FA L L 2 0 1 4
OUR
SUCCESS
IS IN THE
NUMBERS
Outpatient
MRI at HSH
Advanced diagnostic
imaging now available
on-site
Pain, Pain Go Away
Spine surgeon Dr. Robert Talac makes
patient comfort a priority
If you look at Dr. Robert Talac’s
ready to start his residency in orthope-
credentials — a PhD in biophysics,
dics, but Czechoslovakia split into two
fellowship training in surgical oncology,
separate countries, and the change
clinician-scientist at the Mayo Clinic and
disrupted his education. He had to change
fellowship training in spine surgery at the
his residency, which meant losing his
Cleveland Clinic — you might assume that
opportunity to work in orthopedics. He
he always planned to be a doctor.
trained in general surgery and cancer
Actually, he played hockey in his home
country, Czechoslovakia, and that was his
surgery instead.
His work as a cancer surgeon brought
intended profession. It did lead him to a
Dr. Talac to the U.S. in 1999, when the
career in medicine, though.
esteemed Mayo Clinic invited him to be a
“A friend of mine was rammed into the
visiting professor for minimally invasive
boards and broke his neck,” he recalls. “I
surgical procedures for cancer. He ended
started to have second thoughts about my
up working there for four years. After-
career. I spent quite some time talking to
wards, he returned to his first interest,
the team doctor about what had happened
and did an orthopedic residency at USC/
to my friend and decided to pursue
San Diego, before moving on to his
medicine.”
fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.
After finishing medical school, he was
His expansive training at some of the
Continued on back
THE GE 1.5T MRI SERVICES:
Walk-in and same-day
•
appointments available
In-network with Blue Cross/
•
Blue Shield of Texas
Billing department assistance •
with out-of-network requests
Convenient location and
•
free parking
To schedule an MRI for a patient
at Humble Surgical Hospital,
please call (281) 964-2100.
Physician referral required.
FACTSHEET
Something in the Air
How to prevent and treat fall allergies
Hip at Any Age
Studies show patients
in their 90s do well after
getting hip surgery
Anyone who has ever noticed the spry seniors
stepping alongside them at a 5K run, or keeping
up with an aerobics class at the gym, knows
that aging has changed dramatically in the
past few years. We not only live longer; we stay
Allergies get a lot of attention in the spring,
Mold is also more common during autumn,
active and energetic well into our golden years.
but fall can be just as tough a time for
when rain minimizes pollen levels but
So the news that hip replacement surgery is
sufferers. Nasal congestion, itchy eyes,
causes mold to grow on leaves and grass.
safe for patients in their 90s is encouraging.
runny nose and coughing are often
Age can be a significant contributing factor
mistaken for a cold, but these symptoms
What substances should you avoid?
in osteoarthritis, when wear and tear on a joint
can be caused by an increase in ragweed
The short answer is to avoid substances
can lead to severe pain and limit movement,
pollen, which brings on an allergic reaction
you’re allergic to, which requires figuring
but there was sometimes hesitation about
in 20 percent of Americans.
out what those are. Take note of your
performing surgery on someone at such an
surroundings when you experience
advanced age because of the normal risks of
What’s the difference between
symptoms, or see your doctor for an allergy
surgery.
a cold and allergies?
test if your symptoms are severe.
Recent studies shows that advanced surgery
Colds are caused by viruses. Your immune
techniques have significantly reduced those
system attacks the virus, which causes
Common allergens
risks and combined with a population that is in
symptoms such as congestion and
include:
relatively good health, hip replacement surgery
coughing. Colds are contagious and can
• Pollen
is a good option.
take several weeks to leave your body.
• Mold
“Most folks who live to 90 years old and
Allergies are caused by an overactive
• Animal dander
have symptomatic arthritis are generally a
immune system. Your body mistakes
• Dust mites
pretty hardy crowd,” Dr. Craig Della Valle, a
harmless substances like pollen for germs
• Cockroaches
professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush
and attacks them. This can cause swelling,
University Medical Center in Chicago told
a runny nose, coughing and sneezing.
What else can you do?
HealthDay. “If they are healthy enough that
Allergies are not contagious, but the
• Clean up piles of wet leaves to eliminate their arthritis bothers them, it usually means
tendency to develop them is hereditary.
a breeding ground for mold
they are active and can tolerate elective
If you experience any of these symptoms
• Wear a mask when doing yard work
surgery.”
for more than two weeks, you probably
• Change your clothes and wash your have allergies and not a common cold.
hands and face after being outside
Hip surgery can vastly improve a patient’s
quality of life. Having that treatment option
• Keep indoor humidity between 35 and when they are in their 90s can allow elderly
What triggers allergies?
50 percent
patients to maintain independence and live
Ragweed is the No. 1 culprit. It’s prominent
• Clean or regularly change your A/C without pain.
from the middle of August until November.
filters or use a HEPA air purifier
TAKECARE
Spreading Pain
Migraines can affect the
whole family’s health
5 Small Steps to Better Health
Even if you’re the only person in the family
who suffers the pain of migraine headaches,
everyone else in the household deals with
them as well. According to researchers at
Montefiore Headache Center in New York,
chronic migraines have an affect on:
• Family relationships
• Family activities
• Sexual intimacy
A migraine is a throbbing headache that
affects one side of your head, and often comes
along with nausea and disturbed vision. More
than 38 million people in the United States
report having migraines. Between 3 million
and 7 million are chronic sufferers, dealing
with migraines at least 15 days each month.
