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Table of
Contents Publisher • Tim Bogenschutz Advertising • Susie Alters and Phil Seibel Editor • Sarah Nelson Katzenberger
Encouraging lifelong fitness
. . . . . . . . . .
Jann Vilen, M.D.
Doctor advises getting kids active
Clean Acres
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contributing writers: Jann Vilen, M.D., Jodie Tweed, Sheila Helmberger, Jenny Holmes, Dr. Ross Bengtson, Ryan Johnson, Patrick Springer and Brandi Jewett
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Read HealthWatch online at www.brainerddispatch.com
Itching for answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For advertising opportunities call Susie Alters at 218-855-5836.
Healing without medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dr. Google . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Ryan Johnson/Forum News Service
Choosing to make a difference . . . . . . . .
16
Sarah Nelson Katzenberger
Obesity — a growing health crisis . . . . . .
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Patrick Springer/ Forum News Service
The Obesity Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Poor kids gain weight, wealthier peers lose
14
Dr. Ross Bengtson
Physician urges treatment for painful veins
Troubling predictions, possible solutions
12
Jenny Holmes
Pequot Lakes woman finds health in essential oils
Health program provides food security
11
Sarah Nelson Katzenberger
Slated to open September 2
Health info online
10
Sheila Helmberger
Everything to know about poison ivy
Doctor’s Orders
8
Jodie Tweed
Woman in cancer remission hopes to help others
Essentia Health to open Emily Clinic . . . . . HealthWatch is a quarterly publication of the Brainerd Dispatch.
6
Sarah Nelson Katzenberger
Family works small farm for healthy living
Art Director/Designer • Jan Finger
Bringing hope to others
4
20
Brandi Jewett/ Forum News Service
Lakewood Health helps American Heart Association . .
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Partnering with schools, $31,000 raised by jumping rope
On the Cover Ella Larson spends a few tender moments with one of the goats at her family’s home. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
3
Encouraging Lifelong Fitness
W
Want to give your child a head start on life-
tact sport, consider his or her age, maturity and physical size. Are the physical contact, aggressiveness and comlong fitness? Consider getting him or her inpetition involved developmentally appropriate for your volved in youth sports and other kid-friendly child? Will your child enjoy it? Because children enter puberty at different physical activities. ages, there can be dramatic physical differYouth sports promote fitness but not all ences among children of the same sex, parchildren thrive in formal team settings. Help ticularly boys. Children competing against your child find the right sport and venue such others who are more physically mature might as a school, club or recreation center. be at an increased risk of injury. With your encouragement and support, When you’re comparing sports, consider chances are a few sports will spark your how much your child will enjoy the activity, child’s interest. Fan the flame by taking your whether the sport emphasizes age-approprichild to local sporting events and sharing your ate skill development and if there will be opJANNA own sports interests with your child. portunities for each child to participate. VILEN, M.D. Your child is likely to show natural prefThink twice before encouraging early speerences for certain sports or activities. Start cialization in a single sport as it can lead to there, being careful to keep your child’s age, maturity stress and burnout. Focusing on one sport could prevent and abilities in mind. your child from testing his or her skills and experiencing Toddlers and preschoolers ages 2 to 5 are beginning other enjoyable sports. to master many basic movements, but they’re too young As your child tries various sports, stay involved and for most organized sports. Keep in mind that toddlers look for an emphasis on safety. Does the coach require who participate in organized sports also typically don’t players to follow the rules and use proper safety equipgain any long-term advantage in terms of future sports ment? Do players take time to warm up and cool down performance. At this age, unstructured free play is usu- before and after each practice or event? Are children ally best. Try running, tumbling, throwing, catching and taught proper movement and body positioning? Is the swimming. coach attentive to the prevention and recognition of As children get older, their vision, attention spans concussions? and transitional skills, such as throwing for distance, Also, consider a coach’s attitude toward the game. improve. They’re also better able to follow directions. How much does each child play and how is playing Consider organized activities for youth age 6 to 9: T- time determined? If a coach consistently yells at the ball, softball or baseball; running, soccer, gymnastics, children or lets only the most skilled players into the swimming, tennis or martial arts. game, your child might become discouraged. Beware By age 10 to 12, children have mature vision and the of a win-at-all-costs attitude. ability to understand and recall sports strategies. These Overall, be positive and encouraging. Emphasize efchildren are typically ready to take on skill sports, such fort, improvement and enjoyment over winning or peras football, basketball, hockey and volleyball. Keep in sonal performance. Attend events and practices as your mind, however, that growth spurts caused by puberty schedule allows and act as a good model of sportsmancan temporarily affect a child’s coordination and bal- ship yourself. ance. Of course, organized athletics aren’t the only option Before allowing your child to participate in a con- for fitness. If your child doesn’t seem interested in sports,
find other physical activities — especially ones that are sustainable over a lifetime. Take family bike rides, check out local hiking trails or visit indoor health clubs and swimming pools. Encourage active time with friends such as jumping rope, shooting baskets or playing tag. Whatever activity your child chooses, whether they swim, runs track or bikes around the neighborhood, keep your eye on the long-term goal — a lifetime of physical activity. Janna Vilen, M.D. is a Sports Medicine Specialist with Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
Playing sports is a great way to have fun and stay fit. In order to ensure athletes are healthy enough to participate in competitive sports and prevent and any injuries, an annual sports physical by a physician is recommended. Reviewing an athlete’s medical history and a physical exam are two main parts of the sports physical. Medical history includes questions about illnesses and injuries a student has had, such as asthma or a broken bone. It is important to know about medical problems such as heart trouble that runs in a family or any medicines taken on a daily basis. Another important matter for the doctor to know is whether the athlete has ever passed out, felt dizzy or felt pain in the chest while running or playing. Student athletes should also be prepared for the physical by completing the Sports Qualifying Physical Examination Clearance Form available at http://www.mshsl.org/ mshsl/publications/code/forms/PhysicalExam.pdf with
4
his or her parents. During the physical exam, a nurse will measure height and weight, and take the student’s blood pressure. The doctor will listen to heart and lungs; feel the abdomen; look into the ears, nose, and throat; check eyesight; and test strength and flexibility. The doctor may also ask additional questions about health history and it is the time to discuss any questions about health and playing sports. Almost all students can play the sports they want to play. Youths with a health problem can usually take medicine or get treatment that will let him or her play a sport safely. A doctor may be able to suggest exercises and other treatments to help athletes fully recover from old injuries. Even youths with serious health problems often find a sport in which they can participate. For more information, visit cuyunamed.org or call 218546-7000. A young lady competes in a summer softball league in Brainerd.
Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com
The Importance of Sports Physicals
“I love taking care of women through all phases of their lives” – Dr. Patricia Westerberg, OB/GYN
Dr. Patricia Westerberg recently joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the Essentia Health-Baxter Specialty Clinic and the Family Birthplace at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Her children, who range in age from 10 to 17, are Ryan, Ben, Kate, and Sara.
The mother of four children, Dr. Patricia Westerberg
Dr. Westerberg grew up in Deerwood where her parents still live.
says her life experiences help her better understand
She joins an experienced team of OB/GYN physicians and nurse
her patients. “As a woman and a mother, I have the
practitioners that focus on each patient’s needs.
advantage of personal experiences that give insights into the problems that many women have,” she says.
To make an appointment with an OB/GYN physician, call the Essentia Health-Baxter Specialty Clinic at 218.454.5935 or the Good
“I like helping teens understand what’s happening to
Beginnings OB Clinic at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center
their bodies, working with women who are growing
in Brainerd at 218.828.7688.
their family or women who need guidance as they are going through menopause and have other issues in their later years,” says the experienced obstetrician/ gynecologist.
