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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
Houston Healthcare
EMS takes second
Special to the Journal
Houston Healthcare’s
Emergency Medical Services
staff collected more than
3,500 canned goods this holi
day season, finishing second
place in the statewide Cans
for Kids Contest sponsored
by the Region V Emergency
Medical Services. The canned
goods were distributed to
20 local families as well as
Bonaire and Centerville’s
Outreach programs and the
Salvation Army. The cans
were collected at all Houston
There are several ways to build a strong immune system
Special to the Journal
Recurring colds or a bad
case of the flu may be signs
of a weakened immune sys
tem. Dr. Javed H. Fazal, a
board certified internist and
a member of the medical
staffs of Houston Medical
Center and Perry Hospital,
says that although hered
ity and age play a role in
how well the body guards
itself against disease, self
healing mechanisms can be
enhanced through diet and
lifestyle changes. Below are
10 ways to strengthen the
immune system. Remember
to consult a healthcare pro
vider for advice on specific
medical requirements.
■l. Be proactive. Get a
jump on illness by keeping
up to date on vaccinations.
“Make sure to have a teta
nus booster every 10 years,
get a flu shot each fall and
ask your healthcare provider
if you are a candidate for the
pneumonia vaccine,” says
Ask ike Physical Therapist
What a physical therapist
can do to help you
Q: What services does
a physical therapist pro
vide?
A: Physical therapists
provide many different ser
vices that are geared toward
assisting people to restore
function, improve mobility,
relieve pain, and assist in
limiting them from any per
manent physical disabilities
resulting from acute injuries
or chronic illnesses and dis
eases. Physical therapists
promote wellness and over
all physical fitness in the
patients that they serve.
Therapists work with
patients who have had either
an accident resulting in a
muscle strain, broken bone,
ligament sprain, or inflam
mation to a joint in the body.
They may suffer from chron
ic disabilities such as neck
and low back pain, arthritis,
heart disease, stroke, head
injury, and cerebral palsy.
When a patient first
arrives for physical therapy,
the therapist performs an
evaluation that encompasses
a detailed medical history
followed by tests to measure
strength, motion, sensation,
coordination, balance, pos
ture, motor function, and
overall muscle performance.
A patient’s ability to com
plete activities at home and
in the workplace is evalu
ated.
This allows the therapist to
see how the current physical
impairment is limiting abil
ity to walk, complete routine
tasks, and complete daily job
duties. A treatment plan
is developed indicating how
a therapist will address the
findings in the evaluation
and improve the patient’s
function.
Treatment will often
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Healthcare facilities through
employee donations.
For their efforts, Houston
Healthcare EMS will receive
a pediatric immobilization
device and a Ferno pedia
mate carseat, which is now
available in all of Houston
Healthcare’s ambulances.
The EMS who collected
the most cans will receive
a Henkel-Braslo pediatric
bag and two Ferno pedimate
carseats. Third Place Prize
is one Ferno pediamate car
seat.
Fazal. “Also, minimize expo
sure to germs by washing
your hands frequently and
avoiding touching your eyes,
nose and mouth.”
■2. Get moving. Studies
have shown that people
who exercise at least once a
week increase their immune
system function, reporting
fewer colds and respiratory
infections. “Physical activ
ity stimulates circulation of
the immune cells that fight
infections and tumors,”
explains Fazal. For the best
boost, aim for 30 minutes of
aerobic activity three to five
times a week.
■3. Learn to laugh.
Research findings suggest
that optimists tend to be
healthier overall and live
longer. What’s more, positive
experiences have a longer
lasting effect on the immune
system than negative ones.
■4. Add antioxidants.
Enhance the immune sys
tem by taking more vita
include the use of stretches
and strengthening exercises
for patients who show lack
of flexibility loss of strength
and endurance as a result of
immobilization after injury
or surgery.
Modalities such as warm
and cold compresses, electri
cal stimulation, ultrasound,
traction and massage may
be use to help decrease pain
and swelling and promote
relaxation to the affected
muscles and joints.
As a patient improves, it
is the physical therapist’s
responsibility to instruct
and educate to prevent re
injury. Information on prop
er posture and use of body
mechanics may be given to
those suffering from neck
and back pain. Instruction
and training in the proper
use of a cane, crutches, walk
er or wheelchair is given to
allow for maximum mobility
and safety at home and in
the community. An exercise
program may also be recom
mended to continue recovery
at home after discharge.
