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4A Daily News – Tuesday, June 19, 2012 Vitalityfitness health CHICAGO (MCT) — Deb McGarry had just delivered the eulogy at her grandmother's funeral when pain shot through her chest. A wave of nausea followed. "Something is wrong," McGarry whispered to her husband as an arm went numb and the lump in her throat turned to panic. McGarry, a mother of two from Naperville, Ill., suffered a heart attack a few hours later in an emergency room. She was diagnosed with a rare coronary condi- tion that can affect otherwise healthy young women and is often fatal. Stricken in January 2011, McGarry left the hospital after five days feeling isolat- ed and confused. Finding information about the ail- ment — "spontaneous coro- nary artery dissection," or SCAD — was difficult and doctors were unable to help, she said. covered a thriving online community that provided details about her condition and, more important, encouragement. With a few clicks of a mouse, she was able to plug into a wealth of information and support. From places as far away McGarry eventually dis- as New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, these survivors are part of patient-driven revolution in the world of rare diseases who mobilize through social networks, experts say. "With rare diseases, you can't walk in to your doctor's office and find the support and information you need," said McGarry, 39. "...It's absolutely amazing to be able to get on your comput- er and find people who are experiencing the same thing as you." Experts caution that the Internet is a double-edged sword. Although people find support, they also can be scammed and seduced into believing information that & Social media godsend for those with rare diseases MCT photo SCAD survivor Deb McGarry takes part in the SCAD Walk for Research in Naperville, Ill. isn't true — especially on sites that aren't sponsored by hospitals or a medical insti- tution. ic. Thanks to efforts by McGarry and the on-line network of SCAD survivors, doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have launched the first large-scale research project to learn more about the disease. The study is breaking new ground by using social media to recruit SCAD patients from around the world, doctors say. The plan is to input each individual's medical history into a data- base in hopes of identifying patterns. have applications for many other rare diseases, she said. "This goes far beyond SCAD," Hayes said. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection begins with an unexplained tear inside the artery wall. The loose tissue folds over, blocking blood flow and leading to clots, arterial blockage and often a heart attack. The methods used could The Mayo Clinic also will create a bio-bank of blood samples from patients with SCAD, along with samples from their parents and children. The hope is that it may lead to answers about the role genetics plays in the disease, said Dr. Sharonne Hayes, director of Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clin- 1010 Jefferson St., Red Bluff 527-7800 Complete Dental Care • Cosmetic Dentistry • Adults And Children • New Patients Warmly Welcomed! www.MooreandPascarella.com According to Mayo Clinic doctors, little research has been done on the disease, which has no cure or standard treatment. So far, doctors can't say with much certainty what causes the condition, whether it is likely to recur or if it can be passed along genetically. For many, not knowing such crucial details can be as debilitating as the physi- cal symptoms, patients said. In McGarry's case, when answers, she said. "I was freaking out; I immediately got online," said McGarry, recalling the anxiety she felt as she entered the search terms into a web browser for the first time. According to the Nation- al Institutes of Health, a rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000. The institute tracks roughly 7,000 diseases con- sidered rare and coordinates and supports research, according to the NIH web- site. 5 myths about sun exposure By Drs. Kay Judge and Maxine Barish-Wreden McClatchy Newspapers Calling all sun worshippers. Before you head out to the beach or tanning salon this summer, here are five myths about sun exposure, busted for your edification: 1. Your skin gets a healthy flush from mild sun exposure. she arrived at the emer- gency room almost two years ago, doctors could find nothing wrong with her, she said. But an hour later, surrounded by friends and family, McGarry suf- fered a heart attack. Doctors implanted two stents to open up the artery, then sent her home several days later with more questions than A 2011 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that one in five Americans uses the Internet to find people with similar health concerns. "We have this ancient instinct to find other people who share our same prob- lems so we can solve them together," said the project's associate director, Susannah Fox. With the Internet "it's faster and easier, but it's that same old wish." For patients and those who care for them, social networks can offer solace from what can be a lonely battle for survival, Fox said. At the same time, patients who organize them- selves in cyberspace can offer new opportunities for researchers. Lassen House Lic. #525002331 Assisted Living & Memory Care Community Where our family is committed to yours 705 Luther Road Red Bluff (530) 529-2900 www.Emeritus.com JOIN THE NEW GENERATION OF GOOD LISTENERS Wednesday June Every 20 & 27 Actually, that flush is not so healthy! When UV rays reach your skin, they damage cells in the epidermis. In response, your immune system increases blood flow to the affected areas. The increased blood flow is what gives sunburn its characteristic redness and warmth to touch. 2. You should limit yourself to safe tans. There is no such thing as a "safe tan." The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, which causes the tan color change in your skin, is a sign of skin damage. 3. Tanning makes you look better. Frequent sunburns or hours spent tanning can result in a permanent darkening of the skin, dark spots and a leathery texture. Tanning may give you short-term benefits in appearance, but it leads to pre- mature aging and wrinkling of the skin. 4. Your personal risk of getting skin cancer is relatively low. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the Unit- ed States; most of these are considered caused by the sun. 5. Staying in the sun gives your body a health boost. Overexposure to UV radiation may suppress proper func- tioning of the body's immune system and the skin's natural defenses. This can lead to increased sensitivity to sunlight, decreased effects of immunizations and increased reactions to certain medications. This weakening of the immune sys- tem can also cause reactivation of the herpes virus and recurrent cold sores. redbluff.mercy.org www.redbluff.mercy.org Cardiac Support Group 6:00pm-8:30pm 7/9 Monday Columba Room 527-5077 Community Basic Life Support 6:00pm-10:00pm 7/10 Tuesday Columba Room 529-8026 Childbirth Class 6:30pm-8:30pm 7/5- 12 Thursdays Columba Room 529-8026 Diabetic Education 12:30pm-4:30pm 7/18 Wednesday Columba Room 529-8026 Waterbirth Class 6:30pm-8:30pm 7/11 Wednesday Columba Room 529-8026 www.redbluff.mercy.org Grief Support Group 3:00pm-5:00pm Thursdays Coyne Center 528-4207 RANDAL S. ELLOWAY DDS IMPLANT DENTISTRY 2426 SO. 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