Learn more at EssentiaHealth.org
Hal Leland, MD
Alicia Prahm, MD
Pamela Rice, MD
Steven Senica, MD
Patricia Westerberg, MD
5
By SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER Contributing Writer
Clean Acres
Nisswa family turns home into small farm for
N
NISSWA — Every morning Ella Larson gets up and feeds her chickens. It’s not an unusual chore for a preteen in central Minnesota, but Ella, 13, doesn’t live on a farm and her parents aren’t farmers. In fact, her dad manages the produce depart-
Ella Larson spends a few tender moments with one of the goats at her family’s home in Nisswa. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@ brainerddispatch.com
6
healthy living
ment at Schaefer’s in Nisswa and her mom runs a home business. But the Larson family has made a conscious and committed effort to change the way they do food at their home and it all kind of started with chickens. “Chickens just don’t require much,” Ella said. “It takes me about five minutes in the morning — feed, water, collect eggs— then I’m done.” The journey into clean eating started nine years
ago when Ella’s mom, Wendy, gave birth to her middle child, Rex. The birth came with all kinds of excitement. The family ended up being featured in the paper because Rex couldn’t wait to get to the hospital to make his debut in the world — he was born in the front seat of his dad’s truck. Prior to Rex’s birth, Wendy Larson said she was bit by a tick and contracted a tick-borne illness called ehrlichiosis that landed her in the ICU for four days.
“I nearly didn’t make it,” Larson recalled. Larson said Rex tested negative and showed no signs of illness, but her problems continued even after being released from the hospital. “I wasn’t well,” said Larson who complained of ongoing digestive problems. Larson and her husband, Josh, who has been diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes, decided it time to make some major changes. “Between both of us having health issues we knew that we needed to get on track,” Larson said. Not knowing quite where to start, the Larsons began watching food documentaries to educate themselves on what was really happening with the food they were eating prior to reaching their dinner table. “We just really got a good idea of what our food system looked like and why our health is the way it is,” Larson said. “We decided we needed to make some serious changes at home.” Prior to making changes, the Larsons were like any other American family — they were busy. While they were never really big fast food eaters, Larson said they weren’t as conscious about their meals as they could have been. Learning more about the food system and how food en masse is produced made the family consider how things were generations ago, when growing your own food was the norm. “We just wanted to go back to the way our grandparents lived,” she said. “They didn’t grow up with all these health problems we’ve faced. If we could step back in time and really do things the old fashioned way, that’s what we really wanted.” Larson said the family started growing — and raising — their own food. The process was slow.
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“I had to prove myself,” Larson said. “I don’t really do things halfway, so my husband wanted to make sure it was going to work first.” It started with homegrown tomatoes and herbs and then the chickens came. Eventually it evolved into more fruits and vegetables and more livestock. Six years later, the Larson home on 6 acres near Garden Lake in Nisswa is surrounded by garden boxes that contain strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus, Swiss chard, beans, potatoes, onions and more, depending on what time of year it is. The family also has egg laying chickens and as well as chickens used for meat. They only eat the meat from the chickens they raise and venison from deer hunted. Larson said the family raised pigs at one point but have since stopped because of the up-close look of the messy lifestyle of the pigs. “Let’s say we kind of got turned off to pork after that,” she said. Larson said the whole family helps with the harvesting. Everyone has a job when it comes to canning goods to keep fresh for winter. “It really helps with the grocery money,” Larson said. “We can control the amount of salt and sugar that goes into our food and we know exactly where our food comes from.” Larson said the family is extremely careful about not contributing genetically modified foods (GMO’s) to their diet. “Our bodies don’t even recognize them as a food source,” she explained. In addition to growing and raising their own food, Larson has gone back to school to become a certified natural health professional, finishing her certification in May.
Where do I start?
aybe the thought of growing your own vegetables and slaughtering chickens is a little daunting. It doesn’t have to be. Wendy Larson came up with a few ways to help people make conscious choices about changing the way they eat and feeling better about what lands on their dinner table. Here are her tips: • Shop the outside of the grocery store: All the perishable, fresh items like produce, meat and dairy products line the outside of every grocery store. Avoid pre-made meals and boxed dinners. The less food you eat from a box the better. • Buy cheese by the block: Shredded cheese might be convenient, but the method of preserving it and keeping it from clumping requires all kinds of chemicals that really aren’t meant for human consumption. Cheese by the block means no preservatives and, actually, more cheese. Plus, you’ll build some killer arm muscles acting as the human shredder. • Start a patio garden: If you’re afraid you might have a black thumb, making you hesitant to invest in building a massive vegetable garden, try your hand at the small stuff first. Tomatoes, herbs and peppers are easy to grow in moderately sized pots. They don’t take up a lot of space and they’re pretty hearty. They might better survive the early stages the gardening 101. • Eat at home: Making meals as homemade as possible cuts out the lack of control of sugar and salt content. Many healthy recipes are easy to make and freeze for a later date. • Get some chickens: I know. It sounds like a lot of pressure. But chickens are actually very low maintenance. They require water and feeding. In return you get fresh eggs just about everyday. Taking care of chickens can be a great job for the kids. Plus, they’re actually pretty cute.
She said beyond the importance of clean eating, she learned about the body and natural methods of healing through oils, herbs and homeopathy. “It has helped tremendously,” she said. Larson is quick to point out that process of overhauling an entire family’s diet is ongoing, but it’s not difficult. “We are not perfect eaters,” she said. “We do the best we can with what we have and what we know.”
Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
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7
By JJODIE TWEED Contributing Writer
Bringing Hope to others
P
PEQUOT LAKES — She was known as Patient No. 11.2 in a dramatic medical story that emerged from a clinical cancer trial
PEQUOT LAKES
WIFE AND MOTHER OF THREE, HER INCURABLE
at the Mayo Clinic where she was injected
CANCER IN
last summer with a massive dose of a ge-
REMISSION THANKS
netically modified measles virus manipu-
lated to kill cancer. The infusion, which could have provided enough measles virus to vaccinate 10 million people, miraculously worked. The multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, was gone, in remission after her 10year battle with the disease. She became the second person in the world to receive such a high dosage and the first to achieve remission in a treatment approach referred to as oncolytic virus therapy — a treatment which has been generating a lot of interest and excitement in cancer research. But her story doesn’t end there. In fact, it is simply a new beginning. Stacy Erholtz, a Pequot Lakes wife and mother of three and cancer patient for 10 years, has now become a cancer activist. When word rapidly spread in May that she was Patient 11.2, her name and photograph were splashed across newspapers, magazines and on television news programs throughout the world. Her story had gone viral, and she decided to use this experience to help others receive the same treatment as she did. She recently started a foundation, “Let’s Go Viral,” through the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation to raise money to support the manufacturing of the measles virus treatment she received at the Mayo Clinic. The next phase of this clinical trial begins in August. There are 15 doses available for the trial, yet there are 350 people on the waiting list, Stacy said. It takes three to four months for researchers to generate just three to four doses of the measles treatment in their existing lab, Erholtz explained. She is hoping to eliminate that manufacturing bottleneck to help others, like her, who have exhausted all other treatment options. The measles treatment approach is being looked at closely to be potentially used to treat a variety of other cancers, including lung, brain, head and neck and ovarian cancers, said Erholtz. “I’m really excited about it, not for myself, but I want some multiple myeloma measles friends,” Erholtz said with a smile. “I’ve had a dose, and you can’t be redosed. It’s time for other people to have a
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TO A MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH, HOPES TO RAISE FUNDS TO HELP OTHER CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVE THE SAME TREATMENT
Stacy Erholtz stood outside her home in Pequot Lakes. Erholtz was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago and is now in remission thanks to an experimental treatment involving the measles vaccine. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
“ . . . if
dose. It’s a giant step forward for cancer. Let’s get it out there. Let’s put some money behind it and get it out there.” Erholtz will be speaking about her experience at the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation Annual Dinner July 24 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa. Erholtz was 40 when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in May 2004. About five years ago she happened to spot her Mayo doctor, Dr. Stephen Russell, on a TV news story about how he had been working on a measles vaccine. “Once I saw it on TV, I made up my mind that I was going to do the measles trial,” said Erholtz. “It was just a matter of when.” About 2-1/2 years ago Erholtz was rejected for the trial because she hadn’t yet failed all her other treatment options, a requirement. So she underwent a second stem cell transplant in August 2012, which took three months to recover from and yet only yielded a six-month remission. However, it meant she could now qualify for the measles trial. Since it was a conflict of interest for her to talk about joining the trial with her doctor, who headed the trial, she was sent to see Russell’s clinical trial colleague, Dr. Angela Dispenzieri, last summer and was given two options, a new drug therapy or the measles infusion. Her decision was made long before she learned about either option. “I had absolute confidence in their abilities. They had cured a mouse named Sally, and if they cured a mouse, why not me?” Erholtz said. She underwent the nearly 40-minute infusion on
June 5, 2013, and instantly could feel that something was happening. She suddenly developed a massive headache and a dry cough as her body took on 100 billion units of measles. They stopped the infusion for a short time to give an antihistamine, which is now part of the protocol for the procedure. About 20 minutes after the infusion, she spiked a 105-degree fever, a good sign. The only other adverse side effect was that the vein in her arm swelled, along with her entire arm, for about three days, but Erholtz considered all of this minor in comparison to the side effects of her two stem cell transplants. “Out of all my treatments, this was pure remission,” said Erholtz. “I had the best energy.” Thirty-six hours later, the golfball-sized tumor growing from her forehead, which the family nicknamed “Evan,” was gone. “Evan” had become a barometer for how well her cancer treatments were working, often disappearing during remissions and reappearing even before the multiple myeloma would be discovered again on tests. The modified measles virus also contained an extra gene, taken from a human thyroid gland, which created a protein that would move radioactive iodine into the cancerous cells. This allowed researchers to track the measles virus within Erholtz’s body and allowed them to watch how, over time, the measles virus was eradicating the cancer cells using a SPECT-CT scan. Seven weeks after the infusion, the SPECT-CT scans indicated no signs of cancer. Last September, Stacy was asked to tour Russell’s lab. She posed for
they cured a mouse, why not me?”
a photograph by a plaque with familiar names: Mary Agnes and Al McQuinn. The couple was the benefactors who funded Russell’s work, and Erholtz knew them. She had been friends with their son, the late Charles McQuinn, and lived not far from the Gull Lake residents. So Erholtz decided to personally thank the McQuinns, longtime Mayo Clinic supporters, and called them the next day. The McQuinns had known that Patient No. 11.2 had responded well to the measles virus, but didn’t know who she was until Erholtz called them. The two families soon met for brunch. “There was joy on all sides,” Erholtz said. “It was really sweet.” While “Evan” returned this spring, along with one other plastmacytoma, a malignant plasma cell tumor, doctors found that the cancer was isolated to the two tumors, rather than found in her blood. Doctors used a low-dose of radiation in March on her skull and forehead to eliminate the tumors, which have not returned. She had tests in June, and she was cancer-free. She is currently on no medication and said even the whites of her eyes are white again. She and her husband, Mike, have three children, Claire, 20, a student at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks; Eleanor, 18, a 2014 Pequot Lakes High School graduate who is currently Miss Nisswa and will attend Bethel University in the fall; and a son, Oliver, 17, a PLHS senior. Their children were 7, 8 and 10 when she was diagnosed. While many of her friends dreaded turning 50 this past year, Erholtz embraced it, having celebrated her 50th birthday last Nov. 7. “I choose to live in the moment,” said Erholtz. “God is at work here, and I want people to have the same experience I’ve had.”
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By SHEILA HELMBERGER Contributing Writer
Itching for answers? EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POISON IVY
S
&
SCRATCH, scratch, ITCH, rub, pick, SCRATCH some more, RUB some more.
In the initial stages you might think it’s just a few bug bites. Within a day the area will start oozing and you’ll know exactly what it is. It also means a couple of good weeks of misery. As if mosquito bites and ants aren’t enough of a price to pay for summer. If you’re susceptible to it, you’ve probably already added poison ivy to your list of summer maladies.
WHAT IT IS
Poison ivy causes a contact dermatitis - an allergic reaction — to the poison ivy plant. Poison sumac and poison oak also cause similar conditions. Exposure means weeks of misery that include endless itching, wiping and sometimes it can actually even be a little painful. “Leaves of three, leave them be,” is the old wives tale. Turns out, that’s pretty accurate. The poison ivy plant has three leaves and the hard part in spotting the plants is because they are often mixed in with other vegetation or large patches of green plants that makes them hard to identify.
Leaves of three, let it be! 10
HOW TO END THE ITCH
They don’t usually stand out and blend nicely in with the rest of the vegetation. A lot of times people who get it don’t remember when they were even exposed to it and where they might have contacted it. The oil from the plant is called urushiol, which is what causes the rash. Once you break out from it, or are around somebody else that has it, you won’t be able to spread it to others or catch it from them. A day or two after you’ve been exposed to the plant and the oil from it you can expect to start breaking out with the initial rash. Sometimes it takes a little longer. The first sign will be small red, itchy bumps that look like little blisters. That’s the point where you might start to wonder what kind of bite you have. These will keep appearing for a few days. You might even notice a few more here and there for as long as two to three weeks. This makes it seem like the rash is “spreading.” The fluid in the blisters is part of the allergic reaction. They contain no harmful bacteria. Dr. Bradley W. Peterson of Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Baxter explained the telltale signs are definitely that blistering and when the rash appears it is often linear in its appearance. Pe-
terson said people suffer from poison ivy in varying degrees of reaction. Some people don’t respond to the plant at all and will never have any type of reaction but some will break out, even severely, at the slightest little bit of exposure. More times than not it will appear on the arms and legs and other places that might have come in contact with the plant but sometimes those less fortunate could see actually see it spread to their face or other parts of the body. Poison ivy, oak or sumac isn’t contagious but Peterson says it is possible to pick it up from your pets if they have the oil on them and then transfer it onto you.
LOOKING FOR RELIEF So what can you do for all of that itching and scratching? There are all kinds of products marketed for the relief of poison ivy. Peterson said typical treatments range from over-the-counter calamine lotion, a prescription steroid cream or possibly oral steroids. There is also a shot that can be given in extreme cases. Peterson said if you suspect you have it and it appears to be spreading, it’s a good idea to have it looked at sooner rather than later. Since it spreads from the inside out, the longer you let it go you could have a nice full-blown rash and be pretty miserable before you decide to go in. Most people let poison ivy run its course and it usually goes away within two to four weeks. In the meantime, oatmeal baths and cool compresses along with anti-itch medications can help provide some relief. Now, about those mosquitoes.
HOW TO AVOID IT The best case scenario would be to not get it all but you can take a couple of steps to reduce exposure when you are going to be outdoors. If you know what the plants look like try not to touch them and shower as soon as you go inside. Wash your skin good with soap and water and try to get all of the oil off of your skin - the sooner the better. The less exposure you have to the oil the less severe the outbreak might be. Wash any clothes you were wearing outdoors with a detergent. Never burn poison ivy if you know it’s in your yard. The smoke in the air from burning the plant can lead to irritation in the eyes, lungs and airways.
