LIVING WELL PAGE 7 How to lose weight the healthy way. PAGE 6 Aches and pains from desk work? Our physical therapists can help. PAGE 3 Mammograms save lives. Here’s why. WINTER 2 0 2 5 KNOW THE SIGNS OF AFIB
2 LIVING WELL Guest Editor Editor’s letter The future of health care You could say I was always meant to be at Adventist Health Portland. My great-grandfather was one of the first surgeons here in Portland, and my grandfather, father and I followed in his footsteps. I grew up right next to our previous hospital location, on the shoulder of Mount Tabor. My first paycheck came from Adventist Health, where I worked on the grounds team. Over those many years and generations, health care has changed a lot. While lifesaving technology and treatments have added more years to lives, the cost of care and medications keeps increasing and making it harder for people to get the care they need to add better life to their years. Inflation has made this even tougher — for patients and health care systems alike. What is going to keep us all moving health care forward is personally connecting with each other and our health. I love that about my work — creating relationships with my patients as we work together to bring them back to health. And as a patient myself, I see more clearly than ever how important it is to make healthy choices — and the younger, the better! Let’s keep working together to add more life to our years. Our team at Adventist Health Portland is honored to partner with you to create a healthier, happier future for you, your family and our community. Wes Rippey, MD Chief Medical Officer What is going to keep us all moving health care forward is personally connecting with each other and our health.” Living Well Magazine | Winter 2025 10123 SE Market St. Portland, OR 97216 AdventistHealthPortland.org Adventist Health Portland’s Living Well magazine provides health information, news and tips for our neighbors in east Portland and surrounding communities. Contributing editors: Laurel Rogers and Heather Pease Contributing writer: Loree Chase-Waite Design: Coffey Communications Would you prefer to read Living Well online and opt out of print? Visit AdventistHealthPortland.org. Information in Living Well comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2025 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
AdventistHealthPortland.org 3 It’s a fact: Mammograms save lives. These X-ray pictures of the breast can find signs of cancer early, before a woman feels any symptoms and when treatment is more likely to be successful. But which type of mammogram should you have? Why 3D matters There are two types of mammograms: 2D (twodimensional, or standard) and 3D (three-dimensional, also called digital breast tomosynthesis). 2D mammograms create images from two angles: top to bottom and side to side. 3D mammograms create images from several angles. Those additional angles allow the doctor to examine the breast tissue more clearly than with 2D. Both types of mammograms are safe and effective. However, research shows that 3D mammograms have some advantages. They can: ● Find more breast cancers. ● Be a good option for women with very dense breast tissue. ● Reduce the likelihood that a woman will be called back for additional testing. When to get screened The American Cancer Society recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer get screened regularly. ● Ages 40 to 44: Women may choose to begin having annual mammograms. ● Ages 45 to 54: Women should have annual mammograms. ● Ages 55 and up: Women may continue annual mammograms or switch to having them every other year. Things to keep in mind Mammograms can’t find every cancer. They might also find changes that look like cancer but turn out not to be cancerous after additional testing. Getting called back doesn’t always mean bad news. If something on the mammogram isn’t clear or looks suspicious, the doctor who read the mammogram Mammogram Benefits of a 3D will want a second look. That may mean another imaging test, like ultrasound, or even a biopsy. But in most cases, there’s nothing to worry about. “The most common mammogram finding is calcification,” says Frances Ting, MD, breast surgeon at Adventist Health Portland. Know how your breasts usually look and feel. Tell the technologist about any changes you have noticed, such as nipple discharge, pain or lumps. Also tell them if you have breast implants or a personal or family history of breast cancer. Skip the deodorant. Personal care products such as deodorant, antiperspirant, lotion and perfume can interfere with the mammogram. Source: American Cancer Society Take time to care for you To schedule a mammogram with our compassionate teams at our southeast Portland location or at Gresham Station, call 971-231-0017. SCAN ME
4 LIVING WELL Chances are you’ve heard of atrial fibrillation, or AFib, even if you didn’t quite know what it was. But understanding AFib is important, as is recognizing its symptoms. That’s because AFib can be quite serious. In AFib, the heart’s two upper chambers beat out of rhythm and too fast. The problem is caused by the heart’s own built-in electrical signals. Normally, these electrical pulses prompt the heart to squeeze and relax in an orderly fashion. With AFib, faulty electrical signals cause the heart’s upper chambers to beat irregularly. This feels like flutters or palpitations. Recognizing AFib Symptoms and Risks Of course, a few flutters of your heart are normal. “It’s common for people to feel palpitations,” explains Ryle Przybylowicz, MD, an electrophysiologist at Adventist Health Northwest Heart Center. But it’s important to be aware of signs you may need to seek help. “If you are experiencing palpitations for more than a few minutes, have any associated symptoms or have preexisting heart conditions, it would be time to see a doctor,” Dr. Przybylowicz says. Dr. Przybylowicz recommends talking with your primary care physician about any concerns you have about your heart rhythm. Concerning symptoms include: Understanding AFib risks Dizziness or fainting. Chest discomfort or pain. IN SYNC Heart health
