1-800-4BAYLOR January 2010

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

5 steps to a new you in this new yearpage 2

Take control of incontinencepage 3

Understanding immune diseasespage 4

Could cherries help ease the pain of arthritis?page 5

As Becky Drake learned, the signs of a heart attack can be subtle for women page 6

HerHeart

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New Year, New YouMake this the year you actually achieve your health goals with these five tips

This is it, 2010. The year all your meals are healthy, you exercise every day, you lose the extra

pounds, you get your stress under con-trol and you quit smoking, right?

Hold on. Those are all admirable goals. But try to tackle everything at once and you’ll burn out within weeks, left with nothing but a wilted head of lettuce in your fridge and an unused gym member-ship. To build healthy habits that stick, Erica Sails, M.D., a family medicine specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, offers these tips.

1. ThiNk lifesTYle chaNge, NoT dieT. A diet—following a strict eating plan for a fixed length of time—will

likely work while it lasts. But afterward, most people return to their old ways of eating and regain the pounds they shed. Instead, you need to regularly reach for plums instead of potato chips and seltzer instead of soda.

2. kNow whaT You eaT. To lose weight, you need to know which calo-ries to cut, whether they’re in the bagel left behind in the conference room or your daily vanilla latte. Keep a food journal for a week or two and see where your problem areas lie, then trim those extra calories.

3. Make exercise fuN. Most peo-ple have full schedules, so exercise comes at the expense of something else. Make it less of a sacrifice by upping the fun factor with exercise DVDs, games such as Wii Fit™ or workouts with a buddy.

4. sTaY a sTep ahead of sTress. Stress can sabotage your

good-health efforts, so watch for symp-toms such as headaches, back pain or anxiety. Exercise, hot tubs, saunas, massage therapy, faith, meditation and laughter can help minimize the effects of stress.

5. BaNish The cigareTTes. No matter how long you’ve smoked, when you quit you begin to add years to your life. Many people succeed after several attempts at quitting, so keep trying. l By Stephanie Thurrott

find a good health partnerTo learn more about setting good-health goals, talk to your doctor. For a referral to a physi-cian on the Baylor Plano medical staff, call 1-800-4BaYlor or visit finddrright.com.

2 BaylorHealth January 2010 l For a physician referral, visit FindDrRight.com Cover photograph by Tadd Myers; hair and makeup by Dane Nelson

Baylor regional Medical center at plano 4700 Alliance Blvd., Plano, TX 75093 469-814-2000

president and ceo, Baylor health care system: Joel Allison

president, Baylor regional Medical center at plano: Jerri Garison Marketing director: Janeen Browning

Baylor regional Medical center at plano Board of Trustees: Glenn Callison, J.D.; Jerry Carlisle, Jr., D.Min.; Joey Carter; Lannie R. Hughes, M.D.; Toni P. Jenkins, Ed.D.; Roy Lamkin; C. Thomas Long, III, M.D.; Clarence Miller; Doug Otto, Ed.D.; Ronald Parker; Valerie Richardson,

MBA; Lisa Sams; Stacy Stratmann, M.D.

giving opportunities/Baylor health care system foundation: 214-820-3136

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 more information about Baylor health care system, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more!

BaylorHealth is published six times a year for friends and supporters of Baylor Health Care System by McMurry. © 2010 Baylor Health Care System.

The material in BaylorHealth is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking 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 medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano or Baylor Health Care System.

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 robinv@baylorhealth.edu.

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For women with urinary incontinence, their biggest com-plaint is often that they can’t do the things they want to do. Muriel Boreham, M.D., a urogynecologist on the medi-

cal staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, says women will tell her, “I don’t run with my kids, I don’t jump on a tram-poline, I can’t play soccer with my grandkids.” She says inconti-nence can aff ect a woman’s overall health, too, since women will often avoid exercise that might lead to urine leakage.

