Newspaper Page Text
14A
February 10, 2005
Living
SENIOR HEALTH FOCUS
Q: Is it true that more women die of sudden
heart attacks than men? J. G. Augusta, Ga.
Yes. Most people know
that heart disease is one of
the primary causes of death
among American men, but
many people still don't real
ize that heart disease also
kills many American
iMONISTAT'|
presents:
UTI: ACOMMON BUT
SERIOUS PROBLEM
‘
4 ? By Dr. Mary Harris
o Most adults have expen
enced the pain and discomfort of a
: _i:'.ri? urinary tract infection (UTI) at one
"“’ time or another, but may not have
R known what it was. The symptoms
of UTI can be Ignored or mistaken for
other conditions. Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen, pain
or stinging during urination and an urgent need to urinate fre
quently, even when the flow 1s just a trickle, can mean an
infection in the urinary tract is present. Left untreated, UTI
can spread to the bladder or kidneys and cause Kidney disease.
Bactena that enter the urinary tract through the ure
thra and multiply in the bladder cause most UTl's. Diabetics
and men with an enlarged prostate are particularly suscepti
ble, along with most women whose urethras are shorter than
men's.
The most used treatment for UTI 1s antibiotic thera
py. but antibiotics kill good bacteria along with the bad and
leave infected persons with reduced defenses to fight future
infections. Instead, many health professionals are now opting
to treat this common problem with a variety of herbal tinc
tures that include marshmallow, uva ursi, and comsilk, among
others. The goal 15 to strengthen the urinary tract system as
well as quell the infection. While the herbs mentioned are
readily available in most health food stores, dosing is impor
tant. A tramed herbalist or physician should oversee herbal
therapies for any condition.
High doses of vitamin C have also proven effective
in treating UTI. Three to five grams of the vitamin daily acid
ifies urine and retards bacterial growth. Alternating streams of
hot and cold water directed toward the pelvic region several
times a day is also a useful therapy to increase blood flow to
the infected area and reduce inflammation.
Your chances of contracting a urinary tract infection
are greatly reduced by remaining fully hydrated with lots of
fresh dninking water. It's estimated that a half-ounce of water
is needed for each pound of body weight, so a 180-pound per
son would need 90 ounces of water daily to guard against this
type of infection, and more if they're physically active.
A balanced diet that avoids wheat, dairy and citrus
fruits (known for promoting low grade inflammatory reac
tions) 1s also beneficial. Avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks.
Good hygiene, especially for women, is essential. Women
should always cleanse themselves from front to back after
using the bathroom. Doing so decreases the amount of bacte
ria introduced into the urethra. Douches, bubble baths, vagi
nal creams, spermicides - even harsh or perfumed laundry
detergents and synthetic underwear- can trigger or aggravate
an infection by upsetting the body's natural protection from
good bacteria.
Cranberries have proven to be highly effective in
battling UTI, but beware! Heavily sugared cranberry juice or
sauce may have the opposite effect since sugar feeds bacteria
rather than killing it. Instead, dilute unsweetened cranberry
Juice concentrate or search your local health food store for
cranberry extract capsules. They may be sold under the Latin
name Vaccinium macrocarpon.
Remember, urinary tract infections can be serious. If
you suspect you have one, please see your doctor immediate
ly. The self-help treatments listed above are preventive meas
ures against future infections, not cures for the one you have.
Always visit www.journeytowellness.com for
more important news about your health.
women. That's why women
often worry more about
their husband’s heart
health than they do their
own. But according to
Doris Tummillo, M.D., a
board-certified cardiologist
AUGUSTA FOCUS
who practices at University,
that could be a fatal mis
take. Here’s why:
Pvety year gbout
370,000 women die of
heart disease.
Another 93,000 women
die of stroke each year.
Overall, about 9 million
American women of all
ages suffer from heart dis
ease.
One in 10 women 45 to
64 years of age has some
form of heart disease.
One in four women older
Top 10 ways to a healthier heart
By Dr. Guy Reed, Chief of
%' Ki(x; Heart Center
§ey e Hiin o
art an
csunalymatedery()O million Amer
cans and many of them dont
even know it. Certain lifestyle
choices, such as smoking,
overeating and eating fooi
high in saturated fat, stress the
heart and contribute to the
development of heart disease.
