community report - West Jefferson Medical Center

COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic
syndrome,
previously
known as
syndrome X
and insulin
resistance
syndrome,
affects about 47 million people
in the United S t a t e s . I t i s
a c l u s t e r o f conditions —
increased blood pressure, a
high blood sugar level, excess
body fat around the waist and
abnormal cholesterol levels —
that occur together, increasing
your risk of heart disease,
stroke and diabetes. Those
with a higher prevalence are
the Asian, Hispanic and African
American communities.
There are 5 characteristics that
are evaluated and the diagnosis
of metabolic syndrome is made
when a person has at least 3 of
the following 5 characteristics:
1. Large waist circumference
(> 40 inches for men;
>35 inches for women)
2. Hypertension = BP >130/85
3. Abnormal fasting glucose
= Glucose >100mg/dL
4. Elevated triglyceride levels
= Triglyceride > 150
5. Low high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) level = <50
T h i s s y n d ro m e h a s b e e n
attributed to the increased
supply of fast-foods and
sedentary lifestyles. A person
with metabolic syndrome is at
higher risk for also developing
fatty liver disease, cancer,
obstructive sleep apnea and
many other health ailments.
If you have three of the
above characteristics, lifestyle
modifications can help. Weight
loss through diet and exercise
are considered the most
important initial steps in
treating metabolic syndrome.
A diet rich in whole grains,
fruits, vegetables and fish, as
well as moderately-intense
continuous exercise for at least
30 minutes 5-7 days per week
is recommended.
Early detection is key. You can
significantly reduce your risk by
diet, exercise, weight loss and
working with your healthcare
provider through screening,
monitoring and managing high
blood pressure, diabetes and
high cholesterol.
The Family Doctors can help you
ward off metabolic syndrome.
To schedule an appointment,
call 504.349.6824.
Rachel Spears, MD, FACOG
West Jefferson Women’s Health
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
April is Organ Donation Month
In 1993, Cheryl McGee-Hill’s
life changed. Her husband,
Roderick, had a seizure and
began dialysis. He was the
first person she had ever
known on dialysis and needing
a transplant. She started
learning as much as she could
about transplantation.
Four years later, Cheryl’s
brother Lionel had a headache
after exercising and was
rushed to the emergency room.
He had suffered a stroke, due
to an aneurysm, and died two
days later. A LOPA staff member
approached Cheryl and her
family about organ donation.
After three-and-a-half hours, they
said yes, directing one of Lionel’s
kidneys to Roderick. On that
same day, four other recipients
in three different states also
received Lionel’s gifts.
In January 2001, after a long
battle, Roderick died and Cheryl,
once again, agreed to donation.
This time, her husband gave
sight to two people.
Cheryl started her relationship
with the Louisiana Organ
Procurement Agency as a
volunteer in 1998, joining the
agency full time in October
2001. “Organ and tissue
donation is who I am and what
I must do,” Cheryl said. “It is
my way to share a dream and
share a life.”
Lana Stevens, Community Educator
Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency
Register Today to be an
Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor.
donatelife.net
For more information, call
1-800-524-GIVE
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
What’s Self-Esteem Got To Do With It?
Self-esteem has a lot to do
with who you are, rather than
what you do. When it comes to
creating a healthier lifestyle,
knowing thyself on all levels
is crucial. Most of what gets
in our way are stories, beliefs
and perspectives (many of
them outdated, and in need
of updating) that might have
served us at one time, but are
no longer serving us. From an
energy center perspective, the
area that correlates mostly with
self-esteem is the 3rd chakra/
energy center/the core... often
termed the personal power
center.
What’s the connection between
personal power and health?
Plenty! If you’re secure in who
you are, you will make choices
based on your gut intuition,
rather than seeking someone
else’s approval or operating out
of “hand me down” patterns
from the past. But how does one
do this, especially since many
of these habits have become
ingrained in the body. One
important tool is breath work.
