a publication of the hospital of central connecticut tips ......

A publication of The Hospital of Central Connecticut

September 2008 • Vol. 24 • Issue 3

Tips for a healthy pregnancy

Tips for a healthy pregnancy

The metabolic syndrome epidemicPut sleep disorders to rest

2 www.thocc.org • September 2008

Health & You is published by The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut for its community of patients,colleagues, and friends.

PRESIDENT & CEO Laurence A. Tanner

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Helayne Lightstone

EDITORS Kimberly GensickiNancy Martin

ART DIRECTOR Karen DeFelice

PHOTOGRAPHY Rusty KimballStan Godlewski

TO CONTACT USThe Hospital of Central ConnecticutOffice of Corporate Communications100 Grand Street, New Britain, CT 06050(860) 224-5695 www.thocc.org

MAILING LISTIf you wish to be removed from our mailing list,please call (860) 224-5695 or [email protected]

MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL CONNECTICUT HEALTH ALLIANCEAlliance Occupational HealthCentral Connecticut Physical MedicineCommunity Mental Health AffiliatesConnecticut Center for Healthy AgingThe Hospital of Central Connecticutat New Britain General and Bradley Memorial

Jerome HomeMulberry GardensOpen MRI of SouthingtonThe Orchards at SouthingtonSouthington Care CenterVisiting Nurse Association of Central Connecticut

© 2008 The Hospital of Central Connecticut.Articles in this publication are written to present reliable,up-to-date health information. Our articles are reviewed bymedical professionals for accuracy and appropriateness.No publication can replace the care and advice of medicalprofessionals, and readers are urged to seek such help fortheir own health problems.

president’smessage

HCC and Planet Earth – greener togetherThis summer, the hospital launched phase IIof its recycling program. If you’ve been toeither campus, you might have noticed therecycling bins for cans and bottles in the cafe-terias and other locations. We’ve also launcheda recycling program for paper, newspapers,toner cartridges and other items.

While these recycling efforts are probablythe most visible to our visitors and staff, thehospital has actually been doing a lot behindthe scenes to improve energy conservationand waste management.

Since 2004, we’ve had a program to reduce waste and increase recycling.Efforts range from recycling used oil, electronics, batteries and mercury-containing devices like thermometers and fluorescent bulbs to recapturinghazardous chemicals to make them available for reuse.

We’ve improved monitoring and control of electricity and water usethroughout the hospital, using energy-efficient equipment in many areasand having lights and air-handling systems automatically shut off in non-patient care areas during off hours. We periodically use our own electricgenerators to avoid taxing the local power grid during peak energy-usetimes, typically summer.

The hospital has twice been honored for our efforts by Hospitals for aHealthy Environment (H2E), a non-profit organization jointly founded bythe American Hospital Association, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,Health Care Without Harm, and the American Nurses Association.

In 2007, HCC was one of 128 hospitals nationwide to receive H2E’s“Partners for Change Award” for decreasing hazardous and biomedicalwaste and increasing recycling. In 2005, H2E awarded the hospital theMaking Medicine Mercury Free Award for mercury reduction.

According to H2E, the nation’s hospitals generate approximately 6,600tons of waste daily. Though some is regulated medical waste, up to 80 to 85percent is non-hazardous waste, including paper, cardboard, food waste,metal, glass and plastics.

Obviously, hospitals can’t reuse many items used in direct patient care.But there’s a lot we can do, and we’ll continue to seek ways to reduce,reuse and recycle. Individually, many of you do your part to conserve andrecycle. But there’s always more we can all do.

In many ways, caring for the Earth and caring for patients go hand inhand. We at the hospital understand that the health of our environmentdirectly affects health of our patients, ourselves and future generations. Wepledge to continue doing our part to make that future a little greener.

Laurence A. TannerPresident and Chief Executive Officer

A PUBLICATION OF THE HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

contentsS e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8

v o l u m e 2 4 • n o . 3

features6 BABY ON BOARD?

Pregnancy can be a joyful — and confusing — time.How much weight should you gain? Should you stoptaking medications? What exercises are OK?Experts share tips for a healthy pregnancy.

10 METABOLIC SYNDROME Belly fat, elevated blood pressure, high blood sugarand other risk factors can add up to metabolic syn-drome. Learn more about this dangerous conditionand how you can reverse it.

13 OPENING EYES TO SLEEP DISORDERSTired of fighting fatigue and sleepiness? The SleepDisorders Center tests about 1,900 people annuallyfor sleep apnea and narcolepsy, two of the mostcommon sleep disorders.

in every issue4 SIMPLY HEALTHY

Helpful hints and timely reminders to stay healthy.

16 NEWS BRIEFS

21 EVENTS CALENDAR

23 PHYSICIAN LIST

26 TREATING YOURSELFWriting your dream catcher

On the cover: Adele Clay of Newington tries to keep up with her daughter, Linnea, 18 months. Clay, an obstetrics/gynecology nursepractitioner, offers tips for a healthy pregnancy on p. 6.Photo by: Stan Godlewski

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simplyhealthy helpful hints & timely topics

MyPyramid forKids makes goodnutrition funSometimes getting a child to eat theright foods and exercise can seem,well, monumental.

MyPyramid for Kids, part ofwww.MyPyramid.gov, features aredesigned food pyramid targetingchildren 6 to 11. Alongside the pyra-mid are steps, emphasizing thatexercise goes hand in hand withhealthy food choices. The pyramid isbased on 2005 Dietary Guidelinesfor Americans. The site also includeslinks for varied categories includinga menu planner, menu tracker andinformation for pregnant andbreastfeeding women.

The pyramid’s base displays incolor the five main food groups chil-dren should have, namely grains,vegetables, fruits, milk, and meatsand beans; the wider stripes indi-cate that more foods should beeaten from that group. The site alsosuggests including oils from fish,nuts and some food oils, while lim-iting fats and sugars.

Kids can have fun at the site, too,with the colorful MyPyramid BlastOff interactive game and downloadsavailable, including a pyramid forcoloring and worksheet to trackfood and activity goals.

Getting to the root of hair lossScientists have long known that one of the genes asso-ciated with pattern baldness resides on the X chromo-some, so moms can pass the gene to their sons.

Researchers now believe several additional genesmight play a role, along with other environmental andmedical factors. Unfortunately, knowing the sourcesof pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) has neverled to a “cure.”

But recent research into a gene that causes a dif-ferent type of baldness might pave the way for new

hair-loss treatments. Results of two studies published earlier this yearlinked mutations in the P2RY5 gene to hair texture and hypotrichosis, arare hereditary condition causing baldness.

Hypotrichosis is much less common than androgenetic alopecia, butscientists hope the P2RY5 studies might open the door for treatments thattarget gene mutations and treat both hair loss and unwanted hair.

If you have the more common pattern baldness, you’re far from alone.The American Hair Loss Association estimates that by age 50 approximate-ly 85 percent of men have significantly thinning hair due to the condition,which can also affect women.

Pattern baldness can’t be prevented, but if caught early can be slowed,or even stopped, according to the association. The two FDA-approvedmedications to treat hair loss are minoxidil, found in over-the-counterproducts like Rogaine and applied to the scalp; and finasteride (Proscar,Propecia), a prescription medication used to treat mild to moderate patternbaldness in men. Women should not take finasteride.

Androgenetic alopecia itself does not require treatment, and many peo-ple aren’t bothered by thinning hair. But if you’re concerned about patternbaldness, talk to your doctor.

When you’re not ready to rumbleYou’re sitting in a meeting or at a play, when suddenly your stomachannounces its presence with a series of gurgles that sound like Jabba theHut attempting Karoake.

Why is your digestive system making that noise? And why now of all times?Borborygmi — the scientific name for the gurgles, rumbles and growls

in your gut — often occur after you eat. The food mixes with digestive flu-ids and gas that’s produced by intestinal bacteria or air you swallow whileeating. The stomach and small intestine muscles contract to move thisunsavory-sounding mix through your digestive system and borborygmi occur.

Your stomach can also rumble when you’re hungry or between meals, whenthere’s no food to move. When you haven’t eaten in awhile, hormones thatcontrol appetite are released. They trigger your brain, which sends the “I’mhungry”signals to your body and prompts the release of digestive fluids andmuscle contractions.The sight or smell of food can also trigger a physical response.

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5September 2008 • www.thocc.org

Prevent falls at homeEach year, more than one-third of U.S. adults 65 andolder experience a fall, according to the federal Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A fall might not sound like a big deal, but amongolder adults, falls are the leading cause of death due toinjury (vs. disease). In 2005, 15,800 people 65 and olderdied from fall-related injuries, according to the CDC.

There are a variety of reasons older adults have agreater fall risk, says Evelyn McKay, director of rehabili-tation services for the Southington Care Center. Theseinclude vision problems, certain medications, weak and

inflexible joints and muscles, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, stroke andother conditions.

People at high fall risk — in fact, all of us — can take some easy steps tohelp prevent falls at home*:

Stairs: Attach non-slip treads and mark stair edges to prevent tripping.Stairs should be in good repair, and staircases should have handrails onboth sides.

Kitchen: Be sure floors aren’t slippery; storage areas are easy to reach(without having to stand on tiptoe or a chair); and a non-slip mat is nearthe sink to soak up spilled water.

Bathroom: Be sure doors are wide enough to accommodate walkers andother devices; thresholds aren’t too high; tubs have skid-proof mats orstrips; tub and toilet grab bars are available; and toilet seats aren’t too low.

Bedroom: Keep lamps on a night table beside the bed; maintain a clear,uncluttered path from the bed to the bathroom; and ensure the bed is at anappropriate height.

General: Ensure adequate lighting throughout the house; secure throwrugs and carpets; remove clutter to prevent tripping; keep phones and lightswitches accessible; ensure chairs are strong enough (particularly arm rests)to support you when you’re sitting down and getting up.

The Southington Care Center and Jerome Home in New Britain offerfree fall risk screenings. Call Southington Care, (860) 378-1234; or JeromeHome, (860) 229-3707, for information.

*Some information courtesy Aspen Publishers, Inc.

Pass the healthierspread, pleaseChoosing a healthy table spread foryour morning toast or dinner veg-etables is easier when youknow what to look for.Here’s the skinny: It’sbest to opt for aspread with less(or no) trans fats,fewer calories andin tub or spray form.

Traditional butter’srich taste comes with a lot ofsaturated fat and cholesterol,which can lead to clogged arteries (ath-erosclerosis). While margarine does not havecholesterol, many varieties in stick forms dohave trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils),which raise the bad (LDL) cholesterol andlower the good (HDL) cholesterol.

The American Heart Association recom-mends trans fats be limited to less than onepercent of a day’s caloric intake for healthypeople over age 2. They’ve become such ahealth issue that trans fats — think frenchfries, donuts, cookies, are now banned inNew York City restaurants.

What to look for in spreads:• No trans fats, instead look for spreads

with a low percentage of saturated fat andhigher percentage of polyunsaturated andmonounsaturated fats (the last two can helplower cholesterol).

