Did You Know Archives
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Previous Year Did You Know Archives
2005 2006 2007
June 30 - July 4
High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and death. Having it checked a few times a year in a doctor’s office or at the drugstore is not enough to keep tabs on it, and regular home monitoring is more accurate, the new advice says. Closer checks would let doctors fine tune the many medicines used to control high blood pressure, just as diabetes adjust their insulin levels by regularly monitoring blood sugar. Only a third of people with high blood pressure have it under control.
June 23-27
Water workouts aren’t just for grannies in swim caps anymore---So with the weather warming up, why not consider hitting the water for your workout? Water in the poll allows you to run hard, stretch deep and develop long and lean muscles. You can actually do many of the same exercises in the water that you can on land, including walking, marching, running, cross country skiing, kicking, leaping, even crunches.
June 16-20
Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on: infants and young children; people aged 65 or older; people who have mental illness; or those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
June 9-13
Up to 40 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea, a common breathing disorder, also have diabetes, recent studies suggest. Likewise, more than half of the people with type 2 diabetes suffer from some form of sleep disorder. Another recent study suggests treating OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) improves insulin sensitivity in non-obese people.
June 2 - 6
Choosing a sunscreen isn’t as simple as it used to be. Sunscreens help shield you from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays in two ways. Some work by scattering the light, reflecting it away from the body. Others absorb the UV rays before they reach your skin. So which is the best sunscreen for you? Clearly, you’ll want a sunscreen with broad-spectrum or multi-spectrum protection for both UVB and UVA rays.
May 26-30
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease kills more than 120,000 Americans every year, most of them smokers. COPD is an incurable lung condition in which air flow is compromised, making it difficult to breathe. Feeling breathless can be a sign of aging or gaining weight—neither of which we like to acknowledge. But the shortness of breath that comes with climbing a flight of stairs or running to catch a bus is a symptom of COPD.
May 19-23
There are estimates that if Americans ate an extra 13 grams of fiber (for about 25 grams total) each day, their risk of colorectal cancer would drop by about one-third.
May 12-16
Less than half of Americans can recognize the top five warning signs of stroke. Stroke warning signs include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side; sudden confusion or difficulty speaking; sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance; sudden trouble with vision in one eye or both; and severe headache with no known cause.
May 5-9
Weight management, exercise and proper nutrition are key to reducing your risk of cancer. And the earlier in life you adopt these practices the better off you’ll be, a new study suggests.
April 28-May 1
Irregular eating is probably more harmful than night eating. People who skip breakfast often shift their caloric intake to later in the day, eating the majority of their daily calories at night. Many obese people display eating behaviors that often involve skipping breakfast. For people who eat most of their daily calories later in the day, when they stop eating in the evening, they may experience weight loss. It’s easy to assume that it’s because eating at night is more fattening. But it may simply be that they are cutting calories, or dieting, by limiting their evening eating
April 21-25
Low back pain can affect the back anywhere below the ribs and above the legs. The lower back is the connection between the upper and lower body, and it bears most of the body’s weight. Because of these roles, it is easily injured when you lift, reach, or twist. Almost everyone has low back pain at one time or another. The good news is that most low back pain will go away in a few weeks with some basic self-care. But if your pain is severe or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.
April 14-18
People with larger stomachs in their 40s are more likely to have dementia when they reach their 70s, according to a study published by the journal Neurology. Previous research has consistently confirmed that where you carry fat-NOT necessarily how much fat you’re carrying-markedly increases the risk of calcium and plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. However, now there’s a connection to dementia as well.
April 7 - 11
Our diets have become so loaded with salt that, in response to a consumer group’s urging, the FDA is considering whether to set limits on the amount that would be permitted in different types of foods, such as breads. Cutting our sodium intake by half would prevent 150,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease each year, according to estimates from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
March 31 - April 4
Potassium is an important mineral for our bodies. It maintains normal blood pressure, helps our muscles contract, and regulates fluids and mineral balance in and out of our cells as well as transmitting nerve impulses.
March 24-28
Women suffer more damage to their cardiovascular health from poor sleep than men do, and researchers at Duke University Medical Center believe they’ve determined why. They found that poor sleep is associated with greater psychological distress and higher levels of biomakers associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. They also found that these associations are stronger in women than in men.
March 17-21
Body image is a person’s perception of the relative attractiveness of their body. Often, people see themselves dramatically different than they actually appear to others. A negative body image can lead to mental disorders such as depression or eating disorders.
March 10 -14
The vast majority (95%) of people who have high blood pressure have essential hypertension---high blood pressure associated with risk factors such as smoking, being overweight, and poor diet.
Did you know archives
March 3 - 7
Don’t smoke. Chemicals in cigarette smoke can worsen heartburn. Heartburn symptoms in some people can cause sleep problems, a chronic cough, asthma, or choking.
February 25 - 29
If you remember only one thing about vitamins and antioxidants, make it this: A healthy person with a good diet should take one low dose multivitamin such as Centrum, each day. Nothing more.
February 18 - 22
A new study showing that high levels of triglycerides were strong predictors of cardiac trouble strengthens the case for including measurement of the blood fats in prevention programs.
