Share it with inspire blog.

Here are eight sandwich recipes to add some variety and spice to your brown bag lunch.  These recipes also work well for a quick and easy supper.  Just add a fresh fruit salad, some pickle spears or fresh veggies with low fat dressing/dip to round out your meal.

 Recipes:                                     

California Veggie Wrap

Chickpea Sandwich Filling

Grilled Chicken, Aged Cheddar, and Chutney Sandwich

Waldorf Turkey Sandwich

Cheesy Ham and Pineapple Sandwich

Heart Healthy Chicken Salad

Turkey, Mozzarella and Basil Wrap

Smoked Turkey Tortilla Wrap

Patricia Partain

Registered Dietitian

Healthy Holiday Cook-Off Winners
Judges enjoyed tasting the entries for Memorial’s first Holiday Health Cook-off. In the Main Dish category Jill Helton in PACU won first place with Salmon with Strawberry Salsa. The Dessert category was won by Jennifer Nicely for her Key Lime Tart. We are happy to offer you the recipes that won first place.
 
First Place Dessert
Key Lime Tart
by Jennifer Nicely
 
2 egg whites
2 eggs
1/2 cup key lime juice (like Nellie & Joe's)
1 can fat free condensed milk
1 lime
Graham cracker crust
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat eggs and egg whites.  Mix in milk and lime juice.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of grated lime rind.  Pour into pie crust.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Cool and then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  The tart can be topped with whipped cream and lime slices for garnish.

First Place Entrée
Salmon with Strawberry Salsa
By Jill Helton
 
6 salmon filets (skinless, 3 – 4 ounces)
 
Sauce:
1/4 stick of unsalted butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
 
Salsa:
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped fine
2 green onions, sliced thin
3-4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 cups strawberries, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
 
Directions:
Mix cucumber, green onion, yellow pepper and vinegar. Cover and chill and lest an hour. Add strawberries 10-15 minutes before serving.
 
In a saucepan, melt butter with garlic over low heat. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice.
 
Brush sauce on salmon and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until done. Or grill for 4-5 minutes on each side until done. Transfer to serving platter and top with salsa.

Parents and children can participate in several difference charitable activities during the holidays. These are great ways to demonstrate your concern for those in need and the importance of helping others to your children. Watch area news outlets for information on other volunteer opportunities open to children.

Grateful Gobbler Walk – a Thanksgiving Day Tradition for Many Families.
8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Coolidge Park. Funds raised go to benefit the Homeless Coalition, which includes the Chattanooga Food Bank and other organizations. Pre-register at www.gratefulgobbler.org or call (423) 752-4807.

Salvation Army Angel Tree
Select an Angel Tag at an area mall or your place of work. Each tag provides the name, age, gender, clothing sizes, and special Christmas needs and wishes of a needy child, senior, or disabled adult. You and your children may purchase gifts and know that you are being “an angel” to that specific person.

Salvation Army Red Kettle
Volunteers are needed to cover three-hour shifts at the kettle location of your choice. Your family can make this a special holiday tradition. If your children sing or play instruments, or simply smile and greet passers-by, they will increase the joy of giving for everyone. To volunteer, call (423) 756-1023, x1102.

Serve Holiday Meals or Daily Meals
Volunteers are needed to help serve Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to the homeless and others in need in our area at the Salvation Army, the Community Kitchen or other Rescue Centers and Shelters.  Call the Salvation Army at 756-1023 or the Community Kitchen (423) 756-4222.

Purchase New Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new toys to give to needy children in the community.  You and your children can shop for a child and place the toy in one of the many drop-off locations in the city.

Plan a Really Nice Party for Bethany Center
You and your children may be able to help plan a baby shower or the Christmas dinner. They need gift baskets for moms in the hospital.  Call Bethany Christian Services at (423) 622-7360 to see what their current needs are and then have fun getting involved.

Pack a Sack Snack
The Chattanooga Area food Bank uses high school volunteers to pack bags filled with food for needy elementary-aged school children to tide them over the weekends until they can again eat hot meals at school. Call (423) 622-1800.

Help with Pet Socialization
If you and your children like animals, the Humane Educational Society may be able to use a volunteer to spend one-on-one time with shelter animals. Cats and dogs housed in the shelter benefit from exercise and companionship. Call (423) 624-1754.

St. Barnabas Nursing Home
Residents in nursing homes enjoy visits from young people, and there are different ways you might be able to help. At St. Barnabas, for example, they need volunteers to assist with weekly bingo games and parties. For St. Barnabas, call (423) 267-3764.