• Those with plant sterols, which mayhelp reduce atherosclerosis risk.

• Tub or liquid (spray) form, which haveless saturated fat and little or no trans fatcompared to some margarines.

• Reduced-calorie spreads.Healthier cooking alternatives to butter

include olive or canola oil or a cooking sprayin the pan. Baking recipes might offer alter-native ingredients for a low-fat item.Applesauce or other fruit purees may beused instead of oil or shortening.

Most people don’t need to clean their ears. Produced byglands in the outer ear skin, ear wax (cerumen) traps bac-teria, dust particles and other substances, then moves tothe outside of the ear, where it eventually dries up andfalls out on its own. Don’t clean the inside of your earswith a cotton swab (or anything else), which can push waxin. See your doctor about excessive wax buildup.

Didyouknow…

Elaine Zerio was about eightmonths into her first pregnancy

when she felt contractions.Is this it? she wondered. Should

she call her husband, Bryan, and getready for the dash to the hospital?

First she called her doctor,Gerard Roy, M.D., who listened toher symptoms, then prescribed …

Water.“It turns out I was just a little

dehydrated,”says Zerio, 30, ofNewington.“I drank three or fourglasses of water and was fine.”

Zerio had experienced BraxtonHicks contractions, or “false labor.”Unlike true labor, Braxton Hickscontractions are often irregular, don’tget closer together or stronger overtime and sometimes go away withmovement or position change.

These kinds of subtleties aresometimes lost on the mother-to-be.

“Being pregnant for the first timecan be nerve-wracking,”Zerio says.“You feel something and you think,‘Oh my God, this is it!’”

Drinking for two“Drink plenty of water”is adviceRoy, an obstetrician/gynecologistwith New Britain Ob/Gyn Group,gives all his patients.

Fluids are particularly importantsince blood volume increases dra-matically during pregnancy.Sufficient fluid intake can help pre-vent problems like dehydration,hemorrhoids and constipation. TheCenters for Disease Control andPrevention recommends at least six

to eight glasses of liquids daily.You’redrinking enough if your urine isalmost clear or very light yellow.

Water is best, since juices containexcess calories and coffee and teacontain caffeine. While a recent studyfound that even one daily cup of cof-fee can increase miscarriage risk,numerous previous studies found noincreased risk, says Richard Dreiss,M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologistwith Grove Hill Medical Center.

“Moderation is key,”he says.“Onecup of coffee a day is probably OK.”

Unfortunately, herbal teas mightnot be the best substitute for caf-feinated tea. Unlike regular black orgreen tea, made from tea leaves,herbal teas are made from the roots,berries, flowers, seeds, and leaves ofdifferent plants. There aren’t a lot ofdata on how some of these affect adeveloping fetus.

“The problem with herbal teasand supplements is you don’t alwaysknow what’s in them,”Roy says.

While even moderate amounts ofalcohol can cause physical and men-tal birth defects, physicians disagreeover whether the occasional, solitaryglass of wine is OK.

“Personally, I tell my patients‘there are two things you shouldn’tdo during pregnancy: Don’t drinkand don’t smoke,’”Dreiss says.

Less fish, more folateWhile water is good for pregnantwomen, what swims in it mightnot be.

Fish are an excellent source of

protein and omega-3 fatty acids, butwomen who are (or are planning tobecome) pregnant should limit con-sumption due to mercury and othercontaminants, Roy says.

In general, pregnant womenshould have no more than two mealsa week of fish from supermarkets orrestaurants (including canned tuna).Certain fish caught in Connecticutwaters should be limited to once amonth. High-mercury fish thatshould be avoided altogether includeswordfish, shark, tilefish, king mack-erel and striped bass. Pregnantwomen should also avoid sushi andother raw or undercooked meats andfish. For state Department of PublicHealth guidelines on fish consump-tion, visit www.dph.state.ct.us orcall (860) 509-7742.

To ensure they get those importantomega-3 fatty acids, pregnant womenshould daily take 200 mg of DHA(docosahexaenoic acid), importantfor the developing brain. DHA isfound in fatty fish like tuna, salmonand mackerel. Since some of thoseare off-limits for pregnant women, it’sbest to get DHA from supplements.

Other good protein sourcesinclude dairy products, nuts andbeans and other lean meats. Delimeats, hot dogs, unpasteurized milk,soft cheeses (feta, brie) and otherfoods can contain harmful Listeriamonocytogenes bacteria and shouldbe avoided.


By Nancy Martin

Baby on board?Tips to keep you and your passenger healthy

Bryan and Elaine Zerio with daughter, Elise, born July 8.

Photo by: Stan Godlewski


BABY ON BOARD

In addition to protein, preg-nant women and their babiesneed the nutrients in wholegrains, fruits and vegetables.

Among the most importantnutrients is folate, a B vitaminthe body uses to make newcells. Adequate folic acid (thesynthetic form of folate)helps prevent spina bifidaand other neural tubedefects. Folate can also befound in whole-grain andenriched products likebread, rice, pasta, andbreakfast cereals.

“We recommendtaking a folic acidsupplement — 1 gramdaily — from the start,”Roy says.“Since the neural tubeforms in the first six to eight weeksof life, women who are planningto become pregnant should alsotake folic acid.”

Pineapple, ice cream and bagel sandwichesEat more fruits, vegetables andwhole grains is excellent advice,but let’s face it: The words “craving”and “broccoli”don’t usually comeup in the same sentence. So whatdo you do when less-than-healthyhankerings hit?

Go ahead and indulge — withinlimits, says Adele Clay, a nurse prac-titioner with Grove Hill MedicalCenter Obstetrics and Gynecology.While pregnant with her first child,Clay craved (healthy) pineapple and(less-healthy) bagel sandwiches.

“Pregnancy is a wonderful time,and you want to enjoy yourself,”Clay says.“Just remember, everythingin moderation.”

Zerio indulged her ice creamcraving by eating small amounts twoor three times a week.

Many women worry about exces-sive weight gain, but dieting during

pregnancy can rob you and yourbaby of important nutrients. TheAmerican Dietetic Association rec-ommends pregnant women consume2,500 to 2,700 calories daily from avariety of healthy foods.

How much weight should yougain? It depends on your height,prepregnancy weight and other fac-tors. The American College ofObstetricians and Gynecologists rec-ommends an average, gradual weightgain of 25 to 30 pounds for one baby.

“I usually look for a 10-poundgain in the first 20 weeks and 15 to20 pounds in the second 20 weeks,”Dreiss says.“The person you worryabout is the one who starts puttingon a lot of weight too early.”

Get moving, Mom!Clay tells patients not to obsess aboutweight gain, as long as they’re eatinga healthy diet and staying active.

“Probably the most importantmessage I can give patients is thathow well you start off your pregnan-

cy, with diet and exercise, definitelyaffects you post-partum,”she says.

In other words, move your feet —even if you can’t see them.

Pregnant women do need tomodify exercise. During pregnancy,the body produces relaxin, a hor-mone that helps lubricate joints tomake labor easier but can make youmore susceptible to straining shoul-ders, knees and other joints.Yourcenter of balance also changes dur-ing pregnancy, so be careful aboutexercises like skiing and biking.

Up until her 39th week, Claywalked her dog two miles daily anddid yoga (switching to prenatal yogaher second trimester). The pregnan-cy-specific stretches helped reducediscomfort and the abdominal exer-cises helped with pushing duringlabor, she says. She also recommendsKegel exercises to strengthen thepelvic floor muscles (those used tostop urine flow).

Along with yoga, massage therapyand chiropractic care can help allevi-

Adele Clay with her daughter, Linnea, 18 months.Photo by: Stan Godlewski


BABY ON BOARD

Top five conception questionsHealthcare professionals say these are some of the mostcommon questions women have about pregnancy:

1. Should I stop taking medications? Many prescription and over-the-counter medications are safe duringpregnancy, but it can get confusing, says Richard Dreiss, M.D., obste-trician/gynecologist. For example, pregnant women being treated forthyroid disease or high blood pressure need medications to protecttheir and their babies’ health. “All thyroid medications are safe duringpregnancy, but some blood pressure medications aren’t,” Dreiss says.“If you need medication and can’t stay on your current prescription,we might be able to find alternatives.” Before you start or stop anymedication, talk to your doctor!

2. Does bleeding mean miscarriage? Not necessarily. About 30 percent of pregnant women have bleedingthroughout their pregnancy, especially the first trimester. If you havespotting that goes away within a day, tell your doctor at your nextvisit. If bleeding lasts more than a day, contact your doctor within24 hours.

3. Why do miscarriages occur? “The first part of pregnancy is an ‘all or nothing’ phenomenon,”says Gerard Roy, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist. “If the baby’s development is compromised, you’ll miscarry.” While miscarriage can be emotionally difficult, it’s the body’s natural way of ending an abnormal pregnancy.

4. Should I be on bed rest? Some conditions, including preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced highblood pressure), may require bed rest. But in most normal pregnan-cies, it’s good to stay active, and you can usually keep working if your job isn’t too strenuous. Sometimes, even in a normal pregnancy,bed rest may be ordered to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.

5. Why am I gaining weight faster than my pregnant friend? Don’t try to compare yourself to other pregnant women, and don’t compare your current pregnancy to past pregnancies.“Every pregnancy is completely different,” says Adele Clay,obstetrics/gynecology nurse practitioner.

ate some pregnancy discomforts, butcheck with your doctor before you trythese or other therapies, says CarolDavis, R.N., a certified childbirth edu-cator and coordinator of childbirth edu-cation at The Hospital of CentralConnecticut. Practitioners/instructorsshould be certified in prenatal care.

Zerio walked during pregnancy —until leg swelling forced her to slowdown. Pregnancy taught the middleschool Spanish teacher an important les-son: “Listen to your body. If you’re tired,take it easy.”

Raise your hand if you’re anxiousIn addition to a good diet and exercise,knowledge is key to a physically andemotionally healthy pregnancy — for bothparents, Davis says.

“I get concerned when I hear someonesay, ‘I don’t need to learn about that funnybreathing technique; I’m having an epidur-al,’”says Davis, who has 30 years experiencein childbirth education.“If you don’t knowwhat your options are, you don’t have any.”

Her Prepared Childbirth Education class-es cover stages and phases of labor andbirth; relaxation, breathing and other copingskills; Cesarean birth options; post-partumfamily planning and early parenting; and ahospital tour. She encourages participants toask lots of questions.

“What reduces your anxiety better thanhaving your questions answered?”Davis asks.

Among Davis’ recent graduates areElaine and Bryan Zerio, who welcomedtheir first baby, a 9 pound, 14-ounce girl,Elise, on July 8.

Clay and her husband, Christopher, alsotook Davis’ classes. Though she works inobstetrics, Clay found actually experiencingpregnancy different. She says the classeswere beneficial for her and Christopher, wholearned how to help during labor. That train-ing came in handy on Feb. 19, 2007, whendaughter Linnea was born.

