january ˜˚˛˝ baylor m˙kinney edition baylorhealth.com/ health...

HealthJanuary 2014 BaylorHealth

In Good Health

After a routine colonoscopy detected

cancer, BILL DIPPEL is cancer-free and

touting the benefits of regular screenings

PAGE 6

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

BACK PAIN MYTHS BUSTEDIt doesn’t have to control your life PAGE 5

FIRST-TRIMESTER PRIMERYour guide to the first three months of pregnancy PAGE 4

McKINNEY EDITION

Visit BaylorHealth.com/McKinney for informative videos, interactive quizzes, online event registration and much more.

FdBL011413_McKinney.indd 1 11/22/13 4:23 PM

Be Pain-Free in 2014If joint or back problems have been keeping you from achieving your fi tness goals, our experts can help. Visit BaylorHealth.com/McKinneyOrtho to learn more about our orthopedic services.

As you write your New Year’s resolutions, remember: There are lots of ways to improve your health besides diet and exercise. Here, Steven Overn, DO, a fam-ily medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, off ers a few ideas:

MANAGE STRESS. Take a stress management course, sign up for a yoga class or commit to meditating.

MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY. Improve your shut-eye by going to bed at the same time each night and avoiding electronics in the hour before bedtime.

INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS. Pencil-in a monthly date with your better half or schedule a weekly cup of coff ee with friends. Studies show that people who have satisfying relationships tend to have fewer health problems and live longer.

Build a Better You

PUT A SPIN ON THE NEW YEARBoring equals burnout. Put a little extra kick in your 2014 exercise routine with spinning classes. This indoor, calorie-blasting workout accommodates riders of all levels, whether you haven’t ridden since you were a kid or are a regular pro. There’s no balancing or choreography knowledge required.

Instructors use heart-pumping tunes and guided visualization to motivate you through your ride, which features an adjustable resistance knob and fi ve “core movements” to incorporate both cardio and strength training into the workout. By the end of a 40-minute ride, your core, legs and glutes will be burning, and you will have completed, on average, the equivalent of a 15- to 20-mile ride.

Health Care Reform MilestoneJan. 1, 2014, marks the fi rst day that several new patient protections take eff ect under the Aff ordable Care Act.

These include banning insurance companies from:• Discriminating against

those with pre-existing conditions.

• Charging higher rates to individuals because of gender or health status.

• Imposing lifetime payout limits or annual payout limits on health benefi ts.

’Tis the Season to Call in SickAvoid catching the crud by taking extra precautions at work. To keep yourself and your co-workers healthy, follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1 Get a fl u vaccine, which will protect

you from the three most common viruses that have been identifi ed this year. Urge your co-workers to get one, too.

2 Use good hygiene practices. Wash your

hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid touching your face. Regularly disinfect common areas, like the break room and doorknobs, with sanitizing wipes.

3 If you get sick, stay home. If you

think you have the fl u, call in sick for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

200,000The number of

people hospitalized due to fl u-related

complications each year.

24

Are You Ready?Before beginning any exercise program, talk to your doctor. For a physician referral, visit FindDrRight.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

Spinning ©Getty Images/iStockphoto; sick ©Thinkstock; health care reform ©Thinkstock

learn more about our orthopedic services.

Workout photo ©Getty Images/iStockphoto; coff ee women photo ©Thinkstock2 BaylorHealth.com

Starting a New Workout?Every year on Jan. 1, millions of Americans commit to get into the best shape of their lives. But more often than not, those dreams of physical perfection fi zzle out after only a few weeks—and sometimes result in injury to boot.

Here, Lance Winter, DO, a sports medicine spe-cialist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, shares his tips for getting ready for the big push—and avoiding injuries—in 2014.

TIP #1: SEE YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOU BEGIN. It sounds like a formality, but your doc-tor can run important tests to make sure you’re healthy enough for a specifi c program.

TIP #2: START SLOW. Ease into your routine, don’t overestimate your current level of fi tness and keep workouts under an hour. Focus on stay-ing committed and working out regu-larly rather than going all out.

TIP #3: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Should you experi-ence discomfort or pain, stop—and tell your doctor about it. Identifying potential problems early on can help you avoid a serious injury that could sideline you for the season.

Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, 5252 W. University Drive, McKinney, TX 75071. President: Scott Peek; Marketing/Public Relations Director: Kelly Maier. Baylor McKinney Main Number: 469.764.1000; Parent Education Classes: 1.800.4BAYLOR (1.800.422.9567); Baylor McKinney Breast Center: 469.764.7000; Baylor McKinney Physician Referral: 1.800.4BAYLOR. Visit BaylorHealth.com/McKinney or call 1.800.4BAYLOR for information about Baylor McKinney’s services, upcoming events, career opportunities and more.

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

The material in BaylorHealth is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at McKinney or Baylor Health Care System. Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. BaylorHealth is published by McMURRY/TMG, LLC, six times a year for friends and supporters of Baylor Medical Center at McKinney. © 2014 Baylor Health Care System. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75201, or email the information to [email protected].

FdBL011413_McKinney.indd 2 11/11/13 9:18 AM

PUT A SPIN ON THE NEW YEARBoring equals burnout. Put a little extra kick in your 2014 exercise routine with spinning classes. This indoor, calorie-blasting workout accommodates riders of all levels, whether you haven’t ridden since you were a kid or are a regular pro. There’s no balancing or choreography knowledge required.

Instructors use heart-pumping tunes and guided visualization to motivate you through your ride, which features an adjustable resistance knob and fi ve “core movements” to incorporate both cardio and strength training into the workout. By the end of a 40-minute ride, your core, legs and glutes will be burning, and you will have completed, on average, the equivalent of a 15- to 20-mile ride.

Health Care Reform MilestoneJan. 1, 2014, marks the fi rst day that several new patient protections take eff ect under the Aff ordable Care Act.

These include banning insurance companies from:• Discriminating against

those with pre-existing conditions.

• Charging higher rates to individuals because of gender or health status.

• Imposing lifetime payout limits or annual payout limits on health benefi ts.

’Tis the Season to Call in SickAvoid catching the crud by taking extra precautions at work. To keep yourself and your co-workers healthy, follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1 Get a fl u vaccine, which will protect

you from the three most common viruses that have been identifi ed this year. Urge your co-workers to get one, too.

2 Use good hygiene practices. Wash your

hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid touching your face. Regularly disinfect common areas, like the break room and doorknobs, with sanitizing wipes.

3 If you get sick, stay home. If you

think you have the fl u, call in sick for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

200,000The number of

people hospitalized due to fl u-related

complications each year.

24

Are You Ready?Before beginning any exercise program, talk to your doctor. For a physician referral, visit FindDrRight.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.

Spinning ©Getty Images/iStockphoto; sick ©Thinkstock; health care reform ©Thinkstock BaylorHealth.com 3


BACK PAIN MYTHS BUSTEDWe give you the straight-up facts

DID YOU KNOW?

It is estimated that

80%of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

©Thinkstock

BACK PAIN IS TAKING a serious toll. It’s one of the most common reasons we miss work, and one half of all working Americans say they experience back pain symptoms each year.

Though the road to a healthy back isn’t always a simple one, treatments ranging from medication to physical therapy to surgery are available and usually eff ective, says Matthew Berchuck, MD, a spine surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie.

And getting help starts with understanding the truth about your back pain. Here, Dr. Berchuck helps us separate fact from fi ction.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Bed rest is the answer to a backache.

———————[ FACT ]———————“Years ago, people thought staying in bed for weeks was the thing to do, but

today we know that no more than 24 to 48 hours is recommended because of the deconditioning that happens as a result of prolonged inactivity,” Dr. Berchuck says.

———————[ MYTH ]———————You can only have back pain if you’ve been in an accident.

———————[ FACT ]———————Though lots of back injuries do start with trauma, back pain also can be caused by arthritis, infections and tumors, Dr. Berchuck says.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Back pain means there’s a problem with your spine.

———————[ FACT ]———————Back pain also can be caused by a host of other conditions that have nothing to do with the spine.

“Kidney infections, tumors, ulcers, ovarian cysts and pancreatitis are just a few of the things that can present as back pain,” Dr. Berchuck explains.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Spine surgery doesn’t work and just leads to other surgeries.

———————[ FACT ]———————Most patients who undergo spine surgery do very well and are able to resume the activity level they had before surgery, Dr. Berchuck says. “Our understanding of spinal disease has increased greatly. Thanks to advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic technology, we have a much greater ability to diagnose and treat spinal disorders of all kinds.”

