if their OA pain were eliminated, women responded by saying normal activities such as walking, standing, bending and/or climbing stairs.
So, is knee replacement right for you? Knee replacement can help women with chronic knee pain get relief – and get back to the activities they enjoy. Women are three times more likely than men to continue living with pain rather than getting a needed knee replacement. Since research shows that early diagnosis and treatment can result in better outcomes, it’s important to not delay seeking treatment from an orthopaedic specialist if you have knee pain that is disrupting your life.
If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you should speak with an orthopaedic surgeon about knee replacement surgery.
1. Does your knee hurt one or more days per week?
2. Does the pain interfere with your sleep?
3. Is it painful for you to walk more than a block?
4. Are pain medications no longer working?
5. Is knee pain limiting your participation in activities?
6. Has inactivity from knee pain caused you to gain weight?
7. Can you limit activities for a few months to recover from surgery?
8. Are you willing to commit to work hard during your rehabilitation for a successful recovery?
The knee replacement technology utilized by the surgeons at Mid State has been designed to act much like a natural knee. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company, manufactures the P.F.C. Sigma Knee, which is the most widely used knee implant in the United States today. Dating back to 1984, this knee system has a long history of clinical success that sets it apart from all other knee systems. Now more than ever, your surgeon can choose from a number of knee replacement implants to meet your individual needs. The P.F.C. Sigma knee system offers advanced knee replacement options for women.
The study above showed that osteoarthritis is having a significant impact on women's lives. If you suffer from painful osteoarthritis of the knee, call (318) 473-9556 for an appointment. Talking to an orthopaedic surgeon from Mid State could be the first step towards getting your life back. Or for more information, please visit www.kneereplacement.com.
As with any treatment, individual results may vary. Knee replacement is not for everyone. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. Success depends on factors like age, weight, and activity level.
About the Author: Dr. Rich has been in practice with Mid State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine since 1988. He completed his undergraduate degree at LSU where he played football for the Tigers. Dr Rich attended the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he earned his medical degree followed by an orthopaedic surgery residency. In 2006 Dr Rich completed a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Tennessee Business School, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Walking Tall
“Walking Tall" is the name of a popular movie. It also could be the theme for more than 5,000 recipients of artificial knees implanted by Mid State Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine surgeons over the past 20 years. Knee replacement surgery is commonplace today. Some 350 knee joint replacements will be performed by Mid State Orthopaedic doctors in 2008, and the combination of well trained, experienced and skilled surgeons, ever-improving technology and techniques, and advanced rehabilitation is providing patients a return to an improved lifestyle as never before.
Knee replacement patients come from all walks of life, but debilitating pain, instability and curtailed mobility are common to each. "Nobody wants to have their knees replaced," says Dr. Mark Dodson, "but the pain and other difficulties usually get to the point where the patient tells us that he or she is ready for surgery." Indeed, comments such as "I wish I had done this years earlier" are frequently heard from long-time sufferers who find the quality of their lives reversed after the surgery. What follows is a brief testimonial from five patients whose lives have been changed because of knee replacement.
John Costa
A safety director at Ft. Polk in Leesville, Costa's knee problems started nearly 30 years ago when he was the victim of a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. At the age of 47, and after years of declining mobility and increasing pain, Costa sought the assistance of Dr. Chris Rich, who has been on Louisiana Life magazine's 'Top Orthopaedic Surgeons" list for two straight years. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me," Costa says. "The replacement surgery allowed me to return to full range of motion, and I enjoy walking and doing yard work again. It's been over eight years since I had the surgery, and I feel great."
David Couvillion
This active Oak Wing Golf Club employee has had three careers and replacement surgery on both knees; the first in 2005 and the latest five months ago. Couvillion, whose knee problems gradually worsened after 20 years on his feet as a teacher and another 20 years as an offshore oil rig worker, "could hardly walk" when he saw Dr. Rich following a recommendation from a friend. "I do anything I want now without pain. I was back at work six weeks after the second surgery. It's been amazing, and I am very grateful."
