Community Health Dec. 2013

YOUR

FIND

FIT

This Cape Girardeau nature center volunteer loves giving back, and you can too And, yes, that’s a two-headed snake.

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MID AMERICA Elsah theater teacher uses alignment therapy to help students avoid pain

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CONTENTS VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 12

MATCH GAME 38

You want to volunteer? Great!

OK, now where do you go?

What do you do? Volunteering makes a difference in the world, and makes you feel good, but it’s hard to know how to turn your giving spirit into real action. Find out how to get started, and where you can make the most impact.

BY JENNA MAKOWSKI

On the cover Volunteer Ivas Dambrauskas enjoys caring for fish, reptiles and even a two-headed snake at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center.

Cover photo by Chris Malacarne, this page photo by Brad Rankin

D E PA RTMEN T S 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Local Focus 15 News+Notes 21 Q+A 23 Well Said 48 Picture of Good Health

M ON ITO R S 26 WOMEN 28 MEN 30 FAMILY 32 SENIORS 34 PETS 36 EATS

44

CHIROPRACTORS: HERE TO STAY

People in pain swear by chiropractors. But over the years, they’ve struggled for recognition in the medical world.

As more doctors understand how chiropractic care can help people, it’s shifted from the fringes to a mainstream practice.

BY KIRSTEN SRINIVASAN

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DECEMBER 2013

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DON’T CROSS HER!

13

A Perryville mom used CrossFit strength training exercises to lose 45 pounds. Now she’s running 5Ks, swinging kettle bells, and even doing chin-ups.

BY DANETTE M. WATT

ADVERTORIAL

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1. Work out your ears—and your brain. Research shows that musicians are better able to pick out voices amid background noise than people who don’t play music, but it is possible for anyone to learn these processes. Part of this is because of “brain fitness,� the idea that listening to music can help sharpen hearing. “The listener’s natural inclination is to pay attention to fluctuations of notes, which improves some aspects of hearing and helps to differentiate certain vocal tones from other sounds,� says Gregory Maag. Just be careful with earbuds, and listen to music at a safe level of volume.

2. Dine strategically. Don’t let fear of hearing loss disrupt your social life; loss of consistent communication with others affects hearing, but remaining social sharpens those skills. “Don’t be afraid to remind family that you have difficulty hearing,� Gregory Maag says. “Try sitting at the end of a table so there aren’t multiple conversations that are difficult to follow. If possible, dining in a smaller group would also help a listener focus in on a conversation.�

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3. Have your hearing aids serviced. Make an appointment to get your hearing equipment checked and cleaned prior to gatherings. Often small adjustments or software adjustments can make a difference in how you hear, Gregory Maag says. www.MidAmericaAudiologyGroup.com

4. Pack your accessories. If there’s no time to schedule a cleaning prior to your holiday gathering, packing extra batteries, a cleaning kit for your aids, or even an extra set of hearing aids is a great idea just to be prepared.

5. Consider investing in new technology. If you were fitted for your hearing aid(s) a few years ago, there may be a much more advanced option available now, Gregory Maag says. “Even a base model today may offer significant improvements in acoustics and features over higher-end models from a few years ago. These advances can make a huge difference in people’s lives without putting pressure on their wallets.�

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MEDICAL EDITOR’S LETTER CHAIRMAN

Larry Perrotto MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mark Hornung EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Carole Sharwarko ART DIRECTOR

Bret Figura ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jackson A. Thomas LOCAL EDITOR

[ A n o t e f r o m D r. J a n i s M e n d e l s o h n ]

Danette M. Watt AD TRAFFIC MANAGER

Joseph Krystofiak

Chiropractic: Is it right for you?

Are you looking for an alternative medical approach to treat back and neck pain? Many people who want to try different ways to manage these issues they often turn to chiropractic care, which has seen its fair share of controversy over through the years.

Chiropractic medicine has been around for more than 100 years. It focuses mainly on dysfunctions of the neuromuscular system, like the spine and joints. Chiropractors practice in most U.S. states, and in many other parts of the world.

They are trained in techniques of spinal manipulation and adjustment, which helps improve joint and spinal mobility. This is a hands-on, drug-free approach to spine and joint pain and decreased mobility.

Chiropractors claim success in treating these aches and pains using their techniques, but there is no evidence to support this practice for other medical conditions.

If you want to give it a go, here are some issues a chiropractor may help you with: ³ ³ ³ ³

Chronic back pain Some kinds of joint pain and poor mobility Chronic neck pain Headaches that aren’t due to underlying medical causes

You can easily find a chiropractor on the Web, and on the American Chiropractic Association’s website. Or perhaps get a name from a friend. You can also discuss your concerns with your health care provider.

Wellness is the central message of chiropractic medicine, and the goal is an improved quality of life.

Practitioners emphasize a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, to enhance body strength and function.

So this alternative approach may not be so far removed from standard preventive medicine after all.

Remember: A healthy lifestyle means a healthy body. A healthy body means a healthy attitude, a healthy diet, and good mobility. This is all part of the chiropractic approach. We should all pay more attention to our bodies.

Dr. Janis Mendelsohn

MEDICAL EDITOR

Janis Mendelsohn, M.D. SALES DIRECTOR

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Call Liz Latta at (312) 504-3555, or email lizlatta@cmghealth.net.

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1550 S. Indiana Ave., 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 880-0370 (312) 880-0371 fax editor@cmghealth.net This magazine and its contents are for general consumer educational use only.

Nothing contained in this magazine is or should be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed medical practitioner. Community Health magazine content is published to educate consumers about health care and medical issues that might affect their daily lives. As always, please consult your physician.

Community Health magazine is a publication of Community Magazine Group Inc. Copyright ©2013 Community Magazine Group. All rights reserved.

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6

DECEMBER 2013

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

ADVERTORIAL

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If you are experiencing knee pain (whether it is from an injury, daily wear and tear, or arthritis), chiropractic, medical, physical therapy, and pain management can be combined together as a team-approach to relieve knee pain and return you back to your normal activities of daily living. If you have been told a knee replacement is in your future, but you would like to seek other options, this may be an alternative treatment plan for you.

A patient being seen for knee pain should be given a thorough examination, including x-rays and possibly further imaging to determine the cause of the pain. The chiropractic staff, medical staff, and physical therapy staff will then decide together what combinations of treatments are going to beneďŹ t you and give you the best chance for success. Treatment options may include knee injections, knee braces, and physical therapy, but your speciďŹ c condition dictates which options are best for you.

There are two different substances that can be injected into the knees to help with pain and inammation in the knee joint and surrounding soft tissues. The ďŹ rst is sarapin, which is an all-natural anti-inammatory substance. The second is hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally inside of our knee joints that helps maintain the soft tissues of the knee. These injections are generally done under video uoroscopy or diagnostic ultrasound to ensure accurate placement of the needle for best results.

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This BioniCare wrap helps to reproduce a healthy knee joint, avoid dependency on medication, and is guaranteed to defer total knee replacement for up to four years.

Striving to return you back to your normal daily activities pain free is the goal, but relieving your pain is only one aspect of your treatment. Another goal is to help you regain your leg strength, knee exibility, and endurance. Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants will work with you oneon-one to help you achieve these goals so you are able to enjoy activities that recently you have been unable to do.

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MID AMERICA

Lights, Camera, Alignment!

Theater teacher shares posture and movement therapy with students to help them be more aware of their bodies

BY DANETTE M. WATT

Actress Chrissy Steele knows how important it is to stay healthy through weeks of rehearsals and opening-night jitters. She admits she doesn’t get enough rest, or eat as well as she should. But she does swear by the Daily Dozen, 13 exercises that make up part of Eginton Alignment, an exercise method designed to fix posture and help with movement.

“I generally do the Daily Dozen as a way to ground myself mentally and physically,” she says.

“My body’s alignment affects not only my self-awareness, but also my thoughts. They’re more clear, and it’s easier for me to stay focused.” rest next summer.

After certification, Steele will share her knowledge through the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, when the regional festival makes its way to Illinois. She already teaches some of the exercises to her theater students, and says the methods help expand her knowledge of the human body.

“I’m learning a lot of anatomy, and getting a fuller understanding of how the body works,” Steele says.

MORE MINDFUL MOVING Meg Eginton, a former dancer who studied movement therapies and techniques in New York for seven years, created Eginton Alignment. She drew on those concepts, along with sensory awareness therapy, to shape her “therapeutic technique for the whole body.”

