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April 7, 2006     Barnstable Patriot
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April 7, 2006
 
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Pneumonia knows no season Beware of sniffs and sneezes By David Curran news@barnstablepatriot.com The worst is over-and it wasn't a bad year - but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down. Although the great majority of pneu- monia cases occur in the cold months, the condition knows no season. Dr. Albert Barrows , head of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at Cape Cod Hospital, and Dr. Alan Sugar, head of Infectious Disease ClinicalServicesfor Cape Cod Healthcare,both saidthey see pneumonia year-round , but more commonly in winter. "We always see more pneu- monia in the winter time,"Dr. Barrows said. "It's not the cold weather itself that fos- ters the spread of pneumonia, it's what people do when the weather'scold. People tend to be indoors more in the winter and amongst crowds," he ex- plained, "Some pneumonias are spread inhalationally." "The mainthing, if you're in crowds, among sick people, hopefully they're going to be coughinginto Kleenex or their sleeves," Dr. Sugar said. Ifyou have anupper respira- tory infection -winter, spring, summer, or fall-do the people around you afavor: Cough and sneeze into a Kleenex. You might even save a life. For most people, adults and children (excepting veryyoung children), who are otherwise healthy, pneumonia isn't a life-threatening or terriblydire condition. Even in this day of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, most pneumonia still succumbs to penicillin, and if it doesn't - about 35 percent of the time for pneumococcal bacterial pneumonia, accord- ing to Dr.Barrows -other com- mon antibioticswillusually do the trick, the doctors agreed. But pneumonia is very dan- gerous for some people, and kills every year. For elderly people , very young children and people with other chronic health conditions - AIDS, end-stage kidney disease , congestive heart failure, dia- betes-pneumonia can be life- threatening. And it can start with a simple cold or flu. Dr. Barrows and Dr. Sugar both said pneumonia-related deaths correspond closely to influenza rates. Getting a flu shot is one of the best pneumonia pre- vention steps out there, Dr. Barrows said. However, a flu vaccination is not something worth doing at this time of year-the vaccine takes four to six weeks to become fully effective, he said, by which time the flu season will be a memory. But people in the high-risk groups should make it a priority when flu vaccine becomes available each fall, and it'snot abad idea for other people, as well, he said. Sohowwasthiswinterfor flu around here? About average, "maybe evenless,"Dr.Barrows said. There was a spike that began around the middle of February,he said, a bit on the late side but still well within the normal flu season. "We've been talkingto a lot of people withpretty bad bugs, some of which I'm sure were influenza ," he said. How about pneumonia? "Has there been a spike?" Dr. Barrows said. "I can't say that." There is a pneumonia vac- cine -it lasts five years - but neither doctor recommends it for healthy adults. For one thing, it's only about 50-per- cent effective , Dr. Barrows said, because it only works against the most commontype of pneumonia,which accounts for about half of all cases. "Lots of people think. 'I've had the pneumonia shot. Why am I getting pneumonia?'" he said, adding, "It really pro- tects against that (common) kind." Perhaps the best way to stay clear of pneumonia is the sim- plest:stayhealthy,dress appro- priately, wash your hands-and whatever you do, both doctors emphasize, don't smoke. "You have to basically eat a healthy diet, stay active, don't smoke,"Dr. Sugar said, "Do all the healthy type thingsto keep you constitutionallyashealthy as you can." lILi l L l l l 1VJL1 v/ IV . High-tech help at RHCI High-tech devices that restore movement after stroke and brain injury will be showcased during a presentation at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands in Sandwich today at 2 p.m. "Improving Life After Stroke , Brain and Spinal Cord Injury: The New Wave of Rehab Devices" will include talks by Yitzhak Zilberman, president and chief executive of- ficer of Bioness, Inc., and Keith Mcbride, PT, manager of clinical support for the California-based distributor of rehabilitation de- vices. Pre-register for the free presen- tation by calling 508-833-4008. Kudos for the compassionate Nominations close April 10 for the Compassionate Caregiver Award given by the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center. Anyone may nominate a paid, employed care- giver (or multidisciplinary