BY SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER Contributing Writer
Essentia Health to open Emily Clinic
E
portunity for us, to bring the care to them.” Lindell said the clinic will serve a wide variety community health event in Emily last fall, of patients, from young families to senior adults and the feedback they received was loud and locals as well as summer visitors, in some cases even eliminating the need for a drive to Brainerd or Crossclear — people wanted better, closer ac- lake in many situations that may require urgent care. “There’s quite a bit we can do in these cess to health care. small clinics,” Lindell said. For Essentia, the solution was simple — Many Essentia patients in Emily currentgive the people what they want. ly visit the clinic in Crosslake. “It goes with our vision of making a Lindell said the clinic hopes to expand healthy difference in patients’ lives,” said in specialty services in the future. Essentia Health Marketing and Community Essentia Health’s nearby Crosslake clinic Relations Director Miranda Anderson. offers similar services to the Emily clinic Anderson said Essentia is currently renoand has expanded to add physical therapy. vating a former office space building to suit DR. SARA The Emily clinic will also feature an Inthe needs of a clinic, slated to open Sept. 2. LOKSTAD stymed - a vending machine of basic preThe clinic will provide family medicine scriptions so patients will have easy access including yearly physicals, well child visits, chronic to medicines prescribed at their visit without having disease management as well as OB/GYN services up to make an additional trip to the pharmacy. to 36 weeks. Anderson said providing convenient care helps Michelle Lindell, director of ambulatory services Essentia Health maintain a standard of accountable for Essentia, said having a clinic conveniently locat- care in making sure patients are provided every oped is extremely important to providing preventative portunity to seek preventative care rather than later health services. intervention. “People are more apt to seek services within their “It’s to our advantage to be more preventative,” own community,” Lindell said. “This is a great op- Anderson said. EMILY — When Essentia Health hosted a
Anderson said the clinic was initially scheduled to open in mid-spring but was delayed because lead physician, Dr. Sara Lokstad, an active duty Army major, was deployed to Kuwait. Lokstad will return from deployment in August. “She’s so important to these patients,” Lindell said. “We didn’t want to open without her. We wanted to do this the right way.” Lokstad’s deployment is her second. She was previously deployed to Iraq with the Warrior in Transition, caring for soldiers injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Lokstad received an Army commendation medal for her service in Iraq. Lokstad also serves as the physician for the Essentia clinic in Crosslake. Joining Lokstad in Emily are Jennifer Peterson, RN; Arianne Sizeback, LPN; LaSandra Biermaier, LPN; as well as receptionists Lindsey Paulsen and Jennifer Jacobson. When the clinic officially opens in September, office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., MondayFriday, at 20918 County Road 1 in Emily. For an appointment call 218-763-4800.
Thirty years of helping people live where they most want to live – at home. We’re dedicated to doing whatever it takes to let people live comfortably and safely at home. Just as we’ve done for 30 years. Call or visit us online to learn more.
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11
By JENNY HOLMES Contributing Writer
Healing without medicine
I
PEQUOT LAKES WOMAN FINDS HEALTH IN ESSENTIAL OILS
It took a series of accidents and health concerns to make Brenda Wiener a believer in the power of essential oils.
Over 10 years later, Wiener won’t leave home without her kit of oils and has now built a business based upon the very healing properties she, herself, doubted for so many years. In the first six months after he was born, Wiener’s son, Albert, suffered from a variety of health complications, including chronic digestive issues that led to much discomfort for the infant. Wiener and her
Brenda Wiener in her home office. Wiener says her life was changed when she started using essential oils as an alternative to traditional medicine. Steve Kohls • steve. kohls@brainerddispatch.com
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husband turned to traditional medicine to get to the bottom of what ailed their child, to no avail. It was the advice of friends that led them to chiropractic care as an alternative therapy. “Biocommunication feedback was offered through this particular chiropractic office,” Wiener said. “And that’s what really gave us some answers to what was going on with our son. He had trouble communicating. He wasn’t as verbally skilled as other children his age. But he was the one who convinced me there was something to the essential oils.” In addition to biocommunication feedback, they were turned on to a variety of essential oils to use on
their child on a regular basis. Wiener said she had her doubts but followed through in hopes they could find something to ease their son’s symptoms. “I came from a background of Doubting Thomases,” she admitted, “even of modern medicine; not to mention snake oils.” But soon, Albert was asking his mother for “the purple bottle” of oil. “He had no preconceived ideas of what was right or wrong,” Wiener said. “He just knew that what was in the bottle made him feel better. And it became very clear to me that it didn’t matter what I thought. He knew that something made him feel better. And
Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
own plant material that goes into making the oils and has high expectations for quality control to ensure end users receive the promised properties of each type of oil. “There’s just something about moving into God’s country,” Wiener said. “You start listening. I had been asked for a long time to step up. I felt like God was saying, ‘Brenda, I didn’t give you this knowledge to stick underneath your pillow.’ I wasn’t a health care person and I wasn’t about pushing it on others. But soon, others began asking me about it. So I started doing some research and that research led to training.” In 2011, Wiener became a Certified Natural Health Practitioner, offering biocommunication feedback, as well as consulting individuals on the integration of essential oils and supplements in their daily lives. Her Pequot Lakes-based business, Pathways to Harmony, offers Christian-based, holistic wellness consulting and an opportunity for individuals to find an alternative to modern medicine or a supplementation to their health care routine. “I will never, ever tell a client not to see a physician,” Wiener emphasized. “If myself or my family is ever in a car accident and we need emergency care, we will see a physician. But the moment I am stable, I will take over. Unfortunately, most of our medical care looks at addressing the symptoms rather than looking for the root cause. My philosophy with my clients is to get to that root. Let’s find out what it is.” Wiener believes unaddressed emotional issues can often present themselves as physical conditions. “A piece of the technology I have is the biocommunications piece. With this technology, I can ask the body where the issues stem and it gives us a look at the areas we need to focus. But getting people to recognize and understand that’s where we should start can be difficult.” Wiener likens the emotional interference to a yard hose. When there is a kink
in the hose, the water isn’t distributed equally. And no matter how high you turn up the water, the interference will keep it from working to its full capacity. The same can happen with the body. If the body is attempting to remove toxins but they hit a roadblock, that’s when physical issues may arise. “When we get older, we just assume we’re going to feel worse. But it’s the exposure to toxins over time that causes issues. Through my wellness consulting business, the direction I want to go and the people I want to work with are those who are willing to consider the emotional component. Let’s clear the interference fields and go from there.” Wiener said she’d be the first to ad-
mit that her life isn’t perfect, nor is her health. But she says her life has been transformed through the powers of alternative thinking and treatment. “My focus is on educating, equipping and inspiring,” she said. “I have the tools to be able to do that for others, because that’s who I am. No, I’m not 100 percent healthy. We all have our challenges. I wear multiple hats and am a multi-tasker. But I have the tools that allow me to keep it all going in my life. And I want to help others to have the same tools, skills and safety nets that I have through workshops, classes and life services.”
