Words that end in “itis” usually equal bad news.  This four-letter Greek suffix means inflammation. Derived from another Greek word, “arthron” means joint, and together arthron and itis create a painful condition in which joints because swollen, stiff, and sore.  Most people believe that only older people develop arthritis, and while the majority of those who suffer from the disease are in the latter years of life, arthritis can strike at any age.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, juvenile, basal joint, etc.) but in all types there is one general problem.  Basically, your joints are deficient in some area.  Whether it is a lack of cartilage or synovial fluid, an autoimmune disorder, or an infection, your bones are grinding against one another versus moving smoothly.

Obviously you’ll feel pain and may see swelling, but other symptoms of arthritis include fatigue and depression.  Alaska Regional Hospital can help you recognize these symptoms and find the right treatment plan for optimal results.

Try these methods to combat arthritis:

• Eat a well-balanced diet
  • Keep sugar, red meat, cream, cheese, and other fatty foods to a minimum.
  • Eat plenty of antioxidant rich foods like fruits and vegetables, omega-3 essential fatty acids, and whole grains.
• Maintain a healthy weight
  • A great strain is placed on weight-bearing joints if you are overweight.
• Stay active
  • Although the last thing you may want to do with achy joints is be active, low-impact physical exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming, and yoga will greatly improve your quality of life and help delay the onset of disability due to arthritis.
• Physical Therapy
  • An occupational therapist can help maintain joint mobility and range of motion by tailoring exercises specific to your condition.
• Medications & Natural Remedies
  • There are countless medicines on the market for arthritis, as well as many natural remedies, but talking to your medical doctor is the best way to know which one is right for you.

At the Alaska Regional Hospital Orthopedic and Spine Center we offer personalized treatment and care for orthopedic conditions. In 2012, our hospital was again ranked number one in the state for spine surgery, joint replacements and orthopedic services by HealthGrades, an independent healthcare rating organization. And we’re proud to have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for our hip and knee replacement program.

As a leading orthopedic hospital in Alaska we know that living with arthritis is nothing short of difficult, but we’re here to help.

Everyone knows whom it is that keeps a family running from breakfast to dinner, homework to playtime, sickness to soccer practice.  It’s you—the mom.  But there are those times when, as strange as it may seem to the kids, mom is sick.  And then what?  Who takes care of mom?

Along with the common cold and the flu, women actually have a lot of other health related concerns at different phases of their lives.  Sometimes they’re expected phases like pregnancy, preventative breast care, and menopause.  Other times, health conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, heart disease, hysterectomies, or high blood pressure come along very unexpectedly.

Whatever the medical situation, the best self-care starts with getting the best medical care, which includes people and professionals that you can trust to keep you at your best.  Alaska Regional Hospital has an array of women’s services that are specially designed for women throughout the various stages of your life—planned or unplanned. Through progressive medical knowledge and technological innovation, our facility offers top-quality maternity services and leading-edge gynecological procedures.

Our maternity services include top-ranked physicians and nurses that can help you throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Our Alaska Regional OB/GYNs manage high-risk pregnancies, cesarean deliveries, and multiple births. And our private rooms are designed so that your baby never has to leave your side.

We also offer preventative care to women. Whether we’re performing mammograms to screen for breast cancer or routine gynecology appointments to check for any abnormalities, we want to keep all of our moms, sisters, daughters, wives, girlfriends, and grandmothers, healthy and happy.

At Alaska Regional Hospital, we understand that there is so much to women’s health, which is why we have specially designed services just for you. Whether you are seeking preventative care, maternity services, or need help understanding menopause or some of the other curveballs life throws at you, let us be your caretaker and put Alaska Regional Hospital on your team.

When you think of an emergency room, what comes to mind? Sure you think of doctors, nurses, sick patients, and people with life-threatening conditions, but what about the long-running NBC TV show, ER?

Obviously, this TV show fictionalized a lot of what life is like in the ER, and we hate to break it to you, but not all of the ER doctors look like a young George Clooney.

We don’t want you to get the wrong idea of what to expect when you visit our Alaska Regional Emergency Department (no, it’s not just like the TV show), but we do want you to know that you can expect outstanding care from board-certified ER physicians that strive to provide you with the most successful and efficient ER experience possible.

