Central Carolina Health & Life Summer 2009

5 tips for preventing diabetes

VITAMINS: KNOW YOUR ABCS

An ally for patients with breast disease

QUIZ: How fit

is your brain?

Plus

Summer 2009

T H E G O O D L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E f r o m C E N T R A L C A R O L I N A H O S P I T A L

health&lifeCentral Carolina Hospital

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Summer 2009

A fine pairingFor breast-disease patients, one Central CarolinaHospital nurse offers a cup of compassion—along with ahefty dose of information—during a trying time.

Spotlight on: VitaminsHow well do you know your ABCs?

Preventing diabetes!5 ways to keep from developing this dangerous condition

In the newsWhat science saysReports from the research front that can help you guardyour health.

How fit is your brain?Take our quiz to find out how well you’re keeping thatgray matter in shape.

For the recordBy the numbersNotable health-related facts and figures

Contents

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health&life

health&life

Central Carolina Hospital Staff

CEO

DOUG DORIS

CFO

KERRY TOLLESON

COO

KEVIN ZACHARY

CNO

URSULA LAWRENCE

CMO

RICK EBKEN, M.D.

CHRO

TOM MACKLIN

compliance & privacy officer

MISHELLE FRIAS

director of business development

DANYL BUTLER

director of marketing & public relations

MARGARET MINUTH

Central Carolina Hospital

1135 Carthage Street

Sanford, NC 27330

Main Phone: 919-774-2100

Physician Referrals: 1-800-483-6385

www.centralcarolinahospital.com

www.breastnavigator.com

WAINSCOT STAFF

editor in chief

RITA GUARNA

art director

SARAH LECKIE

senior editor

TIMOTHY KELLEY

managing editor

JENNIFER CENICOLA

assistant editor

KRISTIN COLELLA

Central Carolina Hospital Health & Life is

published by Wainscot Media, 110 Summit

Avenue, Montvale, NJ 07645, in association

with Central Carolina Hospital. This is Volume 1,

Issue 1. © 2009 by Central Carolina Hospital. All

rights reserved.

Material contained herein is intended for infor-

mational purposes only. If you have medical

concerns, seek the guidance of a healthcare

professional.

THE GOOD LIVING MAGAZINE fromCENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL

Central Carolina Hospital

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PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT YOU “LOSE YOUR HEARING”when the doctor is telling you bad news—and 62-year-old Ida Jean

Douglas can relate. In the fall of 2008, when her physicianinformed her she had breast cancer, she didn’t know whatto expect from the journey ahead. Luckily, Ida also had anunexpected ally in her corner to guide her through thoseuncertain months—a knowledgeable partner to act as a“second set of ears.”

Ida’s story starts routinely enough, with an annualdigital mammogram at Central Carolina Hospital. Butwhen she was called back shortly thereafter to undergomore tests, “I knew something was up,” she says. “I’dnever been called back before.”

Ida returned to the hospital for a second mammo-gram and an ultrasound-guided breast biopsy—a mini-mally invasive procedure in which sound waves help guidethe radiologist’s instruments to the suspicious areas in the

breast, so that tissue samples may be withdrawn with a needle. Theresults showed a malignant tumor.

FOR BREAST-DISEASE PATIENTS, ONE CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL

NURSE OFFERS A CUP OF COMPASSION—ALONG WITH A HEFTY DOSE OF

INFORMATION—DURING A TRYING TIME

A FINE PAIRING

“I’m here tohelp them

understandwhat is

happening ...and to just hold

their hand, ifneeded.”

—Gwyn Sandlin, R.N.

c o n t i n u e d

BREAST_CCH_109_v10.jc 6/24/09 9:56 AM Page 16

With surgery, chemotherapy

and radiation behind her,

patient Ida Jean Douglas

is doing well nine months

after learning she had a

malignant breast tumor.

BREAST_CCH_109_v10.jc 6/24/09 9:57 AM Page 17

It was then that Ida met regis-tered nurse Gwyn Sandlin, a certifiedBreast Health Navigator at CentralCarolina Hospital.

