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After a movie script opened his eyes to bipolar disorder, BRADLEY COOPER found his voice—and his mission
ROLECALL
MEET OUR NEW
OB-GYNS ... OUT OF THE
WHITE COATpage 54
This Is Not Your Mother’s Mammogram
THINK OUTSIDE THE GYM FOR ENERGIZING EXERCISE
LifeFit Offers Beaufort Deputy Path to Better Health
SUMMER 2014 $2.95
www.bmhsc.orgwww.facebook.com/BeaufortMemorial www.twitter/BeaufortMem
- Kent Easty Beaufort, SC
When Kent Easty’s “flu” was a heart attack in disguise, he was glad to be near South Carolina’s first Duke-affiliated heart center. Here, his cardiologist used an innovative radial approach to cardiac catheterization which starts from the wrist instead of the leg. Kent later learned the easier-on-the-body diagnostic procedure is so advanced, it’s not available in many large cities. Now Kent knows the first place to look for the latest care is here in local waters.
How far do you have to go for advanced heart care?
- Kent Easty
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49DEPARTMENTS2 Opening Thoughts
BMH continues to improve its services for our community.
3 Introductions Meet six new members of the BMH team.
46 Virtual Health The gluten-free gourmet, finding Dr. Right, cool health trackers and more.
54 Out of the White Coat A window into the lives of our doctors ... out of the white coat.
56 Healthy Insights Mary Ellen Groff, NP, on quick relief when you’re sick.
FEATURES 4 Not Your Mother’s Mammogram
Higher technology means lower anxiety.
6 Workin’ It Outdoors Take advantage of the Lowcountry’s beautiful setting and head outside to shake up your exercise routine.
10 Stress SOS What’s the best way to lower your stress level: yoga or an hour of TV? You might be surprised. Plus, how to prevent the summertime blues.
16 The Truth About Sunscreen See how much you really know about that lifesaver in your beach bag.
20 The Transformers Tiny tools and minimal incisions are giving the operating room an extreme makeover.
24 Get Your Head in the Game Concussions don’t just happen in the NFL. Here’s what to know before your tykes head for the turf.
28 The Journey Continues Pack your bags and your medications—a chronic condition doesn’t mean your travel days are over.
38 The Foot Follies On the passage through life, your feet are two of your best friends. It’s time to treat them that way.
42 Friendly Fat Bring it, swimsuit season! These reci-pes feature delicious ingredients that may help flatten your tummy.
50 Valentine Ball The 25th anniversary of the Valentine Ball was an enchanted evening filled with memories of past Balls.
52 Back on Track After suffering a heart attack, Deputy Sheriff Larry Swigart got his life back at LifeFit Wellness Center.
ON THE COVERBipolar disorder wasn’t even on his radar screen when Bradley Cooper started fi lming Silver Linings Playbook. Now he’s an outspoken national advocate for mental health.
32
SPECIALFoundation-BuildingDevoted supporter still giving after all these years.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 1
Spring has indeed sprung, and the renewal it brings can be seen across the landscape of our beautiful community, and at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
As we enter our 70th year of providing quality care to our community, we have also entered a time that has blossomed with new opportunities,
new physicians and new services—all good news for our community and espe-cially for our patients.
Within the fi rst 12 weeks of the new year, we quietly opened the new Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists practice in the Beaufort Medical Plaza with one physician, Dr. Berniece Redmond. It should be no surprise that her schedule quickly fi lled up and she was dashing off to a busy start.
During that time, we hired three board-certifi ed Ob-Gyns to form a group that now includes Drs. Chris Benson, Gregory Miller and Claude Tolbert, all of whom are ready to serve the needs of women in our community.
As part of our renewed commitment to mothers and babies, we have begun developing plans to renovate the Beaufort Memorial Birthing Center. From new fl ooring and lighting to new furniture and amenities, our renewed facility will provide a better working environment for our staff and a more pleasant experi-ence for our patients and families.
Following the OB practice opening, we announced that 12 physicians, four mid-levels and more than 70 members of the Lowcountry Medical Group staff joined our growing network of care through Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners, a move that will benefi t us all.
Finally, we’ve embarked on a number of new initiatives, created new programs and expanded our services—both in Beaufort and Bluffton—to offer everyone in the community the opportunity for a life, lived better.
Whether navigating patients through the complex Health Insurance Exchange to enroll in an affordable health plan or offering free screenings, classes and events to take healthcare and “self” care out into the community, we have and will continue to offer ways for you and your loved ones to commit to a higher standard of living well through expert knowledge and advice from our physicians and staff.
In the meantime, cheers to good health and to another 70 years of providing superior healthcare to our patients, and to improving the health of our community!
Rick ToomeyPresident & CEO
Providing Extraordinary Care for 70 YearsBeaufort Memorial Hospital welcomes summer with new physicians, programs and services
OPENING THOUGHTS
BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
President & CEO
Richard K. Toomey, DHA, FACHE
BMH Board of Trustees
Terry Murray, Chair
Pat Thompson, MD, Vice Chair
David Tedder, Secretary/Treasurer
Andrea Allen, MS, LMSW
Kathleen Cooper
David House
William “Bill” Himmelsbach
Faith Polkey, MD
James Simmons, MD
Ex-officio members
J. Chadwick Tober, MD, Chief of Staff
William “Bill” Harvey, Foundation Chairman
Bill McBride, Beaufort County Council Representative
BMH Editorial
Courtney McDermott, Director, Marketing & Communications
Sallie Stone, Editor and Marketing & Communications Senior Associate
Paul Nurnberg, Photographer
PRODUCTIONEditorial
Editor-in-Chief: Sally Kilbridge
Editors: Erin Feeney, Matt Morgan, Ellen Olson, Tom Weede
Copy Editor: C.J. Hutchinson
Design
Chief Art Director: Tami Rodgers
Art Directors: Andrea Heser, Rod Karmenzind, Kay Morrow
Production
Senior Production Manager: Laura Marlowe
Special Projects Coordinator: Jenny Babich
Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine
Production Technology Specialists: Julie Chan, Sonia Fitzgerald
Circulation
VP/Business Intelligence Group: Patrick Kehoe
Postal Affairs & Logistics Director: Joseph Abeyta
CLIENT SERVICES Chief Client Officer: Beth Tomkiw
VP/Client Services & Strategy: Paul Peterson
Account Managers: Carey Ballard, Rachael Bretheim, Annika Honkanen,
Lauren Keeton, Gerry Kubek, Mendy Metcalf, Barbara Mohr, Jenna
Rutschman, Ryan Smeets
ADMINISTRATION Chief Executive Officer: Matthew J. Petersen
Chief Operating Officer: Fred Petrovsky
Executive VP/Sales: Chad Rose, 888-626-8779
VP/Content: Jeff Ficker
Creative Director: Marc Oxborrow
Vim & Vigor Founder: J. Barry Johnson
Chairman Emeritus: Preston V. McMurry Jr.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital955 Ribaut Road
Beaufort, SC 29902843-522-5200
843-522-5585 – Doctor Referral Service
Living Well, a subtitle of Vim & Vigor,TM Summer 2014, Volume 30, Number 2, is published quarterly by McMurry/TMG, LLC, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & VigorTM is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being of the general public and its subscribers. The information contained in Vim & VigorTM is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim & VigorTM does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Copyright © 2014 by McMurry/TMG, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues). Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions and address changes, write: Circulation Manager, Vim & Vigor,TM 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 42
INTRODUCTIONS
BERNIECE REDMOND, MDAfter 17 years in practice in North Carolina, Ob-Gyn Berniece Redmond, MD, moved to the Lowcountry in
January to help launch Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, a Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners practice. A graduate of East Carolina University School of Medicine, she com-pleted her residency at the university’s medical center and went on to open her own practice in Lincolnton. Her interests include pregnancy care and delivery, urogynecology, sexual dysfunction and menopause.
ERIC GEARHART, PABeaufort Memorial Lady’s Internal Medicine has added board-certifi ed phy-sician assistant Eric Gearhart to its team
of medical professionals. A retired Navy offi cer with 26 years of active military service, he was battalion medical offi cer for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and head of family medicine at Naval Hospital Beaufort. Gearhart received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physician assistant studies from University of Nebraska.
MARY ELLEN GROFF, ANPMary Ellen Groff, a certifi ed adult nurse practitioner and diabetes educator with more than 30 years’ experience, has
joined Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Primary Care. A graduate of University of Maryland Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Groff also holds a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from St. Joseph College of Maine.
AUDREY KLENKE, MDAudrey Klenke, MD, a plastic surgeon specializing in the latest cosmetic pro-cedures and aesthetic treatments, has
joined the BMH staff and has opened Pinnacle Plastic Surgery Associates in Bluffton. A graduate of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, she has a special interest in reconstructive surgery for breast and skin cancer, extensive weight loss and facial trauma.
CHRISTOPHER BENSON, MDAn Ob-Gyn trained in da Vinci robot-assisted surgery and single-site laparo-scopic procedures, Christopher Benson,
MD, joined Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists after 17 years of practice in Rock Hill. He attended Georgetown University School of Medicine on a military scholarship and completed his residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center following a deployment to Iraq as squadron surgeon.
GREGORY MILLER, MDA physician and partner with Rock Hill Gynecological & Obstetrical Associates for 18 years, Gregory Miller, MD,
joined Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists this spring. He is experienced in both da Vinci robot-assisted procedures and single-site laparoscopic surgery. A graduate of Medical College of Virginia, he completed his residency at University of Florida.
WELCOME ABOARD!Six providers join BMH medical sta�
To find a provider, visit bmhsc.org or call 843-522-5585.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 3
The annual mammogram—that anxiety-inducing, breast-squashing preventive care requisite every woman dreads—isn’t the pain it once was. No, really.
Cutting-edge 3-D mammography and same-day results have made mammograms more comfortable and less wor-risome than ever before. Beaufort Memorial Hospital—the only provider in the area offering both the advanced imaging technology and immediate X-ray analysis—has improved the process even further with streamlined diagnostic services.
Should an X-ray reveal an abnormality, additional test-ing can be performed on the spot. A surgeon is available four days a week to examine patients requiring a breast biopsy, speeding up diagnosis from weeks to days.
“It’s that continuity of care that sets us apart from other imaging centers,” says Jackie Brown, clinical man-ager of the BMH Women’s Imaging Center. “We make sure patients are informed throughout the process to help reduce their anxiety. They always know what the next step will be.”
Beaufort Memorial began offering same-day results for screening mammograms when it opened its Women’s
Imaging Center in 2011. This spring, it added tomosyn-thesis to enhance its women’s imaging and breast care services. The three-dimensional X-ray requires minimal compression of the breast, making the test less painful than traditional mammograms.
“That’s a huge selling point,” says BMH radiologist Phillip Blalock, MD. “Because of the way the images are acquired, you only need enough pressure to keep the breast motionless. For some women, it may eliminate the barrier that keeps them from coming in for their annual screening.”
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Schedule Your Annual Mammogram Today!
To make an appointment for a mammogram at the Women’s Imaging Center or
Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Medical Services, call 843-522-5015. Both facilities offer
same-day results.
New 3-D mammograms are less painful, improve breast-cancer detection and may reduce the number of those unnerving false alarms
Mammogram
Not YourMother’s
S U M M E R 2 0 1 44
Tomosynthesis does not replace the traditional mammo-
gram. It is recommended for certain women, including
those who:
• Have dense breast tissue, because it can mask
cancers or lead to false positives
• Are considered high risk
• Have been recommended for a diagnostic study
• Are having a baseline mammogram
SHOULD YOU OPT FOR A3-D MAMMO?
In the 2-D image at far left, we are looking at a potential lesion in the subareolar region of the breast. In the 3-D image on the right, we’re able to see that, in fact, there is no lesion present.
For some women, the radiation dose may not necessarily increase with a 3-D mammogram because the exam may help them avoid the radiation from additional scans.
“In terms of radiation exposure, the benefi ts of tomosynthesis outweigh the risks,” Brown says. “This new technology will allow us to provide even better care for our patients.”
ENHANCING DIAGNOSISIn addition to being less painful, tomosynthesis may help radiologists fi nd cancers earlier.
“It’s such a useful tool,” Blalock says. “It affords us a better look at the breast tissue, helping us fi nd smaller cancers at earlier stages when they’re most treatable.”
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, breast tomosynthesis is performed at the same time as a normal screening mammogram using the same digital scanner. During the 3-D portion of the exam, the X-ray arm of the imaging machine makes a quick arc over the breast, taking a series of images at a number of angles that a computer forms into a three-dimensional picture.
Beaufort Memorial has specifi c criteria for the new technology’s screening and diagnostic use.
“We invested in tomography to enhance the tools available to the radiologist,” says Daniel Mock, BMH senior director of imaging services. “After reviewing the technology, we saw the huge potential it has to reduce unneeded procedures.”
Instead of viewing the breast as a fl at image, the radi-ologist is able to examine the breast tissue one layer at a time. Fine details are more clearly visible. For instance, a skin fold that looks suspicious on traditional mammogra-phy can easily be seen on the 3-D image, saving the patient from further diagnostic tests and the anxiety they create.
While two-dimensional mammograms are still con-sidered the gold standard for early detection, clinical trials are beginning to demonstrate the benefi ts of the advanced technology.
A large-scale clinical study published last year found that adding the 3-D mammogram to a conventional screening exam enabled radiologists to detect 40 percent more invasive cancers while simultaneously reducing the number of false positives.
Researchers in an Italian study reported that the combination of the 2-D and 3-D mammograms identi-fi ed 8.1 cancers per 1,000 screenings, compared with 5.3 per 1,000 using conventional mammograms alone—an increase in the cancer detection rate of 53 percent.
More than half of the 20 medical centers in U.S.News & World Report’s list of Top-Ranked Hospitals for Cancer now offer tomosynthesis.
BENEFIT VS. RISKAlthough the radiation dose of the 2-D and 3-D combina-tion is about double that of conventional screenings, it is still below the FDA-regulated limit. The total radiation dose for the combo screening is 1.0 millisieverts. In com-parison, a CT scan of the head has a radiation dose of about 2.0 millisieverts.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 5
Bored with the view from your treadmill? Take a walk on the wild side.
