1-800-4BAYLOR Ray of Hope - BSWHealth · was anxiety,” she says. At first, the racing episodes struck just a few times a year. But beginning in June 2009, her symptoms started hitting

Visit BaylorHealth.com for informative videos, interactive quizzes, online event registration, and much more.

Ray of HopeLinda Burket beat breast cancer thanks to new diagnosis and treatment options at Baylor page 4

Cryoablation puts a ‘freeze’ on racing heartbeatspage 2

Is breast cancer in your genes?page 3

Take control of chronic painpage 6

Try these five heart-smart tips page 10

1-800-4BAYLOR September 2010

FdBL091002_Grapevine.indd 1 7/12/10 9:44:58 AM

A Steady RhythmCardiac specialists can help calm a racing heart

W hen Patricia Keeter’s heart started racing, she first blamed stress. “My mom was sick, so I thought it was anxiety,” she says. At first, the racing episodes struck

just a few times a year. But beginning in June 2009, her symptoms started hitting several times a week, sometimes waking her up at night. The attacks lasted 15 minutes to an hour or more, and left her feeling dizzy and exhausted. When the racing spells came on while she was driving, she was forced to pull over to the side of the road and wait for the symptoms to subside.

Keeter, 49, of Southlake, saw a cardiologist who diagnosed her with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a condition in which the heart’s electrical system triggers fast heartbeats. While medication can sometimes control the symptoms, it can also cause side effects.

Just a few years ago, surgical treatment would have meant open-heart surgery. But a newer, minimally invasive procedure, called cryoablation, freezes the abnormal pathways that interfere with the heart’s electrical impulses. With these pathways blocked, the heart beats normally.

Scott Greenberg, M.D., medical director of the heart rhythm service at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, says that doctors thread wires to the heart through a small incision in the groin, take electrical measurements, and find and freeze the abnormal circuit. “The success rate is very high and most patients can expect a cure of their typical SVT,” he adds.

Patients generally spend one night in the hospital for observation and need to be cautious with the groin area for about 10 days while they heal.

Keeter had the surgery in April 2010 and hasn’t had another spell since. She is back to spending time with her husband, son and daughter without worrying about her heart.

Dr. Greenberg says that while most people don’t feel well during or after a racing spell, they are more worried about

when the next spell might occur. “They are afraid to fly on an airplane, attend a wedding or even watch their kids. They want it taken care of permanently.” With cryoablation, they can do exactly that. l By Stephanie Thurrott

Get Back in the BeatTo learn more about cardiac care at Baylor Grapevine, please call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/GrapevineHeart. For a referral to a cardiologist on the Baylor Grapevine medical staff, visit FindDrRight.com.

Patricia Keeter

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine 1650 W. College, Grapevine, TX 76051

Director of Marketing: Dee Dee Ogrin

Marketing/PR Consultant: LaKisha Miller

Physician Liaison: Chris Orona

Community Relations Coordinator: Rachel Nobles

Cardiovascular Marketing Consultant: Elizabeth Ables

SportsCare Representative: Adam Brooks

Baylor Grapevine Main Number: 817-481-1588

Baylor Grapevine Physician Referral: 1-800-4BAYLOR (1-800-422-9567)

Educational Programs: 817-329-2878

Baylor Grapevine Diagnostic Imaging Center: 817-305-5010

Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Keller: 817-482-2000

Baylor Grapevine Women’s Center: 817-424-4500

24-Hour Emergency: 817-329-2523

Baylor Therapy Center: 817-329-2524

Clinical Nutrition Programs: 817-329-2569

Baylor Grapevine Volunteer Services/Auxiliary: 817-329-2665

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1-800-4BAYLOR for information about Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more.BaylorHealth is published six times a year by McMurry. © 2010 Baylor Health Care System.

The material in BaylorHealth is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those med ical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine or Baylor Health Care System. Some physicians are employees of

Health Texas Provider Network. Baylor Medical Plaza at Keller is not a legal entity but a location for the provision of health care services.

Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients.

If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Marketing Department, Dallas, TX 75201, or e-mail the information to [email protected].

2 BaylorHealth September 2010 l For a physician referral, visit FindDrRight.com


Elise Bair of Flower Mound always suspected she would develop breast cancer. “It goes back four

or five generations,” she says. “I had my first mammogram when I was 20 because I knew there was a strong history of breast cancer in my family.”

Bair has always been diligent about performing monthly breast self-exams, and in September 2009, at age 43, she found a lump in her left breast. Within four days, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Based on her family history, she decided to undergo genetic testing at The Breast Center at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine to see if she carried a gene that put her at higher risk for breast cancer.

She did. “I had already made the decision to

have a double mastectomy, and the results reassured me in my decision,” she says. The results also encouraged her younger sister to get tested. And Bair’s own children—12-year-old twin sons and 7-year-old daughter—will be tested when they turn 18. (The gene increases the boys’ risk for prostate cancer and breast cancer.)

Along with the double mastectomy, Bair had a hysterectomy and eight rounds of chemotherapy to help fight and prevent cancer. She has regular blood tests and CT scans to watch for signs of the cancer’s recurrence.

William Gregory, M.D., a radiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine, recommends genetic testing for any woman who has a parent or sibling who developed breast cancer before age 50. The test itself requires just a blood sample. If certain genes—called BRCA 1 and 2—are mutated, they indicate an increased risk for breast cancer.

“Women who are carrying these genes have a 60 percent chance of developing breast cancer by age 90,” Dr. Gregory says. If a woman tests positive, she may choose to screen with MRIs and

When the Risk of Breast Cancer Is in Your GenesTesting for BRCA 1 and 2 is available at Baylor Grapevine

Want to Get Tested? If you’d like more information regarding BRCA testing, talk to your physician. To find out more about The Breast Center at Baylor Grapevine, visit BaylorHealth.com/GrapevineBreastCenter.

mammograms, alternating every six months, to pick up any signs of cancer as early as possible.

Others, like Bair, choose double mastectomy to reduce their risk. But whatever they decide, the genetic testing results give them the information they need to make an informed, educated decision. l By Stephanie Thurrott

Elise Bair

To make a donation, visit BaylorHealth.com/WaystoGive l September 2010 BaylorHealth 3


FFacing breast cancer? At Baylor you have options in diagnosis and treatment

For Linda Burket, 57, of Irving, the decision to have a lumpec-tomy 10 days after she received a diagnosis of breast cancer came relatively easily. “I just wanted to get that baby out,” she says.

And while nearly all cases of breast cancer involve surgery, there are variables in treatment—as well as in screening and diagnosis—that women have to consider. It’s all thanks to the technological advances and range of options available today.

The Best DetectionMonthly breast self-exams are important, but they’re no substitute for mammograms. “I somewhat kept up with self-exams,” Burket says. “But even after they did the mammogram and found the lump, I couldn’t feel it myself.”

“Mammograms have been part of the improvement in survival rates,” says Bryan Maupin, M.D., a radiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton. “Annual screenings should begin at 40 for most women. If there is a family history, they should begin 10 years prior to the family member’s age at diagnosis or 40, whichever is earlier.”

Don’t put off your appointment, says Amy Balis, M.D., a radiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Irving. “Yes, they are slightly uncomfortable, and it’s diff erent for every woman. But the whole process takes about fi ve min-utes, and it’s worth it.”

Determining a DiagnosisIf an abnormality is found with mammography, you’ll be asked to come back for further testing. Your doctor may order a diagnostic mammogram, in which additional images are taken of the suspicious area. Or, you may have an ultrasound, breast MRI or molecular breast imaging (MBI), all of which are helpful in the diagnosis and staging of cancer.

If the lump needs further investigation, a biopsy will be performed to determine if the cells are cancerous. Most biopsies can be performed with a needle using local anesthetic.