“My role is to provide support topatients who have been diagnosed witha breast disease,” Gwyn says. “Manytimes, I’ve had patients tell me theydon’t remember a thing their doctorhas said. They only hear, ‘You havebreast cancer’—and not much beyondthat. I’m here to help them understand what is happen-ing, what tests and treatments are scheduled, to answeras many questions as possible, and to just hold theirhand, if needed.”

Gwyn stood by Ida’s side throughout her treat-

ment. Before Ida underwent surgery inNovember, for example, Gwyn helpedher understand what to expect, providingher with an educational tool called YourBreast Cancer Treatment Handbook andspending an hour talking with her andanswering questions. Gwyn presentedIda with a pillow made by a hospital vol-unteer. This special pillow was designedfor breast surgery patients to help easethe discomfort after surgery. She was

even there with Ida in the recovery room when theprocedure was complete.

“I don’t know what I would have done withouther,” Ida says.

The good news for Ida was that the cancer had

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If you would like more information on Central Carolina Hospital’s Breast Health Navigator program or want to learn

how to perform a quality breast self exam, visit us online at www.breastnavigator.com.

“I’m thankfulGwyn has been

there for me.She’s myguardianangel.”

—Ida Jean Douglas

Ida (left) developed a

special bond with nurse

and Breast Health Navigator

Gwyn Sandlin (right).

BREAST_CCH_109_v10.jcREV 6/25/09 12:11 PM Page 18

C E N T R A L C A R O L I N A H O S P I T A L H E A L T H & L I F E / 7

not spread to her lymph nodes. Her next course ofaction would be the insertion of a “port-a-cath” (a portthrough which chemotherapy is delivered), then thechemotherapy itself, followed by radiation therapy.These treatments would consume most of the followingmonths, during which time Ida and Gwyn becameincreasingly close.

“Ida is very inspirational,” Gwyn says. “She has used this experience as a learning process. She’s gained strength,courage, and confidence.She’s taught me that you dowhat you have to do—and Ican share that inspirationwith other patients.”

Indeed, even whenIda began losing her hair,she kept her sense of humor.

“I had my beauticianshave my head, and Ilooked like Kojak! It was ashock to see a bald head,”she admits. “Friends gaveme wigs: I have a reddishone, a blonde one, and onethat is a more natural color.I even had one given to me

by another cancer patient.” In addition, Gwyn provided her with a variety

of turbans to wear. During that time, Ida would wonderwhat color hair might grow back, and whether it wouldbe curly or straight. And now that the regrowth hasbegun, “I look like Alfalfa from The Little Rascals!” she says.

Now, nine months after her initial diagnosis, Ida’schemotherapy and radiation are complete. Thoughadditional treatments still lie ahead, both her prognosisand her spirits are good.

“Having breast cancer can change you—it makesyou appreciate life more,” Ida says. “You have to take oneday at a time.”

Though her recovery process has been tiring, Ida has strengthened her faith in God and found manynew friends. And while she wasn’t strong enough to participate in this year’s Lee County Relay for Life, she’s thankful that family members chose to walk in her honor.

“All my friends gave me faith and were praying forme—I believe in prayer,” she says.

“I’m thankful Gwyn has been there for me,” Idaquickly adds. “She gives me strength when she talks tome. She’s my guardian angel.” ■

• Breast MRI

• Breast ultrasound

• Core needle biopsy (with ultrasound)

• Digital mammography

• Fine needle aspiration (with ultrasound)

• Needle localizations

• Stereotactic breast biopsy

• A Breast Health Navigator to help you

with your care plan

CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL OFFERS THESE

SERVICES TO DIAGNOSE BREAST CANCER:

Download our free song, “Fight Like

a Girl,” at www.breastnavigator.com.

The staff of Central Carolina Hospital raised more than $5,000 in donations for theLee County Relay for Life, held in May.

BREAST_CCH_109_v10.jcREV 6/25/09 1:51 PM Page 19

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“Consuming a multivitamin supplement is no substitutefor a healthy diet,” says Seattle-based researcher MarianNeuhouser, lead author of a recent study of multivitaminuse in postmenopausal women. “The old adage ‘Eat

your vegetables’ still rings true.” Still, Americans spend $20 billion a year on vitamin supplements. But how many ofus really know how these nutrients help? Here, a rundownof what various vitamins do, and how much is too much.

