Tag Archive - austin

The Weight Of The Nation: A Documentary

April 26, 2012 in Children, Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips with 1 Comment

I recently had the pleasure of attending the screening of an HBO documentary entitled, The Weight Of The Nation.  It’s about the obesity epidemic that our nation is facing today.  It is a realistic representation of a multifaceted problem.

More than two-thirds of U.S. adults age 20 and over are overweight or obese, while nearly one-third of the nation’s children and adolescents age 2 to 19 are overweight or obese.  Obesity contributes to five of the ten leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease.  We are clearly in crisis.

Made in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, this series is comprised of 4 films that will debut on HBO on May 14th and May 15th beginning at 7:00 pm Central.  The portion presented at the screening was Children In Crisis.  We are facing, for the first time in our nation’s history, a shorter life expectancy for our next generation of children.  That, by itself, should be enough to motivate us to action.

Obesity is a preventable disease; it’s not a condition that we have to accept like a natural disaster.  We must begin to make the necessary changes in our culture to ensure a healthy life for ourselves and our children.  After all, our lives depend on it.

For more information about weight management and weight loss surgery, please give us a call at St. David’s Bariatric Center, 512-544-LIFE (5433) or visit us online at www.stdavidsweightloss.com.

New Study Reveals Exercise for Neck Pain Better Than Medications

January 17, 2012 in Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Men, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation, Women with 1 Comment

Guest post by Scott Herbowy, PT, Dip. MDT – Supervisor for the St. David’s Spine and Sports Clinic.

Neck pain will affect nearly 75% of all people at some point during their lives. Sedentary people tend to be more susceptible which with an increasing population of work place “sitters” the trend of sufferers with neck pain can be expected to worsen.

The average person seeks relief with medication, heat, cold, traction, chiropractic care, physical therapy, injections or even surgery. Many of these interventions have not been proven in efficacy and some have actually been shown to provide temporary relief only. What’s the poor person who suffers from neck pain to do? One answer has just been proven. Exercise!

A federally funded study published this past week in the journal, The Annals of Internal Medicine looked at 272 people with neck pain without a specific cause for at least 2 weeks and no longer than 3 months. The individuals were divided into three treatment groups. The first group received 12 weeks of Chiropractic care with a focus on spinal manipulation. Those patients also received limited massage, stretching, heat and/or cold. The second treatment group was prescribed medications such as NSAID’s, analgesics, and/or muscle relaxants. The third group was provided with 2 one hour-long sessions to be evaluated to determine and learn the specific neck exercises required for their condition. They were to perform the exercises 6-8 times a day. They were also given information on basic neck anatomy and postural education. All groups were recommended to stay as active as possible.

Results and measurements were taken beginning at 2 weeks after initiating treatment continuing for up to one year. Primary outcome measurement was patient-rated pain. Secondary measures were self-reported disability, satisfaction, medication use and general health status.

For pain, both the chiropractic care groups and self-exercise groups had a statistically significant advantage over the medication group. No important differences in pain were found between the chiropractic and exercises groups. Results in the secondary measures were similar.

The conclusion is that learning self treatment exercises in only 2 visits is as effective as 12 weeks of chiropractic care while both are significantly superior to medication alone. Additionally, the benefit gained from exercises was seen for one year after instruction, when the study concluded. In may be surmised that this benefit would continue with ongoing performance of the exercises.

Good news for neck pain sufferers! To find the right neck exercises you should consult a physical therapist specifically trained in neck and spine care.

Walk for Health, Walk for Hope

November 1, 2011 in Community, Exercise, Weight Loss, Women with 0 Comments

As it turns out, an excellent way to get in shape is an equally excellent way to get involved.  Sometimes it takes the gentle nudging of a cause greater than ourselves to propel us into action.  The  Komen Austin Race for the Cure will be held on Sunday, November 13th, and I plan on participating in this annual event in the fight against breast cancer.  The race is 5K (or 3.1 miles), or you have the option of  a 1 mile family walk.  Not only will your participation provide physicial activity for yourself, but you will be among many who are making a difference in the lives of women everywhere.

Here are a few FAQs about Race for the Cure.

Q:  Is this something in which occasional exercisers can participate?

A:  Of course!  You can choose to participate in the timed race, or the untimed walk which is a pet friendy, family friendly walk of a little over 3 miles, or you can choose the 1 mile family walk.

Q:  What if I begin to feel too tired during the walk?

A:  You should slow down if you are getting too tired, and you can always stop and rest.  Water stations will be available for you along the walk as well.

Q:  Do you have to be a member of a team to participate?

A:  It’s not required that you join a team, but you are certainly welcome to join one.

Q:  Is there a fee to join Race for the Cure?

A:  Yes.  The fee is $30 online, or $40 on the day of the race at the registration tent.

Q:  How is the money that is raised by this event used?

A: 75% of net funds raised locally is used locally.  The Komen Austin provides funding to local non-profit healthcare organizations for breast health services for the  underserved men and women in Travis, Bastrop, Hays, Williamson and Caldwell Counties. The remaining 25 percent funds the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.