Even though we hope that emergencies will never happen to us or our loved ones, we have to anticipate that they might; and it’s important to know what to do in an emergency situation and when to go to the ER.

We know that going to the emergency room can be overwhelming, and a little scary, but at Alaska Regional Hospital you’re in good hands. When you arrive at our Emergency Department, you will be assessed by a highly trained triage nurse and will be seen immediately by an ER physician if your condition is severe enough. If you called for help, you may already be in the care of emergency personnel aboard an ambulance or our LifeFlight Air Ambulance.

Depending on the severity of your condition or illness, we may ask you to wait. We know that nobody likes waiting, especially when you’re not feeling well, but because of the nature of emergency rooms, we must treat those with the most serious conditions first.

After being admitted, an ER doctor will evaluate your condition, and further laboratory tests or x-rays may be necessary. This can lengthen your stay at Alaska Regional Hospital, so we allow one to two visitors at a time to keep you company.

Once the ER doctor has made his or her diagnosis, he or she may refer you to a medical specialist or your general practice physician. Before your discharge you will receive information about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and follow-up care. You will be given written instructions about medications, activity, and symptoms to watch for that would require a return visit.

Alaska Regional Hospital is happy to help explain your discharge instructions or ER hospital bill, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or call back later. And while we can’t guarantee your ER experience will be as pleasant as watching the hit NBC TV show, we can guarantee that our Anchorage hospital will do our very best to give you the greatest emergency care possible.

If you think back to the days of learning to ride a bike you probably remember falling down frequently.  When you got hurt, your mother would appear with a small band-aid and a hug.  The bandage may have helped heal your “boo-boo,” but the hug helped heal you. We try to keep that same approach because just like your mother, we understand there is more to life than just treating the “boo-boos.”

At Alaska Regional Hospital we not only care about treating cancer, we care about you.  Our philosophy is to treat our patients as the whole person, not just the illness.  Our Cancer Care Center’s focus is to make it all about you.

Our physicians are highly specialized and seek to meet each patient’s needs. We have also partnered with the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance to aid your financial, social and emotional needs, and we offer a number of cancer treatments.  Among these treatment options is the first surgical robot in the state.  Our da Vinci Robot assists physicians in performing complex prostate and gynecological cancer treatments.

We understand that as scary as it is to be told you or a loved one has cancer, it is equally as frightening to not know where to turn for assistance. The Cancer Care Center staff is here to help you obtain the knowledge and resources to take the cancer journey. If we don’t have an answer to your questions, we will try to find one– give us a call. We also offer support groups for patients and their loved ones. And our Cancer Boutique offers many styles and colors of wigs and knitted caps to help you feel like yourself again!

The bottom line is that fighting cancer is hard enough, so don’t go at it alone.  Allow us to help treat more than just the cancer.  Allow us to treat you.

So, your doctor says you need surgery….

We imagine that you have a few questions—like these!

• Why is surgery necessary?
• How long will the surgery take?
• How will anesthesia be given?
• What will happen after surgery?
• How will my pain be controlled?
• What type of care will I need at home, and for how long?

You might also want to know that most surgical procedures don’t require lengthy hospital stays or even an overnight stay. In fact, more than 60 percent of operations performed in the U.S. are outpatient or same-day surgeries. That means patients recover at the hospital for a few hours or so, and then go home on the day of the operation.

Whether you need to have inpatient or outpatient surgery, remember that you’re an active participant. You have more control over the process than you might think. As the most important person on your care team, you can help to make your operation safe and successful.

Here are some tips to help you get ready:

DO’s

• Follow all instructions you are given by your doctor, surgeon, and hospital staff.
• Verify your hospital check-in time with your doctor’s office.
• Arrive at the hospital on time for your surgery. Check in with the admitting clerk at the front desk, which is located on the 2^nd floor entrance near the gift shop.
• Visit our Health Library to learn more about your surgery or condition.
• Arrange for someone to transport you to – and from – the hospital. You will be discharged after recovery if you are having an outpatient procedure. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital by yourself in a bus, cab, or drive yourself home.
• If you take medication, bring a complete list of your medications with you.
• Find out if there are some medicines that you should stop taking before the surgery, like aspirin or other blood thinners, diabetes medications, and even herbs, vitamins and supplements.
• Bathe or shower the night before or the morning of your surgery using the special soap provided to you. Do not use it on your face or head. Do not apply deodorant, lotion, or make-up the morning of your surgery.
• Wear clean, loose, and comfortable clothing on the day of your surgery – easy on and off – including socks.
• Bring your dentures, eyeglasses, hearing aids and walker if you use them – but leave contact lenses at home. Leave all valuables at home.
• Talk about the surgery with loved ones or friends. They can help you to feel less anxious.
• If you would like spiritual support, ask for a visit from one of our hospital chaplains.

