shop

Heart-Smartstop that

Sneeze!

food labelS,decoded

good

news for aging HipS

a guide

for momS-to-be

inspiredTampa Bay

the health and wellness magazine of Florida Hospital

sPRing 2016

FH.Spring16.12.indd 1 3/2/16 12:24 PM

Locations Throughout Tampa Bay

Florida Hospital | Centra Care Urgent Care | Florida Hospital Physician Group

FHWFR-10119

Discover the Florida Hospital difference at InspiredTampaBay.com

Health care is about the human spirit.

Which is why Florida Hospital goes beyond

symptoms and treatments, helping people

live healthier, happier lives. Because you’re

not just having a baby, you’re delivering a

little miracle to the world and your family.

This is more than quality, expertise

and compassion.

Seven pounds and growing.

I have to lead

by example now.

It hasn’t hit me yet.

I’m a mom.

002_INSPIRED_SPRING16.indd 2 2/29/16 12:27 PM

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In ThIs Issue sPRInG 2016

“most folks are as happy

as they make up their minds

to be.”—abraham lincoln

WIN!help us to create the ideal magazine. Please share

your feedback with us atsurveymonkey.com/r/inspiredtb

and enter the raffe for your chance to win one of six $50 Amazon gift cards.

4 Get movinG!An active lifestyle is good

for mind, body and spirit.

5 5 facts labelsdon't tellNutrition panels on foods

are about to change, but

they still won't reveal all.

6 Good news for aGinG hips

Doctors are more aggres-

sive about preventing and

treating fractures in this joint.

8 strawberryfields forever

This fruit taste treat is also

a nutritional powerhouse.

9 no 'ah-choo' for you

Here’s a strategy for

beating allergy symptoms in

springtime—or any time.

10 heart health Cutting carbs can help keep

your ticker in shape.

12 back from the brink

A team effort saves

a man's life after a

massive heart attack.

14 preppinG for baby

4 things to do before

you get pregnant.

16 stroke of Genius

A new tool improves

stroke treatment.

18 travelinG abroad?

Be sure to see

an infectious

diseases specialist

before your trip.

FH.Spring16.12.indd 3 3/2/16 12:24 PM

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M any doctors talk the talk when

it comes to exercise, but

Migdalia Merida, M.D., an internist

with Florida Hospital, walks the walk

too. She has competed in triathlons

and running events, loves to hike

and is as active as she can be.

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

So when she tells her patients about

the importance of physical activity,

they listen.

“An inactive, sedentary lifestyle

does awful things to your body,” Dr.

Merida says. On the physical side,

it leads to weight gain and obesity,

diabetes, high blood pressure, heart

disease, stroke and osteoporosis,

and it is even linked to some forms of

cancer. Mentally and emotionally, lack

of exercise is tied to depression, poor

sleep and higher stress.

On the other hand, regular physical

activity can prevent or reverse many

of those problems. It can lower blood

pressure, cholesterol and blood

sugar, help control weight, strengthen

bones and improve sleep and mood.

Many of Dr. Merida’s patients

come to her knowing they should

be more active, but not knowing

how. “They set unrealistic goals, like

losing 50 pounds,” she says. “That’s

overwhelming, so I tell them to work

on losing fve pounds.”

She also suggests that people fnd

an activity they are passionate about.

“It is most important to do what you

love to do, so you will plan for it, look

ahead to it and stick to it,” she says.

Activity does not have to be super-

strenuous to be benefcial. “Walking,

gardening, whatever you love to do,

just try to do it 30 minutes a day at

least fve days a week,” she says.

Fortunately, living in Florida

presents a wide variety of options for

staying active. There are walking and

bicycling trails, rollerblading pathways,

golf courses and tennis courts,

swimming, paddle boarding—almost

any outdoor activity you can think of.

“I want patients to fnd an activity they

love, start in small increments and

enjoy the benefts of physical activity,”

says Dr. Merida.

For more health and wellness

information or to fnd upcoming events,

visit FloridaHospital.com/events.

For better health,

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

get moving

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1How much sugar. This area

will show a big improvement,

says MacCleery. Today, if a cookie

contains different added sugars—

high-fructose corn syrup, fructose

and dextrose, for example—the

ingredient list at the bottom of the

label shows these as separate

items, making it easy to miss how

much sugar one is consuming.

