A Growing Program for PinnacleHealth Heart Patients

Currently entering its second summer in operation, the seasonal vegetable and herb garden at

Blog contributed by
  Kimberly A. Fowler, MSN,
RN, CNS-BC, CHFN

PinnacleHealth’s Heart Failure Center will once again give heart failure patients one of the tools they need to stay healthy—fresh produce. From tomatoes and peppers to herbs such as thyme and rosemary, there’s bound to be something to satisfy patients’ taste buds, and eating fresh, non-processed foods helps them maintain heart-healthy diets.

Where We Began
Last summer, the nurses at the Heart Failure Center, along with a local Boy Scout troop, built raised wooden gardens at our PinnacleHealth Community Campus.

One of my favorite parts of the project: It was—and still is—funded entirely by volunteer efforts. This allows us to make fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs available to our heart failure patients who may not otherwise have access due to financial or other reasons. We also have a low-sodium pantry, stocked by voluntary donations, to provide low-sodium and salt-free staples such as canned goods and proteins such as tuna and peanut butter.

Cool Crops

Last summer, the vegetable crop consisted of peppers, tomatoes, onions, red beets and a variety of greens. The herb section of the garden boasted parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano and chives to

give heart failure patients fresh seasoning alternatives for their food, allowing them to reduce sodium intake without giving up flavor.

We had a kickoff class to highlight the contents of our gardens last summer. It’s wonderful to hand out fruits, vegetables and herbs and know we’re helping our patients and their families make a difference in their nutrition habits.

PinnacleHealth’s Heart Failure Program can help you manage your heart disease and live life to the fullest capacity. For more information on the program click here: http://bit.ly/1GhTGq7

7 Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy

Blog contributed by Vincent Bottaro, PA-C

The brain is by far the most complex organ in the human body controlling every bodily function through an intricate network of cells called neurons.  There are billions of neurons in the brain and spinal cord.  By using chemical and electrical signals, the brain can control everything from body temperature and heart rate to muscle movement and so much more.

Although the brain is quite powerful, it is still prone to countless diseases. It is important to maintain a healthy diet and stay mentally and physically active in order to prevent neurological conditions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Below are seven simple things you can do to keep your brain healthy:

• Stay Mentally Active. Reading a book, doing puzzles, and painting or drawing will help keep your brain sharp and slow down brain aging and even dementia.  As the old saying goes if you don’t use it, you may lose it. 
• Exercise Regularly. Staying physically active will help increase the number of blood vessels that bring oxygen to the brain which can improve memory and help avoid mental decline. 
• Eat More Foods with Antioxidants. Eat foods such as beans, whole grains and nuts which are high in antioxidants and can neutralize free radicals in the body that can cause damage to brain cells.  A healthy diet can help control diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and cholesterol - all of which can harm the brain. 
• Wear a Helmet. Use protective devices such bicycle helmets and seat belts which can help prevent traumatic brain injury.  
• Get a Good Night’s Sleep.  It is thought that the brain can actually synthesize complex information.  Even a short 20-30 minute nap can boost concentration and memory.
• Have fun. Doing things that are fun and pleasurable can help stimulate dopamine, the major chemical that transmits information between brain cells also known as neurons. 
• Have an Active Social Life.  Being social and interactive can prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by keeping neuron connections strong.

To learn more about the PinnacleHealth Neurosurgery and Neurosciences Institute click here: www.pinnaclehealth.org/neuro

Myth or Fact: Does Cold Weather Really Affect Joint Pain?

Dr. Jajoria

When the mercury drops, we may have to deal with snow, ice, frostbite and other weather-related inconveniences. As if that isn’t bad enough, many of my patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions are also more likely to experience increased joint pain.

I see this in my practice every winter, and studies have confirmed my observations. In a study conducted in Finland, 30 percent of participants experienced cold-related musculoskeletal pain. And the temperature at which participants experienced cold-related musculoskeletal pain increased by 1°C per 10-year increase in age.

Another study, which focused on how cold temperatures affect patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, showed that participants experienced an increase in pain the day after a cold snap began.

Why does this happen? When temperatures drop, atmospheric pressure increases. Higher atmospheric pressure also increases pressure in the joints, which can cause pain—especially in patients with arthritis. And with weather forecasters predicting higher-than-average amounts of snow and occasional below-zero temperatures in 2015, this is not good news for joint pain sufferers who live in our cold winter region.

Here are some recommendations to help you take care of your joints this winter:

• Get some exercise: Light- to moderate-intensity exercise can help to loosen stiffness in your joints. And, it will help create warmth in your body and keep off excess weight, which can also ease joint discomfort.
• Prevent swelling: Talk to your doctor about what you can do to reduce or prevent swelling in problem joints.
• Stay warm: Simple comfort measures, like warming up the car before you go outside, avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold, dressing in layers, sleeping under an electric blanket (if necessary), and keeping your home warm can help you cope with joint pain.

If your joint pain is severe, prolonged, or does not respond to home treatment, talk to your doctor. Are you looking for a Rheumatologist? Visit the PinnacleHealth Rheumatology Associates to learn more: pinnaclehealth.org/rheumatology

And, try to hang in there until some balmy days arrive—spring will be here before we know it! 

