F O R M A N Y O F U S , the holidays were an excuse to overindulge, eating a few too many sweets and skipping exercise a little too often. The start of a new year is a great time to refocus on our health goals. But this year, rather than making the same old resolutions, why not consider a new approach—one that respects your whole being?

Instead of focusing on what is wrong that you’d like to fix (quitting smoking, lowering your BMI, exercising more), create a vision of the difference you’d like to make in your life, your community, and the world. Perhaps you’d like to contribute to a special project at work, connect with your grandchildren, or support a worthy nonprofit.

Often, by respecting your desire to make an impact, you naturally make changes that improve your health. Making healthy choices gives you the energy you need to achieve your vision. Here’s how this approach can help you get there:

Set your intention. Get clear about how you’d like to make a difference. Look within to discover just how you want to make an impact.

Truly commit. Pledge yourself to the vision you have for your life. Write a personal pledge to help you stay focused throughout the year. Take stock of the actions you must take to accomplish your dream.

Get support. Once you commit to your intention, open your eyes to the opportunities all around you. Ask for—and accept—the help you need, no matter what form it takes. And, if you want help with specific health goals to help you fulfill your vision, PeaceHealth is here to support you.

Download a template for creating your personal pledge for the new year at www.peacehealth.org/NewYou.

Respect, not resolutions

Winter 2014

health

“The key

to making healthy decisions is to respect your future self.”

—AJ Jacobs

Do you have these three risk factors for heart disease? —page 4

In this issue:

P e a c e H e a l t h

Helping you breathe easier“ I J U S T WA N T E D to find out why I was having trouble breathing, and then I was hit with the news that I had a trifecta of dangerous health conditions,” says Arlene Pickard, who is pictured above.

In an effort to uncover the cause of her bouts with shortness of breath, Arlene’s diagnostic tests revealed that she had breast cancer, blood clots in her lungs, and a lung disease called pulmonary arterial hypertension.

After months of recovering from surgeries for her breast cancer and blood clots, Arlene was ready to tackle one more hurdle—intense therapy to improve her breathing.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is essentially high blood pressure in the lungs. The pulmonary arteries aren’t working properly, which restricts oxygen from being pumped throughout the body and forces the heart to work harder and faster.

“I was limited not only in how far I could walk or how fast I could walk,” explains Arlene. “Oxygen powers everything you do, so even carrying my oxygen tank took extra oxygen and was, at times, very difficult.”

Pulmonary rehabilitation is designed to boost lung function. PeaceHealth Southwest’s program is medically supervised and involves close monitoring by a registered exercise physiologist, a respiratory therapist, and a nurse.

“Being part of this program gave me strength—both physically and emotionally,” Arlene says. “I regained strength in my lungs and in my legs, but I also felt strong because someone was always here to check my oxygen levels and blood pressure during therapy to make sure I was safe.”

After several weeks, Arlene improved so much that she was finally able to lose the burden of her oxygen tank and continue doing the things she loves, like singing in her church choir. “For so long, someone else had to carry my sheet music and oxygen tank up to the stage,” Arlene says. “Now, I’m happy to say, I can walk along with my choir and carry my own music. It’s made all the difference in the world.”

Cardiac Rehab grads tackle Mount St. HelensA F T E R 1 0 M O N T H S of training, two recent graduates from PeaceHealth Southwest Heart & Vascular Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program, Guy Nulph and Larry Novak, made the trek up Mount St. Helens for an amazing photo opportunity. But more important, they demonstrated their strength and courage after recovering from life-threatening heart conditions to tackle the 4.5-mile hike to the summit of Mount St. Helens—that’s 10,000 feet of elevation change! PeaceHealth Southwest Heart & Vascular Center’s exercise physiologist, Matt Nipper, and cardiac rehab registered nurse, Elaine Myers, came along for this momentous journey (pictured with Larry and Guy above).

Both climbers are heart attack survivors. Guy had an emergency stent placed almost two years ago. Larry ended up with a triple bypass just 1 year, 4 months, and 13 days before the climb.