Through gentle hands-on work and exercises, Eginton Alignment teaches people how to change their alignment of posture and movement, to release tension and heal or manage chronic injuries and pain. Even athletes benefit as they become

When a performer is using himself with good alignment, performances become free, flowing, and often inspired.

CHRISSY STEELE Chrissy Steele, assistant professor in the Department of Theater at Principia College in Elsah, Ill., works with theater major Teddy Hoffman on one of the Eginton Alignment exercises called the Marionette.

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DECEMBER 2013

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

LEFT PHOTO BY DANETTE M. WATT

STUDENT BECOMES THE TEACHER Steele worked a professional theater actor in Chicago for about 12 years. She is now a professor in Principia College’s Theater Department in Elsah, Ill., teaching acting and voice classes.

When she took an Eginton Alignment workshop at the college in 2006, Steele says she immediately recognized the value of the exercises, and wanted to share them with her students.

“I felt different,” she says. “Eginton Alignment is fantastic for actors. When a performer is using himself with good alignment, performances become free, flowing and, often, inspired.”

After she took the seminar, Steele decided to enroll in more classes to work toward certification in the practice. She attended a three-week intensive workshop at Atlantic Theater in Burlington, Vt., this summer, and expects to complete the

EGINTON ALIGNMENT EXERCISES more efficient and stay injury-free, she says.

“Muscles exist to move bone. Eginton Alignment focuses on moving all the bones of the skeleton away from the muscles. We do this by softening and gently stretching the muscles, so the bones are more able to move,” Eginton says. “The movements are very subtle. These aren’t athletic movements. They’re body awareness movements.”

The Daily Dozen, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete, is one of the fundamental routines. Steele says this method works great for her and her students.

“These exercises really affect the way the actors move and breathe. There’s more space for the breathing apparatus, and that affects the voice, as well,” Steele says. “When you practice it regularly and make it part of your life, there’s a constant response of the body. It’s fluid. As you move, you readjust.”

Steele says her students’ level of familiarity and knowledge of the exercises range from in-depth to superficial. But they all have the same outcome after completing them.

“Their faces look relaxed, their breathing is deeper and they have a sense of peace,” she says.

The Daily Dozen The fundamental series of exercises in Eginton Alignment, which realigns the bones of the body.

Get Up and Down From the Floor and Other Such Dilemmas Shows you how to help yourself with simple tasks that become more difficult as you age.

Long, Sleek, Sixty and UP Helps you lengthen what may be getting shorter, and free your neck and shoulders from pain.

Breathe Like a Tree Gentle alignment exercises combined with breathing exercises to increase depth and fullness of breath.

Baby Don’t Let Me Go Partnered stretches that lengthen the big muscle groups and increase balance.

Alone and Happy Stretches you can do alone for your neck, sides, inner and outer thighs, and lower back.

Red Carpet Series Shoulders and hip alignment exercises, and lower back and walking exercises to do alone.

Circus Stretches Acrobatic partnered exercises that yield flexibility and coordination.

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DECEMBER 2013

9

Pediatricians Offer Advice on Respiratory Illnesses

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our child suffers from a sore throat, cough and fever.

But our child suffers from a sore throat, cough and fever.

But is is it the common cold, the fluflu oror some other respiratory it the common cold, the some other respiratory illness? illness?

With fluflu season approaching, Paul Leland, DO, and Greg With season approaching, Paul Leland, DO, and Greg Cugini, MD, ofof Southeast Pediatrics offer some advice onon Cugini, MD, Southeast Pediatrics offer some advice respiratory illnesses. respiratory illnesses.

QQ AA

. Are respiratory illnesses common inin children? . Are respiratory illnesses common children?

. Yes, particularly forfor children under 5 years . Yes, particularly children under 5 years ofof age.

Most children will develop three toto age.

Most children will develop three eight colds oror respiratory illnesses a year. eight colds respiratory illnesses a year.

QQ AA

. How can I tell if if my child has anan upper . How can I tell my child has upper respiratory or lower respiratory infection? respiratory or lower respiratory infection?

. The upper respiratory system includes the nose, . The upper respiratory system includes the nose, mouth, sinuses and throat.

If your child has anan upper mouth, sinuses and throat.

If your child has upper respiratory infection, hehe oror she may suffer from congestion with respiratory infection, she may suffer from congestion with a runny nose, cough and poor appetite.

The lower respiratory a runny nose, cough and poor appetite.

The lower respiratory system refers toto the bronchial tubes and lungs.

Among children system refers the bronchial tubes and lungs.

Among children under 5 years ofof age, symptoms areare more severe and include under 5 years age, symptoms more severe and include shortness ofof breath, wheezing and rapid breathing. shortness breath, wheezing and rapid breathing.

RSV: More Than the Common Cold

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Paul Leland, DO

Greg Cugini, MD

Q A

. How can I tell if my child has the flu?

. Influenza affects the upper respiratory system.

Flu symptoms include fever with chills, body aches, headache, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose, extreme exhaustion, and, in the case of children, possible stomachache or vomiting. If you think your child might have the flu, contact your doctor.

Q A

. What is the proper treatment for the flu?

. If children are severely ill, an antiviral medicine may be prescribed to lessen the symptoms. In most cases, you can care for your child by offering plenty of fluids and rest.

Q A

. Should my child receive a flu shot to guard against influenza?

. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months of age and older receive a yearly flu vaccine.

Q A

. What are the symptoms of asthma?

. Coughing or wheezing on expiration, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath when exercising or playing, and rapid heart rate.

Q A

. Is asthma common in children?

. In the United States, one out of every 18 children under 5 years of age has asthma. It’s one of the most common causes of hospital admission and visits to healthcare providers.

Q A

. Can asthma be cured? . No, but it can be managed with medication under a treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.

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CrossFit Warrior Mom of three drops more than 40 pounds using militaristic fitness training BY DANETTE M. WATT

SUPPLIED PHOTOS

Laura Moll doesn’t like Fran.

Go up against Fran, and within minutes she’ll be kicking your butt.

Anyone who does CrossFit knows “Fran” is a benchmark Workout of the Day. Fran looks deceptively simple on paper. You do just two exercises, alternating between them. “It’s brutal. You go as fast as you can, as hard as you can,” Moll says.

SHE TOOK ACTION CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that has exploded in popularity the past few years. Often used by military and police departments for training, it incorporates gymnastics, Olympic weight lifting, plyometrics (jump training), and more.

Several mornings per week, Moll, 37, drives to Jackson from her home in Perryville to test her determination at CrossFit 573, a fitness center devoted to CrossFit training.

In September, she tested her strength against hundreds of other CrossFitters at the Gateway Garage Games in St. Charles.

A mother of three boys, Moll weighed 197 pounds at one point her life. She says that seeing number on the scale helped motivate her to take action.

“That scared me. I didn’t want to be 200 pounds,” she says. “I tried running and all sorts of workouts, but everything lost its glamour after a few weeks.”

TRYING SOMETHING NEW Moll heard about CrossFit from a few friends. She didn’t think it was the right fit Moll (clockwise, from left) poses with her son, Anthony, friends Holly Behrle and Jessica Mahathath, and Behrle’s daughter, Madison, at the Independence Day 5K in Jackson, Mo., in 2011. Moll’s race time that year was 45:34.

for her, so she suggested her husband try it.

“They wouldn’t stop talking about CrossFit,” she says. “I thought it would be good for my husband, Jeff, so I sent him down to take a look at it. He came back and said, ‘You would like this.’”

When Moll started at CrossFit 573 in May 2012, she weighed 185 pounds. She now weighs 140, and can swing a 36-pound kettle bell with ease. She can also deadlift 285 pounds.

“My ultimate goal is 300,” she says.

Her favorite Workouts of the Day include “anything with handstand pushups.

I love them. I’m a former gymnast, so hanging upside down is fun for me,” she says.

Moll always has been athletic and goaloriented. Besides playing softball and swmming on the St. Vincent High School swim team in Perryville, she was a gymnast throughout her youth and teen years.

“I learned from my coaches to set a big goal, but also to set small ones along the way,” she says. “I was the Level 9 Missouri State All-around Champion in 1994. That was the one thing I worked toward from the very beginning (of my gymnast years).”