MONTH 1What’s Happening During the fi rst four weeks of preg-nancy, most women don’t even know they’re pregnant. And though your baby will only be the size of a poppy seed by week four, you already may be experiencing frequent urination.

What You Can Do Before trying to conceive, talk to your doctor. “He or she may recom-mend changing medications, quitting smoking or losing weight before you become pregnant,” Dr. Flowers says.

If you plan on conceiving soon, take a daily prenatal vitamin and avoid alcohol.

MONTH 2What’s Happening By the end of week eight, your baby will be the size of a kidney bean and will have developed webbed fi ngers, toes and eye-lids, and even begun to form primitive neural pathways in the brain.

Unfortunately for you, nausea, vomiting and exhaustion may be setting in because of hormonal changes, Dr. Flowers says.

What You Can Do “Take naps when you can, go to bed earlier and eat small, frequent meals throughout the day to avoid nausea,” Dr. Flowers says. “Staying hydrated and taking a vitamin B6 supple-ment also can help with nau-sea and fatigue.”

MONTH 3What’s Happening By the end of 12 weeks, your baby will be 2 inches long and look every bit like a tiny human, complete with almost all of his or her organs. And you’ll look and feel diff erent, too. In fact, your growing uterus may cause your organs to shift up, resulting in heartburn.

What You Can Do “Avoid spicy and acidic foods within two hours of bedtime, and prop yourself up at night to avoid heartburn,” Dr. Flowers says.

You’ll also schedule your fi rst appointment with your obstetrician between eight and 10 weeks. “Patients with a history of miscarriage or who experience unusual symptoms should ask for an appointment sooner,” Dr. Flowers adds.

First-Trimester PrimerYour guide to the first three months of pregnancy

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON during early pregnancy. Here, Julia Flowers, MD, an Ob-Gyn on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, shares what you can do to provide a healthy beginning for you and your developing baby.

Quality and Safety MatterWhen deciding where to have your baby, you want to know that you and your baby will be well cared for, no matter what. Baylor Medical Center at McKinney’s Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has been open for more than a year, and has received high scores in several areas linked to reduced complications and better outcomes for baby.

“These scores demonstrate our commitment to caring for babies with the utmost attention to detail and the highest quality care,” says Lori Halderman, MD, chief of obstetrics at Baylor McKinney.

These include:• No deaths or major complications among babies

admitted to the NICU• No central line-associated infections in babies• No ventilator-associated pneumonia in babies “Our NICU is well equipped with advanced technology,”

says Arpitha Chiruvolu, MD, medical director of the NICU at Baylor McKinney. “We are very proud of our outcomes, and we hope it inspires confi dence in families who choose to give birth with us.”

Baby on the Way?To learn more about the childbirth services available at Baylor McKinney, visit BaylorHealth.com/McKinneyWomen today.

©Photoshot4 BaylorHealth.com


BACK PAIN MYTHS BUSTEDWe give you the straight-up facts

DID YOU KNOW?


80%of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

©Thinkstock

DID YOU KNOW?


80%of adults will experience back pain at some

BACK PAIN IS TAKING a serious toll. It’s one of the most common reasons we miss work, and one half of all working Americans say they experience back pain symptoms each year.

Though the road to a healthy back isn’t always a simple one, treatments ranging from medication to physical therapy to surgery are available and usually eff ective, says Matthew Berchuck, MD, a spine surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie.

And getting help starts with understanding the truth about your back pain. Here, Dr. Berchuck helps us separate fact from fi ction.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Bed rest is the answer to a backache.

———————[ FACT ]———————“Years ago, people thought staying in bed for weeks was the thing to do, but

today we know that no more than 24 to 48 hours is recommended because of the deconditioning that happens as a result of prolonged inactivity,” Dr. Berchuck says.

———————[ MYTH ]———————You can only have back pain if you’ve been in an accident.

———————[ FACT ]———————Though lots of back injuries do start with trauma, back pain also can be caused by arthritis, infections and tumors, Dr. Berchuck says.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Back pain means there’s a problem with your spine.

———————[ FACT ]———————Back pain also can be caused by a host of other conditions that have nothing to do with the spine.

“Kidney infections, tumors, ulcers, ovarian cysts and pancreatitis are just a few of the things that can present as back pain,” Dr. Berchuck explains.

