Digital Mammography

Arlington Memorial Hospital opened with the future in mind 50 years ago, and today continues to care for the community by adding yet another advanced technology.  Selenia digital mammography from Hologic is now part of the comprehensive diagnostic services at Arlington Memorial Hospital.  The new system incorporates revolutionary imaging technology that provides incredibly sharp images.

From the patient’s point of view, the digital mammogram is like traditional film screen mammography.  Both methods use x-ray technology to generate images of the breast.  However, instead of using film to capture and record the image, a digital mammogram uses a special detector to capture and convert x-ray energy into a digital image.  The resulting digital images are immediately available to the radiologist for diagnosis.

Benefits of Digital

“We can view and manipulate images on high-resolution computer monitors that enhance visualization of the structures within the breast tissue,” says David Diffley, M.D., radiologist on the medical staff at Arlington Memorial Hospital.  The computer monitors can also adjust brightness and contrast and zoom in on one specific area to help detect small calcifications, masses, and other changes that may be signs of early cancer.

“This gives us a better visibility of the breast, particularly near the skin line, the chest wall, and in women with dense breast tissue.”

Digital mammography offers a number of other practical advantages and patient conveniences.  “Because there is no waiting for film to be developed it can significantly reduce the time patients stand in the breast Center, as well as reduced the need for repeat exams due to under- or overexposure,” says Linda Wren, R.T., radiology manager at Arlington Memorial Hospital.

Digital images are also easily stored and transferred electronically, eliminating the dependency on one set of original films.

Scope of Problem
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer.  Statistics demonstrate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her life.  The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s survival.  If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 97%.

To Learn More
Arlington Memorial Hospital is committed to the fight against breast cancer.  If you would like to schedule a mammogram or if you have questions about this important breast health procedure, please call 817-548-6564.

Arlington Memorial Hospital and You
Fall Winter 2008

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Signs of a Heart Attack

What if today was your last day to live?

This is the thought that runs through Lew Patton’s mind after two life-threatening heart attacks at the age of 56.  Patent is alive to ponder this question thanks to the Chest Pain Center team at Arlington Memorial Hospital.

“Life is precious and should be treated as such.  In my younger days, I couldn’t care less about diet and exercise.  I thought bullets would bounce off my chest.  Not so anymore.”  Patton is now passionate about eating right, not smoking, and exercising more to stay healthy.

Excellent Care
Patton was at work in Waxahachie and noticed some pain in his chest.  The pain wasn’t severe, so Patton continued to work even though he also had some pressure and tightening in his chest.

After work that day, he drove all the way home.  “A heart attack was the last thing I expected,” says Patton.  An inconclusive stress test a couple of months before had led Patton to think that all was well.

Patton got home and the pain became much worse-to the point he passed out on the floor.  His girlfriend drove him to the emergency department at Arlington Memorial Hospital.  The pain was so severe Patton was writing “I’m in pain” in order to communicate with the staff.

“The team at Arlington Memorial Hospital was seamless,” he says.  “They did an EKG and told me I was having a heart attack-my second heart attack of the day!”  The team took them straight to the cath lab so the blocked artery could be repaired.

“I’ve never been that scared-I could have died,” he continues, “but Arlington Memorial Hospital emergency department team eased my fears with her calm attitudes and planning.”

Be Aware of the Signs
Patton’s heart catheterization showed one side of the heart was damaged and not pumping correctly because of the heart attack.  “The permanent heart damage could have been prevented if the patient would have presented when his symptoms started.  That is why we stress the importance of recognizing the symptoms of heart attack and calling 911 for prompt treatment,” says Hoyt Frenzel, M.D., FACEP, medical director of Arlington Memorial hospitals emergency services and codirector of Arlington Memorial Hospital’s accredited Chest Pain Center.

“When I woke up and recovery I was already feeling better,” says Patton.  “If the Arlington Memorial Hospital team hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here.”

Arlington Memorial Hospital and You
Fall Winter 2008

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How To Live To 100

Want to live well and long?

Thomas Perls, M.D., director of the New England Centenarian study, says your chances depend on these A-G-E-I-N-G factors:

Attitude

“Centenarians tend to be optimistic and also funny and gregarious,” Dr. Perls says. “It’s not so much the amount of stress in your life but how you manage it that seems to be important. And these people have the kind of personalities that probably mean they can manage their stress very well.” People who internalize stressful situations are more prone to develop heart and circulation diseases such as high blood pressure, he adds.

Genetics

Dr. Perls’ study of 1,000 centenarians has shown that exceptional longevity runs in families. So if some of your relatives have lived to 100 or into their 90s, you may have a head start on longevity. But if that’s not true, you can still learn a lot from them. “Check out what led to their mortality and make sure you don’t do the same thing, such as smoking,” he says. “If their deaths were associated with diabetes, you need to be more careful about your diet and exercise to prevent that from happening.”

Exercise

You need to devote 30 minutes a day to exercise. You can break that into smaller pieces that total half an hour. Dr. Perls says it’s fine if your activity comes in the course of your job. Ideally, your heart should beat faster and you should sweat. From middle age onward, he emphasizes the importance of strength training to build up fat-burning muscle. Fat is related to many age-related diseases.

Interests

“Centenarians say what’s really important is having a cause that gets you up in the morning,” Dr. Perls notes. Take on new tasks that challenge your mind. “Once you get good at Sudoku puzzles, move on to something else, whether it be Scrabble, bridge, sculpture, or painting,” he says. “The key is to do something pretty difficult so you are exercising part of your brain that hasn’t been exercised before.” That may build resilience that can delay the onset or progress of memory problems.

Nutrition

If you are not staying at a healthy weight, Dr. Perls says, look at how healthy your diet is, cut back on calories, and exercise more.

Get Rid Of Smoking

“If you smoke you can forget about any desire to lead a long, healthy life,” Dr. Perls warns.

To Learn More :: To gauge your odds of reaching 100, Dr. Perls offers a free longevity calculator at www.livingto100.com.

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Four Back Friendly Exercises

Here are the American Council on Exercise’s top four exercises for the back:

• Bird Dog - On hands and knees, extend one leg and the opposite arm so they are both parallel to the floor.  Hold for a count of seven.  Repeat with opposite arm and leg.
• Cat-Camel - On hands and knees, moved slowly between arching your back like a cat and rounding it downward like a two-hump camel.
• Curl-up - Lie on your back with one leg bent, one straight.  Raise your head and shoulders off the floor.  Return to starting position and then repeat with the opposite leg bent.
• Side Bridge - Lie on your side with knees bent.  Lift your torso with the arm closest to the floor, creating a right angle between your arm and body. Keep your torso and hips in a line. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat on opposite side.

Arlington Memorial Health and You
fall - winter 2008

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Diabetes and Exercise

When many people think about diabetes, they think about diet.

What and how we he seems to be strongly connected to diabetes. But most of us don’t think nearly enough about diabetes and exercise, says Richard Hellman, M.D., president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. “Diabetes can take control in so many ways,” he says. “Weight reduction, watching what they eat, and regular exercise are very important.”

Exercise, he says, can help control cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight.

But don’t embark on your new Olympic training program just yet, the doctor warns. “Talk your doctor first about what type of exercise and exactly how much is right for you.”

Arlington Memorial Hospital Health and You
Fall - Winter 2008

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