VITAMIN HOW IT HELPSSAFE UPPER LIMIT

FOR ADULTS*

AHelps night vision; promotes growth

and repair of bones, skin and hair; may

prevent acne breakouts and dry eyes3,000 micrograms

B-6Helps build red blood cells and fight

infections, alleviates hormone-related

fluid retention 100 milligrams

B-9Helps build DNA, prevents birth

defects 1,000 micrograms

(synthetic)

B-12Protects the nervous system, helps

build red blood cells not determined

C

Promotes healthy skin, bones, mus-

cles and blood vessels; regulates

metabolism; aids in wound healing

and iron absorption

2,000 milligrams

D

Helps build strong bones and teeth,

aids the nervous system (also, see

below)50 micrograms

EHelps protect eyes, skin, liver and

lungs; protects against free radicals 1,000 milligrams

KHelps blood clot and helps keep

bones healthy not determined

(do not take if using

blood thinners)

Recent studies point to a surprising array of benefits we may all get from vitamin D,

already known for building bones and regulating calcium in the blood:PROTECTION AGAINST COLDS. In a study of nearly 19,000 American adults and

teens, those with low blood levels of vitamin D were 40 percent more likely to have res-

piratory infections.

MUSCLE POWER. In a British study of 99 girls ages 12 to 14, the ones with lower D

levels—even if not deficient—had weaker legs than others and couldn’t jump as high.

A BRAIN BOOST. Another British investigation tested 1,766 adults over 65 and found

that those with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to be cognitively impaired.

FAT-FIGHTING. In a study of 90 Southern California women ages 16 to 22, 53 had vitamin

D insufficiency—and were also heavier, with more body fat.

Spotlight on: VITAMINS

*Maximums are often lower for children. SOURCES: National Institutes of Health’s Office of DietarySupplements, Harvard School of Public Health, Institute of Medicine.

Don’t be D-ficient!?DID YOU KNOW?You should take supple-ment tablets with room-temperature water, asvitamins’ benefit can becompromised by hot orcold drinks. Also, avoidcoffee or tea for 15 min-utes before and after, ascaffeine is believed toinhibit the absorption ofsome vitamins.

Vitamin_CC_109_v3rev 6/25/09 12:10 PM Page 16

NEARLY 24 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE DIABETES, ANDmore than 6 million people have type 2 diabetes (diabetesmellitus) and don’t know it. Some 57 million more are con-sidered prediabetic—that is, their blood-sugar levels areborderline high. You could be in this group without beingaware of it, but there are things you can do to protect your-self, says Erik Butler, D.O., Family Practice, board-certified, at Central Carolina Hospital.

Here’s the danger: Cells need glucose (sugar) forenergy. When we eat, most carbohydrates are converted intoglucose and rapidly absorbed by the bloodstream. A rise in

blood sugar triggers the pancreas to release insulin,which transports glucose to cells. When there is too much sugarand the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to control it, theresult is prediabetes, or insulin resistance. The pancreas eventu-ally becomes exhausted, and if the progression is not halted, dia-betes develops.

Although diabetes symptoms include increased thirst,increased urination, weight loss and blurred vision, many

Preventingdiabetes!

1. Cardiovascular disease is the leadingcause of death in people with diabetes.

True False

2. Blindness is a common complication of poorlycontrolled diabetes.

True False

3. A person at risk for diabetesshould avoid eating nuts.

True False

4. Almost everyone withdiabetes has some noticeable symptom.

True False

5. A half-hour a day of aerobic exercise, with mod-erate weight loss, can halve your risk of develop-ing type 2 diabetes.

True False

5 WAYS TO KEEP FROM DEVELOPING

THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION

6. Type 2 diabetes is now a threat to children aswell as adults.

True False

7. Due to advances in medicine, our childrencan be confident of living longer lives thanthose of today’s adults.

True False

8. Cinnamon can raise blood sugar levels.

True False

9. It’s impossible to have type 1 and type 2 diabetes at once.

True False

10. It can be OK for a person with diabetes to enjoy an occasional sweet treat, such as cookies or cake.

True FalseBLE

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Erik Butler, D.O.