TRAINING PUT TO THE TEST She decided to compete in the Gateway Garage Games after traveling to Chicago in May to watch the North Central Regionals games.

“As soon as I saw them, I knew that was my next goal. So we looked around for a competition, found the one in St. Charles and went for it,” she says.

I love anything with handstand pushups.

I’m a former gymnast, so hanging upside down is fun for me.

LAURA MOLL

After starting CrossFit, Molly Behrle (left) and Laura Moll decided to run—not walk—this year’s Independence Day 5K. They have lost a combined 100 pounds.

Moll’s race time this year was 29:29.

Moll swings a kettle bell at the September Gateway Garage Games in St. Charles, Mo. This was her first—but not her last—CrossFit competition.

She and three others from CrossFit 573 competed in the games against 72 other teams, coming in 27th place.

“It was crazy. It was so much fun,” she says. “I enjoyed the competition, the struggle and the camaraderie. There are all different fitness levels there, from elite athletes to those just starting out. It was good to see all of it, and to be around people with the same goal of being fit and enjoying CrossFit,” she says.

Her husband said he could tell she was in her element. “He was so proud of me,” she says. And her kids?

“They think it’s pretty cool that Mom can do chin-ups. I like that I can run 5Ks with them. It’s neat to do something together,” she says.

Moll is already thinking of her next challenge, and is considering a spring triathlon. “I don’t really like to run, but I can deal with it for a few miles,” she says.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

13

Great BJC Doctors,

right where you live.

The Team of BJC Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Specialists got us back in the game.

Aaron Omotola, MD

Janiece Stewart, MD

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon

Board Certified Sports Medicine Physician

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157 tN

Country Club Dr.

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BJC Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Specialists

S University Drive

If you’ve been sidelined call and schedule an appointment today at (618) 692-6109. Injured in the big game this week?

Now there is an even better way to see the doctor.

8 Sunset Hills Professional Centre Edwardsville, IL 62025 I-270 “BJC Medical Group� generally refers to BJC Medical Group of Missouri, BJC Medical Group of Illinois and BJC Medical Group of Sullivan, all of which are well-established physician organizations.

bjcorthopedics.com

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SOIL: NEWS+NOTES

MID AMERICA

Long-time manager named new wound care director ALTON ~ Dennis Hutchison has been named the new director of the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Alton Memorial Hospital. A native and resident of Vandalia, Ill., Hutchison is a Saint Louis University graduate. He most recently worked in Human Resources at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland, Ill., and oversaw ancillary services and business development. He also gained 12 years of experience in physical therapy with Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia. He transitioned from the clinical side to management during those years, and then earned a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2006. “This job is a lot of marketing, as far as getting the word about the Wound Care Center,” Hutchison says. “And it’s a good story to tell because we have an excellent team here. This center consistently scores very well on a national level, and we want to maintain that excellence.”

Volunteer at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale

Nurse receives lifetime achievement award from AHA

~ Give your time this holiday at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale Auxiliary. Volunteer opportunities include operating the cash register and charge card machine, wrapping gifts, processing phone orders, and providing customer service at the Pink Geranium Gift Shop. Or you can deliver flowers and mail to patients, transport patients and visitors by wheelchair, assist with bulk mailings, and answer visitor questions at the main lobby information desk. For more information, call Peggy Henson, manager of volunteer services at (618) 549-0721, ext. 65108.

BELLEVILLE ~

CARBONDALE

Registered nurse Barbara Masters has received the 2013 Arthur E. Strauss Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. She was given the award at an AHA’s Volunteer Appreciation event. The award is presented annually to someone who has made a significant contribution over a period of years in the greater St. Louis area.

“I am honored and surprised to receive this award,” says Masters, who has worked as a nurse in the Cardiovascular Department at Belleville Memorial Hospital for 28 years. “I couldn’t do my job without the support and cooperation I have received from the American Heart Association throughout my entire nursing career.”

2 hospitals close to merging FLOR A+MT. VERNON ~ Clay County Hospital has signed a non-binding preliminary agreement to become part of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Medical Group by the end of the year. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Clay County Hospital is a 22-bed hospital with a 10-member medical staff, and 177 health care professionals who have been serving the health care needs of Clay County residents for more than 60 years. Under the agreement, Clay County Hospital would become part of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, which includes Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. A partnership with St. Mary’s Good Samaritan can provide local caregivers and residents with an integrated network of specialty physicians and support services. “Clay County Hospital has an excellent reputation for providing high quality care, and we are pleased to join them in serving the residents of Clay County and the surrounding communities,” says Phil Gustafson, regional president of St. Mary’s Good Samaritan.

SUPPLIED PHOTOS

New surgeon joins health center ALTON ~ Dr. Michael Bonebrake recently joined Saint Anthony’s Health Center as a full-time general surgeon. Bonebrake joins Dr. Paul Loethen and Dr. Emily Albright at Saint Anthony’s Physician Group. He recently finished a critical care fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. After completing his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska, he served as executive chief resident in the Department of Surgery at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics during his residency training. Besides general, vascular and trauma surgery, Bonebrake’s procedures include anti-reflux surgery, breast cancer, colon, gallbladder, hernia repair and minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures.

Do you have an item for News+Notes? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

15

SEMO: NEWS+NOTES

MID AMERICA

Breast cancer researchers receive $1 million grant Washington University scientists at Siteman Cancer Center have received a fouryear $1 million grant, which will be aimed at improving drug therapies for breast cancer patients.

The grant, from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, funds another step toward personalized medicine for those with triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.

“Researchers bring new drugs to trial because they believe they’ll work, but they rarely do,” says grant co-recipient Dr. Cynthia Ma, Siteman research member. “Often, that’s because a drug doesn’t address the specific gene mutations that cause an individual’s cancer. With Komen’s help, we intend to learn how to better select patients for clinical trials, based on their tumor types, so we can learn which drugs will work for each person.” The project builds on past Komen-funded research at Washington University School of Medicine.

ST. LOUIS ~

Hospital plans to build new facility with land purchase

Annual golf tournament raises $175,000

Saint Francis Healthcare System recently announced it has purchased 18 acres of land located at U.S. 60 Outer Road and Harris Drive in Dexter. It will build an outreach health care facility on the site.

“Most health care industry leaders agree that the future in health care is not more hospital beds, but health care that is delivered close to home or at home,” says Steven C. Bjelich, president at Saint Francis. Current plans call for ambulatory services, primary care, rehabilitation therapies and wellness. Specific building plans will be revealed at a later date. The purchase price was not disclosed.

DEXTER ~

Hematologist/oncologist joins hospital staff

Volunteer at Southeast Hospital

Dr. Nikolaos Myriounis has recently joined the physician team at Regional Physician Specialists and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Myriounis is board-certified in hematology and oncology, and will be working with Dr. Ray Peters. Myriounis completed a fellowship at Tufts University in Boston, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Massachusetts. He is now accepting new patients at his office, at the South Campus of Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Call (573) 778-9598 to make an appointment.

POPLAR BLUFF ~

More than 260 golfers and 40 volunteers turned out for the 26th annual Friends of Saint Francis Benefit Golf Tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. The event raised more than $175,000.

Proceeds support the Family Room in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as part of the Building on Excellence expansion and renovation project at Saint Francis Medical Center. For information about next year’s game, call (573) 331-5790.

CAPE GIR ARDEAU+JACKSON ~

CAPE GIR ARDEAU ~ Donate your time at Southeast Hospital’s Auxiliary, where volunteers contribute more than 45,000 hours annually.

The Auxiliary includes more than 500 members, and works closely with students from Southeast Missouri University. There are no age restrictions for adult volunteers. Every effort is made to pair each volunteer’s interest and time availability with service opportunities open at the time. People from all over the region are active participants in the volunteer program. Opportunities for volunteering include: lobby desk, gift shop, blood drives, lobby greeter, special events, crafts and sewing, and more. To become a volunteer or find out more information, call the Volunteer Office at (573) 651-5518.

Hospital plans for building expansion next year SoutheastHEALTH plans to build a new 24-bed outpatient observation unit, and a 12-bed pediatric emergency/observation/inpatient unit on the east side of Southeast Hospital. The outpatient observation unit will be built on the second floor, above the pediatric unit. The pediatric area will be constructed next to the current emergency room. The work is expected to be completed during the next year. Southeast Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and the ambulatory surgery area are also scheduled to be remodeled and completed by fall 2014.

