T.J. Samson | Destination Health | December 2017

David Koury, MD, is passionate about gourmet cooking. But he’s even more passionate about neu- rology. That much is obvious when he talks about his job. And as T.J. Samson Community Hospital’s newest neurologist, Dr. Koury brings consider- able training and experience to Glasgow. In fact, he’s fellowship trained and certified in not one but three medical specialties: neurovascular medicine, sleep medicine and neuroimaging. Dr. Koury came here from Memphis, Tennessee, where he recently finished a neurovascular fellow- ship. Before that, he was in private practice in Fort Payne, Alabama. Now he sees patients at the hospital and the T.J. Health Pavilion. In the outpatient clinic, he provides advanced care for conditions involving the brain, spinal cord and nerves, such as: ● Demen- tia. ● Headaches. ● Seizures. ● Multiple sclerosis. ● Parkinson’s disease and other movement dis- orders. ● Sleep disorders like narcolepsy, apnea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome. ● Back pain. ● Carpal tunnel syndrome. ● Diabetic neuropathy. ● Fibromyalgia. Dr. Koury’s practice here means that you don’t have to leave the Glasgow area if you need help managing your chronic condition. And should you become his patient, know this about his approach to your medical care: “I’ll listen to you and have your best interest at heart,” he says. INSPIRED BY HIS HOMETOWN DOC Dr. Koury grew up in Sanford, North Carolina— the nation’s brick capital. His father ran the fam- ily’s textile plant; his mother was a homemaker and avid cook who subscribed to Bon Appétit . As for Dr. Koury, he went on to become the first doctor in his family. His inspiration was his own family doc- tor and his doctor’s wife, also a physician. “She was a unique lady, and he told me, all the time: ‘You aren’t educated until you’ve read War and Peace ,’” says Dr. Koury, adding, “I still haven’t read it.” He found the couple interesting to talk to and developed a life- long love of learning. In medical school at Wake Forest University, Dr. Koury initially chose rehab medicine but switched to neurology. A rapidly evolving area, it fascinates him still—especially when it comes to neuroimaging. But it all comes down to the human element for Dr. Koury: “We’re in it to try to make the quality of life of other people hopefully where they were or the best they can be.” FROM THE CLINIC TO THE KITCHEN When he’s not diagnosing a condition or manag- ing a patient’s sleep disorder, Dr. Koury can often be found enjoying one of his other passions: the arts, exercising or cooking. Asked to name his fa- vorite cuisines, Dr. Koury rattles off an impressive list of exotic flavors, Asian ingredients and deli- cious-sounding sauces just as easily as he describes a syndrome in neurology. One of his specialties? Homemade stocks. “My freezer is almost full,” he says. “I kind of go by the Culinary Institute of America’s bible of cooking.” And how does he feel about the move to Glasgow? “I’m lucky to be here,” Dr. Koury says. Most people see a neurologist by referral—ask your primary care provider. To reach Dr. Koury, call 270-659-5663 . You might know that plaque can build up in your coronary arteries— and limit the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. But these fatty deposits can also choke off blood flow elsewhere. Doctors call this peripheral artery disease (PAD)— and it’s especially likely to affect arteries in your legs. Untreated PAD is dangerous. Blocked blood flow in a leg can cause gangrene—and sometimes result in an amputation. If you have leg pain when you walk or climb stairs, it’s crucial to tell your doctor—the reason could be PAD. IMPROVING BLOOD FLOW Although it’s serious, PAD is also treatable. And often lifestyle changes, medicine or both can ease your discomfort and help keep PAD from getting worse. But sometimes changes—such as starting an exercise program and taking medicine—aren’t enough. Then you may need angioplasty or even surgery, especially if your leg hurts even when you’re resting. During angioplasty, a doctor in- serts a thin catheter with a balloon at its tip into the blocked part of the artery and inflates the balloon, which opens the blockage. Often Peripheral artery disease: How surgery can help a wire mesh tube called a stent is put in place to help keep the artery open. For most people, angioplasty improves blood flow. If it doesn’t— or if a long part of an artery is blocked—then bypass surgery may be recommended. In bypass surgery, a doctor at- taches a vein from another part of the body or a synthetic blood vessel above and below the blocked area. This lets blood flow around the blockage. Like angioplasty, bypass surgery typically increases blood flow. You might not have symptoms anymore, even when you walk. And if you do have them, you should be able to walk much farther before they start. Learn more about all treat- ment options for PAD at morehealth.org/PAD . Source: American Heart Association A better view Trea tment c an he l p c l ea r c a t a r ac t s It’s disturbing when vision blurs, colors seem faded and headlight glare makes it hard to drive at night. It’s also time to see your eye doctor. These and other symptoms—like double vi- sion in one eye or needing more light to read—could be due to cataracts. Cataracts are both com- mon and treatable.They can develop at any age, but the most common type is age- related, occurring after age 40. Other factors—such as smoking, sun exposure and diabetes—can also contrib- ute to cataract development. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. One or both eyes can be affected. In most cases, cataracts develop gradually over several years. Surgery can clear things up. In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear plastic lens. The implanted lens requires no special care and becomes a permanent part of the eye. According to the National Eye Institute, cataract surgery improves vision about 90 percent of the time. Meet our new neurologist 2 DESTINATION HEALTH David Koury, MD Vascular Neurology