February 11 - 15
Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin, depleting it of oxygen and important nutrients, such as Vitamin A. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin----fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely
February 4 - 8
Exercise does not have to be strenuous to be helpful. It is important to include exercise as part of your daily routine. The American Heart Association recommends that you exercise at least 30 minutes on most, preferably all, days of the week. As your fitness improves, you can exercise longer and harder.
January 28- Feburary 1
Looking for an after-dinner snack that’s low in calories but feels decadent? Try a juicy baked apple or pear. Just wash, core, and drizzle with one tablespoon each of water and maple syrup. Then sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, and bake or microwave until tender.
January 21-25
If you need a snack to get you through a long stretch between meals, keep an emergency supply of dried fruit and nuts on hand. Stash them in your desk, bag, or car. A golf-ball-sized portion of each makes a filling, nutrient-rich snack that will get you through to the next meal.
January 14-18
A small, short term weight –loss goal is realistic and achievable: You will get the results you aim for. And once you’ve lost a little, you can set a new, but still realistic and achievable goal. Over time, it is possible to lose large amounts of weight.
January 7-11
Heart disease may be the leading cause of death for both men and women, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as your fate. Take steps to avoid heart disease---don’t smoke, get regular exercise and eat healthy foods. Avoid heart problems in the future by adopting a healthy lifestyle today.
December 24- January 4
Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta LLC would like to take this time to wish everyone a
Happy Holiday and a Prosperous New Year
December 17-21
One key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren’t always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.
December 10-14
Scientists are uncovering more and more evidence that insufficient slumber may cause hormonal shifts that boost hunger and appetite. Scientists studied more than 1,000 men and women and found those who reported sleeping less weighed more. Experts recommend most people get between seven and eight hours of sleep nightly to be at the lowest risk for weight gain.
December 3-7
You’re tired of feeling tired. But no matter how early you get to bed, you never feel well-rested in the morning. You’ve tried adjusting the room temperature, replacing the mattress and fluffing the pillows. Nothing seems to work. You may be looking in the wrong place for a cure. It could be that your digestive system is sabotaging your sleep. Increasingly, scientists are linking digestive disorders with a host of nocturnal problems ranging from insomnia to restless nights that lead to exhaustion during the day.
November 26-30
In study after study, regular workouts have been proven to insulate you from heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and diabetes. Exercise lowers blood pressure, reduces body fat, raises “good” cholesterol, improves blood flow, keeps intestines and the colon healthy, and regulates key hormones. To ensure you reap all these benefits, we asked leading experts on aging and exercise to devise the ultimate anti-aging workout. All agreed that it should include the four cornerstones of age prevention: consistent cardio, intense intervals, yoga, and weight training.
November 19-23
Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta would like to take this time to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.
November 12-16
Abdominal fat is associated with increased risks of morbidity and diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Generally, a person with an “overweight” BMI who has a waist circumference that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men is considered to be a candidate for weight loss treatment to prevent more weight gain that could lead to obesity, and to produce modest weight loss.
November 5-9
If soap and water are not available to wash your hands, use gel hand sanitizers or alcohol-based hand wipes containing 60% to 90% ethyl alcohol or isopropanol. Most supermarkets and drugstores carry these products. Carry one or both with you when travel, and keep them in your car or purse. If using the gel sanitizer, rub your hands until the gel is dry. You don’t need to use water. The alcohol in the gel kills the germs on your hands.
October 29- November 2
Blood thinning medications are prescribed to help prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood vessel blockages caused by clots. They are also prescribed for people who have cardiac problems including atrial fibrillation, phlebitis or congestive heart failure, the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital says. Blood thinners may interact with popular medications—like aspirin, ibuprofen and antacids—so before you take a blood thinner, you should tell your doctor about any other medications you take. People who use blood thinners need to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. They also should have their blood tested regularly, to monitor how well the medication is working.
October 22-26
If you sometime have problems remembering things, try following these tips from the Academy of Family Physicians:
- Keep lists of things you need to remember, a detailed calendar, and follow a regular routine.
- Make connections in your mind to help you remember—like associating places with certain landmarks.
- Keep objects you use regularly—like your keys—in the same place each time.
- When trying to remember the name of a person you just met, repeat his or her name to yourself.
- Keep your mind and body busy and active.
October 15-19
Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) occurs when a muscle at the end of the esophagus does not close properly, allowing irritating stomach contents to leak back into the esophagus. Symptoms include heartburn and acid indigestion. If you have these symptoms more than twice a week it may be GERD. Medication along with these helpful suggestions can help tame GERD:
- Avoid foods that may cause heartburn, like fatty, spicy or acidic foods.
- Eat small meals.
- Avoid eating right before bedtime.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing---although you may be required to change into a gown.
- Do not wear any jewelry or metal accessories, including hairpins or non-essential eyeglasses.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on whether you can consume food or water in the hours before the procedure.
- Tell your doctor about any health conditions, medications or allergies—such as past reactions to the contrast materials sometimes used in CT scans. Also let the doctor know if there’s a possibility that you are pregnant.
- The medication could have been prescribed for someone of a particular gender, size, or age, and may not be appropriate for someone else.
- The medication may react with other drugs you take
- Your body may react with other drugs that you take
- Your body may react differently to the drug than the person for whom it was prescribed.