team of caregivers) who works directly with patients in Massachusetts. For more information , go to www.TheSchwartzCenter.org or call Ssarah Levenson at 617- 726-0512. All about stroke "Stroke: Treatment , Diagnosis and Prevention" is the topic for Dr. Andrew Judelson of Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands when he speaks April 12 at the Sandwich Council on Aging. The talk begins at 11:30 a.m. at 270 Quaker Meetinghouse Road. Call 508-888-4737 to pre-register. Helping children grieve Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod offers two Spring Support Groups for those ages 8 to 13 who have lost a parent, relative or friend in. the last two years. An art expression group will meet Fridays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. through April 14 at 270 Communications Way in Inde- pendence Park in Hyannis. The "Hiking with Murphy Grief Group" will join Kids Grive Too! therapy dog Murphy Saturdays from April 8 to 29 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in avariety of central Cape locations. Call groups leader Jane Beatty at 508-540-8383 , ext. 226. There's no charge, but contributions are welcome. College opens massage therapy clinic Cape Cod Community College's massage therapy program has opened a public clinic staffed by students. All are welcome for a massage , ranging from neck only to full-body. Walk-in service is discouraged, so call 508-362-2131 , ext. 4346 for an appointment. Activities at Yarmouth Senior Center On the first and third Mondays of the month at the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road in South Yarmouth, a changes and loss sup- port group will meet at 11 a.m. Also, learn more about sleep apnea March 1 at 6 p.m. All are welcome. HIV/AIDS testing, counseling The Cape Cod Free Clinic & Community Health Center offers free, confidential testing for HIV/ AIDS. The tests are available at the health center's Falmouth and Mashpee offices. Appointments are required; call 508-540-2949. Veterans, take note The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering prescription refills over the Internet via the VA's MyHealtheVet, a personal on-line record system for veterans that tracks not only prescriptions but health records, insurance and more.For information, goto www. myhealth.va.gov Support at Independence House IndependenceHouse in Hyannis sponsors adomestic violence sup- port group atthe office inFalmouth Hospital on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.; a children's empowerment group on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the office in Hyannis; and a self- esteem focus group on Thursdays at the Hyannis office at 5:30 p.m. Call 508-771-6507. Health and well-being programs for winter Cape Cod Healthcare's Center For Health Education offers classes such as "Kick Butts," a stop-smok- ing class; "Heart Healthy Eating;" a walking program; techniques for relaxation of the mind and body; supermarket shopping; and more. Toregister, call 877-729-7200 or go to www.capecodhealth.org. Hospice education To learn more about just what a hospice is and to be informed about end-of-life services,you can schedule an informative program for your organization presented by Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod. Call 508-957-0200, ext. 306. A little time for yourself Stop by the Visiting Nurse As- sociation in Dennis on Route 134 to take part in the Young at Heart exercise program. A minimal fee is charged and a doctor 's note is necessary. The program is also offered at the Brewster facility. Call 877-267-7700. Driver Rehabilitation Program Those whose driving ability has been compromised by illness, injury or normal aging are invited to take part in the roadSMART Driver Rehabilitation Program being offered through the Re- habilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands in East Sandwich. Call 508-833-4000. Women's free health screening The Women's Health Network of the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod incooperation with local health care providers is offering free breast and cervical cancer screening services to uninsured and underinsured, low-income women age 40 to 64. Call 888- 557-9994. New access center telephone line Cape Cod Healthcare's mental health arm, Behavioral Health Services of Cape Cod Health- care, has a one-stop telephone line (888-986-4BHS) allowing easier access to comprehensive mental health services. The service offers help for those dealing with anxiety, depression, substance abuse , and other concerns. VNA has home health technology The Visiting Nurse Associa- tion of Cape Cod offers in-home telemonitoring technology. The Honeywell HomMed monitors collect vital signs including heart rate,blood pressure, oxygen