It’s important for women with urinary incontinence to talk to their doctor about the problem. “There’s a shame factor. Women are embarrassed,” she says. “But a lot of people have the same problem—it’s common.”

She says that when a woman comes in for treatment, she’ll ask her to describe her symptoms and have her urinate to see if she’s emptying her bladder all the way. She’ll then evaluate for fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, since those prob-lems are often related to urinary incontinence. She’ll check anatomy and make sure muscle contraction is normal.

For most cases of incontinence, there are several treatment options to choose from.

“I usually start with pelvic fl oor therapy, since I think it’s better to put control in the woman’s hands,” Dr. Boreham says.

Take ControlDon’t let urinary incontinence rule your life

For Women, For Life™

On Saturday, Jan. 30, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano and THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano will pres-ent For Women, For Life, a special day for women of all ages to focus on their health, wellness, beauty and lifestyle. The event will be at the Baylor Plano Health Care Campus, 4700 Alliance Blvd. and 1100 Allied Drive, from 7 a.m. to noon. Admission is free, but those interested are asked to register at BaylorHealth.com/PlanoEvents or by calling 1-800-4BAYLOR.

The six-week program uses electrical stimulation to strengthen the muscles. Avoiding bladder irritants and losing weight can also help.

Other options include urge suppression and bladder train-ing techniques, sacral nerve stimulation, slings, pessaries (removable inserts placed in the vagina to support pelvic organs) and surgery. Many surgeries are same-day procedures. ● By Stephanie Thurrottbetter to put control in the woman’s hands,” Dr. Boreham says. ● By Stephanie Thurrott

To make a donation, visit BaylorHealth.com ● January 2010 BaylorHealth 3

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When your immune system works properly, it ramps up at the fi rst sign of a problem, attacking the culprits that could cause infection. Thanks to your immune

system, you don’t catch every cold that comes around (though it may feel like it some winters).

But sometimes the system goes awry, and autoimmune diseases can develop. These diseases are both common and prevalent—there are 150 diff erent autoimmune diseases aff ecting up to 23 million Americans, mostly women. With an autoimmune disease, your body, in eff ect, attacks itself. Brian Sorin, M.D., a neurologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, outlines some of the symp-toms to watch for in common autoimmune diseases.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS is one of the better-known autoim-mune diseases. In it, the body attacks myelin, a protective coating surrounding the nerve fi bers. It’s most prevalent in women age 20 to 40 and ranges in intensity from benign to devastating. Initial symptoms can include double vision, blurred vision, loss of vision, numbness and tingling.

SJOGREN’S SYNDROME is fairly common, aff ecting 2 mil-lion to 3 million people a year in the United States. It’s an auto-immune attack on the glands that produce tears and saliva. People with it have very dry mouths and eyes and sometimes develop vision problems from the dryness. While there’s no cure, artifi cial tears and water can help alleviate symptoms. It’s sometimes associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME is when the body attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing weakness and tingling in the legs and arms and traveling up into the body. It can progress very quickly, causing paralysis and death, but with prompt treatment it has an 80 percent cure rate.

CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY POLYNEUROPATHY is a chronic form of Guillain-Barré syndrome that causes weak-ness and diffi culty using the arms and legs. It can’t be cured, but sometimes symptoms can be controlled with treatment.

LUPUS occurs when your immune system is overactive. All organs get involved, especially the kidneys and lungs, and it can aff ect the nervous system and joints as well. A classic symptom is a butterfl y-shaped rash on the cheeks following sun expo-sure. Headaches and seizures are also associated with lupus. The disease can go into remission for long periods of time and is usually treated with steroids. ● By Stephanie Thurrott

Under AttackWhen your immune system turns against you

Find out MoreJoin us at a free seminar about autoimmune diseases on Tuesday, Feb. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. To register, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/PlanoEvents.

