Supporting your body, mind and spiritExpEriEncE

summer 2012

embrace the SeaSonUse summer’s easy pace to set yourself up for health2 don’t let it Stop you

Summer heat is no barrier to exercise with these timely tips3 night, night

Elizabeth Pantas doesn’t let sleep apnea ruin her rest6

Feel at peace

ease your worries about annual health checkups

PAGE 4

Make Summer Count

VoicE of ExpEriEncE

reclaim

your rest

find out how one patient found

freedom from a mysterious sleep

condition by reading her story

on page 6. if you’re having sleep

problems, the Park Ridge

Sleep center offers fREE, 15-minute

phone assessments at

828.654.6000.

As the end of summer break draws near, we’re cramming in last-minute vacations, savoring the sun’s warmth and preparing the kids for school. But how many of us are preparing our bodies for a healthy future?

In today’s climate of escalating health care costs, it’s more important than ever to stay ahead of disease by seeing your doctor at least once a year. Turn

to our cover feature on page 4 to hear from two Park Ridge family physicians as they bust the excuses and myths that often get in the way of the all-important annual well visit.

This time of year, the long days and sunny weather beckon us outside; but keep in mind that summer temperatures can be a silent threat. On page 3, find out how to make the most of your outdoor activities while protecting your family from seasonal heat and humidity.

On page 6, learn how one woman found her way back to healthful sleep, thanks to the unique services and skilled team at the Park Ridge Sleep Center. Without their help,

Elizabeth Pantas would have never received treatment for a mysterious and dangerous disorder. Elizabeth’s gratefulness for her care team led her to share her story.

I invite you to enjoy many other stories and tips found in this family-focused issue of Experience, and hope it will be a valuable tool for you as you strive for a healthier future.

Together in health,

Jimm BunchPresident & CEO

Wade Grainger, M.D. ( left), and Rebekah Robinson, M.D. (right), of Park Ridge Medical Associates answer your common questions about doctor visits on page 4.

Summer Is for Great Health!This time of year offers unique options for getting outside and eating fresh, healthy foods. Enjoy these seasonal opportunities while they last:

S Savor the sunny weather. Chimney Rock State Park offers miles of family-friendly hiking trails, waterfalls and breathtaking views. Rates are $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 6–15, and free for children under age 6.

2 Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

Everyone occasionally uses an excuse for not staying active, and Julie Palmer, ACSM, cPT, has heard every one of them.

“It’s too hot, too cold, or I don’t have time is what I hear most often,” the wellness educator says. “In summer, many people think it’s too warm to be doing anything outside, but this simply isn’t true.”

Julie says summer is actually the perfect time to start a fitness program. Summer clothing is lightweight, and exercise options are many. Here are some helpful tips for staying safe in summer heat from the Park Ridge Wellness staff:

Avoid the hottest time of the day for outdoor activities. That usually

means mid-afternoon between 2 and 4 p.m. Mornings are generally best. Temperatures in the 90s and higher can be particularly dangerous. At greatest risk are the very young and very old.

Go into any workout, inside or out, fully hydrated. Have a full glass of

water before starting your activity and keep water nearby during and after. Julie says she adds ice cubes to her water bottle before leaving home, ensuring the water stays cold.

S This Labor Day weekend, celebrate apple season at the family-friendly NC Apple Festival in downtown Hendersonville! Enjoy freshly picked local apples, kids’ activities, live music, a street fair and a Labor Day parade.

S Believe it or not, garlic is a seasonal bulb! This versatile flavor-enhancer is actually at its freshest during July and August. Now’s the time to look for it at your local farmers market.

make this Your Summer!for more information about summer fitness options, contact Julie Palmer, Park Ridge Wellness

coordinator, at 828.687.5290.

Beat the Heat! By marie BartlettA guide to safe summer fitness

Know that children dehydrate quicker than adults and are not as in

tune with their bodies. Monitor their outdoor sports and make sure they are properly clothed. If you’re hot when standing outside, kids are probably more so by being active.