The researchers studied almost 1,000
people who experience chronic migraines.
Participants reported that they felt worried,
guilty and sad about how their migraines
affect their loved ones. Almost 75 percent felt
they would be better spouses without
headaches, and about 60 percent said that
their parenting would improve.
The study participants said they lost about
seven days a month of quality time with their
spouses due to migraines, as well as missing
family activities.
Migraines can be treated with medication,
dietary modifications and other lifestyle
changes. If you believe you suffer from
migraines, it is important to see your
physician and review what’s going on so he
or she can help you take action for relief.
Living a healthier life takes time. People often put
off lifestyle changes because they don’t have the
emotional or physical resources to devote to them.
But there are small steps you can take every day
to live healthier.
Combine your workday
b) Turn the alarm clock to face the wall.
& your workout
It removes the temptation to watch the
Sitting five or more hours per day can
clock, and gets rid of artificial light that
increase your risk of heart failure. A
can make your body think
simple solution: stand. Use a pile of books
it’s time to get up.
to prop up your computer or purchase a
c) Lavender has been used
standing desk. If you’re not comfortable
to ease insomnia, so use a
standing, swap your chair for an exercise
lavender-scented candle or
ball. It improves balance and strengthens
room spray.
your abs.
Skip the sour cream
Make a list
Everyone has things they need to do
Did you know sour cream has three times
around the house. Make a list and do one
the calories and 20 times the fat of Greek
small thing every day or every other day.
yogurt? Get the same creamy effect by
Clean out the fridge. Gather clothes you
adding a dollop of plain Greek yogurt to
don’t wear to donate. Wash the windows.
your taco or baked potato. You can even
Picking one thing at a time strengthens
mix yogurt with fresh herbs like
your attention span and gives you a sense of
dill and use it as a substitute for
accomplishment at the end of the day.
mayonnaise. You also get five times
the protein with yogurt than with
similar condiments.
Sleep smarter
Say thanks
Studies show that grateful people
have a reduced risk of heart disease, lower
stress levels and even sleep better at night.
If you have trouble winding down at the
Thank one person every day — text your
end of the day, try a few of these tips:
Mom, post on a friend’s Facebook page or
a) Keep the bedroom between 65-72
simply offer a heartfelt “thank you” to a
degrees. A cool, comfortable environment
coworker. You’ll be surprised how it will
fosters better sleep.
improve your mood and your health.
Humble Surgical Hospital
1475 FM 1960 East Bypass
Humble, TX 77338
Our Dynamic Services
Humble Surgical Hospital is a multispecialty, physician-owned surgical
hospital offering state-of-the-art
equipment and a variety of surgical
procedures. Our highly qualified and
experienced team of physicians, nurses
and medical personnel aims to ensure
patients receive excellent surgical
services in a warm, caring and friendly
environment. The hospital works with its
patients, physicians and staff to engage
an ongoing pursuit of excellence in care
and service.
Some of the many services that make
HSH such a unique surgical hospital
include:
• ENT
• Pain Management
• Spine Surgery
• Plastic
• Ophthalmology
• Cardiovascular
• Orthopedics
• And more
• Gastroenterology
Pain, Pain Go Away
Continued from front
best medical
institutions
in the
country
combined
with his
interest in
Dr. Robert Talac
the fast-developing field
of minimally invasive procedures put him
in a unique position. He performed
numerous types of surgeries using these
new tools, and he was thrilled at the
opportunity to help his patients in a way
Phone: 281-964-2100
HumbleSurgical.com
Questions related to Humble Surgical
Hospital’s Focus newsletter? Please contact
Director of Public Relations and Corporate
Communications Mika Rao at 713-532-7311.
tissues and nerves are not affected. Plus
the incision for surgery is very small.
“The outcome is very good with this
type of procedure,” he says. “Patients
hear horror stories about the pain of
spinal surgery, but that is nonexistent
with this. As far as the patient experience, there are a lot of similarities to
dental surgery. The patient is up in an
hour — or in some cases doesn’t even
need to go to sleep for the procedure.”
Dr. Talac has treated more than 6,000
patients since opening his first Spine
Institute in Jackson, Tennessee. He now
has eight clinics in three states. He
that didn’t lead to a long, painful recov-
recently made Humble, Texas, his home
ery. All of that experience is now focused
base and is very happy to be associated
on helping patients who have back and
with Humble Surgical Hospital.
neck pain, through his Advanced Spine
Institute.
“We spend a significant amount of time
“Humble Surgical Hospital makes sure
that doctors have everything they need to
take care of the patient,” he says. “The
with our patients to understand how
quality of care is very high because they
their problem affects them, and we
focus on true value, not the bottom line.”
always involve them in the decision-mak-
Humble Surgical Hospital
1475 FM 1960 East Bypass
Humble, TX 77338
He can operate very precisely, so healthy
ing process. We take care of them from
the beginning, using nonsurgical
approaches first.”
If a patient does need surgery, Dr. Talac
That aligns with Dr. Talac’s guiding
principle at the Advanced Spine Institute.
“I have taken on the motto from my
four years at the Mayo Clinic: The needs
of the patient come first,” he says. “We
meticulously explains the process, which
received a Patient Choice Award for three
focuses on relieving their long-term pain
years in a row, and that is what I value
without having them endure a long
most. It’s important to me that it
recovery. Using laser surgery, he is able to
highlights not just what I studied, but
target the pinched nerves or cracked disc
that the people we treat see us as
that is causing a patient life-altering pain.
providing good care.”