Download Spring 2008

Spring
2008
In this issue:
Spring cleaning p. 3
Diabetes p. 4
Heart p. 6
Drug awareness p. 8
Laser eye surgery p. 10
What’s lurking
in your
cupboards?
S P R I N G
O
ften we think we’re eating
healthy – looking for high-fiber
cereals, buying low-fat crackers,
or eating chicken soup, but what you’re
really eating may surprise you. Some
things in our cupboards are harmless …
but others are downright sinister.
This spring, Ministry Health Care
challenges you to clear unhealthy foods
out of your diet. Chances are you’ll find
several contributors to weight gain, high
cholesterol, or high blood
pressure in your cupboards
or refrigerator:
• Nitrates
• Salt
• Sugar
• Saturated,
hydrogenated, trans
fats, and fat substitutes
These threats can be found in everything
from chicken soup to cereal, but may not
be obvious by taste. It’s important to read
the labels and know what you’re eating.
Many foods, especially cured meats such
as bacon, beef jerky, and hot dogs, use
nitrates to preserve color and maintain
microbial safety. Nitrates are harmless, but
can convert to nitrites, which can form
nitrosamines, powerful cancer-causing
chemicals, in your body. Look for nitratefree preserved meats.
Salt enhances flavor, but it also pumps
up your blood pressure. Salt hides in
many places besides the salt shaker:
soups, bouillon cubes, frozen entrees,
prepared sauces, and many other foods.
Limit sodium to less than 2,300 mg
(about 1 teaspoon of salt) daily.
C L E A N I N G
S P E C I A L
Foods high in sugar are easily converted
and stored as fat in the body. In addition,
high levels of sugar in your diet can
overwork the pancreas. Take a look at
your cereal boxes to see how much of
your cereal has been “fatified” with sugar.
Just the fats, ma’am
Foods with saturated, hydrogenated,
or trans fats have artery-clogging
abilities that can raise both your
cholesterol and chances of heart disease.
These unhealthy fats can be found in
most processed foods, margarine,
shortening, chips, cookies, and even
cereal. Limit total fat intake to 20 – 35
percent of total calories; limit saturated
fat to less than seven percent of your
daily calories. But be careful to keep
healthy fats in your diet.
Saturated fat – animal products, coconut
oil, palm oil, and cocoa butter
Hydrogenated fat – unsaturated oils
that have had hydrogen chemically
added to them
Trans fats – may occur naturally in animal
products and are by-products of hydrogenation
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated
fats – healthy fats found in salmon, trout,
herring, walnuts, olives, avocados, and liquid
vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, safflower,
olive, and sunflower
Cupboards with
hidden agendas
The medicine cabinet may be one of
the most critical areas to clean.
Take special care to
throw away:
• Expired medication.
• Medication that is not currently prescribed.
• Any medication that is not stored in its
original container.
• “Leftover” medication. Do not give anyone
medication not prescribed to them. It could
cause severe reaction or death – and
imprisonment.
By taking a little time to look at your
cabinets, you take another important step
toward better health.
Chicken Tortilla Soup, 6 servings
Ingredients
3 – 4 skinless, boneless
chicken breasts
2 bouillon cubes
Salt and pepper to taste
Water
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 (14 oz.) cans of low-sodium
chicken broth
2 (14 oz.) cans of stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon ground cumin
Soup
Directions
Place chicken,
bouillon cubes, salt,
and pepper in the
slow cooker and
add water to cover
the chicken. Cook
overnight. Drain, cool, and shred the chicken.
Add broth, tomatoes, salsa, garlic, cilantro, and
cumin to shredded chicken. Cook on low for 8 to
10 hours.
Optional: Top with shredded cheese and
tortilla chips.
Nutrition: calories per serving 402, total fat 22
grams, saturated
fat 10 g,Holiday
carbs 20 2007
g,
Health
Connection
fiber 2 g, cholesterol 71 mg, sodium 1443 mg
3
in your
hands
Your health is
Nearly 19 million Americans have type 2 diabetes,
and this number is rising.
