Link Health InSide - DCH Health System

winter 2009
A J O U R N A L D E D I C A T E D
T O Y O U R G O O D H E A L T H
Health
Link
The dangers of being
overweight
Do you know how extra pounds affect your health?
The power of walking Want to get into
shape and not sure
where to start? Put one
foot in front of the other,
and repeat. Walking
tones muscles, strengthens bones and lowers
your risk for chronic
diseases.
National Institutes of Health
B
y now, we have all be prevented each year if people in this
probably gotten the country could maintain a healthy weight.
message that being more risks Carrying too many pounds
raises the risk of:
overweight is bad for also
● Heart disease. Extra pounds make you
our health. In fact, you susceptible to clogged arteries, chest pain
heart attacks. One reason is that heavy
may have heard it so many times and
people are prone to having high blood
that you’ve stopped listening.
pressure, high LDL (the bad cholesterol),
But tuning out the dangers of excess
weight is risky, because carrying too many
pounds really can take years off your life.
What’s more, the specifics of how excess
weight jeopardizes health may surprise
you.
The cancer connection If you’re
Soothing dry hands
Some tips for keeping
hands soft include using
moisture-rich lotions,
avoiding hot water to
wash your hands and
wearing gloves when
washing dishes by hand.
National Library of Medicine
Need more sleep?
Being tired isn’t the only
symptom of inadequate
sleep. If you find yourself
forgetting things more
easily, drinking more than
one cup of coffee a day
to stay alert or getting
sick more often, check
your sleep habits. You
may need more sleep.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
a woman, being overweight after menopause raises your breast cancer risk. It
also increases the chances that breast
cancer—if it develops—will be fatal, the
National Cancer Institute reports. Here’s
a likely reason why:
Being overweight after menopause increases estrogen levels, which appears to
make breast cancer both more likely and
more deadly.
Being too heavy also raises the risk of
cancers of the kidney, uterus, gallbladder and
colon. In fact, overweight and obesity may
account for 20 percent of all cancer deaths in
American women and 14 percent in men,
the American Cancer Society cautions.
That means 90,000 cancer deaths might
InSide
and low HDL (the good cholesterol)—all
risk factors for heart disease.
● Stroke. Weight gain often triggers high
blood pressure, a major cause of stroke.
● Diabetes. Excess fat interferes with the
body’s ability to use insulin, the hormone
that keeps blood sugar at healthy levels.
● Osteoarthritis. Being overweight puts
stress on knees and hips, wearing away the
shock-absorbing cartilage that protects
them and causing pain and stiffness.
● Liver disease. Fat can build up in the
liver and damage it, causing scar tissue to
form. The scarring may become so severe
that it blocks blood flow to the liver.
Little losses, big gains “Losing
weight takes commitment to develop a
lifestyle that includes controlling calories
and getting active,” said DCH Director of
Employee Health Felicia Ellison. “Your weight
is controlled by two factors: the amount of
calories you take in and the amount of
physical activity you perform daily.
“Remember, to lose weight, you must
burn more calories than you consume.”
Quick weight-loss schemes do not lead
to healthy lifestyle changes or permanent
weight loss. “It has been documented that
people who lose weight gradually and
steadily are more successful at keeping
weight off,” Ms. Ellison said. “Set your
goal to lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week.
Keep in mind that modest weight loss
can decrease your risk factors for chronic
diseases related to obesity.”
Improve your health and give yourself a raise! Losing
excess weight can save you health-care dollars.
2 Foundation fun events coming up 4 Hospital heroes2009 fab five
Visit us at www.dchsystem.com .
6 Sleep key to your good health
d c h h e a l T h T ac la rki n g
for The communiTy
Fayette
Medical Center
celebrates
50 years
Fayette Medical Center marked its 50th
anniversary on Sept. 21, 2008, with a
public celebration honoring the hospital
and one of its founding physicians.
proud history
Dr. Richard Rutland Jr.,
who has practiced medicine in Fayette
County since 1954, said that what was
then Fayette County Hospital and Nursing Home opened in 1958 after voters approved a four-mill property tax to match
federal Hill-Burton funds. The new hospital replaced the McNease-Robertson Hospital and Clinic, which had been founded
by Dr. B. W. McNease in 196.
DCH
Foundation
Events
bbQ & blue JeanS—ShooT for The
cauSe the 12th annual bbQ & blue Jeans
Dr. Richard Rutland Jr. (center) receives a resolution in recognition of his years
of service from state Rep. William Thigpen (left) and Fayette Medical Center
Administrator Barry Cochran at the hospital’s 50th anniversary celebration.
When the Fayette hospital opened, it
had 5 beds, employed 47 people and was
one of the best-equipped hospitals in the
Southeast, Dr. Rutland said.
Today Fayette Medical Center is a 61-bed
hospital and 122-bed Long Term Care facility.
The hospital is one of Fayette County’s largest employers, with a staff of almost 400.