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that was the turning point for me, personally.” Weiner’s husband had also become a believer when he began using a combination of oils and what is called the Raindrop Technique for application to address chronic sinus issues and back pain. What he had been treated for and suffered with for many years finally responded to something. Something natural and beyond comprehension. Wiener said she didn’t have her own, personal “aha” moment until after moving to the lakes area from St. Cloud in 2009. While getting the boat out of winter storage and attempting to untangle a mess of life preservers, a large pipe fell square center on her bare foot. The impact instantaneously created swelling and bruising. “Right away, I asked my husband to go inside and get my kit of oils.” Not knowing exactly what would work for this type of injury, Wiener grabbed various bottles; hoping for the kind of relief her husband and son had experienced. “I was in pain and wasn’t thinking clearly,” Wiener said. “I didn’t have any kind of desktop reference, but I pulled out lavender. And lavender is known as the Swiss Army Knife – good for everything. Frankincense. Frankincense was good for Baby Jesus, so that was going on. I don’t even remember everything I put on.” Through all of the commotion, a neighbor had stopped over to see how he could assist. As Wiener continued to apply the oils, her neighbor commented that the swelling appeared to be going down. “He could see it was changing that quickly,” Wiener recalled. Within a couple of hours, she was able to put gradual pressure on the foot and wiggle her toes. By a stroke of bad luck, Wiener also experienced multiple mishaps over the coming months and years, missing a couple of steps and twisting her ankle, in addition to crashing on her bicycle and sustaining trauma to her face, shoulder and knee. Again, she turned to her oils - applying various drops and witnessing the healing powers. “I didn’t go to the hospital. I just relied on my oils,” she said. “Some people have stories about getting pregnant, lowering their blood pressure, or any variety of issues, all through the help of essential oils. Mine all happen to be from physical trauma.” Wiener said she feels blessed to have had her first experience with essential oils to be with the company Young Living Essential Oils - an essential oils company based in Utah. Wiener said the organization grows thousands of acres of their
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Doctor’s Orders
P
DON’T FEEL VAIN ABOUT TREATING PAINFUL VEINS
Painful veins in your legs can be a symp-
cessive body weight, prolonged standing or sitting, pregnancy, injury, hormonal changes and aging. Many tom of serious health problems. of these risk factors are specific to women, Yet many people defer treatment, thinking which is why nearly 40 percent of women that varicose veins are merely cosmetic and and 20 percent of men have some form of they don’t want to appear vain. Others grow varicose veins. accustomed to the swelling and pain because The Essentia Health Brainerd Clinic offers their condition progresses slowly, creating a comprehensive vein care from board-certified “new normal.” doctors and a nurse practitioner for women Vein conditions are not solely a cosmetic and men experiencing varicose and spider problem. Swollen or discolored veins can be vein problems. The clinic will help these paDR. ROSS symptoms of other medical conditions that tients look and feel their best by utilizing the BENGTSON need to be treated to avoid serious complicalatest minimally invasive vein therapy techtions. niques and technology. If your legs are swollen, fatigue easily or have unA thorough examination and proper diagnosis will sightly or painful veins, you should talk with your pri- result in an individually tailored treatment plan. mary care physician or a surgeon experienced in treatTreatment doesn’t always require a medical proceing veins. dure. For example, symptoms can be reduced by limNormal veins have paper-thin, one-way valves that iting the amount of sitting or standing throughout the allow blood to flow up, out of the legs. The valves close day. You also can wear support stockings and step up when standing or sitting to prevent blood from flowing your exercise to improve blood flow. backwards. If you need medical treatment, the Brainerd Clinic Venous diseases are caused by poorly functioning offers three minimally invasive procedures that provide valves within veins that allow backwards flow. This in- prompt relief and improve appearance. Sclerotherapy efficiency causes spider veins — red or blue web-like injects medication directly into the affected veins to veins on the skin’s surface. Untreated, they can grow close them down, which causes the body to reroute into varicose veins, which appear as bulges on the leg’s blood through deeper veins. Laser therapy and radiosurface. frequency treatment achieve the same effect. The surThe disease can progress to include swelling, pain, geons also can remove diseased veins through small clotting, ulceration and skin inflammation. incisions. Risk factors for variMost insurance companies will cover treatments for cose veins include varicose veins that are medically necessary and heredity, in cases when conservative therapies exlike the use of “compression”
stockings have failed. Initial consultations to determine if your symptoms are related to a vein problem are usually covered by insurance. Any treatment for cosmetic reasons is not covered by insurance but competitively priced. To schedule an appointment with a board-certified surgeon or nurse practitioner call 218-828-2880. Dr. Ross Bengtson is a General Surgeon with Essentia Health St. Joseph’s-Brainerd Clinic.
Vein Health Risk Self-Assessment ■ HISTORY
Have you ever had varicose veins?
■ SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Do you experience any of the following signs and symptoms in your legs or ankles: • Leg pain, aching or cramping? • Leg or ankle swelling, especially at the end of the day? • Restless legs? • Visible veins on your legs that cause you discomfort? • Feel “heaviness” in your legs? • Skin discoloration or texture changes? Open wounds or sores?
■ RISK FACTORS
Has anyone in your blood-related family ever had varicose veins or been diagnosed with venous reflux disease or chronic venous insufficiency? Have you had any treatments or procedures for vein problems? Do you stand for long periods of time, such as at work? Have you had multiple pregnancies?
■ SELF-ASSESSMENT RESULTS
If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, please contact us for a consultation to see if you may be a candidate for venous reflux disease. Initial consultations to determine if your symptoms are related to a vein problem are usually covered by insurance. For more information about vein conditions visit one of our upcoming complimentary educational seminars. Seminars include an initial screening. • 9-11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 15, in Pine River. • 9-11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 5, in Crosslake. • 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, in Brainerd. • 9-11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 22, in Bay Lake.
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Space is limited, so please register at 218828-7414 or at EssentiaHealth.org/VeinServices.
By RYAN JOHNSON Forum News Service
SURVEY FINDS BIG GAP IN TIME PATIENTS SPEND
Dr.
F
FARGO — When Joel Haugen started practicing medicine in 1982, patients would turn to books or ask for advice from neighbors to learn more about
their woes. They still do that research today, said the Essentia Health family medicine physician at the West Acres mall walkin clinic — but they’re letting the medical encyclopedias gather dust and using WebMD instead. “Now, it’s readily available on their smartphone or their iPad or the Internet, and there’s just so much more of it,” he said. “It may even make it harder for them to sort that out.” A recent national survey conducted by Makovsky Health and Kelton found the average American spends about 52 hours each year looking up health information online. They average only one hour — three 20-minute visits — with their doctor each year. Haugen said there are advantages to the plethora of information that’s available online, and free resources can help patients quickly get answers to questions about a diagnosis or prescription. Still, he said they need to make sure they’re finding accurate, reliable information that’s not trying to sell a gimmick or an expensive treatment.
STICK WITH SOLID INFO
Monjur Alam, a family medicine physician who practices at Sanford Health’s clinic in East Grand Forks said the best advice is to look for evidence-based websites. Organizations that represent specific medical fields often are a good choice, he said. Some examples include the websites of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine. “They have it in plain layman’s terms, and it’s very easy to read and the patients can understand it much better,” he said. Haugen said he advises patients to look for official government sites – easy to spot because their website address ends with “.gov” – because they’re likely to be free of bias and won’t be trying to sell medications or untested theories. Other federally sponsored sites, such
LOOKING UP HEALTH INFO ONLINE, TIME WITH THEIR DOCTOR
as the National Institutes of Health at www.nih.gov and the searchable databases of www.healthfinder.gov, also are good choices, he said. Haugen said patients can learn more about specific conditions through large nonprofit organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. Many health systems now offer information and links through their own websites, too. He said the Rochester-based Mayo Clinic has good resources available on its site at www.mayoclinic.com. Essentia Health patients can find updated information about diseases, treatments and surgeries on its website at www.essentiahealth.org. Like many health providers, Haugen said Essentia subscribes to a third-party service to make sure the information is updated and accurate. Sanford also has a searchable health database on its site at www.sanfordhealth.org. Both health systems offer options for patients to chat with medical providers and keep track of appointments through their websites. Haugen said WebMD also has a large amount of information available for free. The popular site does have advertising, he said, but it’s “fairly benign” and still a good option. But he said not all privately run health websites are as reliable, and patients should take the information they find through Google or in a Wikipedia article with a grain of salt. “If they’re trying to sell you something, then I’d certainly be a little leery about what they’re promoting because it’s self-serving,” he said.