Which Surgery Is Right for Me?Because Burket’s cancer was caught early, her doctor recom-mended a lumpectomy to remove only the tumor and some surrounding tissue. “He was very optimistic that he’d get it all,” she says.

Burket wasn’t off her feet for long. “I had the surgery on a Friday, and I was driving by the fol-lowing Tuesday. All in all, I was off work about a week,” she says.

Lumpectomy has a faster recovery time than mastectomy, which typi-cally requires an over-night hospital stay and a couple weeks of recovery.

“While many women think they need a mastectomy, only a small number of cases truly require it,” says Edward Clifford, M.D., a breast cancer surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. “It’s largely a patient-driven decision.”

“For the most part, we try to at least give the option of lumpectomy,” says Valerie Gorman, M.D., a surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie. “But some women still decide on full mastectomy.”

“Every breast cancer is a little diff erent,” says Joseph D. Heyne, M.D., a surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. “We look at how big the cancer is in relation to the breast and its location—if it’s in one spot or scattered throughout.”

Decisions,Decisions

By Shelley Flannery

Mammo Myth or Fact?How much do you know about mammograms? Take our quiz about this lifesaving screening at BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast. And don’t forget to schedule your mammogram this year. If you need a physician on the Baylor medical staff , call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit FindDrRight.com.

4 BaylorHealth September 2010 ● For the career of a lifetime, go to BaylorHealth.com/Careers

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 4 8/16/10 8:24:42 AM

CELEBRATING WOMENDo you have a family member or friend aff ected by breast cancer? Help fi ght this dis-ease by attending the 11th annual Celebrating Women luncheon, benefi ting breast cancer research, outreach, community education and expanded technology, at 11:45 a.m., Oct. 21 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas.

This year, L.A. Law’s Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker will be our featured speakers. Eikenberry was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986 and wants women to know that they’re not battling this disease alone. She and her husband, Michael, tell their breast cancer jour-ney with hope and humor, inspiring others to live full and vibrant lives.

Over the past decade, Celebrating Women has raised more than $11 million thanks to the generous donations of more than 1,300 attendees each year.

For more information about the Celebrating Women luncheon, please call 214-820-4500 or send an

e-mail with the subject line Celebrating Women to [email protected]. You also can

fi nd information online at BaylorHealth.com/CelebratingWomen.


L.A. LawTucker will be our featured speakers. Eikenberry was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986 and wants women to know that they’re not battling this disease alone. She and her husband, Michael, tell their breast cancer jour-ney with hope and humor, inspiring others to live full and vibrant lives.


For more information about the Celebrating Women luncheon, please call

e-mail with the subject line Celebrating Women to [email protected]

fi nd information online at CelebratingWomen


This year, L.A. LawTucker will be our featured speakers. Eikenberry was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1986 and wants women to know that they’re not battling this disease alone. She and her husband, Michael, tell their breast cancer jour-ney with hope and humor, inspiring others to live full and vibrant lives.


For more information about the Celebrating Women luncheon, please call

e-mail with the subject line Celebrating Women to [email protected]

fi nd information online at CelebratingWomen

Learn More About LindaAfter treatment at Baylor, Linda Burket is once more enjoying the things she loves. Watch her story at BaylorHealth.com/MyStory.

Chemotherapy and RadiationFollowing surgery, patients generally undergo radiation or chemotherapy to kill

off any remaining cancer cells. External beam radiation involves directing the radiation at the breast from outside

the body. “It’s just like getting an X-ray; there is no pain,” says Anand Shivnani, M.D., a radia-

tion oncologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Irving. “It’s given once a day, fi ve days a week for

about six weeks.”Partial breast irradiation, which uses a radioactive source

that’s temporarily inserted in the breast, is given twice a day for just fi ve days. And the side eff ects—including redness, itching and peeling at the radiation site and fatigue—are lessened.