“I refer to this hospital as ‘my baby,’”
Dr. Rutland said. “Do not take this
lovin’ The
lollapalooza
pickens county medical center administrator Wayne mcelroy and his
wife, linda, relax in adirondack chairs that mr. mcelroy built and donated for the silent auction held during pcmc’s annual lollapalooza fundraiser in october.
precious gem for granted.”
“Today, Fayette Medical Center is one
of the best-equipped rural hospitals in the
country,” Fayette Medical Center Administrator Barry Cochran said. “With our five
surgical suites, Intensive Care Unit, a CT
and MRI scanner, and specialty clinics, we
can offer services no one could imagine
50 years ago.”
honors for leadership
Mr. Cochran
presented Dr. Rutland with a resolution
honoring his leadership and guidance that
established “the foundation and principles
which have led to the standard of excellence that Fayette Medical Center benefits
from today.”
Dr. Rutland was also recognized for
helping establish the relationship between
Fayette Medical Center and the DCH
Health System. The two organizations entered into a long-term lease in 1984.
State Rep. William Thigpen presented
Dr. Rutland with a resolution from the
Alabama Legislature that praised the physician for his work with Fayette Medical
Center and for helping develop the University of Alabama’s College of Community
Health Sciences.
Mother-and-child rooms
given in memory of twins
A Tuscaloosa couple is keeping alive the
memory of the birth of their twins—Finn
and Quinley—and their short time on
earth through the Finn and Quinley Memorial Foundation.
In 2004, Danielle and Mike McInerney
established the memorial fund to assist
families whose children are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at DCH
Regional Medical Center or Northport
Medical Center.
The McInerney twins were born prematurely and died eight days after their birth.
Northport Medical Center NICU staff cared
for Finn and Quinley and supported their
parents during the infants’ time on the unit.
In September 2008, Mr. and Mrs. McInerney dedicated mother-and-child
s aV e t H e dat e !
rooms at DCH Regional Medical Center
and Northport Medical
Center in memory of
the twins.
At each hospital, the
mother-and-child room
gives mothers a comfortable, private place—
a nursery setting rather
than a hospital room—
in which to nurse their
newborns.
The Reel of Dreams
event supports the
Foundation that memorializes the McInerney
children.
fundraiser, hosted by the dch foundation,
inc., will benefit the dch foundation’s
help and hope prostate cancer fund. the
2009 event will be on saturday, april 25,
at Water oaks farm.
the dch foundation and university of
alabama head basketball coach mark gottfried have teamed up to shoot for the cause
in support of the prostate cancer fund,
which promotes prostate cancer awareness
and provides education about the benefits
of early detection to men in West alabama.
bbQ & blue Jeans—shoot for the cause
will feature an old West theme and delicious barbecue provided by the mcabee
pigfitters. a gold rush and a basketball
shoot-out with coach gottfried will be held.
elizabeTh goTTfried dch SporTSmedicine fund run dch sportsmedicine,
which provides athletic training services
and educational opportunities to area
high schools, middle schools, recreational
sports and other organizations, supports
the elizabeth gottfried dch sportsmedicine
fund run. the fund run in 2008 had
288 runners who raised $22,000 for the
sportsmedicine fund.
please mark your calendar for the next
elizabeth gottfried sportsmedicine fund
run, to be held on saturday, april 18.
reel of dreamS the finn and Quinley
memorial foundation’s reel of dreams
event raises money to assist with the current and future needs of the dch health
system’s neonatal intensive care, labor
and delivery, and pediatric units, as well
as the children and families receiving
treatment in those units.
reel of dreams will be friday, may 15,
at the innisfree pub. the event features
a movie theme and will include food and
entertainment.
Northport Medical Center Administrator Luke
Standeffer (left) and Mike McInerney cut the ribbon
at the entrance of the mother-and-child room in the
Women’s Pavilion at Northport Medical Center.
w i n t e r 2 0 0 9 2 H e a lt H y
C o m m u n i t y
for informaTion about dch foundation events, call casey Johnson, special
events manager, at 205-759-7349, or go
to www.supportDCH.org.
d c h h e a l T h T af lo ukn d a T i o n
newS
Who are those
special people
in your life?
D. O. McClusky, pictured here in the
early 1970s, served as Administrator
of DCH Regional Medical Center for
30 years.
Remembering
with gratitude
a former
hospital leader
D. O. McClusky Jr., who served as Administrator of DCH Regional Medical Center
from the mid-1940s into the 1970s, died
Oct. 12, 2008, at age 92.
“D. O.’s vision and leadership helped
make DCH Regional Medical Center
what it is today, and the employees, volunteers and medical staff, as well as the
community, are grateful for his service,”
said DCH Health System President/CEO
Bryan Kindred.
Mr. McClusky was hired as Administrator of what was then Druid City Hospital
in 1946, when the hospital was located on
University Boulevard, where the University
of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing
now stands.