“Fortunately,” says MacCleery, “the

government will soon require that

the amount of ‘added sugars’ be

shown, along with the percentage of

one’s daily value that total accounts

for, based on a 2,000-calorie daily

diet—as it already does for sodium,

fat, carbs and fber.” It’s also helpful

that this information will distinguish

added sugars from the natural

sugars present in foods such as fruit.

What to do: For now, the CSPI

suggests limiting sugar to 40 grams

per day and scanning ingredients

carefully for sugar’s aliases. When

the new labels debut, they'll help.

2The whole story on whole

grains. “The government

recommends that we consume

more whole grains, but sets no rules

on how much whole grain a food

must have to be described as ‘made

with whole grain,’” says MacCleery.

“It could be a mere sprinkling.” CSPI

favors labels that show clearly what

percentage of grains are whole—but

the group hasn’t won that battle yet.

What to do: Look for products

for which the frst listed ingredient

includes the word “whole.”

facts labels don’t tell you5 these nutrition guides are being updated, but they still won't reveal the whole story, an expert says.

For 20 years, “Nutrition Facts” labels on packaged foods have guided shoppers. Now

the Food and Drug Administration plans an improved label design. Laura MacCleery,

director of regulatory affairs for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), tells

Inspired Tampa Bay what’s improving, what isn’t, and how to make smart choices.

3Caffeine quantities. The

CSPI says these per-serving

amounts should be disclosed, but

so far that addition isn’t planned for

the new labels.

What to do: Check CSPI’s website,

cspinet.org, for the caffeine content

of coffees, teas, soft drinks, energy

drinks, snack foods and desserts.

(A can of Diet Coke, for example,

has about 71 milligrams, while a

“venti”-sized Starbucks coffee has

415.) Try to exercise moderation.

4Where the “trans fats” have

gone. Many packages boast

“0g trans fats,” and the government

has declared trans fats in foods

unsafe. “But watch out,” says

MacCleery. “Some companies add

saturated fat to replace the trans fat,

and it’s also unhealthy.” CSPI says

the ideal label should categorize

these fat levels as “High,” “Medium”

or “Low,” with stoplight color codes

in which “High” levels are bright red.

What to do: Don’t be swayed by

“trans fat” claims alone—judge

each product after examining

“saturated fats” too.

5“True” fber content. Here the

new labels may actually be a

bit worse than today’s, MacCleery

warns, because they’ll permit

manufacturers to list artifcial “faux

fber” additives that aren’t as good

for you as natural fber.

What to do: Keep an eye out for

fber additives and try to get most

of your fber from natural sources.

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Be nice

to your bonesEach year about 1.5 million older

Americans sufer fractures because

of weak bones, says the American

Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The academy ofers these tips to help

you maintain bone strength:

Understand your individual risk for fracture or bone loss.

This is based on your bone

density and other risk

factors. Ask your doctor

if you need a bone density

test. Inquire too about bone

metabolism testing, which

often can provide additional

useful information.

Be active every day.

Strength-building

and weight-training

activities help build

strong bones. Children

should exercise at least

an hour each day, adults

at least 30 minutes.

Maintain a healthy weight. Older adults who are

overweight have a

higher-than-average

risk of falling—with the

danger of a break—

while being underweight

increases the risk of

bone loss.

Good news

for aging hipsDoctors are more aggressive about

preventing fractures in this joint—

anD treating them when they occur.

One of women’s greatest health fears as they age is a broken hip, and for good

reason: Especially among the elderly, a broken hip can begin a cascade that leads to permanent disability and a diminished qual-ity of life. Fortunately, advances in prevention and treatment strate-gies are helping more people avoid the devastating consequences of a hip fracture.

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

Orthopedists now suggest prevention strategies much more aggressive than those used just a few years ago. For example, they recommend that women get checked to see whether they’re getting enough vitamin D, and consult their primary care pro-viders about whether it’s wise to take a vitamin D supplement regularly. (See “Be Nice to Your Bones,” below.) There have also been recent advances in surgical treatment for hip fractures. Some fractures can be repaired, while others require hip replacement. While partial hip replacement has been used in many cases in the past, recent research shows that for many younger, healthier women total hip replacement is appropriate so that a second op-eration later on is not necessary. Again, consult your physician, who can refer you to a surgeon if that is right for you.

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Get enough calcium and vitamin D.

