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A Messageto Our Readers:8112 Simply WomenRenee WaitkusThis issue of Simply Women should bearriving in your home as we all welcomein the New Year. Numerous researchstudies have shown that individuals whomake small, positive changes to improvetheir health are much more successfulin the long term than those individualswho make New Year’s resolutions thatrepresent large lifestyle changes.The top five health needs each ofus should give attention to in order toprevent serious health problems arephysical activity, good nutrition, a healthyweight, cancer prevention, and improvingmental health. This issue is full of tips forprotecting your health, as well as yoursanity. I hope that as you read this issue,you discover some tips that will help youto make small changes in 2012—changesthat will bring big rewards of improvedhealth.Warm regards,Renee Waitkus, MSN, RN, NE-BCDirector of Women’s ServicesDo you have a healthtip to share? Email usat simplywomen@osfhealthcare.org for achance to win. See the backpage for contest details.4Inside:3 Five Simple Health Tips3 Healthy Recipe4 Ladies, Listen to Your Heart6 Looking to Lose Weight?8 Lung Cancer Clinic Helps You Breathe Easier AboutTreatment9 Upcoming Events10 OSF myHealth: Results on Your Time11 Heartburn Medicine May Put Your Bones At RiskEditorial Advisory BoardRenee Waitkus, MSN, RN, NE-BCDirector, Women’s ServicesLisa RobbinsEditor, Marketing ManagerSimply Women is published three times a year by OSF SaintFrancis Medical Center as a service to our communities.Please share with family, friends, and neighbors. SimplyWomen is not intended to provide personal medical advice,which should be obtained directly from a physician.Please email us at simplywomen@osfhealthcare.org ifyou have questions or comments or wish to be added to ordeleted from this mailing list.Leslie Moe-Kaiser, PhDPresident, Women’s Services BoardBarb LloydPhotographer, Multimedia ServicesCover photo byBarb Lloyd, OSFSaint FrancisMultimediaServicesOn the cover: After her fatefulexperience, Cheryl Mikula, ofPeoria, is encouraging otherwomen to learn heart diseasesymptoms and risk factors.Join the DiscussionConnect with OSF Saint FrancisMedical Center.

Dark ChocolateCranberry CrunchIngredients5 cups toasted wheat cereal squares1 cup dried cranberries¼ cup sliced almonds½ cup dark chocolate morsels½ cup natural peanut butter¼ cup tub margarine¾ cup powdered sugarDirections1. Place cereal, cranberries, andalmonds in a large bowl.2. In a small microwavable bowl,heat chocolate, peanut butter, andmargarine for about one minute.Stir until smooth.3. Pour melted mixture over cereal,cranberries, and almonds. Tossgently until completed coated.4. Spread onto wax paper and let setfor one hour.5. Add powdered sugar and again tossgently until completely coated.Per ServingServes 20; serving is 1 ⁄3 cup. Eachserving provides:Calories: 174Total fat: 7 gSaturated fat: 2 gSodium: 148 mgCarbohydrates: 27 gFiber: 3 gProtein: 3 gFind more healthy and deliciousrecipes from our dietitians:http://bit.ly/osfrecipesDon’t Skip Vitamin DA Neurology study says that taking a daily multivitaminsupplement with at least 400 international units ofvitamin D may protect you from multiple sclerosis(MS). MS is a chronic nervous system disease thataffects many women. For common symptoms, visit theIllinois Neurological Institute Multiple Sclerosis Center:www.ini.org/msLet In the LightSimple Health Tipsto Better Your LifeArthritis?Watch Your Eye HealthThe ArthritisFoundationnotes that someforms of the diseaseare associated withhealth problems thatcould potentially harmyour vision. Somearthritis medicationscan lead to eyeproblems too. Makesure to get regulareye exams.It’s easy to feel blue during the darkwinter months. Boost your mood byincreasing opportunities for natural lightin your home. Use sheer curtains whenpossible, and trim shrubs and trees sothat they don’t block windows.Protect Against Falls in WinterPractice good fall prevention whensnow and ice are on the groundto protect against serious bonefractures. Wear rubber-soled shoesand have snow removed from stepsand walkways.Make a New Year ’sResolutionNew Year’sresolutions,such asdecidingto exercisemore, do work.In one study,resolvers wereabout 10 timeslikelier to makelifestyle changesthan nonresolvers.www.osfsaintfrancis.org3

