I look at that headline, and I think, really? An entire month dedicated to brain injury awareness? Wow. But, it DOES give me the perfect opportunity to bring up helmets!

(St. Petersburg, Fla.) March 9, 2010 – It’s not “just” a concussion – it’s a brain injury. It’s also the most common type of brain injury sustained in sports with 1.6-3.8 million Americans experiencing a concussion from a sports and recreation-related incident. Multiple concussions can have cumulative and long lasting life changes, which makes March’s Brain Injury Awareness Month vital.

“Even if you don’t hit your head, you could have sustained a concussion. It happens if you’ve been indirectly hit somewhere on the body – the force can be transmitted to the head, causing a concussion,” said local neurosurgeon, David M. McKalip, M.D. Concussions do not appear in neuroimaging studies like a MRI or CAT scan and most do not involve loss of consciousness. “There are 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) each year in the U.S. and 75 percent of those are typically concussions so it’s important to know the risks, prevention measures and treatments when they occur,” said Dr. McKalip.

The leading causes to youth concussions (ages 5-18 years) are bicycling, football, basketball, playground activities and soccer. Not diagnosing or managing a concussion could result in serious long-term consequences, or risk of coma or death. “In most cases, signs and symptoms may be noticeable right away. In other cases, it could take days or weeks before any sign is present so if someone experiences a blow to the head or body, it’s best to see a healthcare provider sooner rather than later just in case,” says Dr. McKalip.

U.S. emergency departments treat nearly 135,000 sports and recreation-related TBIs – including concussions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities on a daily basis as a result of a TBI. “A brain injury can cause a variety of functional changes in thinking, emotions, behavior, language, sensation or learning,” says Dr. McKalip. “It can also cause epilepsy or increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or other brain disorders that become more common as one ages.”

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing a concussion or TBI:• Headache that won’t go away
• Memory issues
• Concentration issues or being easily confused
• Slower thinking, speaking, acting or reading
• Tired, lack of energy or motivation
• Light-headed, dizzy, lack of balance
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Ringing in the ears or loss of sense of smell or taste

What can I do to prevent a brain injury?
“In all situations, including sports and recreation, one can take preventative measures in avoiding a brain injury – mild or severe,” says Dr. McKalip.

• Use your safety belts in cars or any moving vehicle (including buckling children in safety seats)
• Use helmets in all recreation or necessary sporting activities (i.e. bicycling, riding motorcycles, contact sports like football or boxing, skateboarding, baseball/softball, horse-back riding or water-skiing)
• Use shock-absorbing material (mulch or sand) on playgrounds
• Be cautious of accidents around the home such as falls (use step stools, handrails, gates for children, avoid tripping hazards – loose cords or rugs, slippery tubs/showers – use slip mats)
• Maintain an exercise routine to improve strength and balance
• Maintain vision by visiting optometrists for screenings
• Store away firearms (and bullets)
• Avoiding driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

“Concussions and TBIs can sound minor enough in the beginning but there is potential for life-altering affects, so it’s something that needs to be taken seriously and the best way to start is through education and awareness this month,” said Dr. McKalip.

Additional Resource: Brain Injury Association of America

About Dr. McKalip: David McKalip, M.D. is a Board-Certified Neurological Surgeon of the brain and spine. He still serves as the immediate past-president of the Florida Neurosurgical Society and Founder of the Pinellas Medical Foundation. His practice is located at 1201 5thAvenue North, Suite 210 in St. Petersburg, FL. For more information about Dr. McKalip, contact him at (727) 822-3500 or visit www.McKalip.md

With heart disease being the #1 killer for Americans, knowing the top 5 ‘Heart-Healthy’ foods is essential

Venice, FL – Heart disease sadly kills 450,000 women per year – that’s about one per minute, according to the American Heart Association. In fact, cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills more Americans than all cancers combined. It’s time for Americans to become empowered to take their heart health into their own hands during this month and after, knowing the important foods one ought to be eating to help reduce the risk of heart disease. The best part – every meal can be heart-smart!

“Being proactive about your own heart health is step one,” says , Jonathan Fong, M.D. of Venice-Ocala Heart Institute, “Surgery is the last option when you need to save a life. It’s an incredible thought to know that consuming heart-healthy meals each day can avoid life-threatening health risks! Watching what we put in our bodies makes a world of a difference.”

