Traditional values. Personal service. Quality care - Since 1947 • Winter 2012

Wellness Wednesday Expanding

Carpal TunnEl SurgEry: What to ExpEct / FrEE Cookbook With DiabEtEs class signup

TakE your bEST ShoT

againST pnEumonia

Vaccinations aren’t just for kids—they’re lifesavers for adults as well.

If you are an older adult, or have certain serious health conditions, a pneumonia shot is one you shouldn’t skip. The vaccine protects against pneumococcal bacteria, which can lead to deadly infections of the lungs, blood, and tissues covering the brain.

Preventing these infections is more important than ever because some strains of bacteria have become resistant to treatment. Most people need only one dose of the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people in these groups get vaccinated: All adults ages 65 years and older People ages 2 to 64 who have long-term health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes People ages 2 to 64 who have higher risk for infection due to certain illnesses (such as Hodgkin’s disease or HIV) or medical treat-ments (such as long-term steroids) People ages 19 to 64 who smoke or have asthma.Pneumonia shots are now given at Cannon’s Wellness Wednesday. (See story at left.)

HealthMatterswww.Cannonhospital .org

cannon’s Wellness Wednesday is a

great way to get free and drastically

discounted health screenings—and now

we’re expanding our program.

the services will now be offered every

Wednesday, from 7 to 10 a.m., at a new

location. all Wellness Wednesday services will

be offered at the Wellness annex across from

the hospital at the corner of hwy. 178 and

pendleton street. this new location will offer

more convenient parking and building

access. Wellness Wednesday had been held

monthly at the hospital, but the hospital

decided to expand the program because it is

so popular.

no appointment is necessary and a

physician’s order is not needed for the tests.

We accept cash, check, or credit card. no

insurance will be billed except Medicare

part b for flu and pneumonia shots.

to find out more,

call 864-898-1331 or log on to

www.Cannonhospital.org.

SamE grEaT SCrEEningS now oFFErEd EvEry wEEk blood pressure: FrEE bone density heel scan: FrEE height and weight: FrEE pSa: $16 TSh: $16 *glucose & total cholesterol: $10 * lipid panel: $22 (This includes hdl,

ldl, triglycerides, glucose,

TC/hdl ratio) *alT/aST: $10 *lipid panel/alT/aST: $30 hgb a1C: $10 hepatitis b vaccination: $50

per injection (series of 3) Tetanus vaccination: $42 T-dap

(tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

vaccine combo) Td (tetanus and

diphtheria vaccine only): $30 pneumonia vaccine, $65 (medicate part

b will be filed if you present your card.)

*Fasting required for more accurate results

if your carpal tunnel syndrome hasn’t

gotten better with rest, splints, or other

nonsurgical treatments, your doctor

may talk with you about carpal tunnel

release surgery.

surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is

usually performed on an outpatient basis

under local or general anesthesia.

opEn Carpal TunnEl or EndoSCopiC?

carpal tunnel release surgery is used to reduce the pressure

on the median nerve in the wrist. according to Dr. byron Marsh,

an orthopedic surgeon with cannon orthopedics, there are

two approaches to carpal tunnel surgery: open carpal tunnel

release surgery and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. “i primarily

perform endoscopic release because of the better initial results

from the surgery. it’s less invasive, therefore the initial recovery

time is more rapid.”

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release requires only a small incision

in the wrist area. “What i have found is that because the scar is

smaller, it heals more quickly and tends to cause less pain for the

patient,” says Marsh. open carpal tunnel surgery requires an

incision in the palm, which is much more sensitive skin. “there

are patients who have no choice but to have open carpal tunnel

surgery Eases the pain of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2 www.CannonHospital.org

FivE QuESTionS To aSk bEForE any SurgEry

Count on uscannon surgical has well

qualified physicians on

staff. Dr. peter schriver

and Dr. James Mahanes

are both board certified

surgeons who have years

of experience. to schedule

an appointment, call

864-898-1360.