Rev. Clarence "Aubrey" Whitlock
The pastor of Horseshoe Drive Baptist Church was already "very satisfied and comfortable" with Dr Dodson from several other orthopaedic procedures over a 12-year period, so when his left knee deteriorated to the point where he could no longer walk stairs, he again put his trust in his doctor. "I had arthritis and a torn cartilage, and I could no longer walk for exercise or even perform basic functions without a great deal of discomfort," Whitlock says. Now, several months after replacement surgery, Whitlock is "completely out of pain," walking strenuously for exercise, and negotiating stairs without a hitch. "At some point I'll have to have my other knee replaced, and I won't hesitate to have it done," Whitlock says. "If you pick a good surgeon and make a commitment to rehabilitation there's a very high probability that everything will be fine."
Laura Bordelon
"It's the best thing that I've ever done," says Bordelon, 58, a gift shop employee at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville. After five years of "bone-to-bone arthritis pain that sometimes made me cry," Bordelon's grandson recommended that she see Dr Rich, who had treated him for a shoulder injury sustained in a high school football game. Bordelon says she "walked all the way down the hall with a walker the third day after surgery, and walked by myself at the end of two weeks. I returned to work after eight weeks. It's like a miracle to be out of that terrible pain."
Coach Billy Brooks
For Brooks, a former college basketball player and Louisiana College Hall of Fame women's basketball coach, severe pain in both knees forced him out of the coaching profession. "I would have to sit down after about 45 minutes of practice," he says. "The pain became so intense that I could no longer be on the court to teach basketball." Brooks decided to double-team the problem and had both knees replaced at the same time in a simultaneous surgery -- one by Dr Rich and the other by Dr Dodson. "It was the best decision I've ever made about my health," he says. "The outcome was even better than I had hoped for, and to be pain-free is a blessing." Brooks, who now coaches the LC golf team, was playing golf eight weeks after the surgery.
If you suffer from painful osteoarthritis of the knee, call (318) 473-9556 for an appointment. Talking to an orthopaedic surgeon from Mid State could be the first step towards getting your life back. Or for more information, please visit www.kneereplacement.com.
As with any treatment, individual results may vary. Knee replacement is not for everyone. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. Success depends on factors like age, weight, and activity level.
Microdermabrasion Lets the New You Shine Through
By Janet Guillot
Say, “Goodbye!” to dull, dry, damaged skin, and say, “Hello!” to a softer, smoother, younger-looking you! Microdermabrasion can give you instantly healthier skin combined with gradual long-term benefits over time.
As the skin ages, the outer layer called the epidermis gets tightly packed with cells and allows for less and less penetration of nutrients. Skin care products that are applied to a thickened epidermis are only absorbed by 5 to 10 percent, thus wasting the vast majority of your skin care investment. The skin can actually become malnourished from the outside in because it can’t breathe, and it can’t absorb the skincare products designed to keep it healthy. Microdermabrasion uses fine crystals that are sprayed onto the skin to remove the outer dead cell layer. As cells are exfoliated, the layer of skin becomes more permeable to oxygen and moisturizers. A precision hand piece is used to spray the crystals on the skin with a gentle suction to help remove blackheads, reduce pore size, diminish acne scarring and reveal a smoother, softer appearance instantly. Chemical peels dissolve the bonds between cells, making the layer of skin more porous, further increasing the intake of products by the skin. The combination of a microdermabrasion and chemical peel is known as a micropeel. This popular skin care treatment provides your skin with optimal permeability for better oxygenation and product absorption, keeping your skin looking its very best
Micropeels are a popular treatment for a very common problem. Acne is quite simply your skin’s response to clogged pores. Oil trapped in the surface of the skin causes pimples to form, eventually resulting in acne scarring. Micropeels are a very effective form of acne treatment by addressing the problem at its source. After the skin has been professionally cleansed with micropeels, acne- fighting products can then be applied on a daily basis with much greater effectiveness. The skin will begin to heal rapidly and will become progressively healthier with each subsequent treatment.