- The dosage written on the prescription label may not be appropriate for you.
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Rapid growth
- A sore or area that won’t heal.
- A scaly or crusty growth.
- Rough patches that feel like sandpaper.
- 181,646 women and 1,826 men were diagnosed with breast cancer
- 41,619 women and 379 men died from breast cancer
October 8-12
A CT scan provides X-ray-like images of internal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood vessels. The scans are used to help diagnose conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, internal injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Here are suggestions on what to do before a CT scan, courtesy of the Radiological Society of North America.
October 1-5
Although you may be tempted to use a medication that has been prescribed to someone else, this is a dangerous practice. Even if you have similar symptoms, the American academy of family physicians warns:
September 24-28
Some moles can become cancerous, so it’s important to examine your skin frequently. You should speak with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms on a mole:
September 17-21
Stress isn’t just something you feel in your head. Stress can raise your blood pressure, diminish your sex drive, and cause excessive horn-blowing in traffic. It’s also one of the biggest factors in determining your weight as well.
September 10-14
Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present.
September 3 -7
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. A second, common, early symptom of appendicitis is loss of appetite which may progress to nausea and even vomiting. Nausea and vomiting also may occur later due to intestinal obstruction.
August 27-31
Seek prompt medical attention if you experience new or more severe headaches (especially if you’re over age 50). If you experience a sudden and severe headache, often called a thunderclap headache, because it comes on suddenly like a clap of thunder. A headache accompanied by a fever, stiff neck, rash, mental confusion, seizures, vision changes, weakness, numbness, speaking difficulties, scalp tenderness or pain with chewing. A headache that begins or worsens after a head injury. These headache symptoms may be caused by stroke, blood vessel inflammation(arteritis), meningitis, brain tumor, aneurysm, or bleeding on the brain after head trauma.
August 20-24
Persistent fever can signal hidden infections, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. At other times, malignant conditions---such as lymphomas—cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can some medications and conditions, and reactions to certain drugs. Fever is common with treatable infections, such as urinary tract infections. But if a low-grade fever persists for more than two weeks, check with your doctor.
August 13-17
Feeling shortness of breath----beyond the typical stuffy nose or shortness of breath from exercise---could signal an underlying health problem. If you ever find that you’re gasping for air or wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless with or without exertion or when reclining also is a symptom that needs to be evaluated without delay.
August 6 - 10
Colorectal cancer doesn’t always show symptoms. But sometimes you’ll find signs such as blood in the stool, unexplained pain or cramps in your abdomen, unexplained weight loss, and change in bowel habits.
July 30 - August 3
People with MRSA skin infections often think a spider has bitten them. That’s because the infection often starts out as a painful red swelling, soon becoming a pus-leaking boil or abscess. If you develop these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
July 23 - 27
An estimated seven percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, which in recent years has been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, due to insulin resistance in the brain. While there’s no cure for diabetes yet, doctors say maintaining a proper diet is one key to controlling the condition.
July 16 - 20
HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the “good” cholesterol because it helps prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries. The higher your HDL, the better. An HDL of 60 mg/dl and above protects against heart disease. An HDL of less than 40 mg/dl puts you at major risk of heart attack.
July 9 - 13
Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries and veins as it moves through your body. It’s normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day, but if its stays up, you have high blood pressure. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension. When blood pressure is high, it starts to damage the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other problems. High blood pressure is called a “silent killer” because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms while it is causing this damage.
July 2-6
Heatstroke occurs when a person’s temperature soars to 104 degrees F or higher, effectively shutting down the body’s heat-regulating mechanism. Symptoms may include hot dry skin, inability to sweat, muscle cramps, and shallow breathing. Suggestions to avoid this include: prolonged working or playing in the hot sun. Limit your direct exposure to the sun and wear a wide brimmed hat----wear light loose fitting clothing---drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty---eat small meals and limit your alcohol consumption when temperatures are high or you’re not used to the climate.
June 25-29
Walking is powerful medicine----maybe you want to lose a few pounds or protect your heart from disease or keep your bones strong and your joints limber. Walking can do this and more.
June 18 - 22
Hand-washing is a simple and effective way to prevent diseases, such as colds, flu, and food poisoning. Washing hands often especially during cold and flu season, can reduce your risk of catching a cold or the flu. Before and after preparing or serving food reduces your risk of catching or spreading bacteria that can cause food poisoning. After going to the bathroom or changing diapers reduces your risk of catching or spreading infectious diseases such as salmonella or hepatitis a.
June 11 - 15
More Americans will develop skin cancer this year than will get prostate, lung or colon cancer combined. And you could be among the thousands who die—unless you open your eyes. Worldwide, one person will die of melanoma every hour, because the disease is fast and extremely aggressive: Once it penetrates your skin and enters your bloodstream, it can travel with nightmarish nimbleness, attacking your brain and every other organ in a matter of weeks.
June 4 - 8
A diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids—found in certain fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils—may lower blood pressure. “Foods with Omega-3 PFA(polyunsaturated fatty acids) had more of an effect in people who were not already taking medication and had not yet developed high blood pressure.