He moved the hospital to temporary
quarters at a former Army hospital on the
Northington campus, where University
Mall now stands, while the new (present)
Druid City Hospital was under construction. He moved 77 patients, including
14 mothers with new babies, into the new
240-bed hospital in December 1952.
During Mr. McClusky’s tenure as Administrator, the hospital grew from 240 beds
to more than 600 beds. It was the first
hospital in Alabama to have a recovery
room, a disposable meal service, full-time
Emergency Room physicians, a Coronary
and Intensive Care Unit, and a Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit. DCH was also an
early adopter of computerization, and
the hospital’s fire and safety program won
national awards.
Mr. McClusky stepped down as Administrator in 1976 and served as Director of Planning and Development until
he retired in 1978. He continued service
to DCH through his work with the DCH
Foundation, Inc.
Who are the people special to you? If you
want to honor them or mark a special occasion, here are some ideas from the DCH
Foundation, Inc.
Tribute gifts. A tribute gift can be given
for a cause that is close to someone’s heart
or to recognize special times in his or her
life—a birthday, anniversary, a new baby,
retirement or other important milestones.
A tribute gift can also recognize and thank
co-workers or others who are special in
your life.
Memorial gifts. Memorial gifts are often
made in lieu of flowers. When memorials
are made through the DCH Foundation, an
acknowledgment of your gift is mailed to
the family members you designate.
Whatever the occasion or reason you
give, your gift assists in supporting DCH’s
services and programs that benefit the
community.
from women,
for women
the tuscaloosa chapter of soroptimist international has announced
support of dch health system’s new cancer center with funding for
a dedicated waiting room for women undergoing radiation therapy. larry o’neal, dch
foundation vice president of development, conducts a tour of the new center for
soroptimist members (left to right) eunice gay, paulette malone, Juanita mccollum and
glenda madison.
soroptimist is an international volunteer service organization for business and
professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls. the tuscaloosa
chapter has been a long-time supporter of reach to recovery.
Fun fundraising for women
giving made simple
To make a gift,
please go to the DCH Foundation
Web site at www.SupportDCH.org
to learn more and to give online.
For more information, call Angela Fulmer, DCH Foundation Director of Development, at 205-343-8457, or e-mail
afulmer@dchsystem.com.
You can also call the DCH Foundation at 205-759-7349 or stop by the office
located at 950 Dr. Edward Hillard Drive
(former location of the DCH Credit Union
at Bryant Drive intersection).
Contributions can also be mailed to
DCH Foundation, 809 University Blvd. E.,
Tuscaloosa, AL 5401.
Please note: The DCH Foundation
depends on the generosity of individuals,
families and corporations to strengthen the
world-class medical care that benefits the
thousands of people DCH hospitals treat each
year. All donations to the DCH Foundation
are handled with professionalism and
efficiency to ensure the maximum impact
of every dollar. The DCH Foundation
is a (c)() not-for-profit charitable
organization.
w i n t e r 2 0 0 9 3 The DCH Foundation, Inc., helps ensure
the health of West Alabama women
through its DCH Breast Cancer Fund,
which promotes awareness of the disease
and provides educational programs on
the prevention and early detection of
breast cancer.
The DCH Breast Cancer Fund supports
breast screening clinics throughout the year.
A 1970s-style Nite on the Green was
held on Oct. 2 to benefit the DCH Breast
Cancer Fund. The Tuscaloosa Toyota
DCH Foundation Golf Classic was held
on Oct. .
Alan Wood (left) and Terri and David DeSantis show their disco fever at a Nite
on the Green. Mr. Wood, President of Capstone Bank, and Mr. DeSantis, co-owner
and General Manager of Tuscaloosa Toyota, along with Sarah Patterson (not
pictured), University of Alabama Gymnastics Coach, all support the DCH Breast
Cancer Fund through this event.
H e a l t H y
C om m u n i t y
Our high quality
recognized
The DCH Health System has been
awarded the Alabama Productivity
Center’s Alabama Quality Award
(AQA) 2008 Award of Excellence
in Continuous Productivity and
Quality Improvement.
This award recognizes past
Alabama Quality Award winners’
continuing efforts to improve and
their commitment to the productivity and quality of their organization.
In 2006, DCH was a recipient
of the AQA, receiving the highest
level of recognition presented to
organizations that demonstrate
sustained performance excellence
through their practices
and achievements. The
AQA is modeled after
the Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award.
Our amazing
Employees
aqa award
Recognitions
DCH employees named
Hospital Heroes
Employees from DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center have been named Hospital Heroes
for 2009.
DCH Regional Medical Center
The Hospital Heroes from the Regional Medical Center
are Betty Grammer, RN, Case Manager; Charles Gray, RN,
Acute Cardiac Care Unit; and Kim Wiggins, Administrative Coordinator, Imaging Services/Radiography/Sonography programs.