Give children water, not soft drinks. If all they will drink is flavored water,

make sure the ingredients are natural. Chemically enhanced flavors can be more harmful than sugar.

If hiking, use sunscreen and bug repellent, and wear lightweight, long

pants to avoid bites and scratches. In general during summer workouts, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion in both kids and adults. If any of the

following appears, back off or stop your activity: excessive thirst, unusual fatigue that comes on quickly, or cramping. The next stop is heat stroke if warning signs are ignored. 

3Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

Have you been putting off your annual checkup? You’re not alone.

Two family physicians at Park Ridge Health share their thoughts about the importance of the annual wellness visit, and

address the doubts and fears that keep patients from coming in the first place.

Read on to find out why the yearly checkup is more than just a recommendation: It’s a habit that could save your life.

“i feel fine. Why should i go?”“Unfortunately, a number of chronic diseases are silent killers,” says Rebekah Robinson, M.D., a board-certified family physician at Park Ridge Medical

Associates in Mills River. “You can feel perfectly fine but have dangerously high sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol.”

Those are the kinds of things physicians look for during your annual exam. In fact, Wade Grainger, M.D., a board-certified family practitioner and geriatric medicine specialist with Park Ridge Medical Associates, says it’s all too common for patients to receive a surprise diagnosis at an otherwise typical yearly checkup. He says to beware of a false sense of security about your health, the “I feel good, so I’m fine” mentality.

“I would say at least half the time at a wellness visit, we do find at least a problem that needs further evaluation,” Dr. Grainger says. “About a fourth of the time, we find something that needs treatment.”

DreadingtheDoc?

Get the real scoop on these common fears and myths about annual checkups

4 Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

S It’s squash season. Try it steamed, grilled or in pasta. Find a local farmers’ market by visiting asapconnections.org.

Summer Is for Great Health!(continued):

S Exercise options are many in the summer months, but allow for more time. Heat can slow you down during any high-temperature activity.

“i’m afraid the doctor will find something wrong with me, and i’d rather not know about it.”While it’s sometimes scary to learn the truth, Dr. Robinson says early detection of health problems could ultimately save your life.

“By seeing your family doctor and discovering these issues, you reduce long-term complications, such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure, which would be much more costly down the road,” she says.

Dr. Grainger says he has had many of these types of conversations with patients.

“Often I’ll find somebody at a young age—maybe 30s or 40s—who has hypertension,” he says. “What I tell them is, ‘If you had a heart attack or stroke 20 years ago today, we would ask what we could have done to prevent this?’ Annual visits are how we prevent that kind of catastrophe.”

“i don’t have time.”Medical experts caution that if you don’t find time for your health now, you’ll be forced to find that time later.

“If you were told you only had one car for the rest of your life, you would find time to change the oil,” Dr. Robinson says. “Wouldn’t you do the same for your body? There are no replacements for it.”

Dr. Grainger adds that making time for healthy habits is just as important as seeing your doctor.

“Primary prevention is doing things to stay healthy: exercise, good diet, not smoking,” he explains. “These are things your doctor can’t do for you.”

“i’m concerned about the cost.”While most health plans cover the fees associated with an annual wellness visit, cost concerns still keep some patients away. To that, Dr. Grainger says, “It’s important to understand what you’re buying with a

wellness visit. Your doctor can provide an exam and testing that find dangerous health problems at an early stage. What you’re buying is an opportunity for early detection. If something is found that can prevent complications later, that’s worth the money for you as the patient.”

At Dr. Robinson’s clinic, as well as all other Park Ridge Medical Associates locations, all patients without health insurance receive a 40 percent discount on their wellness visit.

“If you don’t have insurance, the approximately $300 you pay each year for a physical would be less than the cost of one month of insurance,” says Dr. Robinson.

“i’m scared of going to the doctor. Won’t it be uncomfortable?”Beyond the basics of your height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate, the most important part of your annual visit is an interview and discussion with your physician. During this discussion, you can decide whether or not to undergo further tests like a Pap smear, prostate exam or blood sample. Your physician will let you know whether or not further tests are recommended, but you can always say “no.”

