Health by Albert Lea Tribune

Monday, August 19, 2013

Gala to fundraise for new equipment

Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Nursing Manager Joy Shaft demonstrates using the Executone system that patients use to call nurses at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. The hospital is hoping to update the system within the next year.

Money raised will help purchase new call light system for hospital wing By Kelli Lageson

kelli.lageson@albertleatribune.com

The next project the Naeve Health Care Foundation wants to tackle is to help replace all the call light systems in the hospital at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. Its main fundraiser is coming up in September when it hosts a gala at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club. Gala committee member and nursing manager at the hospital,

If you go What: Naeve Health Care Foundation gala When: starts at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 Where: Wedgewood Cove Golf

An Executone system connects remotes in patient rooms to the nursing desk throughout Mayo Clinic Health System. The hospital is hoping to update to a newer call system.

Joy Shaft, said the fundraiser is going toward a worthy cause. “Our goal is to be proactive,” Shaft said. The hospital’s current system, made by Executone, is more than 15 years old. It allows patients in any hospital room to call a nurse for general needs or problems or for emergency help. While it’s still functioning, it’s becoming outdated. “There’s nothing wrong with our

system,” Shaft said. “Due to its age, it’s becoming more difficult to get replacement parts.” The new system the hospital hopes to buy is about $650,000 and is made by Responder 5. Shaft said that manufacturer’s product has many features that will be useful to patients and hospital staff. “It’s an easy-touse, portable system,” Shaft said. With the hospital’s 4Hospital, Page 2

Mayo Clinic experts give back-to-school health tips Over the next few weeks, students will be returning to their classrooms for another school year. This can be a hectic time for students and parents: The todo list may include health checkups, getting children into a sleep routine, planning healthy lunches or preparing students facing major transitions into a new grade or school. Mayo

Clinic experts offer these tips on how to make the transition back to school less stressful. Vaccines

Dr. Robert Jacobson, Mayo Clinic Children’s Center pediatrician and vaccine specialist, advises parents to ensure their child has recommended vaccinations and be aware of changes to those recommenda-

tions. For example, children can now be vaccinated for human papillomavirus, at age 11, rather than having to wait until they are 16 years of age. This change will make it easier for busy children to get their three doses of the vaccine within the recommended six months. Some vaccines are now more easily 4Experts, Page 2

Page 2 • Picture of Health • Monday, August 19, 2013 • Albert Lea

Hospital: New call light system needed Continued from Front Page

remind staff to reassess after administering pain medication,” Shaft said. “We can set it up to do a variety of different things.” The call system will likely be replaced in the next year. Shaft said Mayo Clinic looks at the age of all its equipment with an effort to update items sooner rather

than later. “We’ve had this on our radar for several years,” Shaft said. Because of the project’s size and how it will affect the entire hospital, Naeve Health Care Foundation members thought it would be a good one to support for its annual fundraising efforts. The foundation has previously helped purchase an

ambulance, cardiac and mammography equipment and updated the hospital’s dining area. “The foundation’s always looking for an opportunity for their resources to be spent on that affects every area of the hospital,” Shaft said. The foundation plans to give $200,000 toward the $650,000 goal.

Experts: Back-to-school health tips Continued from Front Page

being and ability to learn, said Dr. Suresh Kotagal, pediatric sleep expert at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. Adapting healthy sleep habits prior to the start of school could help students get the required rest they need. Kotagal said it is important to establish a bedtime routine to help children fall asleep and get a good night’s rest. He said children rest better if they skip caffeine after dinner, get regular exercise, turn off electronic devices an hour before

bedtime and silence phones so text messages or alerts don’t disrupt sleep. In addition, imposing an early bedtime on the weekends will make Monday mornings easier to deal with.

Healthy snacks

It’s important for children to develop healthy eating and snacking habits at an early age to help avoid obesity. Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietician at Mayo Clinic, recommends having a variety of healthy snacks on hand so children can learn to make good

choices. She said having “anytime” snacks easily available for children, such as storing healthy snacks in a designated area that children know they can eat when they are hungry without having to ask permission, will help. These options allow children to feel empowered and helps them practice making healthy choices, Zeratsky said.

Anxiety

A new year at school can be an exciting yet stressful time, especially for students start-

Plastic surgeon offers variety of services in Albert Lea improvement,” Plastic surgery said Dr. Matthew may only seem like something wealthy Camp, plastic surgeon on the Albert celebrities do to Lea campus of maintain a Mayo Clinic youthful apHealth System pearance, but plastic surgery in Albert Lea and Austin. is available to “Rebuildeveryone and Matthew Camp ing people’s is performed bodies after right here in trauma, cancer or Albert Lea. massive weight “There are two reasons patients loss is considered medical necessity. generally choose to have plastic surgery: Facial rejuvenation, breast augmentamedical necestion, tummy tucks sity and cosmetic

and breast lifting are considered cosmetic improvement.” Camp offers a wide range of services including breast surgery, tummy tucks, liposuction, nose reshaping, chemical peels, facial reconstruction, scar repair and more. Anyone considering plastic surgery should understand the risks as well as the benefits. “All surgery entails recuperation time

