At one point or another, most of us are going to need surgery. Whether it's minor or major, there are risks involved. As patients are growing heavier, their risk of complications both during and after their operation is also going up.
Weight has really become the elephant in the exam room. Doctors don't like bringing it up, and patients don't like talking about it. But weight complicates surgery. One surgeon says you can't afford to ignore it.
Liz Gurevitch was in her early 40s back in 2002. She was married with two girls when she first had a flutter in her chest.
"My heart was racing and I couldn't get it to slow down, and I could feel it, and I could tell something was wrong," said Gurevitch.
Gurevitch was diagnosed with an aortic valve defect. Surgery was the only way to fix it. But Liz was worried about complications because of her weight.
"I was probably about 60 or 70 pounds overweight," said Gurevitch.
Liz had some time, three to five years, to lose that weight.
"I think that I was mentally ready, I was mentally ready to lose weight. I knew I had to," said Gurevitch.
She did it, losing 70 pounds. That bought her two more years before she needed surgery.
Emory surgeon Dr. Edward Lin says doctors don't like talking to patients about their weight. But that is changing, because weight matters.
"We are explaining to them that your risks are going up because of your weight. We explain to them the operation may not be as successful because of your weight," said Lin.
An extra 50 pounds can increase your risk of wound infections, making it harder to recover and get up out of bed after your operation. Lin says if you have the time, like Gurevitch did, do what you can to lose even 10 to 25 pounds.
"I think it's not just dieting. It's dieting, it's physical activity. It's doing it in a group with somebody. We all know what it's like running by yourself. We all know what it's like doing the treadmill by yourself," said Lin.
Gurevitch stuck with her weight loss, and then made it through the operation, and cardiac rehab.
Lin says even if you have a lot to lose, try to lose what you can. He says there's no way to do the math and say losing 25 pounds will cut your risk of complications by 25 percent. But he says he's seen it again and again: the patients closest to their ideal bodyweight do better.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-21 14:17:24 GMT
When it comes to talking to doctors, a lot of us aren't exactly shooting straight. In fact, one survey found that almost 30 percent of patients admit to lying to their physician.
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Melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer. A veteran dermatologist says he used to see three to five melanomas a year. Now, he says, he sees that many in a week!
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A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows millions of American kids suffer from mental health problems. Experts believe as many as 20 percent of American children are affected.
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Wednesday, May 15 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-15 22:42:54 GMT
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:45 AM EDT2013-05-21 13:45:59 GMT
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Sure, you know that Turner Field is THE place to watch the Braves in action, but did you know you can also take a walk through baseball history while you're there?
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