May 28 - June 1
The gallbladder is a small sac found just under the liver. It stores bile made by the liver. Bile helps you digest fats. Bile moves from the gallbladder to the small intestine through tubes called cystic duct and common bile duct. Gallstones are made from cholesterol and other things found in the bile. They can be smaller than a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Gallstones form when cholesterol and other things in bile make stones. They can also form if the gallbladder does not empty as it should. People who are overweight or who are trying to lose weight are more likely to get gallstones. If you have symptoms, you will have mild pain in the pit of you stomach or in the upper right part of your belly. Pain may spread to your upper back or shoulder blade area. Sometimes the pain is more severe. It may be steady, or it may come and go. It may get worse when you eat.
May 21 - 25
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. This year, an estimated 700,000 people will have a stroke, and 160,000 will die from it. Of those who live, 15 percent to 30 percent become permanently disabled, and 20 percent require institutionalization during the first three months after the stroke.
May 14 - 18
Besides helping you feel well rested, getting your zzz’s may also sharpen your memory, a new study shows. Researchers found that sleep not only protects memories from outside interferences, it also helps strengthen them.
May 7 - 11
Smoke-stiffened arteries will slowly regain a healthy flexibility if smokers kick the habit, a new study finds. “It took a while before the arteries came back to normal,” stressed Dr. Azra Mahmud, a lecturer in cardiovascular pharmacology @ Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. “It took at least ten years before the arteries got back to where they were before smoking. The lesson is that the more quickly you give up smoking, the better it is for your arteries. Hardened arteries can increase blood pressure, boosting the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke
April 30 - May 4
A hernia occurs when an organ begins to protrude through muscle, tissue, or the soft area surrounding it. A hernia typically occurs in the abdominal area. The condition can affect both men and women, and at any age. Chronic coughing or sneezing, obesity, pregnancy and straining while lifting heavy objects are all common causes of hernia, the American Medical Association(AMA) says. Surgery is usually the recommended treatment for a hernia.
April 23-27
Healthcare professionals have known for a long time that common diseases--heart disease, cancer, and diabetes--and even rare diseases--like hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia--can run in families. If one generation of a family has high blood pressure, it is not unusual for the next generation to have similarly high blood pressure. Tracing the illnesses suffered by your parents, grandparents, and other blood relatives can help your doctor predict the disorders to which you may be at risk and take action to keep you and your family healthy
April 16-20
Smokers with asthma who kick the habit can achieve a more than 15 percent improvement in lung function tests in less than two months, U.K. researchers report. Even after just one week of no cigarettes, the lung function test results of the nonsmokers improved to a “considerable degree,” the study found.
April 9-13
Doctors have long encouraged exercise among aging patients to keep joints flexible, muscles strong and to keep off weight, which is a leading risk factor for arthritis. “Maybe the exercise directly benefits the joints.” Maybe exercise causes pain sensing receptors to become less sensitive so one feels less pain,” said Dr. John Hardin, chief scientific officer at the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation.
April 2-6
Colorectal cancer is the second leading killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. If everybody age 50 or older had regular screening tests, at least one-third of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. So if you are 50 or older, start screening now.
March 19-23
“We see about 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking people a year. But the cardiovascular effects are about 15 times larger. We estimate at a minimum 35,000 to as high as 50,000 to 60,000 people die each year from heart attacks and strokes after being exposed to secondhand smoke. These are people with diseased arteries. Those disease spots are vulnerable to the effects of the toxins in smoke,” says Terry Pechacek, PhD, Associates Director for Science in CDC’s Office On Smoking And Health.
March 12-16
Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
In 2003 (the most recent year numbers are available),
Source: Centers for Disease Control
March 5-9
According to recent estimates, nearly one in three U. S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don’t know they have it. In fact, many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. This is why high blood pressure is often called the ‘silent killer.
American Heart Association
Feb 26-Mar 2
Cutting back on corn syrup consumption may reduce the risk of diabetes, says Simin Liu M.D. of the Harvard School of Public Health. based on his findings, Dr. Liu suggests limiting intake of corn syrup that’s hidden in many everyday foods like sodas and ketchup.
February 19-23
“Exercise in many ways optimizes your brain to learn,” says Dr. John Ratey, a Clinical Associate Professor Of Psychiatry @ Harvard Medical School In Boston. Exercise improves circulation throughout the body, including the brain, Ratey explains. Exercise also boosts metabolism, decreases stress and improves mood and attention, all of which help the brain perform better, he says.
January 22-26
Did you know that Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta performs more than bariatric surgeries? We also provide
General Surgical Services including:
•Breast Biopsies/Breast cancer surgery
•Hemorrhoidectomies
•Colon cancer surgery
•Hernia repair surgery
•Skin cancer surgery
•Abscess(boils)lancing
•Cholecystectomies for Cholelithiasis/Biliary Dyskinesia
•Mole removal surgery
•Lipoma/cyst removal surgery
January 8-12
Children who are overweight or obese have significantly higher health-care costs than their normal weight peers, say researchers from Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. It is estimated that 30 per cent of children in the United States are obese or overweight. And more than 80 percent of obese 12-year-olds will be overweight adults. The researchers estimated that, compared with their healthy weight peers, obese children had increased annual health-care costs of an average of $172.