“It was tough, but the sense of accomplishment we felt once we reached the top was indescribable,” says Larry. “This was the culmination of many months of hard work to get healthy again after our heart attacks.”

At the PeaceHealth Southwest Heart & Vascular Center, treatment doesn’t stop when you check out of the hospital. The Cardiac Rehab program is a nationally certified outpatient exercise therapy and education program designed to help patients return to an exceptional quality of life and stay healthy after a cardiovascular event.

As outpatients, individuals attend three exercise sessions per week, supported by an exercise physiologist and cardiac nurses. Participants also attend group classes to learn about heart-smart eating, coping with cardiac disease, medication management, and more.

People living with heart failure face a unique set of needs and challenges. This may include distressing symptoms, which can lead to emergency department visits or admissions to the hospital.

Heart Connections, a home-care-based program, helps patients and their families during this difficult time. Heart Connections is a program of Hospice Southwest and Palliative Care that focuses on helping cardiac patients have the best quality of life possible.

HEART CONNECTIONS WILL:●●● Provide care by trained staff in your home

●●● Treat symptoms for comfort ●●● Allow you to stay on your cardiac medications and seek reasonable treatments

●●● Monitor your diet and weight to better control symptoms

●●● Work closely with your physician

●●● Be available 24 hours a day

Heart Connections is covered fully by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances.

Heart Connections5400 MacArthur Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98661360-696-5100www.peacehealth.org

profiles

For more information about cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation, call 360-514-1600.

2 SOUTHWESThealth

Paul Dally, MDPeaceHealth Medical Group Center for Weight Management8716 E Mill Plain Blvd.

Vancouver, WA 98664360-514-2500

When the weight is overLong-term success after bariatric surgery

W H E N Y O U S TA R T dropping pounds after bariatric surgery, it’s easy to think of your operation as the end of your weight loss efforts. But really, it’s just the beginning.

The surgery will help you lose weight. However, to maximize its benefits, it may be helpful to think of your operation as a work in progress. In other words, what you do after leaving the hospital is just as important as what your surgeon does while you are in the operating room.

LIFE AFTER SURGERY

“Diet and physical activity are the keys to managing weight, and they take on added importance after bariatric surgery,” says Paul Dally, MD, a bariatric surgeon at PeaceHealth Medical Group.

To help you lose weight, keep it off, and stay healthy after weight loss surgery, dietitians and bariatric experts offer these recommendations:

Step out. Strive to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Nourish your body. Focus on giving your body the nutrition it needs. Eating slowly, chewing food well, and avoiding liquids within 30 minutes of meals will aid in digestion and feelings of fullness with much less food. Bariatric surgery patients are advised to take daily multivitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives.

Get tested. Blood tests are required at regular intervals after surgery and annually. Lab work is performed to check for any changes that may occur in the postoperative period.

Follow up. Regular visits with your bariatric surgeon are important to monitor the effects of your surgery and your overall health. Significant weight loss after bariatric surgery may resolve or improve medical conditions such as diabetes.

Overall, it’s important for you to maintain a close relationship with your bariatric surgery team to maximize your weight loss success.

WEIGHT LOSS CLASSES

Weight Loss Surgery 101When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, Feb. 5 or 19, March 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Where: HECLearn about the various weight loss procedures we offer, ask questions, and meet one of our bariatric surgeons. To register, visit www.swEvents.org. For more information, call our Weight Loss

Surgery Coordinator at  360-514-4265.

How to make varicose veins vanishY O U M AY H AV E inherited your mom’s lovely legs—and unfortunately, maybe her varicose veins, too. These swollen, often bluish blood vessels are more common in women than men, and the tendency to develop them is often hereditary.

Not all varicose veins require medical intervention. Some are remedied by making lifestyle changes or by wearing compression stockings.

But if that’s not the case for you—if your veins are causing severe pain or blood clots, for example—your doctor might recommend a medical procedure to treat them. Various methods are used to close off or remove problem veins. Many are done in the doctor’s office, and the recovery is usually quick.

Among the treatment options:Laser treatment—an alternative to surgical stripping

of varicose veins in the legs. A small laser fiber is inserted, usually through a needle stick in the skin, into the damaged vein. Pulses of laser light are delivered inside the vein, which causes the vein to collapse and seal shut.