Betty Grammer, RN
Charles Gray, RN
Kim Wiggins
Northport Medical Center
Shelly Hesse, RN
Barbara Moore
The Hospital Heroes from Northport Medical Center are Shelly Hesse, Certified
Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, Rehabilitation Admissions/Care Coordinator at
the DCH Rehabilitation Pavilion; and Barbara Moore, Nursing Assistant and Information Specialist in Radiology.
All five will be in competition with other Hospital Heroes from health-care
facilities in the West Council of the Alabama Hospital Association (AlaHA) to be
named as the West Council’s Hospital Hero for 2009.
The West Council of AlaHA is one of seven regional contests held throughout
the state. AlaHA and its seven regional hospital councils sponsor the contest to
highlight the excellent people who work in health care and to encourage others
to consider a career in this field.
Nutritional Services Director collects national leadership award
Dexter Hancock
Dexter Hancock, Director of Nutritional Services
at DCH Regional Medical Center, received the
2008 Partnership in Leadership Award by the
National Society for Healthcare Foodservice
Management (HFM) at its annual leadership
conference in Hot Springs, Va., in September.
Mr. Hancock received the award in recognition of his commitment to the Nutritional Services’ staff and for his leadership in a number
of major projects undertaken by Nutritional Services, including a Guest Chef program, the Way
w i n t e r
To Go Kids! nutrition and weight-loss program
for older youths, and a patient nutrition screening process.
He also was elected to serve on a sevenmember HFM board of directors for 2009. He
has been a member of HFM since 1995 and
has served on the HFM board of directors since
2004.
Mr. Hancock has been at the Regional
Medical Center since October 1994, following
his retirement as a colonel from the U.S. Army,
2 0 0 9 H e a l t h y
C om m u n i t y
where he held the position of Dietetic Consultant for the North Atlantic Region Medical
Command and Director of the Nutrition Care
Division at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
He is a fellow of both the American Dietetic Association and the American College of Health
Care Executives.
HFM represents nearly 2,000 on-staff food
service professionals at acute, extended and
long-term care facilities and suppliers in the
United States and Canada.
DCH Services
Therapeutic hypothermia
cooling you
off to save
your life
DCH Regional Medical Center has induced
hypothermia in some of its patients in order to save their
lives. Therapeutic hypothermia may help save lives after
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)—the abrupt loss of heart
function—by slowing or stopping the series of destructive problems that typically accompany it.
After SCA, the patient is often in a coma due to loss
of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. In order to limit
further brain injury, the body is cooled to 91 degrees. It
is then warmed to 98 degrees after 24 hours.
The Regional Medical Center is the first Alabama
hospital to use this therapy. The staff uses the Arctic Sun
Medivance, which is a vacuum cleaner-size machine that
circulates chilled water into pads that are wrapped around
almost half of a patient’s body.
Speed is key “The
use of Arctic Sun is not for
everyone,” said Tuscaloosa cardiologist Dr. Warren
Holley. “The best results occur when it is initiated within
six hours of the onset of sudden cardiac arrest.”
A cardiologist, a physician who specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, usually would
make the decision to initiate the treatment in consultation
with the patient’s nearest relatives.
Dr. Holley called his first patient to undergo the
technique a miracle. “Without the Arctic Sun, she
might not have recovered as well,” he said. “She was
an optimal candidate. After the sudden cardiac arrest,
she was resuscitated within 15 minutes. Decisions were
made quickly to aggressively treat her heart attack and
then institute the Arctic Sun protocol immediately after
that.”
Cooling as a standard of care In 2005, the
American Heart Association issued recommendations
and guidelines for inducing mild hypothermia in
comatose survivors of cardiac arrest, making cooling a
standard of care.
Adding therapeutic hypothermia to its state-of-theart arsenal of care demonstrates DCH’s commitment
to providing the best care possible to residents of West
Alabama.
Brenda Toler (left) and Rebecca Poole, registered
nurses on the Acute Cardiac Care Unit, review the
procedures for using Arctic Sun therapy.
Household budgeting
It’s a family affair
It seems like everybody is talking about rising
prices for goods and services, dwindling savings, unemployment and the failing economy. This kind of talk can
lead to pessimism and negative feelings, which in turn
can bring on anger, stress, anxiety and depression.
If you and your family are struggling with finances,
it’s time to take steps to reduce the chances of suffering
from negative personal and interpersonal issues, suggests
DCH Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Director Emily
S. Smith, PhD.
“The budgeting process should be a family affair,”
Dr. Smith said. “Spouses or partners must come to
agreement about the household budget, including the
sacrifices each will make and the rewards of following
through on the plan.”
Getting started If budgeting is new to you and your
family, here are a few tips to get you started:
● Identify expenses. Every family member who has
access to family money should write down every penny
spent for at least two weeks—a month is better. Become
aware of how you and family members are spending
money so you can make changes.
● Many people think, “All of our problems would disappear if we earned more money.” This is rarely true. It is
our spending choices, not our income, that determine
our success.