Cooking is one of my passions and pleasures, although my time to enjoy it is limited.  As a dietitian with familial risk factors for heart disease, I have an interest in “tweaking” recipes to the healthier side and searching for new menu ideas and options.  Simple and easy to prepare recipes are also important to me due to the limited time I have in the kitchen.

The holidays present a special challenge, as we all have our traditional favorites that are usually laden with excess fat and sugar.  I have my favorites, too!  Over the years, I have made changes to my favorite recipes and “lightened” them up without compromising flavor or quality.  I have also added some new dishes to the “mix.”  It has been quite interesting to discover that other family members and guests at my table have welcomed the new dishes…..so don’t assume things can’t change!  Several guests have actually gone back for “seconds” for foods they stated they did not like!  (I can remember two such incidents, one involving a sweet potato dish and one a spinach dish!)

Through this blog, I have the wonderful opportunity to share three holiday meals with you:  a brunch, a simple supper (for the busy “day before”), and the main holiday meal.  These three menus have been planned to include:  simple and easy recipes, healthier preparation techniques, increased use of vegetables and fruits, decreased use of excessive fats and sugars, use of familiar foods, and the likes and dislikes of most people.

It is with much pleasure that I share this “holiday gift” with you and with much hope that you enjoy some or all of the recipes!  At the same time, may you find motivation and inspiration to prepare healthier dishes and meals for yourself, your family, and your friends!

Brunch:

Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins
Spiced Wassail

Dinner:

Cranberry – Pomegranate Fizz
Roast Turkey with Cranberry Chutney
Cornbread Dressing
Low-Fat Gravy
Ginger-Glazed Carrots
Sesame Green Beans
Lime-Glazed Fresh Fruit Salad
Bran Yeast Rolls
Apple-Walnut Cream Tart
Sweet Potato Pie

Casual Supper:

Slow Cooker Beef-Barley Vegetable Soup
Confetti Coleslaw
Whole Grain Crisps
Bananas Foster with Frozen Vanilla Yogurt

Other Recipes:

Recipe for Christmas Joy
Cranberry - Sour Cream Congealed Salad

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the “recipe” for bone health is simple:

1. get enough calcium and vitamin D and eat a well-balanced diet
2. do weight-bearing and resistance exercises, such as walking, dancing, jogging, using elastic fitness bands, and lifting light weights
3. don’t smoke
4. drink alcohol only in moderation
5. talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your bone health.

Each day, our bodies lose calcium through skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and feces.  The human body cannot produce calcium on its own.  That’s why it’s important to try to get enough calcium through the foods we eat.  When the diet does not have enough calcium for our body’s needs, calcium is taken from the bones.

Sources of Calcium and Vitamin D

Food remains the best source of calcium.  Dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese) are high in calcium. Broccoli, kale, Chinese cabbage, and almonds contain calcium in smaller amounts.  Calcium-fortified foods and calcium supplements are also helpful for people who are unable to get enough calcium in their diets.

Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.  Your skin makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun.  In fact, sunlight is the main source of vitamin D for many people.  But we know that getting too much sun is a risk factor for skin cancer.  Vitamin D is usually added to the milk you buy at the grocery store but not to other milk-based products, like cheese, yogurt and butter.  Liver, fatty fish and egg yolks also contain vitamin D.  If you don’t get enough vitamin D, consider taking a multivitamin or a vitamin D supplement.  Many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

To the average patient there does not seem to be a difference between the two, and if you work with both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) they seem to function in the same way.  It’s true that they are very similar; however, there are some key differences.

One of the biggest differences between NPs and PAs is their training.  Nurse Practitioners first receive a bachelors (4 year) degree in nursing, earning them the title of registered nurse.  They then go on to complete either a masters or doctoral degree in nursing (usually two to four additional years of training), and are given the title advanced practice registered nurse, or nurse practitioner.  NPs are trained in a variety of specialties, ranging from family medicine to emergency medicine, depending on the type of program they choose.  This is often differentiated in the letters you see behind their name.  For example, FNP-C means family nurse practitioner- certified and PNP-C means pediatric nurse practitioner-certified.  Because their training is founded around nursing they are taught to look at patients holistically, or at the patient as a whole (including their environment, family, and surroundings).

Physician assistants also first receive a bachelors degree (either BS or BA) before applying to PA school.  The majority of PA programs also award masters degrees although a few are bachelors.  Their programs range from 24-32 months, and are based on the medical school model.  They seem to be more technically trained than NPs, as some programs offer surgical specialties; however, they also practice in internal medicine offices, etc.