Top 5 heart-smart foods:
1. Fruits & Vegetables – While eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are great to help reduce heart disease risk, according to the American Heart Association, fruits and vegetables that are deeply colored throughout – such as spinach, carrots, peaches and berries tend to be higher in vitamins and minerals than others.
2. Dairy – select fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy for best heart health. Use egg whites instead of egg yolks and don’t use a lot of butter or cream.
3. Meat, Poultry & Nuts – The American Heart Association recommends one serving of grilled or baked fish at least twice per week. Stay away from fried foods and buy choice or select grades of leaner meat. Nuts, in particular, almonds are also great for the heart and you can find plenty with the approved Heart-Check symbol to indicate such.
4. Baked goods – Choose whole-grain and high-fiber breads and baked goods. Limit amount of bakery goods such as donuts, pies, cakes, etc. Look for fat-free or low-fat and sodium varieties.
5. Oils, dressings & more – Oils should be used in limited amounts. Stay away from palm oil, palm kernel, coconut oil and cocoa butter as they are high in saturated fats. Choose reduced-fat salad dressings, dips or marinades.

“Knowing the proper nutrition for good heart-health can decrease heart disease risks and significantly improve overall health,” says Fong, “When we become careless about what we eat, we have to ask ourselves sometimes, ‘Is this worth it?’ For just a little effort, heart-healthy food can be delicious, easy and well worth it in the end.”

About Venice-Ocala Heart Institute: The Venice-Ocala Heart Institute is located at 706 The Rialto in Venice. For more information please call (941) 484-8004 or visit www.ocalaheart.com. Dr. Jonathan Fong is a cardiac-thoracic surgeon at the Venice-Ocala Heart Institute (VOHI), where their philosophy is about having a team-approach to total patient health and about caring for patients with sincerity and experience.

(Pinellas Park, Fla.) March 1, 2010 – Sometimes a car accident can just ruin one’s day with the hassle and stress of it all but other times… it can change one’s life forever. Joann Bullock, 53 years-old from Pinellas Park, was once an active mother, career-woman and female powerhouse – traveling, working out, taking body pump classes, spin classes, kayaking, walking regularly and participating in 5-Ks, until one day her life changed.

Bullock and her husband were driving on I-4 when traffic stopped and a utility van plowed in the back of the car, pushing everyone on the road forward. That was the day that Bullock knew her whole life had changed. In the moment, she was only concerned for the two additional passengers in the vehicle but when the dust settled it was she who had the highest price to pay.

“I loved gardening, working in the backyard, shoveling dirt… I couldn’t even do that. I couldn’t type on a computer, it hurt to put my head down or bend down. Pain would shoot down my arm and it was horrible… so bad, I was in tears for the longest time. I went to see doctors, sitting there crying… my whole life had changed,” said Bullock.

For Bullock, even walking was painful. She couldn’t ride her bike because turning her head to look back was painful. Her range of motion was extremely limited after her accident. Bullock opted for a laserscopic spine surgery, which was intended to be a minimally invasive laser spine procedure. “I don’t know really what they did but it seemed to make it worse. They wanted to stabilize my neck with rods after that,” said Bullock.

Bullock went one year with the debilitating pain.

It wasn’t until someone recommended Bullock to see Charles Friedman, D.O. of Pain Relief Centers in Pinellas Park that her life would slowly come back to her. “I had no help or relief from my pain until I saw Dr. Friedman,” explains Bullock, “it made a huge difference.”

“Joann is one of those women that deserve admiration, certainly empowered and ready to take on the world. It was so rewarding to be part of giving her back her ‘oomph’,” said Dr. Friedman.

“After receiving this treatment I was working in the garden and yard and playing with the dogs again. I wasn’t able to play with the dogs before that.” Bullock was a career woman before her accident as well. She was a consultant for a casino ferry that went to the Bahamas. She was required to drive four hours to and from West Palm Beach but that task became impossible for her. “They let me go. I just couldn’t do it,” she said. Driving in the car was painful for Bullock. She couldn’t manipulate the steering wheel or turn her neck too much without excruciating pain, until seeing Pain Relief Centers. “We took a three-week road trip and I was not in pain at all. It was completely manageable,” said Bullock.