When you’re considering surgery—no matter how minor—it’s a good idea to get all the facts before making a decision. Here are five questions you can ask your surgeon so that you’re better informed.

1. WHy Have Surgery? Make sure you understand how the operation can fix or improve your medical problem, and how long the benefits should last. What could you gain or lose by postponing or not having the surgery?

2. WHaT kind of oPeraTion iS reCoMMended? Ask the surgeon to explain the steps involved.

3. are THere alTernaTiveS? Sometimes medication or treatments, such as special exercises or dietary changes, can improve a health condition. Waiting to

byron marsh, m.d., is a board certified

orthopedic surgeon who has been

performing endoscopic carpal tunnel

release for 15 years. to make an

appointment with Dr. Marsh, call

864-898-1231.

carpal tunnel

surgery does not usually require a

hospital stay.

see if a problem gets better or worse over time may be an option.

4. WHaT are THe riSkS? Knowing a procedure’s possible complications and side effects can help you weigh benefits and risks.

5. HoW MuCH Will iT CoST? Find out about the surgeon’s fees, hospital costs, and fees from other doctors who will treat you. Check insurance cover-age to find out what you will have to pay yourself.

Seeing another surgeon can help you decide if surgery is best. Ask your primary care doctor for the name of another surgeon who specializes in treating medical problems like yours. Have medical records sent to the surgeon giving a second opinion.

release surgery because they have either already had some sort

of hand surgery or trauma to their hand and if that’s the case,

you can’t perform endoscopic release on that patient.”

whaT To ExpECT

a shorter recovery time is to be expected with endoscopic release.

the pain and numbness may go away right after surgery, but it

could take several months for all the soreness to go away. Your

physician will advise you to avoid heavy use of your hand for several

weeks. Returning to work depends on whether the hand that was

operated on is a dominant hand and the type of work you do.

based on your situation, you could have to stay away from work

anywhere from two days to four or more weeks. sometimes

physical therapy will speed the healing process.

Winter 2011 3

Children’s Medication labels getting a Makeover

if you have medicines that contain the

fever reducer acetaminophen, you may

notice that they give dosing instructions

only for children ages 2 and older. but that

may soon change. Experts from the u.s.

Food and Drug administration have voted

to add dosing instructions for infants 6

months to 2 years old.

Research shows that acetaminophen

is safe for young children. but if parents

don’t know the correct dose, they might

give their children too much medicine.

SCrEEningS STill kEy wEapon againST proSTaTE CanCEr

The United States Preventive Services Task Force, a panel

of physicians who compile evidence based on preventive medicine guidelines, recently issued a statement against using the PSA test as a routine screening for prostate cancer.

The major point of their findings was that elevated PSA levels lead to a biopsy, which leads to surgery that is complicated by urinary incontinence and impotence. PSA, or prostate- specific antigen, is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland.

Let me just say that treatment for prostate cancer is not one-size-fits-all. Prostate cancer has variable degrees of severity, with some not requiring treatment at all. Therefore, treatment should be carefully individualized.

According to the American Cancer Society, men have a 1 in 6 lifetime risk of getting prostate cancer and a 1 in 36 lifetime risk of dying from it.

Whether screening with PSA alone has caused a significant reduction in mortality since screening began is not certain. But there has been a 30 percent reduction in deaths from 1990 to 2007. In my professional opinion, that number speaks to the importance of PSA testing for prostate cancer.

There is a variable numerical value of the PSA from man to man. The key in an individual is establishing the baseline and the trends in it and the speed with which it elevates, because this can signal the possibility of cancerous change in the gland.

This is why I do not agree with the findings of this task force and I highly recommend a routine PSA screening on some timetable for all men age 40 and older who have a family history of prostate cancer or who are African- American. These individuals should consult with their physician as to the timeliness of their screening, but don’t let this recent report muddy the waters as to how important preventive screen-ings are to prostate cancer.

are you looking for a physician for your children? Dr. travis

Davis is a board certified family practice physician who has an interest

and experience in pediatrics. he is now accepting new patients.

to schedule an appointment, call 864-843-9213.

