Page 3 - cut28327.flipbook.old

HealthWays 3
Marcy Feit
President and
Chief Executive Officer
ValleyCare Health System–
Pleasanton
5555– 5575 and 5725
W. Las Positas Blvd.
Pleasanton, CA 94588
ValleyCare Health System–
Livermore
1111–1133 E. Stanley Blvd.
Livermore, CA 94550
ValleyCare Health System–
Dublin
4000 Dublin Blvd., Suite 150
Dublin, CA 94568
The mission of ValleyCare Health System is to assume the leadership role for the
health of the communities of the Tri-Valley.
ValleyCare Health Information: 800-719-9111, www.valleycare.com
HealthWays is published twice a year by the Marketing and Public Relations Department for friends
of ValleyCare Health System. Information in HealthWays comes from a wide range of medical
experts. If you have concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please
contact your health care provider. Models may be used in illustrations.
Copyright © 2012 CUT28327
925-847-3000
By Niall Roche, MD
M ost people are familiar with arthritis but are not
exactly sure what it is or what it means for them.
Unfortunately, if you live long enough, you will
almost certainly get arthritis. However, the good news is
that it varies significantly in severity, and there is a lot you
can do to improve how it affects you.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints.
Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, which typically
get worse as you age. There may also be swelling, redness,
warmth and difficulty moving the joint.
THE MOST COMMON ARTHRITIS
The most common type is osteoarthritis, and the exact
cause is not known. The simplest way to understand it is
being caused by normal wear and tear. As we age, wear
and tear of the cartilage lining the joints can lead to bone
grinding on bone.
Some people are more at risk of developing arthritis
than others. If you are a woman, have a family member
who has arthritis, have a previous joint injury or are
overweight, you are more likely to develop arthritis.
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made based on your
history, physical examination, blood tests (mainly to rule
out other kinds of arthritis), X-rays, CT or MRI scans,
ultrasound, and occasionally by taking fluid from a
swollen joint or by looking inside the joint.
TREATMENT
The main goal of arthritis treatment is to reduce symptoms
and improve quality of life. Treatment consists of education;
exercise, including physical therapy; weight loss if you are
overweight; and assistive devices such as splints, canes
or walkers. Medications include pain medicines, such
as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and tramadol (Ultram);
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as
Motrin or Advil; and topical creams, such as Voltaren gel.
Medications are best taken under medical supervision, as
they can have serious side effects.
Some treatments for arthritis—such as glucosamine and
chondroitin sulfate—are popular but have not been proven
to be effective. Sometimes artificial joint (synovial) fluid
or corticosteroid can be injected directly into a joint such
as the knee. If the arthritis is severe, it may be necessary to
replace a joint—usually a hip or knee.
It is important to remember that a lot can be done to help
anyone who has joint problems, and it is best to get diagnosed
and treated early. Please discuss any
joint symptoms you have with your
primary care doctor. He or she may refer
you to a rheumatologist who specializes
in joint problems for further evaluation.
Niall Roche, MD, is a ValleyCare
rheumatologist. To make an
appointment, call 925-924-9100.
Handwashing:
A Good Habit
to Stay Healthy
I f you don’t want to get sick, there’s a very easy
and effective way to help you stay well: Wash your
hands. Wash them well. And wash them often.
Handwashing is one of the best ways to stop germs
from spreading—both from you to others and from
others to you. Wash your hands:
BEFORE
◆ ◆ Preparing food
◆ ◆ Eating food
◆ ◆ Caring for someone who’s ill
◆ ◆ Touching a cut or wound
AFTER
◆ ◆ Preparing food
◆ ◆ Using the bathroom
◆ ◆ Changing diapers
◆ ◆ Sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose
◆ ◆ Caring for someone who’s ill
◆ ◆ Touching an animal or its toys
FIVE STEPS TO FOLLOW
To make sure your hands are well-scrubbed:
1. Wet your hands, preferably under running water.
2. Apply soap, and work up a lather.
3. Scrub well for at least 20 seconds. Don’t forget to get
the back of your hands and under your nails.
4. Rinse.
5. Dry your hands with a clean towel or under an
air dryer.
Hand sanitizers are a good option if soap and water
aren’t available and your hands aren’t visibly soiled,
though they are not effective in all situations. Look for
one that is at least 60 percent alcohol. Rub it all over
your hands—just like you would with soap—until your
hands are dry.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
If you’re an elementary school teacher or have kids
in school, ValleyCare Health Library offers a free
Handwashing Education Program for use in local
classrooms. Call ValleyCare Health Library to reserve:
925-734-3315.
I f you’re a man, prostate cancer is a topic you should know about. Why? Because it is the second most common type of
cancer found in men, following skin cancer. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer,
according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
THE BASICS
The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system, located under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Its job is to make and
store a component of semen. In most men, prostate cancer grows slowly. In fact, even without treatment, many men who have
prostate cancer die of another cause unrelated to the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute. The
greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is age. Most men diagnosed with the disease are older than 65.
THREE MORE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Taking testosterone supplements may increase your risk. Tests have shown that the supplements
may stimulate the development of prostate cancer cells.
2. Erectile dysfunction may be a symptom. If you have prostate cancer, you may have trouble
getting an erection because the disease has invaded the nerves that control erections. However,
erectile dysfunction can also be caused by other, noncancerous conditions.
3. One of the genes that have been linked to breast cancer may also increase your risk for prostate cancer.
According to the ACS, men who have a BRCA2 gene mutation are at greater risk for prostate
cancer and may be more likely to develop it at a younger age than men without the gene.
Talk to your doctor to find out more about your risk for prostate cancer and how
often you should be screened for the disease.
If you need a primary care physician or urologist, visit the ValleyCare Medical
Foundation website, www.myvcmf.com.
Prostate Cancer: The Basics + 3
About Arthritis andYou