———————[ MYTH ]———————Spine surgery doesn’t work and just leads to other surgeries.

———————[ FACT ]———————Most patients who undergo spine surgery do very well and are able to resume the activity level they had before surgery, Dr. Berchuck says. “Our understanding of spinal disease has increased greatly. Thanks to advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic technology, we have a much greater ability to diagnose and treat spinal disorders of all kinds.”

Get Back in ActionDon’t let back pain hold you back. Call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit FindDrRight.com/McKinney for a referral to a physician on the Baylor McKinney medical staff .

BaylorHealth.com 5


W


JusttheFactsWhen Bill Dippel, a Dallas lawyer, turned 50, his doctor told him it was time for a colonoscopy. His response was anything but pleased. “I laughed out loud and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, doc!’�”

Like most of us, Dippel was anxious about the prospect of undergoing that procedure—but his physician wouldn’t budge. “He told me guys my age were prime candidates for colon cancer and that I needed to buck up and get it done, so I took his advice.”

He was glad he did. “My doctor found and removed three polyps, one of which was cancerous,” Dippel says. “Had I not been screened when I was, the cancer would have progressed.”

Thanks to laparoscopic surgery and six months of chemotherapy at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dippel, now 56, is cancer-free—and he’s sharing his message of early detection with anyone who will listen.

“You deserve to take good care of yourself,” Dippel says. “A simple colonoscopy puts you in the best position to beat colon cancer, and it’s a great win. Just ask my kids.”

If that’s not enough to convince you, read on. Here, Rassa Shahidzadeh, MD, a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, shares fi ve facts about colorectal cancer you need to know.

Watch Bill’s StoryHear more from Bill about his experience. Visit BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive today.

The truth behind colorectal cancer

Symptoms are more likely to appear in later stages, but colorectal cancer is most treatable when it’s diagnosed early, before any warning signs appear. When present, symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloody stools or unexplained weight loss.

THE TAKEAWAY Symptom-free doesn’t mean disease-free. Stay current on your screenings regardless of how good you feel.

FACT #3EVERYONE IS AT RISK.Individuals with a personal history of breast cancer, infl ammatory bowel disease or colon polyps or who have a family history of colon cancer are at increased risk for colorectal cancer. Smoking, drinking excessively or eating a high-fat diet that includes a lot of red or processed meat may also increase risk.

But everyone should be screened, regardless of how low they perceive their risk to be. “There are two kinds of risk—average and high,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says. “No one is ‘safe’ from colorectal cancer.”

THE TAKEAWAY Talk to your doctor to determine a personalized screening schedule based on your level of risk.

FACT #4YOU CAN’T BEAT A COLONOSCOPY.Though several screening options are available, the gold standard is still colonoscopy. “It can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous, and it’s a really simple outpatient procedure,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

Most people are pleasantly surprised by how easy and painless it is. “I had to be talked into it, but it really wasn’t bad at all,” Dippel says.

THE TAKEAWAY Getting a colonoscopy is your best bet at preventing and detecting colorectal cancer, so don’t dodge it or delay it.

FACT #5IT’S PREVENTABLE.If properly screened, no one has to die from colorectal cancer. “This is one of the few cancers we can actually prevent,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

The death rate from colon cancer has gone down over the past 20 years, likely attributable to the removal of polyps and early detection that occur during colonoscopies.

THE TAKEAWAY Get over your hang-ups. Colonoscopy is one screening you can’t aff ord to miss.

FACT #1IT’S NOT JUST A MAN’S DISEASE.“Maybe it’s because breast cancer is so widely covered by the media, but for some reason people have this idea that colon cancer is mainly a man’s problem,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says. “Colorectal cancer is equally devastating for both genders.”

In fact, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 73,680 men and 69,140 women were diagnosed with the disease

in 2013. And among cancers that aff ect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

THE TAKEAWAY It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. You

should start getting screened at age 50, or earlier if you’re at high risk.

FACT #2IT DOESN’T ALWAYS CAUSE SYMPTOMS.“About half of the patients I see

didn’t experience any symptoms prior to their diagnosis,”

Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

Bill Dippel tells anyone who will listen about the importance of getting a colonoscopy, including his son, Creighton.