The Lowcountry’s moss-draped maritime for-ests and sandy beaches offer a diversity of low-impact terrain with breathtaking vistas to keep you entertained and energized.
Want to build up your quads and calves? Hop on your bike, pedal Beaufort’s Spanish Moss Trail and enjoy the panorama of Battery Creek and its rich tidal marshes.
Or cruise the Beaufort River and give your deltoids a workout paddling the winding waterway and the pristine estuaries that surround it.
Workin’ It Out doors
Tim Lovett paddleboards
in local waters.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 46
Take advantage of the Lowcountry’s mild weather and beautiful setting to exercise outdoors. With the area’s many waterways and trails, opportunities abound to kayak, cycle, paddleboard or walk your way to good health
“The backdrop of our little historic district is a won-derful place for outdoor activities,” says Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling. “There are a lot of outdoor amenities here we take for granted.”
From Hilton Head Island to Port Royal, you’ll find an endless array of natural venues where you can get in a workout hiking, biking, paddleboarding and kayaking.
“Being active doesn’t restrict you to a gym,” says Kim Yawn, an exercise physiologist at Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s LifeFit Wellness Center. “Living in Beaufort, you can take advantage of the many walking trails, local waterways and beautiful beaches to exercise outdoors.
With so many options, why not jump out of your normal routine and try something new?”
To get you started, we’ve compiled some cool outdoor activities and inspiring places to do them.
Go CruisinG in a KayaKWith bragging rights to half of the state’s salt marsh estuaries and more than two dozen public boat ramps, Beaufort County is an undiscovered paddler’s paradise. Beautiful rivers and creeks provide countless miles of protected waters to view all kinds of wildlife—and get in a good aerobic workout.
“Kayaking is fabulous exercise,” says longtime paddler Kim Gundler, who owns and operates Beaufort Kayak Tours with her husband, David. “It’s easy on the body, improves your balance and works muscles you don’t use doing other outdoor activities like walking or biking.”
Newcomers to the popular recreational sport can take a guided trip with Beaufort Kayak Tours and receive basic paddling instruction. The $50 fee includes all the equipment you’ll need to kayak and two to three hours of supervised practice to test your new-learned skills.
“The most difficult part of kayaking is getting in and out of the boat,” Gundler says. “If you can sit down on the ground and get back up, you can kayak.”
Trips are planned to take advantage of the tidal cur-rents, ensuring you’ll have a little help from Mother Nature. Favorite paddling destinations include the lagoon at Hunting Island State Park, the Beaufort River and the pristine ACE Basin, the largest undeveloped estuary on the East Coast.
Once you’ve got your sea legs, you can join the Tide Riders club, which offers two or three different guided trips each month. If you have your own kayak, the cost is just $10 per excursion. Participants needing to rent gear pay $35.
Visit beaufortkayaktours.com or call 843-525-0810 for more information on the tours and club.
Let the Good times roLL!Prefer to pedal than paddle? Try cycling Beaufort’s new Spanish Moss Trail, a 3.3-mile, 12-foot-wide paved path-way in the heart of northern Beaufort County. When completed, the 13.6-mile scenic greenway will connect neighborhoods, parks, nature preserves and historic sites from Port Royal to Yemassee.
Built along the old Port Royal Railway, the trail cur-rently runs from Ribaut Road in Port Royal to Depot Road in Beaufort. The next two phases—expected to open this year—will add 4 more miles to the path. >
Out doors
Megan and Katherine Taylor cruising on the recently expanded Spanish Moss Trail.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 7
Cyclists also will fi nd plenty of riding options on Hilton Head Island, awarded silver status as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists. The 12-mile-long island features more than 100 miles of trails with new segments added every year.
If you have a mountain bike, up your game and opt for Bluffton’s unpaved New River Trail. Located off May River Road (S.C. 46/170), the 5.2-mile trail runs along an old railroad bed through a hardwood forest, passing the remains of long-abandoned rice fi elds.
JUST ADD WATEROnce a West Coast phenomenon reserved for California surfers and hip Hollywood celebrities, stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) has become the fastest-growing water sport in the world.
A cross between surfi ng and canoeing, SUP involves standing on an oversized surf board and using a one-bladed
paddle to glide over the water. It can be done in the ocean, on lakes, in rivers or on just about any body of water bigger than a puddle.
“Your whole body is involved in moving the board,” says Tim Lovett, owner of Higher Ground Outfi tters in Beaufort. “You use the upper body to paddle, but the power comes from your core.”
Balancing on the board engages all your core muscles in the same way yoga does.
And because it’s low-impact and relatively easy to mas-ter, virtually anyone can do it.
Want to give it a try? Higher Ground Outfi tters offers group outing sessions for $35. The fee includes use of a board and paddle, a short lesson and an hour of super-vised paddling.
“We usually launch from the Beaufort Marina on Bay Street or Factory Creek Boat Landing,” Lovett says. “But you can paddle anywhere there is a body of water.”
To sign up for an outing or reserve a board for rental, call 843-379-4327.
WALK IN THE WOODSTake a break from the treadmill and go hiking in a for-est. At Hunting Island State Park you’ll fi nd a wide vari-ety of trails, from an easy route alongside a lagoon to a moderately strenuous trek through one of the state’s most beautiful maritime forests. Combine several of the park’s 8 miles of trails and you have one calorie-burning, spirit-lifting exercise session.
South of the Broad, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge offers more hiking opportunities. The 4,053-acre preserve features a fl at gravel road that runs the length of the island with grassy spur trails leading into the woods and out to surrounding Mackay and Skull creeks.
Sea Pines Forest Preserve is another popular walk-ing destination. The largest tract of undeveloped land on Hilton Head Island, the 605-acre parcel features some 8 miles of trails and boardwalks.
Take a break from the treadmill and go hiking in a forest.
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Counting CaloriesWant to know how many calories you’re
burning walking the Spanish Moss Trail or paddling around the Historic District? Go to
bmhsc.org/livingwell and click “Health Library” and “Wellness Tools,” where you’ll find
the Calorie Burner Counter Calculator.
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 48
Body language can tell you all sorts of things. Like someone is having a stroke.
strokeassociation.org
TIME TO CALL 911TIME TO CALL 911
SPEECH DIFFICULTYSPEECH DIFFICULTYSPEECH DIFFICULTYSPEECH DIFFICULTY
ARM WEAKNESSARM WEAKNESS
FACE DROOPINGFACE DROOPING
Spot a stroke F.A.S.T. Know the sudden signs.
BY JODI HELMER
Feeling frazzled? 4 stress-busting strategies that work
SOSSOSSTR ESS
A project deadline. Kids arguing about chores. An epic traffi c jam. An unex-
pected car repair. A sick dog. Your list of stressors is endless—and seems
to be getting longer. You have company: In 2011, 44 percent of Americans
surveyed said their stress level was higher than it was fi ve years ago.
SOSSOSSTR ESS
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W hile some stressors are fl eeting—like the butterfl ies you feel before a nurse draws blood—a constant barrage of them can cause serious health issues. Stress has been linked
to headaches, fatigue, depression and heart disease, lead-ing the American Psychological Association to declare that the nation is on the verge of a stress-induced public health crisis.
“To ease stress, we need to take a break and make time for things that relax us,” explains Mary Ann Bauman, MD, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. “If we keep exposing ourselves to stress without taking time to recharge, we end up getting sick.”
The possible health implications of stress have led to countless newspaper headlines, best-selling books, TV shows and radio segments urging you to calm down. The avalanche of advice can actually add to your stress level.
When you feel the familiar symptoms of stress—chest pain, insomnia, upset stomach, sweating, a lack of con-centration—should you veg in front of your favorite sit-com? Tuck into a child’s pose? Make an appointment for a neck massage? Go for a brisk walk?
It depends.“There is no one-size-fi ts-all solution for stress relief,”
Bauman says.The techniques that are effective for combating stress
depend on the situation. Do you want to know which proven stress-busting strategies work in different situa-tions? Keep reading—and try to relax.
STRESS BUSTER: MASSAGEHow It Works: You already know that massage eases tense muscles, relieves headaches and reduces joint pain. But it has also proved effective for combating stress by increasing the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. In one study, heart rate slowed and the relaxation response kicked in after fi ve minutes of massage. “Giving yourself permission to take an hour to wind down is relaxing in and of itself,” says Daniel Kirsch, the president of the American Institute of Stress.
You don’t have to spend big bucks at a spa to get the stress-busting benefi ts of massage. Ask a friend to rub your shoulders or give yourself a foot or hand massage to ease stress.
When to Use It: When you can take a short timeout.
Massage proves that you don’t have to work hard to relieve stress. Once the appointment is made, all you have to do is choose a scented oil, listen to the nature soundtrack and enjoy the feel-ing of a skilled therapist working out the kinks. If you’re uncomfortable with a stranger seeing you unclothed (for some, it adds stress), try Thai mas-sage. You’ll wear loose-fi tting clothing while the therapist presses rhythmically and moves your body into positions that ease tension.
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STRESS BUSTER:
WATCHING TVHow It Works: Your favorite shows can reduce the physical effects of stress, including fatigue. But skip the true crime dramas and opt for sitcoms instead.
“The big belly laugh that comes from watching something funny increases your intake of oxygen and reduces your blood pressure,” Bauman says.
Watching a rerun may be particularly helpful in recovering from a stressful experi-ence, according to a new study. Researchers believe that knowing the outcome of a previ-ously viewed TV show alleviates any pres-sure to pay close attention to the plot. Just the anticipation of laughing at the characters can release endorphins and reduce stress.
When to Use It: When you don’t have the energy to engage in active stress relief.
Stress can sap your energy. Zoning out in front of the television might be the perfect antidote to a stressful day at work. While it’s OK to watch an hour or two of television in an evening, avoid too much screen time, which can lead to weight gain, increasing—you guessed it—stress.
STRESS BUSTER:
DEEP BREATHINGHow It Works: During stressful times, your breathing becomes shallow, making you feel short of breath. You can combat the stress response and feel more relaxed by taking sev-eral deep breaths. Deep breathing expands the diaphragm, lowers cortisol and blood pressure levels, and slows the heartbeat.
For the best results, Kirsch suggests inhal-ing deeply through your nose, exhaling slowly through your mouth and repeating the sequence at least six times. “It’s a natural way to control the stress response,” he says.
When to Use It: Anytime, anyplace. The best thing about deep breathing
exercises—aside from their effectiveness—is that it’s possible to use them in a range of sit-uations. Stuck in traffi c? Turn off the radio and tune in to your breathing. Pressured at work? You can take deep breaths while prep-ping a client report or taking notes in the morning meeting.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 13
Pressure TesTIf anxiety is a standard
part of your life, it
might be a good idea
to check your blood
pressure at home
every three months.
The American Heart
Association (AHA)
recommends an auto-
matic, cuff-style bicep
monitor available at
most pharmacies.
“Buy one that is
approved by the AHA,”
says Robert Vyge, MD,
of Beaufort Memorial
Lady’s Island Internal
Medicine. “Make sure
to follow the direc-
tions. You should be
seated with your feet
flat on the floor. The
cuff should be on your
arm at the level of your
left nipple.”
Vyge suggests taking
two readings two min-
utes apart in the morn-
ing and evening three
days in a row. If the
average reading is above
140 over 90, it’s time to
see your doctor.
“If you’ve been diag-
nosed with hyperten-
sion and you have a
headache and chest pal-
pitations, always take it
seriously—they can be
symptoms of serious
heart problems.”
Puzzled About Stress?
Stress can have negative effects on our physical health.
Unscramble five words to learn what it can do to your body. Visit
bmhsc.org/stresseffects to solve the puzzle.
on
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The sun is out. The birds are chirp-ing. Flowers are blooming. It’s summertime, and the living is easy. Right?
Not so fast. For some people, the months of long,
sunny days and lazy afternoons can trigger depression.
The possible reasons vary, according to Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, the author of The Fear & Anxiety Solution.
“It can be issues about the disruption of the routine,” he adds. “Kids are out of school, and you have to drive them from one [activ-ity] to the next.”
Plus, when you’re paying for camps, babysitters or vacations, summer can be expensive, leading to fi nancial stress. And depending on where you live, he notes, heat may play a role. For some people, extreme heat affects sleep patterns, and dehydration contributes to lower energy levels—another depression trigger. Schaub notes that for some people, even wearing fewer clothes can trigger summertime stress.
Regardless of the cause, here are eight ways to manage your mood and take control of those summer blues.
BY STEPHANIE R. CONNER
Simple tricks that will help manage your mood
SUMME8 CURES FOR
BLUESSTRESS BUSTER:
EXERCISEHow It Works: Physical exercise produces mood-elevating endorphins and reduces stress hor-mones like cortisol and adrenaline. Focusing on a yoga pose or your pace on the treadmill helps take your mind off stressful situations.
Getting your heart pumping doesn’t just release stress in the moment. Research shows that the benefi cial effects continue after your workout ends, helping you feel calm when faced with future stressors.
“People who exercise regularly release fewer stress hormones when they’re stressed than peo-ple who don’t exercise,” Bauman explains.
When to Use It: Anytime you can get physically active, for 15 minutes to an hour.
Lacing up your sneakers for a long run is just as effective as taking a deep-stretch class. And a brisk walk around the block has the same stress-busting effect as a 60-minute spin class.
“You don’t have to do a hard workout to get the benefi ts,” Bauman says.
The BENEFITS of StressFeeling a little frazzled can be a good thing. In
addition to protecting against danger, the “fight
or flight” response can enhance learning, stimu-
late immune cells and boost performance.
“Stress is not a problem; too much stress is a
problem,” says Daniel Kirsch, PhD, the president
of the American Institute of Stress. “The biggest
problem is that most people don’t know how to
cope with the amount of stress in their lives.”
Don’t stress about feeling stressed out. Just
be sure to use effective strategies to keep minor
stressors from becoming overwhelming.
STRESS BUSTER:
RTIME THE
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1Eat brEakfast.“It’s unbelievable how many people who are depressed have no breakfast,” Schaub
says. After you’ve fasted all night, blood sugar levels are low, and your body and brain need food to function. Physiologically, eating break-fast helps to maintain your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels that spike and crash can wreak havoc on your mood.