Another main difference between the two is that NPs have their own license and can practice independently of a physician in most states.  PAs are licensed in conjunction with a physician, and the physician will delegate certain medical tasks to the PA.

The bottom line is that both NPs and PAs are highly qualified healthcare providers who assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe for a wide range of patients and illnesses.  

Kelly Price, FNP
Memorial Health Partners

If you have diabetes one of the most important things you can do is actually look at your feet every single day!  Most people don’t really pay much attention to their feet and far too many of us abuse our feet with ill-fitting shoes.  But if you have diabetes, good foot care could be the way to avoid chronic wounds and eventually amputation.

Taking good care of your feet means checking your feet daily, proper nail care by a professional, and good hygiene and moisturization to  prevent skin breakdown and cracking.  How wonderful it will feel to rub lotion onto clean feet every single day, and this one act will force you to look at your feet!

The wrong shoes can be hazardous to your health.  One of the side affects of diabetes is neuropathy, or the loss of sensation in the extremities.  If you have decreased sensation in your feet, a bad  pair of shoes can rub blisters and cause pressure that you may not feel until a wound has developed.

Healing wounds can be a challenge for those who are managing blood sugar levels. In order for the foot sore to heal you have to take the pressure off the sore spot.  This can be done with special shoes or shoe inserts that are prescribed by a wound care physician, along with some specialized wound care treatments that will accelerate the healing process.  If you need information about wound care, you can call Memorial’s Wound Healing Center at 495-HEAL.

M. Bullard  BSN, RN, CWOCN
Clinical Nurse Manager

At the final dinner celebration we talked about how far we had come and Louis told us how nervous he had been before doing the first case…almost to the point of being sick.   We knew each other then and were friends, but are better friends now.   Together we have shared a worthwhile goal. 

Louis Nel played a huge role in making all of this possible, and his wife, Marichen, our anesthetist, who is humble and shy, did a wonderful job putting up with all of us.

What I have realized is that other than God and my family, I would like to leave something behind that will help others.  When that seems so far away it is the friends you make along the way…the patients…and physicians like Louis (Nel), Scott (Hodges) and Rick (Fessler).  Times like these are too few and fleeting in a life.

And still, the risk weighs on you.   The fear of the possibility of hurting someone compared to the risk of offering something better.   After you do all the thinking, design work, biomechanics, and work in the lab with cadavers, you ultimately get to the point that you know you have to put the prosthesis into the first patient.  Then you have an honest discussion patient and with their courage and the grace of God -- you do the first case.  

Both the surgeon and the patient have to be courageous.  The patient faces the unknown but does carry the knowledge that he may help individuals who come after him.  The surgeon knows the potential negatives of high level research, both with the general public and with his peers….but still he pushes on.  If he is honest with himself and his patient he must strive to improve what he has been allowed to stand on…the vision of others before him.  

Craig Humphreys, MD
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

The entire team is very tired but relieved that things have gone well.  We shared a little dinner celebration the night before we left at a local restaurant where Dr. Louis Nel had us try some unique foods and picked a great local wine.  Then Niko (South African rep) ordered us all the local moon shine with mango juice.  We tasted it but it was similar to paint thinner with a mango taste.  

Matt Britt, our clinical leader, tried kudo which is a type of antelope.   Danny Braddock, the lead engineer, had the ostrich steak --quite rare--with monkey gland sauce.   Scott Hill, the lead in marketing, had biltong salad -- which is like a beef jerky.   Dr Hodges had the fresh caught sole.   Mark Swafford had shish kabob that had local game including warthog, impala, kudo, and springbok (gazelle).   The local group had the tripe (stomach) stew and local fresh fish.    

Over all everybody had a great time and shared the events of the week and talked about our families and children.  You realize everybody worries about their children and future in the same way and we are so very much the same.   

At the last dinner we pulled up the Memorial blogs here in South Africa and many people looked at it.  Some calls were made to people in Capetown, so you will have people viewing it from there as well.   There will be a nice article in the paper here in Johannesburg as well.  We learned a lot and accomplished a great deal, but I am ready to come back to Chattanooga.  

Wrapping things up now on what has been a successful trip! We checked on all the patients and they are all doing well.   To keep things moving forward we had a wrap up meeting and made conference calls.  It was nice to see the techniques of different surgeons and the interactions.  When ever I get to watch a surgeon I almost always learn a new technique or different way to handle something.  