6 BaylorHealth.com


W


JusttheFactsWhen Bill Dippel, a Dallas lawyer, turned 50, his doctor told him it was time for a colonoscopy. His response was anything but pleased. “I laughed out loud and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, doc!’�”

Like most of us, Dippel was anxious about the prospect of undergoing that procedure—but his physician wouldn’t budge. “He told me guys my age were prime candidates for colon cancer and that I needed to buck up and get it done, so I took his advice.”

He was glad he did. “My doctor found and removed three polyps, one of which was cancerous,” Dippel says. “Had I not been screened when I was, the cancer would have progressed.”

Thanks to laparoscopic surgery and six months of chemotherapy at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Dippel, now 56, is cancer-free—and he’s sharing his message of early detection with anyone who will listen.

“You deserve to take good care of yourself,” Dippel says. “A simple colonoscopy puts you in the best position to beat colon cancer, and it’s a great win. Just ask my kids.”

If that’s not enough to convince you, read on. Here, Rassa Shahidzadeh, MD, a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, shares fi ve facts about colorectal cancer you need to know.

Watch Bill’s StoryHear more from Bill about his experience. Visit BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive today.

The truth behind colorectal cancer

Symptoms are more likely to appear in later stages, but colorectal cancer is most treatable when it’s diagnosed early, before any warning signs appear. When present, symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloody stools or unexplained weight loss.

THE TAKEAWAY Symptom-free doesn’t mean disease-free. Stay current on your screenings regardless of how good you feel.

FACT #3EVERYONE IS AT RISK.Individuals with a personal history of breast cancer, infl ammatory bowel disease or colon polyps or who have a family history of colon cancer are at increased risk for colorectal cancer. Smoking, drinking excessively or eating a high-fat diet that includes a lot of red or processed meat may also increase risk.

But everyone should be screened, regardless of how low they perceive their risk to be. “There are two kinds of risk—average and high,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says. “No one is ‘safe’ from colorectal cancer.”

THE TAKEAWAY Talk to your doctor to determine a personalized screening schedule based on your level of risk.

FACT #4YOU CAN’T BEAT A COLONOSCOPY.Though several screening options are available, the gold standard is still colonoscopy. “It can detect and remove polyps before they become cancerous, and it’s a really simple outpatient procedure,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

Most people are pleasantly surprised by how easy and painless it is. “I had to be talked into it, but it really wasn’t bad at all,” Dippel says.

THE TAKEAWAY Getting a colonoscopy is your best bet at preventing and detecting colorectal cancer, so don’t dodge it or delay it.

FACT #5IT’S PREVENTABLE.If properly screened, no one has to die from colorectal cancer. “This is one of the few cancers we can actually prevent,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

The death rate from colon cancer has gone down over the past 20 years, likely attributable to the removal of polyps and early detection that occur during colonoscopies.

THE TAKEAWAY Get over your hang-ups. Colonoscopy is one screening you can’t aff ord to miss.

FACT #1IT’S NOT JUST A MAN’S DISEASE.“Maybe it’s because breast cancer is so widely covered by the media, but for some reason people have this idea that colon cancer is mainly a man’s problem,” Dr. Shahidzadeh says. “Colorectal cancer is equally devastating for both genders.”

In fact, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 73,680 men and 69,140 women were diagnosed with the disease

in 2013. And among cancers that aff ect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

THE TAKEAWAY It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. You

should start getting screened at age 50, or earlier if you’re at high risk.

FACT #2IT DOESN’T ALWAYS CAUSE SYMPTOMS.“About half of the patients I see

didn’t experience any symptoms prior to their diagnosis,”

Dr. Shahidzadeh says.

Bill Dippel tells anyone who will listen about the importance of getting a colonoscopy, including his son, Creighton.

BaylorHealth.com 7

Are You At Risk?If there’s one

thing that Laurie Novosad, MD, a colon

and rectal surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, wants to get across, it’s this: “Eighty-fi ve to 90 percent of people who are diagnosed with colon cancer have no family history,” she says. “Everyone is at risk.”

That said, certain factors do increase your risk of colorectal cancer, including:

ADVANCING AGE. “Studies have shown that colorectal polyps are most likely to form around age 50 and after, which is why we recommend beginning

screening at that time,” Dr. Novosad says. African-Americans are at risk of developing polyps earlier, and should be screened beginning at 45, she adds.