December 18-22
Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta LLC
would like to take this time to wish everyone a
Happy Holiday and a Prosperous New Year
December 11-15
Limiting consumption of calories seems to boost key infection-fighting cells in the immune system, researchers say. As people age, changes in the immune system dramatically increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. So-called t cells, which make up an important component of the immune response, appear to be the part of the immune system most affected by aging, the researchers said. Researchers found that calorie restriction improved t cell function and reduced the production of inflammatory compounds. These findings suggest that limiting calories can delay immunological aging, and, in turn, life span maybe increased by providing long-term resistance to infectious diseases
November 27 - December 1No amount of secondhand smoke is safe. Some 126 million Americans are still exposed to secondhand smoke. The risks are well documented and include heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults as well as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory problems, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children. Slightly more than 20 per cent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can damage cells and set the cancer process in motion. According to the Surgeon General’s report nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. In 2005, an estimated 3,000 adult nonsmokers died from lung cancer as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke, 46,000 from coronary heart disease and 430 newborns from SIDS.
November 20-24
Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta would like to take this time to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving
November13 -17
While every day is a great day to quit smoking, millions of Americans are expected to take part in the 30th anniversary of the American Cancer Society’s “Great American Smokeout” this Thursday Nov. 16th. For three decades, the third Thursday in November has been designated as a day for smokers across the United States to kick the habit.
November 6 - 10
Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It accounts for more than 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths. Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing a number of chronic disorders. These include fatty buildups in arteries, several types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung problems). Atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty substances in the arteries) is a chief contributor to the high number of deaths from smoking. Many studies detail the evidence that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack
October 30 - November 3
Each year, 34 per cent of America’s 50 million smokers try to kick the habit. But only 5 percent of those attempts are successful, according to the American Lung Association. On you own, the success is around 5 percent. But with intensive treatment, it can be five times higher. When you quit smoking, in some sense it’s like mourning. Nicotine stimulates some of the brain regions stimulated by interaction with a loved one. So when smokers say, “I feel like I lost my best friend,” neurologically, they have.
October 16 - 20
Walking is an easy way to burn extra calories to lose weight and decrease body fat. How many calories you burn depends on how hard and fast you walk, as well as how much you weigh. It is impossible to say exactly how many calories you’ll burn in a 30-minute walk without you being measured in an exercise physiology lab. Research shows that a person needs to burn around 2,000 to 3,000 calories from physical activity every week to control body weight. That works out to be about 60 to 90 minutes per day. Shorter amounts, such as 30 minutes of walking will improve your health, but are unlikely to lead to significant decreases in body fat or weight loss in a relatively short period of time.
October 9 - 13
Doctors need to be aware that obesity can affect prostate cancer screening test results, says a u.s. study. It found that obese white and black American men had lower levels of prostate surface antigen (PSA) and free PSA (FPSA) than men with normal body mass index (BMI). This suggests that an obese man with a slightly elevated PSA may be at higher risk for prostate cancer than a man with normal BMI, the study said.
Source: health.msn.com
October 2-6
An extra can of soda a day can pile on 15 pounds in a single year, and the evidence strongly suggests that this sort of increased consumption is a key reason that more people have gained weight, the researchers say
Sept 18-22
Individuals who have the highest levels of consumption of vitamin D had a greater than 40 percent reduction in their risk of pancreatic cancer. The current U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 400 IUs per day.
Source: health.msn.com
Sept 11 - 15
Your morning cup of java may be one of the healthiest beverages in your diet, as more studies show the health benefits of coffee. Two cups a day of coffee may promote heart health, decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, and reduce leg pain related to exercise in many people, according to the U.S. Department Of Agriculture(USDA).
Source: health.msn.com
Sept 4-8
Every day you sit more than you move is another day that you allow your healthy body to deteriorate. If you can no longer tie your shoes,if you avoid getting on the floor because it is too difficult to get back up, or if doing something simple like grocery shopping tires you out, then you have reached a point where you are losing natural functions. It will only get worse.
August 28- Sept 1
“Obese women with ovarian cancer typically fare worse than those who are not obese”, noted senior reseacher Dr. Andrew Li, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center. Obesity is known to be a risk factor for several malignancies, including endometrial cancer and cancers of the kidney, breast and colon. Previous studies have also found that obesity bodes poorly for survival from ovarian cancer, said Li who is also assistant professor-in-residence at the UCLA David Geffen School Of Medicine.
August 21-25
Cysts are not harmful, but breast lumps that are not cysts may be a cause for concern. Your doctor can tell you which lumps need to be evaluated. Eighty per cent of all breasts masses that are found to be cancerous are found by the patient.
August 14-18
Imagine if you suddenly stopped breathing several tmes an hour over the course of a normal workday---that’s what happens every night for people with sleep apnea, a condition affecting at least 18 million americans.
August 7-11
Children don’t adapt as well as adults do to exercise in hot, humid weather. They produce more heat, sweat less and may be less likely to drink enough fluids during exercise---all of which increase their risk of dehydration. Dehydration can cause mild to severe heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Children who go out for football, soccer, cross country and other sports that start in late summer may be at risk of developing dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.
July 31 - August 4
Is thirty minutes a day of aerobic exercise the magic bullet you’ve been looking for? With benefits ranging from heart disease prevention to stress reduction, it’s one of the best things you can do for your health.