We took a tour of  Nelson Mandela’s house…he won the Nobel Peace Prize.  Also toured Soweto (stand for South West Townships), where he spent much of his adult life after being released from prison.   This town was started primarily by the gold mining companies many years ago.

Of interest, Bishop Desmond TuTu also still lives here, only about 100 meters away…also a Nobel Peace Prize winner.  [Bishop of Johannesburg, former Secretary General South African Council of Churches.  Won in 1984 for his work against apartheid.]  Hillary Clinton was here visiting him yesterday, and although she stayed at the same hotel, we did not see her.

The second case of the trip went well.  The South African surgeon, Robert Dunn, M.D. is highly skilled and was able to handle the surgery independently with Dr. Hodges and me coaching with the small pointers we had learned on the first 8 cases. Looking forward to seeing our two patients up and about.  

The case was done at the University here in Capetown where Dr. Dunn is very well known.  Of note -- the first heart transplant was done here in 1967 by Dr. Christian Bernard and has been the subject of several books and documentaries.

Today we went to the Cape of Good Hope, the southern most point in Africa.  The Indian and Atlantic ocean come together here, and the Indian ocean is much warmer, which creates some severe weather patterns.   On the Cape we had to be constantly aware of baboons trying to steal stuff.  (Evidently they have gotten used to looking for food that way.)  More to come!

Craig Humphreys, MD
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Things are going well so far.   We completed our first patient today, a 43-year old woman with severe back pain extending into both legs. Jack Eksteen, MD performed the surgery.

The hospital is located in a town of about 300,000, about one hour east of Capetown called Parryl which is the Dutch word for “pearl.”   This is a very nice small town in one of South Africa’s great wine areas.  One of the nearby mountains has a huge smooth spot that when it rains looks like a pearl.  

The case went very well so it was nice to have the first one done and to be going forward with the study. Tomorrow we have two more cases at the county hospital in Capetown, which is a much bigger hospital in a much larger city.   

We celebrated our first case feasting on Kudo (a kind of antelope) and Impala steak (compares to venison) which are farm raised like cattle for any of you nature people. Lean and very tasty. It is winter here and the days are short as we are on the most southern point in Africa. Funny to be here and be able to see our breath in the morning. Stay tuned…

We made it….what a flight!  First 8 hrs to Amsterdam and then 11 hours to Johannesburg. We flew KLM to Jo-burg, which is a Dutch carrier, and the local language is Afrikans, which is a Dutch dialect.   A lot of people from Amsterdam were coming to visit family which was neat.  Remember Ted Nugent the singer?  He was sitting behind me on the plane and we spoke briefly. He seemed  like a very down to earth guy.  I believe he was going hunting in Botswana.   

Today we did a little sightseeing.  Tonight we reviewed the surgical technique and practiced on what are called tru-trainers -- a plastic model which is lifelike and can be dissected.   More to come…

Craig Humphreys, M.D.
Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

One of the biggest misconceptions about weight loss surgery is that is “magic” or “the easy way to lose weight”.  Well, in reality, it is a “tool”. Probably the best tool we can give to any morbidly obese patient that will allow them to lose weight only if they work hard using it.

Losing 50 pounds, or 100 pounds, or even more is much easier with the tool than without it. So, patients who don’t use the tool or stop using it will eventually fail. 

When a bariatric patient continues living the same way that led them to become morbid obese, failure is a sure bet!  There must be some changes in a patient’s lifestyle. It is absolutely essential to eat the right way (not just the right things, but the right WAY) and exercise daily.   Even hunger will be better controlled doing these.

Building great relationships is a good way to make that tool work for you! That’s why it is important to have regular visits with your surgeon, sometimes for years after the surgery.  You should participate in the surgeon’s program to receive constant encouragement through support groups and medical staff who understand what you are going through. 

By having these new relationships that are all about meeting your weight loss goals hopefully you can manage any negative relationships that may be interferring with success. One common external factor that I have seen is family and friends sabotage. It is not uncommon that patients are doing very well, but relatives or friends will discourage them with all the wrong statements: “you look sick”, “you are not losing”, etc.

When you are considering weight loss surgery you have to look at the total program, not just the surgery, and find one that feels right for you.  It really is possible to lose that weight!

Jaime Ponce, MD, FACS, FASMBS
Director, Memorial Bariatric Surgery Program

Have you ever found yourself running to the bathroom and just barely making it in time? Or maybe feeling embarrassed when you coughed or sneezed and your bladder leaked? Do you take advantage of every bathroom stop to be sure you don’t lose control?