DON’TS

• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery, unless otherwise instructed. This includes chewing gum, candy, water, and even ice! Brush your teeth but don’t swallow. You MUST keep your stomach empty before surgery. This helps prevent certain breathing complications.
• It’s hard to do, but completely avoid tobacco for 24 hours before the surgery, that includes cigarettes, cigars, snuff and that chewing stuff. Maybe now is the time to think about quitting!
• Do not drink any alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior to your procedure.
• Don’t wear make-up, nail polish, or lotion, or bring jewelry and other valuables to the hospital.
• Do not shave near where you will have surgery for two (2) days prior to surgery. Shaving with a razor can irritate your skin and make it easier to develop an infection.

The surgical staff at Alaska Regional Hospital specialize in many different types of surgeries, including minimally invasive and technology-assisted approaches. We can help you find an experienced surgeon and schedule a pre-surgery consultation. Whether you need inpatient and outpatient services, we’ll take good care of you.

With the flurry of everyday life, it’s no wonder our health often takes a backseat to other concerns. But a preventive visit to the doctor now may help you avoid problems down the road.

Alaska Regional encourages you to take a moment to contact your healthcare provider and schedule a checkup today.  Don’t have a doctor? Call our FREE Physician Referral Service at 264-1722 (local) or 1-888-254-7884 (toll-free) and request a doctor by specialty, location or health insurance acceptance.

In addition to a flu shot and other adult immunizations, we recommend that both men and women have the following health screenings:

Blood Pressure – You may be at risk for stroke, heart and kidney disease if your blood pressure is too high. Check every year.

Cholesterol – High levels can lead to a heart attack and other cardiac diseases. Check at least every 5 years or annually if you are at risk.

Colorectal Cancer – Preventative screenings find pre-cancerous growths and can catch this cancer early. Start testing at age 50; earlier if you have risk factors.

Diabetes – Without treatment, this disease can be life threatening. A blood sugar test detects it early. Test every 3 years starting at age 45; earlier if you have risk factors.

Skin Cancer – This is the most common of all cancers, but it can almost always be cured if caught early. Monthly self-exams and yearly skin exams by a doctor, at every age.

Additional tests for Men:

Prostate Exam – Two tests detect cancer early; prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE). If you are at risk, start testing at age 50.

Testicular Cancer  – Regular exams can detect painless lumps that could indicate cancer. Do self-exams monthly. Physician examination during your annual checkup.

Additional tests for Women:

Cervical Cancer – Pap tests can detect this cancer early and HPV tests reduce the risk. Regular tests, at least every 3 years after becoming sexually active.

Breast Cancer – Mammograms enable cancer treatment during early stages, when it is most effective. Yearly exams for all women age 40 and older.

Email audry.patrick@hcahealthcare.com> with your name and mailing address to request a free “Ten Health Tests for Men & Women” bookmark.

Emergency Care

The heart and vascular program at Alaska Regional Hospital offers a full spectrum of specialty services for adult patients with conditions that affect their heart and blood vessels.

Our experienced staff is trained to meet the unique needs of heart and vascular patients – and their families. We understand that coping with these types of conditions can be overwhelming. So, we provide high-quality care in a friendly, caring environment.

Conditions and Symptoms

We are dedicated to proactively preventing and expertly treating heart and vascular diseases. Our comprehensive program offers proven and innovative therapies for these conditions and more:

• Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Heart attack and chest pain management
• Structural or congenital heart defects
• Heart valve disease and disorders
• Vascular disease
• Irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias

High Quality Equals Excellence

Heart and vascular care at our hospital is seamlessly coordinated by experts in the diagnostic, outpatient, inpatient and cardiac rehabilitation departments. And, our team-based approach to patient care is complemented by state-of-the-art technologies.