You can improve your odds.
W
ith more than 1.5 million new
cases of adult diabetes
diagnosed annually, diabetes
is one of the fastest growing epidemics
in the United States. Nearly 19 million
Americans have type 2 diabetes, the
fifth deadliest disease in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), that
number is expected to double by 2050.
Of those who currently have the disease,
“One third of them don’t even know it,”
said Deb Lewan, diabetes education
nurse, Our Lady of Victory Hospital in
Stanley, Wisconsin.
Glucose out of control
People who have diabetes have a
problem changing food into energy.
After eating, your food is broken down
Diabetes and Your Cells
Insulin
Insulin
receptor
Closed
glucose
portal
Glucose
When cells become insulin
resistant, they cannot use
glucose from the blood
and become energy
deprived
4
Health Connection Spring 2008
into a sugar called glucose, which is
absorbed by your cells. Diabetes occurs
when there is not enough insulin, a
hormone necessary to change glucose to
energy. This causes high blood sugar
levels typical of diabetes.
Types of diabetes
Gestational diabetes
usually develops
during the later
stages of
pregnancy. Women
with gestational
diabetes have a
higher risk of
developing type 2
diabetes later in life.
type 2 diabetes,” said Ronelle Moe, MD,
internal medicine physician at Ministry
Medical Group in Weston, on staff at
Saint Clare’s Hospital.
The symptoms of diabetes can be so
mild that they might not be noticed.
You should contact your
health care provider for
a diabetes test if you
have:
Type 2
diabetes
accounts for
90 to 95
percent of all
diagnosed cases
of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes, or
insulin dependent
diabetes, usually occurs in
children or young adults when the
pancreas fails to produce the insulin
necessary for glucose absorption.
Type 2 diabetes, known as noninsulindependent diabetes, is a chronic
condition that affects the way your body
metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body’s
main source of fuel. Type 2 diabetes
causes the body to become insulin
resistant, which prevents the absorption
of enough insulin to maintain normal
glucose levels.
“Type 2 diabetes was once thought of as
an adult disease – but that’s no longer
the case. As childhood obesity increases,
more children are being diagnosed with
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue
• Increased
urination,
especially at night
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Sores that do not heal
• Susceptibility to yeast
infections
People usually discover that they have
diabetes when they experience more
serious complications, such as blurry
vision or heart trouble. Currently there is
no cure for diabetes.
While you can’t change factors such as
age, race, and gender, there are many
factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes
that can be controlled.
Take control
People at high risk of type 2 diabetes
can delay the onset of the disease, if not
completely prevent it, by losing just five
to seven percent of their body weight.
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
Are we eating ourselves sick?
If you weigh
200 pounds, losing just
10 – 14 pounds can
reduce your type 2
diabetes risk by 58%.
In addition to eating right and exercising
to lose weight, it is important to get
enough sleep. According to a study
conducted at the University of Chicago
Medical Center, lack of deep sleep in
young adults reduces the body’s ability
to maintain blood sugar levels. Making
sure that you get enough sleep – deep
sleep – may help prevent type 2 diabetes.
In recent decades, we have seen
a “supersizing” of food portions.
During the same period, the
U.S. has seen a dramatic rise
in diabetes.
1955
2.4 million Americans
with diabetes
Fast food
hamburger 1.6 oz of meat
2005
14.6 million Americans
diagnosed with diabetes
(up by more
than 600%)
Fast food
hamburger 8.0 oz of
meat
(up 500%)
That’s something to sleep on!
I
Eating healthy – a plan you can sink your teeth into!
n many ways, the adage “you are
what you eat,” proves to be true.
Your diet has a major impact on your
health. Making wise food choices can
help you control your weight, blood
pressure, and cholesterol – three of the
most important factors related to type 2
diabetes and heart health.