2sEt a routinE. Going on vacation, having the kids at home and changing your work sched-
ule throw off your routine. For some people, that means feeling a loss of control, spurring depressive symptoms. Fight back by estab-lishing a new routine: The kids can sleep in, but you still set bedtimes.
3takE CarE of YoursELf.“Having a self-care routine is very important, especially when you’re
anxious or depressed,” Schaub says. “When you feel like everything is about taking care of the kids, it’s important to bring your focus back to yourself.”
4run awaY from dEprEssion.Exercise can be like a drug—reducing
levels of the stress hormone cortisol and releasing mood-elevating endorphins. Doctors are even prescribing exercise as a treatment for depression. Studies show that exercise can reduce depression as effectively as medication can for some people. Start your day with a morning jog, take a walk during your lunch break or do yoga on your patio.
5LEan on Your friEnds.“The greatest buffer against depres-sion is your social support network,”
says Shawn Achor, a co-founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and
Summe rtime8 Cures for the
the author of Before Happiness. “The depth and breadth of your relationships is the greatest buffer against depression.”
6fEnd off faCEbook.A study in the Public Library of Science in 2013 suggested that heavy
Facebook users were more likely to be unsat-isfied with life. If you find yourself strug-gling with all those photos of happy people or feeling disappointed when you compare your achievements with those of others, Schaub says, close down Facebook.
7GEt Your ZZZs.People with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression
than those who sleep well, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But, the orga-nization acknowledges, the relationship is complex: Sleep problems can lead to depres-sion, and depression can lead to sleep prob-lems. Examine your sleep pattern, and think about changing your bedtime or installing light-blocking blackout shades.
8foCus on thE positivE.It’s important to concentrate on the good, Achor says. Make a list of things
in your life that you feel fortunate about: suc-cess at work, people you love. “You have a lot to be grateful for,” he says.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 15
People Who Need PeoPleif you know that a
period of stress or
depression is on the
horizon, shawn achor,
author of Before
Happiness, suggests
engaging in “social
investment”—that is,
“helping someone
else out.”
here’s an exercise
he recommends: Every
day for three weeks,
take two minutes to
write a positive letter or
email to someone. tell
someone you’re grate-
ful for her friendship, or
thank an inspiring high
school English teacher.
“twenty-one days
later, your brain will
realize that you have
deep social connec-
tions,” achor says. that,
he says, has a power-
ful positive impact on
depression and brings
you closer to your social
support network.
to
oL
Optimal Optimism Part of managing depression and other mental health conditions is
understanding your individual situation. Check out Optimism, a free app that helps you chart your mood so you can detect patterns and
develop coping strategies. Visit findingoptimism.com to learn more.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 416
About
The
Sunscreen
Is SPF 45 any better than SPF 15?
BY ELLEN RANTA OLSON
Which are the harmful rays, UVA or UVB? See how much you know about the lifesaver in your beach bag
I’ve come a long way since my teenage days of slather-
ing up with coconut-scented oil and roasting by the pool.
But I have a confession to make: I still don’t practice safe
sunning. Sure, I’ll apply a low-grade SPF for a day at the
beach, but everyday wear? Not for me. Staying out of the
sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.? No way. Reapplying
sunscreen every hour or so? Can’t be bothered.
As I approach a milestone birthday this year, I’m
resolving to take better care of my skin. And as I recently
learned, my new approach to sun safety can’t come a day
too soon. If, like me, you need a good dose of reality to
help you change your risky ways, read on. >
ing up with coconut-scented oil and roasting by the pool.
But I have a confession to make: I still don’t practice safe
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 17
TRUE OR FALSE:Any SPF (sun protection factor) higher than 30 is a bunch of hooey.
FALSE I hate to be a party pooper, but that SPF 4 tanning oil isn’t helping your skin. Turns out, a higher number really is better. An SPF 15 fi lters out about 93 percent of all UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 keeps out 98 percent. The differences may seem negligible, but if you are light-sensitive or have a history of skin cancer, they can make an impact. Plus, over a lifetime, a few more percentage points can add up to a lot less sun damage.
“For regular daily use, an SPF of 15 or 30 is more than adequate,” says Steven Q. Wang, MD, a spokes-man for the Skin Cancer Foundation. “But if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, you need something higher, like SPF 50.”
TRUE OR FALSE:The sun’s rays are all dangerous, so you have to block them all.
TRUE UVA? UVB? UB40? OK, so the 1980s band behind the song “Red, Red Wine” has nothing to do with sun protection, but it’s easy to get con-fused with all these abbreviations fl oating around. When shopping for a sunblock, not only are you deciding which SPF to get, but you also have to look for a product that protects against both types of damaging rays.
Ultraviolet B rays are the chief culprits behind sunburns. They play a large role in the development of skin cancer, and their intensity varies with the sea-son, location and time of day. It was once thought that UVB rays were the only worrisome ones, but we now know that UVA does damage, too.
Ultraviolet A rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB and play a major role in aging and wrin-kling. Until recently, scientists believed that UVA’s damage was all superfi cial, but new studies show that UVA rays do, in fact, contribute to skin cancer.
So what does it all mean as you navigate the sun-screen aisle? “Look for a sunscreen labeled broad-spectrum, which means it meets the FDA standards for both UVA and UVB protection,” Wang says.
TRUE OR FALSE:Wearing sunscreen can be bad for you.
FALSE OK, this one was easy. But some people shy away from sunscreen, believing it poses a health risk. Consider those myths offi cially debunked. “There have been some ideas perpetuated that sun-screen is really a cause of melanoma. This was most likely due largely to the fact that older products didn’t offer UVA protection,” Wang says. “A clinical trial in 2010 showed that daily use of sunscreen reduced the risk of developing skin cancer by 50 percent.”
Another common misconception is that wearing sunscreen will limit your ability to get enough vita-min D. While it’s true that the sun’s rays are a source of this nutrient, they certainly aren’t the only one. “When you consider the health risks compared to the health benefi ts of getting your vitamin D from the sun, it really becomes apparent that oral intake from diet and supplements is the preferred method of obtaining the vitamin,” Wang says.
TRUE OR FALSE:Even under total cloud cover, sunscreen is essential.
TRUE Sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine, not just something you throw in your beach bag. Even on an overcast day, up to 40 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation reaches Earth. This can lead to serious sunburn, because when you don’t feel the sun’s rays, you may be inclined to spend hours outdoors without protection.
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SunscreeningsNot sure which sunblock is right for you? Here are some of our recommendations:
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TRUE OR FALSE:If I put on sunscreen, I can safely veg on this lounge chair all day.
FALSE Sorry, sun worshippers, but SPF is only one aspect of complete sun protection. Wang recom-mends practicing sun avoidance, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during summer, when the sun is at its strongest. If you are outside, wear protective clothing and hats and seek shade when possible. And to get the full benefi ts of sunscreen, make sure you slather it on right: Apply 1 ounce (about a shot glass full) every two hours. During a long day at the beach, one person should go through about half of an 8-ounce bottle.
For Kids
Alba Botanica
Very Emollient Sunscreen
Kids Mineral
Protection, $10
Go natural with this
paraben-free, water-
resistant sunscreen.
Minerals provide strong
protection for days
spent playing in the sun.
For Runners
Neutrogena Wet Skin
Sunscreen, $12
We tested the sweat-
proof claims during a
run on a summer day
in Phoenix—it held up
its end of the bargain.
For Recovering
Tanoholics
Jergens Natural
Glow + Protect, $9
All hail the gradual
self-tanner. Get a
sun-kissed look while
protecting your skin.
For Sensitive Skin
MDSolarSciences
Mineral Lotion, $34
Free of any chemical
ingredients or
fragrance, this one is
gentle enough for even
the most finicky skin.
For Busy Women
Clarins UV Plus HP, $16
This formula protects
and enhances skin
tone, so you can skip
the foundation.
For Your Kisser
Aquaphor Lip Repair
+ Protect, $5
Now with broad-
spectrum SPF, this
pout protector covers
all the bases.
spent playing in the sun.spent playing in the sun.spent playing in the sun.
For Busy WomenFor Busy Women
Clarins UV Plus HP, $16Clarins UV Plus HP, $16Clarins UV Plus HP, $16Clarins UV Plus HP, $16
For Your KisserFor Your KisserFor Your KisserFor Your Kisser
Aquaphor Lip Repair Aquaphor Lip Repair Aquaphor Lip Repair Aquaphor Lip Repair
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 19
Map Your Marks
Regular self-exams are key to finding cancer early, when
it’s most treatable. Go to skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/
early-detection and scroll to the bottom of the page
to download a body map to track changes in your
moles and birthmarks.
DO
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Could It Be Cancer?First, the bad news: With more than
3.5 million cases in 2 million people diag-
nosed annually (some people receive
multiple diagnoses in one year), skin
cancer is the most common form of
cancer in the U.S., according to the Skin
Cancer Foundation.
Fortunately, it is also the easiest to cure,
if diagnosed and treated early. That’s why
it’s so important to know what’s normal
for your skin, and to know the ABCDEs
of melanoma:
Asymmetry. If you draw a line through
the mole, the halves don’t match.
Borders. The edges of the mole
are uneven.
Color. The mole is different shades of
brown, tan or black, or even red or blue.
Diameter. The mole is larger than a
quarter inch.
Evolving. Any change in size, shape or
color is a warning sign.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 420
Tiny tools and minimal incisions are giving the operating room an extreme makeover
Appendectomies in the 19th century were the type of operation that would make a grown man
faint: large incision, exposed muscles and tissue, blood-staunching nurses. Post-op wasn’t much better, as a patient would spend weeks in recov-ery, fighting infection.
Today, if you develop appendicitis, and a laparoscopic appendectomy is the appropriate surgical option, the doctor will make a few half-inch inci-sions in your abdomen and use a tiny camera and miniature tools to remove the rupture. Chances are, you’ll be walking the hospital corridors within
hours and heading home the next day.Rapidly evolving advances in bio-
technology, diagnostic methods and specialized instruments have helped speed this astounding medical trans-formation. Surgeons can repair and remove everything from an inflamed appendix to a cancerous tumor using minimally invasive surgery (MIS). While not everyone is a candidate for MIS, Benjamin H. Lowentritt, MD, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons whose expertise encom-passes robotic and laparoscopic and other endoscopic procedures, says the benefits are many. Here’s an over-view of MIS today. >
Great Strides in Surgery 12000 B.C.
The earliest known surgery
is performed. Skulls from
the Stone Age, discovered by
archaeologists, offer evidence
of trepanation, in which a hole
is drilled to relieve pressure.
3600 B.C.Talk like an Egyptian: A tracheotomy
is portrayed on two ancient stone
tablets; the procedure is also noted
on the Ebers Papyrus, a medical
papyrus from 1550 B.C.
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instruments. A high-definition camera that has been inserted through a small incision streams 3-D images to a monitor. “Robotics allow the surgeon to see more clearly what they’re doing, and the riveted arms and surgical tools allow more flexibility in approaching the repair. The robotics also reduce the surgeon’s natural movements, like hand tremors, which helps make it even more precise,” Lowentritt says.
From the top down MIS can be performed almost anywhere in the body, from the brain to the foot. Gallbladder removal and appendectomies are two of the most common proce-dures. Prostate and uterus removal are others. Heat can be delivered to destroy or shrink tumors. Heart valves can be repaired. Hernias, diverticulitis, uter-ine fibroids, joint problems, obstructions and herni-ated disks are just some of the conditions for which MIS may be suitable.
what’s in a name?MIS is also known as endoscopic surgery, keyhole sur-gery and less-invasive surgery. You may have heard the term laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy is the most common type of MIS, in which surgeons examine and repair organs in the abdominal or pelvic cavities.
how do they do that? The beauty of minimally invasive surgery is, of course, the small incisions, or maybe no incision at all, if the surgeon is able to maneuver a scope and work through a body’s natural opening. Usually, incisions will be less than a half-inch. Space is tight in there! In some abdominal cases of MIS, carbon dioxide gas is pumped into the cavity around an organ to create better working space.
Lights, camera … surgery! For two centuries, doctors have inserted endoscopes into human bodies to diagnose ailments. Today’s scopes, thin tubes equipped with lights, cameras and surgical tools, allow surgeons to also make repairs. Utilizing an incision or a natural body opening, the doctor guides the endoscope as live imaging appears on a video screen, allowing him to clearly see the sur-gical site. Other small incisions are used as entry and exit points for surgical instruments. “The concept and goals are the same as open surgical procedures,” Lowentritt explains, “but the least invasive possible.”
the bot and the bodyDuring robotic-assisted MIS, a physician sits at a console and maneuvers “arms” that seamlessly rep-licate hand movements to manipulate miniature
600 B.C. The first rhino-
plasty (nose job) is
recorded in India.
1842 The first documented successful
operation using ether as an anesthetic is
performed in Jefferson, Ga.
Two neck tumors are
removed; the patient
pays $2.
1911 Laparoscopic surgery,
dubbed “minimal
access surgery” or
“organoscopy,” is
performed for the
first time in the U.S.
1958 In Sweden, the first cardiac
pacemaker is implanted and
functions for three hours.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 422
What’s to likeYou may be able to go home the day of the MIS or the next day. In general, Lowentritt says, “scars are smaller. There’s less blood loss, less pain, less medica-tion, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.” And because of the smaller incisions, recovery is faster and infection risk is lower.
things to think aboutThere are a few downsides to consider. Procedures can sometimes take longer because of the skill required, so a patient may be under anesthesia lon-ger. Surgeons can’t touch organs and feel around to look for other problems. People who are obese or who have scar tissue from previous surgeries may not be candidates. Robotic surgical equipment is pricey, and compared with laparoscopy, such operations typi-cally cost the hospital more per patient and require more operating time.
What’s neW in a hot field Single-incision laparoscopic surgery, also known as single-port surgery, is a newer form of MIS. The phy-sician uses a soft and flexible instrument equipped with three distinct openings that allow for the simul-taneous use of three surgical devices—all accessed through one small incision, usually in the navel. It’s increasingly being used for gallbladder, urologic and gynecologic procedures.
Another new frontier is known as “scarless sur-gery,” or NOTES, for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, which uses the body’s existing openings, such as the mouth and the vagina, to access organs with an endoscope and surgical tools.
Stay tuned.
1960
The first hip replace-
ment is performed.