Calcium-rich foods

include dairy products,

leafy greens and

seafoods, while D is

found in faty fsh, egg

yolks and vitamin-

fortifed orange juice

and dairy products.

Make your home “fall-proof.”

Remove obstacles for

easy passage and add

safety features such as

grab bars and non-slip

mats where needed.

Consider bone-boosting medications.

Besides calcium and

vitamin D supplements,

other medications also

can sometimes help slow

bone loss and increase

bone strength. Check

with your physician.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FH.Spring16.10.indd 7 2/29/16 12:46 PM

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

strawberryfields forever

DiD You Know?

Strawberries are the only fruit with

seeds on the outside, a distinction

that means they are not classifed by

botanists as true berries, which house

their seeds on the inside. Indeed, the

seeds—the average strawberry sports

200—are actually each considered a

separate fruit.

Powers

A recent Harvard study reported that

women ages 25 to 42 who regularly

consume strawberries and blueberries

are at lower risk for a heart attack. The

reason: the fruits’ high concentrations

of anthocyanin, a favonoid that may

help lower blood

pressure and

improve

blood-vessel function. Strawberries

also may help in lowering bad LDL

cholesterol and C-reactive protein

(a blood marker that may indicate

infammation). They’re also known to

contain powerful antioxidants, and

they’re a signifcant source of fber and

vitamin C. Because vitamin C–rich

foods assist in the body’s absorption

of iron, pair strawberries with iron-rich

foods such as spinach or dried fruit.

BuY · store · Grow

Strawberry harvesting season in the

Sunshine State runs from December

through March. If you like the harvesting

experience, you might want to try

planting your own strawberry patch next

season. Strawberries grow best when

planted 18 to 30 inches apart, in sandy

soil with excellent drainage and full sun.

Strawberry plants sprout lots of

runners that will form new plants if left

unchecked. Cut these runners, and

you’ll have a higher berry yield.

Strawberries spoil quickly—pick

them the day they ripen and use

within three days. Refrigerate

them, either in a single layer in

a dish lined with paper towels

or in a colander, and hold off

on washing them until you are

ready to use them. There are

two principal methods: Put

them into a colander and rinse

with cold water, or wash each

one gently with a damp

cloth or paper towel.

You should cut away

the leaves and the

portion surrounding

them, because that

area can be a hassle

to clean—but do so after washing

because this can change the texture

and favor.

Finally, whenever possible, dietitians

recommend choosing certifed-

organic strawberries. That’s because

of pesticides—the Environmental

Working Group ranks strawberries

No. 4 in its “Dirty Dozen Plus” list of

fruits and vegetables with the largest

amounts of pesticide residue.

—PATTI VERBANAS

reCiPe

EASY STRAWBERRY JAM

Courtesy of Whole Foods Market

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. organic strawberries, hulled

6 Tbs. sugar

Optional flavorings:

2 slices lemon, seeds removed, or

1 sprig fresh rosemary

Emmentaler or Jarlsberg

2 Tbs. chopped fat-leaf parsley

PREPARATION

Place the strawberries in a food

processor and pulse until just coarsely

chopped, or chop them roughly with

a knife. Place in a medium saucepan,

and add the sugar and favoring you’d

like. Cover, and cook over medium

heat, stirring occasionally, until the

sugar melts and the berries soften

and release some of their liquid, 4 to

5 minutes. Uncover, lower heat, and

simmer until the berries begin to fall

apart and the mixture is thickened and

no longer watery, 12 to 15 minutes.

Ladle into a glass jar; eat warm, or

cool to room temperature. Cover, and

refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

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Are you sneezing more these days? Florida’s

nearly year-round growing season means

allergies don’t vary by the time of year as much

as they do elsewhere. Still, spring is a great

time to learn how to identify, treat and manage

allergies to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle.

“Florida has a wider variety of plant species

than other places,” says Randy Kiriluk, M.D., a

family medicine physician with Florida Hospital

Physician Group. “Many allergies here that act up

in the warmer months are related to various trees

and native grasses,” he says, “while allergies

to mold and dust are more common in winter.”

Allergies most often begin in childhood, but can

in fact start up at any age.

How do you know if your sneezing and

congestion are allergy-related? “By their

persistence,” he says. “A cold goes away in seven

to 10 days. Allergies wax and wane but never go

away, and they recur from year to year.”