A HISTORY OF COLON POLYPS. “The only way

to know if you have these is to get a colonoscopy,” Dr. Novosad says.

A FAMILY HISTORY. Those with a family history should be screened beginning at age 40 or 10 years earlier than when the family member was diagnosed, whichever is younger.

“Colon cancer is one of the only cancers that we can prevent and cure with appropriate screening and early detection,” she says.

Translation? Get your colonoscopy.

Screenings Save LivesTalk to your primary care physician about your personal-ized cancer screening schedule. To fi nd a doctor on the medical staff at Baylor McKinney, visit BaylorHealth.com/McKinney today.


AAA

©Thinkstock

How to know when a visit to the doctor needs to move to the top of your to-do list

As women, we take our roles as caregivers seriously. We’re the fi rst to rush to the side of a sick child or relative, and never hesitate to take them to the doctor if we’re concerned. Yet we often fail to provide this same level of care for ourselves. But putting your health on the back burner is a dangerous game.

“Forgoing screenings and exams can be hazardous to your health indeed,” says Robert Watson, MD, medical director at Baylor All Saints Medical Center’s Andrews Women’s Hospital. “Especially since many serious illnesses are most treatable when the fi rst symptoms appear.”

Ladies, we know you have a lot on your plate, but some symptoms simply shouldn’t be ignored. Read on to learn which are serious business—and which ones can aff ord to wait.

SYMPTOM Abdominal pain or bloating.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. “For younger women, this is often just part of your monthly period symptoms, but for postmenopausal women, this can be the only sign of ovarian cancer,” Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOMBreast changes.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. Any new or signifi cant changes in your breasts should be evaluated promptly for breast cancer, Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Exhaustion.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. For most women, Dr. Watson says, this is just part of life. “A lot of women come in thinking there’s something wrong because they’re so tired. The truth is they have three kids and work 50 hours a week and that is exhausting.”

That said, extreme fatigue that comes on suddenly could be a sign of something serious, so talk to your doctor.

SYMPTOM Heavy or painful menstruation.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. Having a particularly heavy or painful period is normal for some women.

Bleeding after menopause, however, can be a sign

of uterine cancer and should be evaluated

promptly, Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Unusual skin changes.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. If you observe changes in moles or notice the appearance of new moles or skin lesions, talk to your doctor. “Skin cancer is very treatable if it’s found early,” Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Change in bowel movements.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. “Chronic constipation or diarrhea, or any signifi cant change in the stools, is cause for concern and should be evaluated by a physician,” Dr. Watson says. These symptoms can indicate a bowel obstruction, Crohn’s disease or colon cancer.

One More ThingBeyond seeing your doctor when a concerning symptom arises, Dr. Watson encourages women to see their gynecologist annually for a well-woman checkup. Consider doing it at the same time each year, on your birthday or right after the new year begins, for example, so you don’t forget.

“An annual Pap smear may no longer be recommended for most women, but we still recommend an annual visit,” Dr. Watson says. “This is an important time to talk about symptoms or concerns, contraception options, hormones, medications and recommended screenings.”

8 BaylorHealth.com


©Thinkstock

How to know when a visit to the doctor needs to move to the top of your to-do list

As women, we take our roles as caregivers seriously. We’re the fi rst to rush to the side of a sick child or relative, and never hesitate to take them to the doctor if we’re concerned. Yet we often fail to provide this same level of care for ourselves. But putting your health on the back burner is a dangerous game.

“Forgoing screenings and exams can be hazardous to your health indeed,” says Robert Watson, MD, medical director at Baylor All Saints Medical Center’s Andrews Women’s Hospital. “Especially since many serious illnesses are most treatable when the fi rst symptoms appear.”

Ladies, we know you have a lot on your plate, but some symptoms simply shouldn’t be ignored. Read on to learn which are serious business—and which ones can aff ord to wait.

SYMPTOM Abdominal pain or bloating.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. “For younger women, this is often just part of your monthly period symptoms, but for postmenopausal women, this can be the only sign of ovarian cancer,” Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOMBreast changes.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. Any new or signifi cant changes in your breasts should be evaluated promptly for breast cancer, Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Exhaustion.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. For most women, Dr. Watson says, this is just part of life. “A lot of women come in thinking there’s something wrong because they’re so tired. The truth is they have three kids and work 50 hours a week and that is exhausting.”