Lung Cancer and Women

Dr. Moritz

Did you know that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among American women? The numbers are alarming:  In 2010, the last year for which statistics are available, 70,578 women died of lung cancer in the United States. Once considered a “man’s disease,” the incidence of new lung cancer cases in women has increased during the past 35 years.

And, equally as important, studies have shown that lung cancer in women differs from lung cancer in men.

What makes lung cancer in women different than men?
Although smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer in women, 20 percent of newly diagnosed women have never smoked. Women also tend to develop lung cancer at a younger age than men, accounting for nearly half of the newly diagnosed lung cancer cases in people under age 50.

Additionally, while squamous cell lung cancer is most common in men, adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in women. This means that symptoms in women can be different than men. Adenocarcinoma develops in the outer regions of the lungs and often does not cause the “classic” signs of lung cancer, like a cough or coughing up blood. Instead, women with early-stage lung cancer may experience fatigue, shortness of breath and chest or back pain. A lung tumor may also spread or grow to be quite large before women experience any symptoms.

What is being done to learn more?
Research is being conducted to determine the role that estrogen, a female sex hormone, plays in the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer. Scientists have identified estrogen receptors, or areas that can bind with estrogen, on the outside of lung cancer cells. Additional research into the role of estrogen in female lung cancer patients may result in additional, more effective lung cancer treatment options for women.

“Staying up-to-date on the latest lung cancer research allows us to provide the most effective, leading-edge treatments for all our patients, particularly women where many of these findings are new. ” said Dr. Troy Moritz, thoracic surgeon at PinnacleHealth.

Do women respond to treatment as well as men?
Studies have also shown that women respond better to certain chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat lung cancer and even fare better after surgery. And the five-year survival rate for women are better than those for men.

“By customizing each patient’s treatment plan, our thoracic oncology team is able to increase survival  rates and improve quality of life for our patients,” said Dr. Moritz.

To learn more, call the PinnacleHealth Cancer Center at (717) 657-7500 or visit cancer.pinnaclehealth.org.

Recipe: Holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola

Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN

Jess’s holiday green beans with walnuts, carmelized onions, and gorgonzola cheese

You will need:
4 lb fresh green string beans
1 cup organic walnut halves
6 oz gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 large sweet Vidalia onion, sliced thinly
3 Tbsp heart healthy butter
1 Tbsp packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
¾ cup water


Instructions:

1. In small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat.  Stir in brown sugar.  Add sliced onion and reduce heat to low.  Cook slowly, until tender, about 25 minutes. 
2. Pre-heat oven to low broil.  In 9x13 inch metal sheet pan, spread walnuts evenly.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.  Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat.  Toast in oven for 2 minutes; remove pan and toss walnuts to flip.  Broil for 1 more minute, until nuts are toasted.  
3. In large stock pot, bring ¾ cup water to a boil.  Clean and remove stem ends from green beans, leaving remaining green bean whole.  Steam green beans until tender-crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain beans. Pour remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over beans and gently toss to coat.  Transfer beans to large serving platter or dish. 
4. Spread onions on top of green beans.  Top with toasted walnuts and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.  Serve immediately.

Download the recipe card

Serves 14
Nutrition Information per serving
Calories 162
Fat 13 grams
Carbohydrate 8 grams
Protein 5 grams

-From Jess’s Kitchen, Jessica Hoffman, RD, LDN

Using Robotics To Treat Lung Cancer

Dr. Moritz

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with 1.8 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths in 2012. But there is good news: Treatment options have improved and include advanced, minimally invasive surgical procedures using robotic techniques.

At PinnacleHealth, we take lung cancer surgery to the next level using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Da Vinci robotic technology allows surgeons to minimize discomfort, reduce the risk of complications, reduce hospital stays and speed recovery time for patients.

How does the da Vinci System work?

Through a few small incisions, surgeons use the da Vinci system to control tiny surgical instruments. Da Vinci also allows surgeons to see a Magnified, high-definition 3-D image of lung tissue and features highly maneuverable “wrists” that can rotate 540 degrees. A range of lung cancer surgical treatments can be performed using the da Vinci system, including:

• Wedge resection, during which the surgeon removes a wedge-shaped portion of the lung that includes the tumor and some surrounding tissue
• Sub-lobar resection, during which the surgeon removes the part of the lung that contains the tumor and some surrounding tissue
• Lobectomy, during which the surgeon removes the entire affected lobe
• Lymph node dissection, during which the surgeon removes the lymph nodes around the lung
• Biopsy, during which a surgeon removes suspicious lung tissue to determine if it is cancerous

What are the benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery?

“By using robotic systems and minimally invasive techniques as an alternative to traditional ‘open’ lung cancer surgery, we have significantly improved health outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Troy Moritz, thoracic surgeon at PinnacleHealth. “Patients experience less blood loss, faster healing and fewer complications. We take pride in continuing to be on the leading edge of lung cancer treatment using robotic technology and other advanced treatments.”

For more information on lung cancer services and treatments at PinnacleHealth.