Radio frequency—another minimally invasive procedure, where the physician inserts a catheter and heats the vein wall using temperature-controlled RF (radio frequency) energy. This causes collagen in the wall to shrink and the vein to close so blood naturally reroutes to healthy veins.

“These procedures are really low impact,” says Yolanda Vea, MD, a vascular surgeon with PeaceHealth Medical Group. “Patients can walk away from the vein procedure and be back to everyday activities typically within a day.”

To learn more about treatment options for varicose veins, visit www.sw-medicalgroup.com/VeinTreatments.

Yolanda Vea, MDPeaceHealth Medical Group Thoracic and Vascular Surgery505 NE 87th Ave., Suite 301

Vancouver, WA 98664360-514-1854

Heal th news

3

Y O U A R E P R O B A B LY well aware that eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s also important to maintain an appropriate weight, keep your blood pressure low, and have healthy cholesterol levels.

But it may surprise you to learn about some other—less known—things you can do to help keep your heart beating at a strong and steady pace:

1. Don’t ignore the snore. Have you been accused of rattling the windows with your snoring? If so, you may have a potentially dangerous condition called obstructive sleep apnea in which you repeatedly stop breathing and essentially are suffocating for brief periods while you sleep. This can interrupt your sleep—even if it doesn’t fully wake you up—and make you drowsy during the day.

It’s important to get help for sleep apnea because it can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke. A common treatment for the condition is to wear a special mask that blows air into your throat, which helps keep your airway open while you sleep.

2. Practice diabetes damage control. If you have diabetes, managing the disease is crucial to help prevent a long list of serious complications—including heart disease.

Diabetes increases your chances of getting heart disease at a younger age and for developing more severe forms of heart disease.

The news isn’t all doom and gloom, however. Many of the same lifestyle changes that can help prevent heart disease in people without diabetes can also help you—including exercising, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, decreasing the amount of added sugars you eat, and shedding extra pounds. Working closely with your doctor and following a diabetes treatment plan to keep good control of your blood sugars will make a big difference.

3. Ditch the cigarettes—for good. “When people think about the health risks of smoking, lung cancer usually comes to mind. But they may not realize that smoking also seriously hurts the heart,” says Melissa McKinney, MD, PeaceHealth Medical Group Family Medicine.

The more you smoke, the greater your risk of having a heart attack. Studies show, however, that you can cut your risk of heart attack in half within a year after quitting.

Talk with your doctor about products and programs that can help make it easier to permanently break the habit.Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institutes of Health

Laugh a little—or a lotToo much stress can make your blood pressure go up—along with your risk for a heart attack. One way to de-stress is to laugh. Find something that tickles your funny bone and have a good belly laugh that goes straight to your heart.Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health

YOU MAY NOT THINK ABOUT THESE RISK FACTORS FOR

HEART DISEASE, BUT THEY DESERVE YOUR ATTENTION

Heart disease

Melissa McKinney, MDPeaceHealth Medical Group Family MedicineBattle Ground 360-666-3900

Menopause 101: Red Hot Mamas

Hypertension: The Silent KillerWhen: Tuesday, Feb. 25• 6 p.m.: Social time and light

refreshments• 6:30 to 8 p.m.: PresentationWhere: HECInfo: It used to be thought that hypertension and other heart concerns were “men’s issues.” Actually, women in menopause are at even greater risk for high blood pressure than men. As your natural estrogen levels wane, your blood pressure can climb. But you may have no visible symptoms. That’s why it’s often referred to as the silent killer. Learn the risk factors, symptoms, and prevention measures for high blood pressure. We’ll even take your blood pressure!

Presented by:Sajeevani Kim, MD, PhDPeaceHealth Southwest Heart & Vascular Center CardiologyFirst floor, Firstenburg Tower400 NE Mother Joseph PlaceVancouver, WA 98664

360-514-7755 877-501-5055 (toll-free)

myheart@swmedicalcenter.org

Turn to page 7 for the dates of our Smoking Cessation 101 class. It’ll give you the tools to help you quit for good.

