May ˜˚˛˜ Baylor BaylorHealth.com/ Health Grapevinenews.bswhealth.com › media_storage ›...

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Baylor Health May 2012 TUMMY TROUBLES? Five tips for getting rid of digestive distress PAGE 7 BEAT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE Is weight loss surgery right for you? PAGE 3 GRAPEVINE EDITION Visit BaylorHealth.com/ Grapevine for informative videos, interactive quizzes, online event registration, and much more. Man Up for Your Health Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor. But WAYNE REYNOLDS is alive today because he sought treatment when he needed to PAGE 4 REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES. Wayne is pictured with his wife, Martha.

Transcript of May ˜˚˛˜ Baylor BaylorHealth.com/ Health Grapevinenews.bswhealth.com › media_storage ›...

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BaylorHealthMay 2012

TUMMY TROUBLES?Five tips for getting rid of digestive distress PAGE 7

BEAT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEIs weight loss surgery right for you? PAGE 3

GRAPEVINE EDITION

Visit BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine for informative videos, interactive quizzes, online event registration, and much more.

Man Up for Your Health

Men are notorious for avoiding the doctor. But WAYNE REYNOLDS is alive today because he sought treatment when he needed toPAGE 4

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

Wayne is pictured with his wife, Martha.

Health

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“Time is muscle when you’re talking chest pain,” says Jamee Gatzemeier, chest pain coordinator at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. “The faster a person can get to a hospital for treatment during a heart attack, the more muscle can be saved.”

Emergency medical personnel will only transport heart attack patients to an accredited Chest Pain Center. Baylor Grapevine recently received Cycle III Chest Pain Center accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This helps Baylor Grapevine provide the community with prompt, quality care if they have a heart attack.

Saving Hearts, Saving LivesNew accreditation at Baylor Grapevine means faster treatment for heart attack

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine 1650 W. College, Grapevine, TX 76051

Director of Marketing: Dee Dee Ogrin; Senior Marketing/PR Consultant: LaKisha Miller; Physician Liaison: Josh Marte; Community Relations Consultant: Rachel Nobles; Cardiovascular Marketing Consultant: Elizabeth Ables; SportsCare Representative: Adam Brooks

Baylor Grapevine Main Number: 817.481.1588; Baylor Grapevine Physician Referral: 1.800.4BAYLOR (1.800.422.9567); Educational Programs: 817.329.2878; Baylor Grapevine Diagnostic Imaging Center: 817.305.5010;Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Keller: 817.482.2000; Baylor Grapevine Women’s Center: 817.424.4500; 24-Hour Emergency: 817.329.2523; Baylor Therapy Center: 817.329.2524; Clinical Nutrition Programs: 817.329.2569; Baylor Grapevine Volunteer Services/Auxiliary: 817.329.2665

Baylor Health Care System Mission: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.

Visit BaylorHealth.com or call 1.800.4BAYLOR for information about Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine services, upcoming events, physician referrals, career opportunities and more.

BaylorHealth is published six times a year by McMurry. © 2012 Baylor Health Care System. The material in BaylorHealth is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before under taking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those med ical centers, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine or Baylor Health Care System. Some physicians are employees of Health Texas Provider Network. Baylor Medical Plaza at Keller is not a legal entity but a location for the provision of health care services. Photographs may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to Robin Vogel, Baylor Health Care System, 2001 Bryan St., Suite 750, Marketing Department, Dallas, TX 75201, or email the information to [email protected].

“With heart attacks striking about 1.2 million people in the United States each year, having a nearby treatment facility is key in saving lives and heart muscle,” says Gatzemeier.

Baylor Grapevine offers a protocol-driven, systematic approach to patient

management that reduces the time to treat the initial stages of a heart attack.

Someone experiencing a heart attack can have their artery blockage treated with angioplasty in Baylor Grapevine’s cardiac catheterization lab.

“We are proud of our door-to-balloon time for patient care. The national average is about 90 minutes from the time people reach the hospital door. Our times average under 60 minutes,” Gatzemeier says. “Decreasing the time allows us to have great outcomes.” The hospital received Cycle II with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) accreditation in 2008.

1.2 million people in the United States have a heart attack each year.

1.2 million

Know the SignsIt is important to call 911 immediately when you notice these signs of a heart attack:

• Pain or discomfort in your back, neck, jaw, stomach, or one or both arms

• Shortness of breath• Cold sweats• Nausea• Lightheadedness• Fatigue or lack of energy

Be Good to Your HeartAt Baylor Grapevine, we offer a wide range of options to help you care for your heart. From preventive services to specialized treatment options, we’re here to help. To learn more about our cardiology services or to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/GrapevineHeart.

