24 Jul 2013

A New Approach to Eating

By Amy Stockwell Mercer
Mindfulness is very in and could just help your A1C and your waistline.

How many of us eat dinner in front of the nightly news, or lean over the newspaper while we sip our coffee at breakfast? How many of us walk, talk or drive while eating? The answer is almost everyone. And when we're finished eating, all too often we realize we ate more than we'd planned. Diabetes or no, overeating is not good for blood sugar control or weight management. But how do we make a change ? from mindless eating to mindful eating ? when our lives are too busy to stop and smell the risotto?

What is it?
A recent trend in psychology, mindfulness has become the latest "it" phrase in the nutrition world too. Mindfulness has its roots in Eastern philosophy and, broadly, it is simply adopting greater awareness. In Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes (New Harbinger Publications, 2012), co-author Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDE (and co-founder of The Center for Mindful Eating), says, "mindful eating is eating with intention and attention. Intention is to address hunger and cravings, and attention is being aware of how food tastes and our change [in] hunger and fullness." For some, it might mean a greater awareness of food and for others it might be simply slowing down while eating.

Conscious and Conscience
Heather Nielsen, co-founder of Transforming Diabetes (a website that provides diabetes health care services and support), participated in a mindful eating exercise where she was asked to take a small bite of food (a raisin, piece of fruit, or trail mix), and to employ a variety of senses (taste, smell, listen) to mindfully notice this food item. "We were encouraged to let it sit in our mouths, move it around with our tongue, noticing texture and taste before biting slowly into it, and continuing to observe what happened at each moment." Nielsen says this exercise showed her how unconscious she'd been with food. "I realized how diabetes had taken me away from the appreciation of food as food, and led me to see food as carbs or calories."

The Science
Although mindful eating is not a "diet," studies show that weight loss may be a ripple effect. Jean Kristeller, PhD, of Indiana State University, has created a program called Mindfulness Based-Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT). The 10-session program has been shown to reduce binge eating and give participants a greater ability to use hunger and satiety cues to self-regulate food choice and eating behavior. Another study at Duke University suggests that mindful eating can prevent weight regain in subjects after 15 months.

Weight management has not been an issue for Nielsen, a busy working mom, but she feels that incorporating mindful eating has helped with her diabetes management and maintaining a healthy weight. "I'm eating more intuitively, less emotionally, and am more likely to take in just what I need."

Becoming a mindful eater doesn't mean you have to buy a yoga mat, sit cross legged, and hum every time you feel hungry. It just means, simply paying attention to what you put in your mouth.

A Starter Kit*

Experts suggest starting gradually with mindful eating, eating one meal a day or week in a slower, more attentive manner. Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • Set your kitchen timer to 20 minutes, and take that time to eat a normal-sized meal.
  • Try eating with your non-dominant hand; if you're a righty, hold your fork in your left hand when lifting food to your mouth.
  • Use chopsticks if you don't normally use them.
  • Eat silently for five minutes, thinking about what it took to produce that meal, from the sun's rays to the farmer to the grocer to the cook.
  • Take small bites and chew well.
  • Before opening the fridge or cabinet, take a breath and ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?" Do something else, like reading or going on a short walk.

*Adapted from "Mindful Eating May Help with Weight Loss," Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publications, HEALTHBeat, July 6, 2011. http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/mindful-eating-may-help-with-weight-loss

Recommended Reading

  • Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat With Diabetes by Michelle May, MD and Megrette Fletcher, MEd, RD, CDE
  • Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food by Susan Albers, PsyD
  • Mindful Eating, a Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food by Jan Chozen Bays, MD
24 Jul 2013

Is Bulldog-Face the Next Modern Epidemic?

By Ginny Grimsley
2 Doctors Say Unrecognized Airway/Breathing Issues are
Prompting Facial Changes and a Host of Chronic Problems

What's it like to be an English bulldog? More people are finding out, say integrated health specialists Dr. Michael Gelb and Dr. Howard Hindin.

"A bulldog's airway passages are quite restricted because of the shape of its face, and they are often especially vulnerable to illnesses such as cardiac disease and cancer," says Dr. Michael Gelb of The Gelb Center in New York (www.gelbcenter.com), a holistic dentist known worldwide for pioneering integrative treatments.