Having been through a pregnancy, Claycan now give her patients additional advice:“Enjoy the experience.You don’t get thisopportunity that often.”Y

Metabolic syndrome

It’s a dangerous recipe.Take elevated blood pressure, add

high triglycerides and a pinch of highblood sugar. Mix them with a gener-ous helping of belly fat and you’vegot what some medical professionalscall “metabolic syndrome.”

Experts disagree about whethermetabolic syndrome is a condition inand of itself, vs. a collection of riskfactors (see chart, p. 12) that alsoincludes low HDL (“good”choles-terol). Most do agree that three ormore of these risk factors togethersignificantly increase the chance ofheart disease, stroke and diabetes.

An estimated 47 million U.S.adults — about 25 percent — havemetabolic syndrome, also called“Syndrome X”and “InsulinResistance Syndrome.” That numberis expected to grow to 50 million to75 million by 2010. While most com-mon in people over 60, metabolicsyndrome is increasing at an “alarm-ing rate”in children and adolescentsdue to childhood obesity, saysMichael Radin, M.D., of the Diabetes,Metabolic Disorder, Endocrinology

Practice in Plainville.“It’s an epidemic, but not a lot of

people know about it,”says Radin, alsoa physician with the Joslin DiabetesCenter Affiliate at The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut.“A significantportion of people have metabolicsyndrome but have no symptoms orchoose to ignore symptoms.”

It’s not hard to be oblivious.“If you have a rash, you’ll take

care of it because it’s itchy orpainful,”Radin says.“But you canwalk around with a blood pressureof 180 and not feel a thing.”

One bad appleOne risk factor is obvious.

“If someone comes into ouroffice with a large belly, I’m probablygoing to test him or her for theother risk factors,”says KathrynTierney, M.S.N., A.P.R.N.-B.C., anadvanced practice registered nursewith Radin’s practice.

Tierney looks for an “apple”body type — mostly belly fat — vs.a “pear,”with mostly hip and thighfat. For most men that’s a waist cir-

cumference of 40 inches or more;for women 35 inches or more.

Excess weight anywhere cancause problems, but abdominal fat ismore metabolically active, makinghormones that cause inflammationand contribute to insulin resistance.

Insulin, a hormone made by thepancreas, helps control sugar levelsin the bloodstream. After you eat,your digestive system breaks somefoods down into sugar (glucose) thatyour cells use as fuel. Normally,insulin helps cells absorb glucose, butinsulin resistance impairs the process.In response, your body creates moreinsulin, leaving you with moreinsulin and glucose in your blood.

The resulting condition can leadto impaired fasting glucose orimpaired glucose tolerance — alsoknown as pre-diabetes.

The snowball effectYou can have insulin resistance andeven type 2 diabetes without havingmetabolic syndrome, which illustratesa disturbing aspect of the syndrome.

Each metabolic syndrome risk

By Nancy Martin


Metabolic syndromeThe deadly epidemic you’ve probably never heard of


factor can, on its own, cause thesame kinds of problems the riskfactors cause together. Just beingoverweight puts you at risk fordiabetes. Having high levels oftriglycerides puts you at risk ofcardiovascular disease.

And each risk factor can exacer-bate the others. Increased insulinraises your triglycerides and otherblood fat levels. It also interfereswith kidney function, leading tohigher blood pressure.

“These risk factors on their ownare dangerous,”Tierney says.“Putthem together and you can see howuntreated metabolic syndrome is a

potentially deadly condition.”The rate of cardiovascular disease

among people with metabolic syn-drome is two to four times higher thanwith the general population; the rateof diabetes, five to 30 times higher.Metabolic syndrome can also lead toinfertility, cancer, arthritis, dementia,sleep apnea and liver damage.

Death rates — due to cardiovascularand other conditions — are also higherfor people with metabolic syndrome.

Hold the fries…and burgerThe exact cause of metabolic syn-drome is unknown, but contributingfactors include:

Age: Metabolic syndrome affectsless than 10 percent of people intheir 20s but more than 40 percent ofpeople in their 60s.

Genetics: A family history of type2 diabetes or diabetes during preg-nancy (gestational diabetes).

Lifestyle: Low physical activityand excess caloric intake.

The typical Western diet, high inrefined grains, processed meat andfried foods, is a particular problem,

Radin says. He cites a study that fol-lowed 9,514 people ages 45-64 overnine years. It found eating a Westerndiet increased the risk of developingmetabolic syndrome 18 percent. Twoservings of meat a day vs. two aweek increased the risk by 26 per-cent; and one serving of fried fooddaily (vs. none) increased risk by 25percent. For reasons researchers don’tcompletely understand, consumingone diet soda daily led to a 34 per-cent increased risk, the study showed.

While medications can treat highblood pressure, cholesterol and bloodsugar,“you can substantially reduceor eliminate metabolic syndrome risk

factors without medication or sur-gery,”Radin says.“Lose 7 to 10 per-cent of your body weight and you’llsee a drop in everything – bloodpressure, triglycerides, insulin levels.”

“Unfortunately very few peoplemake these changes. They’re lookingfor the quick fix,”Tierney adds.“Butwhen they do, it’s dramatic.”

Small changes, dramatic results“It’s difficult for people to changehow they eat ,”says Patricia O’Connell,R.D.,M.S., a registered dietitian andcertified diabetes educator with theJoslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at TheHospital of Central Connecticut.“Even if they’ve seen a family mem-ber suffer from complications of dia-betes, that does not always translateinto appropriate lifestyle changes.”

“Knowledge doesn’t always leadto behavior change,”agrees KarenMcAvoy, M.S.N., R.N., Joslin’s dia-betes education coordinator.

They acknowledge that the advice“eat less and exercise more”soundssimple, but is difficult for many to

follow. That’s why metabolic syn-drome patients are often referred toJoslin and other hospital programs,including the Weigh Your Optionsclinical weight loss center and Elliotand Marsha Cohen Good LifeCenter. Program staff provide educa-tion, supervised exercise and nutri-tion plans, counseling and othertools to help people make long-term,lifestyle changes.

One of the first steps is helpingpeople understand the differencebetween “going on a diet”andchanging eating habits. Determiningwhat you should and shouldn’t eatcan be enormously confusing.

“What foods are ‘bad?’Therereally are no ‘bad’ foods, just betterchoices. There is research thatbacks a low carbohydrate approachand research that backs low fat,”O’Connell says.

Actually it depends on the typesof carbohydrates and fats. Certaincalorie-dense, nutrient-poor carbo-hydrates are problematic for peoplewith metabolic syndrome (andmany other conditions) becausethey worsen insulin resistance andpromote weight gain. These includehighly processed carbohydrates(sugars and starches) like thosefound in white rice, white bread,sugary baked goods and sodas.Better carbohydrates are wholegrains, fruits, vegetables and beans,which also include fiber, vitaminsand minerals.

Trans fats and saturated fats –found in foods like whole-milk dairyproducts, some margarines, fattymeats, egg yolks and partially hydro-genated vegetable oils – should alsobe avoided. Better choices are mono-and polyunsaturated fats, found in

METABOLIC SYNDROME

Lose 7 to 10 percent of your body weight and you’ll see a drop in everything – blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin levels.

olive oil, almonds, avocadoes andother sources, and omega-3 fats,found in fish.

In general, a healthy diet shouldinclude lots of fruits and vegetables;whole grains; some lean protein likefish and chicken (minus the skin);and smaller amounts of mono- andpoly-unsaturated fats.

To help people ease into new eat-ing habits, Radin offers these tips:

• Include a fruit or vegetable witheach meal or snack

• Eliminate soft drinks and juice • Eat smaller portions (When

eating out, order the smallest portionsize; share entrees; and take home adoggy bag.)

When cooking:• Make lower-fat versions of

recipes; use low-fat dressings andmayonnaise, and skim or 1 percentmilk. (Check labels — some low-fatfoods have as many calories as theirfull-fat counterparts).

• Bake, broil or grill vs. frying.• Use non-stick pans and cooking

sprays vs. butter and oil.The other half of the weight-loss

equation is exercise. Experts recom-mend 30 to 60 minutes daily —which can seem overwhelming tosomeone who’s never exercised, orhasn’t in awhile.

“We tell people to start slowly,”McAvoy says.“Start with two min-utes, go to five minutes, 10 minutesand so on.You don’t have to run —walking has been found to help mostwith central obesity.”

She also suggests people sched-ule exercise, just as they wouldmeetings or other appointments.

Adds O’Connell,“People need tothink of exercise more as medicine,vs. something you have to do.Youdon’t look outside and say,‘It’scloudy — I’m not going to takemy pills today.’The same holdstrue for exercise.”

She and other experts offer theseexercise tips (check with your doctorbefore starting an exercise program):

• Find an activity you enjoy —walk, swim, bike, dance — anythingthat gets you moving

• Play a backyard game with yourkids or grandkids

• Get an exercise partner• Take stairs vs. the elevator• When you go to the store,

etc., park your car farther from yourdestination

• Walk around when talking onthe phone

• Join a gym. Some insurancecompanies offer discounts onsupervised exercise programs orgym memberships.

Making even small changes toyour food intake and activity levelcan make a difference. The DiabetesPrevention Program research studyfound that the prevalence of meta-bolic syndrome decreased 43 percentto 51 percent among study partici-pants who lost 7 percent of bodyweight and exercised at least 150minutes weekly.

“If you catch metabolic syndromeearly and make lifestyle changes,you can not only eliminate the riskfactors, you can in some cases pre-vent diabetes and cardiovasculardisease,”Radin says.“It’s an exampleof how much control we really haveover our health.” Y

METABOLIC SYNDROME


Metabolic syndrome risk factorsAccording to the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, three or more of these components together may indicate metabolic syndrome:

Elevated waist circumference: • Men—40 inches or larger• Women—35 inches or larger

Elevated triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or higher

Reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol: • Men—Less than 40 mg/dL• Women—Less than 50 mg/dL

Elevated blood pressure: 130/85 mm Hg or greater

Elevated fasting glucose: 100 mg/dL or greater

Robert Pugliese, 64, rememberswith regret the days when he

used to fall asleep while driving.“I’d snap out of it. I didn’t know

where I was,”he says.“That got alittle scary.”

He was also snoring a lot backthen, but this wasn’t new. His wifewould punch him in the ribs atnight, telling him to turn over. Surehe was tired during the day, butPugliese attributed it to getting older.

During a physical in 2007,Pugliese, of Rocky Hill, told his pri-mary care doctor about his fatigue.

Just one year later, Pugliese sayshis life has completely changed,thanks to a small CPAP (continuouspositive airway pressure) mask hewears at night to treat the culprit, acondition called obstructive sleepapnea that robbed him of sleep andpotentially, his life.

Pugliese is one of about 1,900people annually who visit TheHospital of Central Connecticut’sSleep Disorders Center to be testedfor sleep disorders, namely sleepapnea and narcolepsy.

Increasing sleep apnea awarenessWe spend nearly one-third of eachday sleeping. That’s a lot of sleepover a lifetime but for many people,a lot of time lost, blanketed by a

sleep disorder.“Obstructive

sleep apnea is themost common sleepdisorder,”says neurolo-gist Marc Kawalick, M.D.,medical director of theSleep Disorders Center.Symptoms include snoring,gasping arousals from sleepand non-refreshing sleep whichleads to daytime sleepiness.