2 BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine

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THERE’S MORE TO WEIGHT LOSS surgery than an operation. The best weight loss surgery centers off er an extensive care program that supports people in their weight loss eff orts for a lifetime. Some of those centers are recognized as Bariatric Centers of Excellence, and the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center at Grapevine is one of them.

Sina Matin, M.D., medical director of the center, says, “The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recognized us as having achieved above and beyond the standards of quality in preparing for surgery, performing surgery and caring for patients after surgery.”

Kim Ewton, coordinator of the Baylor Weight Loss Surgery Center, explains that education is critical with weight loss surgery. “Before surgery, we provide education here

at the surgery center. We have nutrition classes and people are medically supervised from the moment they walk in. That continues through surgery and afterwards.”

Ewton says the center’s patients are seeing signifi cant weight loss results, thanks to the comprehensive program that supports them throughout the process.

The center off ers three types of weight loss surgery—Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy—as well as revisions. “The operation is designed for patient safety in every aspect,” explains Dr. Matin.

Patients can benefi t from rapid weight loss early after surgery, which then turns more gradual as they get closer to their goal weight.

Along with the weight loss, people are seeing a slew of health benefi ts

after surgery, including improvements in joint pain, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

Many insurance companies require their patients to have treatment at a Center of Excellence.

LOSING WEIGHT, GAINING LIFEBaylor Weight Loss Surgery Center at Grapevine named a Bariatric Center of Excellence

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?To learn more about weight loss surgery options at Baylor Grapevine, visit BaylorHealth.com/GrapevineWeightLoss or call 817.305.5061. To attend a free online weight loss surgery seminar, visit YourWeightLossSurgerySeminar.com.

Most people lose 10 to 20 pounds per month the fi rst year after surgery.

10 to 20

THINKSTOCK BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 3

Nine Months Later, 90 Pounds LighterKaren Crowder can race her sons and even join in their scrimmage basketball games, things she would have avoided before her weight loss success. After considering the surgery for several years and undergoing six months of nutritional counseling, she’s 90 pounds lighter and fi ve sizes smaller after surgery. See her story online at BaylorHealth.com/KarensStory.

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Like Reynolds, you may think you’re too busy for an annual physical, screening test or minor medical procedure. But “sacrifi cing an hour or an afternoon or even two or three days of your life is a lot more effi cient than sacrifi cing weeks and months of your life” for treating more-advanced disease, Reynolds says.

Here’s what you can do to guard against common diseases that strike men:

THREAT: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASEStrategy: Get your numbers in line

“The number-one killer of men is cardiovascular disease,” says Shaun McMurtry, M.D., a family medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. When fatty plaque deposits build up in blood vessels, they can cause heart attack or stroke.

Just like tracking business goals, you can’t measure your progress if you don’t know your numbers. Keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.

“Generally speaking, you’re not going to feel bad from high blood pressure or cholesterol,” Dr. McMurtry says. “So you don’t know you have them until you get the screening done.”

Improving your diet and exercise habits can help modify weight and cholesterol and blood pressure levels. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medication may help reduce your heart disease risk.

THREAT: CANCERStrategy: Talk to your doctor about necessary screenings

Lung, prostate and colon cancer are the top three cancers in men. “Screening is the biggest way to catch colon cancer in its early stages,” Dr. McMurtry explains. “Anytime you can catch a cancer early, before it spreads, you have a better outcome.” If everyone older than 50 would get recommended screening tests, colon cancer deaths could be reduced by as much as 60 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

“It’s important to have regular visits with your primary care doctor

so you know if you need to screen earlier,” Dr. McMurtry

says. You can also discuss the risks and benefi ts of

screening for prostate cancer by means of a digital rectal exam or prostate-specifi c antigen testing.

Smoking is the culprit for about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men. “If you don’t smoke, don’t start,” Dr. McMurtry says. “If you do, quit.”

See your doctor if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough, coughing up blood or unexplained weight loss.

THREAT: DIABETESStrategy: Be physically active and lose a little bit of weight

Being overweight and inactive are two major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. “Losing weight and exercising have been proven to decrease your risk of developing diabetes,” Dr. McMurtry says. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can delay or prevent diabetes, according to a National Institutes of Health study. Even without weight loss, exercise can help lower blood sugar, other research has shown.

“Diabetes aff ects every system in the body,” Dr. McMurtry says. Uncontrolled high blood sugar puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and nerve damage that causes a loss of feeling in the feet and legs.