That said, extreme fatigue that comes on suddenly could be a sign of something serious, so talk to your doctor.

SYMPTOM Heavy or painful menstruation.

GET IT CHECKED? � Maybe. Having a particularly heavy or painful period is normal for some women.

Bleeding after menopause, however, can be a sign

of uterine cancer and should be evaluated

promptly, Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Unusual skin changes.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. If you observe changes in moles or notice the appearance of new moles or skin lesions, talk to your doctor. “Skin cancer is very treatable if it’s found early,” Dr. Watson says.

SYMPTOM Change in bowel movements.

GET IT CHECKED? � Yes. “Chronic constipation or diarrhea, or any signifi cant change in the stools, is cause for concern and should be evaluated by a physician,” Dr. Watson says. These symptoms can indicate a bowel obstruction, Crohn’s disease or colon cancer.

One More ThingBeyond seeing your doctor when a concerning symptom arises, Dr. Watson encourages women to see their gynecologist annually for a well-woman checkup. Consider doing it at the same time each year, on your birthday or right after the new year begins, for example, so you don’t forget.

“An annual Pap smear may no longer be recommended for most women, but we still recommend an annual visit,” Dr. Watson says. “This is an important time to talk about symptoms or concerns, contraception options, hormones, medications and recommended screenings.”

What’s the Problem?If you’re experiencing troubling symptoms, a primary care physician can help you fi gure out what’s going on. Visit

FindDrRight.com/McKinneyfor a free referral.

3 Symptoms Men Shouldn’t IgnoreWe get it, guys. You’re tough. But putting on a brave face when you’re experiencing potentially dangerous symptoms isn’t just silly, it’s stupid.

Here, Joseph Padalino, MD, a urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, discusses three symptoms you should always get checked.

1 BATHROOM TROUBLES. Chronic constipation can signal

a blockage in the lower intestine that could mean colon cancer. Tell your doctor if you experience diar-rhea or constipation lasting longer than two weeks. “Pain while urinat-ing or blood in the urine can also be a sign of prostate, bladder or kidney cancer,” Dr. Padalino says.

2 ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. “This is usually a sign of a

blood fl ow problem and can be an early sign of heart disease,” Dr. Padalino says.

3 DECREASED SEX DRIVE AND ENERGY LEVELS. Depression,

thyroid disorders or low testos-terone could be to blame. “All of these are easily treated early on but can become serious if they go untreated,” Dr. Padalino says. “Low testosterone, for example, can increase the risk of heart dis-ease and osteoporosis.”

BaylorHealth.com 9


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TIPSHEET

The Air You Breathe

Could pollution be putting your health at risk?

Download our tipsheet at BaylorHealth.com/

Tipsheet to discover how you can breathe easier.

PODCAST

Know Your Carbs

Choosing the wrong kind of carbs can leave you feeling tired and hungry, while the right ones can keep you sustained and satisfi ed. Visit BaylorHealth.com/Podcast to learn more about eating on the right side of the glycemic index.

VIDEO

PILL PRECAUTIONSWhen taking medications, take care—a single missed or delayed dose can reduce eff ectiveness or cause serious side eff ects. Visit BaylorHealth.com/DigitalShort to learn more about the importance of taking your medications on time and as directed.

QUIZ

Are You Heart Smart?Test your heart disease knowledge by taking our interactive quiz at

BaylorHealth.com/Quizzes today.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY in the treatment of heart disease. Just four decades ago, a clogged artery was a ticking time bomb—and there was little that cardiologists could do to stop it. Today, they use minimally invasive techniques to open clogged arteries and restore blood fl ow, and then they place tiny metallic mesh tubes called stents that release a drug to help prevent the arteries from narrowing again.

And yet, this advanced method still has drawbacks. “Metallic stents can cause infl ammation and subsequent scar tissue that can result in the renarrowing of the artery,” says David Brown, MD, director of transcatheter valve therapy and co-director of minimally invasive valve therapy at The Heart Hospital

A dissolving device could become the new recommended approach for treating heart disease—and Baylor researchers are among the fi rst to implant it

Baylor Plano. “A small number of these procedures require additional interventional procedures as a result.”

