COMMUNITY REPORT March 2016 WJMC.ORG

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1 March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Colon cancer is cancer that originates from the colon, which is also known as the large intestine. It is the second leading cause of cancer in women and the third leading cause of cancer in men. Colon cancer is the fourth most common cause of death from cancer. There are many risk factors for developing colon cancer. These include a history of colon polyps, a family history of colon cancer, older age, diet high in red meat and low in fiber, smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes, obesity, inherited genetic disorders, and radiation exposure, among other things. Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn s disease and ulcerative colitis, can also predispose people to developing colon cancer. In most instances, cancer originates from a benign growth, known as a polyp, which becomes cancerous overtime. Many who have colon cancer may not experience symptoms until the cancer is in a more advanced stage. Those who experience symptoms may have rectal bleeding, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, or fatigue. Colon cancer can be diagnosed and prevented by undergoing a procedure known as a colonoscopy, in which polyps can be removed during the procedure and masses can be biopsied. Since polyps can develop into cancer, colonoscopies are tests that not only diagnose colon cancer, but also prevent cancer by removing the polyps before they can turn into cancer. Screening, by undergoing a colonoscopy, usually begins between the ages of 40 and 50, depending on risk factors and ethnicity. If cancer is diagnosed early, it may be treatable. Sarath Krishnan, MD Gastroenterologist

2 Colon Cancer Awareness Month preventable treatable beatable Bloating, Cramping, Gas? Learn About Stomach Issues, Colon Health and Colon Cancer Screenings WEDNESDAY March 23 5:30pm WJMC Auditorium Meet with a Gastroenterologist Physician Talks by Sarath Krishnan, MD and Scott Pollack, MD Interactive Colon Exhibit Door Prizes RSVP: wjmc.org/colon

3 Sleep Awareness Month is Observed in March Lack of sleep can be associated with very serious medical issues? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Experts say lack of sleep can be associated with chronic health conditions as well as mental illness, injuries, poor quality of life, spiraling health care costs and lost work productivity. Sleep problems are significantly under-associated with some chronic conditions, including obesity. For many, sleep can be a problem due to lack of proper sleep hygiene, lack of regular sleep or to stress. For others, a major sleep disorder could be the cause. These disorders can include: Insomnia Narcolepsy Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Sleep Apnea Experiencing a sleep problem or disorder? Ask your doctor if a sleep study is right for you. If it s a loved one s sleep that s the issue, encourage them to see their doctor. An overnight sleep study in a laboratory can rule out many different disorders. Home sleep studies are used to rule out sleep apnea only and are not recommended for patients with certain medical conditions. After the laboratory study, a finalized report will be sent to your doctor or the referring physician. Proper sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Learning what is causing issues with your sleep can go a long way in improving both your health and your quality of life. For more information on sleep hygiene or sleep studies, call the West Jefferson Sleep Disorders Center at Julius Waddell, Manager West Jefferson Medical Center Sleep Center

4 Snoring and Gasping Keeping You Up at Night? HELP IS A PHONE CALL AWAY

5 COMMUNITY REPORT

6 COMMUNITY REPORT Children Can Enjoy the Kids Fitness Program and Parents & Children Can Exercise Together Through Our Family Fitness Classes KIDS FITNESS PROGRAM Get the Kids involved! Ages 7 to 14 Years Old Monday - Thursday 4pm to 8pm Oakwood Center FUN with Fitness Get the Entire Family involved! Parents and Children Exercise Together YOGA CLASS Tuesday & Thursday 4:00pm KICKBOXING CLASS Monday & Wednesday 5:00pm Program Led by Fitness Instructor Improve: Cardiovascular Strength Muscular Endurance Flexibility FAMILY FITNESS CLASSES ZUMBA CLASS Speed Balance Monday 6:00pm Line Dancing Class Tuesday 6:30pm Rock Climbing Wall Use of Specialty Equipment Check Our Kids Group Fitness Schedule for classes such as: Sports Conditioning Core for Kids Obstacle Course And More Relay Race Terrytown Center 175 Hector Ave. Terrytown Next to Oakwood Mall For More Information or to Register, Call wjmc.org/fitnesscenter

7 Let s Talk About Obesity Obesity is a disease characterized by excessive body fat, and it affects more than 50% of Louisiana adults. More than 93 million Americans are obese, with that number predicted to climb to 120 million in the next 5 years. Obese individuals are often affected by behavior, genetic and social issues which can seriously impact their lives. But obesity is also a killer. Obesity leads to more than 300,000 premature deaths annually, and is a leading cause of preventable death second only to smoking. Being severely over-weight increases the risk of developing multiple deadly health conditions including: Heart disease Stroke Diabetes High blood pressure High cholesterol Sleep apnea Cancer (prostate, breast colon, pancreas) Depression Weight-loss surgery, or Bariatric Surgery, is the most effective treatment for significant and sustained weight reduction. These procedures make your stomach capacity smaller, and some also change the path food takes through the gut. The three most common operations are: Sleeve Gastrectomy reduces the stomach to a narrow tube. The portion of the stomach responsible for Ghrelin production (the hunger hormone) is removed, which greatly suppresses appetite. Gastric By-Pass reduces stomach capacity to a small pouch and part of the small intestine is by-passed. LapBand is placed around the top of the stomach, making a small pouch. The tightness of the band is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid within the band. The amount of weight-loss achieved following bariatric surgery depends upon which operation is performed, adherence to healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Patients having bariatric surgery can expect to lose 30-40% of their excess weight with the LapBand, and as much as 60-85% with the Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric By-Pass. Surgery also cures or greatly improves many of the medical conditions that plague obese individuals. With ongoing support from the Center For Surgical Weight Loss, you can be healthier and live a longer and more fulfilling life. Attend a Free Seminar. They are held the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Call to RSVP. David Treen, MD West Jefferson Center for Surgical Weight Loss

8 COMMUNITY REPORT Could Those Extra Pounds Kill You? Don t Let This Happen To You! Learn about weight loss surgery. wjmc.org/weightloss TM

9 Dine with a Purpose for WJ Foundation Missy Dugas (Texas Roadhouse) & Melissa Mo-Billiot (WJ Hospital Foundation) Texas Roadhouse held a fundraiser this past October to provide gift cards to patients of the Cancer Center at West Jefferson Medical Center. The Foundation also hosted a Dining with a Purpose event at Zea in Harvey in February. When customers mentioned the Foundation, Zea s donated 15% of their bill to the Heart Programs at WJMC. Outback Steakhouse in Marrero will also be hosting Dining with a Purpose soon. Visit wjmc.org for updates on Dining with a Purpose venues and dates. Also watch for details on our annual National Cancer Survivors Day event hosted by Boomtown Casino. Interested in hosting a fundraising event for the Hospital Foundation and the programs it supports? Please contact Melissa Mo-Billiot at or melissa.mo-billiot@wjmc.org. Melissa Mo-Billiot, Executive Director West Jefferson Hospital Foundation