It can be hard to make time for your health in the midst of work and family responsibilities, Reynolds acknowledges. “But if I’m gone, I can’t take care of my family. Your physical health is more important than anything else.”

Acting now can preserve your ability to enjoy life in the future. “You need to catch these health conditions in their early stages,” Dr. McMurtry says, “so you can prevent complications as you get older that can limit your ability to be active.”

Watch Wayne’s StoryTo hear more about Wayne’s story, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast today.

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

SSmart strategies to defuse men’s top health threats

Live Longer, Live Stronger

Wayne Reynolds survived colon cancer, thanks to his good sense to see a doctor when he did and the support of his wife, Martha.

Watch Wayne’s StoryTo hear more about Wayne’s story, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast today.

Smart strategies to defuse health threats

Live StrongerSmart strategies to defuse Live StrongerSmart strategies to defuse

Wayne Reynolds survived colon cancer, thanks to his good sense to see a doctor when he did and the support of his wife, Martha.

4 To download a tipsheet about men’s health at midlife, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast

Staying in shape is a priority for Wayne Reynolds. “I’ve always been extremely health conscious,” says the 55-year-old bank senior vice president. Because of bleeding polyps when he was 35, Reynolds had several colonoscopies in his 30s and 40s before getting an all-clear report when he was 48. Later, when bleeding cropped up again, internal hemorrhoids were diagnosed. But Reynolds felt that it wasn’t a big enough deal to want to take time away from his busy work and family life.

When Reynolds fi nally scheduled repair surgery in 2010, the surgeon discovered Reynolds also had a tumor in his colon. It took almost a year of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to treat the stage-three cancer.

“If I had acted sooner, I might have been diagnosed with stage-one colon cancer,” Reynolds says. “It’s best to err on the side of current inconvenience instead of long-term inconvenience.”

Although he still struggles with chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy, making it diffi cult to feel his feet and be as active as he would like, today Reynolds’ cancer is gone and he is relieved.

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Like Reynolds, you may think you’re too busy for an annual physical, screening test or minor medical procedure. But “sacrifi cing an hour or an afternoon or even two or three days of your life is a lot more effi cient than sacrifi cing weeks and months of your life” for treating more-advanced disease, Reynolds says.

Here’s what you can do to guard against common diseases that strike men:

THREAT: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASEStrategy: Get your numbers in line

“The number-one killer of men is cardiovascular disease,” says Shaun McMurtry, M.D., a family medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine. When fatty plaque deposits build up in blood vessels, they can cause heart attack or stroke.

Just like tracking business goals, you can’t measure your progress if you don’t know your numbers. Keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.

“Generally speaking, you’re not going to feel bad from high blood pressure or cholesterol,” Dr. McMurtry says. “So you don’t know you have them until you get the screening done.”

Improving your diet and exercise habits can help modify weight and cholesterol and blood pressure levels. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medication may help reduce your heart disease risk.

THREAT: CANCERStrategy: Talk to your doctor about necessary screenings

Lung, prostate and colon cancer are the top three cancers in men. “Screening is the biggest way to catch colon cancer in its early stages,” Dr. McMurtry explains. “Anytime you can catch a cancer early, before it spreads, you have a better outcome.” If everyone older than 50 would get recommended screening tests, colon cancer deaths could be reduced by as much as 60 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

“It’s important to have regular visits with your primary care doctor

so you know if you need to screen earlier,” Dr. McMurtry

says. You can also discuss the risks and benefi ts of

screening for prostate cancer by means of a digital rectal exam or prostate-specifi c antigen testing.

Smoking is the culprit for about 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in men. “If you don’t smoke, don’t start,” Dr. McMurtry says. “If you do, quit.”

See your doctor if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, chronic cough, coughing up blood or unexplained weight loss.

THREAT: DIABETESStrategy: Be physically active and lose a little bit of weight

Being overweight and inactive are two major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. “Losing weight and exercising have been proven to decrease your risk of developing diabetes,” Dr. McMurtry says. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight can delay or prevent diabetes, according to a National Institutes of Health study. Even without weight loss, exercise can help lower blood sugar, other research has shown.

“Diabetes aff ects every system in the body,” Dr. McMurtry says. Uncontrolled high blood sugar puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, and nerve damage that causes a loss of feeling in the feet and legs.

It can be hard to make time for your health in the midst of work and family responsibilities, Reynolds acknowledges. “But if I’m gone, I can’t take care of my family. Your physical health is more important than anything else.”

Acting now can preserve your ability to enjoy life in the future. “You need to catch these health conditions in their early stages,” Dr. McMurtry says, “so you can prevent complications as you get older that can limit your ability to be active.”