Portion control is weight control
In our supersized society, it is easy to eat
two or more portions at a meal.
• Eat only one portion as described by
the label or recipe.
When dining out
• Share your meal with a friend or divide
your meal in half, eat one half at
dinner and save the other half for lunch
the next day. Fruits and vegetables are
exempt from the dividing rule as long
as they are not drenched in butter,
gravy, or cream. Fruits and vegetables
are low in calories and high in fiber.
• Order from the children’s or senior’s
menu where the portions are usually
smaller.
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
Make wise food choices
• Whenever possible, avoid processed or
fast foods. Processed foods are usually
high in fat, white flour, and sugar.
They provide minimal nutritional value
and are easily converted to sugar
which requires more insulin to process.
• Use low-fat cooking methods like
broiling, roasting, baking, or grilling to
help limit your fat intake to about 20
percent of your total calories. For
example, if you usually consume 2,000
calories a day, try to limit fat to less
than 400 calories. Check the food
labels for fat content. Try to avoid
saturated and trans fats.
• Choose lean meats like skinless
chicken, fish, lean beef, or pork. Eat
almonds or walnuts when you need a
high-protein snack.
• Eat whole grain breads and cereals.
• Don’t add salt to your food. Many
prepared foods have high
levels of sodium already.
Limit your total sodium
intake to less than
2,300 mg – about 1
teaspoon of salt –
each day.
If you want more flavor, try topping
your meal with herbs and spices.
• Ask your doctor if you may drink
alcohol. If you do drink alcoholic
beverages, limit yourself to one drink
per day if you’re a woman and two
drinks if you’re a man.
• To lose weight, you may need to
reduce the number of calories you eat
each day. It takes 3,500 calories to
equal one pound of body weight. If
you reduce your calorie intake by 500
per day, you will generally lose one
pound per week.
Remember ...
• Don’t use food as a reward. When you
meet a goal, reward yourself with a
nonfood item or activity, like watching
a movie.
Diabetes can
break your heart
• You are two to four times as likely to
have a stroke.
W
the rt
a
e
h link
hen asked about the greatest
threats posed by diabetes, many
people, including those with the
disease, believe that amputation and
blindness are their greatest risks – but that
is not the case.
The fact is, two out of three people
with diabetes will die from a heart attack
or stroke.
If you have diabetes:
• Your risk of heart attack is two times
greater than a person who does not have
diabetes.
• Your risk of sudden death from a heart
attack is the same as that of someone
who has already had a heart attack.
Diabetes changes
the composition of
the blood
This allows fatty deposits (plaques) to
form in the arteries, causing blood vessels
to harden or narrow. Plaque buildup,
called atherosclerosis, can restrict the
blood supply, increase blood pressure,
and can cause a heart attack or stroke.
While people with diabetes have a higher
risk of heart attack, they may not be able to
determine when they are experiencing one.
Since diabetes often damages the nerves as
well, people with diabetes tend to have
“silent” heart attacks.
A person who has a “silent” heart attack
often does not seek medical attention soon
enough, which can cause severe heart
muscle damage or death.
“Some heart attacks come on with sudden
pain, while others creep up slowly with
Deaths from heart disease
in the past 30 years
23%
increase
in deaths
in women
with
diabetes
27%
decrease
in deaths
in women
without
diabetes
*Source: American Diabetes
Association.
6
Health Connection Spring 2008
mild discomfort,” says Thomas Tuttle, MD,
Victory Medical Group’s medical director.
“The person may know something is
wrong, but can’t put their finger on it.
People should be concerned about chest
discomfort that lasts more than a few
minutes, or if it goes away and then keeps
coming back. It might not be pain, but an
uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or
fullness in the chest. The discomfort might
also be in other parts of the upper body,
including in one or both arms, the back,
neck, jaw, or stomach. Other symptoms
of a heart attack could be an unexplained
shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea,
or lightheadedness. The key is to get
help fast.”
