http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy RSS Feed for WGXA - Healthy Living en-us Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:04:14 GMT 2012-11-15T21:04:14Z en-us http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/FOXFiles-Atrial--179395391.html WGXA's Portia Lake speaks with Coliseum Health System's Dr. Joseph Poku about Atrial fibrillation Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:04:14 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/FOXFiles-Atrial--179395391.html 2012-11-15T21:04:14Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Flesh-eating-bacteria-patient-makes-strides-in-physical-therapy.html The 24-year-old Georgia woman who lost parts of all her limbs to a flesh-eating bacteria has three new prosthetics. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:09:18 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Flesh-eating-bacteria-patient-makes-strides-in-physical-therapy.html 2012-07-31T02:09:18Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Robotic-Assisted-Surgery-with-Dr-Cameron-Pridgen-158520205.html NewsCentral's Portia Lake discusses gynecological issues and robotic assisted surgery with obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Cameron Pridgen. For more information, call Coliseum Health System at (478) 746-4646. Tue, 12 Jun 2012 03:44:59 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Robotic-Assisted-Surgery-with-Dr-Cameron-Pridgen-158520205.html 2012-06-12T03:44:59Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-When-Alzheimers-Disease-Strikes-Too-Close-to-Home-150107925.html Alzheimer's is a disease that doesn't just affect the patient but affects the family as well. I will introduce you to one Alzheimer’s caregiver hit nine times by the disease Art Silsby is one of the more than 54% of the U.S. population touched in some way by Alzheimer's disease. "It has been kind of devastating. We have nine people in our family that have it... and it is kind of hard to describe how it affects our family, but it is kind of heartbreaking. “ Art is the primary caretaker for his wife Carol. Carol is a retired educator who took pride in caring for her family and her home. Now the roles are reversed. “I am now the cook, the dishwasher, the laundryman. I take care of all the chores that she used to do. All the household chores that she used to do, I now do them. I make sure she gets her medicine and stuff like that. “ Despite the help and support they receive from family friends and the Alzheimer's association, the disease's impact on their family is far reaching. “I think the worst part is that when the time comes. She is not going to recognize me. I think that is going to be the worst part. “ But Art remains hopeful for an Alzheimer's cure. “ We need to get more money in the program for research. We need to have everybody out there. Even if you don't have it, talk to your representatives, your senator, all that. To see if they can find a cure for this disease. “ Art is very active in the race to find because it is a disease that affects everyone. "How do you know it is not in your system? How do you know your husband, your wife, and your children. Everybody should be concerned, just like they are about cancer... or any other disease.” Fri, 04 May 2012 03:47:46 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-When-Alzheimers-Disease-Strikes-Too-Close-to-Home-150107925.html 2012-05-04T03:47:46Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Living-With-Adult-Autism-147077525.html Unlocking the keys to the mystery behind rising autism rates has dominated headlines during autism awareness month. In this Healthy Living Portia Lake will introduce you to a talented award winning musician who describes his journey from autistic child to autistic adult. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:51:08 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Living-With-Adult-Autism-147077525.html 2012-04-24T00:51:08Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Surgeon-Performs-Robotic-First-at-Coliseum-Medical-Center-146205725.html Dr. Laura Reed sits perched in a chair and deftly peers into a 3-D magnification viewfinder to perform a robotic first in Central Georgia. By precisely manipulating the robotic arms, she is able to use the da Vinci Surgical System as a second set of eyes and hands to assist her in the operating room. While robotic procedures are commonly being used for gynecological and urological procedures, Dr. Reed says this is the first time this technology is being used for thoracic surgery. “Robotic procedures are really an evolution of thoracic surgery,” Dr. Reed remarks. “It started out we were making really gigantic incisions, several inches long, from the spine all the way around all the way to the front of the chest to do our thoracic procedures. Robotics is the next step.” For surgeons, these enhanced capabilities mean better visualization and dexterity. What was once a six inch incision in traditional surgery is now reduced to dime sized incisions using daVinci robotic technology. For patients like Cheryl Matlock, this means a less invasive procedure with less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, less post operative discomfort and a quicker return to normal daily activities. Matlock was the first patient to have lung surgery performed with robotic technology at the Coliseum Medical Center. After a recent diagnosis of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy, an enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes, Dr. Reed was able to perform a lung biopsy and stop the spread of disease in the 57 year old’s body. Dr. Reed was able to do this through just a few incisions between the ribs and without splitting the patient’s breastbone. Dr. Reed viewed the procedure through a high resolution 3D camera inside the patient for magnified dexterity, precision and control. Matlock is ecstatic that this technology is available for other thoracic surgery patients. “Oh it is wonderful. I just feel so thankful that this technology is out there. I was so glad that it was available.” According to Dr. Reed, feedback from patients about the new technology has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have been very apprehensive at the start,” admits Dr. Reed. “It is a new technology and the idea of the robot is a little bit scary to some of them. But patients are very pleased with the results that they have had. “ Weeks after the surgery, Matlock says she recovered from surgery with no problem and has already returned to exercising and her daily routine. Following this surgery’s success, Dr. Reed plans to continue to offer thoracic robotic surgery in the middle Georgia area. Dr. Reed believes the future of robotic surgery is promising: “I think it will continue to advance. The instrumentation is getting better all the time. I think it won't be very long before we find that every procedure that we do can be done through the chest