www.swmedicalcenter.org
5
INCONTINENCE
Q
My father just had a
stroke. What can I do
to prevent having a stroke
myself?
A
A stroke occurs when a blood
vessel in the brain suddenly
is blocked or ruptures, cutting off
oxygen to vital parts of the brain and
causing cells to die.
The good news is that the majority
of strokes are preventable with
lifestyle modifications and health
monitoring. A yearly physical exam
may pick up an abnormal heart
rhythm, high cholesterol, diabetes or
high blood pressure, all of which are
treatable risk factors for stroke.
Changes in your daily life, such as
stopping smoking, regular exercise
and a healthy diet, have been shown
to help prevent stroke. Fresh fruits
and vegetables should be part of
each meal, and whenever possible,
trade fried food for baked or steamed
entrees. Incorporating all of the
above will help lower cholesterol,
body weight and blood pressure.
When lifestyle modification is not
enough, your doctor may prescribe
medications to help keep your risk
factors for stroke in check.
You can learn more at
stroke.org
.
Sarice Bassin, MD
PeaceHealth Medical Group
Neurology
505
NE 87th Ave.,
Suite 460
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-7771
STROKE
HEART ATTACK
Q
I’m tired of running
for the bathroom
because I can’t control my
bladder. Help!
A
It is a myth that urinary
incontinence, the loss
of bladder control that results
in an involuntary leakage of
urine, is simply a part of aging.
The good news is that you don’t
have to live with it!
Even though incontinence can
be an embarrassing condition, it
is quite common. Both men and
women are affected by urinary
incontinence, but the condition
occurs more frequently in women.
There are many medical options
available to correct this annoying
problem so that you can have your
life back. Physical therapy can
help and is easy to incorporate in
your daily routine. Try doing Kegel
exercises each day while you brush
your teeth. If you need something
more, minimally invasive surgical
procedures can help.
Talk to your primary care
provider to find the best treatment
option for you. For informative
videos on incontinence treatment
options and other women’s topics,
visit
swmedicalcenter.org/Women
.
Margaret Griffith, MD
PeaceHealth Medical Group
OB/GYN
505
NE 87th Ave.,
Suite 160
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-1060
Q
Lately I’ve been
experiencing rapid
heart beat and chest pain.
Am I having a heart attack?
A
Each year, thousands of
people rush to the Emergency
Department with symptoms of
what they think is a heart attack.
Symptoms of a heart attack include
chest pain, irregular heartbeat and
shortness of breath.
The extreme pain of a heart
attack can radiate to your arms,
jaw, stomach and neck.
If you think you are experiencing a
heart attack, call 911 right away.
A better approach to maintaining
your heart health is to work with your
physician or a cardiologist to assess
your risk of a heart attack. Simple
screenings can identify areas of risk
and help put your mind at ease.
Regular exercise, like walking outside,
can keep your body—and your
mind—feeling healthy and strong.
Visit
swHeartCheck.org
for more information about
PeaceHealth Southwest Heart &
Vascular Center Cardiology, as well
as health screenings; diagnosis;
treatment for stroke, heart
attack and other cardiovascular
disorders; and cardiac rehab.
Sajeevani Kim, MD
PeaceHealth Southwest Heart
&
Vascular Center Cardiology
200
NE Mother Joseph Place,
Suite 400
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-514-4444
Smoking
Cessation 101
:
How-to
Quit Smoking
When:
Wednesday, Jan. 9
6
to 7:30 p.m.
Where:
Health Education Center,
Southeast 92nd Avenue and East
Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
When you stop smoking, your
health begins to improve
almost immediately. Your
blood pressure decreases—
as does your risk of heart
attack and stroke.
Join us for a free 90-minute
session to learn essential
strategies to help you quit
smoking for good. We’ll
assess your current situation,
help establish an effective
quit plan and provide coping
strategies for life after
tobacco. Register at
swEvents.org
.
CHOLESTEROL: CHECK!
The optimal level of LDL—
the type of cholesterol
that can clog your arteries,
leading to heart attack,
stroke and hypertension—is
100
or below. Starting at
age 35, everyone should
regularly track their LDL,
HDL, and total cholesterol.
Contact your doctor to
schedule your screening.
HEALTH CHECK TIPS
FOR A HEALTHY YEAR