The simplest treatments for allergies are

medications called antihistamines. Over-the-

counter drugs such as Claritin and Zyrtec are

commonly suggested. Decongestants may also

help, and nasal sprays like Flonase or Nasanex

are another option. “About 80 percent of cases

are controlled by medications, and 20 percent still

have symptoms,” says Dr. Kiriluk.

In those cases, allergy immunotherapy, which

is exposure to the allergens through allergy shots,

is the next line of treatment. A blood test and/

or a skin test can determine which allergens are

causing the patient misery. The shots are given

twice a week at frst, with very small doses of the

allergen, to prompt the immune system to produce

antibodies. “It can take a couple of years to develop

immunity,” he says. “Though no treatment is 100

percent guaranteed to be successful, allergy shots

have proven to be fairly effective.”

It also helps to avoid your specifc allergens as

much as possible. Keep windows closed, and use

a HEPA (high-effciency particulate arrestance)

air flter and a HEPA vacuum cleaner to keep

allergens out of the house. “A lot of treatment is

avoidance,” he says. “It’s diffcult, but you can zone

in on what you need to stay away from.”

No ‘ah-choo!’ for you Here’s a strategy for beating

springtime allergy symptoms.

To fnd a physician who can help

you get control of your allergies, visit

FloridaHospital.com or call (844) 504-9378.

l Nasal allergies are estimated to affect roughly 50 million Americans.

l In 2012, more than 13.4 million visits to physician offices, hospital outpatient departments and emergency departments were due to allergic rhinitis.

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

facts about

allergies

Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

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Heart disease is still the number-

one cause of death in the

United States, but health experts

have learned what it takes to help

keep the heart healthy. And a

proper diet is at the top of the list.

“A healthy diet and lifestyle are

your best weapons in fghting heart

disease,” says Aung Tun, M.D., a

cardiologist with Florida Hospital.

That’s because the primary cause

of heart attack—and stroke, for

that matter—is a buildup of plaque

in the arteries. “Diet plays a major

role in plaque creation,” he adds.

Cholesterol was thought to be the

main culprit in plaque formation, but

Dr. Tun says that carbohydrates are

now considered just as important.

The body turns carbohydrates

into triglycerides, a particularly

dangerous form of cholesterol,

he says, and a major cause of

blockages. “So I now tell patients

to cut down on carbohydrates and

cholesterol too,” he says.

It’s also important to distinguish

between healthy and unhealthy fats.

The former include unsaturated

fats like olive oil, while the latter

are saturated fats and trans fats,

typically found in processed

foods. “Unsaturated fat is actually

protective for the heart,” Dr. Tun

says. “It helps stabilize plaque so

it doesn’t break loose, which cuts

down the chance of heart attack.”

Sodium is also known to play a

role, in that it retains fuid in the

body, which tends to raise blood

pressure. But drastic sodium

reduction isn’t needed for most

people, he says. “Lately we have

learned that a reasonable amount

of sodium—about 4 grams a day—

won’t affect blood pressure.”

A plant-based diet has been

proven time and again to help all

areas of health, including the heart, so

loading your plate with whole grains,

fruits and vegetables is always a

good idea. “They have lots of vitamins

and little caloric content, so there is

less chance of obesity,” he says.

The ideal diet: Less carbohydrates

and cholesterol and as much fruit

and vegetables as possible.

Cut carbs for

heart healthOne clue tO yOur future well-being is nOt in the stars, but On yOur plate.

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FH.Spring16.10.indd 10 2/29/16 12:46 PM

Eat this, not that,for a healthy heartSometimes all it takes is a few tweaks to your diet to improve your

chances of living a long life with a healthy heart. The American Heart

Association recommends these do’s and don’ts:

l Include fsh at least

twice a week in your

meal plan, especially

fsh containing omega-3

faty acids (e.g. salmon

and trout).

l Select fat-free (skim)

and low-fat (1 percent)

dairy products.

l Reach for fber-rich

whole grains.

l Choose poultry and fsh

without skin.

l Go heavy on foods

containing partially

hydrogenated

vegetable oils.

l Choose foods with

trans fats.

l Select beverages and

foods with added

sugars.