when they do see their doctor, Haugen said. “It kind of hones down the questions so they may be much more specific and much more directed questions when they have them,” he said. “They’ve already got some understanding of the condition and the words are not quite so foreign to them, so I think it’s great.” Still, Haugen said online searches for vague symptoms like a headache could result in the suggestion of an unlikely problem, such as West Nile virus or tumors. It can be difficult to encourage patients to first try standard medical tests to figure out their condition and not immediately decide they need a spinal tap to rule out West Nile, he said. “You kind of have to sort through it,” he said. “They don’t have a good understanding maybe of the implications of doing a test or the cost of a test or the risk-benefit of doing tests.” Alam said there’s another challenge that comes with the rise of online health
resources — patients who believe they’ve diagnosed themselves with a wide array of conditions based on a quick Internet search. “I appreciate that patients are going through lots of anxiety when they have something going on, and they’re worrying and they’re looking up different conditions,” he said. “Many times, many diseases share similar symptoms, so that makes the clinical picture very challenging sometimes. But I think it helps us physicians in some cases.” It’s the duty of a physician to take their patients’ concerns seriously while also helping them wade through the conflicting information they might find online, Alam said. Still, there are times when well-meaning patients just need to log off WebMD and get to a doctor, especially if they may be suffering from life-threatening acute conditions like a stroke or heart attack, he said. “When you’re not sure, please go in and get checked out,” he said.
ONLINE CHANGES
The health information that patients can find online has its advantages, often helping them get quick answers to their questions or to better understand what their doctor has told them, Haugen said. One perk is mental — many people think of information as “more believable” when they see it in print, whether on a website or in a newspaper article, he said. But it also can help explain their medical woes to spouses and relatives in a way that everyone can understand and might lead to more productive visits
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By SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER Contributing Writer
Choosing to make a PROGRAM
difference
S
STAPLES — Every Thursday, people come from
CHANGES FOOD INSECURITY CONCERNS FOR
TODD COUNTY
all over Todd County to visit the Farmers Market at Lakewood Health System in Staples. Tables and trucks full of fresh produce from dozens of area farms make their way from the hands of the farmer into the hands of eager consumers.
This summer a new booth has made an appearance. In front of it sits a table filled with orange bags full of fresh produce, picked with a special purpose. “Some of them have never prepared fresh vegetables
before,” said Lakewood Health System dietician Kelly Coughlin, talking about participants in Lakewood’s Chose Health program. “It’s our goal to change that.” Choose Health is a brand new program started with the help of Lakewood Health System, Todd County Health and Human Services, Public Health office, and Sprout MN that makes fresh produce available to families affected by hunger or food insecurities. Coughlin said the idea developed after Lakewood received a grant from Hunger Free Minnesota. The organization wanted to see Lakewood start a food dispensary modeled after a similar program at Hennepin County Medical
Volunteers organize bags to be distributed at the Choose Health booth at the Farmers’ market at Lakewood Health System in Staples.
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Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
HEALTH
Center (HCMC). Katherine Mackendanz, Community Planning Unit Manager at Todd County Health and Human Services, said Hunger Free Minnesota was interested in partnering with health care providers to better distribute fresh foods. Coughlin pointed out that hunger programs tend to focus on getting calories and food into people, but don’t typically take into account the quality of food distributed. “It’s not just about getting food for hunger relief; it’s about getting healthy food to people,” Coughlin said. At HCMC, primary care physicians refer patients who that are affected by hunger or food insecurity to the dispensary, much like they prescribe medicine. Patients receive a “prescription” for a healthier diet and pick up their list of groceries at the dispensary. “(Hunger Free Minnesota) had worked with the food banks and food shelves, but this was different,” Mackendanz said. “It worked really well at HCMC — they wanted to know how it would work in a rural area.” Coughlin said the idea has been in the works since January. With the help of Arlene Jones who owns and operates The Farm on St. Mathias and manages SPROUT food hub, Coughlin said the idea developed beyond a food dispensary to a program more like a community supported agriculture (CSA) model. “There’s nothing like this anywhere else,” Coughlin said. Jones said part of the excitement of the program is for participants to know where their food comes from. “They meet the farmers growing their food,” she said. “And the farmers are so proud to be part of the program.” According to Jones, more than 40 area farmers contribute to Choose Health. Mackendanz said the program has created an important partnership between Lakewood, Todd County, SPROUTS, Region Five Development Commission and the city of Staples. “It’s a really nice partnership of key players in the area saying, ‘How can we make this successful?’” Mackendanz said. Participants find their way to Choose Health through routine appointments with the primary care providers. Doctors at Lakewood screen patients with questions regarding their food security, asking whether patients felt they had enough food or have ever been concerned they might run out of food. For patients with concerns about hunger, providers recommend the Choose Health program. So far 50 families have
Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
Volunteers for Choose Health handed out fresh produce to families enrolled in the program.
been selected. Coughlin said the shares in the program come at no cost to participants — the cost is largely covered by the grant and buy-in from Lakewood employees and employees from National Joint Powers Alliance in Staples. Every other week from June until October, participants will pick up their shares, which include a brief cooking demonstration with foods in their share. “They’re getting some the skills necessary to use the food they receive,” Mackendanz said. “That’s so important.” The bi-weekly shares include whatever is available on the market — rhubarb, cucumbers, asparagus, eggs and herbs. “They’re getting the best and freshest available,” Jones said. Through SPROUT food hub, Jones works with area producers to meet fresh produce demand for wholesale and institutional use. Participants also receive kitchen basics such as knives, cutting boards, measuring cups — things that will make it easier and more likely for them to experiment with fresh foods. Mackendanz said the program kicked off in midJune and the first week was a huge success. “The families were so excited,” she said. Coughlin said she was moved by seeing families pick up healthy foods and showing such excitement over receiving
them. “It was a dietician’s dream,” she said. “They’re really trying.” For many participants, overcoming the fear of using fresh foods and foods they are not familiar with can be a barrier. “They just don’t know what to expect,” Coughlin said, adding that the goal is to eventually encourage participants to grow their own food. “This program could continue to have many arms,” she said. Coughlin said what makes Choose Health different from other food programs is the data. Primary care providers will track biometrics of all participants including weight, height, BMI and screening for diabetes. “The ultimate goal is obesity prevention,” Coughlin said. “That starts with access to fresh, healthy food.” Mackendanz said working with parents is crucial to preventing obesity among children. “You can work with schools and directly with the kids but, ultimately, it’s the parents who put food on the table.” While data may not come back in drastic changes in numbers on the scale or dramatic drop in BMI, Coughlin is confident there will be notable impact. “What we will have is some solid answers on behavior change,” Coughlin said, noting participants will develop the ability and confidence to prepare healthy foods. “Once you start, it’s hard to stop.”