The procedure
becomes one of
the most successful
types of surgery per-
formed in the U.S.
1985
A robot called
the Puma 560
places a needle
for a brain
biopsy using
CT guidance.
2001
The first bariatric surgical
device, commonly called
a Lap-Band, is approved
to treat obesity. 2008
French neurosurgeons use a
fiber-optic laser to destroy
cancerous brain cells.
2012 Doctors in
Sweden perform
the world’s
first mother-
to-daughter
uterus transplant.
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Familiarity Breeds SuccessMinimally invasive surgeries require a significant
learning curve, says Benjamin H. Lowentritt, MD,
who specializes in the cutting-edge procedures.
In 1989, the Food and Drug Administration began
requiring physicians to perform at least 15 lapa-
roscopic cholecystectomies (removal of the gall-
bladder) under supervision before being allowed
to do this procedure on their own. According
to Lowentritt, surgeons who conduct minimally
invasive operations are already highly specialized in
their respective fields before training for a year or
more for minimally invasive surgical procedures. o
nli
ne The da Vinci Si
BMH offers a less-invasive approach to many procedures with the da Vinci surgical system. Visit bmhsc.org and
click “Surgical Services” under “Medical Services” to learn more.
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BY STEPHANIE R. CONNER
Know the signs of a concussion and how to prevent long-term damage
GET YOUR
You’re on your feet, shaking a foam fi nger high in the air to the beat of the fi ght song. You know you’ll have a sore throat tomorrow from all the cheering, but this is your kid’s team, and this is one exciting game. Then, suddenly, the crowd falls silent. The athletes stop playing. The coach and trainer race to help your
child off the fi eld. Your heart stops.
When your child suffers a head injury, what do you do? Injuries, including concussions, are part of sports at every level of play. But to prevent long-term damage, it’s important to know the signs of a concus-
sion and what steps to take next.
HEADIN THE GAME
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Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks and a member of the National Football League (NFL) Head, Neck and Spine Committee. “This is a refl ection of better recognition. People are erring on the side of caution.”
WHAT TO LOOK FORDuring a concussion, the brain is violently rattled against the inside of the skull. So it’s no wonder that headaches are a common symptom of a concussion.
And while many people associate concussions with loss of consciousness, that happens in less than 10 percent of sports-related concussions, says Barry Jordan, MD, a neurologist who serves on the NFL Players Association Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and the NFL Neuro-Cognitive Disability Committee.
Signs of concussion, Jordan says, fall into three categories:
• Cognitive. Children might be confused or disoriented or have amnesia.
• Behavioral. They may feel as if they’re in a fog, or may be more emotional than usual.
• Physical. Kids can experience headaches, dizziness or nausea, or have diffi culty with bal-ance or coordination.
It’s essential for coaches and trainers to recog-nize these symptoms because what happens next is critical to a child’s health.
“This is a very important point,” says Herring, who helped develop the CDC’s Heads Up online concussion training program. “If there’s a sus-pected concussion, they’re out for the day.”
Next, it’s important to make an appointment with your child’s doctor. “The brain is vulner-able until the concussion heals,” he adds. A second blow to the head before a concussion
COMMON CAUSES OF CONCUSSIONA concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury usually caused by a blow to the head. Accidents or sports are typically to blame.
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 60 percent increase in young athletes being treated in emergency departments for traumatic brain injuries during the prior decade. The top fi ve causes were bicy-cling, football, playground activities (especially in younger kids), basketball and soccer.
Experts suggest that this dramatic rise is not the result of more dangerous play, but rather a sign that parents and coaches better recog-nize the signs of concussion and know when to seek treatment.
“Concussion in recreational sports is not new,” says Stanley Herring, MD, a team doctor for the
Concussion and the Classroom A recent report in Pediatrics, the official journal of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, warns doctors, parents and
school officials of potential cognitive damage resulting from
a concussion. While concussion victims are already cautioned
to avoid activities such as texting, playing video games,
reading and watching TV, the new study indicates that nor-
mal schoolwork may need to be adjusted for several weeks
after the trauma. Be sure to discuss with your child’s doctor.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 426
heals can cause serious and lasting damage or even death.
For moms and dads concerned about the life-long neurological impact of contact sports, the good news is that as long as you take the right steps after a brain injury, there’s little to worry about, Jordan says.
One signifi cant factor, he says, is the length of time between concussions.
“Someone having three concussions in six months is different than someone having three concussions in a six-year period,” he explains. “One thing parents and athletes should be con-cerned about is that each time, it takes longer to recover. And it takes less impact to cause [a concussion].”
WHAT TO DOForty-eight states have laws that require coaches to take athletes out of the game after a concussion. The laws also affi rm that athletes can’t play until they’ve been cleared by a medical professional.
How long that takes depends on the individual situation, Jordan says.
“Most concussions will resolve in seven to 10 days,” he explains. “Some take longer.”
Once the symptoms have gone away, the ath-lete can begin to slowly return to activity, he adds. That means progressively increasing activity and training to make sure symptoms don’t reappear.
“They should return to competition only when they are asymptomatic at rest and on assertion—and are not on any medications for the symp-toms,” Jordan notes.
It’s important, Herring adds, for coaches, trainers and parents to be educated about con-cussions and to take advantage of free resources, such as the CDC’s Heads Up program.
“In youth sports, there aren’t always trained medical professionals on the fi eld,” he says. “I don’t expect (coaches and parents) to make a diagnosis, but look at a checklist.”
What makes this crucial is knowing that young athletes may not always be honest about their symptoms. In addition, Herring says, coaches should adopt a team concussion policy.
“Athletes sometimes listen to their parents, but they always listen to their coach,” says Herring, an advocate for head trauma legislation to protect youth athletes. “Everyone’s tough, but no one has a tough brain … Reward robust reporting. Make it part of the team culture.”
While brain injuries are scary, it’s important for parents to not overreact, he adds. With the rise of childhood obesity, Herring says, sports can be incredibly healthy for kids.
“There are consequences to not letting kids play sports,” he notes. “Youth sports are an important part of physical and social development. And injury is an inevitable part of an active lifestyle. … It’s how you manage the fi rst concussion and treat the athlete that will make a difference.”
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 27
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Know Before You GoThink your child may have suffered a concussion?
Learn what to ask your doctor to help you take care of it. Is it OK for your child to go to sleep? Can your
child play around the house? Will all the symptoms go away? Visit bmhsc.org/kidsconcussion for
other important questions.
Head for the ER?If your child suffers a concussion and symptoms improve
within 45 minutes, there’s no need to rush to the hospital.
But if you observe any of the following, get moving.
• He or she was unconscious for more than 10 to 15 seconds.
• There’s physical evidence of a neurological deficit (such as
weakness on one side of the body).
• Headache is worsening.
• Your child gets more tired or less responsive.
• Vomiting is repeated.
• Confusion persists.
• Pupils of the eyes are not equal in size; eye movements
are unusual.
• Symptoms don’t improve after 45 minutes.
And remember, even if your child’s symptoms are minor,
it’s still important to schedule a doctor’s appointment.
“Everyone who has a concussion should be evaluated by
a professional,” says Barry Jordan, MD, a neurologist who
serves on the National Football League Players Association
Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 428
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Pack your bags and your meds—a chronic condition doesn’t have to mean your travel days are over • BY BOB PAYNE
CONTINUESTHE JOURNEY
For anyone who enjoys travel-ing, learning that you have a chronic medical condition comes with the apprehension that the adventures you’ve enjoyed throughout your life
will become a thing of the past—that you’ll have to tuck away your passport and put your suitcases in the attic.
But retired business executive Mike Eicher says it doesn’t have to be that way. Eicher has undergone heart and lung sur-gery. He has experienced a stroke, and he has diabetes, all combining to limit his stamina and mobility. Yet he remains a world traveler and believes that others with chronic health conditions can travel safely, too. “As long as you take precau-tions, health issues shouldn’t keep you at home,” says Eicher, author of Travel for Seniors Made Easy: Staying Alive @ 65.
Leslie Spry, MD, a nephrologist and a spokesman for the National Kidney Foundation, agrees. “In the case of kidney patients, as long as their health is stable, we encourage travel because it can give a boost to their sense of well-being. And with the number of dialysis centers world-wide, they can go just about everywhere.”
6 RULES OF THE ROADAs with kidney disease, every other chronic condition creates its own demands and limitations for travelers. The best way to learn about specifi cs is from orga-nizations such as the National Kidney Foundation (kidney.org), the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) and the American Heart Association (heart.org).
But you’ll discover there’s a core of pre-cautions common to all. >
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1HAVE YOUR DOCTOR EVALUATE your ability to take the trip. That may mean an exam, an assessment of risks and research into the care available at
your destination. For kidney patients travel-ing domestically, for example, medicare.gov has information that allows you to compare any dialysis treatment center in the U.S. with your center at home.
2CARRY RECORDS that can help a doctor who doesn’t know you quickly assess your condition. These should include prescriptions for your medi-
cations and a letter from your doctor at home, detailing your condition and needs; the med-icines and medical supplies (e.g., syringes) you require; food or medicine allergies; and emergency contact information.
Your list of medications should include generic names and, according to the Centers
DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM Travelers with health conditions ventur-
ing out of the country need to bring extra
paperwork. In addition to the list of medica-
tions you are taking and a letter from your
doctor detailing your medical condition, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
suggests that you carry a card containing
contact information for the following:
• Family member or close contact remaining
in the United States
• Healthcare provider(s) at home
• Lodging at your destination
• Hospitals or clinics at your destination,
including emergency services
• U.S. embassy or consulate in your destina-
tion country
for Disease Control and Prevention, be writ-ten in the local language if possible. Consider a medical ID bracelet or necklace that has basic medical information or a USB drive with your medical history. “Access to infor-mation is key,” Spry says. “Just by knowing what medicines a patient is taking, you can get a pretty good idea of what’s going on.”
3TELL SOMEONE traveling with you about where your medicines are packed, where you keep your medi-cal records and your medical needs.
4CARRY ENOUGH MEDICINEand supplies to last for the trip, plus a few days extra in case of spills or travel delays. Keep them in your
carry-on, along with written prescriptions for emergency replacements.
5DETERMINE what your insurance will cover (Medicare, for example, won’t cover anything outside the U.S., except in a few instances), and,
if necessary, supplement it with short-term travel, health and evacuation insurance.
6WHEN BOOKING, let airlines know if you need special assistance or special meals, alert hotels if you have problems with stairs or dis-
tance and, if you use a travel agent, tell him or her about your special needs, too.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 430
Whatever your needs, Eicher says, the important thing to remember is that if you love to travel, there is a way to do it. “It’s just a matter of doing things a little differently.”
IF YOU HAVE KIDNEY PROBLEMS To safely treat you as a transient patient, most dialysis centers will require the fol-lowing information, mailed or faxed six to eight weeks in advance, with another copy hand-carried by you, the National Kidney Foundation says:
• The dates you need dialysis treatment
• Your name, address, phone number
• Medical history and recent physical exam reports
• Recent lab results
• Recent EKG
• Recent chest X-ray
• Your dialysis prescription and three to fi ve recent treatment records
• Dialysis access type
• Special needs or dialysis requirements
• Information about your general health
• Insurance information
• Where you will be staying in the area
• A list of the medications you take during treatment and at home
IF YOU HAVE DIABETES The biggest challenge for travelers with dia-betes can be the clock: On a long journey east or west, an air traveler may rapidly cross sev-eral time zones. That can make keeping track of insulin and meal schedules confusing, as this must be done based on time intervals and not the time of day at your current loca-tion. When more than a couple of time zones are involved, have your doctor help you set up the schedule. According to the American Diabetes Association, you should keep these points in mind:
• Eastward travel means a shorter day. If you inject insulin, less may be needed.
• Westward travel means a longer day, so more insulin may be needed.
• To keep track of shots and meals during changing time zones, keep your watch on your home time zone until the morning after you arrive.
IF YOU HAVE A HEART CONDITIONDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition in which blood clots form in a deep vein, usu-ally in the legs. It’s serious because if a clot breaks off, it can travel through the blood-stream to the lungs and block blood fl ow, causing a pulmonary embolism. Sometimes called “economy class syndrome” because it’s associated with the restriction of mobility on long fl ights, DVT can happen to any traveler. But if someone has had vascular disease or a history of heart failure, the risk increases. If you are in that category, the Federal Aviation Administration says you may want to:
• Talk to your doctor about specifi c risks and precautions.
• On the advice of your doctor, wear com-pression stockings, which can reduce the chances of blood pooling and clotting. Your doctor may also prescribe blood-thinning medications.
• Get up and walk around the cabin when you can. If that’s not possible, frequently exercise your lower legs and ankles while seated.
• Drink adequate fl uids but avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Wear loose-fi tting clothing, which may help prevent constriction of veins.
• Take short naps to avoid the prolonged inactivity of longer ones.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 31
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A Checklist for Diabetes Care
Visit bmhsc.org/medtraveltips for tips on how to manage your diabetes when you’re
on the road.
Words from a Wise WandererDespite some serious health
issues, Mike eicher, author
of Travel for Seniors Made
Easy: Staying Alive @ 65,
plans at least one major trip
each year. (in 2013, he spent
nearly a month in new
Zealand.) Here’s his advice:
• “Supplemental health
insurance can seem expen-
sive. But before you dis-
miss it, compare it with
what it would cost to pay
out-of-pocket for an air
charter with an onboard
medical team.”
• “long flights are hard on
anybody, so i recommend
flying business class, even
if you have to put off a trip
until you can save enough
for it.”
• “From a health stand-
point, i never feel safer than
when cruising. You’ll find a
doctor aboard every ship,
a dispensary, and, often,
the ability to have dialy-
sis treatments.”
• “When people see
you using a cane,
they are just nicer
to you. And that
includes the TSA.”
• “The four most
important words
in travel: ‘i’d like a
wheelchair.’ ”
How a movie role compelled BRADLEY COOPER to become an advocate for mental health
BrainMan
W hen Bradley Cooper took on the role of a man with bipolar disorder, he probably never imagined it would change his worldview.
Portraying Pat Solatano in Silver Linings Playbook, the 39-year-old actor and executive producer earned Academy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award nominations. The fi lm also catapulted him into a role as a high-profi le advocate for mental health issues.