Do

's

Don'ts

Take This

heart-healthy list To The

grocery sTore

q Berriesarepackedwith

phytonutrientsandsolublefber.

q Flaxseedscontainomega-3fatty

acids,fberandphytoestrogens.

q Asparagusisflledwithbeta-

carotene,folateandfber.

q Darkbeansarehighinfber,

Bvitaminsandminerals.

q Red,yellowandorangeveggies

arepackedwithcarotenoids,fber

andvitamins.

q Oranges,cantaloupesandpapayas

arerichinbeta-carotene,folate

andfber.

q Tomatoesprovidelycopene,vitamin

Candalpha-and-beta-carotene.

q BroccolicontainsvitaminsCandE,

potassium,folate,calciumandfber.

Forinformationonupcominghealthand

wellnesseventsnearyourhome,visit

FloridaHospital.com/events.

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Back from

the brink

A teAm effort

sAves A mAn’s life

After A mAssive

heArt AttAck.

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I t was a meal they won’t soon forget.

George Hodul, 72, a retired mechanical

engineer, and his wife, Joyce, 69, were

having dinner on July 23, 2014, when he

lost his appetite, felt sweaty and clammy,

and pushed his dinner plate away. “My wife

got me an aspirin and called 9-1-1, while I

lay down on the foor,” Hodul says. “I don’t

remember a lot after that.”

Hodul wouldn’t wake up

again for three days.

In the emergency

room, Asad Sawar,

M.D., an interventional

cardiologist with Florida

Hospital, and his team

diagnosed a massive

heart attack caused by

a blocked artery. By the

time Hodul got to the heart

catheterization lab, “for all

practical purposes he was

dead on the table,” says Dr.

Sawar. “He was one of the

sickest patients we have

seen in the past 15 years.

His condition deteriorated

quickly, and there was a

high suspicion he might

not make it.” Indeed,

Hodul “coded”—meaning

he needed immediate

lifesaving interventions—

six different times. But

thanks to a full team of

physicians, cardiovascular

techs, nurses and other

medical professionals,

Hodul is now feeling good.

He says, “It’s like it never

happened.”

“The frst three days

were extremely diffcult,”

says Hodul’s daughter, Pamela Hodul, M.D.,

a surgeon at the H. Lee Mofftt Cancer

Center in Tampa. During that time, her

father suffered organ failure in his kidney,

liver and respiratory systems. Specialists in

all those felds joined Dr. Sawar and other

cardiologists to keep Hodul alive. Overall, he

spent 15 days in the hospital.

Dr. Sawar calls the level of care given to

Hodul during that time “unmatched in most

of this country. Everyone came together and

went above and beyond their call of duty.”

When Hodul frst arrived, staff volunteered

to work past the end of their shifts. Staff

members from across

multiple hospital teams

worked together to save

his life. Hodul’s daughter

was impressed. “As a

physician, I found that

Florida Hospital exceeded

my expectations,” she says.

Once Hodul woke up,

with his organ systems

functioning and a new

stent in his blocked

artery, he began cardiac

rehabilitation—frst

in the hospital, and

then at the Shimberg

Cardiovascular Prevention

and Rehabilitation Center

at Florida Hospital Pepin

Heart Institute. It took

a while to regain his

strength, but thanks to

his regular workouts at

the Health & Wellness

Center at Florida Hospital

Wesley Chapel, his heart

is now doing just fne.

“I’m probably in better

shape now than before

it happened,” he says.

“It’s kind of a miracle. A

lot of things lined up for

me, and everyone at the

hospital—from the doctors

to the nurses and even the

maintenance crew—were fantastic.”

Sometimes “it takes a village,” and

sometimes it takes an incredible team

of hospital personnel to save a life. Says

Hodul’s daughter to the team at the hospital:

“Thank you for giving me my dad back.”

3 ways to keep

your heart

healthy:

Anything that gets

you to move your

body and burn

calories is good for

your heart, note

the experts at the

American Heart

Association. Here,

some simple ways

to keep your heart

pumping:

1

Start walking. It’s

easy, it costs nothing

and it’s one of the

best exercises you can

do to prevent heart

disease. Aim for 30

minutes a day.

2

Get your heart rate up.

Incorporate 30 minutes

of moderate-intensity

aerobic activity (think

stair climbing) at least

fve days per week and

25 minutes of vigorous

aerobic activity (biking,

swimming) at least

three days a week.

3

Pump it up. Add

moderate to high-

intensity muscle-

strengthening

activities to your

routine at least two

days per week.