How much do you know about type 2 diabetes?Mark each of these 10 statements “true” or “false”—then check your responses

against the correct answers printed upside-down on the next page.

C E N T R A L C A R O L I N A H O S P I T A L H E A L T H & L I F E / 9

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Diabetes_CC_1-09_v8.jc 6/24/09 10:01 AM Page 2

people in the early stages ofthe disease have no symp-toms. If the condition isn’tproperly controlled, it canresult in kidney failure, visionloss, cardiovascular disease and lower-extremity amputations.

Family history affects who develops diabetes, Dr. Butler says. So does ethnicity; the condition is more prevalent among African-Americans, Hispanics,Asian-Americans and Native Americans. Other risk fac-tors include obesity, an age of 65 or older and a seden-tary lifestyle.

Dr. Butler suggests these steps to cut your risk:

1Lose weight and get more exer-cise. A study by the National Institutes of Health

showed that just 30 minutes a day of moderate physicalactivity, coupled with a 5 percent to 10 percent reductionin body weight, can lower your risk of developing type 2diabetes by nearly 60 percent. Lifestyle changes workedespecially well for participants in the 60-or-older range,who reduced their risk by 70 percent.

If you’ve been sedentary, check with your doctorbefore you begin an exercise regimen. “You mightbegin with something simple: taking regular walks,”says Dr. Butler. To give youreself extra motivation, con-

sider combining exercise with socialactivity by joining an organized walking

group that meets regularly.

2Choose high-quality carbs.Cakes, donuts and bagels are tempting,

but such processed carbohydrates, made from refined flours, convert to blood sugar too quickly.This causes a spike and crash that can trigger morehunger and increased caloric intake. Better options arehigh-quality carbohydrates such as fruit, veggies andwhole grains—especially those with a fiber content of 3 grams or more per serving. They are slower tometabolize and help stabilize blood sugar, causing you to feel fuller longer. (Another way to feel full: Drink lotsof water.)

3Know your fats—they’re not allequal. Pass up artery-clogging saturated fats

and trans fats in favor of fats that are high in monoun-saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, advises Dr.Butler. Good sources of these healthy fats are fish, nutsand oils such as olive, flaxseed and canola. But indulgesparingly, as they can raise your calorie count quickly.

4Get your blood checked. Your doctorcan tell you whether you have a normal metabolism,

prediabetes or diabetes.With a simple fasting plasma glucose test (FPG),a person with prediabeteshas a fasting blood glu-cose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL; abovethat, it’s diabetes.

5Ask aboutmedications.

People who are at veryhigh risk of type 2 diabetesmay benefit from met-formin, which—togetherwith changes in diet andexercise—has been shownto decrease risk, especiallyfor obese people. ■

1. TRUE.Diabetes that is not properly controlled

can result in high blood pressure and hardening

of the arteries, which can lead to heart disease.

2. TRUE.Diabetic retinopathy, a degeneration

of the blood vessels in the retina, is a leading

cause of blindness in adults.

3. FALSE.A study in the Journal of theAmerican Medical Associationin 2002 showed

that people who ate tree nuts and peanuts at

least five times a week had a lower diabetes

risk (and lower weight) than those who didn’t.

4. FALSE.Some 30 percent to 50 percent of

individuals with type 2 diabetes have no

noticeable symptoms, according to Robert

Rushakoff, M.D., an associate clinical professor

of medicine at the University of California, San

Francisco.

5. TRUE.One study showed that 30 minutes a

day of moderate physical activity such as walk-

ing, along with a 5 percent to 10 percent

reduction in body weight, reduced the risk of

type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

6. TRUE.What used to be called adult-onset

diabetes is now developing at younger ages

because of the obesity epidemic. It is now

expected that one in three children in the U.S.

will eventually become diabetic.

7. FALSE.Because childhood obesity is

sharply on the rise, our children may have

shorter life spans than we do. By mid-

century,say researchers in the New EnglandJournal of Medicine,complications such as

type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer could

lower by two to five years today’s U.S. average

life expectancy of 77.6 years—the first reversal

since tracking of that statistic began in 1900.

8. FALSE.Cinnamon sugar may indeed ele-

vate levels of glucose in the blood, but

Pakistani researchers have found that cinna-

mon alone can actually reduce them.