● Most of us don’t have a clue about how we’re spending our money—especially money that’s not set aside for
basic items. Keep track of how you use credit and debit
cards and ATMs.
● List routine expenses. These are debts that cost about
the same every month, such as rent or house payment,
child care or support, and car lease or payment. Utilities
could also be included in this category.
● List optional expenses that can vary. Use bank statements, receipts, credit card statements, ATM receipts
and the tracking you have done on daily out-of-pocket
expenses. Look for the places where your money is slipping away and patch the leak.
Quick tips to get you back in ‘the black’
● Are you paying for cable movie channels and also
renting movies? Are you buying books and magazines?
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2 0 0 9 H EALT H y
Consider using the public library, where you can borrow
movies, computer games, books and magazines.
● Do you really need caller ID, call-waiting and other
extras on your phone? What’s that costing you?
● If everyone’s healthy in your house, lower the heat in
winter and ask everyone to dress warmly. In summer,
turn up the thermostat to use less air conditioning and
wear light clothing around the house.
● Get every family member to agree to turn off even
the smallest drain on electricity, such as chargers and
small night-lights.
● Limit eating out—especially evening meals. Order
meals and take them home, and avoid ordering drinks.
You can also split meals.
● Assess all expenses, and either reduce or eliminate
those habits that waste your money. Get everyone involved in deciding what’s necessary and what isn’t.
● Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise—it
can reduce your health-care expenses.
● Every time you take out your wallet, ask yourself, “Is
this a necessary purchase? What will happen if I don’t
buy it?”
● Strive to meet family needs as much as possible and to
meet family desires when the money is available.
The bottom line is this: Your income must be greater
than your expenses. You must take immediate steps to
make that happen. You’ll be proud of yourself and your
family as you monitor your budget every few weeks to see
how much closer you are moving to “the black.”
DCH Employee Assistance Program The DCH
EAP offers free assessment, short-term counseling and
referral services for employees—and their dependents—
who work for companies under contract with EAP.
Employees at more than 60 companies in West Alabama
can take advantage of numerous EAP services, including
programs and classes on a variety of topics, such as
smoking cessation and anger management.
The DCH EAP is both a benefit for employees and
an effective management tool, offering consultation,
interventions and on-site workshops for contracted
companies.
If you’d like more information about contracting
with the DCH EAP, call 205-759-7890.
C om m u n i t y
W e l l n e ss
Counting sheep? Sleep is
key to your good health
Sleep is so important that the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends you
spend one-third of your time sleeping. Sleep provides
the downtime needed to get recharged for another day
of work and play.
While you sleep, a number of important activities take
place that can help you maintain good health and function at
your best. A constant lack of sleep can increase your risk for
developing obesity, diabetes, heart disease and infections.
Importance of sleep You may put off sleeping in
order to squeeze more activities into your day. However,
eventually a lack of sleep will catch up with you.
For instance, sleep reduces your heart rate and blood
pressure. This nightly drop in blood pressure is believed to
be good for cardiovascular health. If your blood pressure
doesn’t dip because you don’t get enough sleep, you may
be more likely to have a stroke or develop heart problems,
such as angina, irregular heartbeat or heart attack.
In addition, lack of sleep can make you irritable and
depressed, putting you in a bad mood. Without adequate
sleep, you can also become easily confused and have
trouble focusing or paying attention. You may find yourself
nodding off when you really don’t want to, such as during
a business meeting or while driving.
Sleep needs vary If
you’re a healthy adult, it’s
generally recommended that you get about eight hours
of sleep per night. But sleep needs vary. Sleep needs also
change throughout your life. Newborns generally sleep
between 16 and 18 hours a day. Preschool-age children
need up to 12 hours of daily sleep, while school-age
children and adolescents should sleep at least nine hours
a night, according to the HHS.
A chronic lack of sleep can increase
your risk for developing obesity,
diabetes, heart disease and infections.
As people age, they are more likely to wake up at night.
Many older people also complain about having difficulty
falling asleep and about waking up early in the morning.
Many of the sleep problems faced by older adults are
caused by health problems or the medications used to
treat them, reports the HHS.
Dealing with sleep disorders Of the more than
70 types of sleep disorders, insomnia and sleep apnea are
the two most common.
Insomnia occurs when you have trouble falling asleep
myths about cold and flu
You may have heard it from your grandmother:
“Feed a cold, starve a fever.” Or “Chicken soup for colds
and flu.” Appealing as those ideas may be, they have more
to do with folklore than reality.
According to the American Lung Association, the truth
of the matter is this: Whether you have a cold or flu, you
need to get plenty of fluids (water and juice), eat enough
food to satisfy your appetite, and drink hot fluids to ease
your cough and sore throat.
Chicken soup can be one of those hot fluids, but it
won’t cure the flu or a cold.
Other common myths about colds and flu include:
You can catch the flu or cold from going
outside in cold weather.