Bullock got her own spin bike for home so she could resume her spinning. She walks four to six miles nearly every day and began weight training again from home. “I would never have gotten this far if I hadn’t done the treatment,” said Bullock. How did she do all that yard work before? Bullock’s adult children would do some yard work and shopping for her – she had to ask them all the time for help. Although she says they were happy to help, “The kids are supportive…to a point,” she adds. Now, empowered and independent again – she can “do it all herself.”

Not only did Bullock get her life back but she and her husband have traveled to Europe twice – something she wouldn’t even have dreamt of doing last year.

“I want to encourage women out there that may have experienced an injury-accident or have pain to not be disheartened. Get up, get out there – find the solution and be the strong woman you were before that accident or injury knocked you down!” said Bullock, “If I could do it, any woman can.”

About Pain Relief Centers:
Pain Relief Centers are multi-specialty practices that use a combination of innovative and minimally invasive treatments that help relieve patients’ pain and improve their quality of life. Pain Relief Centers’ Board-Certified physicians utilize advanced technology and interventional therapies to diagnose and treat pain effectively. Pain Relief Centers’ comprehensive approach ranges from osteopathic manipulation and nerve ablation to minimally invasive spine procedures. Pain Relief Centers treat a variety of conditions such as neck and arm pain, back and leg pain, complex regional pain syndrome, degenerative disc disease, failed back syndrome, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis. Pain Relief Centers works with patients to improve their pain and return them back to their busy lives.

Visit www.PinellasPain.com or call 727-518-8660 for more information.

(Pinellas Park, Fla.) March 1, 2010 – If the topic of cancer wasn’t bad enough, imagine a cancer that not only changed everything in your life but was actually a cancer that you were too embarrassed to even say out loud because that particular disease invaded your most personal, intimate areas? The one reason breast cancer is so easily and publically discussed is because one person, unashamed, unabashed spoke out, creating a world-wind of change in awareness and education among many. One woman is doing just that for March’s National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Thea Wilson, 51 years-old, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer exactly one year ago on March 5 – during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Wilson and her husband are both registered nurses in St. Petersburg – but having a medical background didn’t make the news any easier. “We chose to have a friend, who happened to be a surgeon as well, help to keep us grounded. We needed someone who was not as deeply and emotionally involved give us the information, give us the type of decisions we had and the timeframe we had to make the decisions,” said Wilson.

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in America. There are over 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, according to the World Health Organization. Wilson was diagnosed at the exact age that is recommended to begin screenings for this disease. Fortunately for Wilson, she listened to her body. Her menstrual cycles were coming closer together and were heavier than normal. She was experiencing a lot of discomfort in her back – something she never experienced before.

Wilson went to see her gynecologist for an exam and all came back OK. She wondered about the discomfort, so they did a vaginal ultrasound. Again, all came back OK. Wilson had no family history of the disease and really had no other reason to get a screening although her GYN suggested it. “Thank Heavens for the good GYN practitioners,” said Wilson who a couple days later tested positive.

After visiting her primary physician and a gastroenterologist she went in for her colonoscopy. “God forbid you take off work to take care of yourself,” said Wilson after pursuing the advice of her doctors for tests during a one-week vacation she opted to take from work. After her colonoscopy, Wilson tested positive for a large colon tumor that appeared to be in a stage four cancer. “I was told to get my affairs in order because it didn’t look good,” said Wilson. Calling herself an “AARP Parent,” (American Association of Retired Persons) with her still strong sense of humor, Wilson’s gravest thoughts were on her nine-year-old daughter that she waited a lifetime for. “My heart was stopping; I waited a lifetime for this baby of mine – finally I have my daughter and now I won’t get to watch her grow-up.”

Wilson and her husband decided to tell their daughter, Anna, the whole truth. “There’s always that possibility of death and how wrong would it have been of me as parent to not let her have a hint of that. I laid it all out for her but not in FULL detail. I told her everyone was working really hard to make Mommy better,” said Wilson, “We’re going to put our best foot forward.”