Ladies, Listen to Your HeartCheryl Mikula, of Peoria, wasalways tired. She was exhaustedand winded after just mowingthe grass. But with a busy job andfive kids to take care of, fatigue wasunderstandable. She also attributedthe pains that would occasionallyarise underneath her armpit, inher shoulders, and in her neck to apinched nerve. Difficulty breathing?Surely that could be explained byallergies.“Then all of a sudden it startedhappening more and more frequentlyfor no reason,” Mikula remembers.She “let it go again thinking it wasjust stress, and it was no big deal.”Taking ChargeBut it was a very big deal. Mikula’sprimary care physician, AngelaTimm, DO, with OSF Medical GroupGlen Park, recommended she havea stress test. Despite the suggestion,Mikula put it off. Then she found outthat her mother had secretly suffereda heart attack years before and stillstruggled with heart problems.Mikula’s new knowledge about herfamily history prompted her to takeher doctor’s advice.In July 2011, Mikula had thestress test at OSF Saint FrancisMedical Center. The resultsindicated a possible blockage. Dr.Timm immediately requested areferral with Sudhir Mungee, MD,an interventional cardiologist withHeartCare Midwest and OSF SaintFrancis Heart Hospital.Dr. Mungee performed anangiogram within 24 hours of hervisit. The angiogram confirmed4 Simply WomenLeft to right: Cheryl Mikula and Sudhir Mungee, MD, have a special patient-physicianbond that makes Mikula comfortable in sharing her concerns and questions.multiple blockages, including nearly90 percent blockage in her heart’smain artery. She had what Dr. Mungeecalls a “widowmaker” because it canlead to a fatal heart attack.Due to the seriousness of Mikula’scondition, the OSF Saint Franciscardiology team required her to stay atthe hospital. Within days of her firstscreening, she underwent a successfultriple bypass surgery by James Munns,MD, a cardiovascular and thoracicsurgeon with HeartCare Midwest, toopen up her arteries.Dr. Timm’s persistence, Mikula’saction, and the advanced diagnostictesting and quick care provided bythe cardiology staff helped save herlife. “I’m glad I followed up with mydoctor’s advice,” she says. “If I wouldhave just blown that off, I might notbe here.”Raising Attention to RiskWhile Mikula’s symptoms are lesstypical for men, they are commonfor women. The symptoms of heartdisease in women can be easilymistaken for the flu or simply theside effects of stress.More women need to understandthe symptoms and their risk sothat they can take action, notes Dr.Mungee. Currently, Dr. Mungee isAssess Your HeartRisk in MinutesVisit http://osfhealthcare.staywellsolutionsonline.com totake an online heart disease riskassessment. It’s available in theInteractive Tools section.

Angela Timm, DOSudhir Mungee, MDhelping to lead a Women’s HeartHealth Initiative that encourages heartscreenings at gynecologists’ offices.“Women still think two things:heart disease is a man’s disease, andbreast cancer is what will kill them,”he says. “What they don’t realize isthat you can put all kinds of cancersin one basket, and heart disease isMikula enjoys her work in electronics production in Morton. She was excited to returnafter her triple bypass surgery at OSF Saint Francis Heart Hospital.10 times all cancers combined.”Helping women take ownershipof their risks and empoweringthem with education is the key todecreasing the heart disease trendamong them, says Dr. Mungee.See page 9 to learn how theWomen’s Heart Health Initiativeis helping community membersget screened for heart disease.3 Questions to Ask YourselfWhat Puts You At Risk for Heart Disease?You are at risk if you:••Are overweight or obese, with a BMI of 25 or higher••Don’t exercise regularly••Eat a high-fat diet••Have a total cholesterol level higher than 200 mg/dl;LDL higher than 100 mg/dl; HDL 50 mg/dl or lower; ortriglycerides higher than 150 mg/dl••Have blood pressure higher than 120/80 mm Hg••Have family members with vascular or heart disease••Have metabolic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus••SmokeWhat Increases Your Risk?Having diabetes or chronic kidney disease can increaseheart disease risk. Cardiovascular conditions, such asartery blockages in your legs, an aneurysm in yourabdomen, previous heart problems, or stroke, also increaseyour risk. If you find that you’re at risk for heart disease,there are steps you can take to have a healthier heart. Visithttp://bit.ly/hearthealthinfo to learn more.Do You Know HeartAttack WarningSigns?Common heart attacksymptoms includeshortness of breath; breakingout in a cold sweat; chest discomfort; suddendizziness; and arm, back, neck, or jaw pain. However,women also are more likely to experience:••Anxiety••Discomfort and pain between shoulder blades••Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting••Indigestion or gaslike pain••Jaw pain••Recurring chest discomfort••Unexplained weakness or fatigueGet additional heart-healthy information at the HeartDisease Health Center: http://bit.ly/heartdiseaselibrarywww.osfsaintfrancis.org5