Being cold, or even wet, won’t cause you to get
sick. You are more likely to pick up germs that
cause cold and flu while indoors, where people live and
work in close quarters.
If you catch a cold from someone, it can
turn into the flu.
Only a person infected with the influenza
virus can transmit the flu.
Herbal remedies are good remedies for a
cold.
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2 0 0 9 H e a l t h y
or staying asleep. Temporary insomnia is often caused by
stressful situations, such as work or family pressures or
a traumatic event.
If you have trouble sleeping at least three nights a week
for more than one month, you may have chronic insomnia.
Many cases of chronic insomnia are caused by another
health disorder or by the use of certain medications.
To successfully treat insomnia, your physician first has
to diagnose the cause of your sleep problems. Sometimes
insomnia is treated with behavioral therapy in which you
learn relaxation techniques to help you fall asleep when you
go to bed. Other times it is treated with medications.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that occurs when
your breathing becomes interrupted or very shallow during sleep. Sleep apnea is often accompanied by loud snoring, though not everyone who snores has the disorder.
The frequent interruption of deep sleep that
accompanies sleep apnea can cause you to be overly sleepy
during the day and to have early morning headaches.
If sleep apnea is not treated, it may cause potentially
dangerous health conditions such as irregular heartbeat,
high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, according
to the National Sleep Foundation.
Medications are generally not effective in treating sleep
apnea. Depending on the cause of your sleep apnea, you
may be told to wear a mask that blows air into your nose
during sleep or you may be fitted with a dental device
that repositions your lower jaw and tongue.
How is a sleep disorder diagnosed?
If
you think you may have a sleep disorder, inform your
physician. Your physician can then determine if a referral
to a sleep specialist is necessary. The sleep specialist may
refer you for a sleep study.
DCH Sleep Services is accredited by the American
Academy of Sleep Medicine and offers several rooms
patients can stay in overnight while having sleep
studies. All rooms are warm and inviting, with hotel-like
surroundings, traditional furnishings and a television.
During a sleep study, experienced sleep technicians
attach sensors to your body so they can check for several
activities while you sleep, including rapid eye movement
(REM) sleep. Dreaming usually occurs during REM sleep.
The sensors also record oxygen levels and even snoring.
The process is completely painless. Following your test,
the sleep specialist will review your results for an accurate
diagnosis and treatment recommendation. These findings
will be reported back to your primary physician.
If you or someone you know has sleep problems, call
205-343-8628 to find out how DCH Sleep Services
can help, or go to www.dchsystem.com.
Claims have been made that zinc lozenges,
echinacea and other herbs can cure colds
quickly. To date, none of these claims are solidly supported by scientific studies.
Large doses of vitamin C can keep you from
catching the flu or a cold, or will quickly
cure them.
These claims have not been proven. Still, it’s
important to your health to consume the
minimum daily requirement of vitamin C.
If you don’t catch the flu by December, you
won’t get it because the flu season is over.
The flu season often peaks as late as February. Getting vaccinated before the end of the
calendar year is the best way to prevent the flu, but the
vaccine can still be effective if you get it in January.
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C om m u n i t y
cancer
New DCH
Cancer
Center
The latest tools for the best care
An impressive, technologically advanced cancer
center will open its doors in spring 2009. To meet the
needs of residents of West Alabama, the DCH Health
System’s new cancer center will be almost four times the
size of the current facility and will represent the latest in
treatment technologies and therapies.
Two of the most accurate and effective pieces of
equipment used for radiation therapy will be included
in the new cancer center’s arsenal of treatment tools. The
Trilogy and the Clinac iX linear accelerators (LINACs) will
provide precise and powerful cancer treatment. A LINAC
delivers a dose of high-energy X-ray to a tumor.
protecting healthy tissue The
new LINACs The Clinac iX linear accelerator—which provides powerful radiation treatments for cancer tumors—can
have image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) capability. IGRT rotate around the patient to allow precise delivery in real time.
helps physicians minimize the volume of healthy tissue
exposed to the treatment beam, giving them the option therapy, which is delivered over a period of a few days. Advanced precision Clinac iX combines two
of using higher doses when a patient needs them.
Trilogy can also be used for traditional radiation advanced cancer treatment technologies: IGRT and
The new accelerators will enable the treatment staff therapy, which is delivered in daily small doses over a intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). IMRT
to give higher doses of radiation, precisely delivered period of weeks.
delivers high doses of radiation directly to cancer cells
to kill tumor cells while significantly reducing doses to
Trilogy can be used to treat most types of cancer, in a very targeted way.
normal tissues adjacent to the tumor. For patients, this including: ● Breast cancer. ● Prostate cancer. ● Head
An on-board imager on the Clinac iX LINAC rotates
increased accuracy and power means: ● Faster treat- and neck cancer. ● Liver cancer. ● Lung cancer. ● Pan- around the patient to take X-ray images and deliver treatments. ● Greater comfort. ● Fewer side effects. ● The creatic cancer.
ments from virtually any angle. This helps physicians choose
potential for better outcomes.