If you have diabetes, it is important that
you visit your doctor regularly to identify
heart problems before your heart is
damaged beyond repair.
Two out of three people
with diabetes will die from
a heart attack or stroke.
Minimize your risks
There are steps that everyone can take to
lower the risk of heart attack and stroke –
these are doubly important to people
with diabetes.
1. Get tested
Since up to one-third of people who have a
diabetic condition don’t even know it, your
first step should be routine screenings for
diabetes – especially if you are over 45
years of age.
2. Get moving
Exercise for at least 30 minutes, five
times per week. Aerobic exercise
increases your heart rate, reduces weight,
increases good cholesterol, and allows
the body to use glucose.
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
3. Learn your
If you have diabetes, there are three
critical tests that will allow you to monitor
your health – your “abc’s.”
= A1C or hemoglobin A1C
This test measures average blood
sugar. Your A1C levels should be less than
6 percent (or 7 percent for people with
diabetes). Your health care provider can
help you manage your blood sugar levels
which can prevent blood vessel damage.
b
= blood pressure
A blood pressure test measures
how hard your heart is pumping. This
number fluctuates and should be
monitored frequently. The higher your
blood pressure, the harder your heart is
working. A blood pressure less than
130/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is
normal. High blood pressure,
140/90 mmHg or higher, can
damage your blood vessels.
Approximately 65 million
Americans have high
blood pressure. A
major factor in the
development of
high blood pressure
is salt sensitivity which
causes the body to
retain fluids. This increases
the blood volume and makes the heart
work harder.
One way to flush excess sodium and
water from the body is through the use of
diuretics or water pills. Though effective,
diuretics still can have side effects,
including lightheadedness, tiredness,
weakness, muscle cramps, dehydration,
skin rashes, or an increase in cholesterol.
Instead of reaching for the salt shaker,
next time try herbs and spices to add
some extra flavor.
c
= cholesterol
A fasting cholesterol screen
measures the amount of waxy, fat-like
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
substance found in the blood. A total
cholesterol level of less than 200 is
the goal.
But there is more to look at than a single
number. LDL cholesterol is the “bad”
cholesterol. Your LDL level should be less
than 100.
Another component of cholesterol,
HDL (high-density lipoprotein),
is actually good for us. As its name
suggests, HDL is very dense. It acts like
a dump truck as it moves through the
blood stream. HDL picks up LDL (lowdensity or bad cholesterol) and
transports it to
the liver for
removal
from the
body. This
prevents
LDL from
forming fatty
deposits in the
blood vessels.
Good HDL levels
are above 40 for
men and above
50 for women.
Studies have found
that heart disease
risk may actually
increase when HDL
levels are too low.
There are several ways you can
increase your HDL levels:
• Lose weight. For every six pounds
of weight loss, HDL increases by
1 mg/dL.
• Limit your intake of foods containing
saturated and trans fats.
• Increase your intake of monounsaturated
fats like those found in olive oil and
avocados.
• Increase the amount of vegetables,
whole grains, beans, and nuts that
you eat.
• Stop smoking, and you’ll raise HDL by
15 to 20 percent.
Keeping things
flowing
Arteries depend on a healthy
endothelium, the innermost layer
of the artery, to produce nitric
oxide, which helps keep the
arteries supple.
High blood glucose levels
in a person with diabetes causes
the endothelium to produce
excessive amounts of
superoxide anion, which
destroys nitric oxide.
Diminished nitric oxide
levels lead to blood
clotting and a build up
of cholesterol, fatty
materials, calcium,
and other blood
cells.
This condition,
called atherosclerosis,
develops earlier and is more
aggressive in people who have diabetes.
High blood sugar can also damage the
nerves; cause peripheral vascular disease
(PVD), which clogs arteries that carry
blood to the legs or arms; affect the
filtering units of the kidneys; and damage
the blood vessels in the eyes.