These are just a few of the reasons the state’s top cardiologists and surgeons choose to practice at Alaska Regional Hospital.

As further illustration of our dedication to the delivery of high quality care, Alaska Regional was awarded the “Excellence in Health Care Quality” for dedication to preventing infections–something to keep in mind when you’re planning for surgery of any kind.

When it comes to breast cancer, there are more than a few myths out there, and we’d like to set the record straight.

Myth #1-Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.

This is completely false, and is the biggest misconception about breast cancer.  Finding a lump does not automatically mean you have breast cancer.  Much of the time the lump is benign; however, it is still crucial to get it checked out.

Myth #2- Having a family history of breast cancer means you will develop it.

Many diseases that run in the family increase your likelihood of developing them, and breast cancer is no exception, but this does not equate to an unavoidable battle with breast cancer.  In fact, most women who have breast cancer have no family history, and those who do should get a mammogram five years before the age of their family member’s diagnosis, or starting at age 35.

Myth #3- Mammograms can cause breast cancer to spread.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast, and it’s one of the best technologies to detect breast cancer early on.  Maybe the fact that X-rays operate off of radiating waves, or maybe the pressure put on the breast during the mammogram leads some to believe that this can cause cancer to spread.  This is absolutely false!

Myth #4- Deodorant and antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

This is another big and also very false myth.  Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have been unable to find any conclusive evidence that links the use of deodorant to the development of breast cancer.

Myth #5- Men cannot develop breast cancer.

While a man’s chest looks very different from a woman’s, men do have breasts.  This means that even though the percentage of men who develop and die from breast cancer is very small, it still happens.  Therefore, men should also perform Breast Self-Exams and talk to their doctor about any changes.

Myth #6- Performing a Breast Exam is something that only my doctor can do.

This myth may be the worst one!  Giving yourself a Breast Self-Exam is vital to early detection and increases the odds of beating breast cancer.

Just how important are monthly BSE’s (Breast Self-Exams)? At Alaska Regional Hospital we know that if breast cancer is detected early on the five-year survival rate is 90% or better.  This is a survival rate we’d like to see go up, but we can only do it with your help.

Without the knowledge of what to look for, you may end up rushing to the doctor for a completely unnecessary visit.  This is why performing a regular Breast Self Exam is critical.  A lot of women say they don’t have the time or they don’t know how.  Well, a BSE takes less than 10 minutes and its once a month, which will require a lot less time and money than going to the doctor.

Don’t get us wrong though, you’ve still got to go in and see your doctor about once a year (if you’re older than 35) for an annual mammogram.  In the meantime, learn how to complete a Breast Self-Exam and know your risk factors.

Visit our Web site to learn more about detecting and fighting cancer

Source: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/myths.aspx

Cancer.  It’s not a big word, but it sure is scary and it packs quite the punch.  Everyone “knows” what cancer is, but do you really know what causes cancer or how it develops?

Cancer is when cells in the body start to grow rapidly and out of control.  Instead of normal cells that grow, live, divide, and die in an orderly manner, cancer cells don’t die and continue to form new and abnormal cells.  It is these cells that cause the “cancer” and result in a plethora of diseases.

That is why there are more than 100 diseases dubbed as “cancer.”   Cancer can strike at any time and anywhere in the body because all it takes is the formation and division of abnormal cells.

Luckily, we’re getting much better at snuffing out these deviant cells before they spread to other parts of the body.  Through clinical oncology we have come a long way in terms of recognizing and treating cancer, but most importantly we believe in treating the person and not just the disease.

Our Oncology Specialists at Alaska Regional Hospital are committed to making strides in cancer treatment and radiation therapy, which is why we have partnered with the Alaska Cancer Care Alliance.  This alliance allows cancer patients and survivors to connect and support each other throughout their journey.

Our Anchorage hospital also uses a number of methods to treat cancer and we provide free educational seminars throughout the year.  We believe that knowledge is the best tool in curing these diseases and we’re here and ready to help you or a loved one become one of the many survivors in the fight against cancer.

For more information on our Cancer Care options visit our website.