Can an aspirin Prevent a

heart attack?George Hodul’s wife gave

him an aspirin as soon as

the signs of a heart atack

appeared. That was a smart

move, according to the

american Heart association.

Most heart atacks occur

when the blood supply to

the heart is blocked due

to plaque buildup. When

plaque becomes fragile and

ruptures, it can lead to blood

clots that block blood fow

or break of and travel to

other parts of the body—a

phenomenon known as an

embolism. aspirin “thins”

the blood and helps prevent

clots from forming. people

at high risk for heart atacks

often take a daily low-dose

aspirin—but be sure to check

with your doctor before

making any changes to your

medical care.

FH.Spring16.10.indd 13 2/29/16 12:47 PM

Prepping You’ve decided now is the perfect time to add to your family. But just how much pre-planning should go into your

decision to get pregnant? Pre-planning for months or even years before becoming pregnant helps you maintain some control around the timing of conception and ensures the best health for both mother and baby. If you’re thinking about having a baby but don’t know where to start, consider these four “baby steps” of a preg-nancy plan that walk you through the important stages on the path to becoming a new mom.

4 things to do before

you get pregnant.

Make a pre-pregnancy healthcare visit with your doctor.

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

Embrace healthy living.

This step has four parts: 1. Nutrition. Maintain a well-balanced diet and take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid to help prevent brain and spinal cord defects. 2. Exercise. Establish a daily exercise program (as recommended by your healthcare provider), prior to your pregnancy and stick with it through your pregnancy. 3. Emotional health. Get plenty of sleep and introduce methods of stress reduction such as meditation. 4. Do away with

unhealthy habits. Eliminate alcohol con-sumption, stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, wean yourself off caffeine, and avoid illegal drugs and hazardous substances and chemi-cals (i.e., paint and harsh cleaning agents).

Know your most fertile days.

Identifying your fertility window of opportunity is critical to a successful pregnancy. Ovulation typ-ically occurs 14 days be-fore menstruation begins and your fertile days start fve days before ovulation. (Sperm can live up to three days.) Signs you’re ovulating include breast tenderness and changes in your cervical mucus (the amount increases, texture becomes stretchy, slippery and clear). Experts counsel hope-ful mommies to observe these signs and measure and chart out your basal body temperature.

Think you’re pregnant? Get to the doctor.

The sooner you know you’re pregnant, the sooner you can take better care of yourself and your baby. Early signs that you might be pregnant include the absence of menstruation, morning sickness (nau-sea/vomiting), frequent urination, tender swollen breasts, darkening of the areola (area around the nipple) and, last but not least, food cravings. “Approximately 99 per-cent of over-the-counter home pregnancy tests are accurate at detect-ing pregnancy hormone levels,” says Jacquelyn Stone, M.D., one of the OB hospitalists at Florida Hospital.

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FH.Spring16.10.indd 14 2/29/16 12:48 PM

we're here to help!

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

For more information or to fnd a

physician, please call (844) 504-9378.

You’re pregnant! Now what?Once you see that double line on the pregnancy stick, here are the steps to take:

l Schedule an appointment with your gynecologist to confrm the pregnancy.

l Continue healthy living habits, including eating right and taking vitamins.

l Stop immediately if you smoke, drink alcohol, use illicit drugs or abuse caffeine.

l Discuss your expected and desired weight gain with your provider.

l Conquer stress with relaxation techniques and exercise.

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Strokeof

fgeniusA new tool for

treAting stroke

removes A clot from

the brAin fAst so

dAmAge is minimized And

recovery cAn begin.

T he numbers aren’t pretty:According to the American

Heart Association (AHA), stroke is the number-fve killer in the nation. Someone in the United States dies every four minutes from a stroke. And even when strokes are not fatal, they’re most often debilitating. But fortunately, a new treatment has brightened prospects for people who suffer strokes.

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

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

The AHA recently updated its recommended treatment guidelines for stroke victims to include a device that can pull a stroke-causing clot from the blood vessels in the brain. This treatment, called intracranial mechanical thrombectomy, begins with an incision in the patient’s upper thigh. A long, narrow tube is threaded through the arteries and veins of the body and is directed into the brain, where a wire mesh device captures the clot and pulls it out of the body via the tube. The results are so promising that the AHA updated its

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

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

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

A wire mesh device

captures the clot

and pulls it out of

the body.