Trilogy can also be used to target tumors that lie the best treatment option and exact doses in real time.
With Trilogy, physicians have the option to treat small extremely close to critical structures or organs, such as
The new cancer center is under construction next to
tumors using stereotactic radiosurgery, which is delivered the spinal cord or, in the case of head and neck cancer, the Phelps Outpatient Center on the campus of DCH
in a single treatment, or stereotactic body radiation the eyes or the salivary glands.
Regional Medical Center.
Men: Learn the facts now
about prostate cancer
Ignoring your prostate isn’t a good idea,
especially if you’re 50 or older. The reason: This small
gland can cause big problems—most notably, cancer—in
men as they get older.
In fact, one out of every six men in the United States
will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime, reports
the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Risk factors It’s not known what exactly causes
prostate cancer. But there are certain risk factors that can
increase your chances of getting the disease.
The greatest risk factor associated with prostate cancer is
age. Your chance of getting the disease increases quickly after
you reach 50—about two out of every three cases of prostate
cancer are found in men over 65, according to the ACS.
You also may be more likely to get prostate cancer if
you: ● Have a family history of the disease. ● Are African American. ● Have a diet high in red meat or high-fat
dairy products and low in fruits and vegetables.
There is nothing you can do about some risk factors. But
a healthy lifestyle can protect you from other risk factors.
Screening The ACS recommends that you talk to your
physician about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer
screening when you reach the age of 50. If you have high risk
factors for the disease, you should discuss testing at 45.
If you decide to be screened for prostate cancer, there
are two tests your physician may recommend:
● A digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a physician
inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to check your
prostate for hard or lumpy areas.
● A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, in which a sample
of your blood is checked to determine your PSA level.
DRE and PSA tests can both detect problems with
your prostate. “Both tests should be done on most men,”
urologist Dr. Kenneth Aldridge said. “After age 75, the
PSA is less often helpful, but the DRE should continue
to be performed annually.”
Neither test can determine whether an abnormality is
cancer. You may need to have a biopsy to rule out cancer.
w i n t e r
2 0 0 9 H EALT H y
Symptoms “Most men with early, curable cancer show
no symptoms,” Dr. Aldridge said. When there are symptoms, they may include: ● Difficulty urinating or having
the need to urinate often, especially at night. ● Pain or
burning during urination. ● Difficulty having an erection. ● Blood in your urine or semen. ● Frequent pain
in your lower back, hips or upper thighs.
See your physician right away if you experience any
of these symptoms. You may not have prostate cancer—
other, more benign conditions of the prostate can cause
similar symptoms. But if you do have cancer, you should
be diagnosed as soon as possible so that you and your
Other than skin cancer, prostate
cancer is the most common type of
cancer found in American men.
physician can consider treatment options, such as watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy
or a combination of treatments.
“Early detection dramatically increases the chances
of curing the cancer,” Dr. Aldridge said. “This is why it
is so important to be checked annually even if there are
no symptoms.”
To find out more, talk to your physician. You can
also visit the ACS Web site at www.cancer.org.
C om m u n i t y
YOUR
FAMILY’S HEALTH
BETTER HEALTH
Cancer wellness
Program Luncheon
Fourth thursdays, noon to 1 p.m.
University of Alabama Student
recreation Center, Student Activity Space
Offered by the DCH Cancer Treatment
Center. Free. Call 205-759-7877.
DCH Golden Years Program
Fourth Mondays, January through April,
June, September and October, 2 p.m.
Open to people 50 and older. Call
205-759-7931.
DCH Open-Heart Surgery Club
First tuesday of each month
willard Auditorium,
DCH regional Medical Center
Call 205-759-7660.
Genesis
third thursdays, 6 p.m.
willard Auditorium
DCH regional Medical Center
Genesis is a support group for people
who are planning to have or have had
gastric bypass surgery. Free.
Call 205-752-2501.
Grand Grandparents
women’s Pavilion, OB Classroom,
northport Medical Center
This one-time class helps grandparents
develop their role in the growth of their
grandchildren. Free. Call 205-333-4600.
iMPACt
third thursdays, 11 a.m.
Parker Fireside room,
tuscaloosa United Methodist Church
IMPACT is a support group for women
who have been diagnosed with breast
cancer. Free. Call 205-759-7877.
Look Good…Feel Better
Fourth Mondays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
DCH Cancer Center
Conference room
This program helps women undergoing
cancer treatment deal with the physical
side effects of treatment. Free. Call
205-759-7877.
Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer
Support Group
Open to prostate cancer patients and
their families. Lunch will be served.
Free. Reservations are required; call
205-759-7877.
StretCH
tuesdays and thursdays, 9 a.m.
University of Alabama (UA) Student
recreation Center
STRETCH is an exercise class for women
who have or have had breast cancer.
Sponsored by the DCH Cancer Treatment
Center and the UA Student Recreation
Center. Free. Call 205-759-7877.