Looking to Lose Weight?Weight Loss Center Has a Program for YouIs being overweight keeping youfrom doing the activities youonce enjoyed? Losing weight canrestore physical and mental health,renew your energy levels, andimprove your outlook on life.If you’re one of the 68 percentof American adults strugglingwith their weight, OSF SaintFrancis Medical Center has aprogram tailored to help meet yourindividual needs.Weight-Loss ProgramsOSF Saint Francis offers severalnonsurgical weight-loss programs:Fitness & Nutrition Coaching,which offers one-on-one education,guidance, and support from weightlossprofessionals. You meet with anexercise specialist and a dietitian todevelop a healthy eating plan andregular exercise routine.The LEARN Program for WeightManagement provides education,guidance, andsupport in agroup setting. Groups also includeadvice from an exercise specialistand dietitian.The HMR ® Program for WeightManagement is a meal-replacementplan for those who need significantweight loss. Weight loss and meals aresupervised by professionals. Weeklyeducational classes and individualcoaching are also included.“The main thing about ourprograms is that we know thateverybody is different, and whatworks for one person doesn’t workfor the next person,” says Jenny Reay,RD, LDN, Community & WellnessDietitian at OSF Saint Francis. “Ourweight-loss professionals evaluateyour coping skills and lifestyle torecommend a weight-loss plan foryou with lasting results.”Surgical Weight-Loss MethodsThe decision to have weight-losssurgery is determined after carefulconsideration by you, your family,and your physician.LEARNing Lifestyle, Not DietMaureen Pantages, age 53, of Peoria, decided it was timeto get serious about weight loss when her daughter tookon a weight-loss challenge—and she didn’t want her todo it alone.Pantages was 125 pounds overweight and had highblood pressure when she began the LEARN programat OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The small group setting formeetings “was very comfortable,” she says. Following the program,she started tracking what she ate, stopped thinking of dieting, andexercised throughout her day. She stopped feeling guilty when sheoverindulged—and looked at every meal as a fresh start.Pantages has enjoyed great success with lifestyle changes alone.She has lost 100 pounds in the past year and has never felt better. “Idon’t want to look back,” she says. “I just want to keep looking forward.”6 Simply WomenFind the Weight-Loss Program for You!See page 9 for Weight Loss Center information meeting details.

Jenny Reay, RDOSF Saint Francis offers fourdifferent types of bariatric surgeries:••Biliopancreatic diversion withduodenal switch: A technique thatlimits food absorption••Gastric bypass: Surgery that reducesstomach size and food absorption••Gastric sleeve: A surgery thatreduces stomach size••Lap-Band: A procedure thatreduces stomach sizeAt OSF Saint Francis, potentialsurgery candidates are walkedthrough a thorough screeningprocess to ensure surgery will bea safe and effective option, saysMelinda Lange, RN, BSN, OSFMelinda Lange, RNSaint Francis Weight Loss CenterProgram Coordinator. The center isconsidered a Bariatric Surgery Centerof Excellence by the Society forMetabolic and Bariatric Surgery andfollows screening criteria defined bythe National Institutes of Health.If you’re eligible for surgery, you willreceive help and guidance by meetingwith the surgeon, participating in amental and physical health check, andmeeting with a support group withother bariatric surgery patients—all before the procedure. Theeducation and supportcontinue after surgery iscompleted.And while surgery can helppatients lose hundreds of pounds,surgery alone isn’t the solution forweight loss.“We feel that it’s a medicaltreatment for a disease, and thedisease is obesity,” says Lange.“The surgery is just a tool—a toolto see success with weight loss. It’sthe lifestyle that really makes thissurgery work.”“Hopeful ... Excited” About Upcoming SurgeryBecky Ala, age 35, of Chillicothe, Ill.,has unsuccessfully tried diets and evenmedications to control her weight. “I’vealways struggled with my weight sinceI was little,” she says.Ala had started losing weight byparticipating in OSF Saint FrancisMedical Center’s LEARN program.But health problems crept in, andshe needed faster, more significantresults. So she took the first steptoward bariatric surgery and attendedan information session. She hadher body composition evaluatedand had her doctors write letters ofrecommendation. She met with thesurgeon and dietitian so that she’llunderstand what lifewill be like after hersurgery—and she’s nowattending a support group forbariatric surgery patients.Ala expects to have bariatricsurgery this winter or early springof 2012. “I’m hopeful, I’m excited,I’m nervous,” she says.Find Your Fit at ourFree Weekly MeetingFollow Ala’s journey from presurgeryexcitement OSF Saint Francis and jitters offers to postsurgerysatisfaction. information Get meetings the scoop about on our herweight-loss from programs her blog. and Link surgery to it fromwww.osfsaintfrancis.org.options. See page 9 for meetingdetails. Or call 1-888-627-5673and press option 5 to schedule asession.www.osfsaintfrancis.org 7