Dr. Hindin of the Hindin Center for Whole Health Dentistry (www.hindincenter.com) partners with Dr. Gelb in a multidisciplinary approach to treating chronic disease affecting millions of Americans.

"Our faces are becoming more like a bulldog, with smaller mouths, bigger tongues, misaligned teeth and bigger necks - all of which changes the structures of our mouths and makes breathing significantly more difficult," Dr. Hindin says.

The doctors say that's creating a health crisis.

They say these issues are often associated with Airway, Breathing and Sleep (ABSleep):

• ADHD and other children's issues: Ninety percent of our brains are developed by age 12. Obstructions and even increased effort in breathing cause children to have sleep disorders, and the effect is a range of related problems, from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to obesity and diabetes. The good news is that much of this is preventable - at 6, 18 and 30 months of age, doctors can predict children who are likely to develop behavioral and cognitive disorders due to poor breathing. Treatment is often complex and requires a team approach. Removal of tonsils and adenoids are among preventative measures, along with palatal expansion and myofunctional therapy. Additionally, early intervention can improve the shape of a child's face, lips and smile.

• TMJ: As our faces are becoming pushed in and our mouths are getting smaller there is increased pressure on the TMJ as well as increased muscle tension and clenching.

• Sleep apnea: People with sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times each night. Each time this happens, the brain triggers the person to awaken, ever so slightly, in order to resume breathing. Up to 90 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea have not been diagnosed, according to the American College of Physicians. Sleep apnea is just one of the disorders that can have serious lifelong consequences. But the causes are easily corrected. Children who snore loudly are twice as likely to have learning problems and are more likely to develop behavior problems and ADHD.

• Chronic headaches: Morning headache is one sign of obstructive sleep apnea. As the face is pushed in, nasal breathing is obstructed and mouth breathing results in a forward head posture. This puts a strain on the muscles and nerves at the base of the neck which increases headache.

• Other sleep disorders: You do not need to have apnea to have a sleep disorder that will interfere with performance and health. Snoring, restless leg syndrome and simple daytime drowsiness can be a signal that you are not getting the proper quantity and quality of restorative sleep. If you are suffering from chronic pain, inflammation, poor performance or behavior problems, consider looking into airway-breathing treatment.

About Michael Gelb, D.D.S., M.S.

Dr. Michael Gelb is an innovator in airway, breathing, sleep, and painful TMJ disorders pioneering Airway Centric. He has studied early intervention for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) specializing in how it relates to fatigue, focus, pain and the effects all of these can have on family health. Dr. Gelb received his D.D.S. degree from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery and his M.S. degree from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He is the former Director of the TMJ and Orofacial Pain Program at the NYU College of Dentistry and is currently Clinical Professor in the Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology at the NYU College of Dentistry. He is a co-inventor of the NORAD, or Nocturnal Oral Airway Dilator appliance that reduces snoring by positioning the patient's tongue and jaw so that airways stay open. He co-founded the Academy of Physiologic Medicine and Dentistry (APMD) and a non-profit to prevent the proliferation of chronic disease in the U.S. based on airway, sleep and breathing awareness, research and education.

About Howard Hindin, D.D.S.

Dr. Howard Hindin is trained in all aspects of general dentistry. Since the 1990s, his practice has also focused on cosmetic dentistry, temporomandibular joint disorders and craniofacial pain. He is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry. An acknowledged pioneer in the relationship between dental issues and whole body health, Dr. Hindin is President (2000-present) of the Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine (FAIM). He is also an active member of the American Academy of Pain Management, American Academy of Cranio Facial Pain, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, and the New York State Society of Acupuncture for Physicians and Dentists and is the co-founder of the American Association of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD).

23 Jul 2013

We're No Longer No. 1, But We're Still Too Fat, Says Physician

By Rick Martin
5 Myths that Misinform Our Efforts to Slim Down

We're not No. 1 anymore. Mexico, according to the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, has surpassed the United States as the fattest nation in the world.

An estimated 70 percent of the population is overweight, and about one-third of Mexicans are obese. Just one fat-related disease, diabetes, accounts for nearly 70,000 Mexican deaths per year.

"But this doesn't mean our health to the north has gotten better - it just means others have gotten worse, and the dubious distinction of who is the world's most obese nation is debatable," says Dr. James L. Hardeman, who has seen firsthand the consequences of unhealthy habits during his 30 years as a practicing physician.