Stepping out to stop diabetes This year, coworkers, families and friends across the country are making every step count in the fight against diabetes. Your steps can count too. Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, the American Diabetes Association’s signature fundraising walk, has been taking place for more than 20 years. Participants walk as individuals or as a team that can come in sizes of two or more. The many faces of Step Out all contribute to a community committed to doing their part to prevent and cure diabetes once and

for all, including Red Striders, walkers living with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. They are a reminder of why we walk. One particular Red Strider walking this year is Heather Berg, the association’s 2013 National Youth Advocate diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10. Her earliest experience with the disease, however, came a year and a half earlier when her younger brother was diagnosed with diabetes at only 14 months old. While she and her brother were very young when they were first diagnosed, the fight

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to Stop Diabetes was more than a movement to Heather and her family — it was a mission. “I’ve been part of the association’s teen advocacy programs for six years now and have attended several local Step Out walks as a volunteer, doing everything from handing out refreshments and granola bars to cheering on all of our diabetes champions at the finish line,” Berg said. By participating in Step Out, Berg has raised more than $30,000 to help stop diabetes. She will walk again this October with the Advertise with

Picture of Health • Monday, August 19, 2013 • Albert Lea Tribune • Page 3

Kick start the school year with fun ways to keep kids active

School days mean long hours studying indoors, exercising students’ brains but not their bodies. While classroom learning is the cornerstone of education, it’s important to remember that physical activity supports overall wellness. Keeping kids moving can even boost brain function, improving their grades along with their muscles. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that all people age 6 and older engage in 60 minutes of daily physical activity. This advice comes as many physical

education programs have been reduced, cut or simply not required. During a break in busy schedules, rather than allowing kids to gravitate toward TV, tablets or the computer, encourage them to stay active with these Children’s Miracle Network Hospitalsapproved tips: 1. Understand children’s motivators

Recognize that different age groups have different fitness drives, according to the experts at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham, N.C. For young kids, variety is key. Obstacle

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courses, scavenger hunts and timed relays keep their bodies and minds active. Teens can stay fit by developing a skill and tracking improvement over time. Help them set small goals each week and track improvements, so you can both be proud

of their progress as the weeks zoom by. 2. Get active, exercise restraint

Keeping kids active is just as much about getting them moving as it is removing mental obstacles, said Meagan Young, a lifestyle program

specialist at Janeway Children’s Hospital in Newfoundland, Canada. Setting limits on TV and video games is a good place to start. TV-time tokens — tokens kids earn each day that can be exchanged for TV or computer time — provide kids flex-

ibility and freedom with a structure still in place. 3. Keep it classic and work toward a goal

No matter how far technology advances, simple games can’t be beat. Tugof-war, tag, Frisbee and hopscotch are classics for a reason: they’ve stood the

Bipolar disorder is different for binge eaters ROCHESTER — Bipolar disorder evolves differently in patients who also binge eat, a study by Mayo Clinic, the Lindner Center of HOPE and the University of Minnesota found. Binge eating and obesity often are present among bipolar patients, but the mood disorder appears to take a different path in those who binge eat than it does in obese bipolar patients who

do not, the researchers discovered. The findings are published online in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Up to 4 percent of Americans have some form of bipolar illness, and of those, just under 10 percent also have binge eating disorder — a higher rate of binge eating than seen in the general population, said co-author Dr. Mark Frye, a psy-

chiatrist and chair of the Department of Psychiatry/Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders update released this spring recognizes binge eating disorder as a distinct condition, he noted. Bipolar patients who binge eat are more likely to have other mental health issues such as suicidal thoughts,

psychosis, anxiety disorders and substance abuse, the study found. People with bipolar disorder who are obese but do not binge eat are more likely to have serious physical problems such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It was more common for women than men with bipolar disorder to binge eat or to be obese, the study showed.

Kids urged to get meningococcal vaccination

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Moms do all they can to prepare their kids for a healthy transition from summer vacation to the new school year, which brings new teachers, homework and demanding sports practices. But, when gearing up for the transition, there is one thing moms might be forgetting to protect their children against: potentially fatal meningococcal

disease. While parents may have grades and carpools on the mind, they should know that meningococcal disease is the result of a rare, but serious bacterial infection that can progress very rapidly and take the life of an otherwise healthy person in as little as one day. Symptoms that parents and their teens should watch out for could include stiff neck, fever, lethargy, sensitivity to light, ir-

ritability, headaches and vomiting. With school in session, kids are going to bed later and waking up earlier; the resulting fatigue may raise the risk of meningococcal disease, possibly by weakening the immune system. Common activities such as sharing water bottles and utensils can also facilitate the spread of the disease. As fall sports season approaches, student

athletes can be at greater risk of exposure to meningococcal disease, since cramped locker rooms and long bus trips can increase the risk of exposure to the germs. To help raise awareness about the serious consequences of meningococcal disease and urge parents to take action and vaccinate against the disease, the National Association of School Nurses,