“It’s your body, so you have the ultimate say,” says Dr. Robinson. 

Above: Rebekah Robinson, M.D. Below: Wade Grainger, M.D.

do you have a doctor you can trust?if not, find one today at parkridgehealth.org.

5Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

S Don’t miss The Health Adventure’s new interactive exhibit, “Healthier Ever After,” developed by The Children’s Museum of Cleveland. Kids can make their way through the fairytale forest obstacle course while learning the benefits exercise and nutrition. Learn more at thehealthadventure.org.

in my ExpEriEncE

it began in 2009 with an out-of-body experience. Elizabeth Pantas, a counselor in private practice who loves cultivating roses on her seven-acre

property in Fairview, says she remembers falling asleep and then, several times during the night, experiencing something other-worldly: She felt as though she was floating parallel to her body.

“It wasn’t scary, but it was certainly attention-getting,” Elizabeth recalls. The first thing she did was go online. When the term “sleep apnea” kept appearing in her search results, she realized it was time to seek medical attention. Her regular physician suggested a sleep study at the Park Ridge Sleep Center.

Finding answersAt the Sleep Center, Elizabeth was introduced

to Gary Prechter, M.D., the director of the center, who explained that sleep apnea is a

potentially dangerous sleep disorder that causes a patient to stop breathing during regular sleep patterns. Air stoppage can last a matter of a few seconds or longer, and may occur up to 100 times each night or more. It’s estimated that about 18

million Americans suffer from sleep apnea in varying degrees.

“The study revealed I was having 52 events per hour, which surprised me,” Elizabeth

explains. As part of her treatment plan, she wears a continuous positive airflow pressure (CPAP)

device at night, which provides a constant stream of air that keeps her breathing passages open.

Brian Kennedy, manager of Home Medical Equipment and the Sleep Center at Park Ridge Health, says treatment for sleep apnea requires a high rate of diligence and patient dedication. Elizabeth displayed both, he says. “A lot of patients want to quit and give up, but Elizabeth is an inspiring lady.”

renewed energyToday, three years after her sleep apnea diagnosis, Elizabeth is sleeping better, looking better and feeling more like her old self—all despite a new diagnosis of breast cancer.

“You just have to stay the course no matter what,” she says. “It’s hard, but now I get up in the mornings and have that sense of freshness I had lost along the way. My obstructive events have been reduced to about 10 episodes an hour, sometimes less.”

Elizabeth says she is grateful to the staff at the Park Ridge Sleep Center for providing her with renewed strength. “I never felt like a number or that I was getting anything less than personalized treatment,” she says. “The entire team had the patience and perseverance to get to the bottom of things.” 

now that her quality sleep is restored, Elizabeth Pantas feels more like her old self

Resting Easy

get a Free

assessment by

phonefor a free 15-minute sleep

assessment, call the Park Ridge

Sleep center between 11 a.m.

and 1 p.m. any weekday at

828.654.6000. no referral

is needed for the free

phone survey.

I never felt like a number or that I was getting anything less than personalized treatment.

By marie Bartlett

Elizabeth Pantas is sleeping better after treatment for sleep apnea. Now, she wants to share her story.

6 Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

Wellness Seminars

5:30 p.m.

creation health SeriesFREEMondays, Sept. 10–Oct. 29, 5:30–6:30 p.m.Park Ridge Health Wellness

Department, 50 Doctor’s Drive, Suite 2, HendersonvilleThis class series addresses lifestyle from a biblical perspective through the “Eight Laws of Health.” Each participant receives a copy of CREATION Health Discovery, a Christian guide to health and harmony. Please pre-register.

5:45 p.m.

Families eating Smarter and moving more SeriesFREETuesdays, Oct. 9–Oct. 30, 5:45–6:45 p.m.

The Health Adventure, 800 Brevard Rd., Suite 620, AshevilleBring the whole family to this free course and enjoy learning simple solutions for eating smarter and moving more—together. You can choose to come to just one or all of the classes in this series. Please pre-register.

calEndar of EvEnts SUmmER/fAll 2012

park ridge baby place classesFor a complete schedule of Baby Place events, more information, or to register, please visit parkridgebabies.com or call 828.681.BABY.

9 a.m.

celebrate pregnancy: one-day class$65 per personAug. 13, Sept. 10 or Oct. 8, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The Health Adventure, 800 Brevard Rd., Suite 620, Asheville Aug. 26 or Sept. 23, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.OB Conference Room at Park Ridge Health, 100 Hospital Dr., HendersonvilleBring three pillows and a baby doll or stuffed animal to class. Receive a massage voucher ($65) for use at The Baby Place Spa for just $30!

4:30 p.m.

experience the baby placeFREEAug. 26 and Sept. 23, 4:30— 5:30 p.m.OB Waiting Room at Park Ridge

Health, 100 Hospital Dr., HendersonvilleWe encourage all patients who will be delivering or who want to deliver at the Baby Place to attend. Space is limited, so please call 855.PRH.LIFE to reserve your spot.

6 p.m.

Sleep Solutions: prenatal to 12 months$25 per coupleSept. 18 or Oct. 16, 6–7 p.m.The Health Adventure, 800 Brevard

Rd., Suite 620, AshevilleThis in-depth workshop by sleep expert Meggan Hartman, M.A., CLE, will help parents understand how to establish good sleep habits and a healthy schedule for their babies and themselves. Meggan Hartman is a parent educator, infant/child sleep consultant and lactation educator.

Wellness on Wheels (W.o.W.) ScreeningsThe Wellness on Wheels (W.O.W.) bus travels throughout Buncombe and Henderson Counties to provide free and low-cost health screenings. No appointment required. For a complete calendar of upcoming locations, please visit the Events Calendar on parkridgehealth.org.

register nowfor more information or to register for Park Ridge Health community events and classes, please call 855.prH.lifE (855.774.5433).

SympoSium For the Student athlete

High school athletes account for an estimated

2 million injuries and 30,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S. on Aug. 21, join orthopedic

surgeon greg motley, m.d., physical medicine and

rehabilitation specialist andrew rudins, m.d., and Southeastern Sports medicine athletic trainers for a special event addressing issues that affect the student athlete, including injuries and concussions. A question-and-answer session will follow the

presentation, and refreshments will be available.

Symposium for the Student athlete

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m.The Health Adventure (Biltmore Square mall)

frEE

call 855.prh.liFE (855.774.5433) to RSVP for this event today!

spEcial EvEnt!

7Park Ridge Health parkridgehealth.org

non-Profit org.U.S. PoSTAGE

PAiDPermit no. 62columbus Wi

Park Ridge Health100 Hospital Drive Hendersonville, nc 28792

Readyeven when you’re not.

eRTo-The-minuTe waiT Times

text your zip to 4ER411 (437411)

FouR guys, one bad idea. Park Ridge Health ER is ready for all of life’s mishaps and emergencies. As a full-service er, we promise to provide the care you need, when you need it. The er is open 24 hours, seven days a week. For less urgent health concerns consider fasT Track, open 2 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

Located off I-26, exIt 44 In fLetcher. Just a few mILes from the aIrport.

See the whole story at prher.com

visit us: off interstate 26, Exit 44on the Web:parkridgehealth.orgcall us:855.prH.lifE (855.774.5433)

Park Ridge Health100 Hospital Drive Hendersonville, nc 28792

Experience editor Kirsten cutler

Connect with Us! Do you have a question about Experience magazine? Is there something you’d like to see in future issues? Share your thoughts by contacting editor@parkridgehealth.org.

facebook.com/parkridgehealth

twitter.com/parkridgehealth

rosalie.kirkman

Sticky Note

Kirsten, I had these 2 images color corrected so you can see the normal color correction that we do.Please note, some of the other images are still being processed and are not yet linked in this file so they are not final.