"For one, we've been fatter longer than Mexico has and yet we still haven't sufficiently dealt with our national epidemic of fat-based disease. Our overweight and obese percentages are neck and neck with Mexico's, and some of this is due to misinformation."

Dr. Hardeman, author of "Appears Younger than Stated Age," (www.jameslhardeman.com), a pragmatic guide to looking younger, debunks some of the myths that aren't helping dieters:

• Myth: Thirty minutes of exercise three times a week is sufficient. Moderate exercise may work for the 25-year-old with a reasonably healthy diet. When we are young, our basal metabolic rate (BMR) rages like a furnace. Unfortunately, our BMR decreases 2 to 3 percent each decade after age 25. That means we have to make up for that decrease with either better eating habits, more exercise, or both - if we want to maintain a healthy weight. For those who are older, overweight or obese, a stronger commitment is necessary, including an hour's worth of exercise at least five times a week.

• Myth: Gaining weight with age is healthy because it's natural. Metabolism slows with age, causing many to put on the pounds. However, maintaining your Ideal Body Weight (IBW), which factors in height, gender and frame size, will keep you feeling and looking younger if you do not slowly gain weight over time. Also, casually accepting some weight gain over time can lead to massive weight gain considering our largely sedentary lifestyles and easy availability of quick, fatty meals.

• Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Humans posses a sensitive thirst center in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which responds to dehydration and tells us to drink water. The amount of water needed for each person varies; so we don't need to target a set amount because our thirst will tell us. However, drinking plenty of water may decrease appetite, and water should always be chosen over sugary beverages for satiating thirst.

• Myth: Diet books keep you slim. "Going on a diet" is one of America's favorite pastimes. Diets typically entail temporarily altering eating patterns, losing a bit of weight, and then going back to old habits. This has created an entire genre of literature, as well as videos, gear and meal plans that have become a multibillion-dollar industry. Really, it all boils down to the I&O (Intake and Output) principle. People who stick to Atkins, South Beach and the Sugar Busters diets lose weight because they limit the intake of calories.

• Myth: Taking vitamin supplements every day makes you healthy. Dietary supplement sales represent a $20 billion a year business, yet the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act allows for significantly more lenient rules for supplements than medications from pharmaceutical companies, which are carefully scrutinized by the FDA. Manufacturers are not required to substantiate the supposed benefits of their products. A balanced diet generally provides all required vitamins and minerals needed, with the possible exceptions vitamin B12 for those who eat no animal products, folic acid for women of childbearing age, and, if blood tests indicate deficiency, vitamin B12 and vitamin D in the elderly.

About Dr. James L. Hardeman

Dr. James L. Hardeman has been a practicing physician for 30 years. Triple board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Hardeman has maintained the demanding schedule of both hospital-based medicine and a busy office practice. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from University of California at Irvine he attended Baylor College of Medicine where he graduated with honors. Postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine took place at USC and UCI.

17 Jul 2013

Pets Across U.S. Brace for Heat Wave

By James Judge
MINNEAPOLIS - As people brace for the heat wave that is forecasted to blanket the U.S. this week, doctors from BluePearl Veterinary Partners are urging pet owners to take precautions for their pets during the sweltering days ahead.

BluePearl doctors recommend these simple steps to help prevent your pet from taking a trip to the emergency room:

•       Avoid physical activity during the heat of the day; keep exercise to the cooler mornings and evenings.
•       Ensure your pet has access to plenty of water throughout the day and during times of exercise.
•       Spray your pet down with room temperature or cool water, but never ice water. Ice cold water causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin and heat can't escape the body properly, which actually makes heat exhaustion symptoms worse.
•       Make sure pets are kept inside of air-conditioned spaces to avoid excess exposure to heat.
•       When walking or jogging with your pet, try to avoid asphalt as your pet's paw pads can burn. Instead, stick to concrete, dirt or grass, as those surfaces are less hot.
•       Never leave your pet in a car unattended, even with the air conditioning running. If the air conditioning fails, your pet could easily over-heat in as little as a few minutes.
•       Don't give sports drinks or electrolyte supplements to pets. Dogs cool off by panting and they do not sweat like people. Supplements like sports drinks can actually harm animals and make pets sick.