This quiets the mind so the
intuition can be “heard” without
the should of, would of, could of,
blaming and shaming patterns
that often come into play.
The power center of the body
involves the majority of organs
of digestion and elimination.
Many of us have unconsciously
digested, absorbed, yet perhaps
have not fully eliminated
messages (i.e. the continually
critical family member, teacher,
classmate from the yesteryears).
It is those messages that caused
us to develop those protective
mechanisms (i.e. for many,
overeating) that now don’t
benefit our health.
The good news is that it does
not have to stay that way. While
it won’t happen overnight, tools
such as meditation and breath
work can start peeling away the
onion layers of what’s standing
between you and vibrant
health. The key to change
is first loving and accepting
yourself unconditionally... wart,
wonders, and everything in
between.
Join us for a stress management
seminar on April 13 at Noon.
Call 504.349.6164 to register.
Denise Hoffman
Personal Trainer, Author, Reiki Practitioner
West Jeff Fitness Center
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
Now Accepting
Also participating with other Part D and Medicare Plans.
Appointments • 504.349.6810
1111 Medical Center Blvd. • Suite N-613 • Marrero
120 Meadowcrest St. • Suite 410 • Gretna
Physicians : Thelma L. Sonza, NP • Maureen Stein, MD • Robert Matheney, MD • Frederick Kushner, MD • Brian Cospolich, MD
Louis Glade, MD • Leslie Levenson, MD • Stephen LaGuardia, MD • Edmund K. Kerut, MD • Tracy Fife, NP
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
WESTBANK WOMEN’S HEALTH
NOW WITH A NEW NAME AND PART OF THE
FAMILY
Same excellent care you’ve
come to know and trust.
We provide personal and
professional gynecological/
obstetric services to all ages.
C. Scott Nicholson-Uhl, MD
Rachel Spears, MD
Richard Helman, Jr., MD
For Appointments
504.349.6945
WJMC.ORG/WOMENSHEALTH
1111 Medical Center Blvd. • Suite S-250 • Marrero
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
T E ST I C U L A R CA N C E R
AWA R E N E S S M O N T H
BE A MAN
SELF-EXAM
TESTICULAR CANCER AFFECTS
1 OUT OF EVERY 270 MEN
FRIDAY • APRIL 22
8AM-NOON
WJ Physicians Center - Lobby
1111 Medical Center Blvd. • Marrero
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS
AND HOW TO CHECK YOURSELF
LEARN THE
at
COMMUNITY REPORT
April 2016 • WJMC.ORG
WJ Hospital Foundation Elects
New President, Officers and Directors
Norwood “Woody” Oge
Garey Alimia, Charles
has been elected presiFrederick (immediate
dent of the West Jefferson
past president), Jean
Hospital Foundation
Kass-Connick, Stanton
Board of Directors. A
Salathe, Jack Stumpf,
retired director of busiMike Vira, Karen Wood
ness affairs for Ingalls
Ward and Althea LaCour.
Shipbuilding-Avondale
T h e We s t J e f fe r s o n
Operations, he is Chair of Norwood “Woody” Oge
Hospital Foundation is
the Louisiana Community
a 501 (c) 3 non-profit
and Technical Colleges
organization with the mission to
System. Mr. Oge is also active
support West Jefferson Medical
with several community, business
Center. Gifts to the Foundation
and civic associations.
support many programs, includOther officers elected at the
ing the Care House, the Cancer
Foundation’s annual March
Center at West Jefferson, cardiomeeting include Chris Breaux,
vascular care and support groups.
vice-president and Diane Sieta,
For Foundation information,
secretary-treasurer. The Board
c o n t a c t M e l i s s a Mo-Billiot
recently elected its newest board
at 504.349.2525 or melissa.
members, Edgar Lazaro and Tina
mo-billiot@wjmc.org.
Dandry-Mayes. All former trustMelissa Mo-Billiot, Executive Director
ees were re-elected including:
West Jefferson Hospital Foundation