High blood pressure also has a
damaging effect on blood vessels. It
causes the walls to thicken, making them
more likely to develop atherosclerosis.
Obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, stress,
smoking, and excessive amounts of
alcohol or salt all contribute to the
development of high blood pressure.
Stress tends to cause blood pressure
to increase temporarily, but blood
pressure usually returns to normal
once the stress is over.
* National Institute on Aging, National
Institutes of Health
Health Connection Spring 2008
7
hooked
Addiction slips in quietly ... until you’re
P
arents used to worry about marijuana,
Ecstasy, acid, cocaine, and alcohol.
While these dangers still exist, there
is a more insidious problem that is found in
almost every American home – prescription
and over-the-counter medications.
The numbers are alarming:
One in five teenagers have used
prescription medications to get high.
One in ten have used cough syrup or other
over-the-counter cold remedies to get high.
And the number is on the rise.
While students recognize the dangers of
illegal drugs like heroin, they fail to realize
that many prescription pain medications are
made from the same type of ingredients.
Kids who would never consider trying
heroin are lulled into thinking that
prescription drugs are different, but they can
be just as lethal and just as addictive.
Nearly 40% of teens
believe that prescription
drug use is safe.*
Nearly 30 percent believe that they cannot
get addicted to prescription pain relievers.*
Parents are often unaware of the risks, and
while they may talk about “street” drugs
Generation
with their
children, they
fail to point out the risks
associated with prescription
drugs.
Marijuana
8
Health Connection Spring 2008
Talk to your kids. Warn them
of the dangers of prescription
drug use.
Be aware and be involved.
Observe your children after they have
been out with friends. Look at their
behavior, their eyes, take note of the
way they smell. Look for needle marks.
The Frightening
Path of Prescription
Drug Use
Monitor their performance. Are they in
OxyContin is a powerful opiate-based pain
trouble at work or school? Are they
medication which is highly addictive.
extremely sluggish at home?
Ironically, since the street cost of the drug
is high, it tends to be a drug of
choice of more affluent teenagers Eroding the Mind
– like those involved in football, Researchers have
mapped brain decay
hockey, and academic clubs.
In fact, it is reported that one
in five teenagers has tried
prescription pain relievers like
Vicodin and OxyContin.*
Because of its expense, addiction
often leads to stealing or selling
drugs to support a habit.
Often teens who find themselves
addicted to OxyContin find the
Rx
Declining
Alcohol
What is a parent
to do?
The widespread availability
and easy access to medicine
cabinets at home,
grandparent’s, or friend’s
homes can spell a-d-d-i-c-t-i-o-n
for unsuspecting teenagers.
Rising
Cigarettes
habit is too expensive to
maintain – yet withdrawal from
OxyContin will make them
extremely ill. OxyContin users
often turn to another drug that
satisfies the same craving, such as
heroin.
OxyContin
use is up
about 40%
among 12th
graders.
Demerol
Nembutal
OxyContin
Ritalin
Valium
Vicodin
caused by meth
use. The
damage
affected
memory,
emotion and
reward
systems.
Areas of
Greatest Loss
Emotion & reward
0
3%
5% loss
Memory
Source: Dr. Paul Thompson, UCLA
Check on your kids. Know where your
children are, who they are with, what they
are doing, and when you can expect them to
be home.
Keep a close eye on your prescription
medications, alcohol, money, or other
valuables.
If you suspect drug abuse or addiction, seek
help. Call your mental health care provider,
counselor, or family physician. They will be
able to direct you to services available to
help you and the person who is suffering
from addiction.
* The Partnership for a Drug-Free America™
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
Q
Recently I’ve heard that over-thecounter cold medications are
dangerous for children. How do I treat my
child’s cold?