Watch Wayne’s StoryTo hear more about Wayne’s story, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast today.

REAL PATIENTS. REAL STORIES.

SSmart strategies to defuse men’s top health threats

Live Longer, Live Stronger

Wayne Reynolds survived colon cancer, thanks to his good sense to see a doctor when he did and the support of his wife, Martha.

4 To download a tipsheet about men’s health at midlife, visit BaylorHealth.com/Healthcast

Staying in shape is a priority for Wayne Reynolds. “I’ve always been extremely health conscious,” says the 55-year-old bank senior vice president. Because of bleeding polyps when he was 35, Reynolds had several colonoscopies in his 30s and 40s before getting an all-clear report when he was 48. Later, when bleeding cropped up again, internal hemorrhoids were diagnosed. But Reynolds felt that it wasn’t a big enough deal to want to take time away from his busy work and family life.

When Reynolds fi nally scheduled repair surgery in 2010, the surgeon discovered Reynolds also had a tumor in his colon. It took almost a year of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to treat the stage-three cancer.

“If I had acted sooner, I might have been diagnosed with stage-one colon cancer,” Reynolds says. “It’s best to err on the side of current inconvenience instead of long-term inconvenience.”

Although he still struggles with chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy, making it diffi cult to feel his feet and be as active as he would like, today Reynolds’ cancer is gone and he is relieved.

BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 5

It’s a Guy ThingJoin men from throughout the community for a free men’s health day, It’s a Guy Thing, on Saturday, June 23, from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Hilton Southlake in Southlake Town Square. The popular annual event will include panels of physicians, specializing in cardiology, orthopedics, family medicine, urology and other areas, available to answer men’s health questions. Also off ered are screenings for:

• Blood pressure• Cholesterol• Glucose• Prostate-specifi c antigen• Lung function• Grip strength• Vascular disorders• Vision problems• Body mass index and body fat

percentageHealth information will be

available on:• Nutrition• Weight loss surgery• Spine conditions• Pharmacy• Volunteer services• Diabetes education• Emergency departmentIn addition to the screenings and

health information, enjoy a free breakfast buff et and relaxing chair massages. Bring your friends and make a day of it!

Don’t Miss Our Men’s Health Day!This free men’s health event, It’s a Guy Thing, will feature a wealth of health information for men plus various health screenings. To fi nd out more or to register, call 1.800.4BAYLOR or visit BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine.

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33.5%More than a third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.

UNCONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Baylor researchers are studying a new approach that could help normalize blood pressure—without medication.

The Symplicity trial is testing a minimally invasive procedure known as renal denervation. The experimental procedure uses heat that is generated by radio frequency to disrupt nerve communication to and from the kidneys. This can reduce overactivity in the sympathetic nervous system, a frequent cause of chronic high blood pressure.

“The sympathetic nervous system controls blood pressure and can cause hypertension initiated by life and stress,” says David L. Brown, M.D., principal investigator at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. “This investigational device is being tested to determine if it will disrupt

the sympathetic nervous system, which may signifi cantly lower blood pressure, stop multiple antihypertensive medications, and have an eff ect on other conditions aff ected by the sympathetic nervous system.”

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Less than 120/80 is considered healthy. To enroll in the Symplicity trial, patients must have a blood pressure level in which the top (systolic) number is above 160. They must also be taking the maximum dose of three to fi ve diff erent blood pressure medications simultaneously

but not achieving the desired lower blood pressure levels.

“In previous studies of this device in limited numbers of people, this simple procedure reduced patients’ blood pressure by an average of about 30 mmHg, a reduction that persisted throughout subsequent assessments,” says Sonia Prashar, M.S., CCRC, research coordinator at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital also is participating in the study.

Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: One group will have the renal denervation

procedure and the other group will not. (No one but the surgical team will know who is in each group.) Patients will be given home blood pressure monitors and followed up with frequently. After six months, participants who did not have the procedure may be given the option of having it done, if they still qualify.

If the study confi rms that renal denervation can result in a large, persistent decrease in blood pressure, it could be excellent news for people who have high blood pressure that isn’t being successfully controlled with medication.

“Improving blood pressure has a profound eff ect on longevity and reducing the risk of stroke,” says James W. Choi, M.D., primary investigator for the Symplicity trial at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. “Catheter-based renal denervation is an exciting, investigational treatment for patients with resistant hypertension who otherwise might not be able to be helped.”

Easing the PressureBaylor study investigates alternative to blood pressure medication

Do You Have High Blood Pressure?To enroll in the Symplicity trial, visit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine.