MSN Health & Fitness
July 24-28
After the slimming surgery, resting heart rates of the previously obese women dropped significantly, from 73 to 60 beats per minute
Surgery News, July 2006
July 17-21
Water is your body’s principal chemical component, comprising, on average 60 per cent of your weight, every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
July 10 - 14
A range of foods such as soybeans, fruits and green tea contain powerful antioxidants that help reduce a woman’s risk for breast and ovarian cancer, new studies find.
HEALTH.MSN.COM
July 3 - 7
Drinking water can help you burn fat, beat a fever, improve your complexion, relieve constipation, build muscle, drain a stuffy nose, fight a stomachache and improve your mood. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a condition that isn’t eased by imbibing more cleansing, curative water.
HEALTH.MSN.COM
June 26 - 30
According to American Cancer Society estimates, at least one third of all cancer deaths in the U. S. Each year are attributable to excess weight and obesity.
Mar 6 - 10
Effective February 21, 2006
Surgical Associates of Metro Atlanta, LLC
and Donald A. Maynard, MD, FACS
are network providers for Aetna, Inc. We Are Now On All Major Insurance Plans And Products Including:
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Georgia
United Healthcare
Cigna
Medicare
Medicaid
Tricare
Aetna
Feb 20- Mar3
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that the evidence is adequate to conclude that open and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and open and laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), Duodenal Switch are reasonable and necessary for Medicare beneficiaries who have a body-mass index (BMI)>35, have at least one co-morbidity related to obesity, and have been previously unsuccessful with medical treatment for obesity.
New National Coverage Determination for Obesity Surgery
Feb 20-24
Snoring is not only annoying, it could indicate a serious health problem. When you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax and your tongue falls backward, the national sleep foundation says. Your throat becomes narrow. Breathing in and out while asleep can cause vibrations in your throat, if significant enough cause snoring. Often the narrower your airway becomes, the louder your snoring. Sometimes the walls of the throat can temporarily block your airway. This is called sleep apnea and should receive prompt medical attention.
HEALTH MSN.COM
Feb 6-10
The Ad-36 virus test is most important for people who are not obese. Based on the animal studies there is a 60% to 100% risk of becoming obese if a person has a positive Ad-36 test. Just as a cholesterol test predicts the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, the Ad-36 test predicts who may become obese. For people with a high cholesterol test or for people with a positive Ad-36 test, watching the diet, being physically active, and in some cases taking drugs can reduce or eliminate the risk of future disease.
OBETECH, LLC
Jan 30- Feb 3
Advocates say focusing on how patients, caregivers and physicians interact could lead to better outcomes.
Victoria Stagg Elliot, Amnews Staff
Jan 23-27
Compounds in black currants may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study in the current issue of Chemistry & Industry magazine. Researchers found that these compounds—anthocyanins and polyphenolics—had a strong protective effect in cultured neuronal cells. Darker black currants contain more anthocyanins and are more likely to be more potent. HealthDay News
Jan 16-20
Olestra, the fake fat produced by Proctor & Gamble used to make non-fat potato chips and other snacks has been shown to bind with fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K and carotenoids—substances thought to keep the immune system healthy and prevent some cancers—and to eliminate them from your system.
Source: MSN.COM/HEALTH & FITNESS
Jan 9-13
It is interesting to note that the two Members of Congress who are known to have had weight loss surgery, Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Jerrold Nadler, chose to have the duodenal switch surgery and thanks to either their congressional insurance or personal wealth, were ABLE to have this surgery. It should be an option for ALL Americans, not just the wealthiest or with the best health insurance.
Comment posted on www.ObesityHelp.com
Jan 2-6
Dr. Donald A. Maynard was among the initiates from around the world who became a fellows of the American College Of Surgeons during convocation ceremonies at the recent annual clinical congress in San Francisco. Maynard received a medical doctorate in 1995 and is practicing in Conyers with Surgical Associates Of Metro Atlanta LLC. He has a strong professional interest in general and bariatric surgery. He attained board certification from the American Board Of Surgeons, is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Atlanta Medical Association, Georgia Medical Association, American Medical Association and the American Society For Bariatric Surgery. By meeting the stringent membership requirements fellows of the college have earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “F.A.C.S.” after their names.
December 26-30
A study in the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition found that pomegranate juice reduced the damage that ldl (“bad”) cholestral can wreak on artery walls in human subjects. Israeli researchers found that 8 ounces daily reduced blood pressure by 5 per cent in people with hypertension, and that it had some of the same effects as certain anti-hypertensive drugs.
December 12-16
Over 1000 pounds have been lost by the participants in SAMA’s Bariatric Program
December 5 - 9
The goal of gastric bypass was to reduce weight but it can also reduce the strength of a person”s bones unless calcium intake is increased. The duodenum and upper small bowel is where calcium and iron are normally absorbed, after bypass of the duodenum calcium absorption may be reduced. Bypass of the duodenum also interferes with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D. Vitamin D is also needed for absorption of calcium. There are no signs or symptoms of loss of calcium from bone until bones become so weak as to collapse.
Edward E. Mason, M. D., Ph.D. .