BY ALISSA M. EDWARDS
32 S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
33S U M M E R 2 0 1 4
You Don’t Know BradThink you’ve got Bradley Cooper all
figured out? Here are seven things
you probably didn’t know about this
charming and versatile actor.
1 CALL HIM “COOP.” His closest
friends do.
2 HE LOVES HIS DOGS. “They are
both rescue dogs and they are
the best,” Cooper told People magazine.
“They’re my kids.”
3 HE’S QUITE A COOK. “My
grandmother was an amaz-
ing cook. I used to make homemade
pasta,” he told People. “I love the idea
of making whatever is in the fridge
into something.”
4 HE’S ON FIRE. The actor report-
edly earned $15 million for repris-
ing his role of Phil in The Hangover Part III.
5 HE HASN’T HAD A HANG-
OVER FOR A WHILE. He quit
drinking at age 29 after a rough night of
partying sent him to the ER. “I realized I
wasn’t going to live up to my potential,
and that scared ... me,” he told US Weekly.
6 HE LOVES HIS VESPA, which
was given to the cast of The
Hangover Part II as a gift by producer
Todd Phillips after they wrapped.
7 HE HAS A BROMANCE. He’s
best friends with Dax Shepard,
of Punk’d and Parenthood fame.
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A Fresh PersPectiveBefore researching the Silver Linings role, the star of The Hangover trilogy admits to being relatively igno-rant to the plight of those with bipolar disorder. “It’s not that I didn’t know about mental illness. … I just didn’t see it as a part of my own life; I didn’t really think that it affected me,” Cooper said during a speech at the National Conference on Mental Health in June 2013.
But filming the movie changed his perspective. “I realized that people that I knew, people that I loved and cared about, they were coping with this in silence and … I really had no idea.”
The truth is that most of us don’t. And although bipolar disorder is more common than we might real-ize, affecting more than 5.7 million adult Americans in a given year, or 2.6 percent of the population 18 and older, misconceptions abound. We have answers to six common questions.
Q What is biPolar disorder and What are the symPtoms?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that causes dramatic, sudden shifts in mood, energy, sleep and activity levels.
Though researchers aren’t sure exactly what causes it, “genetics clearly play a role and environmental fac-tors like significant life events also appear to trigger episodes,” says David Miklowitz, PhD, a psychologist and the author of The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know. “Some neu-roimaging studies have also found differences in the brains of bipolar individuals.”
In Silver Linings Playbook, the character’s illness manifests itself in obsessive behavior, delusions, rapid speech, sleeplessness, manic and depressive episodes, and temper flare-ups, “with mood swings and weird thinking brought on by severe stress,” the Solatano character explains to his therapist.
Though these are all common symptoms of bipolar disorder, Ryan Niemiec, PsyD, a psychologist and the co-author of Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology, points out that the movie doesn’t get every bit of it right. Solatano’s frequent episodes of rage and fighting “are likely features of another condition and are not necessarily character-istic of bipolar.”
Celebs Speak Outbipolar disorder can affect anyone,
including your favorite celebrities.
“there’s evidence that people with
this illness have high levels of creativ-
ity,” says david miklowitz, Phd, a psy-
chologist and the author of The Bipolar
Disorder Survival Guide: What You and
Your Family Need to Know. “it seems to
go along with the artistic tempera-
ment.” here, hollywood’s finest share
their experiences.
Catherine Zeta-Jones,
on going public. “i hope
i can help remove any
stigma attached to it,” she
told People magazine, “and that those
who didn’t have it under control will
seek help.”
Jean-Claude Van Damme,
on medication. “in one
week, i felt [the medication]
kick in,” he told E! Online.
“all the commotion around me, all the
water around me ... became like a lake.”
Carrie Fisher, on being
bipolar. “i thought if i could
ever get [bipolar disorder]
to be funny, it would be bril-
liant,” she told BP Magazine. “but it took
a really long time ... dealing with the
bipolar situation was far from funny.”
Linda Hamilton, on treat-
ment. “every year is just
richer ... because i’m really
returning to who i was
meant to be,” she said on Larry King Live.
s U M M e r 2 0 1 4 35
Q How does bipolar disorder affect a person’s life?
For Solatano, bipolar disorder is a contributing factor in both the end of his marriage and the loss of his job as a substitute teacher. People with bipolar disorder face similar challenges in real life.
“It’s common to experience problems in work, social and family relationships due to extreme mood states,” Miklowitz explains. “To complicate things further, the moods of people with bipolar disorder are negatively affected by stress in their relationships.”
Though treatments can help minimize these prob-lems, they don’t erase them. Bipolar individuals, along with their employers, co-workers and the peo-ple who care about them, should educate themselves and make adjustments accordingly. Changes could include, for example, a more flexible work schedule to allow for adequate sleep and counseling sessions.
Q How is it diagnosed?In Silver Linings Playbook, Solatano’s diag-nosis comes after a particularly violent
altercation during which he nearly beats someone to death. His diagnosis lets him skip jail time but puts him in a mental institution for eight months.
For most people, it’s not a single event that pre-cedes a diagnosis. “Most people seek the help of a mental health professional after experiencing symp-toms for an average of 10 years before getting a diag-nosis,” Miklowitz explains.
To be diagnosed as bipolar, individuals must undergo a physical examination and blood tests to rule out other problems that could be causing symp-toms. Next, a psychological evaluation is performed, usually along with analysis of moods and sleep pat-terns, to determine whether the person meets the criteria for a diagnosis.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 436
Get Support It’s not easy watching a family member
struggle with mental illness. It can feel
frustrating, hopeless and even frightening
at times. Your efforts to help may seem to
only make things worse.
What can you do? Susan South, direc-
tor of Beaufort Memorial’s mental health
unit, suggests reaching out to the National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The grass-
roots mental health organization provides a
wide range of free services, including a crisis
line, free education programs and support
groups for patients and their families.
“It helps to talk with people who have
had similar experiences,” South says. “As a
group, you can share what you’ve learned
living with mental health challenges and
offer each other encouragement and
understanding.”
NAMI’s Beaufort County chapter meets
at 7 p.m. the third Monday of the month at
St. John’s Lutheran Church on Lady’s Island
and at 10 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the
month at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church
in Bluffton.
To learn more, call 843-681-2200.
oN
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Curious About a Loved One—or You?
If you think you or someone you love may be affected by a serious mental illness, turn to
BMH for help. We offer expert treatment for a number of mental health conditions. Visit
bmhsc.org/services/mental-health for more information.
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Q How is it treated? A comprehensive treatment plan, as explored in the film, should include coun-
seling, medication, a healthy lifestyle and a strong sup-port network, Niemiec says. A plan typically entails:
Mood-stabilizing medication. Though it may be the most important piece of treatment, many patients have an on-again, off-again relationship with medications because of side effects like memory and concentration problems, nausea and drowsi-ness. Though the process involves trial and error, Miklowitz says the right medication can “make a world of difference.”
Counseling. When combined with medication, research shows that therapy can help those with bipolar disorder recover faster from episodes and better control their moods.
Diet and exercise. A healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of omega-3s (found in foods such as fish, eggs, soy, seeds and nuts) may help lessen symptoms and prevent weight gain associated with medications, while exercise can decrease mood swings and reduce the stress of manic episodes. “You see Cooper’s character doing this with running and eventually dancing in the film,” Niemiec says.
Structured sleep. A regular and consistent sleep schedule is critical. Insufficient sleep is a trigger for manic episodes—as when Solatano bursts into his parents’ bedroom at 4 a.m. after spending the night reading Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms.
Support. Attending a support group and having a network of friends and family can help bipolar individuals stay on course with treatments and better cope with the day-to-day ups and downs of their diagnosis.
Q wHat are barriers to treatment? Despite the treatment options available,
many people with bipolar disorder “white knuckle it,” as Solatano tells his psychologist he did before his diagnosis. They go without medications or therapy.
Miklowitz says this is due in part to the stigma sur-rounding mental illness. “Many people still think that mental health issues aren’t as legitimate as physical problems,” he explains. “Even though there’s medical evidence that they affect the brain and can be inher-ited, people still blame the victim.”
Another challenge is adhering to medication regi-mens, Niemiec says. “Like Solatano, many individuals don’t like the way the medicines make them feel, so they quit on their own—a very dangerous thing to do.”
Q How can i Help? Watching Silver Linings Playbook will open your eyes to the plight of individuals deal-
ing with bipolar disorder. Educate yourself about the issue, share what you learn and practice compassion toward those experiencing mental illness. “People need to know that bipolar disorder is a biologically based, genetically acquired illness,” Miklowitz says. “We need to stop blaming people for their behavior and show them the same sympathy and encourage-ment we show people who have physical illnesses.”
Cooper agrees. “It’s less about the people who are dealing with this illness and more about the people who aren’t,” he said in his closing remarks at the 2013 National Conference on Mental Health. “I think it is up to all of us to help, and I want to help. … I want to be a part of the solution.”
Now you can, too.
by the end of Silver Linings Playbook, therapy, family
and ballroom dancing have helped cooper’s character begin to manage his illness.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 37
THE
FOLLIES BY JO OSTGARDEN
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On the journey through life, your feet are two of your best friends. It’s time to treat them that way
Quick! Name the woman whose sti-letto obsession led to a rush on $400 shoes designed by Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. It’s Carrie Bradshaw,
of course, the Sex and the City heroine portrayed by actress Sarah Jessica Parker—who confessed that the steep heels she wore while fi lming left her with permanently damaged tootsies.
Alas, human feet are, well … complicated. Composed of 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons, feet are essentially the body’s foundation. Instead of tor-turing them, why not try a little podiatric pam-pering? You might just kick up your heels. >
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 39
CULPRIT 1
HIGH HEELS“A normal arch acts as a shock absorber for the entire body,” explains Bal Rajagopalan, MD—aka Dr. Raj—a Beverly Hills, Calif., orthopedic surgeon and a medical consultant for ABC News. “Each time you take a step, you’re loading up to fi ve times your body weight onto that foot. A 6-inch heel typically has a 60 percent angle, which not only overloads the forefoot but also deforms the arch and reduces shock absorption and leads to infl amed nerves in your toes.” It can also shorten the calf muscles, which may cause infl ammation of the Achilles tendon, resulting in painful tendinitis.
Eventually, all this distortion creates structural instability, Rajagopalan says, and can cause compres-sion in the spine, which impinges the nerves running
TOES AND NOSE Each pair of human feet contains about a half-million sweat glands, so if you lace them up all day in a pair
of nonbreathable shoes, they’re likely to get sweaty. Sweat causes the bacteria count inside of your shoes
to increase, leading to stinky feet. The solution: Wash and dry your feet thoroughly, every day; wear socks
made of wool or synthetic fibers designed to wick moisture; and rotate your shoes daily. Besides creating an
odor, sweat can also lead to athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), a fungus that loves dank places like shoes and locker
room shower stalls. It can make your feet itch like crazy. This problem doesn’t go away on its own; treat it
with an antifungal balm or straight tea tree oil.
through it. This is especially true, he says, if your spine already curves forward more than normal. High heels also exert pressure on the fat pads under the ball of your foot, causing intense localized pain called metatarsalgia.
Stilettos, distinguished by thin, tapering heels, create even greater instability, and can make your foot wobble and cause ankle sprains.
THE FIX: Consider platforms, wedges or chunky high heels; they offer height but also, typically, more cush-ion. Critically, they spread the load and impact of each step across a greater surface area, Rajagopalan says.
CULPRIT 2
TIGHT SHOES The majority of today’s high-fashion footwear is designed with a narrow, pointed profi le that doesn’t bear much resemblance to the feet most of us were born with. Stuffi ng your feet into an unrealistic con-tour can make toes curl and cause “pump bumps,” knotty bone protrusions on the side of the heel. The repeated friction or pressure of ill-fi tting shoes also can lead to corns (raised hard skin), calluses (diffuse patches of hardened skin) and bony enlargements (bunions) on the side of the big toe.
THE FIX: Do your feet hurt badly? Get a foot spe-cialist (a podiatrist, a pedorthist or an orthopedic physician) to evaluate them. When deformities like corns and hammertoes become severe, Rajagopalan says, they typically require surgery to repair. You can prevent this by wearing shoes that accommodate a narrower heel and a wide forefoot, or decrease pres-sure at friction points.
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Culprit 3
HealtH ConditionsThe inflammation of osteoarthritis and gout can cause foot swelling and pain. Being overweight stresses foot muscles and joints, which leads to structural instabil-ity, and even foot ulcers. Diabetes also increases the risk of foot ulcers and nerve damage. Toenail fungus can be a problem for people with diabetes and rheu-matoid arthritis and other immune deficiencies.
If you’re pregnant, swelling in your feet is usually normal but can be a sign of preeclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure). Some medications can also cause swollen feet, especially those used to treat high blood pressure.
The Fix: Diabetics should inspect their feet daily and keep blood sugar levels under control to prevent foot ulcers. See a doctor if you notice open wounds or toenail problems. Untreated ulcers can lead to seri-ous infections and even amputation.
If you have a chronic health condition and begin to notice numbness or prickly pain in your feet, have a foot specialist check for neuropathy, or nerve damage. Avoid going barefoot to reduce potential foot injury. Your doctor may recommend padded socks and spe-cialized footwear to reduce pressure and speed heal-ing. If you’re pregnant, pack away your pumps. Look for shoes with a wide forefoot and adjustable straps that accommodate the intermittent swelling that can occur any given day during pregnancy.
Culprit 4
HigH-impaCt exerCise Distance runners, race-walkers, and serious hikers and backpackers are prone to a long list of foot woes, including corns, calluses, blisters, athlete’s foot, fun-gal infections, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis
and metatarsalgia. Most problems are a result of high-mileage training or excursions, and ill-fitting or worn-out footwear.
The Fix: Replace running shoes every 400 to 600 miles. And be sure they fit correctly (unless you’re buying exact replacements, don’t order online).
Orthopedists and podiatrists are divided about barefoot-style running shoes. Before the invention of footwear, humans mostly went barefoot. In the past few years, going barefoot or wearing barefoot-style shoes while running and hiking has gained popular-ity. Proponents claim the shoes are the fix for a wide assortment of foot ills. As for technical innovations in other athletic footwear, such as corrective devices and enhancements designed to alter biomechanical deficiencies (weakness, inflexibility), the jury is most definitely out.
s U m m e r 2 0 1 4 41
Tired TooTsies Dogs barking from too much walking or running? Before
you spend a pocket full of cash on new sneakers or over-
the-counter shoe inserts, check with your podiatrist to see
if a custom-made corrective device may be a better choice.
