Carson Valley Medical Center | Health & Healing | Winter 2017

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NO ONE is a stranger to sadness. But
normally, one can work through the sadness
with support systems and coping strategies.
There is another kind of sadness that can
persist for weeks, months or even years if left
untreated: depression. And its symptoms can
be so severe that it can make it difficult to
work, concentrate, sleep or even eat.
Should depression ever affect you, here
are four crucial things to know:
Depression is not a weakness. Depres-
sion is not a sign of a character flaw or
weakness. Rather, it may be brought on by
an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. That
imbalance may be passed on by genes—as
the tendency to develop depression some-
times runs in families—emotional stress, or
certain medicines or medical conditions.
Depression is highly treatable. And
the sooner that treatment begins, the better.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help keep
your depression from lasting a long time,
becoming more severe or recurring. Most
important, treatment can lift your spirits
and help you feel like yourself again.
Typically, that treatment involves talk
therapy or medicines called antidepressants—
or a combination of both.
You’re not alone. In a given year, an
estimated 15.7 million American adults find
themselves coping with depression. And
while the condition is never a normal part
of life, it can happen to anyone.
Know the signs. Don’t let any misguided
embarrassment keep you from getting the
treatment you deserve. Tell your doctor
right away if symptoms such as these persist
for two weeks or longer:
➜ Feeling sad or empty.
➜ Feeling hopeless, irritable or anxious.
➜ Losing interest in things you once enjoyed.
➜ Not being able to sleep or eat, or sleep-
ing or eating too much.
We can help. If you or a loved one is an
older adult experiencing these symptoms or
other symptoms that interfere with your ev-
eryday life, help is available. Carson Valley
Medical Center’s Vitality for Life program
may be right for you. Through a combina-
tion of outpatient group therapy, individual
counseling and wellness services, patients
learn the tools they need to regain their
sense of strength and emotional balance.
“Gone are the days of deep depression,
anger, guilt and insecurity,” says one gradu-
ate of the Vitality for Life program upon
completing treatment. “I love who I am, I
enjoy every day of my life.”
Learn more by visiting www.cvmc
hospital.org/vitality or calling us
at 775-782-1599.
Healthy living
➜
TAKE 10
Short
workouts
really can
work
“Not enough time.” That’s a
common lament—especially
when it comes to exercise. But
with minor tweaks to your
schedule, the benefits of exer-
cise can be yours if you simply
take it 10 minutes at a time.
Finding time. Adults need at
least 150 minutes of moderate-
intensity exercise every week.
Weight loss, better sleep and
lower risk for heart disease are
all compelling reasons to be ac-
tive. And as long as your weekly
total is 150 minutes, exercising
in 10-minute increments (that’s
only three times each weekday)
is as effective as doing longer
workouts.
Where can you find openings
for three 10-minute activity
breaks? Try looking here:
Morning. Time your com-
mute on public transportation
so you can get off early for a
brisk walk. If you drive to work,
stride through a park near your
office before clocking in.
Noon. Spend the last 10 min-
utes of your lunch hour hiking
up and down the stairs.
Evening. Repeat your morn-
ing routine, and boom! You’ve
done your time for today.
Sources: American College of Sports Medicine; Ameri-
can Council on Exercise
DEPRESSIONthings
to know 4
implants or metallic shrapnel in your body.
These items may distort images or even pose
a risk to you if the magnet causes objects to
shift position.
What to expect
The traditional MRI scanner looks like a
long tube. You will lie on an exam table
that slides into the tube, which contains
the magnets. Some MRI units are open
on all sides, which is often less stressful for
people who are uncomfortable in enclosed
spaces.
For some exams, the patient needs to be
injected with a contrast material to make
images sharper. Very rarely, this material
may cause an allergic reaction.
During the exam, you’ll need to remain
still, especially when images are being taken.
You’ll know that’s happening by the sound
of tapping or loud thumping from the MRI
machine.
Throughout the exam, the technologist
is in a separate room with the computer,
where it is protected from the magnetic
field. The operator can see, hear and talk to
you during the test.
MRI scans can take anywhere from
15 minutes to an hour. A radiologist exam-
ines the images and reports to your doctor,
who will go over the results with you.
Where can I get my MRI?
Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far to
get an MRI. State-of-the-art MRI technol-
ogy is available right here in Gardnerville
at Carson Valley Medical Center. “A recent
upgrade to our MRI equipment at CVMC
allows us to be a leader in imaging technol-
ogy in our area,” states Contrivo.
For patients, this translates to premium
image quality, less wait and appointment
time, and fewer callbacks.
If your doctor has ordered an MRI,
consider Carson Valley Medical Center. The
medical imaging department can be reached
by calling 775-782-1533.
Source: Radiological Society of North America
—Continued from the cover
MRI: A clearer view
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