9. FALSE.Studies suggest that a growing

number of persons actually have this “double

diabetes.” Doctors say that when some type 1

diabetics become overweight, they develop

type 2 as well.

10. TRUE.An occasional indulgence is fine,

doctors say, as long as it’s small and you con-

trol overall consumption of foods that cause

levels of blood sugar to spike.

Quiz

For a physician referral,

please call 1-800-483-6385

or visit us online at

www.centralcarolinahospital.com.

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Diabetes_CC_1-09_REV 6/25/09 1:52 PM Page 3

REPORTS FROM THE RESEARCH FRONT THAT CAN HELP YOU GUARD YOUR HEALTH

What science says

In the news

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Parents mean well when

they limit where their

children can go alone,

fearing traffic haz-

ards, abductors and

other dangers, but a

U.K. study suggests

they’re overdoing it.

Researchers charted the

activity levels of 1,307

10- and 11-year-old

boys and girls attending

23 schools in a large city.

The kids wore accelero-

meters to measure their activity

and were asked how often their par-

ents let them go places alone or with

friends. According to the study report in

the International Journal of BehavioralNutrition and Physical Activity, the more inde-

pendent mobility a child was permitted, the

more active he or she was on weekdays.

Too-strict limits on kids’ unsupervised travel,

investigators warn, may be cutting down

on their physical activity—and contribut-

ing to the growing problem of child-

hood obesity.

Should your childbe freer totravel?

Falls are a key danger to older people’shealth. Now a Portuguese study report-ed in the journal Geriatrics &Gerontology Interna-tional suggests an easy,inexpensive way tobecome more sure-footedand avoid falls—without spending lots of time. The key: exercising your ankles.

Researchers divided 48 randomly assigned elderly indi-viduals into two groups. One didn’t exercise; the other didthree 15-minute periods of ankle flexion and extension weeklyfor six weeks, using progressively tougher elastic bands forresistance. While the idle folk didn’t improve, the exercisersstrengthened their ankles’ dorsiflexors (which move the footup and down) and plantar flexors (which extend it) and didbetter on tests of mobility and balance.

Check with your physician, of course, before beginningany new exercise program.

Meditation gets an AThe use of meditation to beat stress is on the

rise, a national survey shows, with 7.6 per-cent using it in 2002 and 9.4 percent in

2007. And a study in the InternationalJournal of Psychophysiology suggests thetechnique may even help college stu-dents think better. Students were as-signed to two groups, one of which

did transcendental meditation. Med-itators were better at organized thinking.

How smoking hurts your pancreasAdd one more to the long list of smoking’s dangers: New Danish research says cigarettes can cause pancreatitis—

inflammation of the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach and near the top of the small intestine.

The painful illness may be acute or chronic, and at its worst can be life-threatening. Gallstones and

alcohol abuse have long been known as culprits, and while many heavy drinkers smoke it hasn’t been clear

till now that smoking is an independent cause of pancreatitis. Now the jury is in, say investigators in Archives

of Internal Medicine after reviewing more than a decade’s data for nearly 18,000 Danes who developed 235 cases

of the disease. Says the American College of Physicians: “Physicians should treat smoking as a chronic disease.”

Flex those ankles for better BALANCE

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“YOU KNOW THEY SAY TV WILL ROT YOUR BRAIN?That’s absurd. TV only softens the brain like a ripe banana.” Sodeclared actor Alec Baldwin in a TV spot for web video

hub Hulu. And it turns out he’s more or less right. “The brain is an organ of adaptation,” says

Louis Cozolino, a professor of clinical psychologyat Pepperdine University and author of TheHealthy Aging Brain. “You constantly have to give

it something to adapt to.” “Challenging yourself mentally and physically

helps keep your brain healthy,” agrees Mohan Deochand,M.D., Neurology, board-certified, Central Carolina Hospital.

Neural plasticity—the idea that your brain iscontinuously changing—is a relatively new concept. It explainswhy people get wiser with age and why seniors who stay active

maintain their mental acuity longer. Research has shown that, con-trary to a longtime belief, our brains do not lose a large number of neuronsas we age. Instead, the synapses that connect these neurons often slow fromdisuse. By stimulating the synapses, we can help ourselves stay sharp.

