Inspira Health Network

Late Winter 2017

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Have a wound that won't heal? Oxygen therapy may help. The human body is designed to heal itself when injured. But the process is not always as simple as it seems. If you're living with a condition such as diabetes or vascular disease, wounds may heal more slowly or not at all. That is where hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help. What Is It? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy utilizes 100-percent oxygen to speed healing. The therapy increases oxygen levels in the blood, and oxygen-rich blood helps battle bacteria while encouraging the release and development of growth factors and stem cells. Who Should Receive It? People who typically receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy have anemia, decompression sickness, diabetic foot ulcers or some form of radiation injury. However, anyone with a wound that hasn't improved significantly within a month or healed entirely in two months should talk to a doctor about this specialized treatment. Where Can I Find It? "Inspira Medical Center Elmer and Inspira Medical Center Woodbury are each equipped with two hyperbaric chambers to treat individuals with chronic wounds or radiation injury," said Jaclyn Brunner, M.D., medical director for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Inspira Medical Center Elmer. "Our team's focus is to improve our patients' quality of life by working with their referring physicians to develop a treatment plan that will facilitate wound healing ." Visit www.InspiraHealthNetwork.org/Wound-Care to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy. For services at Inspira Medical Center Elmer, call 856-363-1575. For services at Inspira Medical Center Woodbury, call 856-686-5101. Tackle cancer head-on by sticking to your screening schedule. It's no secret that men aren't the greatest about going to the doctor regularly. But once men reach a certain age, a simple visit to a primary care physician could prove lifesaving. "Getting older is one of the most important risk factors for many types of cancer," said Ricardo Lim, MHSA, BSN, RN, cancer nurse navigator at Inspira Health Network. "Screenings can detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages, and your primary care physician can tell you which screenings you need and when." According to the experts, some common cancer screenings men should have include those for: • Prostate cancer. Starting at age 50, most men should discuss these screenings with a doctor. African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin the conversation with their doctor at age 45. Your doctor can help determine when testing should begin and whether a prostate specific antigen blood test or a digital rectal exam is needed. • Colon cancer. These screenings should begin at age 50 for most men (and women) and at age 45 for African Americans, as recom- mended by the American College of Gastroenterology. Screenings may also start earlier if a doctor identifies certain risk factors. Colonoscopies, one form of screening, allow doctors to find and remove pre-cancerous polyps, potentially preventing cancer from developing. • Lung cancer. Between ages 55 to 74, men and women with a 30 pack-year smoking history (equal to smoking one pack a day for 30 years) who currently smoke or have quit within 15 years should have an annual screening. To learn more about cancer screenings at Inspira Health Network, visit www.InspiraHealthNetwork.org/Cancer. A Healing Supply of Oxygen Tackle cancer head-on by sticking to your screening schedule. It's no secret that men aren't the greatest about going to the doctor regularly. But once men reach a certain age, a simple visit to a primary care physician could prove lifesaving. "Getting older is one of the most important risk factors for many types of cancer," said Ricardo Lim, MHSA, BSN, RN, cancer nurse navigator Beat Cancer to the Punch Late Winter 2017 Inspira Health Network Family & Friends + You

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