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meridian health Join the Community ... Keep Your Nervous System Healthy ... The Monmouth and Ocean County Multiple Sclerosis Support Community, that is. Sponsored by Meridian Health, this FREE Web site provides a forum for those diagnosed with MS, as well as those who care for someone with this condition. Comment in discussion boards, learn about the latest treatments, and get tips for living with MS. Visit www.MeridianHealth.com/support/ms to get started. Approximately 50 million people in this country suffer from damage to the nervous system. Multiple sclerosis, migraines, stroke, and epilepsy are just a few of the more than 600 neurological disorders that can affect your quality of life — and sometimes even cause death. The hospitals of Meridian Health use sophisticated technology to diagnose these conditions, rapid and effective procedures to treat them, and outpatient rehabilitation care to help manage them. What’s more, nationally accredited Stroke Centers have been developed at each hospital. Ocean Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center have also achieved state designations as Primary Stroke Centers, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. They each received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, meaning they meet the highest national standards for safety and quality. That’s something fewer than 5 percent of hospitals in the nation can claim. Here, you can learn more about common neurological conditions — and how we can help. Managing Multiple Sclerosis Approximately 2,000 people in Monmouth and Ocean counties are living with multiple sclerosis (MS). “MS is a disease of the central nervous system that damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects nerve cells,” says Paul Gilson, M.D., a neurologist at Ocean Medical Center. “That damage interferes with messages between the brain and the body.” As a result, a person with MS may experience: • Blurred or double vision • Muscle weakness • Difficulty with coordination and balance • Feelings of numbness or “pins and needles” • Fatigue • Problems with memory, concentration, and attention The disease is mild for many people, but in more severe instances, it can render patients unable to write, speak, or walk. Many patients with MS experience unpredictable remissions, where they have fewer or no symptoms at all, followed by relapse. 24 Meridian Health | MeridianHealth.com | 1-800-DOCTORS
meridian health “Treatment for each patient is decided upon based on their individual symptoms,” says Dr. Gilson. These treatments — all of which are available at Ocean — may include: • Steroids to reduce the length and severity of MS attacks, although exactly how they work is unknown • Injections of disease-modifying therapies, which may decrease myelin destruction • Tysabri (a possible option for patients who do not respond to conventional therapies), which stops certain cells of the immune system from damaging the brain and spinal cord A Breakthrough Treatment for Migraines When a migraine headache strikes, the pain and throbbing can be unbearable. For some, it may last a few hours. For others, it can go on for a few days. In addition to an intense headache, migraine sufferers may also experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. A lot isn’t known about migraines. The majority of migraine sufferers are women, probably due to hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle. The exact cause of migraines is also unknown. Blood vessels in the brain may become inflamed and press on nerves, causing pain. Traditionally, migraines are treated with over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription medications called triptans. Riverview Medical Center now offers a brand-new treatment for migraine sufferers: botulinum toxin, or Botox. ® “Botox was discovered as a way to prevent migraines when people receiving it to reduce wrinkles reported that it also helped their headaches,” says Noah Gilson, M.D., of Riverview Medical Center. “Researchers believe that it may work by stopping the release of certain chemicals in the brain responsible for causing migraines.” Sophisticated Stroke Interventions When stroke happens, every minute counts. “Getting treated within the first 4.5 hours can limit the damaging effects of stroke,” says Ronald Benitez, M.D., of Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “It’s important to be able to identify the signs of stroke in yourself or someone you know right away.” Signs include: • Numbness or weakness on one side of the body • Confusion • Trouble seeing or walking • Severe headache Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Comprehensive Stroke Center is able to mobilize a stroke rescue team that evaluates and treats stroke patients immediately. The Center also features biplane digital imaging equipment, which provides fast and accurate images to diagnose and treat aneurysms, hemorrhages, and complex strokes. It offers sophisticated technologies, including the Merci Retrieval System and the Penumbra System. “These systems help the endovascular surgeon remove, rather than dissolve, blood clots from the brains of patients suffering strokes,” says Dr. Benitez. Treating Pediatric Epilepsy Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells in the brain sometimes signal abnormally, causing seizures. About 2 million Americans have had a seizure or have been diagnosed with epilepsy, and around 300,000 of those with epilepsy are children younger than 14. “Some children eventually grow out it,” explains Rajesh Sachdeo, M.D., pediatric neurologist at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “But for others, it can be a lifelong condition.” What causes epilepsy? For 70 percent of patients, doctors do not know. For the rest, the cause is related to something that affects how the brain works, such as: • Head injuries • Lack of oxygen during birth or problems in brain development before birth • Brain tumors • Genetic conditions • Infections like meningitis or encephalitis • Lead poisoning “Epilepsy is often treated with medications that prevent seizures,” says Dr. Sachdeo. “When medications fail, doctors may do surgery to remove the areas of the brain in which seizures occur.” Sometimes a specialized diet very high in fats and very low in carbohydrates is recommended. This diet has been found to be particularly effective for treating children with epilepsy. • about the doctors Ronald Benitez, M.D. Board certified in Neurosurgery Neptune | 973-285-7800 Noah R. Gilson, M.D. Board certified in Neurology West Long Branch | 732-935-1850 Paul J. Gilson, M.D. Neurology Brick | 732-840-4666 Rajesh C. Sachdeo, M.D. Board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology Neptune | 732-776-4551 ❯ More Information at Your Fingertips Have you visited our Wellness Center? The FREE online Wellness Center is jam-packed with additional information about all of these neurological conditions, plus interactive tools, including animations and quizzes to help you understand more about a condition. To start exploring, visit WellnessCenter.MeridianHealth.com. 25 Meridian HealthViews November/December 2009
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