The quiz at right tests your memory, thinking and social stimula-tion. Answer the questions and tally your score to see how your brain fares.

How fit is yourBRAIN?

Follow these 9 tips from Mohan Deochand,

M.D., Neurology, board-certified, Central

Carolina Hospital, to keep your mind sharp:

1. Get lots of sleep. “High-quality slumber

is important in helping the brain to store and

consolidate what it learns each day,” says

Dr. Deochand. Sleep at least seven hours

each night, and avoid frequent use of alco-

hol, Benadryl, cold medicines labeled “P.M.”

or benzodiazapene drugs—those with

chemical names ending in “pam”—because

they can damage sleep, cheating the brain.

2. Play with kids when you can. Interacting

with different age groups keeps you alert.

3. Eat well. Your brain needs a sound, bal-

anced diet. (“Smart” stars include walnuts,

blueberries, spinach and wild salmon.)

4. Learn new things—a foreign language,

a musical instrument, a demanding hobby.

“You’d think memorizing might threaten to

overload the brain, but it actually expands

its capacity,” says Dr. Deochand. In studies,

seniors who learned a new language

improved mentally in other areas too.

5. Fill the unused time in your day. Bring a

book to read while you’re in the waiting

room or in line. Sign up for an adult educa-

tion class on evenings when you’re not busy.

6. Challenge your “executive function”—

the ability to coordinate different activities

and remember schedules—by planning a

meal that involves a recipe with many steps.

7. Vary your route to work or the grocery

store. This snaps you out of the “autopilot”

of driving to familiar locations.

8. Find social activities you enjoy. People

with good social lives tend to stay sharper.

9. Exercise regularly. The brain uses 20

percent of the heart’s output, so brain

health naturally depends on cardiovascular

health. But research hints that exercise may

pay mental dividends even beyond that.

Train your brain!

TAKE OUR QUIZ TO FIND OUT HOW WELL

YOU’RE KEEPING THAT GRAY MATTER IN SHAPE

Need a neurologist? Call 1-800-483-6385 for a free physician referral.

Mohan Deochand, M.D.

FitBrain_CC_109_v7.jcREV 6/25/09 12:09 PM Page 16

C E N T R A L C A R O L I N A H E A L T H & L I F E / 1 3

Before you begin, think of three words.

Remember them for later.

1 Name the next number in this pattern:

1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ___Give yourself one point if you are correct (see the key below for answers when you’ve finished thissection).

a. 18

b. 20

c. 21

d. 25

2 What did you have for breakfast yesterday?

If you can remember in less than 15 seconds, giveyourself one point.

3 Did you have trouble executing all the steps

involved in the last recipe you followed?

If you did not, give yourself one point.

4 Take 100 and subtract 7 from it in your head,

then subtract 7 from the difference.

Give yourself one point if you can continue this

pattern five more times (see key below).

5 Are you able to balance your checkbook

without difficulty? If yes, give yourself one point.

6 Who is the current governor of North Carolina?

If you can remember in less than 15 seconds, give

yourself one point (see key below).

7 Do you ever forget your intended destina-

tion while you’re driving? If you never do,

give yourself one point.

8 What is 1 + 2 – 3 + 4 – 5 + 6? Give yourself

one point if you are correct (see key below).

a. 1

b. 5

c. 7

d. 10

9 What were the three words you selected at

the beginning of the quiz? Give yourself one

point for each word you can remember.

SELECTED ANSWERS: 1. c; 4. the sequence is: 93, 86,

79, 72, 65, 58, 51; 6. Beverly Perdue; 8. b

10 How often do you feel lonely while in crowds?

a. almost never

b. sometimes

c. frequently

11 How often do you interact with new people?

a. regularly

b. sometimes

c. rarely

12 How many good friends have you made in

the last three years?

a. several

b. one to two

c. none

13 How often do you get enough sleep at night?

a. always

b. sometimes

c. never

14 You are happy with your day-to-day life:

a. most of the time

b. sometimes

c. rarely

SCORING: Give yourself two points for every a, one

point for every b and zero points for every c in section 2.

Add your total with our score from section 1 for your

final tally.