“Your physiology changes whenyou’re asleep vs. awake,”addsKawalick. Normally, when awake,your airway muscles remain stiff to


By Kimberly Gensicki

Opening eyes to sleep disorders

Opening eyes to sleep disorders


stay open; during sleep, those mus-cles relax. With sleep apnea, the air-way walls begin to vibrate againsteach other, creating the sound ofsnoring. Ultimately, the moist sur-faces can seal tightly, creating a com-plete obstruction and apnea, whichmeans “loss of breathing.”

The body’s sympathetic nervoussystem then goes in high gear, awak-ening the brain to open the throatmuscles, explains Sleep DisordersCenter neurologist Andre Lerer, M.D.He adds that apnea also makes theheart work harder, increasing bloodpressure and the risk of a heartattack, stroke, diabetes and death.

More than 12 million Americanslikely have sleep apnea, according tothe National Heart Lung and BloodInstitute (NHLBI), with the typicalsufferer a male age 30 to 60, oftenoverweight or obese. Other risk fac-tors include people with a smallupper airway, small jaw, large neckand who smoke or drink. Post-menopausal women may suffer from

the condition, as can children,most often those with big ton-sils or adenoids.

“Apnea can happen hun-dreds and hundreds of timesper night,”says Kawalick.“Youmay be asleep eight hours butyour brain is waking up all nightlong to open your airway.”

The resulting fatigue carriesthrough during the day. InPugliese’s case, daytime sleepi-ness affected his driving andforced him to give up his wood-working hobby. Pugliese isnot alone. Untreated sleepapnea and narcolepsy sufferersmake up one of three groupsat highest risk for drowsy driv-ing and crashing, according to

the National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration.

Night owls at workMore than ready to resume restfulnights, Pugliese came for anovernight sleep study at the SleepDisorders Center earlier this year.

The center conducts 35 to40 studies weekly and is accreditedby the American Academy ofSleep Medicine.

About two weeks before a study,the patient is interviewed by apolysomnographic (sleep study)technologist, views a sleep disordersvideo and tours the center. It hassix bedrooms, five with a full-sizebed and TV, and one room with ahospital bed.

Patients also see equipmentthey’ll be connected to during thestudy, enabling a polysomnographictechnologist to continually monitorand record brain waves, limb move-ments, heart rate, oxygen level, andchin muscle tone to determine thedifferent sleep stages.

Many patients coming for sleepstudies are curious about the proce-dure, says Donna Cone, a registered

polysomnographic technologist andcenter supervisor.“An initial visitbefore the study informs patientsof what to expect the night oftheir sleep study and gives theminformation about sleep disordersand their treatment.”

Patients arrive between 8:30 and9:45 p.m. for their studies, which endwhen they are awakened between5:30 and 6:30 a.m. the next day. Thecenter also accommodates variedwork schedules. About two weekslater, patients are contacted to dis-cuss their findings, interpreted bysleep center neurologists, as well astreatment, if necessary.

“Man, did I snore,”recallsPugliese of his study.“I stoppedbreathing about 29 times per hour.”

Based on his apnea diagnosis,Pugliese received a CPAP machine,and started feeling better within daysof using it. The CPAP device gentlydelivers air pressure through a maskto keep the airway open duringsleep. Patients who snore or havemild apnea may be referred to a den-tist for an oral appliance that pullsthe jaw forward so the tongue does-n’t block the airway; or an otolaryn-gologist who can surgically correctnasal obstruction caused by a deviat-ed septum or swollen nasal linings,as well as pendulous soft palates thatcan obstruct the upper airway.

“The difference is like day andnight,”Pugliese says of using CPAP.“I’m not tired anymore, whatsoever.”He also has a renewed appreciationfor good health, noting his bloodpressure has dropped.

His outcome is common.“Patients are very happy to havefound the solution,”says Cone,adding many patients attend quar-terly sleep apnea support groupmeetings at the hospital.

With renewed energy, Pugliese iseager to return to woodworking.“I’m ready. I can feel it.”

SLEEP DISORDERS

With his sleep apnea under control,Robert Pugliese once again enjoys his woodworking hobby.Photo by: Stan Godlewski


Pushing dreams asideSometimes awakening from sleep,Julia* would suddenly sense that herbody was frozen in place, her mus-cles still dozing, symptoms of a con-dition called sleep paralysis.

“It lasted minutes or seconds butfelt like forever,”says the 33-year-oldWaterbury resident.

She had other symptoms, somepersisting since her teen years:falling asleep within several minutesat inappropriate times and constantfatigue.“I had a lot of troublethroughout high school waking up. Iwas always tired, exhausted.”

Julia’s symptoms created havoc inher life, affecting her socially andprofessionally. But the day her kneesbuckled triggered Julia, then 28, tosee a doctor and be tested at theSleep Disorders Center. Her history,including the muscle weaknesssymptom, known as cataplexy,helped confirm narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy patients experiencepathologic sleepiness, the inabilityto stay awake regardless of howmuch sleep they’ve had; sleepattacks which are sudden, irresistibleurges to sleep; and dreams thatintrude on wakefulness.

A condition marked by low levelsof the protein hypocretin, narcolepsyoften starts in the teens or 20s. TheNHLBI estimates 150,000 or moreAmericans have narcolepsy, whichmay be hereditary and can be trig-gered by infection. Diagnosis isbased on a person’s history andsleep study outcome.

There are three distinct brainstates: wakefulness, sleep and dreamsleep. Normally, these states do notoverlap.“With narcolepsy, the normalboundaries of wakefulness, sleep anddream sleep dissolve,”Kawalick says.

When you dream, a switch inyour brain shuts off all muscle activi-

ty, except the diaphragm, whichallows breathing, and eye muscleswhich permit rapid eye movement(REM), indicative of dream sleep. Innarcolepsy, the brain switch thatshould be active only during sleepand dreaming goes on while the per-son is awake, causing cataplexy.Sleep paralysis occurs when theswitch stays on after the dream sleepstage and while awakening. Withoutthe switch, we would act out ourdreams. Some people with a defec-tive switch suffer from REM behaviordisorder, which can lead to injury tothemselves or their bed partner.

Patients being evaluated for nar-colepsy remain at the SleepDisorders Center after the initialstudy for a multiple sleep latencystudy in which five nap trials areconducted every two hours, 9 a.m. to5 p.m. Narcolepsy is confirmed if thepatient falls asleep in under eightminutes, on average, during the trialsand starts dreaming within 15 min-utes in at least two naps.

Even before her 2004 study, Juliastarted feeling relief after watching acenter video on narcolepsy.“I actuallycried,”she says.“I was able to identi-fy with the people in the movie.”

“The big thing for narcolepsy is tomake the correct diagnosis,”saysLerer, noting sufferers may belabeled with a psychiatric disorder,seizure or heart disorder.“It relievesthe stigma of what you don’t haveand leads to appropriate treatment.”

Julia started feeling better withinweeks of treatment with two medi-cines, Provigil®, to keep her awakeduring the day, and Xyrem®, whichtreats cataplexy and improves day-time sleepiness.

People feel relieved when theyhave a diagnosis, says Cone.“Andthen they’re treated and feel like theyjust woke up.” Y

To learn more about the Sleep Disorders Center, call (860) 224-5538 or visitwww.thocc.org/services/sleep.

SLEEP DISORDERS

How to get some good shut eye

What defines a good night’s sleep?You’ve had one if: you fall asleep within 30 minutes, are awake less

than 30 minutes during the night, and sleep for more than 6.5 hours,feeling refreshed upon waking. So says Susan Rubman, Ph.D., abehavioral sleep medicine specialist at The Hospital of CentralConnecticut Sleep Disorders Center.

Insomnia – when you just can’t sleep is a behavioral condition, nota sleep disorder, says Rubman, who offers these tips to get some goodshut eye:w Avoid caffeine within six hours of bedtime and alcohol four to six

hours before bedtime.w Make your bedroom conducive to sleep. Keep it dark, quiet and at a

comfortable temperature.w Exercise in late afternoon or early evening, finishing at least four

hours before bedtime.w Try not to use the bedroom for activities other than sleep or sex (e.g.,

office).w Don’t go to bed when you’re not sleepy.

*Name has been changed


newsbriefs

Hospital receivesPrimary StrokeCenter designation

The Connecticut Department ofPublic Health has designated TheHospital of Central Connecticut aPrimary Stroke Center, makingquality stroke care easily accessi-ble to Central Connecticut resi-dents when minutes count.

In earning this designation, thehospital demonstrated that itmeets standards and criteria fromorganizations including the BrainAttack Coalition and the AmericanStroke Association.

HCC’s Stroke Center treatspatients who have had strokesand TIAs (transient ischemicattacks). The hospital provides avariety of emergency stroke treat-ments at both its New BritainGeneral and Bradley Memorialcampuses, including minimallyinvasive procedures and medica-tions to eliminate clots.

The center also provides edu-cation on preventing strokes byidentifying risk factors and symp-toms, which include numbness orweakness of the face, arm or leg(especially on one side of thebody); sudden confusion, troublespeaking or understanding; sud-den trouble seeing; sudden dizzi-ness, loss of balance or coordina-tion; and sudden severeheadache with no known cause.

Hospital first to Webcast new gastric banding procedure

On Aug. 6, the hospital became the first inthe country to broadcast, online, a weight-loss surgery procedure using the new Realize™Adjustable Gastric Band. The hospital also became the first in the state to nar-rate a surgery Webcast in Spanish.

To watch the webcast, visit either www.OR-Live.com or the hospital’s web-site, www.thocc.org. Bariatric surgeon Carlos Barba, M.D., performed the pro-cedure, with narration and commentary by David Giles, M.D. Spanish narra-tion is available on www.hospitaldecc.org.

The hospital was recently designated a Bariatric Surgery Center ofExcellence by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, andBarba is a designated Center of Excellence surgeon.

Novalis on board soonThe Hospital of Central Connecticut will soonbe the first hospital in the state to offer theNovalis® radiosurgery system, treating selectcancers and tumors with highly focused preci-sion and speed, while sparing healthy tissueand reducing treatment time.

Novalis will initially be used for tumors andlesions in the brain. The system will also beused to treat tumors near the spinal cord; smalllung cancers; and prostate, pancreas and variedgynecologic cancers. Treatment does notinvolve incisions, and the patient experiencesno pain or blood loss.

“Patients in Connecticut will now be able toget a type of sophisticated treatment that isgenerally not available except in very few can-cer centers across the country,”says NealGoldberg, M.D., chief of Radiation Oncology.

Neurosurgeon Ahmed Khan, M.D., says,“Novalis offers us a new opportunity to treatpatients with deep-seated or inoperable brainand spinal lesions, those who would have beenrisky candidates for traditional surgery, and patients with operable lesionsbut poor medical conditions.”Such patients treated with Novalis tend tohave shorter recovery times and less risk of complications vs. those who havesurgery, Khan says.