Most importantly, be familiar with your pet and know when they aren't acting right. Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and dark red gums are all signs of heat related distress. If your pet is panting uncontrollably or collapses, take the animal to your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

About BluePearl Veterinary Partners
Formed in 2008, BluePearl Veterinary Partners is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., and employs more than 1,200 people including approximately 250 veterinarians. BluePearl hospitals are referral-only and don't provide primary care. Most BluePearl hospitals offer 24-hour emergency care services. BluePearl is one of the world's principal providers of approved veterinary residency and internship educational programs. BluePearl also participates in and conducts clinical trials to study the effectiveness of new drugs and treatments, which give clients access to cutting-edge medicine not yet commercially available and improves the quality of care delivered to our patients.

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15 Jul 2013

Upcoming Red Cross blood drives: Aug. 1-15

By Marvin Whittaker

Last week, the American Red Cross announced an emergency need for blood and platelet donations. Eligible donors of all blood types, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, are still needed to help ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients.

Additional ways to help

Spread the word about the urgent need for blood donations via social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #GiveNow.

Participate in the Summer of Stories campaign. Visit redcrossblood.org/summer to watch videos of people whose lives have been touched by blood donors, then share your own story.

Learn more about Red Cross Blood Services in your community and how blood donors help save lives at redcrossblood.org.

PEORIA, Ill. (July 15, 2013) – The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donors of all types, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, as fewer donations than expected were given in the first half of summer. Every day donations come up short, less potentially lifesaving blood is available for patients in need.

Type O negative blood is universal and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to both Rh positive or negative patients. Blood products can be used for cancer patients, trauma victims, organ transplant recipients, premature babies, sickle cell disease patients and more.

Hospital patients are counting on generous volunteer donors to step up and give now to help ensure a sufficient blood supply is available all summer long. Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS for more information and to make an appointment.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County

Aug. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 pm at United Methodist Church, 1901 State Route 84 in Thomson, Ill.

Aug. 15 from 1:30-6:30 pm at American Legion Hall, 221 Calvert St. in Chadwick, Ill.

Clinton County

Aug. 2 from 1-5 pm at YWCA, 317 Seventh Ave. South in Clinton, Iowa

Aug. 9 from 1-6 pm at DeWitt Community Center, 512 10th St. in DeWitt, Iowa

Henry County

Aug. 5 from 2-6:30 pm at Sacred Heart Church, 108 N. Main in Annawan, Ill.

Aug. 14 from 2-6 pm at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Mercer County

Aug. 7 from 2:30-6:30 pm at United Methodist Church, 15th and 18th Avenue in Viola, Ill.

Whiteside County

Aug. 1 from 9:45 a.m. to 4 pm at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.

Aug. 6 from 8-11 am at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.

Aug. 7 from 2-6 pm at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

Aug. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 pm at Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD 3, 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown, Ill.

Aug. 13 from 1-5:15 pm at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.

Aug. 14 from 3-7 pm at Abiding Word Church, 806 E. Lynn Blvd. in Sterling, Ill.

Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

Aug. 15 from 1:30-6 pm at Carlson Acupuncture & Chiropractic, 2317 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, Ill.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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12 Jul 2013

Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Coping with the Cost of Care

By Erin Williams

Muscatine, Iowa (July 2013) - Gilda's Club and UnityPoint Trinity are partnering to offer Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Coping with the Cost of Care. This free educational workshop is designed for people living with cancer and their loved ones. Participants will gain practical advice on how to navigate the numerous and complex challenges of managing the cost of cancer care. Our featured speaker will be Ruth Laabs-Wilcox, LMSW This workshop will take place on Thursday August 1st at 5:30 p.m. at Muscatine Community College Musser Center 152 Colorado Street, Muscatine, Iowa.

Advanced registration is preferred as dinner is included.

For more details and registration call Gilda's Club at (877) 926-7504

12 Jul 2013

5 Ways to Stay Slim While Indulging Yourself

By Ginny Grimsley
Veteran Biochemical/Nutritional Expert Offers Tips for
Maintaining a Healthy Weight

With the recent declaration from the American Medical Association that obesity now should be considered a disease, the United States officially becomes an even more afflicted union. Obesity, which affects 78 million adults and 12 million children, causes a plethora of other illnesses, including cardiac disease and diabetes.