17–21 POINTS: A beautiful mind. Good job! You’ve

kept your life chock-full of brain-stimulating activities,

but a little extra exertion never hurts. Exercise both your

cognitive and social sides by chatting with someone

new, and then perhaps inviting him or her over for a

game of chess or cards.

11–16 POINTS: Second thoughts. Luckily you’re not

staring blankly at the television all the time, but you

could certainly stand more stimuli. Cognitively, try tack-

ling a crossword puzzle or a game of Scrabble. Socially,

try volunteering with a group or joining a book club.

0–10 POINTS: Brain freeze. Your mind could use a

variety of different challenges. One idea: Signing up

for an adult-education class in a subject that interests

you will exercise both parts of your brain—cognitively

through the instruction itself, and socially through

interaction with your fellow students. ■

Cognitivesection1

Social/emotionalsection 2

FitBrain_CC_109_v7.jc 6/24/09 12:11 PM Page 17

10.3millioncosmetic procedureswere done in the U.S. in 2008.Source: American Society forAesthetic Plastic Surgery

By the numbersNOTABLE HEALTH-RELATED FACTS AND FIGURES

Top 6 causesof deathin the United States,2005:1. Heart disease 2. Cancer 3. Stroke 4. Chronic lower respiratory

diseases5. Accidents or unintentional

injuries6. Diabetes Source: The National Center for HealthStatistics

of Americans under the ageof 65 did not have healthinsurance in 2006.Source: The National Center for HealthStatistics

The top 10 most prescribedmedications, 2007:1. Lipitor (cholesterol-lowering agent)2. Singulair (used for the long-term

treatment of asthma)3. Lexapro (antidepressant drug)4. Nexium (used to treat acid reflux

disease)5. Synthroid (thyroid medication)6. Plavix (prevents blood clots after a

recent heart attack or stroke)7. Toprol XL (used to treat hypertension)8. Prevacid (used to treat acid reflux

disease)9. Vytorin (cholesterol-

lowering agent)10. Advair

Diskus(used for thelong-term treatment of asthma)

Source: RxList

The quest forhealth—online8 million adults search for healthinformation by computer on anaverage day, and 58% of themsay online guidance has affectedtheir treatment decisions. Here’swhat they’re looking to learnabout: • 64% a specific disease or

medical problem• 51% a medical treatment or

procedure• 49% diet, nutrition or vitamins• 44% exercise or fitness• 22% depression, anxiety, stress

or mental health issues• 9% smoking cessation• 8% drug or alcohol problemsSource: PEW Internet and American Life Project

75.2YEARS

16%

80.4YEARS

In 2007,

20%of U.S. adults smoked,

down from 22.5%in 2002

Source: The National Center forHealth Statistics

Gender and lifespan

32 million Americans take three or more medications daily.

Source: American Heart Association

What’s normalFind out where you fit in by comparing your numbers to these ranges:BODY MASS INDEX:• 18.5 to 24.9 is normal body mass index (BMI) for adults. (142 million

adults are considered overweight or obese. Calculate your BMI atwww.nhlbisupport.bmi.)

TOTAL CHOLESTEROL:• Under 200 mg/dl is a desirable level for adults. (48.4% of adults

have cholesterol levels that are too high.)BLOOD PRESSURE:• Normal for adults is 120 mmHg or less over 80 mmHg or less. (1 in

3 adults has high blood pressure.)Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; American Heart Association; National Heart,Blood and Lung Institute

Is it men or women who are really tough?Here’s the life expectancy at birth for eachgender for kids born in 2005.

MALES

Source: The National Center for Health Statistics

FEMALES

CLO

CK

WIS

E F

RO

M T

OP

LEF

T: S

TE

PH

EN

VA

NH

OR

N; A

LEX

EY

AV

DE

EV

; JEN

NIF

ER

FA

BE

LA; D

. HU

RS

T/A

LAM

YFor the record

Numbers_CC_109_v3.SL 6/24/09 10:04 AM Page 18

DigitalAnalog

Central Carolina Hospital now offers self-referrals for Mammography. If you need a mammogram anddon’t have a physician’s referral, you may now schedule your mammogram by calling us at (919) 774-2157.


Central Carolina Health & Life Summer 2009

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