“With more people running for their health, I’m seeing
an increase in patients with foot pain related to heal issues,
stress fractures and tendinitis,” says podiatrist Trenton
Statler, DPM, of Podiatry Associates of Beaufort. “Orthotic
inserts support the foot and can relieve fatigue and heel
pain that comes with overuse from exercising or standing
on your feet for extended periods.”
On
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Put Your Best Foot Forward
Are high heels your best accessory? Then bunions may turn out to be your worst
enemy. Contact one of Beaufort Memorial’s podiatrists for your foot-related issues. Visit
bmhsc.org/find-provider for a list of podiatrists in your area.
A s temperatures rise, the idea of confronting the dressing room mirror in a strapless one-piece can fi ll you with dread. But instead of skipping meals to slim
down or spending the summer hiding under a cover-up, a few delicious diet changes can help trim belly fat so you can brave swimsuit season with confi dence.
Monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, are one weapon in the battle of the bulge. Research shows that MUFA-rich foods like almonds, avocado, peanut butter, dark chocolate and olive oil may reduce belly fat. These “good” fats also are known for increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes and breast cancer, and protecting against cardiovas-cular disease.
While it’s unclear how the healthy fats help you slim down, Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, co-author of the Flat Belly Diet, believes consuming more MUFAs may help prevent the accumulation of visceral belly fat, boost metabolism or both.
“We’ve known about the health benefi ts of MUFAs for years, but recently nutrition educa-tion has strongly shifted towards focusing about which foods to eat for health rather than which
foods to avoid,” Sass says. “This has brought superfoods [like MUFAs] into the limelight.”
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends a diet with 25 to 35 percent of calories from fat, with 20 percent of those calories com-ing from monounsaturated fats. In other words, if you’re following a 1,600-calorie diet, you should aim to consume 35 grams of MUFAs per day.
Because monounsaturated fats aren’t listed on nutrition labels, it’s hard to track your consumption of the good fats. Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, recommends eating MUFAs at every meal to ensure you’re con-suming enough of the healthy fats.
Incorporating MUFAs into your diet is as simple as sprinkling fl ax-seeds on your morning bowl of oat-meal, adding avocado to a turkey
sandwich, keeping a stash of almonds in your desk drawer for snacking or using a splash of extra-virgin olive oil to broil veggies at dinner.
“Foods that contain MUFAs are delicious and nutritious,” Angelone says. “These are foods you want to eat, so adding more of them to your diet is a really satisfying way to improve your health.”
These MUFA-rich recipes prove that even a “diet” dish can be fi lled with delicious fats.
BY JODI HELMER
Bring it, swimsuit season! These delicious ingredients will help you
welcome summer with open arms (and maybe a fl atter tummy)
Friendly FAT
If you’re following a
1,600-calorie diet,
you should aim to
consume
35 GRAMS
of MUFAs per day.
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Garbanzo
NUTSMakes six 1/3 -cup servings
160 calories per serving
INGREDIENTS
2 15.5-oz. cans garbanzo
beans, rinsed and
patted dry
1 Tbsp. olive oil
dash of chipotle
pepper powder
(use quantity desired)
dash of salt (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with a rim) with aluminum
foil or parchment paper.
3. Place garbanzo beans in a medium-sized bowl. Add olive
oil and chipotle pepper or other herbs and combine well.
4. Place on baking pan and bake for two hours (monitor so
they don’t start to burn).
5. Turn off the heat and leave the garbanzo beans in the
oven as they cool and become a crunchy “nut.” (This usually
takes a few hours. For best results, let them cool overnight.)
Store in an airtight container.
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Peanut Butter GRANOLA BARSMakes 48 servings, 120 calories per serving
DRY INGREDIENTS3 c. raw oats1 c. flaxseed meal1 tsp. baking soda1 c. peanuts, chopped
1/2 c. sunflower seeds1/2 c. dried cherries of cranberries, chopped1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
1/2 c. dark chocolate chips
WET INGREDIENTS1 c. peanut butter1 c. favorite jelly like strawberry or raspberry3 Tbsp. safflower oil or other high-oleic oil like peanut or hazelnut1 tsp. vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.2. Line a 9-by-13 -inch baking dish with parchment paper.
3. Combine first seven dry ingredients and mix well. Keep chocolate chips separate.4. Combine all wet ingredients in a large pot. Cook over low heat until well combined, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.5. Pour dry ingredients into the pot and mix well. Allow mixture to cool for about 15 minutes. 6. Add chocolate chips and mix well.7. Pour mixture into the baking dish and press firmly. (Keep mixture from sticking to hands by pressing with a piece of parchment paper.) 8. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.9. Cool slightly before cutting into 48 medium-sized bars.
Cherry Almond Ginger SMOOTHIEMakes 1 serving, 416 calories
INGREDIENTS
1 single-serve container (5–6 oz.) of nonfat
(0 percent) plain Greek yogurt 1/4 c. water
1 c. frozen pitted cherries
2 Tbsp. almond butter1/4 c. dry old-fashioned rolled oats1/4 tsp. fresh grated ginger
DIRECTIONS
1. In a blender, combine all ingredients and
process to desired consistency.
2. Pour into a glass and serve.
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Sassy Fiesta SALAD Makes 2 servings
291 calories per serving
INGREDIENTS
Salad
1 ear corn1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 c. baby romaine leaves
1 c. canned, no-salt-added
black beans, drained, rinsed1/2 ripe Hass avocado, sliced
Pico de Gallo
1 c. grape tomatoes, quartered1/2 c. yellow bell pepper, minced1/2 c. white onion, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, minced
2 tsp. fresh jalapeño, minced
Juice from a fresh lime
DIRECTIONS
1. Sprinkle corn with cayenne
pepper and roast in oven at
350 degrees until kernels are
slightly golden.
2. To create the pico de gallo,
combine tomatoes, bell pepper,
onion, cilantro, jalapeño and lime
juice. Toss together and allow
to sit while the corn is roasting.
3. Slice kernels off corncob.
4. Toss greens with pico de gallo
and transfer to a plate.
5. Top with beans, corn and
avocado and serve.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 45
Beware of Bad FatsThat sizzling brontosaur-sized steak you’re
getting ready to devour may be oh, so deli-
cious, but it’s also loaded with saturated fat,
one of the “bad” fats linked to high cholesterol
levels and increased risk of heart disease.
“The majority of saturated fats in our diet
come from high-fat dairy and high-fat meats,”
says Beaufort Memorial certified dietitian
Kim Edwards. “It’s best to limit how much and
often we eat these kinds of foods.”
A healthy portion of steak is 3 to 4 ounces—
about the size of a computer mouse. When
it comes to chicken, remove the skin and go
for the white meat rather than the dark. With
pork chops, be sure to cut off the fat that sur-
rounds them.
Milk, sour cream and cheeses also can be
loaded with saturated fats. Edwards suggests
choosing skim milk, low-fat sour cream and
fat-free or 2 percent cheeses.
“Read the label on the back of the product,”
Edwards says. “It will tell you how many grams
of saturated fat you are eating. A good general
rule is to consume fewer than 20 grams of fat
per day.”
rec
ipes
Guilt-Free Recipes at Your
FingertipsLooking for healthy dishes to add to your recipe box? Visit our “Health Resources” page
to find a plethora of deli-cious, health-conscious dishes
you’re sure to enjoy. Go to bmhsc.org/livingwell and
scroll down to “Guilt-Free Recipes” for the list.
Crafting a healthy menu that your
family will actually enjoy is a challenge
to begin with. But it reaches a whole
new level of difficulty when someone
in your house has a gluten sensitivity
or celiac disease.
“When I was diagnosed with an
autoimmune condition, I decided
to try going gluten-free and I felt
so much better,” says E.A. Stewart,
Virtual HealtHBy AlissA M. EdwArds
All It’s Missing Is FarmVilleWhat if learning about your
health—and then making posi-
tive changes—could be as fun
as Facebook? Everyday Health
(everydayhealth.com) helps
you create your own profile
page, then customizes your
news feed with relevant infor-
mation on the topics and condi-
tions that matter to you most
(like parenting or diabetes).
Everyday Health is also home
to a wealth of social forums,
where you can chat with oth-
ers who have similar conditions
(Crohn’s disease) or goals (los-
ing 10 pounds). It also regularly
hosts live Twitter chats with
national health experts.
The site also features online
tools including a pollen counter,
a weekly meal planner and a
body fat calculator, and offers
a food and fitness journal,
a weight and measurement
tracker and a calories-burned-
during-exercise calculator to
boot. Best of all, it’s free.
a registered dietitian also known
as the Spicy RD. She chronicles her
challenges, and ultimate success, on
her blog, eastewart.com, a collection
of healthy and 100 percent gluten-free
recipes. From her “amazingly addictive”
artichoke squares to pumpkin pesto
bruschetta to blueberry streusel
muffins, they’re as unusual as they
are delicious.
“Although no one diet fits all,
everyone can benefit from more
fruits and veggies,” Stewart says. “All
my recipes feature lots of seasonal
produce to make them both healthy
and delicious.”
Fab
Gluten-Free
pho
to
gr
aph
y by
th
ink
sto
ck
S U M M E R 2 0 1 446
Y ou know the benefi ts of maintaining an ongoing relationship with a primary care physician—from continuity of care to disease prevention.
Finding one you like and trust is the fi rst step. Healthgrades.com takes the guesswork out of fi nding
a doctor or a dentist. The online tool lets you search for practitioners by specialty, location or gender and then tells you all about their educational backgrounds, board certifi cations and types of insurance accepted. You can also read anonymous reviews from patients and sched-ule an appointment. Now that’s service.
LOOKING FOR DR. RIGHT?
PHO
TO
GR
APH
Y B
Y F
ITBI
T IN
C.;
TH
INK
STO
CK
You have to be active. And you have to
sleep. But chances are, if you’re addicted
to your smartphone, tablet or Facebook
account, the digital world is robbing you
of these two health necessities.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends a minimum of
150 minutes of moderate-intensity aero-
bic activity each week and the National
Sleep Foundation recommends seven to
nine hours of sleep each night. Are you
getting enough of both?
The FitBit One ($100) can help you
find out. About the size of a money
clip, this gadget tracks physical activity,
calories burned and sleep quality, then
outputs the data into charts, graphs
and tools on fitbit.com.
Unlike some activity-tracking gizmos,
the FitBit One clips unobtrusively on to
clothing during the day (no “dork alert!”
armband) and syncs wirelessly with your
computer or smartphone without a USB
cord. Transfer it to a wristband at night
to monitor sleep duration and quality. It
even wakes you with a gentle vibration.
Clip-onHealth
nine hours of sleep each night. Are you Clip-on
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 47
TO
OLS
Strange Symptoms?
Though you should always have your doctor
evaluate anything out of the ordinary,
everydayhealth.com/symptom-checker can give you an idea of where to start when something
seems a little wonky.
Taking your medications on time is more important than you might realize. A single missed or delayed dose can reduce effec-tiveness or increase the risk of side effects. Mango Health is a free mobile app that can help you take your supplements and medications safely and on time.
The iPod-, iPad- and iPhone-compatible app reminds you when it’s time to take your medications or supplements and motivates you with a point sys-tem that allows you to advance to another level when you take them consistently. You can even earn a chance to win gift cards or donations to your favorite chari-ties through weekly drawings.
Mango Health also automati-cally checks for interactions with other medications, supplements, foods and drinks, and alerts you when it fi nds one. To download yours, visit the App Store.
Mind Your Meds
She walks like you, talks like you—wants to be you. Give her a positive example to emulate, and you’ll set her up for a lifetime of good health..
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Living with
Just weeks after moving to the Lowcountry, Audrey McBratney Bittner walked into Beaufort Memorial Hospital ready to lend a hand.
“I knew the hospital was growing,” Bittner says. “I wanted to see what I could do to help.”
Over the next 25 years, she would serve as board chair of both the hospital and BMH Foundation, helping guide the medical center during a period of dramatic growth.
All along, she has faithfully contributed to the Foundation. In addition to yearly donations, she arranged for a legacy gift to the hospital, earning her membership in the Kate Gleason Society.
Last year, after 12 years of service to the Foundation, Bittner was named “trustee emeritus”—one of only two members in the history of the organization on whom the prestigious title has been bestowed.
“I was floored,” Bittner recalls. “Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would receive such an honor.”
A native of New Jersey, Bittner was actively involved in a number of nonprofit organizations in her hometown of Montclair before moving to Beaufort in 1988. She was president of the Junior League, head of a drug abuse board and vice chair of the township’s 400-bed hospital.
“In Montclair, the art museum was the charity every-body supported,” Bittner says. “Everyone wanted to go to the museum’s benefits and be associated with the orga-
nization. I thought Beaufort Memorial Hospital could create that same kind of enthusiasm here.”
The Valentine Ball helped set it in motion. Bittner was serving on the BMH Foundation board when the members came up with the idea for the black-tie fundraiser. The first year of the gala she organized the pre-ball private dinner parties, now credited as being the key to the pop-ularity of the event.
She went on to serve as chair of the Foundation board and later the hospital board of trustees. She stepped down for a short period to care for her husband, Bruce McBratney, during his ter-minal illness, returning in 2003 to serve another three terms on the board of the Foundation.
“I consider myself very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to help transform Beaufort Memorial into a first-rate hospital,” Bittner says. “I’m so proud of what we’ve accom-plished—the new ER, a wonderful cancer center, LifeFit and the affiliation with Duke.
“We can’t do everything, but we’re big enough to offer superior healthcare to everyone in the community.”
Two Decades of GivingSince moving to Beaufort 25 years ago, Audrey McBratney Bittner has dedicated herself to helping Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Foundation-Building
The McBratney Terrace reflects both Audrey McBratney Bitter’s name and her extraordinary generosity and commitment to the hospital. An extension of BMH Riverview Cafeteria, the terrace sits alongside the Intracoastal Waterway and is a favorite spot for patients’ families and hospital staff to enjoy a meal or a peaceful break.