"It's clear that a really fundamental paradigm shift in lifestyle is needed for an enormous swath of the U.S. population - but there are also Americans who have already reshaped their eating and exercise habits, and they're looking to not only maintain their health, but also take it to the next level," says Dr. Susie Rockway, a veteran nutritional and biochemical expert in the U.S. health industry.

"These are often busy, professional people who make an effort to eat healthy with most meals and make time throughout the workweek to move their body and get their blood pumping."

Still, they also want to be able to enjoy an indulgent meal every once in a while - birthdays, family barbecues or date night with the spouse. Dr. Rockway offers tips for people who want to maintain their weight while still enjoying the occasional burger, chicken wing or greasy pizza slice:

• Food diary: So, nine times out of 10 you eat healthy, eh? That may not really be true, but a food diary can help clear up any confusion. How much fattening mayo was used to make that tuna salad? If you've sworn off meat, are you getting enough protein and are you eating too many carbohydrates? What kind of carbs are they? Are you eating a diverse diet that provides all the necessary nutrients? A food diary will help challenge your assumptions and make you more aware of everything you're eating, how much and where you might make healthy adjustments.

• Stay hydrated: Whether you've upped the ante on your workouts or you're consuming too much salt or too many caffeinated beverages, which act as a diuretic, doctors and researchers believe as many as 75 percent of Americans experience dehydration throughout the day. Dehydration can make you confuse thirst for hunger, cause fatigue and a fuzzy memory.

• Lineatabs www.lineatabs.com: This meal supplement has been popular in  Europe for 11 years and recently became available in the United States. Lineatabs contains Solusitan, an all-natural fat-binding complex. Unlike other fat-binding supplements, Lineatabs dissolve in water to become an effervescent citrus flavored beverage that users consume before or while eating a fatty meal. Since the dietary fibers in Lineatabs are dispersed in water are not compressed into a tablet, they're immediately available to bind with fats, turning them into an indigestible liquid mass. The tabs are perfect for people who follow a healthy diet but occasionally eat a greasy-fatty meal. The ingredients in Lineatabs are clinically proven to help reduce body weight, in combination with a calorie-restricted diet, and can also help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Additionally, Lineatabs encourages hydration, as it makes you drink more water.

• Relaxation: If you're always on the go, chances are you may be suffering from excessive stress, which according to the American Journal of Epidemiology, raises levels of cortisol, a hormone that can make you feel hungry. Stress can also make busy people more prone to comfort eating, including excessive amounts and foods filled with fat, sugar and salt. Consider breathing techniques, yoga or meditation for handling a busy schedule.

• Slightly increase/mix-up cardio: It's easy to get into a routine in your workout. After a certain point, however, your body gets used to the exercise and you get less of a workout. You don't have to drastically alter things though; increasing the incline on your treadmill by just 5 percent can help you lose 15 percent more calories during your walk/jog/run. If you want more muscle definition, consider trading a walk for a shorter jog, or a jog for a shorter sprint.

About Dr. Susie Rockway, Ph.D., C.N.S.

Dr. Susie Rockway, Ph.D., C.N.S., is a veteran nutritional and biochemical expert and is a multi-decade industry expert. She has worked for multiple companies in executive capacities, including as an executive director of product development, a director of research, and a manager for science developing health and wellness products, where she communicated nutrition and new science updates to consumers. She has also designed testing strategies for clinical efficacy studies.

12 Jul 2013

Groundbreaking For New Building Announced

By Carol Slaughter

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. is when the groundbreaking ceremonies will commence celebrating the construction of the new building for Obstetrics Gynecology Specialists, The GROUP, at 53rd Street and Eastern Avenue. Doctors from the GROUP will have shovels in hand for groundbreaking of their new 25,000 sq. ft. facility needed to accommodate a growing number of patients, plus a staff of 71 women's health care professionals.

The GROUP, started in 1977, focuses on women's health care with specialties in obstetrics & gynecology, currently located at Paul Revere Square in Davenport. The GROUP works closely with Genesis Health birthing facilities. The physicians often work with perinatologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and pediatric specialists at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. This affiliation successfully extends The GROUP's evaluation and treatment of high-risk pregnancies, infertility, as well as medical and genetic diagnostic studies.

