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LVIM gets grant for early detective program Brain, immunity and lymph system: New-found connections IQ by 2 HEALTH and WELLNESS HEALTH and WELLNESS Heart benefits of niacin not what once thought

Polk County Sun (FL) - 10/2/2015

Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine received a grant for $15,000 from the George W. Jenkins Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation for LVIM’s program, “Early Detection Saves Lives.”

Many incoming patients report not having an annual women’s exam in many years or, even more alarming, never having one. This grant will help the program provide annual women’s health screenings for early detection and treatment of cancer. This grant was a result of GiveWell Community Foundation’s competitive grant process called “Impact Polk.”

The female patients at LVIM receive annual PAP tests, clinical breast exams, lab work, screening mammography and prescription services. Additionally, specialty referrals for advanced and specialized treatment are provided if needed.

The mission of the medical and community volunteers at LVIM is to provide free, high quality outpatient medical, dental and mental health services to the working uninsured of Polk County in a compassionate environment.

New officers elected

Winter Haven Hospital is being led by a new chairman and other officer positions on the board of volunteer trustees. Though there is no change to the board roll call, Mark Bostick is stepping down after a five-year service as chairman.

“Mark has been a courageous leader for Winter Haven Hospital,” said Winter Haven Hospital President Steve Nierman. “He has steered us through our venture with BayCare and strengthened our position to face the changes of the health care industry. We are grateful for his service.”

Richard Straughn, attorney for Straughn & Turner P.A. in Winter Haven, has been elected as the succeeding chairman.

“Richard is just as dedicated as Mark to our mission of providing quality and compassionate health care to the community,” adds Nierman. “I look forward to working with him to continue advancing Winter Haven Hospital.”

Other elected officers include Don Ingram, first vice chairman; Eileen Holden, secretary; Tommy Oakley, assistant secretary; William “Bill” Burns, treasurer; and Charles McPherson, assistant treasurer.

Continuing to serve on the board are Mark Bostick; Robert “Bob” Carter; Al Cassidy; Todd Dantzler; Edward Lubin, M.D.; William “Bill” Murrell; Cindy Price; and Chip Tucker.

Ex-officio members are Steve Nierman, WHH president; Don Gale, M.D., WHH vice-president of medical affairs; Carol Koeppel-Olsen, WHH vice-president of patient services; Joel Thomas, WHH Foundation president; and Ashish Shah, M.D., WHH president of medical staff.

Last month, research reveals a new connection between the brain and immunity. Scientists say the new findings will change the way people look at the central nervous system’s relationship with the immune system.

According to researchers at the University of Virginia, the new-found link between the CNS and immunity is the lymphatic system.

For decades, it was known that the highway of fluid being carried by our lymph vessels and nodes is a specialized part of our immune structure. Tiny tubular vessels collect fluid, called lymph, from areas of the body. These structures collect viruses, bacteria and other waste material and then clean and filter our body.

The body’s lymph filter process is a key to understanding the spread of many infections. It also plays a role in inflammatory and auto-immune disorders.

The significance of the new research lies in how we understand diseases like autism and Alzheimer’s because of the role it plays with the brain. The recent findings of the lymph system now seen wired into the brain will rewrite the medical books, say scientists at Virginia’s University of Medicine in Today’s Practioner.

“The latest research about our lymph system is profound both about the workings of the brain and the diseases that plague it,” says Emily Perez, SLP – director of rehab for Spring Lake Rehabilitation Center, “But it won’t readily change how we treat lymphedema outside of the central nervous system.”

Perez leads a team that specializes in outpatient rehabilitation. Her therapeutic team is one of the few that have the training to treat those who have an impaired lymph system. Many of her lymphatic cases stem from breast cancer surgery.

According to research, the highest incidence of lymphedema in the United States is observed following breast cancer surgery, particularly among those patients who undergo radiation therapy following the removal of axillary lymph nodes. Many of these individuals will develop breast cancer-related lymphedema.

When a cancer surgeon takes out an axillary node through dissection or performs a sentinel node biopsy, the body’s drain system is in jeopardy. All of the lymph vessels that previously drained into a lymph node now run into a dead end. With nowhere to go, fluid builds up and can result in lymphedema. The more lymph nodes that are removed, the more likely lymphatic disease can occur.

“Lymphatic disease is a malfunction of the lymphatic system in which fluid, or lymph, does not pass properly through the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels. The most common lymphatic disease is lymphedema. The most prevalent lymphatic disorder is lymphatic insufficiency, or lymphedema. This is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the interstitial tissue causing swelling, most often in the arm(s) and/or leg(s), and occasionally in other parts of the body,” said Lymphatic Education and Research Network online.

Few people know the intricate mechanics of this encompassing system, but it’s vital to the health of every individual say lymphatic experts. They report that those who can change the course of lymphedema are highly specialized and possess certification to perform complete decongestive therapy, CDT.

CDT combines manual lymphatic drainage, bandaging and compression garments, exercise, and education on self care. Therapists performing CDT improve lymphedema symptoms such as swelling and pain.