A long, narrow tube is

inserted in the upper

thigh and threaded

through the arteries

and veins to the brain.

Blood fow to the

brain is restored.

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

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

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

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

Limit alcohol. Excessive drinking can increase blood pressure and your

risk for stroke. Drink in

moderation—no more than

two drinks a day for a man,

one a day for a woman.

Quit smoking. If you

smoke, speak with your

doctor about help with

quitting. Along with

myriad other health issues,

smoking doubles your risk

of stroke.

Speak to your doctor if you have health issues that put you at risk: high blood

pressure, high cholesterol

and atherosclerosis, atrial

fibrillation, diabetes,

circulation issues or

carotid artery disease.

To recognize the signs of stroke in someone, think

F-A-S-T:

F = FaceAsk the person to smile. Does

one side of the face droop?

A = Arms Ask the person to raise

his or her arms. A stroke victim will feel weakness,

numbness or lack of coordination in one arm.

S = Speech Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. A stroke victim will have slurred

speech or will not be able to understand or

produce speech.

T = TimeIf you observe any of

these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Source: American Heart Association

SignSof

stroke

Almost

800,000 people in the U.S. have a

stroke each year.

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

S t r o k e S t a t i S t i c S

Stroke costs an estimated

$34 billioneach year in the U.S., which includes health care costs, medications and

missed work days.

of strokes are preventable.

80%

Why time mattersEvery minute without treatment

during a major stroke, the brain loses:

1.9 million neurons

14 billion synapses

7.5 miles of nerve fbers

HOW TO AvOID A STrOkE

FH.Spring16.12.indd 17 3/2/16 12:26 PM

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Travel clinics offer coun-sel on avoiding illness and injury on overseas trips. They specialize in providing medical care such as vaccinations to international travelers. Some examples of immu-

nizations recommended for international travel include shots for typhoid, hepatitis A and B, chicken pox and malaria. To find a clinic near you, visit

wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/

page/fnd-clinic/

Taking a trip outside the United States can be exciting, but it

can also pose some health risks. Whether you’re taking a honey-moon cruise through the Carib-bean, a family trip to Mexico or a business jaunt to Europe, you should consider visiting an infec-tious diseases specialist to learn more about protecting yourself in different parts of the world.

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

Visiting a travel clinic is the frst step you should take once you’ve booked your overseas trip. At this appointment, you’ll review your travel itinerary with an infectious diseases specialist, including the countries you’ll be visiting along with your plans once you’re there. “We look at exposure risks for each activity,” says Dr. Aneja. For example, a business trip to a hotel

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

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

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

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

Traveling abroad?Why it’s important

to see an infectious

diseases expert

before your trip.

So what exactly is a

travel clinic?

FH.Spring16.12.indd 18 3/2/16 12:26 PM

When you believe in a greater purpose to health care,

you see things differently. Because health care isn’t

only about illness and injury, or even medicine.

It’s about the human spirit.

Which is why for over a century, Florida Hospital has

gone beyond symptoms and treatments, helping

people live healthier, happier lives.

This is more than quality, expertise and compassion.

Locations Throughout Tampa Bay

Florida Hospital | Centra Care Urgent Care | Florida Hospital Physician Group

Discover the Florida Hospital difference at InspiredTampaBay.com

FHWFR-10129

019_INSPIRED_SPRING16.indd 1 2/29/16 12:27 PM

FLORIDA HOSPITAL

HIDDEN RIVER CORPORATE CENTER THREE

14055 RIVEREDGE DR., SUITE 250

TAMPA, FL 33637

275

275

Tampa Bay

Carrollwood

North

PinellasTampa

Wesley Chapel

Connerton

Zephyrhills

With a statewide health care system

of 22 hospitals, Florida Hospital

proudly serves the Tampa Bay region

through a network of 6 Florida

Hospitals, 4 Centra Care Urgent Care

Centers and more than 45 Florida

Hospital Physician Group practices.

Find a medical expert near you!

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Find a Florida Hospital Physician:

FloridaHospital.com

(877) 231-3100

1 Florida Hospital Carrollwood

2 Florida Hospital Connerton,

Long Term Acute Care

3 Florida Hospital North Pinellas

4 Florida Hospital Tampa

5 Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel

6 Florida Hospital Zephyrhills

020_INSPIRED_SPRING16.indd 2 3/8/16 10:47 AM