I consider myself very lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to help transform Beaufort Memorial into a first-rate hospital.—Audrey McBratney Bittner
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 49
V A L E N T I N E B A L L
HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS TO SPEND THE EVENING WITH ALL OF YOU as we remi-
nisced over past Valentine Balls. What joyous memories you shared with us! We feel honored
to have served as your co-hosts for this truly special 25th anniversary. It was a treat to hold this
year’s Ball in the beautiful new BMAC on the hospital campus, transforming the unfi nished
second fl oor into our anniversary venue.
We know that you enjoyed a delicious dinner and libations at your pre-Ball party. Once again,
our gracious dinner party hosts opened their homes and created a unique experience for our
guests. Their commitment makes our Ball like no other.
Truly the toil of every committee member made this Ball the huge success that it was. Your
dedication over this year of preparation was unwavering. We thank you all wholeheartedly. The
generosity of our many sponsors far exceeded all of our expectations. To all of the individuals
and businesses that generously contributed to make this Ball a fi nancial success, THANK YOU!
The theme of reminiscing with old friends carried through as we walked around looking at
pictures and invitations from Valentine Balls through the years. The elegant black and silver
draping combined with the silver table décor produced a classic and elegant feel. We danced
the night away to the tunes of Second Nature. The amazing catering staff of the hospital created
desserts that were beyond compare.
We hope that you enjoyed the rush of bidding on our phenomenal auction items. Each mem-
ber of the committee worked diligently to obtain items that were past favorites, but also to make
the auction fresh and new. Since its inception, the Valentine Ball has raised $4 million to improve
services at our nonprofi t hospital. This year, Ball proceeds have been earmarked for the expan-
sion of the Intensive Care Unit from eight beds to 12. All of us can be proud of helping to make
possible a larger and even more sophisticated ICU for our patients and their families.
On behalf of Beaufort Memorial Hospital and the BMH Foundation, we extend heartfelt thanks
to each of you for your attendance, your gifts and the time you so generously gave to make the 25th
anniversary of the Valentine Ball a resounding success!
Your Co-Chairs,
S U M M E R 2 0 1 450
Valentine Ball co-chairs Aaron and Melissa Bliley and Jim and Weezie Gibson (in middle) with Luke and Geneva Baxley (left) and Wayne and Stuart Heath.
PREMIER SPONSORSLowCountry Anesthesia, P.A.Program Sponsor
Duke MedicineInvitation Sponsor
RodgersAuction Booklet Sponsor
McCulloch England ArchitectsSave the Date Sponsor
AflacDecoration Sponsor
Coastal Banking CompanyTicket Sponsor
CignaOld Photos Sponsor
Ascendient Healthcare AdvisorsBar Sponsor
Moore & Van Allen, PLLCBar Sponsor
Hargray Communications GroupOld Invitations Sponsor
Howell, Gibson & Hughes, P.A.Coat Check Sponsor
Sodexo Health Care ServicesDessert Sponsor
PRESENTING SPONSORSGabelli FundsIn Compass Health, Inc.Palmetto State BankPublix Super Markets
Charities, Inc.TEAMHealth
SWEETHEARTSAlliance Imaging, Inc.Balfour Beatty ConstructionMr. and Mrs. Andrew J. BeallMr. and Mrs. J. Frank BellDr. and Mrs. N. Douglas BittnerDr. and Mrs. Aaron M. Bliley
Mr. and Mrs. Tobias BuckMr. and Mrs. Robert Lef CullenMr. and Mrs. J. Jefferson DavisMr. and Mrs. Thomas R. GarrettMr. and Mrs. James Savage GibsonMr. William B. Harvey IIIHerman Miller HealthcareMr. and Mrs. Kenneth HirschMr. and Mrs. David C. HouseMr. and Mrs. Herbert JarvisDr. and Mrs. H. Kevin JonesMr. and Mrs. Arthur F. LevinMr. and Mrs. Shannon Lindsay, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. T. Michael LongAlice Beddingfield MossMr. and Mrs. Arthur J. NamerowPathology Services of
Beaufort/Charleston, P.A.Mr. and Mrs. Richard PingreeMr. and Mrs. Thomas R. RensberrySCANA/SCE&GSea Island Medical OncologyMr. and Mrs. Joel SilverMr. and Mrs. Al SpainDr. and Mrs. David TaubTHA Group/CardiocomThe Surgery Center of BeaufortMr. and Mrs. Landon K. Thorne IIIDr. and Mrs. J. Chadwick ToberRick Toomey and Linda HawesMr. and Mrs. Neil W. Trask, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. George S. WardMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. WhiteMrs. Emily C. WinburnMs. Heather E. Winch
SPONSORSMrs. Sarah Katherine P. CardenMr. and Mrs. William M. EvansRegions BankJohn Troutman, Merrill Lynch
PATRONSMr. and Mrs. Thomas AndrykovitzMr. and Mrs. Howell BeachGeneral and Mrs. Randall W. BellMr. Bryant BrownMr. and Mrs. John H. FergusonMr. and Mrs. Michael GonzalezMr. and Mrs. Malcolm GoodridgeMr. and Mrs. Lewis A. HauserMr. and Mrs. Bill Himmelsbach
Mr. and Mrs. Ladson F. HowellMr. Hampton Long and
Dr. Jessica RockwellMr. and Mrs. John LordMr. and Mrs. Paul A. MannheimMr. and Mrs. Rick E. Marsh, Jr.Dr. and Mrs. Paul MazzeoMr. and Mrs. John F. MegrueMr. and Mrs. R. Scott NickelMr. and Mrs. G. William PaddockMr. Gene Rugala and Ms. Edie SmithDr. and Mrs. Francis E. RushtonDr. and Mrs. Stuart SmalheiserYMCA of Beaufort County
COMMITTEESAuction BookletKristin Bendle
AuctionStuart HeathAmy AchurchVicki BurrisDawn FreemanMark LautzenheiserVelma Lautzenheiser
Auction DisplayMaleia EveridgeMarjorie Gray
DecorationsGeneva Baxley
Dinner PartyKristi BlackLaura AchurchAmelie CromerPaula ElliottAmy GeierMary LohrCarol Robinson
DessertsJessica Rockwell
InvitationFran Calvert
Kick-Off PartyMr. and Mrs. Rudy HauserVivi Verity
SponsorshipsAaron BlileyJim Gibson
DINNER PARTY HOSTSThe BMH Foundation proudly recognizes those who have hosted five or more dinner parties for the Valentine Ball since 1990.
5+ years 10+ years
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. BeallMr. and Mrs. David S. BlackMrs. Margery BoyleDr. and Mrs. E. Perry Burrus IIIMr. and Mrs. Lowell CarrollDr. and Mrs. John CashenMr. and Mrs. Peter ClarkDr. and Mrs. Bradford S. CollinsMr. and Mrs. Benjamin CoppageMr. and Mrs. Philip CromerMr. and Mrs. Robert Lef CullenDr. and Mrs. Gerald CummingsMr. and Mrs. Jack R. CunninghamMr. and Mrs. Patrick Noel
CunninghamMr. and Mrs. Alan DechovitzMr. and Mrs. John DickersonMr. and Mrs. Andrew S. Dudley, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. William W. ElliottMr. and Mrs. Michael A. EppolitoMs. Carole FaheyMr. and Mrs. David P. FarriorMr. and Mrs. Thomas FitzGeraldDr. and Mrs. Joseph H. FloydDr. John Fontana and
Ms. Jo Ann ChapmanMr. and Mrs. Perry H. GesellMr. Josh Gibson and
Ms. Michelle PrenticeMr. Hugh Gouldthorpe and
Ms. Nelle PenderDr. and Mrs. John William Gray IIIMr. and Mrs. George GroveDr. and Mrs. Keith GuestDr. and Mrs. Forrest M. GuilloudMr. William B. Harvey III , and
Ms. Martha FosterThe Rev. and Mrs.
Alden M. Hathaway
Drs. Andrea Hucks and Daniel Ripley
Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. JeterMr. and Mrs. Bobby D. Johnson, Jr.Dr. and Mrs. James A. KempDr. and Mrs. Steve KesselCaptain and Mrs. James W.
KindwallMr. and Mrs. Anderson M.
KinghornMr. and Mrs. Andrew KlostermanDr. and Mrs. Henry Lucius
Laffitte, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Lindsay, Jr.Mrs. Carol LucasMr. and Mrs. Andrew M. LyonsMr. and Mrs. Charles B. MacloskieMr. Raul MartinMr. and Mrs. Rob MathaiMr. Michael McFeeMr. and Mrs. Pat F. McGarityMr. and Mrs. Raymond E. McKay, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Bruce MorganAlice Beddingfield Moss and
Victor VarnerMrs. Ann MungerMr. and Mrs. E. Whilden Nettles IIIMr. and Mrs. Roger NiemiecThe Rev. and Mrs. Jack F. NietertBeth and Tom OliverMr. and Mrs. G. William PaddockMr. and Mrs. Richard PingreeMajor Jeffrey Stephens andMs. Mary Fran QuindlenMr. and Mrs. Patrick RaineyMr. Edward Ricks and
Ms. Gae MoffitMr. and Mrs. W. Clark Robinson, Jr.Ms. Edie M. RodgersMr. and Mrs. Gerald SchulzeMr. and Mrs. James A. Shuford IIIDr. and Mrs. Stuart SmalheiserMrs. Frances StoweMr. and Mrs. James ThomasDr. and Mrs. J. Chadwick ToberMr. and Mrs. Jim TurkMr. and Mrs. Michael UpchurchMr. and Mrs. Jonathan G. VerityMs. Victoria VerityDr. and Mrs. Mike WaggonerDrs. Jennifer Wallace-Sarathy and
Aaron Sarathy
V A L E N T I N E B A L L
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 51
Larry Swigart knew the pitch well.
“Exercise 30 to 40 minutes a day for your health,” the Beaufort County deputy sheriff reels off. “I had heard it a million times on TV. But why go to the gym when I can sleep an extra hour in the morning? I didn’t have any incentive to do it.”
Until he had a massive heart attack last year.“My heart stopped twice,” the 53-year-old Beaufort
resident says. “The EMT didn’t think I was going to make it to the hospital.”
Swigart’s left main coronary artery—ominously known as the “widow maker”—had become blocked, preventing blood and oxygen from flowing to his heart. He was airlifted from Beaufort Memorial to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston for an emergency percutaneous coronary interven-tion, a procedure that is now available at BMH for patients suffering an ST elevation myocardial infarc-tion, or STEMI.
“I knew I wasn’t in great shape, but I had no clue I was in any danger,” Swigart says. “The heart attack was a huge wake-up call.”
To help him recover from the cardiac event and reduce his odds of suffering a second myocardial infarction, Swigart’s cardiologist recommended car-diac rehabilitation at Beaufort Memorial’s LifeFit Wellness Center.
“I didn’t want to go,” Swigart admits. “I didn’t think I could fit it into my schedule. But I became highly motivated when he told me I would live longer if I exercised. It was a matter of life and death.”
Lifefit, LifeSavingThe medically supervised program, encompassing exercise, education about heart-healthy living and counseling to reduce stress, has been shown to stabi-lize, slow or even reverse the progression of cardio-vascular disease.
“Larry hadn’t taken care of his health as well as he should have,” says LifeFit’s Graham Jones, a clini-cal exercise physiologist. “But he was very eager to turn things around. He became the poster child for cardiac rehab.”
The hourlong, three-times-a-week exercise ther-apy is designed to engage the whole body and force the heart to supply blood and nutrients to the work-ing muscles. By gradually increasing the duration of each exercise and session, patients are able to build up their endurance and stamina.
“When I first started, 10 minutes on the bicycle would be exhausting,” Swigart says. “But I stuck with it.”
Along with the physical training, BMH certified dietitian Kimberly Edwards worked with Swigart, who has type 2 diabetes, to improve his diet. He was having trouble controlling his blood sugar levels with insulin shots.
His internist, Randy Dalbow, MD, recommended he switch to a new disposable insulin delivery device called V-Go. The device attaches to the skin, deliver-ing insulin throughout the day just as the body does.
“We had tried it on a few of our patients and had been amazed at the results,” says Dalbow, a board-certified internist with Beaufort Memorial Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. “Controlling your diabetes is very important. Studies have shown it can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and peripheral vas-cular disease.”
After suffering a massive heart attack last year, Larry Swigart began exercising regularly at LifeFit Wellness Center. Today, the deputy sheriff has improved his heart health and gained better control of his diabetes
TrackBackon
Ca
LL
Try It OutYou don’t have to sign a long-term contract to join LifeFit
Wellness Center. Members can cancel at any time with just 30 days’ notice. To sign up, call 843-522-5635
or email [email protected].
S U M M E R 2 0 1 452
During his three months of cardiac rehab at LifeFit, Certified Diabetes Educator Kathy Phillips monitored Swigart’s blood sugar regularly.
“V-Go works great for him,” Phillips says. “All he has to do is change the device daily.”
Heart StrongSwigart was feeling so much better after the three months of cardiac rehab, he decided to become a LifeFit member and continue his exercise regimen. He now hits the gym at 5:30 every morning before work and exercises for an hour.
“I’ve seen a huge improvement,” says the 30-year sheriff’s office veteran. “My cardiologist says my heart is stronger and I’m doing really well.”
He now has a new incentive to keep up the training—an 8-month-old granddaughter.
“I was so close to dying,” says the first-time grand-father. “I want to be around to hear her call me ‘Pop.’ ”
Step Up to Better HealthReady to join a gym and give your body a boost? You’ll need more than
just a roomful of training equipment to improve your health.
LifeFit, Beaufort’s only medically supervised fitness center, offers
something other gyms don’t—individualized health services provided by
a team of medical professionals. They include:
• Nutrition counseling
• Diabetes care
• Asthma management
program
• Support groups
• Cardiac and pulmonary
rehabilitation
• Vascular therapy
• Personal training
• Massage therapy
To learn more about LifeFit’s many offerings, visit bmhsc.org.
Larry Swigart met his granddaughter, Ensley Thompson, for the first time in January, when she flew to Beaufort from Hawaii with her family.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 53
Berniece redmond, mdLiving on the coast, Berniece Redmond, MD, loves nothing more than getting out on the water with her family—and that includes her daughter’s miniature schnauzer and Yorkie.
