Mayo Clinic News Source - February 2003

Friday, February 28, 2003

Editors: Physician interviews and photo opportunities are available for these stories by calling Anne Tewksbury, (480) 301-4368.

Psychological Evaluation Needed Before Obesity Surgery
Not a substitute for cosmetic surgery

It's a life or death decision. Obesity surgery is for people with chronic medical problems related to excessive weight, and a host of psychological issues need to be addressed before deciding to take this step.

Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Lee Ann Kelley, M.D., does a pre-surgery evaluation of most candidates for obesity surgery. Issues she addresses include ways patients use food to cope with stress, how people are being treated differently by friends and family after the surgery, and the fact that having the surgery doesn't guarantee happiness.

"Weight-loss surgery should not be confused with cosmetic surgery," she adds. "It's a serious operation, and the real work begins after the operation." Dr. Kelley can discuss the following:

• How relationships often change because of jealousy over new appearances.
• Why obesity surgery isn't a magic bullet for happiness.
• Why it's important to pre-screen the patient's reasons and psychological readiness for obesity surgery.

Valley's Environment May be Leading to Widespread Lung Disease
Today, asthma treatment focuses on prevention.

Once a haven for those struggling with respiratory problems, today's Valley environment may actually be triggering lung disease. Like asthma, where you struggle to grab each next breath. In Arizona alone, more than 316,000 adults and children have asthma.

Inhalers may help stop your gasping, but they do nothing to prevent future attacks. New research is shifting the focus from just managing symptoms when they occur to treating the cause and preventing the symptoms.

"We have new medications that can help people lead a normal life, but they need to be taken on a daily basis, not just when you have symptoms, " says James Lee, Ph.D., asthma researcher at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. "The reality today is, if you have asthma you don't have to be miserable all the time," Dr. Lee, who has had asthma himself for more than 30 years, can discuss the following:

• The increasing number of Valley residents now suffering from asthma.
• Why the Valley's environment may be leading to an increase in lung disease, including asthma.
• How underlying inflammatory responses to allergens or environmental factors cause an asthma attack

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