NOW YOU SEE IT …Thankfully, especially in the fi eld of medicine, innovations never cease. A new investigational product called the Absorb™ bioresorbable vascular scaff old (BVS), made by health care company Abbott, works like a traditional metallic drug-eluting stent by opening clogged vessels and restoring blood fl ow. What makes it diff erent, however, is that it dissolves over time.

The beginning of 2013 marked the advent of clinical trials for this device in the United States, and Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital and The Heart Hospital are among the sites participating in the trial, the fi rst trial in the U.S. to test a BVS.

TESTING, TESTING, 1-2-3Initial results have been “promising,” says James W. Choi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, director of interventional cardiology

fellowship and principal investigator of the study at the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital. But the device must be fully assessed.

“We are testing the Absorb device to see if the technology can off er the benefi ts of a traditional metallic stent, but then ultimately restore motion to the

vessel once it dissolves,” Dr. Choi says. “We’re excited and proud to be one of the fi rst sites in North Texas to enroll patients into the trial in an eff ort to evaluate this new investigational technology for our patients.”

Dr. Brown, who is principal investigator of the study at The Heart

Hospital, is also encouraged by the potential of this new technology. “The Absorb BVS has the potential to decrease the risk of an artery renarrowing and could replace metallic stents as the recommended treatment, if the results of the trial are successful,” he says.

How You Can HelpParticipate in a clinical trial at Baylor. Visit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine to learn more.

10 BaylorHealth.com


Get the ExclusiveVisit BaylorHealth.com/Exclusive for more health and wellness content!

TIPSHEET

The Air You Breathe

Could pollution be putting your health at risk?

Download our tipsheet at BaylorHealth.com/

Tipsheet to discover how you can breathe easier.

PODCAST

Know Your Carbs

Choosing the wrong kind of carbs can leave you feeling tired and hungry, while the right ones can keep you sustained and satisfi ed. Visit BaylorHealth.com/Podcast to learn more about eating on the right side of the glycemic index.

VIDEO

PILL PRECAUTIONSWhen taking medications, take care—a single missed or delayed dose can reduce eff ectiveness or cause serious side eff ects. Visit BaylorHealth.com/DigitalShort to learn more about the importance of taking your medications on time and as directed.

QUIZ

Are You Heart Smart?Test your heart disease knowledge by taking our interactive quiz at

BaylorHealth.com/Quizzes today.

Salad, skyline, pills, woman ©Thinkstock; broccoli ©Photoshot BaylorHealth.com 11

Free Healthy Recipes RECIPE Your resolution to eat better in 2014 just

got easier. Go to BaylorHealth.com/Recipe to fi nd nutritious dishes for every meal, mood and craving. Browse by course or main ingredient.

>Shrimp &

Asparagus Salad


Baylor Health Care System 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 750 Marketing Department Dallas, TX 75201

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBAYLOR HEALTH

COMMUNITY CALENDARJanuary & February 2014Registration required for all events unless otherwise indicated. Call 1.800.4BAYLOR to register.

ChiLdBiRth And fAmiLY eduCAtiOnPrepared Childbirthencompasses three weekly sessions beginning Jan. 7, Jan. 8, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. No charge.

Basics of Baby Care teaches infant care and development. Jan. 2, Jan. 16, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20, 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. No charge.

Breastfeeding is designed to discuss the many ben-efits of breastfeeding your baby. Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 13 and Feb. 27, 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. No charge.

infant Safety and CPR teaches basic skills but is not a certification course. Jan. 11 and Feb. 8, 9 a.m. to noon. $35

*Fasting is required for accurate cholesterol readings.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 20148:00 AM TO NOON

Take care of your health at our annual women’s health event, For Women For Life™. Enjoy a light breakfast, receive free health screenings, learn about disease prevention, ask health questions at our

health information booths and attend informative health presentations.

Get your girlfriends together and register today!

HEALTH PRESENTATIONS • BLOOD PRESSURE • SKIN SCREENINGS CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS* • AND MUCH MORE!

FREE WOMEN’S HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENT!

FOCUS ON YOU.

EVENT LOCATION Baylor Medical Center at McKinney5252 West University Drive, McKinney, TX 75071Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affi liated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, or Baylor Health Care System. © 2013 Baylor Health Care System BMCMcK_224_224_2013 BHM CE 10.13

1.25.14

Go to BaylorHealth.com and ForWomen7 RSVP at 1.800.4BAYLOR


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