Bags of fresh produce await families enrolled in the Choose Health program at Lakewood Health System in Staples. Lakewood partners with Todd County and Sprout to provide health supplements to families with low income and food insecurities. Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
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By PATRICK SPRINGER Forum News Service
Obesity —
F
FARGO, N.D. — The adult obesity rate in North Dakota would almost double to 57.1 percent and Minnesota’s would balloon to 54.7 percent by 2030 if current trends con-
tinue unabated. Those predictions were recently released in a national report warning that the nation’s bulging waistline is a growing health crisis that calls for a broad spectrum of preventive steps. If enough people heed warnings, the nation could see a healthier population in 2030 and lower health costs, giving rise to the study’s theme, “two futures for America’s health.” A modest weight loss, for instance, can add up to significant savings, according to the study by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. If adults would reduce their body mass index, a ratio of weight to height, by 5 percent — about 10 pounds for someone standing 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds — it would enable many states to drastically reduce health care costs. North Dakota, which now has an adult obesity rate of 27.8 percent, could save 7.2 percent in health care costs, which would total savings of $1.1 billion by 2030, according to the study. In Minnesota, a 5 percent reduction in body mass index would translate into a savings of 7.3 percent, totaling $11.6 billion by 2030. Minnesota’s
a growing health crisis
adult obesity rate now is 25.7 percent. The future is even more sobering for 13 states that could see adult obesity rates topping 60 percent if current trends continue. Mississippi could have the highest obesity rate, 66.7 percent. But even the state projected to have the lowest obesity rate, Colorado, would see a rate of 44.8 percent, more than double its 20.7 percent rate from 20 years ago. “That’s pretty scary,” said Richard Hamburg, deputy director of the Trust for America’s Health, one of the study’s partners. Nationally, obesity rates in the United States have risen markedly since the 1980s. “It’s been a pretty uninterrupted trajectory,” Hamburg said. Experts cite a host of reasons, all of which can add up to, “Adults and kids are less active and eating more than they were 20 or 30 years ago,” Hamburg said. The underlying reasons, according to health advocates, can range from suburban sprawl, which means fewer people walk to work or school, to increased consumption of fatty foods, sweets and sweetened soft drinks. Average daily caloric intake is up more than 300 calories since 1985 and more than 600 since 1970, Hamburg said. “The numbers are pretty staggering,” he said. Also, in poorer neighborhoods and communities, people can find them-
selves in “food deserts” lacking access to affordable, healthy food choices, Hamburg said. The key to turning around the nation’s obesity epidemic and associated health crisis, experts agree: “Make healthy choices easy choices.” That’s the mantra of the Cass Clay Healthy People Initiative, launched three years ago with the goal of reducing the Fargo-Moorhead obesity rate by 20 percent by 2030, twice the national goal. To do that, the initiative and its partners are working to improve access to public, active places, including parks and trails, as well as healthy eating choices. Similarly, the city of Fargo’s Go 2030 initiative includes health goals, said Kim Lipetzky, a nutritionist with Fargo Cass Public Health. It’s trying to see whether gyms and other indoor facilities can expand hours, for example, and expand recreation trails or maintain them so they can operate year-round, she said. “We’re going to inventory what we have here,” she said. An encouraging early sign: Data from Fargo-Moorhead clinics indicate that the obesity rate has dipped for girls in all age categories up to age 19, and for boys up to age 12, said Rory Beil, director of the Cass Clay Healthy People Initiative. That could be the first decline in 25 or 30 years, Beil said, but hastened to add that it will take one or two more years to show whether the dip is the beginning of a trend. “We’d like to think we can change the trend lines that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is projecting,” Beil said.
Increasing physical
activity is
part of the solution.
Young children come out from their hiding places in the grass recently at Hartley Park in Duluth during a game of “thicket” in which groups of kids hide in the brush until they’re found by the searcher called the “thicket master.”
18
Bob King • Forum News Service
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By BRANDI JEWETT Forum News Service
The obesity gap
POOR CHILDREN GAIN WEIGHT WHILE WEALTHIER PEERS SHED POUNDS
G GRAND
FORKS,
N.D.
—
When he started at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks 26 years ago, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Eric Lunn said obese chil-
dren were very rare. “In 1987, it just wasn’t a big deal in children,” he said. “Now, it’s not uncommon.” Lunn sees children with weight problems often, even some younger
20
than 10 who have developed Type II diabetes — once considered an adult disease. Individuals surveyed for Altru’s 2013 Community Health Assessment put childhood obesity at the top of health issues facing the city. In North Dakota, more than onethird of 10- to 17-year-olds were overweight or obese, according to the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health. The childhood obesity trend, which saw rapid growth in the 1980s and 1990s, may be reaching a plateau as
schools, government agencies and other groups continue to educate kids about healthy eating habits and regular exercise. On the surface, the news is good, but further analysis by researchers found the outlook wasn’t as positive for every child. Kids whose parents didn’t receive a bachelor’s degree or make enough to surpass the federal poverty line saw their rates increase from 1990 to 2010, according to national data from the National Health and Nutrition Ex-
amination Survey. Their peers with parents holding at least a bachelor’s degree saw obesity rates sputter and decline during that time period
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The solution to childhood obesity sounds simple, but eating healthier and getting more exercise may be easier said than done for children of low socioeconomic status. Researchers with the National Academy of Sciences say income, the cost of fresh food, the number of fast food restaurants present and the distance from grocery stores play a role in how neighborhoods influence youth obesity rates. In 2012, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that nearly 10 percent of Americans live in low-income areas more than one mile from a grocery store. The most recent county-level data indicated in 2010 that the percentage was slightly higher in Grand Forks County at 11.3 percent. When including the county’s entire population, the department considered nearly 30 percent of people as having low access to a grocery store — including about 4,500 children. One look at a map of Grand Forks reveals several neighborhoods are not within the one-mile radius of at least one grocery store, especially in the city’s northwestern corner. That area includes the University of North Dakota and its surrounding neighborhoods and is home
to some of the lowest median incomes of any area in the city. A new Walmart planned for the northwest and a Hugo’s grocery store proposed for the southeast corner of the city may reduce the number of people with limited access to fresh food. Until those stores are in place, a fast food establishment falls closer to a home than the grocery store for many in the city. Overall, Grand Forks County has less than two grocery stores but nearly eight fast food restaurants per 10,000 people. Like the grocery store, processed foods offered at fast food restaurants are usually cheaper than healthier offerings. “When it comes to fast food, the healthy choice isn’t always the easy choice,” Wanner said.
