Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony - (Page 13)

Ulcers are caused by different things, Dubost says, but eating spicy foods isn’t one of them. The most common cause is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Ulcers can also be brought on by nonsteroidal antiinﬂammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and, rarely, tumors in the stomach or pancreas. But while spicy foods do not cause stomach ulcers, they may aggravate them, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The same goes for stress, coffee and smoking. If you have an ulcer, cut out or limit these things. Mom says: Spicy foods will give you ulcers. Verdict: Not as such, but it’s easy to see where this one came from. Some people who crack their knuckles do so to release tension in their joints, or to make them feel looser. And some do it out of nervous habit. But none of these people is doing long-term harm. The sound you hear when someone cracks his or her knuckles is air being released from a cavity in the joint. The act cannot lead to osteoarthritis, which is a wearand-tear condition characterized by loss of cartilage, the cushioning between bones. “And arthritis is usually caused by a hereditary element,” Chandra-Puri says. Some research, however, has found that knucklecracking can lead to the injury of a ligament or tendon dislocation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. So crack at your own risk. Mom says: Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis. Verdict: Relax, Mom. Chandra-Puri and Dubost agree: Chocolate doesn’t lead to breakouts. “Acne is caused by bacteria and oil on skin, neither of which is caused by eating chocolate,” Chandra-Puri says. And while Dubost says that “diet plays no role in acne treatment in most patients,” she does advise patients who notice a reaction to certain foods to cut back or eliminate them from their diet. If you break out after eating chocolate, it’s probably not the cocoa’s fault. It’s more likely due to the fat and sugar. To get healthy skin, the Academy of Dermatology recommends eating a balanced diet, managing stress, protecting skin from the sun, moisturizing and not smoking. Mom says: Eating chocolate causes acne. Verdict: No saving face on this one. Mammogram Myths “There are two myths that we encounter frequently at St. Anthony Breast Center,” says Raymond A. Mencini, M.D., dedicated breast imaging specialist and Breast Center medical director. “One is that women 40 and over need not schedule a yearly mammogram. We frequently hear ‘I thought it had changed ... that it was every two years,’ ” Mencini says. The truth is, you really do need that annual imaging to confirm that all’s well, or that there’s an issue that needs further diagnostics. That one’s a lifesaver. “The other is ‘I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, so I’m not at risk.’ Not true. Only 20 percent of people who get breast cancer have a family history of the disease,” he says. For those who are concerned about a family medical history of breast cancer or other cancers, Mencini suggests a consultation with genetic counselor Lisa Mullineaux, M.S., CGC. She can be reached at 303-734-3969. The origins of this one may be as simple as the fact that when people have fevers, they often lose their appetite. But not eating won’t make it go away any faster. In fact, eating regular meals and drinking ﬂuids will energize your body to ﬁght the infection and prevent dehydration. Mom says: Feed a cold, starve a fever. Verdict: Sorry, Dr. Mom. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES The St. Anthony Breast Center offers the latest in breast imaging. Walk-ins are welcome, with weekend mammograms available. Visit stanthonyhosp.org/breastcenter for more information. Schedule Your Mammogram Today! online Vim & Vigor · WI NTER 2012 13 http://www.stanthonyhosp.org/breastcenter

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Community Connections
The Speed of Life
Pinpoint Precision
Because I Said So!
What’s Wrong with This Picture?
The Future Is Now
Everyday Hero
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
Johnny Be Good
In the Driver’s Seat
We’ve Got Your Back
Bank on Your Health
Virtual Health
Be a Proactive Patient
The Solitaire Strategy
Top Honors
By the Numbers
From the Foundation
Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony