Sharp HealthCare values its relationship with local media and we look forward to working with you to educate our community about important health issues. Following is a compilation of current health care topics.

Please contact Erica Carlson at Erica.Carlson@sharp.com if you are interested in speaking with one of our affiliated physicians or clinicians.

For additional story ideas on a daily basis, visit Sharp Health News to find short health stories on up-to-date health topics.

As a reminder, the after hours media number for Sharp HealthCare is 858-499-4301.

Inside Sharp HealthCare

• Hospital volunteer connects with patients in a new way after cancer
  diagnosis — Retired MLB player Rocky Craig volunteers at Sharp Grossmont Hospital as a "Blue Angel" shuttle driver, transporting patients around the campus. After being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, he underwent a round of chemotherapy and radiation at the very same hospital. Two days later he went back to volunteering, driving around some of the same patients who sat beside him during chemotherapy. Rocky has inspired many with his positive outlook, choosing to see cancer as "the gift of time." Rocky is available to talk about his volunteer experience and cancer journey.
• What happens when a nonsmoker gets lung cancer? It happens more than you
  think — When someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, often the first question they're asked is, "How long did you smoke?" But you don't have to smoke to get lung cancer — up to 20 percent of people who die from lung cancer never used tobacco products. For patient Sunny Golden, it started with a slight cough. Otherwise healthy and a nonsmoker, she was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. Sunny and Dr. Reema Batra, a Sharp Grossmont board-certified medical oncologist, are available to talk about lung cancer in nonsmokers and smokers, as well as the stigma that has many lung cancer patients feeling like they caused their own disease — whether they smoked or not.
• Sharp offers free Medicare resources — Understanding how Medicare works can be confusing. Sharp HealthCare is offering free Medicare resources for the community including in-person classes, online videos and articles and expert advice over the phone. A Sharp expert is available for interviews about Medicare.

National Trends Localized

• Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning this winter — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20,000 Americans visit emergency rooms each year for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. A malfunctioning furnace can emit this colorless, odorless — and potentially deadly — gas. A Sharp Memorial Hospital-affiliated Emergency Department physician is available to give tips on ways to stay safe when the weather turns cold.
• Snack bars and fiber — We live in a time where junk food and processed food are marketed as healthy, but they're still processed; this can encourage people to rely on these foods too heavily and miss out on more nutrient-dense foods. Does the added fiber in snack bars count? The FDA is deciding whether 26 ingredients found in processed foods count as fiber. Tracey Grant, RDN, a wellness program manager with Sharp Rees-Stealy's Center for Health Management, is available to discuss what may or may not be good sources of fiber.
• Daylight Saving Time and your health — How can one little hour have such a big impact on your sleep patterns? The end of Daylight Saving Time means going to work and school in the daylight, but coming home in the dark. But are there any negative effects it can have on your sleep? Dr. Gary Levinson internal medicine doctor at Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group is available to talk about sleep  and your health during "fall back" season.

Important Health Dates

• Lung Cancer Awareness Month — Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death from cancer, which is largely due to the fact that it's often caught late when it's harder to treat. But now Sharp HealthCare offers CT lung cancer screening, a revolutionary tool for finding lung cancer early, giving more San Diegans a fighting chance against the disease.Sharp is hosting Breathe Easy: What Doctors Want You to Know About Lung Cancer, a free event open to the public, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November), a Sharp doctor is available to tell viewers more about CT lung cancer screening, including who is eligible and how to make an appointment.
• Antibiotics Awareness Week — Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection. During Nov. 13-19, 2017, the annual U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week raises awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.
• National Hospice and Palliative Care Month — November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Sharp HospiceCare has been caring for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones since 1991. A Sharp HospiceCare representative is available to share the program's approach to pain relief, daily comfort and closure.
• World Prematurity Day — World Prematurity Day on Nov. 17 raises awareness about the serious health conditions that babies face when born too early. At Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, the Neonatal Research Institute (NRI) provides lifesaving research and treatments to give every baby a fighting chance. An expert from the NRI is available to talk about current research happening at Sharp Mary Birch.

From Sharp Health News

• How important is it to know your blood type? — Whether you are A, B or O, your blood donation can help save a life.
• An eye on improving cataract surgery experience — Sharp Rees-Stealy pilots innovation in helping patients navigate cataract surgery.
• Is my kid really sick or just faking it? — If your child's theatrics could win an award, you may need these tips from our expert.