A
Due to recent findings on the
accidental deaths of children from
an overdose of over-the-counter (OTC)
cough and cold products such as
decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants, the
United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has recommended
that OTC cough and cold preparations not
be used for children under 2 years of age.
(The FDA is currently reviewing
recommendations for OTC cough and
cold medicines for children ages 2 to 11.)
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, we don’t know what dose of
cough and cold medicine will cause illness
or death in children who are less than 2
years of age. This, combined with the
results of studies that prove colds usually
improve without the aid of medication,
make the possible side effects from the
drugs unacceptable.
Antihistamines often have the effect of
sedating a child, which can be dangerous
if the child already has difficulty breathing.
The Meth Epidemic
in America
I
n the past 70 years, a new group of
drugs have appeared on the horizon.
These are synthetic drugs that use
amphetamines as a primary ingredient in
their manufacture. Known collectively as
methamphetamines, these drugs have been
nicknamed meth, crank, crystal, speed, and
many other variations.
Made from relatively inexpensive overthe-counter ingredients, meth results in
a euphoric feeling by overstimulating the
brain’s reward system, which floods the
brain with dopamine. Meth is highly
addictive and can cause brain swelling,
brain hemorrhage, paranoia, and hallucinations. Long-term use of meth can
impair the brain’s ability to manufacture
its own dopamine.
People who use meth may have a pale,
yellow appearance, sunken eyes, rotting
teeth, dilated pupils, and low body
weight. They may also have a strong
chemical odor, scabs or sores on their
torso, face, and neck, and burns on their
fingers. They will usually exhibit jittery
and nervous behavior and will appear
paranoid.
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
Adverse drug
interactions and
accidental overdosing can occur in the
middle of the night when parents may
get up with the child independently –
not knowing if the other has medicated
the child.
Play it safe. If your child has a cold, do
not use OTC cold or cough preparations.
Give your child acetaminophen or
ibuprofen to control fever, make sure
your child gets plenty of liquids, use a
humidifier to keep the air moist, give your
child love and comfort, and wait it out.
The cold will usually take care of itself.
If you see a child who fits this description,
they may be in an unsafe environment.
Talk to the child, ask questions about
home, but don’t pry. Notify the police if
you think the child is in danger.
The Innocent Victims
As horrendous as drug abuse is to the
abuser, the children of an abuser live a
nightmarish life. Children of people who
abuse drugs often are neglected, physically
and sexually abused, and sometimes lack
even basic sanitary and nutritional care.
They may also suffer injury from
explosion, fire, or from strangers who
visit their homes looking for drugs.
A child growing up in a home where meth
is used or made may:
• Have bruises, cuts, burns, or bite marks
• Have nose and eye irritation
• Be extremely hungry
• Have poor hygiene or dirty clothes
• Be frequently absent from school
• Act out scenes of violence or drug use
• Communicate drug terminology or draw
drug paraphernalia
• Be depressed, apathetic, restless, hostile,
aggressive, fearful, or paranoid
• Be afraid to go home
• Display extreme anti-social or excessive
attachment behaviors
SPECIAL DVD OFFER
Get your FREE copy
of Living in the
Shadows; the
innocent victims
of METH.
This FREE DVD,
sponsored in part by
Ministry Health Care,
contains interviews with children who
have grown up with the realities of meth
abuse. The DVD will help you identify
drug-endangered children in your
community.
To order your FREE Living in the
Shadows DVD, call 866.MHC.4DVD
(866.642.4383).
Health Connection Spring 2008
9
percent of ophthalmologists in the United
States today are trained in its operation.
NO
“With Lasik, the skill of the surgeon is
important because he’ll be making an
incision,” says Steven Slezak, MD, Ministry
Medical Group Ophthalmology Department,
on staff at Saint Michael’s Hospital.
MORE
G L A S S E S
W I T H
R E F R A C T I V E
S U R G E R Y*
There are several types of refractive
surgery: Radial Keratotomy, Lasik, Lasek,
and custom intraocular lenses.