“Once lymphedema develops, it can be a lifelong concern, but the earlier it’s treated, the more that can be done to slow its progression,” said Perez. She believes treatment offers health and hope and a better quality of life.

“Call your doctor to determine if lymphatic therapy is right for you,” said Perez.

Spring Lake Rehabilitation Center offers comprehensive rehabilitative outpatient and inpatient services for short or long term at 1540 6th Street N.W., Winter Haven. For more information, call 863-294-3055.

Researchers at the University of Warwick report that the IQ of people born very premature or with very low birth weight can be predicted as early as when they are 2 years old.

By contrast, the IQ of people born full term usually defies accurate prediction until age 6.

Previous studies have linked very premature birth and very low birth weight with impaired cognitive function in childhood and throughout adulthood.

“Some children born very premature or with very low birth weight score low on cognitive tests but beat the odds and improve into adulthood,” said Dieter Wolke, who followed and assessed hundreds of children born in southern Bavaria between 1985 and 1986 until they reached age 26. “However, many with persistent problems can be detected in the second year of life. Early identification of cognitive problems in these children may help to plan specialized therapeutic and educational interventions to help them and their families.”

Body of Knowledge

One in 12 men are colorblind, which still doesn’t explain what you’re wearing today, sir.

Number Cruncher

A serving of hush puppies (five pieces, 78 grams) contains 257 calories, 104 from fat. It has 11.6 grams of total fat, or 18 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet. It also contains 135 milligrams of cholesterol (45 percent), 965 milligrams of sodium (40 percent), 34.9 grams of total carbohydrates (12 percent) and 4.9 grams of protein.

Stories for the Waiting Room

A preliminary study of 780 people by Australian researchers suggests that replacing two hours of sitting per day with two hours of standing or stepping may be good for your heart – and possibly your waistline. More standing was associated with better blood sugar and cholesterol levels and lower levels of fats in the blood.

Best Medicine

First guy: Did you hear about the paranoid dyslexic?

Second guy: Yes, he’s always afraid he’s following someone.

Curtain Calls

In 1987, Franco Brun, a 22-year-old prisoner in the Toronto East Detention Centre, choked to death while attempting to swallow a Gideons Bible.

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been taking niacin for many years. What side effects should I be looking for? My cardiologist recently added Lipitor to my medications, which tells me that the niacin was not doing the best job. — A.H.

ANSWER: Niacin has been used for decades as a treatment for high cholesterol levels when a good trial of diet and exercise has been ineffective. However, despite the fact that niacin lowers the unhealthy LDL levels and increases the healthy HDL levels somewhat, the several most recent studies have been unable to show that niacin reduces the risk of heart attack beyond what a statin can do. For that reason, most experts have stopped using niacin, and opted for statins alone. Niacin can cause an unpleasant flushing sensation, especially when it is first started or at higher doses, and it can raise liver enzyme levels. It generally is considered safe but is no longer considered very effective. I haven’t prescribed it for some time, but there might still be some people in whom it is beneficial.

DEAR DR. ROACH: If you, as a doctor, examine a patient and see that this patient needs medications for high fasting glucose levels, high total cholesterol and high blood pressure, what would you do if the patient said he or she will not be compliant and plans on taking nothing? Can you force this patient to take the drugs that you suggest? Will you worry about getting sued if your patient dies? Would you continue working with him or her in the future on his or her terms? — R.I.

ANSWER: This isn’t a hypothetical question at all — it comes up not uncommonly in daily practice. While the best thing to do isn’t always clear, it is certainly clear that doctors can’t force their patients to take medication. Patients have the right to autonomy; that is, they decide what is right for themselves. I see it as my role, as their doctor, to explain why they would benefit from the medication and what is likely to happen if they don’t take it. In the case of blood pressure and cholesterol medicine, we use these to prevent heart disease and stroke. In the case of diabetes, we use medication to prevent symptoms and to reduce the likelihood of end-organ disease, particularly of the kidney, eyes and nerves. If patients can understand the risks they face by not taking medication, then I have to respect those wishes. I certainly would try to use other methods to reduce risk, including dietary modification, salt restriction and possibly supplements. If patients aren’t willing to make any changes, then I ask them whether they want to continue seeing me. I also request that they bring in a family member to hear the discussion. As far as getting sued, it’s prudent to carefully document patients’ wishes and their exact words why they don’t want particular treatments.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am confused about your article on the elimination of prostate screening. How can one be proactive in lowering the probability of dying of prostate cancer? — D.C.

ANSWER: I believe that screening does save lives, but it comes at a high cost in terms of the numbers of surgeries and complications that are required to prevent one death from prostate cancer. However, there are ways to prevent prostate cancer in the first place without these risks. These include smoking cessation and weight management, since both smoking and obesity are risk factors. A healthy diet including fruits and vegetables probably reduces prostate cancer risk, and soy protein may have a modest benefit.

The booklet on the prostate gland discusses enlargement and cancer. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 1001, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or request an order form of available health newsletters at 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Health newsletters may be ordered from www.rbmamall.com.

Readers may write ?Dr. Roach at P.O. Box 536475,

Orlando, FL 32853-6475