Healthy

CONNECTIONSYOUR RESOURCE FOR BETTER LIVING SUMMER 2020

2COVID-19 Updates

6Managing Diabetes

8 Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes

Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Learn how to improve this critical function 4

Sleep your way toGOOD HEALTH

F RO M T H E P R ES I D E N T ’S D ES K

The Way I See It

WILL MAHONE, PRESIDENT

UPDATEHealthy

Roll up Your Sleeves

COVID-19 UpdateAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Vidant Health is taking steps to protect the health and safety of its patients, team

members and their families. Here are some ways we’re modifying our operations and doing our part to stop the spread.

NEW PATIENT SCREENINGNew patients with coughs are identified and given a mask at our entry points. Patients exposed to someone with COVID-19 are put in isolation rooms.

IN-HOSPITAL SAFETYHand sanitizer is available at all of our hospitals. Isolation rooms, personal protective equipment and hand-washing help protect our on-site team members.

Each day 43,000 pints of donated blood are used across the U.S. and Canada. On average, less than 10% of people donate blood. During the COVID-19

pandemic, even that portion is uncertain. Blood donation centers are ensuring donor safety by screening donors for fever, providing hand sanitizer, practicing social distancing, frequently disinfecting surfaces and requiring donors to wear masks.

Donating blood by appointment is safe. Vidant North Hospi-tal is a beneficiary of life-saving blood donations and partners with The Blood Connection, which has multiple donation sites in North Carolina. We thank all donors for their gifts.

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FIND A DONATION SITE NEAR YOUVisit donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/geo to find a donation site near you and make an appointment to give blood or plasma.

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Keeping you and our team safe Here in Eastern North Carolina, our

community means everything. That’s why we care for our patients like

they’re our closest family members and friends—because many times they are.

Our community has proven to be strong, resilient and supportive, and we’re so grate-ful for the generosity shown by so many area businesses, civic groups and individuals who've supported our teams in various ways during these challenging times. We have received donations of meals, personal protective equip-ment and many other necessary supplies.

In April, our physicians, nurses and hospital staff were welcomed by the Roanoke Rapids Police, Roanoke Rapids Fire and Halifax County Sheriff’s departments in an impressive display of lights, American flags and signs, thanking them for all they do.

We’ve been honored to see similar displays nationwide with major businesses offering dis-counts, free services and goods to healthcare and frontline workers across the country.

I speak on behalf of all healthcare staff when I say we are truly grateful.

It’s comforting to know that during this difficult time, our healthcare teams need only to look around to see how much they mean to our community.

We are responsibly beginning to address the needs of patients with delayed surgeries, diagnostic catheterizations, ancillary tests and screenings with new policies and procedures for safety and infection prevention. We are all learning to live with COVID-19 and will work to protect our patients and team mem-bers going forward.

Thank you for allowing us to be your partner in a healthier community, as we know the best way to get through difficult times is together.

Local fire and police departments welcomed our staff with a reception of signs and gratitude in April.

HEALTHY CONNECTIONS – SUMMER 20202

LIMITING VISITORSVisitors are prohibited across all Vidant hospi-tals. Pediatric patients may be accompanied by

one parent or caregiver after an on-site screening. Exceptions to accommodate special circumstances are being made on a case-by-case basis.

MAKING ESSENTIAL CARE SAFEVidant is increasing access to any surgery or procedure that, if not done within four weeks, would cause harm to the patient. This includes select general and orthopedic surgeries, as well as cardiac, vascular and gastroenterology procedures.

COMMUNITY RESOURCESYou can call the COVID-19 commu-nity resource line at (252) 847-8000 for questions related to COVID-19 and to learn more about protecting yourself, loved ones and the community. Get help from 8 a.m.–8 p.m., seven days a week.

COVID-19 Update

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HAVE COVID-19 QUESTIONS?You can find more information about COVID-19, including what to do if you think you are sick and updates on changing hospital policies, at vidanthealth.com/covid-19-updates.

New Mammograms Offer Comfort and ClarityEarly detection of breast cancer via mammograms is the best way to fight the disease. That’s why Vidant North has invested in industry-leading 3D

breast-imaging technology and SmartCurve paddles that closely conform to the contours of the breast for more comfortable mammograms.

Terry Mason, RT(R)(M), mammography supervisor of the Radiology Department at Vidant North Hospital, says annual mammograms are recommended for women over age 40.

“But that is for an average woman with few or no risk factors,” she adds.

BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORSSome factors that increase a woman’s risk include:❱❱ Family history of breast cancer: If you have a first-degree relative (parent, full sibling or child) who had or has

breast cancer, your mammograms should start at least 5–10 years before the age at which your relative was first diagnosed.❱❱ Genetic mutation: If you have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you are at high risk. If your parent, sibling or child has this mutation, you’re always considered high-risk.❱❱ Previous radiation treatments: Radiation therapy to the chest between ages 10 and 30 also increases your risk.

“Having risk factors does not mean you will have breast cancer,” Mason says. But, she adds, it means your risk is higher than the average American woman, who has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.

WANT TO SCHEDULE A MAMMOGRAM?For questions about mammograms or breast health, call Vidant North Mammography at (252) 535-3417.

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In Focus

Sleep plays a critical role in numerous

aspects of our health, from our cognition to our hormones. Even missing an hour of sleep per night can have a measurable impact on our waking life. The Vidant North Sleep Lab helps people with chronic sleep disorders regain the restful night’s sleep they need.

BENEFITS OF SLEEPThe human body is hardwired to spend roughly one-third of every day asleep. During that time, many processes are activated—from releasing enzymes to the repair of cells—all of which have an important bearing on how

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Sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Learn

how to improve this critical function

Sleep Your Way to

Good Health

4 HEALTHY CONNECTIONS – SUMMER 2020

Do’s and Don’ts for the Best Sleep

we function. Sleep is a time of restoration and rejuvena-tion. Good sleep can even help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease, think more clearly and make better decisions.

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO YOU NEED?Your need for sleep is controlled by a variety of factors, such as your age, weight, diet, general health and level of physical activity. Most healthy adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Children and teens need more—at least 8–10 hours for teens, 9–12 hours for adolescents, 11–14 hours for toddlers and 12–16 hours for babies.

COMMON CAUSES OF SLEEP DISRUPTIONThe National Institutes of Health reports some 70 million Americans suffer from recurring sleep problems, including insomnia and sleep apnea. Stress, anxiety, disease, medications, caffeine and poor health in general can all contribute to lost sleep or difficulty falling asleep. While occasionally missing a good night’s sleep is normal, sleep problems that occur regularly may indicate a more serious disorder. Check with your doctor if you experience any of the following.

1 Chronic insomnia, or difficulty falling or staying asleep, commonly

occurs as the result of stress, changing schedules, poor sleep habits or eating too much late in the evening. It may also be associated with health issues, use of certain drugs, mental health problems, sleep disorders, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

2 Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring or pauses in breath-

ing while asleep. It is usually related to a person’s physical structure and

risk factors like lifestyle habits and the environment. Because sleep apnea can present a serious health threat, you should not ignore these signs.

3 Narcolepsy, caused by autoimmune disorders, family history and, rarely, brain injuries, is a disor-

der in which a person experiences excessive daytime sleepiness combined with sudden muscle weakness.

4 Restless leg syndrome, whose cause is unknown in most cases, can also interfere with

sleep by causing pain, which is relieved by movement of the leg.

VIDANT NORTH SLEEP LABIf a good night’s sleep often eludes you, the Vidant North Sleep Lab offers sleep studies and evaluations to learn what’s causing your problem and provide many treatment options.

GET THE SLEEP YOU DESERVEWant to learn more about sleep studies or common sleep disorders? Call the Sleep Lab at (252) 535-8941 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

DO manage your energy levels. Change your daily routine to include physical activity in the morning, low caffeine intake in the evening, few naps, moderate alcohol and no nicotine.

DO turn off your device about an hour before going to bed. It’s tempting to end the day with screen time, but the light from most devices promotes wakefulness.

DON’T keep the lights on. Light interferes with sleep, so make sure your sleeping area is as dark as possible.

DON’T keep an erratic sleep schedule. Sticking to a set bedtime helps your body develop an expectation of falling asleep at that time.

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Understand ing DiabetesKnow how to prevent, identify and manage diabetes

Diabetes affects nearly 10% of the U.S. population and as many as 25% of adults over 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC). At the same time, the CDC has found that more than 25% of all

people living with diabetes don’t know they have it. In the Vidant Health North 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment, diabetes was

identified as a prioritized health need. While 45.2% of survey respondents rated their health as good, 23.7% reported they had been told by a health professional that they had diabetes. In 2017, diabetes ranked fourth in leading causes of death for Halifax County.

Because diabetes can have serious complications, it’s important to know the signs, symptoms, and how to prevent and manage it.