winter 2012A Sunny DayEnjoy lunch, a fashion show of spring’s upcoming trendsfor children of all ages, and a kid-friendly concert withJulie K. on February 25, 11 a.m., at Embassy Suites,East Peoria. Proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital. Call 309-566-5666 for tickets.We Know the Rhythm, You Keep the BeatDid your heart just skip a beat? You may have anarrhythmia, which is a change in the way your heart beats.Learn more from our cardiac electrophysiologists: JosephSarmiento, III, MD; Timir Baman, MD; and David Charles,DO. February 9, 5 p.m., Par-A-Dice Hotel. Free event anddinner. Register at www.osfsaintfrancis.org and click on“Classes and Events” or call 1-888-627-5673.Cards That CareA communitywide card-making event will benefit thepatients of OSF Saint Francis and Children’s Hospital.January 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., OSF Saint Francis MedicalCenter 7th Floor Auditorium.Learn How to Pick Healthy TeasTaste Chinese teas and learn their benefits. $15 per class.Call 309-282-1616 to register. January 28 or February 25,10 a.m. to noon, March 26, 6 to 8 p.m., Peoria RiverPlex.College of Nursing Spring Open HouseLearn about our nursing education programs on April 14,9 a.m. to noon. Call 309-655-2596 to learn more.OSF Saint Francis Weight Loss Center – InformationMeetingsFree information meetings are held weekly at thePeoria RiverPlex. To sign up for a meeting, call 1-888-627-5673 (press option 5). Find more details at:http://bit.ly/weightlossmeetingsFamily Birthing Center ClassesFor a list of our Family Birthing Center classes, visitwww.osfsaintfrancis.org and click on “Classes andEvents.” Or call 309-655-2034 for a catalog.Local Women Take Screenings to HeartFebruary is NationalHeart Awareness MonthFor lifesaving guidelines for theprevention of heart disease, go to:http://bit.ly/heartdiseaseguidelinesThe Women’s Heart Health Initiative is helping women in the community take theirheart health seriously. Since launching in October 2010, the initiative has led to at least500 women having heart screenings at their gynecologists’ offices. Sudhir Mungee, MD,an interventional cardiologist with HeartCare Midwest and OSF Saint Francis HeartHospital, is helping to lead the initiative. He says the impact of the program hashelped increase overall awareness about heart risks and heart health.For example, one 40-year-old woman heard about the screening andrecognized some of the atypical symptoms of heart disease in herself.She had a stress test, and shortly after underwent bypass surgery.Now, she is happily planning her upcoming wedding.“These are real stories that shake the community,” says Dr.Mungee. “These patients help create awareness, and some becomeadvocates for health care, weight reduction, and smoking cessation.This helps others take ownership of their health as well when theyhear it from people like them.”The initiative launched as a partnership between HeartCare Midwestand Michele Couri, MD, a gynecologist with the Couri Center forGynecology and Integrative Women’s Health. Together, Dr. Couri and Dr.Mungee have helped screen the participants, and they presented theirresearch at a national conference in Baltimore.www.osfsaintfrancis.org 9

OSF myHealth: Results on Your TimeRegister for OSFmyHealth today! Jointhousands of otherstaking advantage ofconvenient, online accessto electronic medicalrecords for themselvesand their families.How often do you put off takingcare of your health simplybecause you don’t have time?Imagine all your healthinformation at your fingertips—quick, convenient, and just a clickaway. OSF HealthCare knows thatyour health is important and yourtime precious. So we’ve developedOSF myHealth, an online tool thathelps OSF patients enjoy betterhealth on their schedules.Just follow the directions below toregister for OSF myHealth. Then, youcan have 24/7 access to electronicmedical records for you and yourfamily. You’ll find everything fromimmunization history to lab results.No more waiting around to call yourdoctor’s office between regular officehours. Go online to schedule orcancel an appointment, communicatewith your doctor via email, or refillprescriptions.With OSF myHealth, it’s easy tostay in control of your health andyour time.Sign Up Today!1. OSF myHealth is available exclusively to patients of participating OSF physicians. See afull list of participating offices in the registration form at www.osfmyhealth.org. Don’thave an OSF doc yet? Find one by calling 1-888-6-ASK OSF (1-888-627-5673) or by visitingwww.osfsaintfrancis.org.2. Already have an OSF Medical Group physician? Get an access code by requesting one onlineat www.osfmyhealth.org or at your participating OSF physician’s office.3. Once you have your code, register at www.osfmyhealth.org. Enjoy convenient access, dayor night!10 Simply Women