After a slew of medical visits – PET scans and CAT scans – all, “fell into place brilliantly,” said Wilson. In less than a week her illness was pinpointed and a plan of action was taken from her medical team. Wilson was scheduled for surgery: a diverting ileostomy (surgical opening constructed by bringing the end or loop of the small intestine (the ileum) out into the surface of the skin where waste is collected into an external pouch system stuck to the skin), then chemotherapy for six weeks and radiation therapy every day for five days a week – Monday through Friday.

During a five week rest period, Wilson thought she could handle it all but wasn’t quite sure after the chemotherapy. “It was horrendous. I had an unusual response to the chemotherapy – every joint was swollen about three times the size as normal. It was the freakiest thing and very painful,” she said, “But I knew I was under good care, everyone worked so hard to get me feeling better again.”

While undergoing radiation treatment, Wilson was comforted by an entire squad of medical professionals that she said was just “incredible.” Wilson received radiation treatment at WellSpring Oncology Cancer Center in Pinellas Park. “The caregivers along the way were exceptional. If Obama needs a model of healthcare, a place for him to look is WellSpring,” says Wilson, “There were days that I thought I could not do treatment but there, I wasn’t rushed. I could sit aside and all offered caring arms, giving me time to work through my issue for that day. It was just phenomenal.”

“Thea is such an incredibly strong, vibrant, confidant woman,” said WellSpring oncologist, Zucel Solc, M.D., “She persevered through her entire battle and made many friends here at the center. We wanted to do anything and everything in our ability to get her back to her normal life again – where she can touch her patients the way she touched us.”

Wilson soon saw the light at the end of the tunnel – “They put Humpty Dumpty back together again,” she said. Wilson was in remission. “When they told me about me being in remission – it’s almost the same as when you hear you have cancer,” she said – allowing the shock to settle in. “I was so thankful for the news. But I was going to sit on this for a little then get giddy about it later.”

Wilson took her “transfusions of love” from family, friends and a support system online that allowed loved ones to leave her messages on a website called, CaringBridge.org.

This whole experience has taught Wilson how important it was for her as an RN to continue showing compassion and care for all her own patients. She was always more than a nurse to her patients before but now she says she plans to “turn-up the volume even more” to truly hear what they need and how she can help – the way she was helped.

“There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a patient after they’ve been declared in remission. We are so happy for Thea,” said Dr. Solc.

Sidebar

Risk Factors of Colon Cancer:
• Age 50 or older.
• A family history of cancer of the colon or rectum.
• A personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium or breast.
• A history of polyps in the colon.

Signs or symptoms of Colon Cancer:
• A change in bowel habits.
• Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool.
• Diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
• Stools that are narrower than usual.
• General abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps).
• Weight loss with no known reason.
• Constant tiredness.
• Vomiting.

About WellSpring Oncology: Doctors Robert Miller, Zucel Solc and Frank Franzese opened the doors of WellSpring Oncology in spring of 2008 to provide high-end treatment in a more personal and caring environment. The doctors at WellSpring Oncology have been practicing innovative radiation therapy since the 1970’s and developed the center to ensure patients have access to the latest technology available in the treatment of cancer. The doctors of WellSpring Oncology are all board-certified in radiation oncology and received their training at the top centers in the country, including MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering and the University of California San Francisco.

WellSpring Oncology is located at 6600 Sixty Sixth Street North in Pinellas Park, Florida. For more information, contact WellSpring Oncology at (727) 343-0600 or visit them online at www.wellspringoncology.org.

By Mary Beth Sammons
Hoping for a romantic evening with your significant other? But stressed that your chronic neck or back pain will spoil the sensual sizzle? Wince no more. Here, a Florida sex therapist and a pain specialist have teamed up to offer do-it-yourself relaxation tips for avoiding chronic pain and making this day of love unforgettable.

“For pain sufferers it’s not sexual dysfunction or malfunction –it is simple back pain or neck pain,” says Mary Lutzo, PhD, a sex therapist and psychotherapist at the American Academy of Clinical Sexology in Orlando, FL.

Here are 5 tips for conquering pain versus pleasure.