HEALTH AND FITNESS PROGRAMS
Take a class and
start the new
year off right!
Visit us at www.dchsystem.com
Our focus at DCH Health System is on your family’s health.
Check out the many opportunities to improve and preserve
your health and the health of those you love.
DCH Diabetes Center
At this education and resource facility
for people with diabetes, nurses and
nutritionists teach self-management
skills, including how to control blood
sugar, prevent diabetes complications and
improve self-care skills. Physician referral
is required. Call 205-750-5260.
Marvelous Multiples
This class is for expectant parents of
twins or more. Call 205-333-4600.
HealthPlex at Pickens County Medical
Center in Carrollton is a community-based
wellness and fitness center complete with
equipment and programs to meet the
needs of many different people. Call
205-367-8111.
Slender U
UBS BLOOD DRIVES
United Blood Services (UBS) is the primary
supplier of blood and blood products for
the hospitals of the DCH Health System.
For information about holding a blood drive
or donating blood, call 205-750-8999.
DCH and Northride Fitness are sponsoring the Way To Go Kids! health and fitness camp for children 7 to 12 years old
at Northridge Fitness. Children will learn
about lifetime health and fitness in a fun,
active environment. Registration and fee
required. Call 205-759-7514.
ONGOING PROGRAMS:
northport Medical Center
Childbirth education Classes
DCH regional Medical Center
Childbirth education Classes
For information, call Debrah Fisher,
RN, MSN, Childbirth Coordinator, at
205-750-5002.
● Beginning Breastfeeding
For expectant parents who are interested
in learning about breastfeeding.
● Caring for Your infant
Focuses on the first days after bringing
your newborn home.
● early Pregnancy
Answers commonly asked questions and
offers expectant parents information
about having a healthy baby.
● Helping Siblings Adjust
This one-hour class acquaints big brothers
and sisters with their new roles.
● Preparing for Childbirth
For expectant mothers and fathers.
● refresher to Childbirth
A review of childbirth for expectant
parents who have already experienced
childbirth.
west Alabama Aphasia
and Stroke Support Group
third Mondays, every other month
5:30 p.m., DCH rehabilitation Pavilion
Call 205-333-4900.
Fayette Medical Center
CPr and First Aid Classes
These classes are offered to community
groups on request. Call 205-932-1279.
renew
the SpineCare Center
This weight-loss and nutritional counseling
program lasts for eight weeks. Call
205-343-8752.
Second tuesdays, noon
Large Conference room
Rediscovering and Exploring Now Emphasizing Wellness (RENEW) is a breast cancer support group. Call 205-932-1279.
way to Go Kids!
touch Cancer Support Group
Classes are taught by registered nurses.
You should sign up for classes when
you’re 20 weeks pregnant. To learn about
complimentary classes or to register, call
205-333-4600.
● All About infant Care
Teaches first-time parents how to prepare
for the ar rival of their newborn. You will
also learn what to expect after delivery
and when you get home.
● Beyond Your First Baby
Learn about aspects of childbirth that
might have changed since your most
recent birth.
● Big Brother/Big Sister Class
For children ages 3 through 8 years. The
class discusses what life will be like with
a new baby.
● Breastfeeding Class
For expectant parents planning on
breastfeeding.
● Breathing and relaxation
For couples at least 34 weeks pregnant
who want to learn natural labor and birth
techniques.
● Comprehensive Childbirth Class
First-time parents learn about labor,
delivery and postpar tum.
● Healthy Pregnancy
Entering the third trimester. This class,
helpful specifically for first-time parents,
is taken during the second trimester, at
22 to 28 weeks, to go over what’s normal
and what can happen during the third
trimester.
● infant/Child CPr and Safety
Learn how to perform CPR, rescue a
choking infant or child, and prevent
childhood injuries.
Fourth tuesdays, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Fayette Medical Center
Call 205-932-1279 or 205-932-5966.
Pickens County
Medical Center
Pickens County
Cancer Support Group
Second tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Pickens County Medical Center
education room
Open to cancer survivors and their families. Free. Call the American Cancer Society at 205-758-0700.
narcotics Anonymous
Mondays, 6 p.m.
Pickens County Medical Center
education room
Call 205-367-1855.
HEALTHY COMMUNITY is published as a community
service for the friends and patrons of DCH HEALTH
SYSTEM, 809 University Blvd. E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
dch regional medical center, 205-759-7111
fayette medical center, 205-932-5966
northport medical center, 205-333-4500
pickens county medical center, 205-367-8111
www.dchsystem.com
Information in HEALTHY COMMUNITY comes from a
wide range of medical experts. If you have any
concerns or questions about specific content that may
affect your health, please contact your health-care
provider. Models may be used in photos and
illustrations.
Bryan n. Kindred ● President/CEO
Laura Crawford Green ● Editor
Copyright © 2008 by Coffey Communications, Inc. HST22967h