with robotics.” Dr. Reed, who holds the distinction of being the first female cardiothoracic Surgeon to practice in Georgia, is proud to lead the way in using this new technology: “I think this is huge. It is really on the cutting edge of thoracic surgery. Having it here and having it available in Georgia is really a great thing. “ Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:49:32 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Surgeon-Performs-Robotic-First-at-Coliseum-Medical-Center-146205725.html 2012-04-24T00:49:32Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Chipping-Away-at-Heart-Disease-138985324.html Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and prevention. In this Healthy Living I introduce you to a retired coach who is doing his best to “chip” away at heart disease. Coach Chip Malone is making the most of his second chance at life. “The experience has been phenomenal . To be honest with you, I am walking every day. I am blessed. God has given me a second chance at life. “ Just 14 months ago, Coach Malone received that very generous gift through a heart transplant after a battle with heart disease. Now he is sharing his story of his journey in hopes that he can chip away at heart disease. “ I am reaching out to the community to share heart healthy tips and awareness about heart disease and how serious it is and for people to get out and exercise, eat heart healthy and to pay attention to the risk factors and warning signals. “ Malone is spreading his story and the keys to preventing cardiovascular disease through his "A Second Chance" book and speaking engagements throughout American Heart month. “You need to check. High blood pressure is a silent killer. We need to check those things on a daily basis. I check my blood pressure twice a day.” Malone's message stresses a lifestyle through diet and exercise. He maintains he could not have done it without the help of his wife, family, friends and his faith . “I thanked the donor family for giving me life. Sometimes when I walk, I think about it, and I am just blessed. God has really given me a second chance. And I am using that second chance to try to help other people save their lives.” Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:11:47 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Chipping-Away-at-Heart-Disease-138985324.html 2012-02-09T04:11:47Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-What-We-Can-Learn-From-Cancer-Prevention-Study-3-138534479.html Last week hundreds of Central Georgians took part in a landmark study investigating the causes of cancer. In this Healthy Living I will show how this research could change the way we treat cancer. In two short days 632 enrollees from central Georgia enrolled in the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-3. The study attracted walk-ins and community leaders interested in making a difference in the fight against cancer. The questionnaire asks about vitamins, supplements that you might take all these different kinds of things and if during the study they found a commonality between something that we are doing, and the cancer itself, they will be probably linked Molly Herrin says the people who sign up for the study will be judged according to their lifestyles and will be tracked for the next 20-30 years. "From each study, we follow the enrollees for the rest of their lives. We look at trends. That's the way our epidemiologists can help prevent cancer or detect it earlier." Macon City CouncilMan Rabbi Larry Schlessinger was one of the hundreds of Central Georgians taking part in the study by filling out a survey and giving a blood sample. “It says that there are a number of people concerned about the disease and are willing to be guinea pigs themselves as we move forward. The second most important thing is wewere able to come forward as a community and get people to participate in this. “ This study assures researchers have the information to better understand the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer “Leadership in this community from the mayor and chairman and commissioner on down all embraced the study and got out the word. It shows that when we do come together as a community we can become effective at making things happen.” Two previous cancer prevention studies have played a major role in understanding cancer risks and have contributed to the scientific basis and development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:42:59 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-What-We-Can-Learn-From-Cancer-Prevention-Study-3-138534479.html 2012-02-02T03:42:59Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Buy-Fresh-Buy-Local-139409608.html When you buy food at your local grocery store, there is a chance you may not know exactly where it came from. In this Healthy Living I will introduce you to an organic food advocate who says that locally grown food is the key to a long life. Naomi Davis is passionate about two things: eating local and eating organic. "The lifestyle diseases we see so prevalently in society these days is so prevalent and caused by the food system that we currently have and we can change that food system and we can change people's health. " Naomi Davis is taking her message about eating fresh and local to an audience interested in learning about the health benefits of eating organic fruit and produce. " We can impact childhood obesity, we can drop the cancer rates, we can impact hypertension, just about all of your lifestyle diseases. it will take several years to see that happen, but that will happen." Naomi started the 25 acre Davis Farms to help central Georgians enjoy fresh delicious organic food and play a part in supporting the local economy. She brings these nutritionally dense products to Mulberry Street Market every week "My goodness the selection at the supermarket shelves is so small compared to what is available at the market. We grow eggplants that are white, green and striped and people don't believe that they they are eggplants and they are." Davis Farms grows a variety of heirloom and specialty vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. for more information on buying fresh, local and organic you can visit the Mulberry Street Market at Mulberry Street Park in Downtown Macon Wednesdays from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:37:51 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Buy-Fresh-Buy-Local-139409608.html 2012-02-24T02:37:51Z http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Be-a-Bone-Marrow-Donor-138089118.html Every day, bone marrow donors provide hope to thousands of patients searching for a donor match. In this Healthy Living, I will show you just how easy it is to register to be the match that could save one person's life. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:39:24 GMT http://www.newscentralga.com/healthy/Healthy-Living-Be-a-Bone-Marrow-Donor-138089118.html 2012-01-26T20:39:24Z