1. Talk it up: It’s important for couples to understand the emotional trauma that comes with chronic pain. As uncomfortable as it might sound to discuss sexual positioning or pain issues in the “love department” with your doctor, it is absolutely vital and completely welcomed, says Charles Friedman, D.O, and medical director for the Pain Relief Centers, a group of 16 pain treatment centers based in Pinellas Park, Florida

2. Mood matters. “People also have to recognize that when someone is taking medications for pain management, this has a strong influence on desire and mood,” says Lutzo, “Both partners need to be aware of these effects. The pain-free partner can’t expect the one in pain to spontaneously respond to sexual advances.”

3. Check privacy settings. Plan for your intimate moments taking into account times of day when pain may be less apparent. Or, include a relaxing (and pain relieving) warm bath or shower as a prelude. “There has to be a comfort level for the individual before they can respond to the advances of their lover,” says Lutzo.

4. Get physical. “Understanding your condition and which positions bring on symptoms or alleviate them is important,” says Dr. Friedman, “Spine conditions or injuries can be categorized by what kinds of movements make symptoms worse. This information can be used to guide the selection of sexual positions.” Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can do wonders as well. Strong, flexible pelvic floor muscles can reduce pain and enhance sexual function.

5. Position matters. For neck pain sufferers – any activity that causes you to hold your head too far back, bent to the side or bent too far forward puts stress on the muscles, ligaments and joints of your neck and can create neck pain. Take care to prop your head and neck with pillows or cushions to add support and avoid pain.

Most important to remember, the way to make Valentine’s Day special for someone is just to show you care, both experts agree.

“Intimacy doesn’t always have to be intercourse,” says Lutzo. She suggests lying together, showing affection, caressing each other and reassurance to your partner so they “feel whole again.”

Venice, FL – Alice Stone was born with a heart defect – she didn’t ask for one. As a child she couldn’t run or play sports too much like the other kids because she would quickly be out of breathe due to her condition. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until she was an adult that her condition was diagnosed and sadly the damage to her heart was already done.

Because of her Atrial Septal Defect, one side became grossly enlarged to compensate and provide sufficient oxygen to her lungs. This type of damage was so severe, doctors from several larger and well-known cardiac surgical programs deemed Stone not a candidate for surgery. Stone was destined not to live with this condition, but rather, to die.

“I am forever grateful to you for taking on my case and giving me my life back. Other doctors had deemed my case too complex and untreatable and turned me away.” Stone wrote in an emotional letter to her medical team and physician, Jonathan Fong, M.D. of Venice-Ocala Heart Institute, who took on her case.

“We were prepared for this procedure and had confidence that trying with a whole-hearted attempt was essential,” said Dr. Fong. “Alice and her family had so very much to do with it. Attitude, spirituality and a motivational effort plays a huge role in surgery. We had to put forth an effort for her. In the grander scheme of things – we trust the skills we were given and do our best, we just couldn’t believe she’d be turned away without an attempt to save her life.”

By the time she had her first consultation with Dr. Fong, she had been turned away by two other doctors from large establishments. Thus, for the seven years prior to her visit she had resigned herself to live an ‘oxygen-deprived, sedentary life, shut-in her home.’ explains Stone. “My greatest fear was suffocating to death, but the reality was that I was suffocating.”

Stone had trouble walking from her bedroom to the kitchen, less than 30 feet away. “I could not start a sentence and complete it without losing my breath. Traveling to the grocery store and to church, let alone to see family to take vacations, became impossible and distant memories,” says Stone. “Years of damage had taken their toll and quite frankly, my life was so filled with pain and frustration at my inability to do the simplest tasks or walk the shortest distances that it was hardly a life worth living.”

TODAY: “I feel better than I have in the last 10 years!” exclaims Stone. She’s now able to visit her children and grandchildren around the country. She is able to complete sentences without losing her breath, and she goes to church every week and often attends other church social events. “I raid the mall on shopping trips and take my time traveling the aisles of the grocery store. I do it all unencumbered by an oxygen tank and free of the wheelchair! At 4’9 tall and 100lbs, what I lack in physical stature, I make up for in spirit and will.”

“We were just a part of Alice’ journey – we and an experienced medical team of nurses, anesthesiologist and more wanted to try for her. We feel we are on this earth for a reason –to help others.” explained Fong.

About Venice-Ocala Heart Institute: The Venice-Ocala Heart Institute is located at 706 The Rialto in Venice. For more information please call (941) 484-8004 or visit www.ocalaheart.com.