HOW DIABETES AFFECTS THE BODYPeople with diabetes experience blood sugar (glucose) levels that are unusually high, which can lead to health problems, including heart disease, nerve damage and kidney failure. Insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas, helps moder-ate blood sugar levels by transporting glucose to the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. A lack of insulin can lead to runaway blood sugar levels.

Type 1 diabetes usually affects children whose immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People with type 2 diabetes have no insulin or struggle to use it efficiently.

CAUSES OF DIABETES Lifestyle habits such as alcohol consump-tion, smoking and diet all factor into one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Moder-ate alcohol consumption—defined as one drink per day for women of all ages and men over 65, and two drinks per day for

men under 65—is OK, but more than that may cause chronic inflammation that damages the pancreas’ ability to secrete insulin. Tobacco use can lead to insulin resistance. Heavy smokers are almost twice as likely to develop diabetes. And a diet of high-fat, high-calorie foods sets the stage for obesity, which increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes.

Genetics can also play a role in a person’s chances of developing diabetes. People with a family history of diabetes are more likely to develop the disease. African Americans, Alaskan Native Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have an elevated risk of developing diabetes.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSThe classic symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, fatigue, cuts or bruises that heal slowly, unexplained weight loss and blurred vision.

Coronary Heart Disease

Kidney Damage

Cerebrovascular Disease

Eye Damage

Nerve Damage

Diabetic Foot

Complications of Diabetes

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Be Healthy

HEALTHY CONNECTIONS – SUMMER 2020

Understand ing Diabetes

Diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test. Children who show symptoms or have a family history of type 1 diabetes should get tested by their physician. Testing for type 2 diabetes is appropriate for everyone over age 45, but it may be necessary as early as age 19 for people who are overweight or obese and have another risk factor. You should always seek a diagnosis from your physician. There are no over-the-counter blood tests that can diagnose diabetes.

TREATMENTDiabetes can be managed with daily insulin or insulin-promoting medicine, eating a balanced diet, checking blood sugar levels regularly and exercising.

Vidant North Hospital offers the Diabetes Self-Management Program and Diabetes Education & Support Group. The Self-Management Program begins with a one-hour assessment, followed by two classes covering how the disease develops and how to manage it.

READY TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DIABETES?Contact Carrie Davis at carrie.davis2@vidanthealth.com or (252) 535-8276 to learn about the Diabetes Self-Management Program.

Certified diabetes educators help patients formulate personalized treatment and management plans. You must be referred to the Self-Management Program by your primary care physician, but the support group is open to the public.

PREVENTIONWhile diabetes cannot be cured, there are steps you can take to decrease your risk of developing the disease, such as maintain-ing a healthy weight. A preventive diet prioritizes a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins and healthy fats.

A sedentary lifestyle may predispose you to higher blood sugar levels. Try to get 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day. If you are trying to lose weight as part of your diabetes management plan, you will likely need about 60 minutes of activity five times per week.

How to Manage DiabetesRegular exercise causes your muscles to use sugar for energy and helps the body use insulin more efficiently. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan that’s right for you and then keep to a regular schedule.

A healthy diet is impor-tant in managing diabetes. Carbohydrates have the most impact on blood sugar levels, so knowing the amount of carbohydrates in your food is crucial for people taking mealtime insulin. People with diabetes should avoid foods high in sodium, sugar, saturated fat and trans fat.

Stress is known as a contrib-utor to high blood sugar levels. Stress triggers the fight or flight response, causing the body to increase glucose levels that cannot be metabolized properly in people with diabetes. Try to lessen stress by spending time daily in meditation.

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Symptoms

Weight Loss Blurred Vision Frequent Urination Slow Healing Increased Thirst Excessive Fatigue

Healthy Food Alcohol Control Weight Control Avoid Smoking Regular Exercise

Prevention

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Halifax Regional Medical Center 250 Smith Church Rd Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870-4928

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHalifax RegionalMedical Center

FIND A PHYSICIAN To find doctors, office locations and more, visit physicians.halifaxregional.org.

ONLINE BILL PAY Your Halifax Regional statements from Patientco offer a variety of payment options. To pay online, visit gopatientco.com.

Spotlight on Excellence

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You Are AllHeroesThank you to the Vidant North team for the many roles you play to keep our loved ones safe.

Vidant North Hospital is grateful for its dedicated team of healthcare heroes who have served on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their commitment to the health and safety of every patient and one another is a point of pride for the hospital and our community.

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