So, let’s get out there and make a difference!  Let’s choose to walk for health, walk for hope.  To find out more information, register, or locate a team please visit www.komenaustin.org.

 

 

FAQ: First Gynecological Visit

October 26, 2011 in Children, Physician, Pregnancy, Women with 0 Comments

by Blanca Duncan, MD

Q: At what age should the first visit to an gynecologist take place?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that the first visit take place between the ages of 13 years and 15 years.

Q: What topics are typically discussed during the initial visit?

Screening and preventive health measurements including educational information and guidance.

Discussion of common health concerns shared by many young women such as:

  • Menstrual cycles: normal and problematic
  • Nutrition and exercise
  • Sex and sexuality
  • Birth control
  • STIs
  • Alcohol, drugs, and smoking
  • Mental health
  • Acne

Q:What exams are performed?

  • General physical exam
  • External genital exam

A pelvic exam is not usually performed at the first visit unless there are problems.

Q: What happens during an external genital exam?

The doctor looks at the vulva, which is the external female genital area. This is a good opportunity to learn about the body and the names for each part.

Q: What are the Pap test and Pelvic exam?

The Pap test checks for abnormal changes in cervix that could lead to cancer. It is recommended at the age of 21 years.

Although a pelvic exam will not likely be needed, the adolescent should understand what one is.

The pelvic exam has three parts:

  1. Looking at the external female genitalia
  2. Using a speculum to look at the vagina and cervix. When a Pap test is performed, a small brush is used to obtain a sample of cells from cervix.
  3. Assessing the internal organs with a gloved hand

Q: How often should visits take place?

Typically visits should occur yearly, or as appropriate depending on arising health issues.

Q: Why is it important for adolescent to visit ob/gyn?

Gives patients and parents the chance to meet the health care provider, alleviate fears, develop trust, and start a physician-patient relationship.

Assists adolescent in negotiating entry into the health care system when she has a specific health need.

To learn more about women’s services at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center click here

New Study Shows Lead Extraction Just as Safe When Done in EP Lab as Operating Room

October 5, 2011 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm, Lifestyle Tips with 2 Comments

We’ve talked in this blog about putting pacemakers and defibrillators in, but what about when they need to be taken out?  Lead extraction involves the removal of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads from within the heart. Leads are thin, flexible wires that deliver energy to the heart muscle from a pacemaker or defibrillator to regulate the heart’s rhythm or deliver a shock if the patient is in a lethal heart rhythm.

Sometimes, the leads stop working properly or become obsolete and need to be taken out, usually to make way for new leads.  They can be difficult to extract because, over time, scar tissues grows over them.  During lead extraction, a sheath, or tube, is inserted threaded over the existing lead and inserted through a vein in the chest wall and into the heart.  The sheath helps free the lead from any scar tissue that may have developed around it, helping the doctor to gently pull the lead from the heart muscle.  Sometimes a laser is required to remove excess scar tissue that has grown around the lead.

Removing these adhered leads poses a risk of damaging the heart, which is why it used to be standard practice to do this complicated extraction procedure in the operating room (OR).   Nowadays, though, most high-volume Electrophysiology (EP) centers (TCAI included) do lead extractions in the EP Lab itself, with an OR and a cardio-thoracic surgeon (and his or her surgical team) on-call in case of emergencies.  A study published in the July 2011 issue Heart Rhythm, the journal of the Heart Rhythm Society (see full citation below), validated the safety of this approach.  The first of its kind, the study compared the safety and effectiveness of extracting leads in the OR versus the EP lab and found them to be essentially equal if a rapid-response surgical team is on-call to assist with any emergencies that might require surgery.

The study found that the most common complication associated with lead extraction was damage to blood vessels or chambers in the heart, which if it is serious enough, sometimes needs to be corrected with open heart surgery.  The major predictor of these complications during a lead extraction, according to the study, is age of the lead being extracted.  Older leads, have had more time to become adhered to other structures in the heart and are usually more difficult to extract.  Whether the extraction was done in the EP Lab by an electrophysiologist or in the OR by a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon did not significantly impact the rate of complications, as long as there was a surgical team standing by to intervene in the EP lab in the event of complications.  We look forward to further study on this important matter—as the population of folks with cardiac devices ages, so will their leads.

REFERENCE: Francheschi, Frederic, MD, Dubuc, Marc MD, FHRS, Dharo, Jean-Claude, MD et al.  “Extraction of Transvenous Leads in the Operating Room Versus Electrophysiology Laboratory: A Comparative Study.”  Heart Rhythm, vol. 8, issue 11. July 2011.

4 Common Misconceptions about Weight Loss Surgery

September 1, 2011 in Diet, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss, Women with 0 Comments

In making an informed decision about Weight Loss Surgery, you need to have truthful and complete information. There are some misunderstandings about weight loss surgery that seem to be fairly common.