Join the club! 25 million Americans suffer from urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control.  Now here’s the $25,000 question:  Have you told your doctor?

Most people have never mentioned these problems to their doctor, which is probably why physicians diagnose only one in eight Americans who have experienced urinary incontinence.   You probably think there isn’t much that can be done, short of having surgery, right?  You believe the problem is not that bad and it’s just a natural part of the aging process, or the byproduct of several pregnancies.  Like most people, you are likely to be managing the symptoms by wearing protective pads, and hoping it does not get worse.

Did you know there are non-surgical treatment options that can be very effective, especially when the problem is not severe?  Physical therapy is one treatment option that can help bladder problems without any side effects.

Physical therapy can include:

• Exercises for your pelvic muscles, hips and abdominals
• Biofeedback – a device that helps you “see” your pelvic floor muscles
• Bladder training – re-teaching your bladder to work correctly 
• Behavioral strategies – changes that you can make in your life to improve symptoms

A specially trained physical therapist can evaluate each patient and design an individualized program to meet your needs. Because most insurance companies cover physical therapy treatment, it is a low cost treatment option that can help you regain control of your bladder.  For more information, call Memorial’s Continence Center at (423) 495-2555.

Michele Webb, PT, DPT
Memorial's Continence Center

French fries are made from potatoes and potatoes are a vegetable, right?  Vegetables are the part of a plant you can eat, like the seeds, roots, stems, and leaves.  Potatoes are, in fact, a root vegetable or tuber.  So yes, technically potatoes are a vegetable….. but nutritionally they are a starch.  And if you have diabetes, you should carefully watch how much sugar and starch you eat.

Starches are part of a larger group of foods known as carbohydrates.  You’ve heard of low carb diets?  For people who want to control their blood sugar, or who want to lose weight, lowering your carb intake is one way to reach your goals.

While carbohydrates provide energy, they also raise your blood sugar!  Many people with diabetes have focused on cutting down on sugar and breads without realizing starchy vegetables raise their blood sugars, as well.  This would include some of our traditional Southern favorites like corn, green peas, pinto beans, lima beans, and black eyed peas.

Don’t let the portion size fool you!  If you compare a 6 oz. plain baked potato (about fist size) with the skin on, it is about 159 calories and 36 grams carbohydrate.  Compared to a 6 oz order of french fries (Large) from major fast food chain is a whopping 530 calories and 67 grams carbohydrate!

Because it looks the same in size, you might think it has the same calories and carbohydrates.  You don’t have to avoid potatoes.  Just be careful how they are prepared and the amount you eat and you will have greater success with your blood sugar and weight control.

Lea Reagan, Diabetes Educator
Memorial’s Diabetes and Nutrition Center

Summer memories for me conjure up pictures of my grandfather’s garden, brimming with over 20 varieties of vegetables and 10 varieties of fruit vines and trees.  We definitely got in our “5-a-day” – fruits and vegetables, that is! 

Summertime also conjures up visions of backyard cookouts, complete with hot dogs and hamburgers.  Why not add a new addition to your grill this year while meeting your “5-a-day” at the same time?  Grilling offers an easy twist for incorporating more vegetables and fruits into your diet.  Charcoal and gas grills enhance the unique flavors of vegetables and fruits by caramelizing the natural sugars.  Add in the smokiness from the grill for some “good eats!”

Fruits and veggies can be roasted directly on the grill, slipped onto a kabob, tossed into a special grilling pan, or wrapped in foil pouches (although you won’t get the smoked flavor).  Most cook better when brushed with high-quality oil or coated with a marinade.  Try one of these marinade ideas:  reduced-fat Italian or other vinaigrette-type dressings, balsamic vinegar glaze with fresh herbs and garlic, honey or maple syrup, “herby” broths, fruit or sweet sauces, oil plus garlic and herbs.

Select veggies and fruits that aren’t high in water content.  Good veggies choices include zucchini and yellow squash, eggplant, beets, asparagus, peppers (all varieties), corn on the cob, cherry and grape tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, cabbage, sweet and new potatoes.  Fruits that work well are fresh pineapple, apples, pears, cantaloupe, bananas and stone fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, and plums.

Remember these tips to assure your grilling success.  Start with a clean, hot grill.  Keep the flame low and the grates oiled to prevent sticking.  Cut foods into ½ to 1-inch chunks (for kabobs or baskets) or ½-inch thick slices for direct grilling.  Group foods with similar cook times to avoid burning.  Use online recipe sites for more ideas and recipes.  ENJOY!

