Methodist Health System | Methodist Dallas Medical Center | Shine | Spring 2015

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Methodist Dallas Medical Center • ❁ Spring 2015 5
The silent killer.
That’s how physicians often describe hypertension — also known as high blood pressure — because what’s going on in
your arteries doesn’t always translate to how you feel on a daily basis.
Fortunately, there are healthy practices that can help you keep your blood pressure under control.
Try these tips from Mark Thompson, MD, cardiologist at Methodist Dallas Medical Center:
Reduce your sodium (salt) intake. We often consume more than our daily allowance of sodium (1,500 to 2,300 milligrams,
depending on personal history). Checking food labels for the amount of sodiumper serving can help you stay in a healthy range.
Plan your day with exercise. Physical fitness helps you manage stress and reduce blood pressure.
Take a break from distractions. Blood pressure is dynamic, and it responds to the stress levels caused by our daily ups
and downs. Taking time for peace and quiet or engaging in activities that relieve your mental stress is key.
A new program at Methodist Dallas guides patients on the road to healing
Methodist Dallas Medical Center’s Survivorship Program began in late
2014 with one simple mission: to help cancer survivors achieve the
greatest quality of life possible after treatment.
“The heart of the Survivorship Program is to provide patients with
three things: the knowledge that they are always more than just a
name, the security of knowing how their next steps will look both in the
long- and short-term, and the assurance that they are never alone in
their journey,” says Martin Koonsman, MD, general surgeon and medical
director at Methodist Dallas’ Breast Center.
How the programworks
After treatment, our survivor navigator creates a complete summary
of care for patients, as well as a plan to follow for the next one to five
years. This plan includes:
w An outline of follow-up scans, tests, and lab work
w How frequently patients should meet with the physicians involved in
their care
w A list of resources for handling physical and emotional needs, such as
physical therapy and depression.
While thismight seem like a lot of information, the survivor navigator
partners with patients, serving as a go-to guide for their after-treatment plan.
Any cancer patient may participate in the Survivorship Program, but
most patients to date have been breast and pancreatic cancer survivors.
From surviving to thriving
FINDING HOPE AND HEALING
If you or a loved one might benefit from
Methodist Dallas’ Survivorship Program
or other cancer services call Linda
Gage BS RN at 214-947-3623 or visit
FROM HIGH TO LOW
To learn more about bringing down your high blood pressure visit
Natural ways to manage hypertension
Under
pressure