Urban yoga a burgeoning trend in Austin By Trey Mewes trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com

AUSTIN — Every Wednesday at Bandshell Community Park, passersby can stand for a stretch while listening to Christine Stiehm explain the benefits of yoga. Stiehm, a certified yoga instructor who has taught classes at the YMCA in Austin for years, holds Urban Yoga, a beginner’s yoga class held

outside, at 7 p.m. each week. “Urban Yoga is a really great way that people have found to introduce themselves to yoga,” she said. Stiehm first got into yoga in 2001 while she took fitness classes at the Y. Though she wasn’t an athlete, she took to group fitness at a stressful time in her life, and the resulting change was a blessing for her. “I just started

feeling pretty good about just moving and exercising,” she said. “It just built into more confidence, and all-around just feeling good. You just feel good when you exercise.” An instructor suggested Stiehm should take up certification courses for Pilates. From there, Stiehm found her passion for fitness. Though she also teaches yoga at

Page 4 • Albert Lea Tribune • Monday, August 19, 2013 • Picture of

Remedies for deadly heat: more than just staying hydrated Some parts of the country are experiencing record high temperatures this summer. Las Vegas hit 117 degrees and Phoenix topped the charts at 119 degrees. Salt Lake City also hit the triple digits as did several areas in California. Dry heat or not, residents and visitors were undoubtedly feeling it, and anytime the mercury gets remotely close to these temperatures, staying hydrated is of paramount importance. This is especially the case for anyone participating in outdoor activities or any sort of exercise program. Our bodies produce sweat in order to regulate our core body temperature. As the moisture that appears on your skin

evaporates, you cool off. In fact, human beings are the most effective mammal when it comes to regulating our body temperature. At the extreme, an adult can sweat as much as two to four liters per hour. All of this water needs to be replaced, but remember that when you sweat you are not just losing water, you are also losing minerals such as sodium and potassium. According to Dr. David McCarron, adjunct professor at University of California, Davis, “You must replace the sodium and potassium along with the water. This is why athletes drink sports drinks like Gatorade, rather than just water. Replacing water

and another 1,600 have become seriously ill. It is true that water intoxica-

without sufficient sodium can quickly produce hyponatremia, a potentially fatal condition.” Hyponatremia symptoms are similar to those of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and are often overlooked. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can include nausea, muscle cramps, disorientation, confusion, seizures, coma and death. To avoid this condition, medical authorities advise marathon runners to consume extra salt and this

Foot care advice for both new mothers and their newborns

Few things in life are as darling as a newborn’s little feet, and most new moms take great joy in counting 10 tiny, perfect toes. But foot health can be a source of anxiety for both new and expectant mothers, who may wonder about the best ways to care for their baby’s feet, and how to cope with changes in their own feet. “Pregnancy creates many changes in the body, and can even affect the size of a woman’s feet,” said Dr. Matthew Garoufalis, a podiatrist and president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. “And even though newborns aren’t walking yet, it’s understandable that mothers may have some concerns about how to best take care of their baby’s feet.” The discomforts of pregnancy are common and wellknown, ranging from back pain and frequent bathroom trips to feet that are both sore and bigger. “It’s not at all unusual for a woman to gain a shoe size while pregnant,” Garoufalis said.

“Increased weight puts more pressure on the foot, the arch flattens a bit and the foot elongates. Just a quarter-inch increase in foot length is enough to prompt a change in shoe size.” While it’s probably impossible to completely avoid foot challenges during pregnancy, momsto-be can take steps to minimize them: • Control weight gain. Added weight is the most likely cause of foot expansion. Do your best to follow your obstetrician’s guidelines for how much weight you should gain throughout the pregnancy. • Avoid high heels. Sure you see celebrities accessorizing their baby bumps with stilettos, but a lower heel during pregnancy will relieve pressure on the foot. Also, lower heels will provide you with greater stability during a time when newly gained weight might throw off your balance. It’s easy to find plenty of pretty, stylish lower heels — 1 to 2 inches in height — that will look and feel great while you’re pregnant.

• Comfort and support should be key considerations any time you choose footwear, but they are even more important for pregnant women. With extra weight and pressure on your feet for nine months, you need a shoe that provides support and cushioning. Avoid thinsoled shoes (including flip-flops and ballet flats); look for shoes with thicker soles and plenty of cushioning inside the shoes. Whatever shoe you choose, it should bend only at the ball of the foot, and you should nev-

tion is more commonly seen among extreme athletes but older individuals are

advice should also be considered by anyone exposed to excessive heat. Salt is critical in maintaining hydration. Sadly there have been several cases of illness and even deaths from hyponatremia over the past several years. According to the British Medical Journal, 16 runners have died as a result of too little sodium and over-hydration,

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