satu- ration and body weight, all inthree minutes. Call 800-631-3900. Adult exercise class in Hyannis Get in shape by joining Live for Life classes offered by the YMCA Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. at the Barnstable Senior Center,825 Falmouth Road in Hyannis. Admission is $25 per month. CONTINUED ON PAGE B:7 Eye Exams • Consultations • Second Opinions I I 2"1 , Eye Care For: Cataracts • Glaucoma • Retina • Cornea Macular Degeneration - Lid Plastic Surgery Z n i l Diabetic Disease • Laser Surgery • LASIK Surgery ¦*«*¦*« JEFFREY S. HIIER, M.D. ftt vC* JjL ^^ mW^ £a ^Ssmm^. '"* MASK S HU&HES. M.D. BfiSQ . For over 15 years Ophthalmic ¦ ' ' t^ m w m m ^ ^ ^ ^P^ m ^cWWFvaTmaW^mW^n^Smmm - ' • ¦¦ » r — B THOIUS HUTCHINSON MD ¦i jU Sl KlHwIiM Consultants of Boston has been Wtll jJklll tlK^IIClf bnn9in9 B°St0n'St0PB°ard —imm» . ^ ¦ M | | | ^ H i | | U | ! ; Certified Ophthalmologists to "j^BB»fl^wlg8^MSL - Cape Cod. They come to the ^^^^^g KgpffiSQ ^H^Hp' : Cape t0 see you so you do not »«.«.» -0 j W ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ jU need to make the trip to Boston. LOCATIONSALSO IN BEVERLY. We welcome new patients, ¦»»»»« BOSTON, BROOKUNE. please call for an appointment. •"¦ "«*«*«*¦* STONEHAMAND WALTHAM W* * " flOUt M TOFMM. M0 mmm\\ mmMmmu m j i ! r .¦ .^ '^* ' __— ' l t e. M 8 9 508.771.4848 vJV-v£) |__2 ^ ^_^ ^ — ^ -^ _... _ . . . , . ¦ ¦'¦¦r- '- T- i.T . r ' V, *.: • • • ', ¦ V. '. ''/' ' r ¦HH^^^^^H Welcome to the Cape I ' ^ d r ^ m w m W - Infectious Diseases ^^H v^BfS' ' ^H - H M?lff-<«w,J3MMT ' * l^oard Certified in Internal Medicine and ^B MLW M ]^H| Infectious Disease ^m ^B^ '*¦ ¦ -?¥ ^— W . Fellowshi p in Infectious Disease and Residency \^—\ A >* jm\ | ^ Internal Medicine at University or' Colorado ^ N | | r «J UT' ^At ' Medical ^H Ij^ij^H ¦ School ol Medicine , Denver ^^Ki hM iX iw JU'¦* 'jjjflB lh e Infectious Disease linical Services (UK S department oj < ape ^^^HBjj^K^EZ iJyjT^J j B od Healthcare provides inpatient and outpatient consultations ^mfms^ ^ mnJ^S^SimUMl"r "' : ' !i "u" f''stwe diagnoses (e.g. Lyme disease, post operative ^^^^HHj M^BM-^^^^M infections , etc.); chronu disease management programs far individ ^Rfnl Jf^^^jfP^ jH living with HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and/or Kfjrf^Wn'WVtj rf'fl Viral Hepa titis (Hepatitis A, Ii and ( I; prima ry medical care for M f h ^r W ^nf i ^f f T ^ p ersons living with IUV/AIDS and their pa rtners; and HIV, STD HrflnjiFfTlriTlf!™ ' Sexually Transmitted Disease), and Viral Hepatit is counseling and mSmm—m ^—Y ^ ^^^k Can't find the right doctor iJJJJJJJJJT %, ^ ^^^k 0r t0° ^0n£ a wa^,;) fla -4 JV MM\ ^° y°u nave hayfever, ^B d T$t I snius problems or I 'f - ' T *"'¦• I frequent colds'? Asthma 9 ¦ K ^r* ^^^ Bw Food allerg ies or an ^^kl W A W allerg ic reaction to bees ^| ^L ^ ^^^ medicine? € 1 ^^ J Eczema or hives'? mj y mwkAppointments available within a week. ^m\ ^ Mm%V Emergencies always seen promptly. Advanced procedures... CONTINUED FROM PAGE B:3 can guideneedlesand minor instruments to the nerve area causing the pain. We are now able to safely see the patient's anatomy and use contrast dye to ensure we're in the correct loca- tion. This level of precision wouldn'tbe possible without the C-Arm." Most patientswhorequire treatment have back painor neck pain,and have already tried conservative therapies suchasphysicaltherapy,oral medication, and sometimes chiropractic care. Chronic pain treatment at the PMC varies from something as simpleasinjecting numbing medicine or cortisone at the affected site, to using high- frequency radiowaves that stun the nerve and reduce the pain. Dr. Barna and Dr. Stojanovic specialize in X-ray-guided, advanced, minimallyinvasive diagnos- tic andtreatment modalities for a variety of spine and pain conditions. Examples of the state-of-the-art tech- nology used include ra- dio frequency, spinal cord stimulation, discography, and many other innovative procedures. "These pain manage- ment procedures are safe and successful ," said Dr. Stojanovic, "and they can make a great difference in someone's life." Dr. Stojanovic and Dr. Barna have completed ad- vanced fellowship training and haveyearsof experience in pain management. They each are published authors and respected national lec- turers and educators on the topic of pain manage- ment. Both physicians are on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital and serve as teaching faculty at Har- vard Medical School. Dr. Stojanovic currently serves asthe VicePresident and Dr. Barna asthe Secretary of the American Society of Inter- ventional Pain Physicians, Massachusetts Chapter. For more information,or to schedule an appointment at the Cape Cod Hospital Pain Management Center, please call 508-862-5680.