4 SOUTHWESThealth

COLON CANCER CHILDBIRTH MINISTROKE

QI’ve been experiencing cramping in my lower

abdomen lately. Could it be colon cancer?

A Abdominal cramping can be caused by a number of

conditions, from diarrhea and constipation to colon cancer. If you have had this pain for more than two weeks, you should see your doctor right away for an exam and to begin a treatment plan.

Despite its high incidence, colon cancer is one of the most detectable and treatable forms of cancer when found early. Most cases of colon cancer begin with precancerous polyps located in the colon or rectum. They are usually diagnosed and treated at the same time—during a colonoscopy.

According to the Colon Cancer Alliance, more than 90 percent of all cases of colon cancer can be prevented with recommended screenings. For people who have no previous symptoms, personal history, or family history of colorectal cancer, it is recommended to have an initial colonoscopy at age 50 and then another every 10 years after, as long as you remain symptom-free.

If you are 50 or older and haven’t had a colonoscopy, call your doctor and schedule one. The sooner you get it the sooner it’s done!

QI am pregnant with my second child. My first

was delivered by C-section. I’d like to have a vaginal delivery with this child. Is that possible?

A Good news. Most women who have given birth

via cesarean section are good candidates for a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC. The most successful candidates are women who have already delivered vaginally in the past.

There are risks to VBAC that you should be aware of as you plan your delivery. The greatest concern to mothers planning a VBAC is uterine rupture, where the uterus tears along incision lines from the previous delivery. This problem is rare, but it can be serious for the mother and baby.

Some problems during labor can result in a cesarean delivery. The risk of infection for mothers having a C-section after labor begins is greater than for mothers who have a vaginal delivery or a planned C-section.

As a mother already, you know that each pregnancy and birth is different. No matter what type of delivery you plan, work closely with your doctor to be clear about the risks involved and with your birth center about your options for labor and delivery.

QHow long after someone has a

ministroke can it be detected? I think my mother may have had one last week.

A Often called a ministroke, a transient ischemic attack

(TIA) should more accurately be called a warning stroke. Symptoms of TIA are similar to stroke symptoms—sudden onset of weakness or numbness (often on one side of the body) or loss of vision, balance, or speech. These ministrokes usually resolve quickly, lasting several minutes to less than one hour, and cause no permanent damage.

People who experience TIA are at increased risk for a major stroke within the next 2 to 90 days. About a third of the people who experience TIA will have a major stroke within a year. For that reason, it is important to use the warning stroke as an opportunity to receive treatment as soon as possible to prevent future neurological episodes.

Stroke and TIA are medical emergencies and should be treated as such. If you or someone you love shows symptoms of stroke, call 911 immediately.

Michael Farber, MDObstetrics/GynecologyPeaceHealth OB/GYN505 NE 87th Ave, Suite 160Vancouver, WA 98664360-514-1060

Anne Hamburg, MDNeurologyPeaceHealth Medical Group Neurology505 NE 87th Ave., Suite 460Vancouver, WA 98664360-514-7771

Andrea Lange, MDSurgeryPeaceHealth Medical Group Surgery505 NE 87th Ave, Suite 301 (Building B)Vancouver, WA 98664360-514-7374

Family 101Sibling Preparation When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. to noonWhere: Family Birth CenterInfo: $20 per family

Screen Your TeenPeaceHealth Southwest partners with the Quinn Driscoll Foundation to offer Young Champions, an advanced screening program designed to spot common causes of sudden cardiac arrest in teen athletes. Any Clark County middle or high school athlete, band member or cheerleader from 12 to 18 years old is eligible for a Young Champions screening.

When: Saturday, Feb. 22Where: PeaceHealth Southwest’s Heart & Vascular CenterFee: Suggested $25 donation to the Quinn Driscoll Foundation

Info: Register online at www.swHeartCheck.org.

Weekly screenings are also offered at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for a $50 fee, half of which is donated to the Quinn Driscoll Foundation.

