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In the September/October 2010 issue of Better Health:

Care of the esophagus - Common disorders require a range of treatment
Amanda O'Connor, 36, of Milford began suffering from serious acid reflux when she was a teenager. Her condition led to a hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus, a condition that occurs when acid reflux damage causes the structure of the esophageal lining to change. Louis Rell, 69, husband of Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell, doesn't recall having acid reflux symptoms but was surprised to learn he had developed esophageal cancer. In 2007, he underwent a highly specialized procedure called a minimally invasive esophagectomy at the Hospital of Saint Raphael. Learn about disorders of the esophagus and available treatment in the September/October issue of Better Health.

Assessing memory loss - when to be concerned
Most of us have done it. We've misplaced our car keys or our eyeglasses, or we've forgotten a name or a previously scheduled appointment. Older adults sometimes refer to them as "senior moments," but what is considered "normal" forgetfulness and when does memory loss signal something more worrisome? Learn more about dementia in the September/October issue of Better Health, and find out how Saint Raphael's Senior Assessment program can help.
 
New imaging technology allows surgeons to see inside organs
Like an image from a 3-D blockbuster movie, the object rotates slowly on screen, all of its contours visible in crisp, holographic detail. The object - a patient's liver - is seen in unprecedented detail, thanks to leading-edge technology available at the Hospital of Saint Raphael. Learn more about this new trend in imaging and how it benefits patients in the September/October issue of Better Health.

New Birth Center to open this winter
Renovation is underway on The Birth Center at the Hospital of Saint Raphael, where a new family-friendly environment is set to be unveiled by year's end. The center, located on the fifth floor of the Sister Louise Anthony Building, will feature labor and delivery rooms with soothing colors and lighting, and much more. Read about the maternity unit's renovation plans in the September/October issue of Better Health.

A Survivor's Story
Personal choice guides breast cancer decision
Karen Riches was only 38 when she discovered a lump in her breast. Following a breast cancer diagnosis, Riches underwent cancer treatment at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in 2008. Although the treatment cleared her of the disease, Riches opted to have the second healthy breast removed later as a preventative measure. Learn more about the Hamden resident's breast cancer journey - and what guided her personal decision - in the September/October issue of Better Health.

About Better Health

Better Health is published bimonthly by the Saint Raphael Healthcare System. It's mailed free to more than 160,000 homes in 20 communities throughout south central Connecticut including Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Clinton, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Seymour, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.  

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2010 Issues

July/August 2010
May/June 2010
March/April 2010
January/February 2010

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