SUPPLIED PHOTOS

CAPE GIR ARDEAU ~

Do you have an item for News+Notes? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

17

Great BJC Doctor, now in Edwardsville!

Say AHHHH! Meet your area ENT Specialist Gerald Moritz, MD, is board certified in otolaryngology and has been serving the St. Louis area since 1975. In order to better serve his patients, he has now opened an office in Edwardsville.

When he’s not busy seeing patients, Dr. Moritz can be found at home working in his garden, trap or skeet shooting in the country, fly fishing, riding his bike 25-30 miles on a Sunday, or spending quality time with his family, which includes Pippi Longstocking, pictured here, a 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who rules at the Moritz home.

As a highly regarded ear, nose and throat specialist, his areas of expertise include: tø%J[[JOFTT tø4JOVT QSPCMFNT tø)FBSJOH MPTT tø1FEJBUSJD PUPMBSZOHPMPHZ tø4MFFQ BQOFB BOE TOPSJOH tø&BS TVSHFSZ EJTPSEFST tø5POTJMMJUJT tø5JOOJUVT SJOHJOH JO UIF FBST tø7PJDF EJTPSEFST

Northwest ENT Specialists #8 Sunset Hills Professional Centre Edwardsville, IL 62025 314-953-6093

Dr. Moritz accepts Illinois and Missouri Medicare & Medicaid as well as most private insurances.

doctors on staff at Christian Hospital “BJC Medical Group” generally refers to BJC Medical Group of Missouri, BJC Medical Group of Illinois and BJC Medical Group of Sullivan, all of which are well-established physician organizations. $)/ t

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GUEST EDITORIAL

It’s hard to pay attention when your vision is žE[IH

Making the home health choice

Quality health care at home may reduce costs and improve patient outcomes

By Melinda Engelen Vision is more than clarity. It is a complex combination of PIEVRIH WOMPPW MRGPYHMRK XVEGOMRK ½\EXMSR JSGYW GLERKI FMRSGYPEV JYWMSR and visualization. When all of these are well developed, children and adults can sustain attention, read and write without careless errors, give meaning to what they hear and see, and rely less on movement to stay alert. VISION THERAPY improves many skills that allow a person to pay attention. Anyone diagnosed with AD(H)D should have a complete evaluation by a behavioral optometrist.

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Be the voice for those who have no voice

Director of The Lutheran Home – Home Health and Hospice The answer to better health care, lower medical costs and improved outcomes may be found right in a patient’s own home.

National statistics show patients are more vulnerable to further injury or illness after a hospital stay. Those who receive follow-up care through home health services are less likely to be re-admitted to the hospital, reducing their medical costs and giving them a better chance at recovering their quality of life.

Home health is often the perfect option for patients in need of ongoing care, or those recovering from an illness or injury. Among those most likely to benefit from home health care are cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; transplant patients in need of IV antibiotics or pain management; seniors experiencing difficulty after an injury; diabetic patients in need of daily monitoring; and patients experiencing wound healing problems.

From skilling nursing and health aides to licensed therapists and medical social services counselors, home health care brings the support and expertise of a complete medical team to a patient’s door.

Home health care services require an order from a doctor. This order can be obtained following a hospital discharge, during a physician clinic visit, or over the telephone to a health care agency’s professional staff members. Patients have the right to choose the home health care agency that best fits their needs and interests.

To make the best choice possible, patients and loved ones should consider these key questions: Âł Is the agency licensed by the state, and is the agency certified

by Medicare to meet federal requirements for health and safety? ³ Is a list of doctors, hospital discharge planners or other professionals who have experience with the agency available for reference? ³ Are you (or your loved one) comfortable with the agency’s representatives? Do they seem friendly and helpful?

Knowledgeable? Âł How does the agency handle expenses and billing?

Will agency fees be covered by health insurance or Medicare?

Find out what arrangements are in place for specific health insurance plans.

Join us

worldwildlife.org

Making the right home health care choice can be a quality of life difference-maker for many patients. If you think home health services would benefit you or a loved one, speak with your doctor.

THE LUTHERAN HOME – HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE SERVES RESIDENTS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU, BOLLINGER, PERRY, SCOTT AND STODDARD COUNTIES. LEARN MORE BY VISITING THELUTHERANHOMECAPE.COM OR CALLING (573) 334-1515.

Q+A

MID AMERICA

We know how much yoga can help adults. But research shows certain poses and breathing exercises can help children function better in school, and eventually into adulthood. Registered yoga teacher Erin Ahlfield works at Riverbend Head Start in Granite City, Ill., where she has incorporated yoga into her job as a bilingual family service worker. Find her classes at Club Fitness in Alton, Ill., and at CrossFit 618 in Glen Carbon, Ill.

7ASHINGTON 5NIVERSITY ERSITY /RTHOPEDIC 3PINE #ENTER

Yoga for kids How can parents get children interested in yoga?

I emphasize to very young children that it’s fun. Creating songs through sun salutations or making games out of the postures is great for their energy levels and attention spans. The lion’s breath posture is similar to roaring like a lion. As they get older, I focus more on control and centering.

What are the benefits?

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Yoga gives children a strong ground for balancing the external and internal bodies as they grow and develop into adults.

Adolescents learn ways to control their energies and emotions through yoga. By learning how to align and balance the body and the mind, children are more easily able to adapt to changes, and don’t have set expectations. Like adults, they excel physically through flexibility, control, awareness, strength and endurance.

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Children’s yoga sequences should be around 30 minutes, to keep their attention until they begin to have more patience and control.

What are some child-friendly postures?

Their yoga sequences should be kept new and fun. Some postures include downward-facing dog, camel, tree, fish, butterfly, sun salutations and moon salutations. Kids are still growing and developing both internally and externally. So take time with each child’s posture to make sure they are strengthening their muscles and ligaments appropriately.

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When is the best time to practice?

Typically, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll practice energizing postures with children before playground playtime and afterward. Doing poses before playtime sets them up for a more restorative second session after playtime.

As theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting ready for naptime, reading and arts and crafts, they will be more calm and focused.

Orthopedics

How can parents help overexcited kids around the holidays?

Postures that involve holding the head down are calming because they decrease the sensory stimulation. Relax and rejuvenate them with childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pose, savasana or downward-facing dog.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

21

WELL SAID DANETTE M. WATT

Small steps lead to bigger leaps â&#x20AC;&#x153;A goal without a plan is just a wish.â&#x20AC;?

I swear by this inspirational quote by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;along with a few othersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is taped to my bathroom mirror, as a daily reminder to keep my eyes on the prize.

I take time at the end of the year to ref lect on the previous months. But knowing where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do me much good if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t also know where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going. While some are content to just drift through life, reacting to whatever happens to them, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proactive. I like having an idea where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m headed.

At this time of year, we makeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;only to soon breakâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;our new yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolutions. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because we go about it all wrong.

We look at this end-of-year resolving as a time to make sweeping changes and promises to be better people. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop to think about how weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to drop 50 pounds, quit smoking or be nicer. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather look at resolutions as goal-setting exercises

that help us make positive changes in our lives.

Breaking down big goals into manageable steps is essential.

Or as I like to think of it: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve run several half-marathons over the past year, and occasionally someone will say: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could never do that!â&#x20AC;?

Well, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wake up one morning and run 13.1 miles. I joined a group that led me through a 12-week training schedule. The first week ended with a run of four miles. The next week it was five, then six, and so on. By the time I reached the end of the program, I knew 13.1 miles was doable. The encouragement and friendship of the group were instrumental in helping me reach the finish line.

Whether your resolution is to run a marathon, lose weight or quit smoking, take small steps. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to find people to be your support team along the way.

I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2014!

Knowing where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do me much good if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t also know where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going.

ADDICTION IS THE ENEMY...

NEW VISIONâ&#x201E;˘ IS YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE...