4 BaylorHealth January 2010 ● For the career of a lifetime, go to BaylorHealth.com

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Not all medical research involves new techniques or medications. In the case of recent research conducted by Baylor Research Institute (BRI), what was once con-

sidered folklore may soon be accepted as fact.Researchers at BRI have been studying whether tart, or

Montmorency, cherries in pill form might help relieve osteo-arthritis (OA) pain. The most common form of arthritis, OA causes pain in the hands, feet, spine, hips and knees.

“I’ve had patients tell me their mother or grandmother said that cherries are good for arthritis, and another rheuma-tologist asked me if I’d had any experience with cherry pills, which some of his patients were using,” says John J. Cush, M.D., director of clinical rheumatology at BRI. “Many people

try natural remedies that often don’t work, so we decided to formally study this.”

A total of 20 patients with OA of the knee were enrolled in a 12-week study in 2008. The study involved commercially available pills containing the equivalent of about 100 tart cherries. Every part of the cherry—including the pulp, rind and stem—is used to make a paste that’s put into capsules.

According to Dr. Cush, between 50 per-cent and 60 percent of patients experienced relief by taking just one pill a day. “They reported less pain and it seemed to be work-ing,” he says.

Following this pilot study, BRI research-ers began a randomized trial in 2009 to validate their initial findings. Thirty patients were enrolled in the study, which will be completed in early 2010. One-third received a placebo—a capsule without any active ingredients—and the other two-thirds took the cherry pills.

“If the results show that the patients who took the cherry pills did get better, this will be the first study to demonstrate that this particular natural product might have some positive impact,” Dr. Cush says.

Having more specific information about whether these supplements can relieve OA

pain would help doctors better advise patients in how to take natural products, he adds.

“We’ll be able to determine if this supplement could be safely combined with treatments we currently use for osteoarthritis,” Dr. Cush explains. “And it may offer people a natural option for managing their condition.” l By Amy Lynn Smith

Cherry Picking (for Arthritis Relief) People with osteoarthritis may find sweet relief from pain thanks to Baylor researchers

Fruitful ResearchFor information about clinical trials at Baylor Research Institute, call 1-800-4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine.

Between 50 percent and 60 percent of patients experienced relief by taking just one pill a day.

Visit us at BaylorHealth.com l January 2010 BaylorHealth 5Illustration by Richard Mia

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6 BaylorHealth January 2010 ● Sick? Click. Visit BaylorHealth.com6 BaylorHealth January 2010 ● Sick? Click. Visit BaylorHealth.com Photograph by Tadd Myers, hair and makeup by Dane Nelson

TThere are some things in life that you’re supposed to just know. Like when you fi nd “the one” and when it’s time to let grown children spread their wings.

Knowing when you’re having a heart attack, however, is another story, especially for women. It’s often not even on their radar.

“When I had my fi rst heart attack at age 38, I had no signs,” says Becky Drake, now 43, a resident of Greenville. After all, she had little reason to suspect it. In addition to thinking she was too young for a heart attack, she says, “I’ve always taken care of myself. I’m not overweight, and I work out.”

Drake is one of 41 million women in the U.S. living with some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. And yet many are still unaware that it is the No. 1 killer of women.

“A lot of women are concerned only about breast cancer,” says Vidyasagar Chodimella, M.D., FACC, FCCP, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Carrollton.

“The chances of developing breast cancer are one in nine, but the chances of developing heart disease are one in two.”

Subtle (and Not so Subtle) SymptomsDrake’s second heart attack, in May 2009, was

more obvious. “I broke out in a sweat, and I hit the fl oor,” she describes. “I had pain all

down my right side and back.”While her symptoms the second time were much more dramatic,

they still weren’t the typical chest pain commonly associ-

ated with heart attacks in men. Women, who may

or may not have chest

A Tale of Think women aren’t at risk for heart disease? Meet two women

who know otherwise2Hearts

Watch It!Becky Drake (left) was taken by surprise when she had a heart attack

at age 38. Hear about her experience fi rsthand

at BaylorHealth.com/MyStory.