5

COMMUNITY 101

Blood DonationWhen: Friday, Feb. 21 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where: HEC Info: Photo ID is required at check-in.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT 101

Visit www.YourTimeToLose.org or call as directed for complete details.

Healthy Eating 101: Food as Medicine When: Tuesday, Jan. 14 or March 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Where: PeaceHealth Southwest Specialty Clinic, 8716 E Mill Plain Blvd., VancouverInfo: 360-514-4253

Weight Loss for Life When: Mondays, noon to 1 p.m., or Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Where: PeaceHealth Southwest Specialty Clinic, 8716 E Mill Plain Blvd., VancouverInfo: An overview of weight loss program options. 360-514-2500, option 3

Weight Loss Surgery 101 When: Wednesday, Jan. 15, Feb. 5, 19, March 5, 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Where: HEC Info: See details on page 3.

Weight Loss Surgery Support GroupWhen: Third Wednesday of each month, 7 to 8:30 p.m.Where: HEC Info: 360-514-4265

SAFETY 101

Childlife First Aid/Heartsaver CPR/AED (one- and two-day classes)When: • One-day class: Saturday, Jan. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.• Two-day class: Monday, March 24, 7 to 10 p.m. (first aid) and Tuesday, March 25, 6 to 10 p.m. (CPR and AED) Where: HEC Info: Approved by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services for child care providers.Fee: $50

Senior Driving 101: How-to Get There Safely (two-day class)When: Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 21 and 22 or March 11 and 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: HEC Fee: $12 (prepayment required)

Car Seat Safety Class and Clinic When: Saturday, Jan. 18, Feb. 15 or March 15, 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: HEC Info: To register, contact Doris Girt at 360-450-8997 or dmgirt@comcast.net.

Heartsaver CPR and AED TrainingWhen: Monday, Feb. 10, 6 to 10 p.m.Where: HEC Info: This one-session class covers infant, child, and adult CPR and the use of AED (automated external defibrillator). Participants receive a two-year American Heart Association certification. This class is not valid for day care or foster care licensing.Fee: $35

FAMILY 101

For more information, call 360-514-BABY (2229). All fees require prepayment. Visit www.swEvents.org for a complete list of Family Birth Center classes.

Mothers Share Support GroupWhen: Mondays, 10:30 a.m. to noonWhere: FBC Info: Free for mothers of newborns to 9-month-old babies

Mommies and MoversWhen: Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to noonWhere: HEC Info: Free play group for mothers and babies (9 months to 3 years)

Relaxation and Coping Skills for Birth When: Thursday, Jan. 30; Monday, Feb. 24; or Tuesday, March 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Where: HEC Fee: $25 (mother and one support person)

Water Labor/Water Birth When: Thursday, Feb. 6 or March 6, 6 to 8 p.m.Where: FBC Fee: $35 (mother and one support person)

Infant CPR for Family and FriendsWhen: Tuesday, Feb. 25 or March 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m.Where: FBC Fee: $20 per person

Sibling Preparation When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.Where: FBC Fee: $20 per family

Dad 101: New Dad WorkshopWhen: Thursday, Feb. 27, 6 to 9 p.m.Where: FBC Fee: $30

Pregnancy 101: Pondering Pregnancy? When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.Where: HEC

Mom 101: Your Baby, Your TimeWhen: Monday, March 31, 10:30 a.m. to noonWhere: HEC

HOW TO REACH US●● Medical Center:

400 NE Mother Joseph Place

●● Memorial Health Center: 3400 Main Street

General Information ����������������360-514-2000 TTY (for people who are deaf

or hard-of-hearing) ��������������360-514-4180Emergency (MC) ���������������������360-514-2064 TTY ���������������������������������������360-514-2244KidsPlace Emergency Care �������360-514-2064Urgent Care–Memorial �����������360-696-5232Family Birth Center �����������������360-514-4000Foundation ������������������������������360-514-3106Volunteer Services �������������������360-514-2035

SOUTHWEST HEALTH is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of PEACEHEALTH SOUTHWEST, PO Box 1600, Vancouver, WA 98668, telephone 360-256-2000.