Call today: 618-433-6687 or 800-939-2273 7UHDWPHQW QRW MXGJPHQW 1HZ 9LVLRQÂ&#x152; LV D PHGLFDOO\ VXSHUYLVHG KRVSLWDO EDVHG VHUYLFH IRU DGXOWV ZKR H[SHULHQFH DFXWH ZLWKGUDZDO V\PSWRPV GXH WR DOFRKRO DQG RU GUXJ DEXVH 2QO\ D OLFHQVHG SK\VLFLDQ FDQ GHWHUPLQH WKRVH ZKR TXDOLI\ 6SHFLDO&DUH +RVSLWDO 0DQDJHPHQW DGPLQLVWHUV 1HZ 9LVLRQÂ&#x152; IRU WKH KRVSLWDO DQG KD V D ILQDQFLDO LQWHUHVW LQ WKLV VHUYLFH

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

23

H.K. REDDY, M.D., FACC RUBINA MIRZA, M.D., FACC, FCSAI STANLEY ZIOMEK, M.D., FACS JAHAN ZEB, M.D. GIRISH BHATT, M.D., FACC, FACP

HEART CARE

Q&A

CARDIOLOGY EXPERTS DISCUSS THE ADVANCED HEART CARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY AT POPLAR BLUFF REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER’S ACCREDITED CHEST PAIN CENTER.

Taking good care of you—especially your heart—is first and foremost at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

As an Accredited Chest Pain Center, PBRMC offers the latest in cardiology services, technologies and expertise right here at home.

Q. Why is it important to have a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit?

Dr. Bhatt: Our CVICU provides care for patients with critical congenital and acquired heart ailments. The nurses who staff the unit are expert practitioners and have been trained in meeting the specific needs of our cardiac patients.

Q. What is the impact of PBRMC being an Accredited Chest Pain Center?

Dr. Mirza: It’s more than a distinction. It means that our cardiology team can perform the latest procedures, is trained in the newest technologies, and can meet the highest quality and performance levels available in heart care. That is a remarkable advantage to every patient.

Q. How does living near an Accredited Chest Pain Center benefit patients?

Dr. Reddy: To earn this distinction, a hospital has to meet the highest quality and performance levels available in heart care. Poplar Bluff Regional is one of them. We give patients access to a cardiology team that can perform the latest procedures and is trained in the newest technologies.

Q. What are some of the advantages of the cardiac catheterization program at PBRMC? Dr. Zeb: We offer the latest equipment, including special catheters with ultrasound, to diagnose and treat various heart and vascular conditions. And our laboratory is on 24/7 standby to immediately treat patients suffering heart attacks. Those are just two of the reasons we are one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest laboratories.

Q. Why does PBRMC have one of the best survival rates in the state for heart bypass?

Dr. Ziomek: We have an exceptionally skilled team of surgeons and CVICU-trained nurses. Our experience and training is a large part of the reason we consistently beat national standards for fast treatment with life-saving balloon angioplasty and coronary intervention.

Care for our future.

Schedule an appointment with one of our cardiologists today. Call 855-444-PBRMC.

PoplarBluffRegional.com

MONITOR

WOMEN

Piece of Earth 4 ideas to deck your halls with natural holiday cheer

BY ERIN GOLDEN

Even though you love them, the decorations you haul out every year might be looking a bit dated. All the plastic and paint doesn’t really fit with a modern eco-aesthetic.

If you’re looking to spruce up your home with more natural ornaments, ’tis the season to look outdoors.

Sally Yoder is a Pennsylvania-based designer and nature lover who owns a business called Natural Designs, which makes natural accents for home decor. She says it’s easy to find fresh holiday inspiration just about everywhere you look.

“I’m a firm believer in getting outdoors, spending a little time in the garden, in the woods, taking a walk, looking to see what is right around you,” Yoder says.

A short walk around your yard or neighborhood can turn up materials for decorations that will leave your house looking— and smelling—festive.

And that’s not the only benefit. Yoder says exploring how to bring the outdoors inside is a great family project that can keep kids active, and get them interested in nature. Touches of nature around the house offer an instant mood booster.

“When you bring it in and put it on your desk, seeing the pinecones you gathered, it takes you back to that moment,” she says. “It’s relaxing—very calming to have that in your decor.”

CREATE A WARM WELCOME Track down a fresh wreath—Yoder suggests one made of fir branches—and then add some natural accents to make it unique.

“Embellish it with boxwood and berries, and feathers and

GREEN FOR ALL SEASON Keep your Christmas trees, poinsettias and other winter favorites looking fresh and and fabulous all season. ³ Aim for greens that last the longest: cedars, firs (like Douglas and Fraser) and boxwood. ³ If you buy or build a wreath, use a spray or mister of water to keep it fresh. ³ Keep plants out of direct sunlight and heat all season. ³ Recycle! Once it’s time for your tree to go, give it a second life in your yard as a winter sanctuary for birds.

milkweed pods,” she says. “Give it a look that’s not like everyone else’s.”

If you have a grapevine wreath you’ve used in other seasons, Yoder says to clip some branches from an evergreen tree, tuck them on one side and jazz it up with a big red bow.

LET NATURE TAKE CENTER STAGE Add a special touch to your meals by crafting your own centerpiece. Start with a crock or favorite piece of pottery, then add pine and holly, twigs and ivy.

“All of a sudden you have a scent in your house that smells like pine, and it’s beautiful,” Yoder says. “And you didn’t even have to go to the garage and dig out all those decorations.”

REFRESH YOUR FRONT PORCH It’s way too cold for plants to survive outside all winter long.

So instead of letting them take up space inside the pots, clean them out and create a new holiday ornament to sit atop the porch.

Yoder’s favorite materials include birch sticks, twigs and berries. Add a bit of pine or ivy, and let it spill over the sides.

What you cut yourself will always be more fresh and more scented.

NATURAL DESIGNER SALLY YODER

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TAKE A CUE FROM YOUR SURROUNDINGS If you live in a place where Christmastime isn’t about snow-covered pine trees, don’t fret.

Yoder says holiday decorations are best when they show off your area’s natural beauty, whether that’s pine cones, cacti or fruit—apples can be a great addition for a centerpiece.

“What you cut yourself will always been more fresh and more scented,” Yoder says.

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MONITOR

MEN

Don’t Be That Guy Learn how to survive your next holiday party, so booze and embarrassment don’t derail your career Your boss wants to be your best friend. J.R. from HR insists on a karaoke duet. And Rita the receptionist is feeding you her famous double chocolate cookies.

Holiday work parties can easily spiral out of control—and leave you bloated and embarrassed come the Monday morning meeting.

As the drinks start flowing and ties get loosened, everyone wants to kick back and relax. But you’ve got to remember these are your colleagues—not your close buddies.

If you make a plan to navigate these landmines, you can escape unscathed.

Follow these simple tips to leave with your dignity, your diet—and your career—intact.

THE MAGIC COCKTAIL The allure of hors d’oeuvres can be undeniable, as are open bars pouring unlimited drinks. Don’t take the bait. Eat beforehand with your spouse or a few co-workers, cutting down your calories and freeing your hands for back-slapping later on.

And if you want a glass of wine, drink it

BY KEVIN CARLSON

with your meal, so you won’t be tempted to indulge at the party.

“Drinking alcohol can ramp up appetite and lower inhibition, setting you up to consume more calories,” says David Rath, a certified nutritionist in Little Rock, Ark. “In case you are worried about being seen as a party-pooping teetotaler, try a sparkling water mixed with juice. It looks like an alcoholic drink, but is actually good for you.”

Another good trick is low-sodium V8 juice with a celery stalk as a garnish. “It looks like a bloody Mary, but you’re getting your vegetables,” he says.

If you do decide to drink, keep it light.

Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or coffee, and steer clear of the guys from finance taking shots like frat brothers.

Important higher-ups may be watching.

MIND YOUR MANNERS To avoid embarrassing and awkward situations, Pittsburgh-based life coach Kelly Eckert says to practice prevention.

If it’s not OK during office hours, it probably isn’t OK now.

PITTSBURGH LIFE COACH KELLY ECKERT

“Practice self-awareness over the course of the evening, and gauge your actions by what you’d do at work,” Eckert says. “If it’s not OK during office hours, it probably isn’t OK now.”

Treat a holiday party as a work function.

Dress appropriately. Avoid talking about politics and other divisive issues. Have a plan of action and stick to it, whether it’s how much you drink or whom you talk to.

“Have fun and be yourself, but know that temptation will arise,” Eckert says.

“A little planning ahead can prevent a lot of morning-after regret.”

FILL UP FIRST Eat before holiday parties, so you can make good food choices. You can choose the meal you want, rather than settle for whatever spread is set out. If you drink or sample the cookies, do so in moderation.

“Look for healthier options—dark chocolates have healthy flavonoids, whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese or hummus. And you can never go wrong with fruits and vegetables,” says nutritionist David Rath.

“Bring sugar-free gum or hard candies to keep your mouth and taste buds occupied. Or move up your new year’s resolution to eat healthy, and make it a pre-holiday resolution.”

STUMPED ON GIFTS? Set aside an hour for Secret Santa shopping and get to work—the earlier, the better. “It’s so tough because of gender, personal taste and allergies,” says life coach Kelly Eckert. “Reusable water bottles, grocery bags and lunch containers are all very useful. Don’t stress it. Do the best you can. If they don’t like it, they can always re-gift it!”

QUICK TIP Drink a low-sodium V8 juice with a celery stalk as a garnish instead of an alcoholic drink. It resembles a bloody Mary, and you get the added bonus of the vegetables.

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Check out the new

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Enjoy page-turning technology at the click of a button and swerve of your mouse. Take your reading experience to a whole new level with dynamic help menus, easy-to-use tools and more.

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Read online at www.cmghealth.net, and be well.

FAMILY

MONITOR

Say It Ain’t So! When the truth about Santa comes out, know how to answer your kid’s questions

BY CLARE WALTERS

Santa Claus isn’t likely to stop at Sarah Gimbel’s house later this month.

No, it’s not because the mother of two is on the “naughty” list. This is the first time Gimbel will be surrounded by nonbelievers. And it’s a reality that makes her a little bit sad.

“Our older son stopped believing during the Christmas season last year,” says the Shorewood, Ill., resident. “The younger one still believes, but I am not sure he really does. I am not sure he will make it through the season without asking too many questions and figuring it out.”

FLIP THE SCRIPT When kids start asking about Santa, and how one man can deliver toys all over the world in one night, parents may be forced to fess up. To soften the blow, let children lead the conversation, says Wendy Rote, a doctoral student in clinical and social psychology at the University of Rochester in New York.

“If they bring up the topic, ask them why. Try to find out what they heard and know,” she says. “Most children seem to stop believing around 7. That’s the average age. About 50% realize Santa isn’t real from their friends—not by telling each other, but through deductions.”

TALK AMONG THE ELVES Gimbel says her sons both started figuring it out age 8, and she blames recess and lunchtime chitchat.

“Someone always has an older sibling, and so the playground talk starts, and it just keeps going,” she says.

When a child brings up the topic, they typically already have suspicions. They might have even known outright for a

while, but haven’t said anything.

“It’s not usually one experience where they go from believing to not believing,” she says. “Some will go on acting like they believe when they don’t, and a small minority will do so to keep presents coming or trick their parents.”

Parents need to be ready to handle the tough questions, and know when and how to tell their kids the truth. Rote suggests sitting down with your child and letting them ask their questions. Based on what they ask, you can decide whether to confirm their child’s suspicions.

“What parents do, and their attitudes and behaviors about Santa will dictate how long their children chose to believe,” Rote says.

When a parent believes it’s time to reveal the truth, she suggests focusing on “the spirit of Santa” and explaining the reasons why you kept up the charade.

“Try to make it as positive of an experience as you can,” she says.

TEARS OF TRUTH Kids come to understand the difference between fantasy and reality between ages 3 and 6, Rote says. It’s a rapid stage of development, so it’s only a matter of time before Santa is exposed—for better or worse.

“Kids report mixed emotions when learning the truth,” she says. “Many feel relieved or happy in addition to being sad.”

Again, follow your child’s lead. If your child needs to be comforted, comfort them. Or, if they’re excited to now be “in on it,” Rote says, help them foster that St. Nick spirit.

Parents often are sad, too. Gimbel says she and her older son both cried as they

Our younger son still believes in Santa, but I am not sure he will make it through the season without figuring it out.

ILLINOIS MOM SARAH GIMBEL

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FAST FACT

7

The age most children stop believing in Santa Claus

talked it through. It helped them both come to terms with the truth.

Some parents also struggle with reconciling lying to their children. Instead of focusing on truth vs. lie, Rote says parents need to focus on why the myth exists and the spirit of the season.

“Children do understand the difference between lying in a politeness context vs. lying to cheat or harm,” she says. “They may consider it a lie, but they can understand why you did it.”

SENIORS

MONITOR

GIFT GUIDE This year, buy practical presents for seniors who need a little help

BY LAURIE BAILEY

ELECTRONICS MADE EASY Claris Companion tablet $59 to $69 per month on two-year contract ClarisCompanion.com Special features: Large buttons and text, amplified sound Specially designed for seniors, this home care device can help them look up selfcare information, set medication reminders, and even connect with a pharmacist. If the tablet requires data, cover the first year of charges.

Apple iPad Mini with retina display $399 Apple.com/ipad-mini Special features: Smaller than original iPad, easy to hold The enhanced display makes it easy to read the screen. Since it’s smaller than the original iPad, it’s lighter and easier to hold—perfect for seniors with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. You can even get them started by downloading a few healthy apps, like the HeartWise Blood Pressure Tracker for 99 cents at the iTunes store.

Jenda Lifetime Voice calendar $40 IndependentLiving.com Special features: Speaks in English or Spanish, records up to 900 messages, large easy-to-see buttons Toss out the paper calendars, and help the older adults in your life keep track of birthdays, to-do lists, anniversaries and doctor appointments.

Clarity–P3000 Amplified photo phone $45 ClarityProducts.com Special features: Large numbers for better dialing, photo memory buttons for easy access With back-lit numbers and speed dialing options, it works when the power is out, and it is hearing aid compatible. Program numbers into the phone ahead of time, and teach your parents or grandparents how to use it.

FOR FITNESS TheraBand exercise ball $36 Thera-Brand.com Special features: Comes with two plugs and an inflation adapter Comes in a variety of sizes to help seniors strengthen muscles, improve posture and prevent back pain.

AROUND-THE-HOUSE HELP Etac Aktiv Reacher $20 EasierLiving.com Special features: Angled handle provides an effective grip with one hand Help seniors grab things off a high shelf with an extended wand that does the work for them. They can use it in a horizontal and vertical position.

Helping Handles

Invacare Traction Set $15 ParentGiving.com Special features: Fabric fastener head halter, 20-pound heat-sealed latex water bag An over-the-door style traction device that helps improve neck pain, upper back pain, jaw pain, and even numbness in the hands.

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$9 Amazon.com Special features: Easy to attach and remove A safety device for seniors entering and exiting the bathtub.

The handles attach to smooth, non-porous surfaces with two suction cups, helping give balance and more confidence in the bathroom.

OTHER GREAT IDEAS! ³ Useful gift certificates. Grass cutting services, car washes, and cleaning services. ³ Make a donation to a religious or nonprofit organization in their name. ³ Your time. Pay your older relative or neighbor a visit, and offer to take them on errands or their favorite restaurant.

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MONITOR

PETS

Be a Good Guest Consider cost and etiquette when bringing pets on holiday trips BY CLARE WALTERS

ASK, DON’T ASSUME You need to go into the holiday season with a game plan, Reed says. Your pet will be an imposition to many people, before you even start packing, you need to ask whether they can tag along.

“Only if you are extremely close with the host or family member can you even ask to bring your pet,” Reed says, adding that it’s similar to asking to bring a “plus-one” to a party.

Hosts may not like pets, may be allergic, or may have their own pets to consider. So, if they say no to yours, don’t be upset or offended.

“I don’t think anyone should have a love-me-and-love-mypet attitude,” she says.

If you get the OK, be sure to bring your own leash, toys, bedding, food and food dishes, and supplies to clean up messes.

Don’t presume to use your host’s supplies.

You’ll need to watch for any mishaps, so think of it like a pet hotel stay. At all times, know where your pet is, what’s it doing, and whether it needs to relieve itself. And if it’s not behaving well with other pets or human guests, ask to put it in a separate room, and close the door.

STOCK UP FOR STAYS AT HOME Even if you’re not traveling over the holiday season, pets can get lost in the shuffle of the holiday comings and goings. It’s important to keep your pet’s well-being in mind, so be sure to always have enough pet food on hand. “That’s the first thing I always do,” says pet expert Charlotte Reed. “It’s just so you have it in the house, and are prepared.”

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QUICK TIP

Total embarrassment. That’s how New York-based pet expert Charlotte Reed described the time one of her welltrained dogs decided to lift his leg and piddle on her friend’s couch.

