Q&A
with Alison Evans-Fragale, RN, MSN, CFNP

Edgewater resident Alison Evans-Fragale has been a practicing RN since 1988. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), in conjunction with her Nurse Anesthetist Degree, from Harlem Hospital’s School of Nurse Anesthesia (a Columbia University affiliate) and Lehman College, CUNY, Bronx, NY, in 1995. In order to pursue a career that gave her more contact with the “conscious and self-directed human being” than a career in anesthesia could provide, she chose to pursue a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner, receiving her degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY in 1997. She has held several staff appointments in many of New York City’s finest teaching hospitals, including Columbia-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai. Currently working in the ER of Palisades Medical Center, Ms. Evans-Fragale serves as a volunteer on the Edgewater Volunteer Ambulance Squad and in the Edgewater Millennium Peace Garden located within Veterans’ Field Park.

The following information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered a method of rendering personal medical care. The information provided is not given as medical advice or opinion and should not be relied upon as such, and is not a substitute for being seen and/or treated by your health care provider. If you have a medical condition or problem, you should consult a qualified and licensed health care provider.

Message from Alison: “Welcome to the first of a series of monthly columns focusing on health issues of concern to local residents. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, specializing in patient education as well as illness prevention and wellness promotion. I love making people feel better! So ask me your questions and let me help you along the road to great health—but remember, nothing worthwhile in life is achieved without hard work.”

Q: What is the drug “Allegra” used for?
T.G., Edgewater
A: Allegra is a drug that falls under the category of antihistamines. It helps to suppress symptoms of allergies (sneezing, itching, runny nose, red eyes, etc.) by suppressing the release of histamines, things our bodies release in response to something that is irritating our immune system. I hope this answer is helpful, and if you have any other questions pertaining to its use, side-effects, or drug-interactions, let me know.

Q: I have an inflamed muscle in my neck from sleeping in an incorrect position which has caused light-headedness, dizziness, and pain in the right side of my neck going into the shoulder blade area. I went to the doctor and got some pills which are not very effective, and I want to solve the underlying problem–not just numb the pain–and I don't want to take pain killers on a long-term basis anyway. What are some other good recommended treatments (chiropractic, stretches, massage, etc.)?
R.T.
A: Try some anti-inflammatories, like Motrin or Advil while you are healing. Use ice massage during acute inflammation. Try putting some water in a small paper Dixie cup and freezing it. Use the cup and ice to massage the area during acute inflammation. Chiropractic adjustments will probably help. A good Swedish foam mattress and pillow will help you sleep in a supported posture and prevent injury.
  Treat yourself to a massage now and then. I have heard that magnetic therapy helps as well. Check out my web site at http://drizzlegirl.homestead.com/index.html and click on the link to magnetic therapy.

Q: I have been having panic attacks and was recently diagnosed with “panic disorder”. What is “panic disorder” and how is it cured?
V.W.
A: Fear not, V.W.! You are definitely not alone. Panic disorder affects almost 85% of any urban population at one time, myself included. Personal experience necessitates my asking you what you are angry or upset about that you do not allow to come to the surface. Feelings we repress have to surface somehow, and, often, they come in the form of a panic attack. Drugs called Benzodiazepines help with the symptoms of panic disorder, but do not take them simply thinking you are cured. They may eliminate the symptoms of your problem, but the cause lies much deeper, and that needs to be eradicated before you can start to feel better.
  A good resource for on-line support is http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/panic.html from the APA. On a personal level, think about what feelings you have that you may be repressing, and figure out a way to deal with them...chat rooms and bulletin boards are a great place to get support from fellow sufferers. If you feel the need for medical intervention, see a psychiatrist who can prescribe meds to alleviate your symptoms. Over the counter herbs which aid relaxation include Chamomile, Vervain, Balm, Hops and Valerian, but check with your primary health care provider to be sure that these supplements are alright to take in conjunction with whatever medication he or she has prescribed for you.
  Panic attacks are unpredictable and leave you feeling vulnerable, but with the info I just gave you, you are empowered, and this situation does not have to have control over you! You are now in a position to have control over it! So, go do it, and kiss your worries good-bye!

Q: Hello..... my Father had been taking the drug called Lipitor for several years after a cardiac bypass surgery. His Doctor took him off of it and did some blood work and said that his liver enzymes were high and wants him to have a liver ultrasound done next week. He does not drink or smoke and is generally healthy. What could this be caused by, and is there any chance that these results mean he has cancer? What would the side effects be...if any? Dad is worried sick about this and wanted me to find these questions out. Thanks.
S.S.
A: The kind of drug your father is on falls under the class of an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. These drugs can cause an increase in liver enzymes, thus your physician is being prudent running some additional tests to make sure the rise in liver enzymes is due to the drug and not some other disease process.
  This does not automatically mean he has cancer. I am sorry that he has worried. I hope this column eases his mind a little and I would encourage him to not read so much into the test. This is fairly routine. That said, I am not your father’s practitioner and have never examined him. Therefore, make sure your father’s medical provider fully explains the results of the ultrasound with you and what it means. Have him/her offer advice as to how to lower the liver enzymes. If I can be of further assistance, you can e-mail me at mindbodyandsoul@edgewater-nj.com.

8/23/01

Do you have a question for Ms. Evans-Fragale? Do you have something you’d like to see her address in a future column? Send it to mindbodyandsoul@edgewater-nj.com.