Sy Johnson Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

Ken ColeSOUTHWEST HEALTH Editor

Information in SOUTHWEST HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations.

Copyright © 2014 Coffey Communications, Inc. Copyright © 2014 PeaceHealth CUM29724

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this free community health publication, please visit www.swmedicalcenter.org/mailings.

PeaceHealth Southwest is an equal-opportunity institution that does not discriminate in admission, treatment, access, or employment on any basis, including disability. PeaceHealth Southwest is a tobacco-free facility. Interpreters are available at no charge for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing or do not speak English.

TO REGISTER ●● ●Visit www.swEvents.org or call

360-514-2190 unless otherwise noted�

●● ●Classes and events are free unless otherwise noted�

WHERE IS THIS CLASS? FBC = Family Birth CenterFrom 87th Avenue, enter on 5th Street HEC = Health Education Center NE 92nd Avenue and East Mill Plain Boulevard MEM = Memorial Health Center 100 E 33rd St�

For a map and directions, go to www.swmedicalcenter.org/findus.

events� calendarPeaceHealth Southwest is proud to sponsor...

NW Association for Blind Athletes 5th Annual Dinner and AuctionWhen: Saturday, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.Where: Vancouver HiltonInfo: Visit www.nwaba.org for details.

Vancouver Family Magazine’s Children’s FestivalWhen: Saturday, March 8, 10 to 3 p.m.Where: Westfield Vancouver MallInfo: Visit us for good, clean fun and prizes!

American Red Cross Real Heroes BreakfastWhen: Friday, March 7, 7 a.m.Where: Vancouver HiltonInfo: Visit www.redcross.org for details.

6 SOUTHWESThealth

HeArtwarming Gala success for heart and vascular excellenceO N S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 500 HeArts of Clark County Gala guests dressed up; enjoyed great art, food, and wine; and gave generously from their hearts, exceeding the PeaceHealth Southwest Foundation’s fundraising goal and raising $522,800!

“It was a truly heartwarming event,” said Connie Kearney, HeArts of Clark County Chair. “It was exciting to see the community come together to generously support furthered excellence in heart and vascular care.”

Funds raised through this endeavor will help build the new Heart & Vascular Surgical Theater which will allow cardiac and vascular specialists to move quickly from catheter-based procedures to open-surgery procedures when necessary.

“During very complicated cases, it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to switch from a percutaneous, or less invasive procedure, to an open procedure—something that can be done in a true surgical environment,” said Shaun Harper, MD, Medical Director of PeaceHealth Southwest’s Heart & Vascular Center.

“We extend deep gratitude to our sponsors, volunteers, Gala guests, and donors,” said Foundation Director Carol Van Natta. “Our community will have continued access to the best in heart and vascular care because of their generosity and commitment.”

The new surgical theater will be completed next year inside the Heart & Vascular Center at PeaceHealth Southwest.

Teen Labor and Birth ClassWhen: Two evenings: Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 4 and 5, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.Where: HEC

Labor, Birth, Breastfeeding, and Baby Care Classes (English and español)When and Where: Visit www.swEvents.org to choose the class that’s right for you.Info: Costs vary depending on the class or series. Those on state medical insurance may receive some classes for free. Please visit www.swEvents.org or call 360-514-BABY (2229) for additional information.

Support GroupsA variety of groups to encourage and support young families. Registration is not required. Visit www.swEvents.org or call 360-514-BABY (2229) to learn more.

MENOPAUSE 101: RED HOT MAMAS® MENOPAUSE EDUCATION

Hypertension: The Silent KillerWhen: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6 to 8 p.m.Where: HEC Info: See details on page 4.

YOU 101

Heart 101: Heart and Vascular Screening ClinicInfo: $209. No physician referral required. Call to schedule an appointment: 360-514-7755 or 877-501-5055.

Online YOU 101 ClassesWhen: At your convenience!Visit www.swYou101.org to view the following classes: • Sleep 101 • Veins 101 • Hip 101 • Knee 101

Women’s Wellness: ONLINE!When: View videos at your convenience!

Visit www.swmedicalcenter.org/women.