Novalis system advantages include shorter treatment times and greaterflexibility over knifeless surgery systems like Gamma Knife or CyberKnife. Thesystem will be housed in the recently expanded American Savings FoundationRadiation Oncology Treatment Center at the New Britain General campus.

The Novalis system will behoused in the recentlyexpanded American SavingsFoundation RadiationOncology Treatment Center,New Britain General campus.Photo by Rusty Kimball


New to The Hospital of Central ConnecticutJohn Delmonte Jr., M.D.

Hematologist/OncologistPractice: Cancer Center of Central Connecticut,40 Hart St., New Britain,(860) 224-4408; and 55 Meriden Ave.,

Southington, (860) 621-9316. Delmonte is also director of Cancer Research at theGeorge Bray Cancer Center, Hospital ofCentral Connecticut.Medical School: University of California,San Francisco; residency, internal medicine,Duke University Medical Center; fellowship,medical oncology and hematology,University of Texas M.D. Anderson CancerCenter, Houston.

Hartmut A. Doerwaldt, M.D.Family MedicinePractice: CommunityHealth Center, 1Washington Square, NewBritain, (860) 224-3642Medical degree: University

of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottes-ville, Va.; residency, family medicine, Universityof Maryland, Baltimore; fellowship, geriatricsand academic medicine, University ofMaryland. Doerwaldt has been a practicingphysician for more than 20 years.

John Gaetano, D.P.M.PodiatryPractice: 1 Liberty Square,New Britain (860) 229-2807Podiatric degree: OhioCollege of PodiatricMedicine, Cleveland; resi-

dency, VA Connecticut HealthCare System,New Britain and New Haven; fellowship,podiatric medicine, Waterbury.

Ryan Murphy, M.D.Emergency MedicinePractice: The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut,(860) 224-5771Medical degree: Universityof Connecticut School of

Medicine; residency, emergency medicine,Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

David L. Sciacca, M.D.Emergency MedicinePractice: The Hospital of Central Connecticut,(860) 224-5771Medical degree: TuftsUniversity School of

Medicine, Boston; residency, emergencymedicine, Stroger Cook County Hospital,Chicago.

Roshni Patel, M.D.Neurology/InterventionalPain ManagementPractice: Grove HillMedical Center,73 Cedar St., New Britain(860) 832-4666

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica; residency, neurology,University of Connecticut School ofMedicine; fellowship, interventional painmanagement, New York University,New York City.

George Melnik, M.D., FACSOtolaryngologist (ear,nose, throat)Practice: ConnecticutBalance Center at GroveHill, 292 West Main St.,(860) 224-2631; and

55 Meriden Ave., Southington,(860) 621-6761.Medical School: Indiana University Schoolof Medicine, Indianapolis; residency, oto-laryngology, Northwestern University MedicalSchool, Chicago and the University ofConnecticut School of Medicine.

Hospital acquiring a 64-slice PET-CT scanner By October, The Hospital of Central Connecticut expects to start using a new $3.8 million, 64-slicePET-CT scanner, which combines two state-of-the-art technologies into one machine. Since2006, the hospital has relied on a mobile PET-CT scanner which visited the NewBritain General campus weekly. The new scanner is far more advanced, and will maketests more quickly and readily available to patients.

“This advanced combined scanner will add significantly to our imaging technologycapabilities toward diagnosing and staging different conditions and diseases,” saysSidney Ulreich, M.D., chief of Radiology.

The high-speed PET-CT scanner produces images with precise anatomic detail, providing quick resultsand shorter testing time. It’s used to identify varied diseases and conditions, develop treatment plans andgauge treatment progress. Specifically, the PET scanner detects metabolic (chemical) changes of cells in aparticular area of the body or an organ, and is often used for cancer studies. The 64-slice CT scannerproduces images which can be manipulated into different views (3-D) of body structures, including boneand soft tissue, in just seconds. The PET and CT scan functions may be used independently or combined.

PET-CT applications at The Hospital of Central Connecticut include studies related to coronary arterydisease and cancer treatment planning.

The Hospital of CentralConnecticut will

acquire a $3.8 million64-slice PET-CT scanner

at its New BritainGeneral campus. (Photo

courtesy of GEHealthcare.)


newsbriefs

Monitoring system helps diagnose cardiac arrhythmias

An 85-year-old New Britain woman became the first in the state to be implantedwith the Sleuth ECG Monitoring System, the first wireless, implantable system forcontinuous, long-term monitoring of electrocardiogram (cardiac rhythm) data.

The April implantation was conducted by James St. Pierre, M.D., F.A.C.C., inThe Hospital of Central Connecticut’s cardiac catheterization suite. TransomaMedical, Inc., of St. Paul, Minn., manufactures the Sleuth.

The system monitors patients suffering from unexplained syncope (fainting),providing accurate, timely diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) data to helpphysicians evaluate cardiac rhythm disorders.

The Sleuth system is a thin medical device placed under the skin near theshoulder. It continuously gathers ECG data, then forwards the information to amonitoring center.

Unlike some other monitoring systems, the Sleuth does not require thepatient to wave a device over the unit at the onset of syncope. Because Sleuthmonitoring center technicians constantly review data for irregularities, patientsand physicians no longer need to wait for periodically scheduled office visits toobtain diagnostic data.

Hospital launches bar coding to ensurepatient safety

The bar-coding and scanning technology that revolutionized the retail industryis now enhancing patient safety at The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

Each patient’s paper medication record has been replaced with an electron-ic medication record (eMAR) listing the patient’s medications, dosages andother treatment information. A unique bar code is now on each patient’s IDband and the medications ordered for that patient.

Before the patient is given any prescribed medication, the nurse or respira-tory therapist scans the bar codes. The systems help verify that the rightpatient is receiving the right medication, correct dose, via the correct route(oral, IV, etc.) and at the right time.

The new eMAR and bar coding systems have been implemented in thehospital’s inpatient units and will soon be expanded to some outpatient areas.

Joslin program recognized

The American DiabetesAssociation has awardedcontinued education recog-nition of the diabetes self-management program to the Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut. Joslin instructors, including certified diabetes educators (reg-istered dietitians and registered nurses), exercise physiologists and a social work-er, teach patients self-care skills as part of their treatment plans.

Surgeons first inGreater Hartford toimplant spinal device

Two Hospital of CentralConnecticut spine surgeons arethe first in Greater Hartford toimplant a motion-preservingspinal device being tested as analternative to spinal fusion.

HCC neurosurgeon AhmedKhan, M.D., and Torrington-based orthopedic surgeon LaneSpero, M.D., implanted theStabilimax NZ® Dynamic SpineStabilization System into a 55-year-old Clinton man sufferingfrom lumbar spinal stenosis, apainful narrowing of the spine.The surgery was performedJune 5 at The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut.

HCC is one of 20 sitesnationwide – and the onlyConnecticut hospital – partici-pating in a randomized clinicaltrial to compare the StabilimaxNZ to traditional fusion sur-gery. Khan, principal investiga-tor, Spero, co-investigator, andclinical research nurse CathyCouch, R.N., are participating.

Fusion, the traditional sur-gery for stenosis, stabilizes thespine but can limit movementand add pressure to adjoiningdiscs. The Stabilimax NZ, man-ufactured by New Haven,Conn.-based Applied SpineTechnologies Inc., is designedto decrease the types of move-ment that cause pain whileallowing bending and twisting.


Hospital wins multiple advertising awards

The Hospital of Central Connecticut won 14 awardsfor its marketing efforts from the New EnglandSociety of Healthcare Communicators (NESHCo),a professional association representing healthcareorganizations and agencies.

The hospital won five gold NESHCo LamplighterAwards for its: “Where Families Are Born” TV commer-cial; physician relations materials; “Working as One,” video high-lighting the year’s activities for hospital corporators and donors; “Less Pain, More Gain” printads promoting the hospital's orthopedic services; and a color photograph used for a handhygiene poster campaign.

The hospital won two silver NESHCo Lamplighter Awards for its “Less Pain, More Gain”campaign — one for a TV commercial and another for billboards; and a silver award for itsemployee newsletter.

In addition, the hospital received three Lamplighter Awards of Excellence for its: “WhereFamilies Are Born radio spots, print ads and color photography; and three additionalExcellence awards for its physician newsletter, feature writing and “Less Pain, More Gain”total marketing campaign.

Just as a building foundation can crumble,so too can our backs — the body’s founda-tion — when our bones are weakened andfractured from osteoporosis.

These painful breaks, crippling forsome victims, are known as spinal com-pression fractures. Vertebroplasty, a mini-mally invasive procedure, uses cement tomend and stabilize the fractures, often pro-viding long-lasting pain relief. In mostcases, the condition is brought on byosteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease thatturns once strong bones into brittle,sponge-like matter. Bone can also beweakened by cancer or trauma.

“Vertebroplasty is really the method oftreatment for fractures caused by osteo-porosis or tumors,” says Kevin Dickey, M.D.,director of Interventional Radiology at TheHospital of Central Connecticut. “For peo-ple with osteoporosis, the normal stressof everyday living will cause the weakbone structure within the vertebral bodyto compress and break,” he says, notingthat females aged 75 to 85 are the mostlikely to undergo the procedure.

Mary Johnson, 79, of New Britainremembers having to take frequentbreaks from doing household chores,like washing dishes, because of backpain from osteoporosis. “I would haveto sit down and rest and go back towhat I was doing,” she says.

Her primary care doctor recom-mended vertebroplasty, which Hospitalof Central Connecticut interventionalradiologist Bennett Kashdan, M.D.,performed on Johnson in March.

Vertebroplasty is most appropriatein treating a newer fracture and onenot responsive to medications, withpain lasting more than one or two months,says Dickey. Spinal compression fracturescan be viewed on X-ray but an MRI candistinguish a more recent fracture.

Patients receive local anesthesia forthe typically one-hour procedure which canbe done on an outpatient basis. Guided byX-ray, a tiny incision is made into the backand one or two needles are inserted intobone of the vertebral body. A small amountof cement, which strengthens the vertebrae

and can prevent future fractures in treatedareas, is then injected through the needlesinto the fracture. More than one vertebraecan be treated during a procedure.

Most patients feel pain relief within48 hours after the procedure and canresume normal activities right away.Johnson says her recovery was almostimmediate. “After the procedure I waswalking straight up,” she says, noting thiswas not possible before vertebroplasty.

Vertebroplasty treats painful spinal fractures By Kimberly Gensicki

The darker area shown on this spinal compressionfracture is the cement used to mend and stabilize thecondition, most often brought on by osteoporosis.

Golf tournamentsraise nearly $90,000The 18th Annual Bradley MemorialGolf Tournament May 28 raised over$30,000 for programs and services atThe Hospital of Central Connecticut’sBradley Memorial campus, the high-est amount ever. The New BritainGeneral campus Auxiliary’s 18thAnnual Golf Tournament June 10raised more than $58,000 for theNew Britain General campusEmergency Department expansionand renovation. Both events drewhundreds of golfers and many enthu-siastic volunteers, along with dozensof generous sponsors.

Complete care. For

baby &mom.

The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut

at New Britain General

www.thocc.org New mom Gina Watson and her daughter Kate, a recent arrival at the Family BirthPlace.

When it’s time to have a baby, you want a hospital that has allthe services that you and your baby may need. That’s why somany moms choose The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

We offer everything from infertility specialists to specialnurseries — and neonatologists 24/7 for those babies who needa little extra attention. Along with top doctors, skilled andcompassionate nurses, and some special touches for the proudparents, including private rooms and a surf and turf dinner tohelp you celebrate your new arrival.

The Family BirthPlace at The Hospital of Central

Connecticut. Where families are born. For a physician

referral, call 800-321-6244. For a free baby bib, call

1-888-224-4440.

calendarofevents support groups, classes & health screenings

Wellness Programs & ClassesBARIATRIC SURGERY INFORMATION SESSIONSDr. Carlos Barba, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9,6:15 p.m., Cafeteria, New Britain Generalcampus, registration required, 1-866-668-5070.

Dr. David Giles, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, 6:15 p.m.,Cafeteria, New Britain General campus,registration required, 1-866-668-5070.

WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS WEIGHT LOSSPROGRAMS INFORMATION SESSIONDr. Thomas Lane, Oct. 23, 6:15 p.m., LectureRoom 1 or 2, New Britain General campus,registration required, 1-866-668-5070.

PRE-DIABETES CLASSMeets the 3rd Wednesday of each month,4-5 p.m., for newly diagnosed patientsonly, $40, registration is required, andpayment (cash or check) is due theevening of the class. For more informationor to register please call 860-224-5900.

QUITTING TIMEA smoking cessation class held onMondays Sept. 8—Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m.,Dining Room A, New Britain General campus, 860-224-5433.

YOGAMeets weekly on Tuesdays, Sept. 2–Nov.4, Nov. 18–Jan. 20 and Thursdays, Aug.28–Oct. 30, Nov. 13–Jan. 29 New BritainGeneral campus, call for time and location,860-224-5433.

Informational LecturesLUNCH & LEARN AT BRADLEY MEMORIAL CAMPUSSponsored by the Connecticut Center forHealthy Aging. Noon, Conf. Rm A, BradleyMemorial campus, registration requiredand begins the 1st of each month for that month’s lunch and learn program860-276-5293.

STROKES—SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, RISK FAC-TORS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISEOct. 16, presenters, Kristen Hickey, RN,BSN, MSN, stroke coordinator, The Hospitalof Central Connecticut. Also exercise pro-fessionals from The Hospital of CentralConnecticut and the YMCA. Stroke is the thirdleading cause of death and leaves manysurvivors debilitated. Learn the signs, symptomsand risk factors of a stroke and find outhow exercise can reduce your risk of hav-ing a stroke or preventing a second stroke.

LOW VISIONNovember 20, presenters, Melissa Knicker-bocker, OTR/L and David Santoro, MBA,OT/L, will discuss functional independencein the daily activities for people with lowvision and community resources available.

HOLISTIC HEALTH AND WELLNESSDecember 18, presenters, Anne Minor, RN,Holistic Health and Nurse, Kate Keefe. Anoverview of alternative techniques (thera-peutic touch, caring presence, yoga, t’ai chi,reiki, massage) used in the treatment forpain reduction, care, and comfort. Educationon use of alternative techniques for end-of-life care and for improving functional per-formance for those with memory-impair-ment and dementia will also be discussed.

LUNCH & LEARN AT NEW BRITAIN GENERAL CAMPUSNoon, Lecture Room 2, New BritainGeneral campus, registration required and begins the 1st of each month for that month’s lunch and learn program,860-224-5278.

HOME CARE FOR SENIORSOct. 9, presenter, Melanie Sevetz, directorCustomer Relations, Companions &Homemakers. What everyone should knowabout hiring in-home caregivers for theirelderly loved one.

TAKING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONSNovember 13, are you or is someone youknow taking multiple medications? Comelearn about the issues that could arise andlearn some practical tips to discuss withyour doctors and your pharmacists.

GRIEF AND STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON December 11, presenter, Alan Guire,MSW. Don’t miss the opportunity to dis-cuss the stresses of the holiday seasonand coping skills.

2008-09 Health WisdomLecture SeriesAll lectures are free, and presented in thecafeteria at The Hospital of CentralConnecticut’s New Britain General campus.Start time is 6:30 p.m. with light refresh-ments available at 6:15. To reserve yourseat at the following fall sessions, pleasecall 1-888-224-4440.

BREAST CANCER: NEW WAYS TO FIND AND FIGHT ITOct. 22, Stephen Grund, M.D., George BrayCancer Center. Learn how advances in diagno-sis and treatment are making breast cancerone of the most treatable cancers today.

STOP “BRAIN ATTACKS” IN THEIR TRACKSNov. 12, Kristen Hickey, the hospital’sStroke Program coordinator will discussstroke risk factors, how to recognize strokesymptoms and stroke treatments.

Support GroupsANGER MANAGEMENT THERAPY GROUP Meets weekly on Tuesdays, 4 p.m.,Counseling Center, 50 Griswold Street,New Britain, 860-224-5804.

BARIATRIC SUPPORT GROUPMeets the first Thursday of each month,Oct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m., LectureRoom 1, New Britain General campus,860-224-5453.


If you plan to attend an event, please call ahead, as dates or times may change.

continued on page 22


Calendar continued from page 21

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPMeets every other Tuesday, 5:30–7 p.m.,and the second and fourth Thursdayseach month, 2:30–4 p.m. New BritainGeneral campus, for an appointment con-tact Alan Guire, 860-224-5900, x6573.

DEPRESSION THERAPY GROUPWednesdays, 4 p.m., New Britain Generalcampus, Counseling Center, 50 Griswold St.,New Britain, free parking, insurance required,registration required. 860-224-5804.

DIABETES SUPPORT GROUPMorning Groups: Oct. 13, Nov. 10,Dec. 15, 10–11:30 a.m.Evening Groups: Oct. 8, Nov. 12,Dec. 10, 5:30–7 p.m.Joslin Diabetes Center classroom, NewBritain General campus, 860-224-5672 or 1-888-456-7546.

EATING DISORDER THERAPY GROUPWednesdays, 4 p.m., New Britain Generalcampus, Counseling Center, 50 Griswold St.,New Britain, free parking, insurance required,registration required. 860-224-5804.

LIVING WITH CANCER SUPPORT GROUPMeets third Wednesday of each month,5:30–7 p.m., Lecture Room 1, New BritainGeneral campus. New members pleasecall 860-224-5299.

LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUPTuesdays, 1 p.m. & Fridays, 3:30 p.m.,New Britain General campus, CounselingCenter, 50 Griswold St., New Britain, freeparking, insurance required, registrationrequired, 860-224-5804.

MOMS MILK GROUPA breastfeeding support group held everyWednesday, 10–11 a.m. in the New BritainGeneral campus Family BirthPlace lounge.For more information call 860-224-5226.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUPPORT GROUP Meets the 3rd Monday of every month,7 p.m., Conference Room A, BradleyMemorial campus, 860-276-5088.PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month,6–7:30 p.m., Lecture Room 1, light supper,free parking, call to confirm meeting,860-224-5299.

Childbirth EducationBABYSITTING COURSENov. 28, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dec. 30,8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Bradley Memorialcampus, 860-276-5088.

BREAST FEEDING CLASSESOct. 16, Dec. 11, 7–9 p.m., Lecture Room 2, New Britain General campus,860-224-5433.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION/LAMAZEA 6-week class held on Mondays, Sept.8—Oct. 13, Nov. 3–Dec. 8 or Wednesdays,Sept. 10—Oct. 15, Nov. 5–Dec. 10,Lecture Room 2, 7–9:30 p.m., New BritainGeneral campus, 860-224-5433.

FAMILY BIRTHPLACE TOUROffered one Sunday a month, Oct. 19,Nov. 23, Dec. 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m., LectureRoom 2, New Britain General campus,860-224-5433.

SIBLING CLASSESPresentation and tour of the FamilyBirthPlace for siblings of the new baby.Offered one Saturday each month,Oct. 18, Nov. 22, Dec. 20, 12 noon–1p.m., Lecture Room 2, New Britain Generalcampus, 860-224-5433.

Health ScreeningsCHOLESTEROL, BLOOD PRESSURE AND GLUCOSE Oct. 29, Nov. 26, Dec. 31, 9–11 a.m.,Lobby, by appt. $15, personal checks orexact cash only, please, Bradley Memorialcampus, 860-224-5433.

CHOLESTEROL, BLOOD PRESSURE AND GLUCOSE Oct. 7, Dec. 9, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Oct. 23,Nov. 13, 4–6 p.m., Lobby, by appt, $15,personal checks or exact cash only, NewBritain General campus, 860-224-5433.

VASCULAR Mondays 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., $50, byappointment only, New Britain Generalcampus, to schedule call 860-224-5193.

CPRHEARTSAVER CPR FOR ADULT/CHILD/INFANTOct. 28, Nov. 19, 6–9:30 p.m., BradleyMemorial campus, 860-276-5088.

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT INSTRUCTORCOURSE DISCIPLINEOct. 8 & Oct 21, 6–10 p.m., must attend both sessions, Bradley Memorial campus,860-276-5088.

FAMILY & FRIENDS CPR FOR ALL AGESOct. 9, Nov. 5, Dec. 11, 6–9 p.m., BradleyMemorial campus, 860-276-5088.Nov. 13, 5:30–8:30 p.m., New BritainGeneral campus, 860-276-5088.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RECERTIFICATION CPROct. 30, Nov. 26, Dec. 10, 6–9:30 p.m.,Bradley Memorial campus, 860-276-5088.

HEARTSAVER FIRST AIDOct. 15, Nov. 4, 6–9:30 p.m., BradleyMemorial campus, 860-276-5088.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CPROct. 2, Nov. 6, Dec. 3, 6–10 p.m., BradleyMemorial campus, 860-276-5088.

HEARTSAVER FIRST AID & ADULT/CHILD CPRDec. 18, 6–10:30 p.m., Bradley Memorial campus, 860-276-5088

PEDIATRIC FIRST AID & CPR FOR DAYCARE PROVIDERS Oct. 18, 8–4:30 p.m., Bradley Memorial campus, 860-276-5088.


AnesthesiologyHanumanthaiah Balakrishna, M.D.Anil K. Bhardwaj, MDKenneth R. Colliton, M.D.Gregory Fauteux, M.D.Mohan K. Kasaraneni, M.D.Steven S. Kron, M.D.Michael Loiacono, D.O.Brian P. Reilly, M.D.John M. Satterfield, M.D.Neil N. Seong, M.D.Angela L. Smith, D.O.

Bariatric SurgeryCarlos A. Barba, M.D.David L. Giles, M.D.

CardiologyRobert J. Ardesia, M.D.Ellison Berns, M.D.Ovanes H. Borgonos, M.D.Robert Borkowski, M.D.Sanjayant R. Chamakura, M.D.Patrick Corcoran, M.D.Robert C. DeBiase, M.D.Joseph Dell’Orfano, M.D.Jared M. Insel, M.D.Ajoy Kapoor, M.D.Manny C. Katsetos, M.D.Jeffrey Kluger, M.D.Alan M. Kudler, M.D.Inku K. Lee, M.D.Neal Lippman, M.D.Robert D. Malkin, M.D.Joseph E. Marakovits, M.D.Jan R. Paris, M.D.Milton J. Sands, M.D.Joseph B. Sappington, M.D.James F. St. Pierre, M.D.Aneesh Tolat, M.D.Henry N. Ward, M.D.Morgan S. Werner, M.D.Michael Whaley, M.D.

Colon/Rectal SurgerySaumitra R. Banerjee, M.D.Christine M. Bartus, M.D.Steven H. Brown, M.D.David A. Cherry, M.D.Jeffrey L. Cohen, M.D.Christina Czyrko, M.D.Kristina H. Johnson, MDMaria C. Mirth, M.D.Maurizio D. Nichele, M.D.William P. Pennoyer, M.D.William V. Sardella, M.D.Paul V. Vignati, M.D.David L. Walters, M.D.

DermatologyGlenn S. Gart, M.D.Caron Grin, M.D.Allen D. Kallor, M.D.Christopher W. Norwood, M.D.Mark D. Pennington, M.D.Joseph Weiss, M.D.

Diagnostic RadiologySungkee Ahn, M.D.Neal D. Barkoff, M.D.Jeffrey S. Blau, M.D.Anita L. Bourque, M.D.Kim M. Callwood, M.D.Bolivia T. Davis, M.D.Kevin W. Dickey, M.D.Ellen P. Donshik, M.D.Jay R. Duxin, M.D.Joel Gelber, M.D.Robert Gendler, M.D.Abner S. Gershon, M.D.Julie S. Gershon, M.D.Alfred G. Gladstone, M.D.Scott Glasser, M.D.Richard D. Glisson, D.O.Eric R. Gorny, M.D.Michael Hallisey, M.D.Henry Janssen, M.D.Bennett J. Kashdan, M.D.Nadia J. Khati-Boughanem, M.D.Wanda M. Kirejczyk, M.D.Tania M. Marchand, M.D.Todd A. Meister, M.D.Dena L. Miller, MDRoy L. Moss, M.D.Ari I. Salis, M.D.Alisa S. Siegfeld, M.D.Erik M. Stien, MDSteven A. Stier, M.D.Ethiopia Teferra, MDSidney Ulreich, M.D.Arvinder Uppal, M.D.Max L. Wallace, M.D.Jean M. Weigert, M.D.

Emergency MedicineTerrence Bugai, M.D.David A. Buono, M.D.Ronald Clark, M.D.Adam Corrado, MDMaria Cristofaro, M.D.Dennis Dolce, M.D.Jayson L. Eversgerd, D.O.Jeffrey A. Finkelstein, M.D.Louis G. Graff, M.D.Mark D. Hagedorn, M.D.Steven D. Hanks, M.D.Rene A. Hipona, M.D.Eric H. Hobert, M.D.

William Karp, M.D.Edward H. Kim, M.D.Dennis A. Laird, M.D.John C. McDonagh, MDConstantine G. Mesologites, M.D.David A. Mucci, M.D.Ryan B. Murphy, MDLouis Pito, M.D.Marc N. Roy, M.D.Paul E. Russo, M.D.David L. Sciacca, MDJohn M. Sottile, M.D.Richard Steinmark, M.D.Mathew Thomas, M.D.Douglas R. Whipple, M.D.Jan Zislis, M.D.

EndocrinologyJames L. Bernene, M.D.Latha Dulipsingh, M.D.Youssef B. Khawaja, M.D.William A. Petit, M.D.Priya Phulwani, MDMichael S. Radin, M.D.Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D.

ENT, OtorhinolaryngologyMahesh H. Bhaya, M.D.Seth M. Brown, M.D.Robert A. Gryboski, M.D.George A. Melnik, M.D.Neil F. Schiff, M.D.Alden L. Stock, M.D.Donald S. Weinberg, M.D.

Family MedicineHartmut A. Doerwaldt, MDWilliam D. Farmer, M.D.Alicja J. Harbut, M.D.Alina I. Osnaga, M.D.James E. Seely, M.D.

GastroenterologyThomas J. Devers, M.D.Janet B. Dickinson, M.D.Joel J. Garsten, M.D.Ralph A. Giarnella, M.D.Barry J. Kemler, M.D.Bhupinder S. Lyall, M.D.Albert R. Marano, M.D.Eduardo G. Mari, M.D.David M. Sack, M.D.Edward P. Toffolon, M.D.Rosalind U. van Stolk, M.D.Mark R. Versland, M.D.Housein M. Wazaz, M.D.Ronald A. Zlotoff, M.D.

General DentistryDouglas J. Macko, D.M.D.

General PracticeAlbert J. DeNuzzio, M.D.Richard N. Goldberg, M.D.Nasim Toor, M.D.

General SurgeryAra D. Bagdasarian, M.D.Rainer W. Bagdasarian, M.D.Carlos A. Barba, M.D.Ovleto W. Ciccarelli, M.D.Terrence K. Donahue, M.D.Christian W. Ertl, M.D.James F. Flaherty, M.D.Clayton A. Frenzel, D.O.David L. Giles, M.D.Joseph C. Kambe, M.D.Peter D. Leff, M.D.James L. Massi, M.D.Jennifer N. McCallister, M.D.Robert S. Napoletano, M.D.Michael G. Posner, MDPatrick M. Rocco, M.D.Akella S. Sarma, M.D.Rekhinder Singh, M.D.Paul Straznicky, M.D.Eugene D. Sullivan, M.D.

Gynecologic OncologyAmy K. Brown, M.D.James S. Hoffman, M.D.

GynecologyOssama Bahgat, M.D.Robert Chmieleski, M.D.Pamela L. Manthous, M.D.Marco Morel, M.D.John C. Nulsen, M.D.Vincent H. Pepe, M.D.Leena G. Shah, M.D.Narendra Tohan, M.D.

Hand SurgeryTerrence K. Donohue, M.D.Michael T. LeGeyt, M.D.Ira L. Spahr, M.D.

Infectious DiseaseVirginia M. Bieluch, M.D.Jennifer A. Clark, M.D.Joseph G. Garner, M.D.Waleed Javaid, MDBrenda A. Nurse, M.D.

Internal MedicineAlfred R. Alberti, M.D.Rebecca A. Andrews, M.D.

Physicians at The Hospital of Central Connecticut


Physicians continued

Letterio Asciuto, M.D.Joseph A. Babiarz, M.D.Sanjay P. Barochia, M.D.Antoni Berger, M.D.Sudhir K. Bhatnagar, M.D.Craig Bogdanski, D.O.Larry Broisman, M.D.Thomas A. Brown, M.D.Stanislaw Chorzepa, D.O.Anthony D. Ciardella, M.D.Eugene Ciccone, M.D.Raymond L. D’Amato, M.D.Oliver B. Diaz, M.D.Robert M. Dodenhoff, M.D.Camilo Echanique, M.D.Othman El-Alami, M.D.Lenworth R. Ellis, M.D.Leonard C. Glaser, M.D.Kevin P. Greene, M.D.Michael R. Grey, M.D.Andrew D. Guest, M.D.Marwan S. Haddad, M.D.John J. Harbut, M.D.Peter J. Harris, M.D.Tatong Hemmaplardh, M.D.David S. Henry, M.D.Shiromini C. Herath, M.D.Catherine A. Holmes, M.D.Michael S. Honor, M.D.Shahnaz Hussain, M.D.Askari H. Jafri, M.D.Adnan A. Javaid, M.D.Jerzy S. Jedrychowski, M.D.Jeffrey M. Kagan, M.D.Neeraj K. Kalra, M.D.Lawrence W. Koch, M.D.Lucyna T. Kolakowska, M.D.Thomas J. Lane, M.D.Haklai P. Lau, M.D.John A. Lawson, M.D.Lance S. Lefkowitz, MDWalter D. Lehnhoff, D.O.Jonathan S. Lovins, M.D.Hazel V. Marzan, M.D.Gerald V. McAuliffe, M.D.Gary Miller, M.D.Navaratnasingam A. Mohanraj, M.D.Matthew B. Myers, M.D.Eric B. Newton, M.D.Long B. Nguyen, DOThomas M. Nguyen, MDJames M. O’Hara, M.D.Alkesh Patel, M.D.Jonathan P. Pendleton, M.D.Mark A. Piekarsky, M.D.Maryanna G. Polukhin, M.D.Ralph Prezioso, M.D.William G. Rabitaille, M.D.John E. Rivera, M.D.David P. Roy, M.D.Madura Saravanan, M.D.

John F. Scarfo, M.D.Earle J. Sittambalam, M.D.Angella E. Smith, M.D.Elizabeth Solano, M.D.Thomas J. Soltis, M.D.Barry S. Steckler, M.D.Albert B. Sun, M.D.Yi Sun, M.D.Robert L. Taddeo, M.D.Victorio G. Te, M.D.Beje S. Thomas, M.D.Katarzyna Wadolowski, M.D.Maud Ward, M.D.Neil H. Wasserman, M.D.Joel L. Wilken, D.O.Turgut Yetil, M.D.Stephen E. Zebrowski, M.D.

Med. Oncology/HematologyPeter D. Byeff, M.D.Brian J. Byrne, M.D.Barbara G. Fallon, M.D.Stephen H. Grund, M.D.Mansour S. Isckarus, M.D.Jeffrey M. Kamradt, M.D.William H. Pogue, M.D.Kenneth J. Smith, M.D.Virginia M. Tjan-Wettstein, M.D.

NephrologyMervet A. Abou El kair, M.D.Gregory K. Buller, M.D.Sanjay K. Fernando, M.D.Adam M. Goldstein, M.D.Charles W. Graeber, M.D.Susan E. Halley, M.D.Robert A. Lapkin, M.D.

NeurologyMarie-Anne Denayer, M.D.Halima El-Moslimany, MDMarc P. Kawalick, M.D.Alexander A. Komm, M.D.Andre Lerer, M.D.Wendy C. Lewandowski, M.D.Sujai (Ronald) Nath, M.D.Hamid Sami, M.D.Barry G. Spass, M.D.Robert S. Thorsen, M.D.

NeurosurgeryJoseph Aferzon, M.D.Edward W. Akeyson, M.D.Stephen F. Calderon, M.D.Bruce S. Chozick, M.D.Ahmed M. Khan, M.D.Inam U. Kureshi, M.D.Stephan C. Lange, M.D.Howard Lantner, M.D.Hilary C. Onyiuke, M.D.Richard H. Simon, M.D.

Stephen A. Torrey, M.D.Andrew E. Wakefield, M.D.