Radial Keratotomy is a surgical
procedure used to decrease nearsightedness
by bringing the focal point of the eye
closer to the retina. During the procedure,
incisions are made in the cornea of the
eye with a precise diamond blade.
Imagine being able to work,
drive, and play sports without having to
R
depend on glasses or contact lenses.
Refractive surgery may make this a
reality for you.
efractive eye surgery helps correct
common vision problems using
laser technology. The procedure
uses a laser to change the shape of the eye’s
cornea. The cornea is the clear covering at
the front of the eye that helps bend and
focus light rays. If the cornea is not shaped
correctly, light can’t focus properly.
Until recently, glasses or contacts were the
only ways to compensate for a cornea’s
shape. Laser surgery now allows many to
give up their dependence on glasses or
contacts by actually correcting the shape of
the cornea.
Procedure
Corrects
Healing
Benefits
Drawbacks
Lasik
Lasik surgery changes the shape of the
cornea using lasers. A flap is cut in the
cornea and then a laser is used to reshape
the cornea. Lasik surgery usually has a faster
recovery time and less initial discomfort.
Lasek surgery also changes the shape of
the cornea, but the procedure is slightly
different. The lasek procedure removes the
most superficial layer of the cornea, and
then reshapes the deeper layer of the cornea.
Intraocular lenses, or custom lenses, are
artificial lenses that are used to replace the
lenses of people who have cataracts.
Intraocular lenses can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia.
“Laser surgery is the most exciting
advancement in ophthalmology,” says
Shiloh Simons, DO, with Ministry Medical
Group’s Ophthalmology Department, on
staff at Saint Michael’s Hospital. Only 20
Laser reshapes after blade cuts
deep and superficial layers
Nearsightedness, farsightedness
and astigmatism
Able to drive in 1 to 3 days
Faster recovery
Easier enhancement
Less uncomfortable
Flap complications
Lasek
Laser reshapes after superficial
layer is removed
Nearsightedness, farsightedness
and astigmatism
Able to drive in 3 to 7 days
No flap complications
Less dry eye
More potential candidates
Longer recovery period
More initial discomfort
* Refractive surgery is not recommended for all people and cannot treat all conditions.
10
Health Connection Spring 2008
Com mon Vi sion P ro blems
Myopia (nearsightedness)
occurs when light focuses in front
of the retina. Distant objects
appear blurry.
Hyperopia (farsightedness)
occurs when light focuses behind
the retina. Nearby objects
appear blurry.
Astigmatism occurs when light
focuses in more than one place.
Both near and distant objects
are distorted.
Emmetropia
(normal vision) occurs
when light is focused
on the retina.
Is laser surgery for you?
“People who are slow healers, who have
ongoing medical conditions (glaucoma or
diabetes), or those who are pregnant are not
good candidates for laser surgery,” said
Simons. “A patient needs to undergo a
thorough physical examination.”
When you’re over 40
If you are over 40, you may need reading
glasses. Eyesight worsens as we age
because the lens becomes stiff and doesn’t
adjust to differing distances easily. The
difficulty focusing on nearby objects is
called presbyopia.
Unfortunately, refractive surgery can not
treat presbyopia, but there is another option.
Some people have used refractive surgery
to create monovision: the shape of one eye
is adjusted for near vision and the other
eye for distance vision. Monovision does
not work for everyone and should be
discussed with your doctor. A trial period
of monovision using contact lenses may
help you decide if it’s right for you.