November 28 - December 2
Where you carry your body fat may be as important as how many extra pounds you have. People who carry too much fat around the middle, rather than the hips, are more likely to have weight-related health problems. In women, a waist size of 35 or more inches increases the chance for disease. In men, a waist size of 40 inches or more increases risk.
November 14-18 & November 21-25
Dr Maynard will be appearing on “Modern Healing” November 19 th @ 12:30 pm and November 26 th @ 1:30 pm on CBS WCGL CH 46
November 7 - 11
Other government studies have shown that between 1988 and 2002, the percentage of overweight American adults climbed from 56 percent to 65 percent, while obesity rates increased from 23 percent to 30 percent. Obesity is often accompanied by high cholesterol levels, and both factors raise the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
October 31 - November 4
People with a BMI of 35 or more (a bmi of 30 or more is considered obese) are 20 times as likely to develop diabetes during a 10-year period as their slimmer peers, the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study found.
October 24-28
Susan Bartlett, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and an Obesity Researcher at the John Hopkins School of Medicine, said the study was one of the first to look at the risk of becoming overweight. The study shows Americans live in an “environment in which it’s hard not to become overweight or obese. Unless people actively work against that, that’s what’s most likely to happen to them.” Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and arthritis, and being overweight raises blood pressure and cholesterol, which in turn can raise the risk of heart disease.
October 17-21
Support group meeting at Remington House @ 6:00 pm. This month we will have a panel of former patients speaking. For more information or directions please call the office.
October 10-14
Just when we thought we couldn’t get any fatter, a new study that followed americans for three decades suggests that over the long haul, 9 out of 10 men and 7 out of 10 women will become overweight. Even if you are one of the lucky few who made it to middle age without getting fat , don’t congratulate yourself----keep watching that waistline. Half of the men and women in the study who had made it well into adulthood without a weight problem ultimately became overweight. A third of those women and a quarter of the men became obese.
October 3-7
The medical costs to treat obesity and obesity-related morbidities have risen. The direct and indirect annual medical cost to treat obesity and obesity-related morbidities in the USA in 1998 was 78.5 billion dollars, which would be equivalent to 92.6 billion in 2002 dollars according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
September 26-30
When you’re overweight, your cells don’t respond as well to insulin. Insulin is necessary sugar(glucose) from your bloodstream into your cells. Your cells depends on this sugar. Your doctor will set a daily calorie goal to help you lose weight if you’re overweight remain a healthy weight if you aren’t. Losing weight will improve your body’s response to insulin, your body’s own insulin or the insulin you inject.
mayoclinic.com
September 19-23
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a safe and effective operation for weight loss in morbidly obese patients older than 55 years. A significant weight loss and resolution of co-morbidities can be expected with acceptable morbidity and mortality.
Pavlos K. Papasavas, MD; Daniel J. Gagne, MD; John Kelly, MD; Phillip F. Caushaj, MD;
Temple University School of Medicine Clinical Campus at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA; UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
September 12-15
Dr. Donald Maynard will be speaking at the AMA Thursday evening at 7:30 P.M. Call the office for more information.
September 5 - 8
Approximately 90 per cent of Medicare beneficiaries who currently receive weight loss surgery are under 65 and are categorized as Disabled under the Social Security Act. “Should bariatric surgery provide removal of disability status through improvement in disabling arthritis, cardiovascular or pulmonary dysfunction, cost savings would be significant for Medicare and the health implications would be enormous,” Dr. Sugerman added.
August 29 - September 2
Childhood pudginess is linked with both early menstruation and adult weight problems. Girls who are overweight before their menstrual periods were almost eight times more likely to be overweight as women. “Given the epidemic of obesity in the population, it’s important to know where best to intervene. That intervention should start in childhood,”
Aviva Must, associate professor of Public Health and Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.
August 22-26
The most common measurement tool found for determining obesity is the BODY MASS INDEX (BMI), which is a number that evaluates weight status in relation to height. It is the most common method of tracking weight problems and obesity among adults. BMI is a mathematical formula in which a person’s body weight in kilograms is divided by the square of his or her height in meters. The criteria for obesity are the same for both men and women. According to the BMI reference points, a person whose BMI is 25 is in the 85th percentile and is considered to be overweight. A person whose BMI is 30 is in the 95th percentile and is considered obese.
August 16-19
Regular exercise keeps hearing sharp by improving or maintaining good blood flow to the inner ear…………..
Recent studies shows that one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in heart-healthy fish such as salmon and mackerel can prevent age-related damage to a part of the brain where cells responsible for learning and memory communicate with each other.
August 8-12
At any given time, about one-quarter of all adults are on a diet. Yet there’s more to losing and maintaining weight than simply adjusting carbohydrates. It requires making small but sustainable changes in the way you normally eat and exercise.
Alice Lichtenstein,a nutrition professor at Tufts University and chairwoman of the American Heart Association’s nutrition committee.
August 1-5
For years, red wine and grape juice have been touted as the drinks that provide heart healthy benefits. Now scientists are discovering that cranberry juice may be equally good for the heart. Light cranberry juice cocktail packs a knockout One-two punch, with both “antistick” and
“antioxidant” bang. This adds to the long-standing research that connects cranberry juice with helping ward off urinary tract infections.
July 25-29
Obesity has now entrenched itself as one of the most urgent healthcare issues facing the industrialized world. Today, more than 50 per cent of American adults are overweight or obese, five to ten million of them considered to be morbidly obese. Although obesity rates are higher among African American, Hispanic and native American communities, it can effect anyone and the office of the Surgeon General reports that it is responsible for as many as 300,000 premature deaths each year
July 18-22
The European Union released data recently on its 103 million youngsters, showing the number of overweight school-children rising by 400,000 a year due to a lack of exercise and poor eating habits. That percentage is on par with estimates in the United States, where the number of overweight children has tripled in the past 25 years.
according to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
July 11 - 15
“The figures suggest that children in the European Union could soon be measuring up to their counterparts in the United States where the numbers affected by the metabolic syndrome doubled from 910,000 to 2 million in less than 10 years,”
according to an analysis by the International Obesity Task Force, a network of obesity scientists and policy experts.
July 4 - 8
A highly resistant clone of staphylococci that also expresses a toxin known as Panton-Valentine
leukocidin has emerged in the United States and is “the worst version of staphylococci we have
seen in decades,” says Dr. Krogstad. Pediatrcians should be on the lookout for patients with recurrent skin and soft-tissue infections and consider decolonization measures in certain cases. “The organism is often harbored in the anterior nares ,” Dr. Krogstad notes. “Culturing can
identify colonization and then a number of steps can be taken to break this cycle of infection.”
Steps include determining if other family members have also had recurrent infections, potentially
screening all family members; using bacterial soaps for approximately two weeks; simultaneously
washing all bedding; and employing an antibacterial ointment (mupirocin) in the anterior nares.
Surgery has become an increasingly important compotent of treatment.
June 27 - July 1
A recent study involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found approximately one in five infections were being acquired in the community, with apparent links to healthcare settings. Nearly one in four cases were serious enough to require hospitalization. Another study reports CA-MRSA has acquired the ability to cause necrotizing fascitis-a condition not previously associated with staphylococci. More than a dozen cases of necrotizing facsciitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were reported in the Los Angeles area, all of which required surgery and most of which put patients in intensive care. “Children under the age of 2 are at particularly high risk for acquiring these dangerous infections, which can’t be treated with the antibiotics pediatricians are used to prescribing for common skins infections,” said Dr. Pau Krogstad, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA.
UCLA Pediatric Update, Summer 2005, Volume 12, Number 2
June 20 - 24
Resistant organisms cause an estimated 50 to 60 percent of the 2 million hospital-acquired infections each year. Bloodstream infections cause half of the deaths in infants who require hospitalizations in neonatal intensive care units for more than two weeks.
June 13 -17
Studies of both dietary intake and blood levels of vitamin D are revealing alarming results –we’re not getting nearly enough of it. As a result, the classic deficiency disease-rickets-has re-emerged. A common childhood disease in the 1930’s, rickets was virtually eliminated when vitamin D was added to milk. But nowadays, young children are replacing milk with soft drinks and juice and therefore not getting enough vitamin D to make strong bones,setting the stage for osteoporosis in later years. Studies show that about 40 percent to 50 percent of children and 42
percent of teens don’t meet the recommended intakes for vitamin D. And more than 90 percent of adults ages 51-70 are vitamin D-deficient.
June 6 - 10
"Up to 8% of total healthcare costs in some Western countries are attributable to obesity and related problems. It is a leading cause of preventable death-- Obesity is not an aesthetic problem. It is a very large complex problem tightly connected to diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other major health problems and causes of death"
-Professor Constantine Tsigos, Chairman of the 14th European Congress of Obesity.
May 23-27
A review of over 139 studies that included more than 22,000 bariatric surgery patients found that “-diabetes was eliminated in 76.8 percent of patients; while 86 percent improved or resolved the condition. Hypertension was eliminated in 61.7 percent of patients and resolved in 78.5 percent. Obstructive sleep apnea was eliminated in 85.7 percent of patients and hyperlipidemia improved in more than 70 percent of patients.”
Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis- published in the October 2004 edition of JAMA
May 2 - 6
There Are 127 Million Americans who are significantly obese or overweight, (according to the American Obesity Association, www.Obesity.org) and there are 50 million Americans who are addicted to Tobacco…”
April 18 - 22
What is a clinical pathway?
A clinical pathway is an anticipated management plan for a surgical procedure which inputs all medical personnel involved in the care of the patient from pre-op to follow-up care. Bariatric surgery is a complex procedure with a potential for significant morbidity and mortality. The required utilization of clinical pathways in Centers of Excellence Institutions is part of the program’s philosophy of best clinical practices to improve outcomes.
The Surgical Review Corporation Newsletter March 2005
April 11 - 15
The rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the United States over the past two decades. More than 15 percent of children and adolescents are overweight, and among some groups-such as Mexican-American boys and African-American girls-the numbers are nearly double that.
US News and World Report,
February 9,2004
March 28 - Apr 1
This is the first prospective, randomized study to compare modern surgery versus medical therapy. This study confirms that in appropriate patients, weight loss surgery has clear benefits over traditional medical therapy. Yet, unfortunately, many of the patients who could benefit from obesity surgery are never presented with the option.
Paul O’Brien, MD,
Presented at 2004 Annual ASBS Meeting