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Welcome to the Community Health newsletter, brought to you by McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital. Twice a month, Community Health brings to your mailbox timely medical news and health and wellness information that matter to you and your family. To visit the McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Web site, >> click here.
Public defibrillators save lives Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)—computerized medical devices that can recognize when someone requires an electrical shock to restore his or her heart rhythm and reverse cardiac arrest—are popping up in more and more sports arenas, shopping centers and office complexes. And according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, public availability of AEDs is saving lives. Researchers studied more than 300,000 Japanese adults who had suffered a cardiac arrest outside a hospital over a three-year period. Overall, 12,631 people suffered a cardiac arrest in front of witnesses that was caused by a heart-rhythm problem. Only 14 percent survived and, a month later, had minimal brain damage. But of the 462 people who received an AED shock, 32 percent survived and had little brain damage. The American Heart Association (AHA) supports the growing trend of placing AEDs in public places but also encourages people to receive proper training in both cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AEDs. To locate an AHA training class near you, call 1-877-AHA-4CPR or use their online class finder. Skin cancer on the rise Recent research from the Archives of Dermatology shows that from 1992 to 2006, skin cancer procedures for Medicare patients—mainly Americans ages 65 and older—increased by a whopping 77 percent. Excessive sun exposure is to blame for most skin cancer cases, and while there’s a growing awareness about the need for skin protection, skin cancers continue to rise, since they typically take many years to develop. May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Focus on ways to protect yourself and your family from the sun now, and you’ll help prevent problems later in life: Avoid the sun’s direct rays during peak hours—10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shields your face, ears and neck and clothes that cover your arms, legs and torso. Use sunscreen—and slather on enough of it. Be sure to reapply every two hours—sooner if you’re swimming or sweating. For the best protection, apply before going outside. Protect your lips by using a lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. Wear sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV absorption. Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps. Pay close attention to protecting your child’s skin. Kids spend many hours outdoors and will burn more easily than adults. Teaching them the importance of skin protection will work in their favor as they age. Perform monthly skin checks and see your physician if you notice any abnormal moles. A full-body skin cancer exam should also be performed at your annual physical. If it’s not, be sure to request it. Parents: Listen up for your kids’ health When a child is facing surgery, an informed parent can help ease everyone’s anxiety. But recent research published in the Archives of Otolaryngology suggests that mom and dad have a hard time remembering all the information they’re given. In a small study of 34 parents whose children were having either a tonsillectomy or tubes placed in their ears, all were told about their child’s procedure, the risks and other information. About half of them also received more detailed materials. All participants completed questionnaires after the initial session and again on surgery day, used to gauge their knowledge of the procedure and nine specific surgical risks they had been informed of. Parents who got the standard information remembered 4.4 of the nine risks immediately after counseling and 4.17 on surgery day; those who received the additional materials remembered 6.0 of the nine risks after counseling and 6.25 on surgery day. Moms remembered more than dads, but no parent could remember all nine risks. The take-home message? If your child needs surgery, talk with the surgeon and anesthesiologist ahead of time and take notes about what will happen. You may be worried and stressed, which could affect your recall, so ask permission to tape-record the visit, if you think that will help, and request patient-education materials to take home and review. By knowing and understanding the procedure yourself, you’ll be better prepared to explain to your child and ensure a better experience. Healthy ways to grill It’s that time of the year when you can’t wait to get outside, fire up the grill and enjoy a barbecued steak. But before you light the coals or press the ignition, consider these healthy-grilling tips: Choose fish more often. Salmon, trout and herring are the highest in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. If you’re grilling chicken, remove the skin before eating. When choosing red meat or pork, select “loin” or “round” cuts and “choice” or “select” grades of beef, to lower the fat content. And before you put the meat on the grill, trim any additional fat. The reason? Fat dripping onto hot coals creates smoke that may contain cancer-causing substances; trimming the fat will cause less smoke. Line your grill with foil and poke small holes in it to allow fat to drip away from the food, meaning less smoke will come back into the food. Avoid charring meats or eating portions that are burned or black. Get the same grilled taste you love by precooking items in the microwave or oven. They won’t need the grill’s high temperature for as long so you’ll decrease the amount of possible carcinogens. Reduce your salt intake by cutting back on teriyaki, soy and barbecue sauces. Grill healthy fruits and vegetables. Peppers, mushrooms, yellow squash and pineapple are all great choices. Check out McCullough-Hyde's hospital happenings! Celebrating Health, Hope & Healing–National Hospital Week, May 9-15 Visit McCullough-Hyde's at www.mhmh.org and click on "Calendar" for a complete event listing, including our monthly Lunch & Learn series. McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital offers vascular ultrasound screenings Monday through Friday. Vascular ultrasound screenings could help you avoid possible stroke, heart disease or death. Call 513-524-5400 to schedule your appointment. A physician's order is not required, and test results are sent to you and your physician. Cost for all three ultrasounds (abdominal, carotid and legs) is $75. Effective September 22, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital has the following visitation restrictions: - no visitation by anyone under age 14 - no visitation by anyone who's ill with respiratory symptoms, including a fever, cough, etc. Read Hot Health Topics on McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital’s Web page: Visit www.mhmh.org and click on HealthWise.
	McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital 110 N. POPLAR ST. / OXFORD, OH 45056 / 513-523-2111 / www.mhmh.org Community Health is designed to provide general health news and wellness information. This information is not designed to, nor should it, be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or nutrition or exercise program.
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