All About You Women’s Health & Wellness at SJMC

For Ladies Only: Your Brain Health

Tanvir Syed, MD, MPH, Christopher Smith, MD, FACS and Rebecca Fredrick, DO

‘For Ladies Only: Your Brain Health’ was the theme of St. John Medical Center’s All About You program hosted at LaCentre in Westlake the evening of Thurs., Sept. 24.

All About You is a free women’s health membership program through St. John Medical Center.

‘Your Brain Health’ featured physician panelists Rebecca Fredrick, DO, Family Medicine, Christopher Smith, MD, FACS, Vascular Surgery, and Tanvir Syed, MD, MPH, Neurology.

St. John Medical Center All About You program is a free women’s health membership group specializing in medical issues of interest to ladies.

They covered a variety of issues related to brain health, including ‘Keeping Your Memory Sharp,’ Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Stroke, Understanding Carotid Artery, plus issues of Depression and Anxiety.

Also offered were complimentary health screenings, pampering with make-up artists and manicurists, plus a Brain Health Food Demonstration by expert dietician Julie Wise, RD.

An expert on stroke, Dr. Smith reported that the brain is “susceptible to metabolic demand.” It always needs a positive blood flow. “When that is interrupted, it is susceptible to injury,” he said. That is why it is important to get a person who presents stroke symptoms to the hospital as soon as possible. Brain injury rapidly follows interruption of blood flow.

: Tanvir Syed, MD, MPH, Neurology reports that Alzheimer’s and dementia continue at alarming rates.

: Rebecca Fredrick, DO, Family Medicine – “I tell patients that I want you to feel like yourself again.”

: Christopher Smith, MD, FACS, Vascular Surgery – Cigarette smoking continues to be a major risk factor for stroke.

The biggest stroke danger? “Cigarette smoking,” said Dr. Smith. “That is the devil, frankly. That is the one thing that keeps me in business more than any other.”

As the only hospital in Northeast Ohio to become a Level III Trauma Center, Chest Pain Center and Primary Stroke Center, St. John Medical Center is positioned to deliver a high level of care to a stroke patient in acute demand at their time of need.

Depression and anxiety issues are health issues faced by many people during their lifetimes, said Dr. Fredrick. There are many medications available to relieve and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. “I tell patients that I want you to feel like yourself again,” said Fredrick

: Top names like Lancome happily provide All About You guests with complimentary samples.

: The latest in cosmetics allows All About You guests to look great and try leading products.

: Manicurists provide pampering for guests at All about You.

: Experts from University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute provide fun as well as facts at SJMC’s All About You ‘For Ladies Only’ events.

Counseling, or cognitive therapy, is an important therapy component. “Every patient I see I refer to cognitive therapy to see what they can do on their end,” said Dr. Fredrick. Counseling can help patients understand and manage symptoms as they develop personal strategies for healing.

Speaking on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, Dr. Syed offered alarming insight. “I used to see people with dementia at 70 and 80. But now they are coming in at 50-60,” he said.

Brain health is becoming an urgent emerging problem in the United States. Dr. Syed advocates healthy brain life habits as prevention, including exercise to refresh blood flow, diet modification (primarily to remove sugar) and strategic fasting for a short as six hours daily to reset the body’s insulin levels.

“When you exercise, every part of your body is washed,” said Dr. Syed. “Exercise prevents dementia.” Be careful, however, of high impact activities like jogging, he advised.

To find out more information on All About You or to become a member, visit stjohnmedicalcenter.net or call 1-877-597-6348.