Some therapists may spe
cialize in areas such as geri
atrics, pediatrics, cardiac
rehab, wound care, ortho
pedics, and neurological
impairments.
In all, physical therapists
can treat a wide range of ail
ments involving the muscles,
bones, and joints of the body
allowing a patient to return
to their previous functional
level.
If you have any ques
tions regarding health
care conditions or services
involving physical thera
py, please contact Houston
Healthcare’s Human Motion
Institute at 478-988-1882 or
nnewhouse@hhc.org.
■ : '
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mins A, C and E and beta
carotene - also known as
antioxidants. “Vitamin C, in
particular, has been shown
to be effective in prevent
ing or shortening the dura
tion of common colds as well
as other diseases,” states
Fazal. “It’s also proven to
speed healing after injuries
or operations.” Antioxidants
can be found naturally in col
orful fruits and vegetables.
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
cauliflower and cabbage
also contain certain chemi
cals that appear to block cell
damage and have cancer
fighting capabilities.
■5. Watch the mouth.
The mouth can harbor infec
tions that take a toll on the
immune system. Maintain
good oral hygiene by brush
ing and flossing at least
twice daily. Have a dental
exam twice a year to detect
any areas of hidden infec
tion. If possible, avoid any
major dental work while ill
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Urological experience you can trust.
When you or a family member need urological services, you should know that
clinical expertise and technology is available close to home. From prostate
surgery, reno-vascular hypertension, urinary tract infections and obstructions to
treatments for urinary incontinence, genitourinary oncology and lithotripsy for
kidney stone removal, the Board certified Urologists at Houston Healthcare can meet
your family's needs. And best of all, our services are all right here, close to home.
General Surgery
Daniel A. Deighton, MD
109 Osigian Boulevard, Suite 300
Warner Robins
478-953-5074
HEALTH
to avoid putting more strain
on the immune system.
■6. Think pungent.
Although certainly no cure
all, garlic and its relatives
- onions, scallions, shal
lots and chives - contain
compounds that may help
slow the spread of cancer
and boost production of can
cer-fighting enzymes. Garlic
may also protect the heart
by making blood less sticky
and helping to lower high
cholesterol levels.
■7. Take teatime.
Mounting evidence sug
gests teatime is more than
an age-old soothing ritual;
it may also help prolong
life. Substances in green tea
have been shown to prevent
or slow the growth of can
cerous tumors.
■B. Avoid antibiotic
overload. According to Dr.
Fazal, antibiotics should be
used only when the immune
system cannot stop a bacte
rial infection or when an
Houston Healthcare
Houston Medical Center ♦ Perry Hospital
www.hhc.org
UROLOGY
infection invades a vital
organ. “Taking an antibiotic
at the first sign of infection
doesn’t give your immune
system a chance to fight dis
ease and become stronger as
a result,” he says. “Overuse
of antibiotics also encour
ages bacteria to develop into
drug-resistant strains.”
■9. Stop smoking.
Chemicals in tobacco may
alter the immune system’s
ability to recognize and
eliminate foreign substances
in the body. Additionally, T
cells, the white blood cells
that coordinate immune-sys
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Run Your Employment Ad With Us, And You’ll Find Them!
$2 S 0 per line per day
$ 13 00 per column inch display
Melvin L.C. Fussell, MD
1011 North Houston Road
Warner Robins
478-923-4040
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006 ♦
Orthopedics
John J. Vecchio, MD
114 Hospital Drive
Warner Robins
478-929-1856
Pictured are
members
of Houston
Healthcare's
Emergency
Medical
Services with
the collected
cans. First
group on left:
Bob Sloan, Billy
Gordon and
Kurt Crumpton.
Second group
on right: Brenda
Dale, Quinton
Head, and David
Bostick.
Contributed
tern attacks, may not func
tion as well in people who
smoke.
■ 10. Sleep soundly. It’s
the best restorative around.
“Among the important by
products of sleep are growth
hormones, which help the
body repair tissue and are
produced mostly during
slow-wave sleep,” explains
Fazal. “Sleep also can help
speed recovery from illness.
At the onset of a cold or
illness, slow down to con
serve energy. Start drinking
plenty of fluids and make it
a point to rest.”
Line Ads Deadline: 2 days prior at 4pm
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Cali Us At 4J$-PB7-t923 or fox: 478-988-9194
or email: nlcolec@eeasnewTpapers.com
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421)76