ministryhealth.org/healthconnection
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Hospitals
Calumet Medical Center,* Chilton
Door County Memorial Hospital, Sturgeon Bay
Eagle River Memorial Hospital, Eagle River
Flambeau Hospital,+ Park Falls
Good Samaritan Health Center, Merrill
Howard Young Medical Center, Woodruff
Mercy Medical Center,* Oshkosh
Our Lady of Victory Hospital, Stanley
Sacred Heart Hospital, Tomahawk
Saint Clare’s Hospital, Weston
Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Wabasha, MN
Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield
Saint Mary’s Hospital, Rhinelander
Saint Michael’s Hospital, Stevens Point
St. Elizabeth Hospital,* Appleton
Clinics/ Physician Group
Affinity Medical Group* (multiple locations)
Ministry Medical Group
Amherst, Chain O’ Lakes, Crandon, Eagle River,
Iola, Laona, Plover, Rhinelander, Stevens Point,
Tomahawk, Weston, Wisconsin Rapids, Woodruff
Victory Medical Group
Owen, Stanley, Thorp
North Shore Medical Clinic
Algoma, Fish Creek, Sturgeon Bay,
Washington Island
Home Care Services
“I know now that it was a good thing I didn’t ignore it. I called my doctor
and she told me that, for women, sudden fatigue can be an indication of
heart disease. Then she made sure I got the treatment I needed from the
team that understands women’s heart care. Today I feel great – and
I want to tell the world.”
Know the signs.
Heart disease in women is different.
4Sudden fatigue
4Nausea
4Dizziness
4Sweating
4Indigestion
4Discomfort in the
neck, shoulders,
abdomen, or back.
In women, the symptoms of heart disease may be different from those
experienced by men. The Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Health Care
heart care team leads the way in diagnosing and fighting this number
one killer of women.
It’s not just chest pain
and shortness of breath.
A woman should also
watch out for:
If you experience any of
these symptoms, talk to
your doctor or call
1-800-888-4755
Flambeau Home Health and Hospice
Affinity Visiting Nurses, Neenah
Dr. Kate Home Health & Hospice, Arbor Vitae
Ministry Home Care – Home Health & Hospice
Marshfield, Rhinelander, Stevens Point,
Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids
Door County Memorial Home Health
Sturgeon Bay – Home Health Care
Saint Elizabeth’s Home Health Care, Wabasha, MN
Ministry Respiratory Services & Affinity Plus**
Home Medical Equipment & Respiratory Therapy
WIVA & WIVA Fox Valley, Home Infusion Therapy**
Seasons of Life Hospice Home, Woodruff
House of the Dove Hospice Home, Marshfield
Health Plan
Network Health Plan*
Long-Term Care
Door County Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility
Dr. Kate Convalescent Center, Woodruff
Franciscan Care and Rehabilitation Center*
Saint Elizabeth’s Nursing Home, Wabasha, MN
Saint Elizabeth’s Health Care Center, Wabasha, MN
Ministry Behavioral Health
Koller Behavioral Health
Mental Health Unit /Saint Michael’s Hospital
Sacred Heart – Saint Mary’s Hospitals
Stevens Point Outpatient Clinic
Stevens Point Residential Treatment Unit
Wisconsin Rapids Outpatient Clinic
Ministry Dialysis Services
oneheartcareteam.org
Ministry Dialysis Services
Marshfield, Rhinelander, Stanley, Stevens Point,
Waupaca, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, Woodruff
Other Services
404 S. 3rd Avenue
Wausau, WI 54401
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S.Postage
PAID
Wausau, WI
Permit No. 404
Affinity Occupational Health*
Agape Community Center
Bethany House
The Diagnostic & Treatment Center+
DCMH Rehabilitation Services
Family Health Medical & Dental Center/ La Clinica‡
James Beck Cancer Center++
Ministry Dental Center
Ministry Diabetes Services
Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation Health Access Program
Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital
SAINTS Health Services for Business
Springer Health Access Program
* A partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton
Franciscan Healthcare
++ Affiliated with Saint Mary’s Hospital –
Ministry Health Care
‡ Affiliated with Saint Michael’s Hospital –
Ministry Health Care
+ Co-sponsored with Marshfield Clinic
** A limited liability company between Ministry Home
Care and Coram Healthcare