“They’re our grandkids,” Redmond says of the two small dogs. “When we go boating, we always take them with us. They love going for a ride.”
The pint-sized pups even have their own life jackets.Before moving to the Lowcountry in January to join Beaufort
Memorial Hospital’s new Ob-Gyn practice, Redmond and her husband, Bob, lived on the Intracoastal Waterway in Newport, N.C., affording them the opportunity to go boating on a whim.
“Mostly, we just cruised around,” Redmond says. “When my daughter and son-in-law would visit from Rock Hill, sometimes we’d go out to Cape Lookout and play on the beach with the dogs.”
Redmond’s 87-year-old mother, who lives with her, occa-sionally would join the group on the motorboat outings. The remaining member of the household—a very large Maine Coon cat—stayed behind, preferring to watch migrating geese and ducks from the comfort of their family room couch.
Now that Redmond is living in Beaufort, she’s looking forward to exploring the local waterways with her motley crew. The move to South Carolina cut the driving distance between Redmond and her daughter Melissa and son-in-law, Trey, by three hours, making it easier for the families to get together.
“We’re very close to our children,” Redmond says. “We spent a lot of time on the road going back and forth. One of the rea-sons we moved to Beaufort was to make it more convenient to visit each other.” The couple have another daughter, Michelle, in North Carolina and a son, Jacob, in California.
Although Redmond is currently living in a rental house near the hospital, she hopes to buy a waterfront house in the near future and get back to boating on the weekends. In addi-tion to cruising, she enjoys a variety of other water sports, including kayaking, scuba diving and fishing.
“We just love the water,” Redmond says, “and spending time with the family.”
Dr. Berniece Redmond is a board-certified Ob-Gyn with Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists. She can be reached at 843-522-7820.
Family TiesFor Ob-Gyns, weekends with their children mean fun times for all
Out Of the White Coat
Dr. Berniece Redmond enjoys heading out on the open water with her family, including her “grandchildren,” a miniature schnauzer and a Yorkie.
Berniece redmond, md
S U M M E R 2 0 1 454
Claude TolberT, MdTwo Ob-Gyns plus two active children make for a hectic household. Such is life in the home of Claude Tolbert, MD.
Along with their own busy schedules, Tolbert and his wife, Ardra Davis-Tolbert, MD, have to juggle their chil-dren’s extracurricular activities. Their 14-year-old daughter, Collin Elizabeth, models in Charleston, and 10-year-old son, Braxton Myles, plays basketball.
“The weekdays are consumed by homework, modeling auditions and ball games,” Tolbert says. “On the weekends, we try to relax and do something together.
“When we’re not working, we’re with the kids doing family activities,” says Tolbert, a physician with the new Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists. “We may take a bike ride, go to the movies or set off on an out-of-town excursion.”
At least once a week, the Tolbert troupe hops on bikes for a spin around Cat Island, where the family has lived for seven years.
“It’s a beautiful community for biking,” Tolbert says. “We love riding through the golf course after hours.”
“I feel better when I’m physically active,” says the Ob-Gyn, who works out with a personal trainer three days a week. He admits that he needs the “gentle nudge” from Bojan, his trainer, to stay on track with his exercise program.
While all four Tolberts are movie buffs, the difference in the children’s ages and interests can make it tricky selecting a film everyone will enjoy.
“We try to find movies that are entertaining but educa-tional as well,” Tolbert says, adding that The Butler and Lincoln are two such movies the family has enjoyed in the past year. “We want to expose our children to as much art, history and culture as we can.”
But every so often, Tolbert will relent and take his son to watch an action-packed or computer-animated film.
“If I don’t like the movie, I take the opportunity to sleep,” he says with a chuckle.
Weekend getaways may take them to Charleston, Hilton Head Island, Savannah or Jacksonville. Or they may spend the day playing in the surf at Hunting Island State Park.
On longer trips, the family has visited the Louvre in Paris, gone whale-watching around Vancouver Island and seen Broadway shows in New York City. Their travels have taken them from Germany to Martha’s Vineyard in New England.
The essence of time spent outside the office is enjoying life with the family, Tolbert concludes.
Dr. Claude Tolbert is a board-certified Ob-Gyn with Beaufort Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists. He can be reached at 843-522-7820.
Claude TolberT, md
A favorite activity for Dr. Tolbert and son Braxton is biking around Cat Island.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 55
W ith the growing demand for medical services, certified nurse practitioners have become an integral part of the primary care practice.
MD or NP? When you’re burning up with fever or doubled over with stomach cramps, it doesn’t matter what letters come after your healthcare provider’s name. All you want is someone to end your misery.
Both medical doctors and nurse practitioners—nurses who have completed graduate-level studies and up to 700 additional hours of supervised clinical work—are trained to diagnose your illness and offer you relief.
So, which one should you choose? If you’re like most patients, whoever will see you first. More than likely, it will be a nurse practitioner.
With the continuing shortage of primary care providers and more Americans gaining access to broader services through healthcare reform, physicians are turning to nurse practitioners to pick up the slack. Having an NP on staff to take care of same-day appointments allows doctors to spend more time treating sicker patients with more complicated medical issues.
For patients, it means faster care when they need it most.Just like internists and family medicine specialists, nurse prac-
titioners can fill prescriptions, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat common acute illnesses and injuries, order X-rays and laboratory tests, manage high blood pressure, diabetes and other chronic conditions, and refer patients to specialists as needed.
And studies have shown the care provided by NPs is equal to physician-provided care.
Introduced in the mid-1960s, nurse practitioners have slowly gained recognition and acceptance as a critical component of the healthcare system. When I completed my training in 1976, a lot of people—and even some doctors—still didn’t know what a nurse practitioner was.
Today, patients are comfortable seeing nurse practitioners. They understand the benefit of having timelier access to quality medical care. They can get their immediate issue resolved and, if necessary, make an appointment for a follow-up visit with their doctor.
Stomach flu or urinary tract infection, if you need relief, we’re here to help.
Mary Ellen Groff is a certified adult nurse practitioner and certified diabetes educator at Beaufort Memorial Bluffton Primary Care. She can be reached at 843-706-8690.
Help When You Need ItSick and can’t get an appointment with the doctor? Try going to your nurse practitioner for relief instead
HealtHy InsIghts
Mary Ellen Groff with longtime patient Karen Mucci.
S U M M E R 2 0 1 456
The BMH Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following tribute gifts received Sept. 19, 2013, to Feb. 19, 2014. To make a tribute gift, please call 843-522-5774 or go to bmhsc.org and click on “Give Online.”
TRIBUTESIN HONOR OFDr. John B. Adams, II
Mr. and Mrs. Morton Rollnik
Dr. William BestermanMs. Patricia Dowling
BMH Birthing Center StaffMr. and Mrs. Robert Bible
BMH Nursing StaffMs. Virginia L. Kozak
BMH StaffMr. Clint Campbell and Mrs. Karen
Peluso
Mrs. Jackie P. BrownMr. and Mrs. Judson P. Hodges, Jr.
Dr. E. Perry Burrus, IIIMr. and Mrs. Judson P. Hodges, Jr.
Mrs. Karen M. CarrollMs. Alice B. Moss
Dr. Don R. Christian, Jr.Mrs. Marilyn Van Etten
Coastal Carolina Urology Group, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. Morton Rollnik
Dr. Nicholas P. DardesMrs. Marilyn Van Etten
Dr. Mark T. DeanMr. and Mrs. William Stetson
Mr. Sam C. Derrick, Jr.Mrs. Patricia M. Foulger
Mr. David A. Homyk
Mrs. Ann S. Mecherle
Mr. Edward D. Ricks
Mr. Jeffrey L. White
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Carroll
Ms. Alice B. Moss
Ms. Alice GastonMr. Howard A. Green, Jr.
Ms. Estella Brown GastonMr. Howard A. Green, Jr.
Dr. David M. HarshmanMr. and Mrs. Larry H. Goldman
Dr. M. Linda HawesMr. and Mrs. Larry H. Goldman
Dr. Andrea HucksMr. and Mrs. Robert Bradley
Dr. Steve KesselMr. and Mrs. Willard M. Davidson
Mr. and Mrs. Harry William Gorgas
Mr. and Mrs. G. Dean Roberts
Dr. Marc Viguera
Ms. Anita B. Wright
Ms. Amy LuceMr. and Mrs. Judson P. Hodges, Jr.
Jim and Kay McElwainJames McElwain
Mr. and Mrs. Marion MoodyMr. and Mrs. J. Steven Phifer
Ms. Alice B. MossMr. and Mrs. Lowell Carroll
Ms. Alison MurphyThe Rev. and Mrs. Charles J.
Hammet, Sr.
Overeaters AnonymousAnonymous
Dr. Tim PearceMr. and Mrs. Earl Dietz
Dr. Saeed RehmanMr. and Mrs. Dudleigh Stone
Dr. Ralph F. SalzerMr. and Mrs. William Stetson
Chef Eric SayersMr. George A. Carmody
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Hudak
Dr. Richard StewartMrs. Marilyn Van Etten
Dr. Scott E. StrohmeyerMr. and Mrs. William Stetson
Dr. Richard K. ToomeyMr. and Mrs. Lowell Carroll
Ms. Alice B. Moss
Mr. and Mrs. J. Steven Phifer
Mrs. Robert E. ToomeyRick Toomey and Linda Hawes
Ms. Heidi A. WalkerMr. and Mrs. Charles T. Francis
IN MEMORY OFMrs. Ruth Atchison
Mrs. Judith Coxen
Mr. Carson ClarkeMrs. Olive Warrenfeltz
Mr. William F. CochraneMrs. Lois B. Cochrane
Mrs. Barbara W. CoulterMr. and Mrs. Walter F. Lubkin, Jr.
Mrs. Paul Trask
Ms. Nancy H. DexterMrs. Joyce Foley
Mrs. Ann FischerMr. Thomas V. Fischer
Mr. Raymond FoleyMrs. Joyce Foley
Ms. Doris GastonMr. Howard A. Green, Jr.
Mrs. Emily Brown GastonMr. Howard A. Green, Jr.
Mr. August H. GorseMrs. Kay Gorse
Mr. James M. GrayMr. and Mrs. Howell Beach
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Bush
Mrs. Sally Chaplin
Mr. Paul J. Field
Mr. and Mrs. Owen Hand
Mr. Allen S. Lubkin
Ms. Sharon K. Messner
Ms. Edie M. Rodgers
Mrs. Betty J. Sams
Mr. and Mrs. Ross M. Sanders, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Trask, Jr.
Ms. Theresa GreyMs. Barbara D. Gish
Mrs. Cary KataMr. and Mrs. Christian Kata
Mr. Lee V. LandingMs. Elizabeth Ann Hylton
Billie and Ramond MecherleAnn and Ramond Mecherle
Mr. Frank R. McCoy, Jr.Ms. Deborah McCoy
Peter MooreMs. Kelly Hartman
Julia and Morgan RandelAnn and Ramond Mecherle
Doris and George SnellAnn and Ramond Mecherle
Mr. R.E. ToomeyRick Toomey and Linda Hawes
Mr. Don WadasAnn and Ramond Mecherle
Mr. Lee WaskiewiczMr. and Mrs. Carroll L. Crowther
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin D. Cuppia
Ms. Lee Ann Harvey
Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Lubkin, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Meyer
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Mix
Mr. and Mrs. E. Whilden Nettles, III
Piggly Wiggly
Robinson Grant & Company, P.A.
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Robinson
Ms. Edie M. Rodgers
Mrs. Paul Trask
Ms. Julie A. Zachowski
Mr. Stanley E. WaskiewiczAlexander Dawson, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. H. Wayne Cousar
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll L. Crowther
Mr. and Mrs. Willard M. Davidson
Mr. and Mrs. Laurance H. Davis, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Eli
Mr. and Mrs. Brian E. Flewelling
Mr. and Mrs. A. Duncan Fordham
Ms. Lee Ann Harvey
The Hardee’s Coffee Group
Mrs. Doris P. Heard and Family
Mr. and Mrs. W. Henry Jackson
Frances and Russell Jeter
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur F. Levin
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Meyer
Mr. and Mrs. George H. O’Kelley
Mr. and Mrs. John R. Perrill
Mrs. Ruth R. Qualls
Robinson Grant & Company, P.A.
Mrs. Betty Sams
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Shaffer
Mr. and Mrs. Joe R. Strouse
Mrs. Paul Trask
Dr. and Mrs. Jack L. Turner
Mr. Joseph Waskiewicz
Ms. Julie A. Zachowski
Dr. Joseph Zgrodnik
Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Zipfel, Jr.
Mr. Frederick M. ZinserMrs. Dorothy Zinser
THE WAIT IS OVER!
3-D BREAST
TOMOSYNTHESIS
A powerful new, FDA-approved diagnostic tool
for the early detection of breast cancer
NOW AVAILABLE HERE
• The spa-like atmosphere, cotton gowns and soft Mammo- Pads® make your visit comfortable and less stressful.
• Onsite radiologists review images while you wait so that you can leave knowing your results.
• Board-certified surgeons are onsite to provide same-day consultations, enabling you to go from screening to diagnosis in one place, in one visit, for your added convenience.
• Breast Care Coordinators are available to guide your care, offering information and support every step of the way.
Why do more women choose the Beaufort Memorial Women’s Imaging Center?
Beaufort Memorial’s Women’s Imaging Center was designed to address women’s breast health issues, from screening to diagnosis … on your time schedule, and in the comfort of a relaxing, serene environment.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE
SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS________________________________________3-D TOMOSYNTHESIS ________________________________________
DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAMS________________________________________BREAST ULTRASOUND________________________________________
STEREOTACTIC BREAST BIOPSY________________________________________DEXA BONE SCANS________________________________________
ULTRASOUND BREAST BIOPSY
SAME-DAY RESULTS SPA-LIKE SETTING COORDINATED CARE
CALL 843-522-5015 TO SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM.BEAUFORT MEDICAL PLAZA, 989 RIBAUT ROAD, SUITE 110 • BEAUFORT, SC 29902
BLUFFTON MEDICAL SERVICES, 11 ARLEY WAY, SUITE 102 • BLUFFTON, SC 29910
