Desert Health News - May-June 2024

Medical News The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 3 www.desertcarenetwork.com/strokequiz Check the oil. Once you’ve cleaned up the gas (diet) fueling your brain, it’s time to incorporate healthy fats like coconut oil. However, if you are still eating high carbs and other inflammatory foods, it’s best to skip this step. Olive and avocado oils are very healthy, but coconut is especially good for brain health as it contains 62 – 65% medium chain triglycerides (MCT) which are quickly converted to ketones (efficient brain fuel) that increase metabolism.2 In fact, when carbs are eliminated or minimized, ketones can provide up to 75% of the brain’s energy needs.3 But remember, consuming coconut oil on a high-sugar, high-carb diet can contribute to unhealthy inflammation and should be avoided. Use your brakes. Running at high speeds for extended periods of time adds wear and tear to any engine – especially your brain. Chronic stress has been shown to be detrimental to cognitivedecline, statesHealth Coach Deborah Schrameck in her “Six Pillars of Brain Health” series featured in Desert Health .4 “Short-term stress raises levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) for short periods which can be beneficial; however, long- term stress can lead to prolonged increases in cortisol, which can be toxic to the brain, severely impairing short-term memory and other cognitive functions.” Learn to slow down and incorporate thoughtful practices into your day. Tried and true routines like meditation and tai chi give your brain a break from the constant flow of thoughts, worries and stress, and can improve more than just brain health. Take the road less traveled. We can all get stuck in the same old routine. Mix things up and challenge your brain with new tasks, hobbies, lessons and patterns. Learn something new or pick up an old hobby; take a class on something you know nothing about; figure out answers without asking your phone or simply change directions and explore new paths home. Cognitive decline can be reversed, so it’s never too late to start practicing brain- healthy habits. Like that old classic, with a little care and commitment, you’ll have her running like new again in no time. Lauren Del Sarto is founder and publisher of Desert Health. For more information, search ‘brain health’ at www.DesertHealthNews.com . References: 1) https://deserthealthnews.com/story/paradigm-shift-medicine-today-minding-brain ; 2) https://deserthealthnews.com/story/keep- eating-coconut-oil; 3) Ketones, omega-3 fatty acids and the Yin-Yang balance in the brain: insights from infant development and Alzheimer’s disease, and implications for human brain evolution ( ocl-journal.org) ; 4) https://deserthealthnews.com/story/six-pillars-brain-health-3 When it comes to treating strokes, time is of the essence. Now, thanks to new AI technology, the medical teams at Desert Care Network’s three regional hospitals – Desert Regional, JKF Memorial and Hi-Desert Medical Center – have a helping hand in quickly identifying strokes. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of adult disability. Every 40 seconds someone in our country suffers a stroke, adding up to approximately 800,000 people annually.1 The outcomes for those affected depend largely on how quickly the stroke is identified and treated. The new app technology, called Viz.ai, enables attending Desert Care Network teams to view imaging on their cell phones and to instantly transmit those images between facilities. The AI element can also help assess the severity of the condition based on those images. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke) which can cause parts of the brain to die. Each minute that passes matters, and the HIPAA-compliant app is helping save time and lives. “Our goal is to have the patient assessed by the physician within five minutes of their arrival and to obtain CT images within 10 minutes,” says Stroke Coordinator Kendalyn Zerebny, RN. “From there, our neurology team will have a plan for treatment within 20 minutes of the patient arriving at our emergency department (ED).” This is why she emphasizes the importance of calling 911 and traveling by emergency service (versus by car) if someone is suspected of having a stroke, as EMS teams can alert the ED of incoming cases. Stroke treatments include Tenecteplase, a clot- busting medication used to break down the clot, and a surgical procedure, called a thrombectomy, performed by neuro interventional radiologists that cuts into the blood vessel for clot removal. Viz.ai can detect when a large vessel of the brain has a clot (the most severe cases) and if the patient may be a candidate for a thrombectomy, explains Zerebny, further assisting the attending neurologist. The application then sends a notification to the neuro interventional radiology team, allowing additional time for preparation. In 2023, Desert Regional Medical Center, an accredited comprehensive stroke center, saw approximately 800 patients diagnosed with stroke. Viz.ai was incorporated halfway through the year, and Zerebny has seen the positive impact of the technology. She recalls one case that helped save a young man from a lifetime of impairment. The healthy, 49-year-old came to Desert Regional from JFK after suffering a debilitating stroke. He was unable to communicate and lost function in 50% of this body. “Because our team received the imaging from JFK via the app, they took the young man directly into surgery to remove the clot. Almost instantly, he regained his speech and function.” He was discharged after a couple of days with almost no deficits, and 90 days later he was back to work showing no signs of impairment. “Stroke is a devastating diagnosis,” she concludes. “Our goal is to provide the most efficient and safe treatment in the quickest way possible to minimize the devastation and elevate the patient outcomes. Viz.ai is helping us do that.” May is Stroke Awareness Month and a good time to ensure you know the BEFAST signs. Remember, if stroke is suspected, always call 911. For more information and to take the stroke awareness quiz to test your knowledge, visit www.DesertCareNetwork.com/Stroke. Reference: 1) https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm www.DesertHealthNews.com May/June 2024 Driving Brain Health Continued from page 1 When every second counts, the team at Desert Care Network is ready to provide stroke care close to home. Combining speed and expertise, we offer fast diagnosis and treatment of stroke to help minimize disability and help you get back on your feet. Our Comprehensive Stroke Services Include: • Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center at Desert Regional Medical Center • Accredited Primary Stroke Center at JFK Memorial Hospital • Neurological critical-care unit • Minimally invasive technology • In-patient and outpatient rehabilitation Providing an advanced network of when every second counts. Stroke Care Take a quiz about stroke and your possible risks. Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera or visit DesertCareNetwork.com/StrokeQuiz When every second counts, the t am at Des rt Care Network is ready to provide strok care close to home. Combining spe d and exp rtise, we offer fast diagnosis and treatment of stroke to help minimize disability and help you get back on your feet. Our Comprehensive Stroke Services Include: • Accr dited Compreh nsive Strok Center at Desert Regional Medical Center • Accredited Primary Stroke Center at JFK Memorial Hospital • Neurological critical-care unit • Minimally invasive technology • In-patient and outpatient rehabilitation Providing an advanced network of when every second counts. Stroke Care Take a quiz about stroke and your possible risks. Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera or visit DesertCareNetwork.com/StrokeQuiz When every second counts, the team at Desert Care Network is ready to provide stroke care close to home. Combining speed and expertise, we offer fast diagnosis and treatment of stroke to help minimize disability and help you get back on your feet. Our Comprehensive Stroke Services Include: A Co p ehensive Stroke Center Desert Reg onal Medical Center Accredited Primary Stroke Center at JFK Memorial Hospital Neurological critical- are unit Minimally invasive tech ology • In-patient and outpatient rehabilitation Providing an advanced network of when every second counts. Stroke Care Take a quiz about stroke nd your po sible risks. Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera or visit D sertC reN t r . /Str eQuiz AI: Saving Time and Lives A low-carb diet high in healthy fats is considered optimal brain fuel. May is Stroke Awareness Month