“He never, ever, ever would do that,” Reed says. “What I didn’t know is that dogs were in and out of her house all day.” So her pooch felt the need to mark his territory.

It’s always risky business to bring a pet to a friend’s or family member’s house. And the hectic holidays make it more nerve-wracking. Amid the hustle and bustle, owners are forced to make decisions about when, where and how—and if—their pets fit into the mix.

Don’t ask to bring your pet to a holiday get-together unless you are extremely close with the host or close with the family member. It’s like asking to bring a “plus-one” to a party.

If your dog soils the carpet, you’re expected to pay for it.

PET EXPERT CHARLOTTE REED

YOU’RE STILL RESPONSIBLE Reed stresses that owners need to be prepared for the worst when bringing pets to holiday get-togethers. If they make a mess or damage part of the house, you’re on the hook.

“If your dog soils the carpet, you’re expected to pay for it,” she says. “I treat people like I want to be treated, so be ready to pay. It’s important, and it’s the polite thing to do.”

When Reed’s dog urinated on her friend’s couch, she took care of the cleanup.

“I was embarrassed, cleaned it up, then called an upholstery service,” she says. “Good etiquette can affect your pocketbook.”

It’s also the owner’s responsibility to have a plan in case problems arise, she says.

“You have to anticipate everyone’s need,” Reed says. “Have a backup plan. Find a local boarder or dog sitter.”

MONITOR

EATS

A Lighter Holiday Table Make holiday meals healthful and flavorful with some simple swaps BY EMILY SCHMITT The holidays are a time to treat ourselves with the warmth of hearth and home, trinkets to delight us, and our favorite celebration foods. Unfortunately, holiday meals usually pack more f lavor than nutrition.

But you don’t have to compromise taste for health. You can sneak in more nutrients and vitamins to some of your favorite holiday foods by simply swapping some ingredients.

To inject more nutrition—and even probiotics—into creamy appetizer dips, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream, says Amie Valpone, a New York-based personal chef and editor-in-chief of TheHealthyApple.com.

For toppings, try using ground flaxseed—packed with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids—in place of breadcrumbs, which Valpone calls “white sawdust.”

To cut down on the amount of sugar in your favorite desserts, replace some with vanilla or almond extract, or a mashed banana.

“A lot of it is just adding flavor without any of the preservatives and the high-fructose corn syrup, which can cause inflammation in people’s bodies,” she says.

If you’re not willing to surrender a favorite dish, Dan Schmitz, head chef at Banzo restaurant in Madison, Wis., says we can make holiday meals healthier just by preparing them ourselves. And it doesn’t always mean a lot of effort. Homemade stuffing is pretty simple—all you need is some celery, onion, peas, cubes of bread and a little bit of chicken stock—and is a better option than the store-bought kind, which is often high in salt.

“Using fresh food and real food instead of packaged or processed is your best bet for any kind of a healthy lifestyle,” Schmitz says.

HARVEST SEASONAL FLAVORS! A winter vegetable, butternut squash contains high amounts of vitamin A and folate, which protects against heart attacks.

Garlic boosts immunity, and protects against infections.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower with Lemon Tahini Sauce 1 head cauliflower (Make things more colorful with purple or yellow cauliflower.)

3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts 1 cup tahini 1 cup water (preferably filtered) 1 ⁄2 cup fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon olive oil Pinch salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice Brussels sprouts in half, and toss lightly in mixing bowl with oil and salt.

Arrange Brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet with cut side facing down. Cut cauliflower into chunks of similar sizes as Brussels sprouts, then toss in oil and salt and arrange in single layer on another baking sheet.

Roast vegetables about 30 minutes. Brussels sprouts should be slightly charred around edges.

Cauliflower is done when a knife slides out cleanly.

Cauliflower may take an extra 10 minutes to finish.

While vegetables are roasting, combine tahini, lemon juice and water in mixing bowl and stir until fully blended; add salt to taste. After vegetables have cooked, combine all ingredients. Serve warm or cold.

Chef Dan’s Butternut Squash Dip 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced into 1-inch chunks 1 ⁄2 cup tahini 1 ⁄4 cup roasted garlic 1 ⁄2 tablespoon ground cumin Sesame seeds to garnish Salt to taste Cook squash. It can be boiled until fork-tender, but roasting will produce the best flavor. Cool slightly, then transfer all ingredients (except sesame seeds) to a food processor and puree (you may need to split into 2 to 3 small batches). If a thinner texture is desired, add some water to the mixture in the food processor. Add salt to taste. Garnish with sesame seeds, and serve with sliced vegetables or toasted bread.

RECIPES PROVIDED BY CHEF DAN SCHMITZ

QUICK TIP To cut down on sugar in desserts, replace some with vanilla or almond extract, or a mashed banana.

THE 30-MINUTES-OR-LESS E.R. Service Pledge at Gateway Regional Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Gateway Regional. The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a clinical professional* within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you need an E.R. fast, try our fast E.R. Once you do, you won’t want to go anywhere else. For more information, visit GatewayRegional.net.

Scan with a QR code reader on your smartphone to view our average E.R. wait time.

GRANITE CITY

*Clinical professional is defined as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

MAKE A

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I

f you ever talk to a long-time volunteer, you’ll notice a twinkle in his eye and hear excitement in his voice. And don’t be surprised if he’s eager to tell you stories about all the people he’s helped.

Volunteers give back not just because it feels good, but because they want to make a positive change in someone else’s life. Whether it’s helping troubled teens, disabled veterans or people just like them, volunteers find true joy and purpose in their work.

Rebecca Snow, regional volunteer director of the American Red Cross in Central New York, says volunteers play a critical role for many nonprofit organizations. In many cases, they’re vital to the very existence of the organization.

“Most nonprofits cannot do what they do without volunteers,” Snow says.

The sense of needing to serve the community has seen a resurgence lately, and the number of volunteers has steadily increased over the last five years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 64.5 million American men and women volunteered at least once in 2012. That’s about a 4% increase since 2008, a year that saw about 61.8 million volunteers.

VolunteerMatch.org, one of the oldest online volunteer networks, is among the many organizations leading the charge in the volunteerism movement. This recruitment service site has registered more than 95,000 nonprofits on its connector platform, putting together those who want to help with those who need it. Another popular resource, Idealist.org, connects volunteers to more than 13,000 opportunities across the country.

The possibilities are nearly endless—and that’s part of what makes it so tough for good-hearted people to choose one. Many would-be volunteers get intimidated and overwhelmed, wondering how they’ll find a place that suits their lifestyle, schedule and personality. But there’s a spot for everyone. So if you’re ready to volunteer, turn the page to find out how you can channel your willing spirit into real action.

IMPRESSI N You’ve got the will to give, but you’re stuck on how to get started.

Learn how to get involved, what to expect, and how to make the most of your volunteer experience.

BY JE N NA MAKOWS K I

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

39

ABOUT 1 IN 4

LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF

26.5% of Americans, or 64.5 million people, volunteered at least once in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE? Thinking about yourself first may seem like a counterintuitive starting point. But Snow says to have a successful volunteer experience, you need to analyze what exactly you want to do, and what you hope to get out of it. A thoughtful self-analysis is the foundation of successful volunteerism, she says.

“First, take a look at your motivation and interests. Do you want to give back? Get out of the house? Build a resume? Think about what you hope to get out of volunteering,” Snow says.

Once you pinpoint your motive, create a realistic goal around it. If personal values are your motive, maybe your goal is to meet people with similar values. If personal development drives you, determine a particular skill you want to sharpen for your resume.

That will help you hone the personal goal you want to accomplish while you’re volunteering. Research shows volunteers who have their reasons and objectives mapped out beforehand have a more positive experience, and stay more committed, as reported in Monitor on Psychology, a journal of the American Psychology Association.

“People who have more seemingly ‘selfish’ motivations—esteem enhancement, personal development and understanding—are more likely to stick with a volunteer organization longer than people with more ‘other focused’ motivations, such as values,” the article says.

ɤǍᑗ 26.5%

Most nonprofits cannot do what they do without volunteers.

REBECCA SNOW AMERICAN RED CROSS IN NEW YORK

5 MAJOR MOTIVATIONS Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns.

For some people, this has a religious component.

Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.

Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or relieve other pressures.

Understanding. Volunteering to expand your worldview gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.

Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career.