Burket’s external radiation caused mild fatigue. “But I was still able to walk two miles every day like I always do,” she says. And today, two and a half years after her diagnosis, she says she’s feeling great. ●

Visit us at BaylorHealth.com ● September 2010 BaylorHealth 5

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 5 8/6/10 11:12:03 AM

Get Control of PainVisit BaylorHealth.com/Pain to fi nd out more about pain management options at Baylor.

Nancy Ladd understands how chronic pain can take over your life. The persistent pain she

experienced following back surgery in 2003 caused diffi culty in every activity she enjoyed—from managing her fi ne jewelry business to gardening and playing cards.

“I was extremely depressed because I felt my life as I knew it had completely changed,” says Ladd, 60, who tried every treatment from steroid injections to acupuncture to massage.

In 2008, Ladd’s doctor referred her to the Baylor Center for Pain Management in Richardson. The inter-disciplinary team taught her techniques

to control the pain and start taking back her life.

“I’ve become more tolerant of the pain,” says Ladd, of Austin. “I have learned that I’ve got to change the way I do things and take care of myself.”

A Vicious CircleNo matter the source of pain—from neck, mid- and low-back problems, post-surgical spine conditions, headaches, sports or work injuries, or illness—patients with chronic pain experience frustration, anxiety and depression. They may withdraw from friends and family. Marriages may become strained.

“We understand now that chronic pain creates a vicious circle of depres-sion, fatigue and sleeplessness,” says Christopher Ince, M.D., an interventional pain management anesthesiologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth. “When you view those conditions together, they hinder the healing pro-cess. Your entire immune system is compromised. So having chronic pain actually can increase your risk of devel-oping other conditions.”

Restoring HopeBaylor’s four Centers for Pain Management offer comprehensive, interdisciplinary programs custom-ized to meet each patient’s personal needs, including a strong educational

component, says Richard Vera, M.D., medical director at the Baylor Center for Pain Management at Grapevine. The center’s approach to pain manage-ment, for both acute and chronic pain conditions, addresses both physical and emotional needs.

“We incorporate a variety of multidisciplinary techniques to help people reduce their pain and improve their functioning, address their

Preventing PainEveryone experiences pain sometimes, but there are ways to prevent injuries that cause pain conditions. Here are a few tips:● Exercise. You don’t have to go to the

gym—walking is great exercise.● Strengthen core muscles (the abs and

back) to increase the spine’s support.● Maintain a healthy weight.

● Use good body mechanics when lift-ing heavy objects. Bend your knees and let your legs do the lifting instead of your back.

● Use common sense. Don’t try to move a heavy couch by yourself, or jog 10 miles when you’re not conditioned for it. “Do only what you’re fi t for and accustomed to doing,” Dr. Vera says.

Nancy Ladd is now living with

less pain.

A Plan for PainTake control of chronic pain before it takes control of you

6 BaylorHealth September 2010 ● BaylorHealth.com

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 6 7/14/10 1:11:08 PM

A Plan to Manage Acute PainMany people experience episodes of acute pain—that is, pain lasting less than three months. In fact, nearly one-half of the patients seen at Baylor’s Pain Management Centers are treated for acute pain, according to Richard Vera, M.D., medical director at the Baylor Center for Pain Management at Grapevine. Acute pain typically is associated with an injury, such as yard work or lifting heavy objects.

“Traditionally, acute pain is of an infl ammatory nature, as opposed to chronic pain, which is more a result of structural changes [in the body],” Dr. Vera says.

Acute pain often responds well to “conservative” treatments, Dr. Vera says, including rest, anti-infl am-matory drugs and limiting usage of the aff ected part. Other treatments for acute pain include physical therapy or nonsurgical procedures such as injectable steroids or cortisone.

depression, address their inactivity and immobility, and give them tools to man-age their pain,” Dr. Vera says.

Baylor’s treatment options for acute and chronic pain include:

● Injections, such as steroids or cortisone, to reduce swelling and pressure on the nerves

● Burning or freezing nerve endings to eliminate pain sensation

● Spinal cord stimulators to block pain signals to the brain

● Aquatics and physical therapy for con-ditioning and strengthening muscles

● Biofeedback, a technique of controlling one’s heart rate and breathing to promote deep relaxation

● Group therapy and individual counselingBaylor also off ers a four-week

Comprehensive Outpatient Program that incorporates the techniques listed above into an intensive day-treatment program.

“People who are dealing with pain often are unaware that there are very powerful techniques that they can learn and take with them for a lifetime,” says Timothy Clark, Ph.D., program direc-tor for the Comprehensive Outpatient Program and a licensed psychologist at Baylor Dallas. “These can help them feel better, have more hope and get back into the swing of life again.” ● By Karen Doss Bowman

BaylorHealth.com ● September 2010 BaylorHealth 7

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 7 7/14/10 1:12:58 PM

Zsa-Zsa Brown of Rowlett was con-stantly exhausted. And when she started nodding off at stoplights,

she knew she needed to fi gure out what was going on.

“Driving home from work was painful, because I had to force myself to keep my eyes open,” Brown says. “I just wanted to pull over and take a nap.”

Finding AnswersThe 47-year-old customer service supervisor turned to the Sleep Center at Baylor Medical Center at Garland, where a comprehensive sleep study was performed. She was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition in which breath-ing stops briefl y during sleep, usually because of blocked airways. Brown now uses a breathing device to keep her air-ways open while she sleeps.

“Even after one night, I felt well-rested and had more energy,” she says. “And I continue to feel that way.”

Most people who have trouble sleeping talk to their primary care doctor fi rst, says Ahmed Raza, M.D., a sleep specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Garland. “Sometimes the sleep issues are short-term and resolve on their own,” he says.

What You Can DoInsomnia, which is among the most common sleep disorders, can often be addressed through lifestyle changes. Drinking caff eine in the late afternoon and evening can disrupt sleep, as can eating dinner too late or drinking too much alcohol.

Raul Noriega, RPSGT, a sleep tech-nologist/therapist at the Sleep Center at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, recommends avoiding

vigorous exercise in the evening too close to bedtime.

Edwin Charnock, M.D., and Jack Gardner, M.D., sleep medicine special-ists on the medical staff at the Sleep

Center at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, agree that consistency in your sleep schedule is essential.

“It’s particularly important to wake up within 30 or 45 minutes

of the same time seven days a week,” Dr. Gardner says.

If you have trouble falling asleep, get up and do something relaxing like read-ing until you’re sleepy, instead of tossing and turning. “Turn the clock toward the wall so you’re not tempted to lie there and watch it,” Dr. Charnock says. “And don’t assume that poor sleep is just part of life, because it doesn’t have to be.”

Seek medical advice so you can begin to rest easy. ● By Amy Lynn Smith

A Better BedtimeWhat to do when rest doesn’t come easy

Diagnosing Sleep IssuesWhen should you seek professional advice about sleep problems? “When they’re disturb-ing your daily life,” says David Luterman, M.D., sleep medicine specialist and medical direc-tor on the medical staff at the Sleep Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

“Whether you’re unable to fall asleep, or you feel sleepy during the day, or your sleep is just unsatisfactory, it’s better to address the problem sooner rather than later,” he says.

After an initial evaluation, some patients may spend the night at a sleep center— like one of the six locations Baylor operates—for a sleep study to check for specifi c sleep disorders.

Sleep WellTo fi nd the Baylor Sleep Center nearest you, or for more information, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

A Better BedtimeWhat to do when rest doesn’t come easy

After a sleep study at Baylor, Zsa-Zsa

Brown is fi nally getting a good

night’s rest.

8 BaylorHealth September 2010 ● Sick? Click. Visit BaylorHealth.com

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 8 7/14/10 4:02:02 PM

Many scientifi c discoveries about major health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease began with the study of rare disorders. And Baylor researchers are hoping the

same could be true with their study of Fabry disease, a meta-bolic disorder that’s a risk factor for stroke, heart disease and kidney disease.

Fabry disease is a genetic condition that involves a defi ciency of a particular enzyme, which prevents the body from metabo-lizing a specifi c group of lipids, a fatty substance in the body. Lipid disorders are a known risk factor for heart disease and stroke—even in people without Fabry’s.

“I think if we better understand the mechanism of Fabry disease, we will be able to better understand heart disease, stroke and kidney disease,” says Raphael Schiff mann, M.D., MHSc, director of the Kimberly H. Courtwright and Joseph W. Summers Institute of Metabolic Disease (IMD), a compo-nent of the Baylor Research Institute.

Learning how the primary abnormality involved with Fabry’s manifests in a disease such as kidney disease could help Dr. Schiff mann and his colleagues gain new insights into the disease process. “We hope that the knowledge we gain

about this relatively rare disease will be generalized to more common disorders,” he says.

Dr. Schiff mann also hopes to iden-tify people with Fabry’s who have not been diagnosed but are at risk. The condition is often overlooked when there’s a more obvi-ous health issue to

diagnose, like a heart attack. There is a treatment available for Fabry’s, which Dr. Schiff mann says is more eff ective when the condition is diagnosed as early as possible.

IMD is conducting a large study of heart disease patients admitted to three Baylor locations, who are off ered the chance to be screened for Fabry’s. Patients without heart disease are also being screened as a control group. In another study, IMD researchers are testing the current treatment for Fabry’s.

“Baylor cares about people with rare disorders just as much as we do about those with common disorders,” Dr. Schiff mann says. “With our research, we hope to be able to learn more about both.” ● By Amy Lynn Smith

Unlocking the Secrets Behind Fabry DiseaseBaylor researchers look closely at a genetic risk factor for common diseases

Advanced ScreeningIMD wants to enroll 5,000 heart disease patients in its screening study, along with a control group of people without heart disease. For more information, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

Find out more at BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine ● September 2010 BaylorHealth 9

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 9 8/6/10 10:10:11 AM

Four of the fi ve major risk factors for heart disease—smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol—are on the fi eld. (Genetics is the fi fth.) “Focusing on the big four is where you get the most bang for your buck in risk

reduction,” says John Bret, M.D., an interventional cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Garland. Follow these plays to help come out ahead against heart disease.

Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity increases your risk of dia-betes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Keeping your por-tion sizes under control and limiting junk food will go a long way in keeping the excess pounds at bay.

Take a step—literally. Or a jump, or a swing. Find a form of exercise that appeals to you and works with your schedule. Exercise helps prevent or control diabetes, high blood pres-sure and high cholesterol. Aim for 30 to 45 min-utes of exercise four or more times per week.

Quit smoking and using tobacco. Don’t think that if you have a family history of heart disease you can’t infl uence your risk. “The risk that runs in your family falls by two-thirds if you stop smoking,” says Martin A. Tobey, M.D., a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. “It’s not just genes. It’s the combination of factors.”

Check your blood pressure. A read-ing of 120/80 or lower is normal and 140/90 or higher is high. A reading between these numbers is consid-ered prehyperten-sion. Losing weight, exercising and changing your diet can help move high numbers toward normal, and if you don’t see enough gain with lifestyle changes, your doc-tor might recom-mend medication.

The Smart Plays

Know your cholesterol levels. There are three important numbers—your LDL, HDL and triglycerides read-ings. Talk to your doctor about how your levels mesh with your risk fac-tors. People with normal cholesterol levels but other risk factors may still benefi t from cholesterol-low-ering medications such as statins, says James Rellas, M.D., a cardiolo-gist on the medi-cal staff at Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton. Your doctor might rec-ommend calcium scoring or measur-ing the thickness of your carotid artery to better estimate your risk. ● By Stephanie Thurrott

Be Heart SmartIf you don’t know your numbers for blood pressure and cholesterol, talk to your doctor about a screening. For a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit FindDrRight.com. To learn more about how family history can aff ect your risk of heart disease and other conditions, visit BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast.

10 BaylorHealth September 2010 ● BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast

The Smart

AttackHeart disease is like

football—in both, the best defense is a good

off ense. Read on to learn the plays you

need to execute.

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 10 7/14/10 1:17:50 PM

A Flu-Proof YouYou’re busy enough—the last thing you want is to get slowed down by the fl u. This contagious illness is caused by a virus and can range from mild to severe symptoms. These typically come on all of a sudden and might include fever, muscle and body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, diarrhea and fatigue.

To stay healthy and fl u-free, prevention is key. Follow these tips to stay well:● Get your yearly fl u vaccine. This is especially important for the elderly,

young children and health care workers.● Wash your hands. The fl u virus is spread from person to person, so stop

the spread of germs by soaping up often. Carry antibacterial gel in your handbag or in the car.

● Practice healthy habits. Exercise often, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and get plenty of sleep.

● Don’t share germs. If you start to feel sick, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading illness to others.

A healthy lunch gives kids the energy they need to get through the day. And studies show it will also make them more focused and better prepared to learn in the afternoon. Packing a lunch is the best way to ensure they’re getting food that’s good for them. Here are some ideas:● Include fresh fruit and vegetables

that are quick and easy to eat such as baby carrots, grapes, sliced apples or orange sections.

● Instead of PB&J every day, spice things up by placing sandwich

ingredients on a whole-wheat tortilla, then roll it up and cut it into bite-size portions. Or make cracker sandwiches with ham, cheese, turkey or hummus.

● For a comforting meal, put soup in a Thermos and pack a spoon and crackers.

● For breakfast lovers, put granola in a sandwich bag that kids can mix with a container of yogurt or send a fruit and yogurt smoothie in their Thermos.

HEALTH BRIEFS

A Bunch of Healthy Lunches

Need a physician referral? Visit FindDrRight.com ● September 2010 BaylorHealth 11

NAMED ONE OF THE ‘BEST’ 18 YEARS IN A ROWFor the 18th consecu-tive year, U.S.News & World Report has listed Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas in its “America’s Best Hospitals” issue.

Baylor Dallas is ranked among the nation’s top 50 hospitals in gastroen-terology (43), kidney dis-orders (39) and urology (47). Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR) was ranked 18th among the nation’s top rehabilita-tion facilities. It’s the 14th year BIR has received the recognition.

“For nearly two decades, U.S.News has recognized Baylor for the quality of care provided by the dedicated physicians on our medical staff and our employees,” says Irving Prengler, M.D., vice president of medical aff airs at Baylor Dallas. “Patients can be confi dent that they will receive safe, compassionate, quality care each time they come to Baylor.”

FdBL091001_BUMC.indd 11 8/16/10 8:27:13 AM

Baylor Health Care System 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 750 Marketing Department Dallas, TX 75201

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBAYLOR HEALTH

1650 West College St., Grapevine, TX 76051 BaylorHealth.com/GrapevineWeightLoss

Individual results may vary. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affi liated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, or Baylor Health Care System. BRMCGV_376 BHM CE 7.10

Take off your excess weight and avoid becoming one of the 500,000 people who die prematurely each year due to obesity. Now you can get expert help close by through the Weight Loss Surgery Center at Baylor Grapevine. Our programs offer you a variety of advanced surgical treatments in a multidisciplinary environment that includes physicians, nurses, dietitians, psychologists and program and insurance coordinators dedicated to provide you with quality care. Learn more and don’t let obesity weigh on you any longer.

Weight loss surgery is available nearby at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.Attend a free seminar and speak one-on-one with a physician on the medical staff.

The weight is over.

Join us for a free Weight Loss Surgery Seminar

Call 1.800.4BAYLORto register today!

Wednesday, October 6 at 6 p.m.Saturday, October 16 at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, November 3 at 6 p.m.Saturday, November 20 at 10 a.m.


Documents

1-800-4BAYLOR Ray of Hope - BSWHealth · was anxiety,” she says. At first, the racing episodes struck just a few times a year. But beginning in June 2009, her symptoms started hitting