Medical grade micropeels are only available under the supervision of a physician due to their strength and effectiveness. One of the advantages of micropeels is that there is no downtime associated with the procedure. The treatment can be done in less than an hour and then makeup can be immediately reapplied. The skin will have a healthy glow after the treatment that will last for a few weeks. Many of our clients at About Face Skin, Spa and Laser have a series of micropeels that build on one another to give progressively healthier, more beautiful skin. With peace of mind, come and indulge your skin at About Face for the most innovative and effective skin care treatments. For more information about micropeels and other age-defying technology, please call (318) 448-6288 for your free consultation, or visit our website at www.aboutfacemedspa.com.
Fact and Fiction About Skin Cancer
By Donna McMickens, LPN
1. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
True. More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year in the U.S. An estimated 9,800 people will die from these cancers. More than 77% of these deaths will be from melanoma, a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer.
2. People with naturally dark skin can’t get skin cancer.
False. Anyone can get skin cancer. People with darker skin have more melanin, a brownish pigment that serves as a buffer against UV rays. Having more melanin lowers the risk of developing skin cancer, but by no means eliminates it.
3. If you try to avoid exposure to the sun, you will never get skin cancer.
False. Even though there is a strong link between exposure to the sunlight and skin cancer, you can still get skin cancer even if you avoid the sun. Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the body, even places that are not exposed to the sun, such as the soles of your feet. Therefore, regardless of how much sun exposure you get, it’s important to regularly examine your skin for signs of cancer.
4. Redheads and blondes are more likely to get skin cancer.
True. Redheads and blondes have a two-fold to four-fold greater risk of developing skin cancer.
5. Exposure to sun as a child does not matter because the skin repairs itself over time.
False. Sun burns can do permanent damage to a child’s skin. Excessive sun exposure in the first 10-18 years of life increases your chances of developing skin cancer as an adult.
6. The more moles you have at birth, the greater your risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.
True. Most moles develop after birth, but some people are born with moles. “Birth moles” increase a person’s risk for skin cancer.
In order to best lower your risks for developing skin cancer, remember to always use sun-screen for you and your kids everyday for maximum protection against UV-A and UV-B rays. Re-apply often! Check your skin often for any change in moles or new lesions, or have your physician assess you on your annual check-ups. Notify your physicians of any moles on palms or soles of your feet. Wear sunglasses to prevent over-exposure of harmful rays to eyes that could lead to eye conditions or injury.
Have a great, safe summer!
Keeping Cenla Healthy: Community HealthWorx
By Linda Holinga
Community HealthWorx, opened in late 1999, is the second oldest free clinic in Louisiana. You may remember the organization as the Working People’s Free Clinic, which merged with the Caring People’s Free Pharmacy in 2005. HealthWorx provides free medical treatment and pharmacy services to working people and their families who cannot afford health insurance. Persons who qualify meet financial eligibility guidelines set at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Single people can make up to $23,000 to qualify. A family of four may qualify if total household income does not exceed $43,000.
Local community doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and specially trained non-medical people volunteer their time every Tuesday evening at the clinic, located at 1543 McGinnis Street. Patients receive doctor visits, radiology services, laboratory tests and medications—all at no cost to the patient. Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Rapides Regional Medical Center generously donate offsite services. For those patients needing more than the basic services offered at the clinic, various specialists in the community volunteer to see HealthWorx patients in their offices.
The Well Women’s Screening Program is an important program offered by the organization. Local OB/GYN physicians volunteer their time on a monthly basis to provide gynecological examinations. For those women forty years old or those with special circumstances, the clinic provides yearly mammogram screening through a grant from one of the local foundations which supports the organization.
Some people may qualify for just medication services. Senior citizens who have not yet enrolled in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug program or who have entered the “donut hole” may qualify for help. The organization provides free medication to special needs children, homeless individuals, patients referred by a hospital social worker, clients referred by a social service organization and those people experiencing emergency situations.
It is important to note that HealthWorx is a private, not-for-profit corporation, which is completely locally funded. The organization receives grants from several local foundations, funds from local businesses and churches, and many loyal private citizens. No state or federal monies are received. HealthWorx is operated by a board of directors comprised of local physicians, business professionals and dedicated community volunteers.
The board and the staff invite the community to learn more about quality health care for the underserved by calling (318) 767-9979.
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