Obstetrics/GynecologyGretchen L. Allen, M.D.John W. Andreoli, M.D.Kyle A. Baker, M.D.Claudio Benadiva, M.D.Smita Bhagat, M.D.Jay M. Bolnick, M.D.Adam Borgida, M.D.Winston A. Campbell, M.D.Charles A. Cavo, D.O.Linda M. Chaffkin, M.D.William R. Crombleholme, M.D.Richard J. Dreiss, M.D.James F. Egan, M.D.R. Allen Glasmann, M.D.Sharon R. Goldberg, M.D.John F. Greene, M.D.Karen P. Haverly, M.D.Kirsten L. Kerrigan, M.D.Derek W. Kozlowski, M.D.Nicholas L. Lillo, M.D.Anthony A. Luciano, M.D.Danielle E. Luciano, M.D.Jeffrey J. Mihalek, M.D.Mary E. Mihalek, M.D.Anne-Marie Prabulos, M.D.Gerard M. Roy, M.D.David W. Schmidt, M.D.Joel I. Sorosky, M.D.David E. Sowa, M.D.Ursula Steadman, M.D.Paul Tulikangas, M.D.Garry W. Turner, M.D.

Occupational HealthAngelina L. Jacobs, M.D.Sandor Nagy, M.D.

OphthalmologyRonald C. Bezahler, M.D.Perin W. Diana, M.D.Edward P. Fitzpatrick, M.D.William C. Hall, M.D.Jay E. Hellreich, M.D.Steven R. Hunter, M.D.Patricia A. McDonald, M.D.Kevin D. McMahon, M.D.Robert J. Ouellette, M.D.Sarit M. Patel, M.D.Mary Gina Ratchford, M.D.Charles R. Robinson, M.D.Martin C. Seremet, M.D.Ijaz Shafi, M.D.Farid F. Shafik, M.D.Alan L. Stern, M.D.

Oral Surgery/Gen. DentistryStephen J. Bosco, D.M.D.

Robert J. Dess, D.M.D.Dennis S. Gianoli, D.D.S.Fredric R. Googel, D.M.D.Charles F. Guelakis, D.D.S.Richard V. Niego, D.M.D.David M. Sheintop, D.M.D.Celeste Wegrzyn, D.M.D.

OrthopedicsJeffrey A. Bash, M.D.David A. Belman, M.D.Robert M. Belniak, M.D.Robert J. Carangelo, M.D.Russell A. Chiappetta, M.D.Jon C. Driscoll, M.D.Robert P. Dudek, M.D.Richard L. Froeb, M.D.Frank J. Gerratana, M.D.Charles B. Kime, M.D.Leonard A. Kolstad, M.D.Michael T. LeGeyt, M.D.Timothy McLaughlin, M.D.Ronald S. Paret, M.D.Stephen L. Pillsbury, M.D.Jeffrey T. Pravda, M.D.Richard F. Scarlett, M.D.Joseph M. Sohn, M.D.Balazs B. Somogyi, M.D.Ira L. Spar, M.D.Lane D. Spero, M.D.Jeffrey B. Steckler, M.D.Joshua A. Stein, M.D.Robert S. Waskowitz, M.D.Frederick J. Watson, M.DPaul H. Zimmering, M.D.

Pain ManagementArpad S. Fejos, M.D.Eric D. Grahling, M.D.Roshni N. Patel, M.D.

PathologyBarry G. Jacobs, M.D.David J. Krugman, M.D.Lisa A. Laird, M.D.Harold Sanchez, M.D.Lakshmi A. Sarma, M.D.Alexandre A. Vdovenko, M.D.

Pediatric AllergyBhushan C. Gupta, M.D.

Pediatric CardiologyRichard Berning, M.D.Daniel Diana, M.D.Felice Heller, M.D.V. Ramesh Iyer, M.D.Seth Lapuk, M.D.Harris Leopold, M.D.Olga H. Toro-Salazar, M.D.Alicia Wang, M.D.

Pediatric DentistryAmmar A. Idlibi, D.M.D.Eduardo Rostenberg, D.M.D.W. Fred Thal, D.D.S.

Pediatric GeneticsRobert M. Greenstein, M.D.

Pediatric NeonatologyAntoinetta M. Capriglione, M.D.Daniel Langford, M.D.Scott A. Weiner, M.D.Pediatric NeurologyRobert L. Cerciello, M.D.Francis J. DiMario, M.D.Carol R. Leicher, M.D.

Pediatric PulmonologyAnita Bhandari, M.D.Craig D. Lapin, M.D.Craig M. Schramm, M.D.

PediatricsSusan A. Adeyinka, M.D.Leslie P. Beal, M.D.Arthur T. Blumer, M.D.Tamika T. Brierley, M.D.William J. Brownstein, M.D.William J. Currao, M.D.Lynn M. Czekai, M.D.Sari K. Friedman, M.D.Holly A. Frost, M.D.Angela G. Geddis, M.D.Nancy B. Holyst, M.D.Saima N. Jafri, D.O.Norine T. Kanter, M.D.A. E. Hertzler Knox, M.D.Brian A. Lamoureux, M.D.Ellen B. Leonard, M.D.

Noelle M. Leong, M.DMatteo Lopreiato, M.D.Maureen N. Onyirimba, M.D.Alpa R. Patel, M.D.Mark Peterson, M.D.Foster I. Phillips, M.D.Marc P. Ramirez, M.D.Jonathan R. Reidel, M.D.George E. Skarvinko, M.D.Teresa M. Szajda, M.D.John B. G. Trouern-Trend, M.D.Sara R. Viteri, M.D.Thomas G. Ward, M.D.

Physical Med. & Rehab.Steven G. Beck, M.D.Paul F. Cerza, M.D.Robert C. Pepperman, M.D.William Pesce, D.O.

Plastic SurgeryAlan Babigian, M.D.Steven A. Belinkie, M.D.Stephen A. Brown, M.D.Bruce E. Burnham, M.D.Charles Castiglione, M.D.Alex C. Cech, M.D.Rajiv Y. Chandawarkar, M.D.Armann O. Ciccarelli, M.D.Orlando DeLucia, M.D.Steven S. Smith, M.D.

PodiatryTina A. Boucher, D.P.M.Richard S. Cutler, D.P.M.Odin de Los Reyes, D.P.M.Thomas W. Donohue, D.P.M.Richard E. Ehle, D.P.M.John M. Gaetano, D.P.M.

Gary P. Jolly, D.P.M.Craig Kaufman, D.P.M.Filza Khan, D.P.M.Eric Lui, D.P.M.David M. Roccapriore, D.P.M.Ashley K. Shepard, D.P.M.Kevin J. Souza, D.P.M.Joseph R. Treadwell, D.P.M.Leo M. Veleas, D.P.M.

PsychiatryAhmad Almai, M.D.Michael E. Balkunas, M.D.Bryan V. Boffi, M.D.Maria M. Dacosta, M.D.Aileen F. Feldman, M.D.Neil Liebowitz, M.D.Edgardo D. Lorenzo, M.D.J. P. Augustine Noonan, M.D.Rekha Ranade-Kapur, M.D.Jeffrey S. Robbins, M.D.Javier Salabarria, M.D.Susan Savulak, M.D.Gerson M. Sternstein, M.D.Bollepalli Subbarao, M.D.Dale J. Wallington, M.D.

PulmonaryCurtland C. Brown, M.D.Michael G. Genovesi, M.D.Richard P. Giosa, M.D.Joseph A. Harrison, M.D.Michael J. McNamee, M.D.Laurence Nair, M.D.Steven R. Prunk, M.D.Paul J. Scalise, M.D.Richard A. Smith, M.D.Kevin W. Watson, M.D.

Radiation OncologyLaDonna J. Dakofsky, M.D.Neal B. Goldberg, M.D.Anwar M. Khan, M.D.Allen B. Silberstein, M.D.Joseph Weissberg, M.D.

RheumatologyMicha Abeles, M.D.Edward J. Feinglass, M.D.Nicholas B. Formica, M.D.Christopher K. Manning, M.D.

Thoracic SurgeryCharles B. Beckman, M.D.Surendra K. Chawla, M.D.Patrick M. Rocco, M.D.

UrologyCorlis L. Archer-Goode, M.D.Robert A. Ave’Lallemant, M.D.Paul J. Ceplenski, M.D.Raphael M. Cooper, M.D.Peter F. D’Addario, M.D.Michael A. Fischman, M.D.Howard I. Hochman, M.D.Keith A. Kaplan, M.D.Jill M. Peters-Gee, M.D.Adine F. Regan, M.D.Rafael S. Wurzel, M.D.

Vascular SurgeryScott R. Fecteau, M.D.Robert S. Napoletano, M.D.Steven T. Ruby, M.D.Akella Sarma, M.D.


One number. Hundreds of great doctors.Finding a great doctor is as easy as dialing the phone when you call The Hospital of Central

Connecticut’s Need a Physician line. We’ll help you find the right physician, whether you’re

seeking a specialist, or someone to provide primary care for you and your family.

Call 1-800-321-6244 Or, search on line at www.thocc.org

treatingyourself good things — that are good for you

Did you ever remember a dreamupon waking, only to forget it

later in the day? Writing down yourdreams in a journal shortly after youwake up may help you to preservethem, along with other wakingmemories you’d like to capture.

Journal writing is a healthy activi-ty that can also help in dealing withlife’s trying times, says psychologistMelissa Santos of The Hospital ofCentral Connecticut.

Writing is like therapy, saysSantos, Ph.D., since it helps affirm tothe author what one is writing about.

“I think anybody can do ‘journal-ing,’”she says, noting that some peoplefind it hard to verbalize their thoughts.“When writing it down, peoplewon’t feel like they’re being judgedas much. They can dream more andclarify their dreams and goals.”

Studies indicate that writingabout life’s experiences can improveone’s health in a variety of ways. Astudy in Advances in PsychiatricTreatment says writing about difficultoccurrences, including those that aretraumatic and stressful, leads to bet-ter physical and mental health.Another study, says Santos, foundthat people who jotted down whatthey were grateful for several timesa week had increased happiness injust three weeks.

Santos encourages many of herpatients, especially those with eatingdisorders, to keep journals. It helpsthem focus on how their thoughtssurround eating patterns. Somepatients write thoughts and descrip-tive statements about themselves,which they share and discuss withSantos. Others keep success jour-nals.“They can look back and feel

good about what they’ve accom-plished in their lives,”she says.

Writing may even help anxious ordepressed patients snap out of theirsituations, in part because of thefreedom associated with creating.“They write it down and then theylet it go.”

Journals can also provide a senseof history. A mother who pensentries about her children may laterpresent these stories as gifts to herchildren who, adds Santos, will likelygain a new perspective of their

mother once having turned thepages.

The journals themselves might besimple tablets, cloth-bound books orready-made from book stores. Wordsof advice from Santos: “Write fromyour heart. Don’t censor yourself.That’s when you get to your truegoals, dreams.”

“The hope of journaling is thatit helps you ‘de-stress’ and givesyou hope,”she says.“It allows youto capture memories and points inyour life.”Y

Writing your dream catcher


By Kimberly Gensicki

HP/92K/9-08

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