SOURCE: AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

WHERE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER 34% Religious 27% Educational 14% Social service 8% Health 7% Other 6% Civic 4% Sports/arts

ȇǍ‫ڎ‬Ǎ๺ଔጛၥบ

2011 DATA COMPILED FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

WHAT SKILLS CAN YOU OFFER? Once you have a good handle on your interests, Snow says to analyze the services you can provide. Create a list of all the skills that relate to the organization you want to volunteer for, to determine if it’s a good match.

She says to consider how much you’ll help the organization, and how much they’ll benefit you in return.

“Volunteering is a two-way process,” Snow says. “It’s important for both the volunteer and the organization to benefit.”

Volunteers often are humble people by nature, but this is no time for humility. Really recognize your personal strengths, she says, because it’s a crucial component of finding a position that fits.

If you’re a math whiz, look for an organization that helps people with their taxes or financial planning. If you love being around people, spread your social wings as a camp counselor. If you love to teach, find a tutor program and mentors kids after school.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE? You may have all the right reasons, but they won’t mean anything unless you can dedicate the necessary time. Snow says to take a look at your typical schedule before you make any firm commitments.

If you work a 9-to-5 job, try coaching or refereeing at an evening youth basketball or soccer game. If you’re too tired after you leave the office, look for something on the weekends, such as organzing books at your local library. Whatever you decide, make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew, because you don’t want to burn out from over-commitment.

“So many people feel guilty if they can’t be there every week or every day,” says Sally Michelson, a long-time volunteer from Paducah, Ky. “But that’s OK!” There is an organization out there that will gratefully accept whatever time you’re willing to give. But it’s up to you to decide how many hours you can offer.

And if you can only give a few hours per year, be honest about it and give them graciously. Some nonprofits want short-term volunteers for seasonal or program-specific needs, while others look for long-term commitments. Others need a mixture, so don’t count anything out.

“At the Red Cross, we prefer long-term volunteers because of the training involved,” Snow says. “But we also have once- and twice-per-year opportunities.”

Remember, it’s better to fully commit even for one hour per week than to half-heartedly give back when you’re too busy. Your experience won’t be nearly as fulfilling if your head isn’t entirely in the game—you might even get resentful—and you could end up doing more harm than good.

YOUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY

b How much total time can you spend each week? b Are you willing to volunteer on weekends? b How far are you willing to drive? b You can donate time, but what about money?

VOLUNTEERISM OVER THE LAST 4 DECADES Volunteerism has seen a resurgence in the last decade.

After taking a dip in the 1980s, levels are now climbing to what they were in the 1970s.

35

PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION WHO VOLUNTEERED

AGE GROUPS

65+ 30 55-64

45-54

25

35-44 20 25-34 15 16-24

10 1974

1989

2005

2012

THE GROWING HEALTH BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING The results of a successful volunteer experience range from the tangible—new connections and bolstered resumes—to the intangible—stronger communities and an increased sense of self worth.

But there’s another benefit gaining attention: better health. In a report published by the Corporation for National and Community Service aggregating more than a dozen recent studies, the conclusion is overwhelming: Volunteers tend to live longer, healthier lives.

From a mental health perspective, volunteers reported a heightened sense of purpose, accomplishment and life satisfaction, as well as a strong social network to buffer against depression.

These findings were especially strong among baby boomers, many who consider volunteering to be an important transition into the retirement lifestyle.

From a physical health perspective, those who volunteer were found to have lower rates of chronic pain and heart disease.

The results present a chickenand-egg question: Do people who volunteer become healthier, or do people volunteer when they are already healthy? The report shows a positive cycle of holistic well-being: “While it is undoubtedly the case that better health leads to continued volunteering, these studies demonstrate that volunteering also leads to improved physical and mental health.

They are part of a self-reinforcing cycle.”

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THE U.S. DEPT. OF BUREAU LABOR STATISTICS

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FIND THE RIGHT ORGANIZATION START IN YOUR BACKYARD You’ve got your motivations, goals, skill set and schedule prepared. The next step is to dive in and start searching for a specific opportunity. While the Web can help fuel your volunteer search, Michelson, a seasoned volunteer, suggests starting close to home.

She co-founded Community Kitchen, a Paducah, Ky.-area organization that provides meals to about 300 people every day. Michelson says she could have missed the opportunity to initiate change in her community, had she not been a critical observer of it first.

“We could see people walking the streets who needed food,” Michelson says. “Look in your own community—your church, your local United Way office. See where the greatest need is.”

TAKE YOUR PICK! Whether you’re a pet lover, enjoy teaching, or have a knack for talking to people, pair what you want to do with a task to match.

WORK WITH ANIMALS Humane societies, animal shelters, nature centers, petting zoos BE OUTSIDE Nature centers, park districts TRAVEL ABROAD Peace Corps, religious organizations, World Wildlife Foundation HELP THE ENVIRONMENT Sierra Club, national and state parks, trash pickup initiatives WORK WITH PEOPLE Senior centers, soup kitchens, shelters FOSTER LEARNING Tutoring programs, literacy council, American Library Association, adult education courses BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE Political campaigns, lobbying groups, voters leagues WORK WITH KIDS Big Brothers/Sisters, coaching opportunities, fostering BEAUTIFY YOUR SURROUNDINGS Local planting programs, community rehab projects BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE Habitat for Humanity, dog grooming services, car washing services

42

DECEMBER 2013

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

THE VOLUNTEER MATCH GAME If you browse the Web to find a volunteer opportunity, search with a similar local framework. Start with searches by town or ZIP code, to find opportunities near you. Or begin with some broad research about your community.

The Corporation for National and Community Service says research is the most important aspect of having a positive volunteer experience. So, hone in on your top three organizations, and check their websites to see if they post open positions.

Snow says some organizations conduct formal interviews to help match volunteers to the right program or position. It’s important to use the interview to “learn as much about the position as you can,” she says. “I encourage volunteers to ask a lot of questions.”

If an organization doesn’t have a formal interview process, the CNCS recommends requesting an informal one, and treating it like a job interview.

“Be ready to describe your interests, qualifications, and background, and also be prepared to ask your interviewers about their organization and the benefits they offer to their volunteers. An interview will allow you and the organization to find the right match for your skills and interests.”

YOUR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Think about these things as you research organizations. b What are its weaknesses? b Does it have low employment? b Where does it get funding? b What results has it achieved? b What is its relationship to the community?

MAKING A GRACEFUL EXIT Despite everyone’s best intentions, sometimes things just don’t work out. You might find that the commitment requires more time than you’re able to give, or the position doesn’t end up being what you expected. If you feel unhappy or dissatisfied, your biggest mistake is to carry on without saying anything, Snow says.

“It’s better for volunteers to come out and say, ‘I’m not happy with this situation,’” she says. “The only way an organization will know you’re unhappy is if you tell them.”

Feeling disappointed makes it harder for volunteers to connect with their work and achieve positive results. It also means they’ll be unlikely to continue volunteering.

Snow encourages volunteers to communicate with supervisors, and discuss the potential of taking another positions or joining a different project. Don’t forget that it’s their job to assess the situation, and find solutions that benefit everyone.

Most importantly, if it’s just not working out, don’t feel guilty about it.

“People put too much pressure on themselves,” Michelson says. “Volunteering shouldn’t be a burden, but a fulfillment.”

And finding the right spot can be magical, opening up relationships and experiences that can enrich your life.

“As soon as we walk in the door, we strengthen each other,” Michelson says. We start laughing, talking. It doesn’t matter if you’re there to cook the food or to eat it. We’re all a family.”

LOCAL CONNECTION Make friends and learn new skills by volunteering in your area

BY DANETTE M. WATT

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

SERVE ILLINOIS

BOOTHEEL COUNSELING SERVICE

Type in your ZIP code, and find your interest in the dropdown menu.

Carbondale (618) 529-6452 Serve.Illinois.gov

Greet patrons as they enter, and monitor waiting room, assisting as needed.

Sikeston (573) 471-0800 BootheelCounseling.com

HERRIN HOSPITAL

JACKSON MANOR NURSING HOME

Work at the greeters desk and welcome people as they enter the hospital. Or ring people up in the Gift Garden gift shop.

Herrin (618) 942-7205 SIH.net/ways-to-give/volunteer/ volunteering-herrin-hospital

Help with activities such as Bingo, nail care, and decorating for the holidays. