Don't Let Smoking Break Your Heart

By Maureen Deutermann, MSN, R.N.
Director of Community Education

One of the toughest, and saddest, experiences of my nursing career occurred while I was an Administrative Nursing Coordinator (ANC) right here at Sentara Potomac Hospital. A relatively young man, in his 40’s, had suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite extensive efforts on the part of the Emergency Care Center team, he did not survive. It was my unenviable task to accompany the emergency physician to inform the family. After breaking the news as gently as possible, the physician softly posed the question, "Did he smoke?" The answer was yes.

At the time I remember wondering why of all questions, the doctor asked that one. After all, this was a case of undetected heart disease, not lung cancer or emphysema. A little research on my part quickly gave me the answer: smoking increases the risk for heart disease, and for young people who smoke (under age 50) the relative risk factor is even greater than for those over 50.

All smokers should understand exactly how they are assaulting their hearts every time they light up. Smoking increases blood pressure, decreases HDL (“good” cholesterol), decreases exercise tolerance and increases chance of blood clots. Continuing to smoke after heart surgery increases the risk of recurring heart disease. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives greatly increase their risk of heart disease and stroke compared to their non-smoking counterparts. A smoker with a family history of heart disease greatly increases his/her risk to follow in their family’s footsteps.

Cigarette smoking is so prevalent (1 out of 5 Americans smoke) and significant a risk factor that the Surgeon General has declared it “the leading preventable cause of disease and deaths in the United States.” If you are a smoker there is no time more perfect than February, American Heart Month, to put down cigarettes for good.

Online resources abound: check out the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or American Lung Association’s website for assistance.

Need face to face support? Sentara Potomac Hospital offers a Nicotine Anonymous Support Group every Wednesday evening from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Hylton Education Center. Please, don’t let cigarettes break your heart!

Need to Know Your Heart Health Numbers?

Register for Sentara Potomac Hospital's special Heart Screening which includes:

~Complete 12-lead EKG Reading (includes atrial fibrillation screening)
~Cholesterol Test
~Blood Pressure Check and
~A Heart Risk Evaluation

After the screening, participants are sent a pocket-sized card with an image of your baseline EKG on one side and essential emergency information and cardiac history on the other.

These screenings are now full. If you would like to be put on the waiting list for upcoming screenings, please call 703-221-2500.

A Patient’s Best Friend? Pooches Play Happy Role in Recovery

Man’s best friend...the incomparable Lassie, Frazier’s Eddie, the first-dog, Bo. There’s something special about a human and his dog and the invisible bond that ties the two together forever. Having a dog as your friend means a lot of cuddling, playing and maybe a little drooling. Canine companionship has been proven to improve the quality of life for millions of people.

There’s no reason why the benefits of pet companionship shouldn’t be shared with others including those who are in the hospital. Research has shown that when therapy dogs visit patients in the hospital, the patients’ spirits are raised and heart rates and blood pressures decrease. Also, they help people cope with life changes, loneliness, and disease recovery.

Potomac Hospital has a Pet Therapy Program that is made up of specially trained volunteers and their dogs who have met the rigorous criteria established through Therapy Dog International and Delta Society - nationally recognized training and registration programs for people and their pets.

“Before becoming a registered Pet Therapy Dog, the dogs and the owners must pass health screenings, skills tests and aptitude tests,” explains Ann Boyle, who’s the volunteer coordinator of Potomac’s Pet Therapy Program. “All of us who volunteer at Sentara Potomac have undergone extensive training. In addition to training and tests, both the dog and handler have to possess the demeanor and personality to visit patients.”

Our Pet Therapy Program members include Ann Boyle and Sadie, a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever; Anita Rose and Triton, a 4-year-old Portuguese Water Dog; Kris Campesi and Golden Retrievers Titus and Buddy; and our newest members, Jayda, and her owner, Marlene Abshire; and Marianne, a clumber spaniel and Molly, a boxer, and their owner, Nicole Bukowski. Jayda (pictured) is a five-year-old Rottweiler-Sheep Dog mix who loves pizza crust, people and lots of attention.

“Patients, staff and visitors love to see the Pet Therapy Dogs,” says Boyle. “People really perk up when they see us coming and that’s wonderful.”

Loving Dad Leaves Healthy Legacy

By Maureen Deutermann, MSN
Director of Community Education

He was my hero, my mentor, my friend. When I was little, he made me oatmeal for breakfast. I never could tell him that I didn't like oatmeal. His frequent compliment, "you look so pretty, honey," did more to build a gawky teenager's self esteem than any other words. He encouraged me to pursue not only nursing, but a college degree as well, noting I would be glad of it in years to come (I was, and still am!).

My daughter fondly remembers his standard telephone greeting: a boisterous rendition of "Yes we have no Bananas!" He had a wonderful heart, but not a physically healthy one. He was my father, and when he died of a cardiac arrest 22 years ago, a light went out in my life.

I hope I inherited some of my father’s wonderful traits: he was a gentle, compassionate man who made a mark in his own little corner of the world. I do know that I inherited one of the risk factors which eventually contributed to his heart disease: high blood pressure.

Fortunately, I had uncharacteristic headaches which led me to employee health to have my blood pressure checked. It was, to put it mildly, “sky high” for a woman in her early thirties and has been kept in check with medications ever since. I say “fortunately” because the headaches were a warning; for most, the onset of high blood pressure has no symptoms, ergo its nickname “the silent killer.”

So it is with other risk factors for heart disease: high cholesterol doesn’t come up and introduce itself to the unsuspecting victim, and some 7 million Americans are unknowingly walking around with diabetes, a condition which greatly increases risk of heart disease.

The irony is this: heart disease remains the biggest killer of both men and women in this country, yet remains one of the most preventable diseases if risk factors are recognized and reckoned with. So what can one do to beat heart disease at its own game?

First, know that you are what your parents are. If mom or dad had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or heart disease you are at greater risk for these conditions.

Second, know your numbers. If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked recently, or have not had a blood test to check your lipid profile (includes total, LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) and a fasting glucose (test for diabetes), do it! What you don’t know could kill you, quite literally. Your physician can advise you when and how often these tests are warranted, considering age and existing risk factors. I am faithfully and gratefully on my doctor’s doorstep every three months to make sure my blood pressure remains well-controlled. If you are already on medication for any of these conditions never, ever stop taking them without consulting your physician!

Third, take stock of your life style habits. Being overweight, sedentary, and poorly managing stress all contribute to increasing your risk of heart disease. Smokers beware: if you think your greatest risk from this horrific habit is lung cancer you are wrong: heart disease kills far more smokers than lung cancer.

My father’s life light was extinguished far too early. For your loved ones’ sake as well as your own, let your own light shine brightly on, by adopting a proactive attitude toward health!

Need to know your heart health numbers? Register for Sentara Potomac Hospital's special Heart Screening which includes: Complete 12-lead EKG Reading (includes atrial fibrillation screening), Cholesterol Test, Blood Pressure Check and a Heart Risk Evaluation. After the screening, participants are sent a pocket-sized card with an image of your baseline EKG on one side and essential emergency information and cardiac history on the other. Register online now or call 703-221-2500.

Reference: americanheart.org; diabetes.org

American Cancer Society Offers Clinical Trials Matching Service

The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Clinical Trials Matching Service is a free, confidential program that helps patients, their families, and healthcare workers find cancer clinical trials most appropriate to a patient’s medical and personal situation.

Cancer clinical trials are research studies to find new drugs or methods to prevent, detect or treat cancer. Doctors use this research to learn whether a new treatment is safe and effective in patients. Such studies are vital to the development of new cancer treatments, prevention and early detection methods. ACS specialists are trained to answer questions about clinical trial participation and to open the door to treatment options available through research studies.

ACS helps you navigate through the clinical trial system by putting patients in contact with the coordinators for studies in which they are interested. For more information on the ACS Clinical Matching Service, please call 1-800-303-5691 or visit clinicaltrials.cancer.org.

Representative Gerry Connolly Tours Sentara Potomac Hospital

The Hon. Gerry Connolly, U.S. House of Representatives, visited the Sentara Potomac Hospital Laboratory to experience the critical and expanding role laboratory testing plays in patient care. Rep. Connolly was greeted and given a tour of Sentara’s facilities by Dr. Jerome O’Connell. Pictured left to right: Michele Herman, histotechnician, Dr. Claudine Morcos, Dr. Janna Kelleher, Dr. Jerome O’Connell and Representative Connolly.

The tour focused on the important role of pathologists in healthcare, and included a demonstration of how pathologists use cutting-edge technology and laboratory tests to screen for cancer and precancerous lesions. Of particular interest was a discussion on the need to preserve the important role pathologists can play as a diagnostic consultant for patient care.

“The tour demonstrated how the Laboratory’s role is a vital component of patient care from diagnosis to treatment. Using state-of-the-art technology, pathologists can look at individual specimens and laboratory tests, provide a rapid diagnosis, and help guide patient treatment,” said Dr. O’Connell “We are honored that Representative Connolly would take time out of his busy schedule to visit our Laboratory.”

New Help for Couples

Achieving natural pregnancy for women by treating male infertility

Many people do not realize that male reproductive problems account for about 20 percent of all infertility cases. What’s more, in an additional 30 percent of cases it’s a combined male/female issue. Between 15 and 20 percent of couples are diagnosed with infertility when they are unable to conceive a baby after one year of unprotected intercourse.

According to Dr. Ash Kshirsagar, a urologist on Sentara Potomac Hospital’s medical staff and director of Male Infertility at Potomac Urology, identifying and treating male infertility take the burden off many women who may unknowingly undergo unnecessary, painful and very costly fertility treatments.

“Common fertility problems in men such as underlying blood flow problems, obstruction in the reproductive tubes, and side effects from medications can be treated fairly easily and can give couples a great chance at natural pregnancy,” explains Dr. Kshirsagar. “This is excellent news for women who may mistakenly assume that they need to undergo fertility treatment when they have problems conceiving a baby.”

Dr. Kshirsagar is the only physician in the area who is fellowship-trained in male infertility and microscopic surgery, which he uses at Sentara Potomac Hospital to treat male infertility problems.

“Microsurgery allows me to precisely treat the affected area to allow for better sperm production,” says Dr. Kshirsagar. “We can also use this type of surgery to perform vasectomy reversals. Men who wish to reverse their vasectomy (elective male sterilization that blocks sperm from entering semen) now have a very effective option that can increase their chance of successful reversal to about 90 percent.

“These procedures have provided excellent outcomes for many men and couples,” says Dr. Kshirsagar. “Infertility can be a very trying issue for couples and it’s gratifying to know that we can help these couples reach their dreams of becoming parents.”

Need help finding a doctor? Call our Health Connection at 703-221-2500 or go online.