July 2006: Health Briefs from Baylor Health Care System

The Season for Stones: Cut Your Risk of Kidney Stones This Summer

Think summer and you might think cookouts and baseball. You probably don't think about kidney stones-but you should. Kidney stones are more prevalent in the summer since they are linked to water intake, and people don't always drink enough to compensate for the warmer temperatures.

Andrew Sambell, M.D., a urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, says there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of kidney stones.

Drink enough water. He recommends at least four to eight glasses a day, and double that in hot weather.

Go easy on meat. A diet high in animal protein increases your risk. Dr. Sambell recommends eating a vegetarian diet two days a week or cutting your meat intake by 30 percent.

Shake the salt habit. Most salt in our diets comes from prepared foods, not salt we add at the table. Dr. Sambell notes that fast food is typically high in salt. If you're eating fast food more than twice a week, you're getting a lot of salt in your diet.

Trim the caffeine. If you drink mostly colas, coffee or iced tea, try to switch to decaf at least some of the time. Caffeine is a diuretic which can leave you dehydrated.

Buy some lemons. Lemons are high in citrate, which acts as a stone inhibitor. Slice them up and put them in your water or tea. This also may make your water more palatable.

There are a couple of uncontrollable factors that can increase your odds of kidney stones, including recurrent urinary tract infections, certain medical conditions and a family history. There also are some genetic risk factors that can increase your likelihood of getting kidney stones.

If, in spite of your efforts, you get a kidney stone, it will probably pass on its own. "Most stones of 4 millimeters or less will pass," Dr. Sambell says. "Anything larger than 6 millimeters won't pass on its own."

But a large stone no longer necessarily means surgery. There's a treatment that's been around for 20 years, called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) that uses sound waves to crush the stone into small particles that can pass on their own. There are also minimally invasive surgical techniques that doctors can use to remove kidney stones. Dr. Sambell says that open surgery is now necessary only in one to two percent of people with kidney stones.

People with recurrent kidney stones should have their risk factors evaluated by a doctor, since multiple stones could lead to a complication.

For more information about Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

Vascular Disease 101: Discovering and Treating Common Diseases of the Veins

When the body's arteries, veins and capillaries become diseased, patients can experience pain and discomfort, not to mention the possibility of stroke and heart attack. Dennis Gable, M.D., a vascular surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, provides information about three of the most common vascular diseases.

Varicose veins
Varicose veins are large, twisted, swollen blood vessels that occur most commonly on the inside of the legs and the back of the calves. "The goal for treating varicose veins is to eliminate pain and improve blood flow back to the heart and out of the legs," Dr. Gable says. "We recommend elevating the legs, exercising daily, managing body weight, wearing compression stockings and avoiding excessive standing.

With a new technique, doctors can treat varicose veins through a laser inserted via a needle. "Only rarely do we need to remove key veins, a surgical process known as vein stripping," Dr. Gable says.

Peripheral artery disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a blockage of blood vessels that often causes pain in the legs. "Patients with PAD face at least four times the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke as those without the condition," Dr. Gable explains. "Individuals with PAD need to stop smoking; control their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar; and lose weight if they are obese." Angioplasty and stents can help treat PAD, and surgery can help in the rare cases where it is needed.

Carotid artery disease
Stroke occurs when the blood vessels in the neck that lead to the head and brain (called the carotid arteries) become blocked. Patients are often diagnosed after experiencing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or mini-strokes. "These patients need to stop smoking and maintain good blood sugar control if they have diabetes," Dr. Gable says. "Typically, we only do surgery if there is at least a 70 percent blockage and the patient is in good overall health otherwise." Angioplasty and stents are also newer potential treatment options."

For more information about Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

Medical Sleep Studies Can Help Correct Common Sleep Disorders

If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, you're not alone. The National Sleep Foundation reports that nearly seven out of 10 Americans say they frequently have problems getting a good night's sleep.

And that may be cause for concern, says Henry Raroque, Jr., M.D., a board-certified neurologist and sleep specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

A long-term pattern of disrupted sleep may reflect an underlying sleep disorder that, left untreated, could become a serious health issue.

"Shortchanging our bodies of the sleep we need not only leads to extreme fatigue," Dr. Raroque explains, "but also could contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems and even depression."

Dr. Raroque says that sometimes only a few lifestyle changes are required to improve the quality of your sleep. For others, a medical sleep study might be the answer.

At the Baylor Grapevine Sleep Lab, patients stay overnight in a suite with all the comforts of home, including hardwood floors, private restrooms, a full-size bed, and a TV with a DVD player and VCR. During a seven-to eight-hour period, their brain activity, sleep states, heart rate, breathing and oxygen levels, and leg and eye movements are electronically recorded, monitored and studied by a specially trained sleep technician. Then qualified sleep specialists interpret the results. If a problem is diagnosed, one of several treatment options will be recommended.

Following, are 10 Common Sleep Disorders:
1. Insomnia
2. Sleep apnea
3. Sleepwalking
4. Narcolepsy
5. Restless leg syndrome
6. Periodic limb movement
7. Sleep terrors
8. Jet lag
9. Shift work
10. Inadequate sleep hygiene

For more information about Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.

The Joys of Summer: How to Have Fun in the Sun Safely

Ah, summer! Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie-bugs, heat, accidents. Follow these tips to keep your family healthy this summer.

Play it safe. Whether it's hiking, bicycling, inline skating or soccer, everyone loves to get out and play. But that often means an increase in injuries.

"We see more trauma cases during the warm months, like someone playing basketball who sprains an ankle," says Nick Zenarosa, M.D., medical director of the emergency department and a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Garland. Wear the proper clothing and gear for your activity.

Beat the heat. Excessive warm-weather activity can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, particularly when humidity is high. "The importance of hydration cannot be overstressed," Dr. Zenarosa says. "Drink plenty of water and switch to sports drinks if you'll be working or exercising in the heat for a long stretch. Limit outdoor activities when heat alerts are forecast. If you begin to feel dizzy or nauseated, get out of the heat and drink some Gatorade or water. Try to speed the cooling process by wiping down your skin with moist cloths and sitting in front of a fan."

Young children and the homebound elderly are especially at risk for heat illness. Check on relatives, and never leave kids or pets in the car.

Don't get burned. Use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen, with UVA and UVB protection, wear a hat and sunglasses, and limit sun exposure. The same goes for kids. "Children's skin is more sensitive to the sun," Dr. Zenarosa says.

Bug off. Use insect repellent containing DEET, particularly at dawn or dusk. Few people develop West Nile virus, but keep an eye out for fever, headache and body aches after a recent outing where you may have been bitten.

Put it on ice. When picnicking, bring ice packs to keep cold food cold. "Don't leave food out very long. Anything made with eggs or mayonnaise can go bad very quickly," Dr. Zenarosa says. Toss leftovers unless you're certain they've been kept properly chilled. Make sure grilled meat is cooked thoroughly.

Just say no. Alcohol increases dehydration and mental impairment and is a big factor in many car and watercraft accidents.

Lock and latch. Kids wander away quickly, so be sure your swimming pool is secure. If you're planning a road trip, buckle up.

Whatever your plans this summer, pack a little common sense and you'll have everything you need to stay safe.

For more information about Baylor Medical Center at Garland, call 1-800-4BAYLOR.