The new modern, state-of-the-art facility will provide patients and the medical team an additional 10,000 sq. ft. of offices. The GROUP 's practitioners and specialists are: Harold Mihm, M.D., Rita Aronson, M.D., Kenneth Naylor, M.D., Carolyn Martin, M.D., Briana Barclay, M.D., Anita Pinc, D.O., and Jessica Sandmeier, D.O. Midwives: Beth Carlson, CNM, MS, Pam Thorpe CNM, MSN, Rachel O'Hanlon, CNM, ARNP, Jenny Atzen, CNM, MSN, and Lydia Skiles, CNM. Physician Assistant: Kristi Bullock, MMS, PAC. Nurse Practitioners: JoAnn Neilson, ARNP, Stacey Flynn, ARNP, MSN, and Mary Johnson, ARNP, MSN. All the physicians and practitioners are certified specialists in women's healthcare.

Andy Doyle & Ted Rebitzer from QC Iowa Realty worked with the GROUP to secure the 3.65 acres of city owned land. Marasco & Associates of Denver, CO are the architects. Russell Construction is the general contractor.

12 Jul 2013

Cancer Transitions - Moving Beyond Treatment

By Gilda's Club

A Program of the Cancer Support Community and LIVESTRONG™

Davenport, Iowa (July 2013) - Gilda's Club and UnityPoint Health - Trinity Cancer Center are partnering to offer Cancer Transitions™. Cancer Transitions is a free 2 hour, six-week workshop designed to help cancer survivors make the transition from active treatment to post-treatment care. Expert panelists including an oncology nurse navigator, nutritionist and physical therapist; will discuss exercise tailored to each participant's abilities, training in relaxation and stress management and tips for nutritious eating. Cancer Transitions will answer many of your questions about cancer survivorship post-cancer treatments.

The workshop begins Tuesday, September 17th (meets for 6 weeks) from 1:30p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at UnityPoint Health - Trinity Cancer Center Conference Room 500 John Deere Road, Moline. For more details and registration, contact Melissa at (563)-326-7504 or by email at melissa@gildasclubqc.org

09 Jul 2013

Advice for Older People on Staying Safe in Hot Weather

By Kim Calvin

Risk of heat-related  health problems increases with age

Summer often brings excessive heat, which can lead to heat-related problems caused by  hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature. Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible to hyperthermia and are at high risk for heat-related death. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some tips to help older people avoid the hazards of hot weather.

Hyperthermia is caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment. Heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are forms of hyperthermia. These conditions can pose special health risks for older adults, and can increase with the combination of outside temperature, general health and individual lifestyle.

Factors that may increase hyperthermia risk include :

  • Dehydration.
  • Alcohol use.
  • High blood pressure or other health conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may be at increased risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a doctor.
  • Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever.
  • Use of multiple medications. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician.
  • Reduced perspiration, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
  • Age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands.
  • Being substantially overweight or underweight.

Lifestyle factors increasing risk for hyperthermia in hot weather can include not drinking enough fluids, living in housing without air conditioning, lack of mobility and access to transportation, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places and not understanding how to respond to the weather condition. Older people, particularly those with chronic medical conditions, should stay indoors on hot and humid days, especially when an air pollution alert is in effect. People without air conditioners should go to places that do have air conditioning, such as senior centers, shopping malls, movie theaters and libraries. Cooling centers, which may be set up by local public health agencies, religious groups and social service organizations in many communities, are another option.

If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness:

  • Get the person out of the heat and into a shady, air-conditioned or other cool place. Urge the person to lie down.
  • If you suspect heat stroke, call 911.
  • Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
  • Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood.
  • If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening form of hyperthermia. It occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and unable to control its temperature. Heat stroke occurs when someone's body temperature increases significantly (generally above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and has symptoms such as mental status changes (like confusion or combativeness), strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering or coma. Seek immediate emergency medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps eligible households pay for home cooling and heating costs. People interested in applying for assistance should contact their local or state LIHEAP agency or go to:  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html

For a free copy of the NIA's AgePage on hyperthermia in English or in Spanish, contact the NIA Information Center at 1-800-222-2225 or go to http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/hyperthermia-too-hot-your-health or http://www.nia.nih.gov/espanol/publicaciones/hipertermia (Spanish).

The NIA leads the federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people. The Institute's broad scientific program seeks to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. For more information on research and aging, go to www.nia.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health

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