6 BaylorHealth.com

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JUST ABOUT EVERYONE deals with digestive distress—bloating, gassiness or diarrhea—once in a while. Minimize them with these fi ve tips from David Levitan, M.D., a gastroenterologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

1. CONSIDER PROBIOTICS. “Current literature suggests that probiotics have a place. They don’t need to be taken by everybody, but people who have symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea and gassiness might consider them,” Dr. Levitan says. He suggests discussing your probiotic choice with your doctor as some of them may contain certain harmful herbal products.

2. WATCH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PLAN. Many people are trying to lose weight, and that’s a good thing. But Dr. Levitan warns against expensive cleanses and herbal products, since you don’t always know what’s in them. He recommends a well-balanced, low-carb diet heavy in fruits, vegetables and proteins. Talk to your doctor about the number of calories you should consume daily, and keep a food journal to stay on track.

3. SKIP THE COLON CLEANSING. “There is a common misconception that the colon contains toxins that periodically should be cleared from

your system. However, there is no scientifi c data to support such a practice,” Dr. Levitan says.

4. DON’T ASSUME YOU NEED TO GIVE UP GLUTEN. Celiac disease is common, aff ecting about one person in 125. But there are people with bloating, diarrhea and gassiness who do not have celiac disease. Giving up wheat, rye and barley may help, but get checked out fi rst to be sure that celiac disease, not something else, is the cause of your discomfort.

5. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. If you want to try homeopathic or naturopathic medicines, talk to your doctor. Many of these treatments are reasonable, but if your doctor isn’t comfortable with what you’re considering, it’s worthwhile to fi nd out why.

Another Reason to ExerciseAdd digestive health to the list of the benefi ts of exercise. Dr. Levitan recommends 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three or four times a week, whether you want to improve your digestive health or keep your system healthy.

Tired of Dealing with Digestive Distress?There’s no reason why tummy troubles have to be a part of everyday life. Learn what’s wrong and how to treat it by making an appointment with a doctor on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine. Call 1.800.4BAYLORor visit BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine today.

33.5%More than a third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure.

UNCONTROLLED HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Baylor researchers are studying a new approach that could help normalize blood pressure—without medication.

The Symplicity trial is testing a minimally invasive procedure known as renal denervation. The experimental procedure uses heat that is generated by radio frequency to disrupt nerve communication to and from the kidneys. This can reduce overactivity in the sympathetic nervous system, a frequent cause of chronic high blood pressure.

“The sympathetic nervous system controls blood pressure and can cause hypertension initiated by life and stress,” says David L. Brown, M.D., principal investigator at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. “This investigational device is being tested to determine if it will disrupt

the sympathetic nervous system, which may signifi cantly lower blood pressure, stop multiple antihypertensive medications, and have an eff ect on other conditions aff ected by the sympathetic nervous system.”

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Less than 120/80 is considered healthy. To enroll in the Symplicity trial, patients must have a blood pressure level in which the top (systolic) number is above 160. They must also be taking the maximum dose of three to fi ve diff erent blood pressure medications simultaneously

but not achieving the desired lower blood pressure levels.

“In previous studies of this device in limited numbers of people, this simple procedure reduced patients’ blood pressure by an average of about 30 mmHg, a reduction that persisted throughout subsequent assessments,” says Sonia Prashar, M.S., CCRC, research coordinator at THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital also is participating in the study.

Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: One group will have the renal denervation

procedure and the other group will not. (No one but the surgical team will know who is in each group.) Patients will be given home blood pressure monitors and followed up with frequently. After six months, participants who did not have the procedure may be given the option of having it done, if they still qualify.

If the study confi rms that renal denervation can result in a large, persistent decrease in blood pressure, it could be excellent news for people who have high blood pressure that isn’t being successfully controlled with medication.

“Improving blood pressure has a profound eff ect on longevity and reducing the risk of stroke,” says James W. Choi, M.D., primary investigator for the Symplicity trial at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital. “Catheter-based renal denervation is an exciting, investigational treatment for patients with resistant hypertension who otherwise might not be able to be helped.”

Easing the PressureBaylor study investigates alternative to blood pressure medication

Do You Have High Blood Pressure?To enroll in the Symplicity trial, visit BaylorHealth.com/AdvancingMedicine.

6 BaylorHealth.com BaylorHealth.com/Grapevine 7

SOMETHING TO DIGEST5 ways to help keep your digestive system healthy

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Baylor Health Care System 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 750 Marketing Department Dallas, TX 75201

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDBAYLOR HEALTH

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