Patricia Partain
Registered Dietitian

I am a pathologist.  Many (or most) of you may not know exactly what I do here at Memorial.  I'm not a forensic pathologist like the death investigators on Quincy or CSI - they're the rock stars of our field.  I'm just a humble hospital pathologist and, although I do perform the occasional autopsy, I spend most of my time peering through the eyepieces of my instrument of choice, an Olympus BX50 microscope.  The internist has his stethoscope, the surgeon her scalpel - I have my microscope.  All sorts of tissues cross my desk in the form of glass microscope slides - small biopsies from every nook of the body as well as larger resections like colectomies and mastectomies. 

My job is to make the correct diagnosis and provide all the information necessary for the patient's physician (or physicians) to plan a course of treatment.  There is a risk in being a pathologist, though, of too much separation from the patient, the problem being that in not actually meeting the person at the other end of the biopsy it can all become too abstract.  To combat this I, as well as my partners here, participate in multiple cancer conferences to participate in the discussion of patient care plans (I was at breast conference this morning at 7 am).  Also, some of us perform certain procedures (like needle aspirations and bone marrows) which gives us a chance to see patients in person (though they may not want to see us when we're holding a needle!). 

Finally, I regularly visit our breast center and meet with patients who have questions about their pathology reports, trying to bring sense to what must seem like runes to them.  Hopefully, these strategies help remind me that every biopsy I see is from a real, live breathing person who needs my help.
 
Sanford C. Sharp, M.D.

Most of my patients ask me, “How much sleep do I really need?” When they place emphasis on the word “really” I know they are trying to survive on less instead enjoying more sleep. Each individual is different. But, when working-age adults get fewer than seven hours of sleep a night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase.

Sleep is as important to your health as the food you eat and the air you breathe. Chronic lack of sleep can have the following health consequences:

• Sleep deficiency causes an increase in blood pressure, putting you at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and glaucoma
• The immune system may be affected, making you more susceptible to infections and respiratory diseases
• The level of inflammation in your body rises, creating more risk for heart-related conditions as well as cancer and diabetes
• Sleep affects acid reflux, and if you are not getting the sleep you need, you could have more frequent episodes.

You need to make getting a good night’s sleep a top priority. Here are some tips to help you.

• Make sure your bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable
• Get up and go to bed at the same time every day
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bed
• Participate in regular exercise but avoid exercising closer than two or three hours before bedtime
• If you are still awake after more than 30 minutes in bed, get up and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy

After trying these tips, if you are still sleepy during the day or have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, you may benefit from a sleep evaluation. Treatments are available to help you get the sleep you need. Call (423) 495-REST (7378) for more information.  Visit Your Health Resources on this website and search “sleep” to learn more.

Vincent Viscomi, M.D., FCCP, DAASM
Director, Memorial Regional Sleep Center

You gotta’ have faith; a leap of faith; it takes faith.  The word “faith” is woven into our modern vernacular in many positive ways.  But do you ever think about it in the context of health care?  We do.  When you’re sick, you go to a doctor you may have never met before; receive a diagnosis that you tell all your friends about; are perhaps prescribed a drug you’ve never heard of; and go home to follow the doctor’s orders to a “T”.  Now THAT takes faith.

But do you ever wonder how the doctor knows the difference between a virus and bacteria?  We do.  We think it has something to do with the color of the runny stuff from your nose.  But, if you’ve ever looked at the Holy Grail of desk references for prescription drugs, the Physician’s Deck Reference, its thick enough for Danny DeVito to stand on so that his height rivals Michael Jordon.  So, how DO they know which drug is best?  We’re gonna’ find out.

That’s why we created the inspire blog.  If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.  Want to know how high a fever has to be before you call the doctor?  Write us.  If you’re sitting around with friends wondering how doctors, who get called out in the middle of the night, can go from a dead sleep to performing precise life-saving surgery, read the blog.  We want to create a dialogue with you about all things health.

The blog is scheduled to be updated at least once a week.  It will feature postings from docs, nurses, and many others who operate behind the scenes in the round-the-clock world of a hospital.  But most importantly, we’ll bring you the latest health news to help you and your family live better, make smart health care choices and improve in body, mind and spirit.  Let’s renew, refresh and embrace health together.

Lisa McCluskey, MBA
Vice President, Marketing Communications