HeartburnMedicineMay Put YourBones At RiskThe “purple pill” and itsbrethren are no strangers toour television screens—orour medicine cabinets. Theseheartburn drugs, called protonpump inhibitors or PPIs, are themost popular acid-suppressivemedications used worldwide.For this reason, recent researchlinking PPIs to an increased risk forhip, wrist, and spine fractures hasdoctors alarmed. The latest findings,from the American Journal ofMedicine, suggest nearly 5 percent ofall hip fractures could be blamed onPPI use. In another report, publishedin the Annals of Family Medicine,scientists combined the results of11 previous studies. They foundthat people who took PPIs weresignificantly more likely to breaktheir hip bone or any other bone.Behind the BurnHeartburn occurs when themuscle between your stomach andesophagus weakens, letting stomachacid back up into your throat. PPIsstop your stomach from producingmost of this acid. This eases painfulburning symptoms and can alsotreat ulcers.But the relief may come withunintended side effects. Changing theacidity of your digestive system affectsyour body’s ability to absorb boneboostingcalcium. Long-term useof PPIs may also cause vitamin B 12deficiency, damaging your nerves andincreasing your risk for falls.The U.S. Food and DrugAdministration recently issued awarning about the increased fracturerisk from PPIs. People most at risk, itnoted, include:••Those who take prescriptionstrengthrather than over-thecounterformulas••Adults age 50 and older••Those who take PPIs frequently orfor long periods of time, for a yearor longerAnother form of heartburnmedication, histamine-2 receptorantagonists, block about 70 percentof your stomach acid. They haven’tshown the same link to fractures.Other Ways to Fight the FireTalk with your doctor about takingover-the-counter PPIs. Your doctor canassess your fracture risk. If it’s high,Do You Know Your Bone Density Score ?lower doses or different treatmentsmay relieve your heartburn. Lifestylechanges can also help. Try to:••Avoid foods and drinks that makeyour heartburn worse. Commonculprits include coffee, citrusfruits, tomato-based dishes, fullfatdairy, and alcohol.••Don’t smoke, or quit if you do.••Don’t wear tight-fitting clothing.••Eat small meals throughout theday, and stop at least two hoursbefore going to sleep.••To relieve pain, takeacetaminophen. Aspirin,ibuprofen, and naproxen canirritate your stomach.••When in bed, raise your head6 inches above your stomachwith a wedge support.A bone density heel scan is a quick, painless test that is as easy as taking yoursock off. For more information or to schedule a heel scan, call 309-683-6657BEFORE MARCH 1, 2012, TO GET A SPECIAL COST: $10 (normally $20).www.osfsaintfrancis.org11

Healthy SnackMix RecipeSee insidePlease deliver between December 27 – 31.530 N.E. Glen Oak AvenuePeoria, Illinois 61637Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDPeoria, IllinoisPermit No. 552Email YourFavorite HealthTip—And Win!thebellybunchA new, on-linecommunityfor moms-to-be.Do you have a health tip youwould like to share with otherreaders?Email simplywomen@osfhealthcare.org tips that havehelped you stay healthy. Yourname will be entered into adrawing for a three-month PeoriaRiverPlex membership.Look for OurSpring Issue !That’s when we’ll feature the bestof the best tips.Share what you want with who you want.That way, only the family and friends youinvite to be part of your pregnancy network,are. It’s a great way to keep everyoneupdated at once, while learning all kindsof interesting facts about you and your baby.Plus, it’s completely free. And when you join,you can set up a calendar to keep track ofimportant dates and appointments…to make your life easier.“In the spirit of Christ and theexample of Francis of Assisi, theMission of OSF HealthCare is toserve persons with the greatestcare and love in a communitythat celebrates the Gift of Life.”osfsaintfrancis.org/bellybunchprinted on recyclable paper890M