Child’S wEighT inFanT dropS ChildrEn’S liQuid ChEwablE TablETS

6-11 lbs. 0.4 ml.

12-17 lbs. 0.8 ml. 1/2 tsp. 1 tablet

18-23 lbs. 1.2 ml. 3/4 tsp. 1 1/2 tablets

24-35 lbs. 1.6 ml. 1 tsp. 1 1/2 tablets

an overdose can be very harmful,

causing liver problems. to reduce this

risk, the panel also agreed that dose

instructions on the label should be based

on children’s weight.

since the dosing information is not

yet on labels, use the chart below, based

on weight, from the american academy

of pediatrics. use this when giving a

child 6 months to 2 years old

acetaminophen for a fever. consult your

child’s doctor if you have any questions.

James r.

mahanes, m.d.

cannon surgical

864-898-1360

cannon Memorial hospital123 W.g. acker Dr.pickens, sc 29671

nonpRoFit oRgus postagE

Paidcannon

MEMoRial hospital

norman g. rentz president and cEo

amanda dow Director of community Relations

Health Matters is published by cannon Memorial hospital. the information in this newsletter is intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health, not as a substitute for consultation with a per-sonal physician. © 2011 printed in the u.s.a.

printed on Recyclable paper 744M

postmaster: please deliver between Dec. 5-9

For a complete schedule of classes, log on to www.Cannonhospital.org

or call 864-898-1333. Don't wait to start exercising.

calendar of Events at cannon

hEarTSavEr adulT, Child,

and inFanT Cpr

preregistration is required; cost is $40.

Fridays, December 9, January 13, and

February 10, 9 a.m. to noon

hEalThCarE providEr Cpr

preregistration is required; cost is $45.

Wednesdays, December 14, January 11, and

February 8, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

any ExErCiSE CounTS

Do the holidays put even your best healthy eating habits to the test? You’re not alone. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, many people gain weight they never lose. To avoid putting on pounds, squeeze the most out of exercise and take advantage of these exercise secrets: Many chores, including washing windows and scrubbing floors, count as exercise. Shorter, intense workouts provide similar health benefits as longer, moderate workouts. For example, 15 minutes of climbing stairs at an intense pace offers many of the health benefits you get with 30 minutes of brisk walking. You don’t have to exercise for 30 minutes straight. Three 10-minute brisk walks will earn you the same health benefits. Twenty minutes two to three times a week is all it takes to gain many of the benefits of strength training. You only need to perform one set—or 8 to 12 repetitions—of each exercise. Studies show you’ll gain few additional benefits from lifting more than one set.

cannon offers fitness classes

for every shape and size. Kick off

the new Year with a new You. log

on to www.Cannonhospital.org

for a complete schedule or call

864-898-1331.

get a FrEE

healthy cooking recipe

book when you register for a

diabetes education class.

diabETES EduCaTion ClaSSES

the classes are free, but you must

register by calling 864-898-1262.

Thursdays, December 8, January 12,

and February 9; 10 a.m.

liFElinE® Can bE a liFESavEr

There are times when you or a loved one may need medical attention, but can’t get to a phone. It can be a scary situation, but with a Lifeline unit, help is only a push-button away.

Lifeline is a Medical Alert Service used to ensure that help gets to you when you are unable to get to help. It is a telephone unit that is installed in the home and is used as a speaker phone to contact necessary personnel and responders in the event of an emergency.

if you’re interested

in a lifeline unit for

yourself or a loved one,

call 864-898-1334.

When a Lifeline telephone unit is installed, the subscriber is given a Personal Help Button to wear at all times. In the event of an emergency (such as calling for medical help, the police, or fire department) the subscriber can press the button. This alerts Lifeline that help is needed. Lifeline will call assigned responders and dispatch the necessary personnel.

Lifeline units are available through Cannon Hospital. The units are installed by trained Cannon employees or volunteers, and each person and his or her family members are shown how to use it.

There is a $25 one-time installation fee for a Lifeline unit through Cannon and a $35 a month monitoring fee.