Living Well With Chronic Conditions When: Wednesdays, Jan. 15 to Feb. 19, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.When: Tuesdays, Feb. 25 to April 1, 1 to 3:30 p.m.When: Saturdays, April 5 to May 10, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Where: HEC Free six-week workshops that meet once a week for 2½ hours each week.

EVENTS IN YOUR INBOX! Sign up for our

monthly e-calendar at www.swmedicalcenter.org/signup.

Arthritis 101: How-to Relieve Joint PainWhen: Wednesday, Feb. 12 or March 12, 10 to 11 a.m.Where: Physicians’ Pavilion, Total Joint Center, Suite 305

Smoking Cessation 101: How-to Quit Smoking When: Wednesday, Jan. 15 or March 12, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Where: HEC

Respecting Choices: Advanced Care PlanningWhen: Thursday, Jan. 30, 1 to 3 p.m.Where: HEC

New Grandparents 101: How-to Be HelpfulWhen: Monday, Feb. 10, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.Where: HEC

Back 101: How-to Relieve Back Pain When: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 4 to 6 p.m.Where: HEC

Talk with a Doc: Uncover Your Inner BeautyWhen: Monday, Feb. 10, 6 to 8 p.m.Where: Heathman Lodge, VancouverInfo: See details on page 8.

SUPPORT 101

Bereavement Support Groups Info: www.swmedicalcenter.org/bereavement 360-696-5120

Diabetes Education and Counseling Programs Info: www.swmedicalcenter.org/diabetes 360-514-2500, option 2

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support Groups Info: www.swmedicalcenter.org/adapt 360-696-5300

Stroke/Brain Conditions Support Group Info: www.swmedicalcenter.org/strokecenter360-514-3273

Chronic Pain Support GroupInfo: 360-514-6270

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MANY WOMEN DON’T know that breast cancer can be passed down genetically from their mother or their father. Mutations in the two breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are more common among younger women. If you have a history of breast cancer on either side of your family, consider being screened for the BRCA gene through a simple blood test.

PeaceHealth Medical Group plastic surgeon Allen Gabriel, MD, FACS, has provided breast reconstruction surgery for many young women who have discovered they have the BRCA gene mutation.

“Women who learn they have BRCA [mutations] are often stunned,” Dr. Gabriel says. “They usually feel great—they haven’t seen any evidence of breast cancer—but now they are told BRCA has put them at high risk of developing cancer. It begins a process of soul searching that often brings them to one clear thought: ‘I choose surgery, because I choose life.’”

Actresses Angelina Jolie and Christina Applegate have shared the stories of their journeys with the

BRCA genes. Both actresses chose to have their breasts removed, virtually eliminating the threat of breast cancer from their lives.

“It is often difficult for women to come to terms with the idea of losing their breasts,” says Dr. Gabriel. “Their breasts are a part of their identity as a woman, and it’s hard to imagine life without them. But most also don’t know that breast reconstruction care is covered under their medical insurance plan. When we begin to look at their options, many are delighted to see the wonderful new implants that are now available. The FDA recently approved a fantastic new implant called the Natrelle 410 that is absolutely amazing in how natural it looks and feels.”

Breast cancer patients often find a bright side to their cancer journey. Christina says her health scare “has helped me prioritize what is truly important in my life. I don’t sweat the small stuff, or even the big stuff. Plus, the doctors can make some really pretty breasts now, too!”

Tutrinh Dang, RN PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, WA

The Spirit of Healing is RespectTutrinh Dang, RN PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, WA

The Spirit of Healing is Respect

Should you get the BRCA test?

Talk with a Doc Uncover Your Inner BeautyWhen: Monday, Feb. 10, 6 to 8 p.m. Where: Heathman Lodge

From spa services to surgery, learn how you can rejuvenate your appearance. Presented by Allen Gabriel, MD, FACS, PeaceHealth Medical Group Plastic Surgery. Enjoy dinner, dessert, and a complimentary glass of wine! Presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. To register, visit www.swEvents.org or call 360-514-2190.

P.O. Box 1600Vancouver, WA 98668

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPeaceHealth Southwest

Medical Center