I would like to address those for you:

  1. The procedures are not covered by insurance companies – Not true. Many insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover weight loss surgery. If you have questions about whether this would be covered by your policy, please click here for suggestions on the type of questions you should address with your insurance company.
  2. Your diet and exercise days are over! – Not true. Weight loss surgery is a very powerful tool that assists with weight loss. However, it does not eliminate your responsibility to make wise, healthy food choices, and engage in regular exercise. Food choices and regular exercise will always be at the heart of any successful weight management plan.
  3. The things you eat will be severely restricted after Weight Loss Surgery – Not true. While the amount you eat is limited by the formation of a new, much smaller stomach pouch, the types of food you eat, after you have progressed and recovered from the surgery, are unchanged. You will receive education on making the right food choices to ensure lasting success, but your diet is certainly not limited.
  4. Having Weight Loss Surgery is too risky – Every treatment option carries a risk. So does staying where you are, especially if you have already been diagnosed with obesity related illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, gastric reflux, and arthritis among others. What are your risks of suffering health related consequences by staying at your current weight? Please discuss this with your doctor, and do some investigation on the actual risks associated with Weight Loss Surgery.

Learn the facts about Weight Loss Surgery and make the best decision for you! Please register for our free seminar to hear a bariatric surgeon discuss Weight Loss Surgery.

~ Rebecca

A Family Tradition

July 7, 2011 in Baby/Infant, Children, Community, Women, Women: Ages & Stages with 0 Comments

Hello and welcome to the Women: Ages and Stages blog! We’re so happy you’re here.

I’m Meg, a labor & delivery nurse with St. David’s Medical Center downtown. I’m inviting you into our special world of everything women! This blog is intended to provide education about women’s needs across a continuum of life. Here at St. David’s Medical Center, WE care about YOU. We want to provide you with the best resources, the best information and THE BEST CARE that you deserve. St. David’s Medical Center has been delivering babies and providing Austin women with exceptional care since 1924.

A little about me, Meg! When I moved to Austin 5 years ago and told my family that I was going to be interviewing around town at different hospitals for a position as a labor & delivery nurse, my Aunt Tera said “if you are going to have a baby in Austin, St. David’s Medical Center is the place you want to be”. Naturally, I wanted to work for this place that was obviously well respected in the community.

I interviewed with Laraine McIntyre, the Director of Women’s Services and soon found myself working alongside the most talented women in the city. Coincidentally, Laraine was the delivery nurse who took care of my aunt when she delivered her twins in 1990 and again when my aunt delivered in 1993.

Tera raved about her nursing care and her ob/gyn Dr. Douglas McIntyre. Now as a nurse who is lucky to call these people my colleagues, I’m able to see what drew my family here. It’s the simple fact that WE ARE FAMILY, connected by caring for women and their needs.

At St. David’s Medical Center, we see countless family connections. They are mothers and daughters, they are sisters, they are aunts, they are nieces, and they are friends.

We hope that we are part of your family story, or that we will get to be part of your story someday soon.

- Meg

Learn more about:

Research Fellows Bring the World to Austin

April 29, 2011 in AFIB, Heart, Heart Rhythm, Lifestyle Tips with 1 Comment

There are a lot of things that make TCAI unique—being housed in one of Thompson Reuters’ Top 100 Hospitals, having access to the most sophisticated technology available to treat arrhythmias, and our world-respected physicians, to name a few. But one of the most impressive features about TCAI is a group of folks you’ll probably never even see—our Research Fellows. Every day, these guys and gals work tirelessly to investigate new and better ways to care for patients with rhythm disorders. 

They study things like what makes heart rhythm disorders happen in the first place, the relationship between other disorders and arrhythmias, and the safest ways to do the procedures that correct rhythm disorders. These behind-the-scenes detectives hail from around the globe, and are responsible for publishing research studies that have advanced the standard of care available to patients everywhere.

Luigi di Biase, MD, PhD, FHRS hails from Italy, and is the author of more than 80 published articles and eight book chapters. Luigi is an assistant professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Austin, Texas, and at the University of Foggia, Italy. His most recent publication investigated the safety and efficacy of cryoablation for treatment of ventricular tachycardia. [Link]

Rong Bai is a Doctor and Professor of Medicine originally from China. He has also studied in Italy, Germany, and in the U.S. at the Cleveland Clinic. Rong recently published an article about using a novel form of echocardiogram to guide placement of defibrillator leads. [Link]

Mitra Mohanty was a family physician for 14 years in India. In addition to her extensive research background, Mitra is a Biology professor at Austin Community College. She is currently working on a study investigating the relationship between migraine headaches and AFib.


Prassant Mohanty is an Epidemiologist who began his career as a Primary Care Physician in Orissa, India. His work has included planning and reviewing cancer-related research studies developing public health monitoring programs. Prassant recently published a study on using a blood test to compare outcomes for men vs. women for atrial fibrillation (AFib) ablation. [Link]

Agnes Pump is a recent addition to the TCAI Research Fellows team from Budapest, Hungary. She was a doctor of cardiology and internal medicine in her home country, and translated a book about AFib from English to Hungarian.

Pasquale Santangeli is a medical doctor from Rome, Italy with extensive experience in researching and treating heart rhythm disorders in his home country. He recently published a broad review of the research that has shaped our treatment of atrial fibrillation with catheter ablation, with recommendations on direction for the future. [Link]

–Jamie LaRue, RN