Prevention and treatment
PREVENTION
Local health experts agree education will continue to be necessary to prevent and treat weight problems in children of all income levels. Grand Forks Public Schools has been taking steps to ensure students are learning about healthy choices and eating nutritious meals. “It’s a balance of eating, exercise and lifestyle,” Child Nutrition Food Service Director Julie Tunseth said. The district’s Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program has brought fresh produce into classrooms three times a week for the past three years. The program gives students a chance to try fruits and veggies their families may not buy or they avoid in the lunch line, Tunseth said. Besides the more usual fare, students also have had the opportunity to try things such as star fruit, jicama and LACK OF EXERCISE tangelos. Not eating right isn’t the only inThe program is funded through a dication of the problem facing North federal grant that gives preference to Dakota’s low-income, overweight districts with high numbers of students youth. using free or reduced-price lunch proLocal children’s activity levels folgrams. Almost 40 percent of Grand lowed a trend similar to weight status. Forks students are eligible for free or The children’s health survey showed reduced-price meals. kids in households with more eduThe district also has taken steps to cated parents or higher household inintegrate healthier food into its menu comes exercised more frequently than over the years. those with less. The changes aren’t always noticed The cost associated with participatby students or heavily advertised ing in activities such as school sports though. may prove to be too much for some “Kids know they’re getting a hot households, according to Lunn. dog,” Tunseth said. “They may not Some organizations have created necessarily want to know it’s on a scholarships to ensure children of any whole-grain bun or that the hot dog is income can participate in sports and low sodium and all-beef.” other activities. Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com Also gaining ground are local proThe Altru Family YMCA averages grams such as Altru’s Healthy n’ Fit $200,000 each year in financial assistance and scholarships that allow Runners compete in the Sour Grapes Half and Half Marathon at the Northland Ar- Kids. The 12-week weight manageboretum. Studies have shown a variety of offerings for physical activity within a com- ment class teaches children and their 2,500 to 3,000 children per year to parmunity is beneficial for the good health of all ages. families about proper nutrition and ticipate in activities and use its fitness exercise. center, according CEO Deb Thomson. School programs and weight class“There are children that can’t afford With the assistance, low-income kids can particito participate,” she said. “(Through financial assis- pate in sports, swimming lessons, fitness classes, day es are a great start, according to Lunn. Getting the community to recognize childhood obesity as a tance) we provide them with choices that are better camps and other activities. than the alternative.” Having a variety of offerings is beneficial, accord- problem is the next step. “They say it takes a village to raise a child,” he If their parents work multiple jobs or go to school, ing to Lunn. “If (children) don’t like a sport, you won’t get said. “It’s going to take a village to work on this issue that alternative may be spending time in front of a TV them to participate,” he added. and make progress.” or computer screen. To prevent weight gain in children or help them lose weight, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these eating and exercise habits: • Fruits and vegetables: Consume five or more servings each day. • Sugar-sweetened drinks: Minimize as much as possible. • Television viewing: Decrease screen time to two hours or less a day. • Physical activity: Be active for an hour or more each day. • Meals at home: Prepare them more often than eating out. • Family dinner: Eat around a table at least five or six times a week. • Breakfast: Eat it every day. • Lifestyle changes: Involve the whole family. • Food regulation: Let kids regulate their meals and avoid overly restrictive feeding behavior.
Lakewood Health helps raise $31,000 for American Heart Association
L
Lakewood
Health
Systems
partnered with area students various organizations to raise more the $31,000 through the Jump Rope for Heart program.
The event, sponsored by the American Heart Association, challenges students to jump rope while empowering them to improve their health and help other kids with heart-health issues. Participating schools and the
amounts raised include: • Browerville - $5,964.78. • Eagle Valley - $2,815.62. • Motley Elementary - $1,266. • Motley Middle - $912.25. • Pillager - $14,316.71. • Staples Elementary and Sacred
Heart- $6,007 The combined total raised by the schools was $28,182.36 which, combined with the sponsorship by Lakewood, came to $31,182.36. All funds raised will go to help the American Heart Association.
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Healthwatch • Fall 2014 Restaurant
Hypnotherapy
EAT. DRINK. RELAX.
Inner Healing Hypnosis
www.innerhealinghypnosis.com
MRI
Dr. Kurtis Waters Cascade Women’s Wellness Centre and MedSpa
Lakes Imaging Center
www.cascademedspa.com
Ophthalmologist/Opticians
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
Baxter 13205 Isle Drive Baxter, MN 56425 Crosby 320 East Main Street Crosby, MN 56441 218-546-7000 1-888-487-6437 www.cuyunamed.org
Essentia Health
St. Joseph’s Medical Center 218-829-2861 Brainerd Clinic 218-828-2880 Baxter Clinic 218-828-2880
2019 S. 6th Street Brainerd, MN 56401 218-822-OPEN (6736) 1-877-522-7222 www.lakesimagingcenter.com
Moreysmarkets.com
15670 Edgewood Drive Baxter, MN Hwy 10 South Motley, MN 1-800-548-9630 001114977r1
Crosby Eye Clinic
7636 Design Rd #105 Baxter, MN 56425 218-825-1976 www.crosbyeyeclinic.com
Senior Living Excelsior Place
14211 Firewood Drive Baxter, MN 56425 218-828-4770 www.wtohdevelopment.com/baxter
Northern Eye Center Great Northern Opticians Brainerd 218-829-2020 1-800-872-0005 Little Falls 320-632-2391 Staples 218-894-5480 www.northerneyecenter.com
Good Neighbor Home Health Care
218-829-9238 1-888-221-5785 www.gnhomecare.com
Veins
Real Estate
The Vein Center
www.essentiahealth.org
Thinking about buying or selling?
Lakewood Health System
Call Katie Lee!
Staples Motley Pillager Eagle Bend Browerville 218-894-1515 1-800-525-1033
218.829.3918 WWW.ERNIESONGULL.COM
Sea Food
Healthcare
Riverstone Professional Center 13359 Isle Drive, Suite 1 Baxter, MN 56425 218-454-8888
10424 SQUAW POINT RD., EAST GULL LAKE
1990 Connecticut Ave. South, Suite 100 Sartell, MN 56377 320-257-VEIN (8346) www.beautifulresults.com
218-831-5243
Katie@homesbykatie.com www.katiesfirstlook.com
www.homesbykatie.com www.homesbykatie.c c
001109952r1
Brainerd/Baxter | 829-4755 | 800-821-4755 | www.nelson-doran.com
001109954r1
001109953r1
14715 Edgewood Dr. Suite 1 Brainerd, MN 56401 218-851-7082
www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com
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001109951r1
Funeral Services
001110447r1
Christine Albrecht, M.D.
Berit Amundson, M.D.
ChooseYour
HEALTH PARTNER Kelly Thompson, NP-C Women’s Health Team
Arden Beachy, M.D.
Becky Bennett, P.A.-C
Jody Giza, P.A.-C
Erik Dovre, OB/GYN
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Carol Uhlman, OB/GYN
Kelly Thompson, N.P.-C
Kelly VanVickle, N.P.-C
FAMILY MEDICINE HOME CARE & HOSPICE
Fortunately, Infertility Specialist Kelly Thompson, NP-C, is dedicated to helping
INCONTINENCE THERAPY
couples achieve that goal. Along with the rest of our Women’s Health team,
INFERTILITY SERVICES MIDWIFE SERVICES
Kelly is here to provide care and understanding to those who need it most.
OB/GYN
Because Lakewood Health System understands the importance of partnership,
PEDIATRICS
our goal is to work with you to ensure you receive the best possible care. Our
PHYSICAL THERAPY
entire staff from women’s health and psychiatric services, to surgical care and rehab services is designed to help you achieve overall wellness.
PSYCHOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGY
Pillager Clinic
Neil Bratney, Pediatrician
YOUR HOME FOR HEALTHCARE
Kathryn Riordan, Rheumatologist
HOSPITAL
I
CLINICS
I
SENIOR SERVICES
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800-525-1033 I 218-894-1515 lakewoodhealthsystem.com
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Nicole Uban, Midwife
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Welcomes
Christina Kramer, M.D.
Shelley Overholt-Thiesen, M.D.
Seeing patients in Crosby, Baxter & Aitkin
Seeing patients in Baxter
Minnesota native Christina Kramer, M.D., who is originally from Maple Plain, recently completed her Residency in New York at the University of Buffalo Sisters of Charity Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis and her undergraduate at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Dr. Kramer enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the outdoors running, hiking, bicycling, and camping. She and her husband Ryan, who is originally from Hayward, Wisc., have two daughters.
, ! ü v Ì ŠO P PO ¨ ü¨ q family medicine physician with over 10 years experience, comes to the Brainerd Lakes area from Kansas, where she was one of four partners in a group of eight providers since 2001. Dr. OverholtThiesen has also practiced at a clinic in Fort Smith Ark. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and undergraduate degree at Rice University, also in Houston. She and her husband, Dale Ray, have three children.
Both physicians are accepting new patients, call 218-546-7462.
Family Practice
www.cuyunamed.org 001104491r1
Obstetrician/Gynecologist