Its time to listen to your
heart. By making some simple
lifestyle changes, you can
ensure your hearts continuing
good health.
Improve your diet. A
healthy balanced diet that
indu({&a&h fruitlf]. vlcgctablcs,
grains, fish, poultry, lean meat
and low-Fatpc(i)airy helps keep
your body and your heart fit.
Avoid processed foods that are
high in saturated fat, choles
terol and trans farty acids.
- Lower your fat and choles
terol. The American Heart
Association recommends that
ple reduce their saturated
gommkc t less than 7 percent
of their total calorie intake per
day and reduce cholesterol con
sumption to less than 200
fid Xay in order to lower bl£§
‘Pid&fk a healthy weight. A
- a weight.
bod{ mass index (l{MI) of 18.5
to 24.9 is considered health
and helps to prevent the dzvcf-’
opment of d%betcs. To clcu-
Mental health commission moves to fix group home staffing rules
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)
~State mental health officials
have taken their first step
toward correcting a mistake
that allowed group home oper
ators to collect state payments
for workers they did not
employ.
The problem — in which the
state pays group homes under a
model that assumes there at
least two workers for every
three children, while state rules
require only one worker for
every four children — was high
lighted in a series of stories this
week in The Charlotte Observ
er.
State officials have acknowl
edged that they changed the
reimbursement model without
ever changing the rules that
governed the ratio of workers
to children. They have said the
group homes by tens of mil
lions of dollars during the past
three budget years.
The homes for mentally ill
children, many of which are
run as for-profit businesses,
than 65 suffers some form
of heart disease.
So its important for
women to learn all they can
about heart disease. And
University can help
through its Women'’s
HeartAdvantageO Pro
gram. The program edu
cates women about heart
disease and lifestyle
changes that will help pro
tect their hearts and the
hearts of those they love.
In February, which is
American Heart Month,
i ur weight in poun
by yo&? height in Pi(r)mhcs
squared. Mlfllt\i/i)ly by 703.
- Exercise. Moderate exercise
for a minimum of 30 minutes
on most-preferably all-days of
the week promotes a health
heart. d(l}aancmbg: to consuft,
your doctor before starting a
new exercise program, especial
ly if you have been sedentary,
are overweight, are middle
aged or older, or have a medical
oonQdJ:lion. king, Your rik of
“Quit smo our risk o
having a heart attack is [r?:
reduced if you quit. Your%:l
care pmvi£ can help by offer
ing advice as well as prescribing
medications, nicotine patches
and other methods that can
help you stop for good. Also t?'
to avoid exposure to second
hand smoke.
- Lower your blood pressure.
High blood pressure, also
known as hypertension, can
lead to heart disease. Losing
weight, limiting alcohol intake,
increasing physical activity and
reducing salt in the diet help
rcducen%flgh blood pressure.
Remember that normal read
ings are at 120/80 mm Hg or
lower. Have your blood pres
sure checked at least once a
- Take aspirin. Those who are
at high risk for developing heart
disease within 10 yaxsnsmould
consult with their physician
took in $165 million in taxpay
er money last year.
On Wednesday, a subcom
mittee of the N.C. Mental
Health Commission approved
a plan to raise minimum
staffing requirements at the
group homes to one worker for
every two children. The pro
posal, which needs approval
from the full commission,
could take effect as early as July.
At Wednesday's meeting, the
chief of dinical policy for the
N.C. Division of Mental
Health urged the change.
“As was so accurately pointed
out by The Charlotte Observer
recently, the (staffing) ratio did
nt match the cost model”
under which many group
homes are paid, Dr. Michael
Lancaster said.
Lancaster had previously told
The Observer that he didn't
want to move too quickly to
change the staffing ratios, fear
ing that might drive so many
group home operators out of
the business that the state
would not have enough beds to
University is holding a
series of FREE Women’s
HeartAdvantageO Health
Fairs that will provide the
education, encouragement
and support women often
need to embark on a heart
healthy lifestyle. Activities
will include health risk
assessments, heart-healthy
screenings, information
and coaching, and special
gifts and door prizes
The health fairs will be
held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
on Saturday, Feb. 12 at
about the health benefits of tak
ing a low-dose aspirin daily.
- Control dhl)la?anmin-
Eood control o s
i::lvg results in less strain or?fi?;
?hca:]td Those kc:vf;ttl}\] digll:etes
0 to eir fastin
blood gitfxymsc levels at less thaxgx
110 mg/dL.
- Know the risk factors.
Uncontrollable risk factors for
heart disease include bein
gg‘cfiy thh:tn 65,f ethml;gty an§
ory. If you know you
are at risk, you can makcyt(})\e
lifestyle adjustments necessary
to decrease your risk.
- Know LKgmmin? signs. If
{ou recognize any of the fol
owing, act quickg!. The warn
ing Sim of a heart attack may
include:
an uncomfortable pressure,
fullness, aching, squeezing,
burning Fa.in or ightness in the
center of your chest that may
spread to your shoulders, neck,
jaw or arms and that lasts for
two minutes or longer sweat
ing, dizziness or fainung o nau
sea, vomiting or a feeling of
severe indigestion shortness of
br@l;th .
you are experiencing any of
these sympm scckanfimcfical
care immediately.
This February, make a com
mitment to imMproving your
heart health. You'll reap the
benefits for years to come.
MCG Health System is
composed of three separate
serve children who need places.
The homes served about
4,000 children last year.
But on Wednesday, Lancast
er said the newspapers articles
convinced state officials they
need to move now.
The proposals will go before
the full commission in Febru
ary. If approved, a lengthy peri
od of required public comment
and legal scrutiny would fol
low. Officials said they are
pushing the changes through as
fast as they legally can.
In September, 12-year-old
Shirley Arciszewski died after a
Charlotte group home worker
tried to restrain her by lying on
top of her. State officials have
said the worker, who was alone
with Shirley and another child,
was not fully trained and the
group home where she lived
had not been inspected in two
years.
Reimbursement rates were
increased in 2001, but state
officials failed to push the
staffing rules changes that
would have justified the rate
Dilliard’s in Augusta Mall,
Saturday, Feb 19 at Dil
liard’s in Aiken Mall and
Saturday, Feb. 26 at Dil
liard’s in National Hills.
If you have a question
youd like answered in this
column, want more infor
mation about heart disease
or would like to order a
FREE Women’s HeartAd
vantagco Information Kit,
call University’s Heart Line
at 706/828-2828 or toll
free at 866/601-2828.
organizations — MCG
Health, Inc. and the dinical
services offered by the faculty
employees of the Medical Col
lege of Georgia and the mem
bers of the Physicians Practice
Group.
The physicians of MCG
Health System are community
physicians and faculty employ
ees of the Medical College of
Georgia .and the Physicians
Practice Group, not employees
of MCG Health Inc. MCG
Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit
corporation operating the
MCG Medical Center, MCG
Childrens Medical Center, the
MCG Sports Medicine Center,
MCG Ambulatory Care Cen
ter, the Georgia Radiation
Therapy Center and related
dinicj facilities and services.
MCG Health, Inc. was formed
to support the research and
education mission of the Med
ical College of Georgia and to
build the economic growth of
the CSRA, the state of Georgia
and the Southeast by providing
an environment for faculty
employees of the Medical Col
lege of Georgia and the Physi
cians Practice Group and com
munity physicians to deliver
the hif]'u:st level of primary and
specialty health care. For more
information, please visit
www.MCGHealth.org,
increase through the mental
health commission.
Since 2000, the number of
group homes operating in the
state has tripled, along with the
amount of Medicaid money
spent on them.
As a result of the pay and
staffing oversight, the state and
Medicaid have spent about
$66 million through June
2004 for improved staffing
ratios state officials never forced
group homes to obey. The
paper has said it is impossible to
know how much of that was
wasted, as some group home
operators increased staffing
even though it was not
required.
The Observer series cited
experts on the problem who
said many homes are poorly
run and badly supervised. The
explosion of group homes has
so overwhelmed state regula
tors that they limit oversight to
responding to complaints,