By Shelley Flannery

FdBL011001_BUMC.indd 6 11/10/09 10:05:28 AM

pain, are more likely to experience other symptoms of a heart attack, including shortness of breath; pain in the shoulders, neck, back, arms or jaw; upper abdominal pain or indigestion; nausea or vomiting; sweating; dizziness; and extreme fatigue.

“Women tend to have more atypicalsymptoms compared to men,” says Phillip J. Hecht, M.D., FACC, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. “And women often ignore the symptoms because they don’t know they’re at risk.”

Sharon Neff , 68, learned this lesson the hard way. “About a year before I retired, my left arm started hurting every once in a while,” she says. “I thought it was carpal tunnel and that it would go away, but it didn’t.”

Then, one night in January 2006, Neff awoke with bad indigestion. “I woke up my husband and said, ‘Something’s wrong. We need to go to the hospital.’ ”

To her surprise, “it was a full-blown heart attack,” she says. “It was an eye-opener for me. My heart attack was totally diff erent than my husband’s. He had chest pain that went right through to his back.”

The Sooner the BetterThe longer that blood fl ow is blocked during a heart attack, the more dam-age is done, so it is essential to seek treatment quickly. Experts advise calling 911 right away rather than driving to the hospital.

Drake wasn’t able to wait. “We live way out in the country, so I told my husband he needed to take me halfway to meet the ambu-lance or I was going to die,” she says, speaking from experience as a fl ight medic with Hunt County Emergency Medical Services.

It’s not enough to just get treatment fast; it also has to be the right treatment. “I woke up in the [local] ER, and I told the doctor I needed to go to Baylor and their cath lab,” Drake says. A cath lab is where doctors perform angioplasty, a procedure in which a tiny balloon is inserted into an artery and used to open up a blockage and restore blood fl ow.

Spreading the LoveBoth Drake and Neff were treated with stents—metal tubes used to prop open arteries. Today, both women are doing well and they’re spreading a message about women and heart disease.

“I now know that women have different symptoms than men,” Neff says. “You need to pay attention to your body.” And if you think you might be having a heart attack, call 911.

Drake agrees, and adds, “If you have a genetic history [of heart disease], you need to go and get it checked out right away. There are preventive things you can do.” ●

CELEBRATING WOMENThis past October, Baylor Health Care System Foundation hosted its 10th annual Celebrating Women luncheon. More than 1,300 guests were on hand at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas to hear featured speaker Kelly Corrigan. Tom Thumb was the presenting sponsor of Celebrating Women and chair-persons were Randi Halsell, a breast cancer survivor, and Karen Halsell, M.D. The event raised more than $1.8 million to benefi t research, community outreach, and expanded technology for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer throughout Baylor Health Care System.

What’s Your Risk?Find out your risk for heart disease with our interactive quiz at BaylorHealth.com/HealthCast and then print out a list of questions to take to your next doctor’s appointment.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON

Find Dr. Right. Visit FindDrRight.com ● January 2010 BaylorHealth 7

Sleep and Your HeartSleep apnea is a common but dangerous condition, aff ecting around 12 million Americans. With sleep apnea, you briefl y stop breathing during sleep, sometimes 100 or more times a night. The condition can take a toll on your heart.

Gary Erwin, M.D., a pulmonologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, explains that sleep apnea can:● Increase your risk of heart disease.● Increase high blood pressure, which contributes to heart disease.● Be linked with weight gain, which can further

increase your risk of heart disease. Because you feel sleepy and fatigued during the day when you experience sleep apnea, you’re less likely to exercise. Also, some people with sleep apnea turn to snacks to help them stay awake.

● Increase your risk for diabetes and heart attack.● Worsen heart failure if you have it, and raise

your risk if you don’t.● Increase your likelihood of irregular heartbeats.

Fortunately, a sleep study can help diagnose sleep apnea and, if you have the condition, it’s highly treatable, usually with a device called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine that helps keep your airways open while you sleep.

Take the Quiz!Are you at risk for a sleep disor-der? Find out with our online quiz at BaylorHealth.com/PlanoSleepQuiz.

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

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBAYLOR HEALTH

Support for People with Oral, Head & Neck CancerJan. 5, 6–8 p.m., Conference Room A/B, and Feb. 2, 6–8 p.m., Education Center Rooms 1 & 2. To register, call 214-820-2608.

Weight Loss Surgery Informational SeminarJan. 6, 19 & 26; Feb. 9 & 23, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Education Center Rooms 1–4.

Saturday Mammography ClinicsJan. 9 & 23; Feb. 13 & 27 at Baylor Plano; Jan. 16 & 30; Feb. 6 & 20 at Craig Ranch, 8080 State Highway 121, Suite 210 A, McKinneyAppointments begin at 8 a.m.

Living Well With Cancer Information Session Monday, Jan. 11, 6–7:30 p.m., Education Center Rooms 1 & 2. Dinner provided.

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group Wednesdays, Jan. 13 & Feb. 10, 6–8:30 p.m., Education Center Rooms 1 & 2. To regis-ter, call 469-814-5677.

Diabetes Support GroupThursday, Jan. 14 & Feb. 11, 5:30–7 p.m., Conference Room A/B.

Us Too! Prostate Cancer Support GroupTuesdays, Jan. 26 & Feb. 23,

6:30–8:30 p.m., Conference Room A/B. Dinner provided.

An Overview of Autoimmune DiseasesTuesday, Feb. 2, noon–1 p.m., Education Center Rooms 3 & 4.Brian Sorin, M.D., neurologist on the Baylor Plano medical staff, will speak on various types of autoimmune dis-eases and how to manage the diseases.

Aid for Aching BacksThursday, Feb. 11, noon–1 p.m., Education Center Rooms 2 & 3.John Tompkins, M.D., neuro-surgeon, will speak on back strain prevention, building back strength, and invasive and non-invasive treatment options.

Your Health This MonthThursday, Feb. 18, 7:30–10 a.m., Conference Room A/B.Free blood pressure screening, BMI and body fat assessments, nutrition education, breast cancer risk assessments and education, hearing and asthma screenings and education, and heart health education. Cholesterol and Glucose test-ing is available for $15.

Diabetes Self-Management ProgramClasses are offered at various times. To register, call 469-814-6896.

Community CalendarJanuary & February 2010For information or to register, call 1-800-4BAYLOR (422-9567) or visit BaylorHealth.com/PlanoEvents.

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 medical centers, Baylor Regional Medical

Center at Plano or Baylor Health Care System. ©2009 Baylor Health Care System BRMCP BHM CE 12.09

4700 Alliance Blvd.Plano, TX 75093

1100 Allied Dr.Plano, TX 75093

THE ONE DAY THAT Is ALL ABOUT YOU ...Saturday, January 30th, 7:00 a.m. - Noon

For Women, For LifeTM offers women time to focus on their health free of charge. Invite other women with whom you would like to share the day and enjoy free screenings, assessments, lectures and a heart-healthy breakfast.

PRESENTATIONS• 9-10 a.m. : New Technology, Testing and Risk for Breast

The da Vinci® Robot: Making Major Surgery Seem Minor• 9-10 a.m. & 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Heart Smarts for Heart Health• 10:30-11:30 a.m.: A Secret Told: Female Incontinence

Women’s Digestive Health: Stress, Diet and Intolerance to Gluten and Lactose

ScREENINgS• Blood Pressure • Body Fat/BMI Assessment • Bone Density • Cholesterol • Glucose • Hearing • Lung Volume • Sleep Apnea Disorder Assessment

Registration Required: 1.800.4BAYLOR or BaylorHealth.com/PlanoEvents

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