AdventistHealthPortland.org 5 Getting checked and treated If you think you might have AFib, tell your doctor. They may be able to diagnose it with an electrocardiogram (EKG) test. And if you have AFib, treatment may help you feel better, as well as lower your stroke risk. AFib treatments may include: ● Medicines to prevent blood clots, regulate your heart rate or restore your heart’s normal rhythm. ● A procedure, called cardioversion, which delivers a mild electric shock to normalize the heart’s rhythm. ● Ablation procedures, which can sometimes cure AFib by destroying the heart tissues that send abnormal electrical signals. ● Surgery or a pacemaker, in some cases. Feeling tired more easily or short of breath, especially with physical activity. Light-headedness. Understanding AFib causes and risks A variety of factors increase your risk for developing AFib, such as age and alcohol use, as well as conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease and obesity. Dr. Przybylowicz recommends maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle and following your doctor’s treatment recommendations to reduce your risks. If you do develop AFib, the biggest risk it creates is stroke. People who have AFib may be five times more likely to have a stroke than those without AFib. Because AFib also weakens the heart’s contractions, blood is more likely to pool inside the heart and form clots that can trigger strokes. Zio helps find AFib Recording your heart rhythm over time helps your team spot arrhythmias, like AFib. Our team often uses Zio, a comfortable heart monitor patch you wear over your heart for up to two weeks, even during exercise and showering. This means more chance of catching your palpitations, which are recorded and included in a report to your team. A team for your heart If you’re looking for help with your AFib, Adventist Health Northwest Heart Center has a team of heart rhythm disorders specialists serving patients in Portland, McMinnville, The Dalles and Tillamook. Learn more at AdventistHealthNorthwestHeartCenter.org. SCAN ME
6 LIVING WELL After hours at your desk staring at your computer all day, you likely feel the aches and pains of the digital age as you leave work. Whether it’s a stiff neck, tight shoulders or lower back discomfort, these issues can significantly impact our daily lives. Fortunately, physical therapy offers effective solutions to ease and prevent these common desk-related pains. How physical therapy can help Physical therapy can reduce the pain of desk work in several ways. ● Posture guidance: Your physical therapist can suggest simple changes — such as adjusting your chair height, modifying your desk setup or incorporating ergonomic tools like lumbar supports — to make a substantial difference in your posture and reduce strain on your body. ● Targeted exercises: Physical therapists provide targeted exercises and stretches designed to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting. By using these daily, you can enhance muscle endurance and reduce the likelihood of developing chronic pain. ● Hands-on techniques: Physical therapists also employ hands-on techniques such as soft tissue and joint work and manual therapy to relieve muscle tension and promote relaxation. These therapeutic interventions alleviate existing pain and help prevent future discomfort by addressing underlying muscular imbalances and tightness. Adjust your monitor or place your laptop on a stand (or stacked books) at eye level. Try an ergonomic keyboard and a vertical mouse. They keep your hands in a natural position for more comfort and less strain. Do some of your tasks while standing. Consider a desk that can be raised or lowered for standing or sitting. Use an adjustable chair with back and arm support. Use a document holder that raises reading materials to eye level. Use a headset phone to reduce neck and shoulder strain. Get up and move around every 20 to 30 minutes. Office Hacks Physical Therapy for the Digital Age Find freedom from pain If you find yourself struggling with desk-related pain, consider consulting a physical therapist to discover personalized strategies for a pain-free workday. Find our location closest to you! SCAN ME
AdventistHealthPortland.org 7 Would losing a lot of weight boost your health? Have you struggled to find success with diet and exercise alone? If so, you may be wondering if weight-loss drugs or surgery is the right choice for you. It’s important to carefully consider each of these treatments. That’s because success usually comes from a combination of strategies, says Jill Welshans, ACNP, board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in bariatric surgery at Adventist Health Portland. “Diet and exercise generally help people lose 5% of their total body weight,” says Welshans. “Medications can achieve 5% to 20%, and surgery can achieve 20% to 50% of total body weight loss. It all depends on where someone is starting from and their specific goals.” When weighing medical options, Welshans suggests discussing the following in more depth with your doctor: Prescription drugs. Have you read or heard news stories about drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy? “These medications appear to be safe and are more effective than any prior medication option,” says Welshans. But they aren’t for everyone, including people who are or want to become pregnant. Medication coverage varies by your insurance, and some people may have to take the drugs for life to keep the results. Bariatric surgery. Weight-loss surgery, like gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, reduce your stomach size to help you feel full sooner. Surgery is a bigger intervention compared to medication, but it’s a one-time event with lasting results. “Surgery is easier and safer than ever,” Welshans says. “It is a great next step for patients who are looking for additional weight loss beyond what is possible with medications.” A path for lasting wellness Whatever approach you take, you need to partner with an established, accredited program that offers a range of options so that you get a customized treatment plan. Welshans also reminds patients they’ll need to stick to a nutrition plan for success. As she points out, obesity is a complex condition often linked to other health concerns. But as people achieve weight loss, other medical problems often resolve too. Finding meaningful solutions can give you a lifetime of benefits. Weighing Your Weight-Loss Options What’s right for you? To explore your options, contact our metabolic and bariatric surgery program. Learn more at AdventistHealthPortland.org/Bariatric or call Welshans and her team at 503-912-8083. SCAN ME
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 10123 SE Market St. Portland, OR 97216 @AdventistHealthNW @AHNW Adventist Health Portland @AdventistHealthNW AdventistHealthPortland.org CONNECT WITH US ONLINE Say hello to our newest providers Justin Lewis, MD Gastroenterology Natalie Miller, PA-C Primary Care Joshua Minter, NP Primary Care Teddy Mumu, MD Primary Care Denise Palke, MD Primary Care Ryle Przybylowicz, MD Electrophysiology Lauren Turner, NP Cardiology Tai Wang, MD Pulmonology Steven Beardsley, NP Cardiology Jamie Brown, PA-C Urgent Care Irena Cabrera, MD OB-GYN Lauren Harry, MD Vascular Surgery Jessica Hoover, PA-C Cardiac Surgery Dakin Larro, MD Primary Care Find more info You can get to know our providers better and make an appointment by searching for their names on our “Find a Doctor” page, AdventistHealthPortland.org/Doctors, or by scanning the QR code. SCAN ME
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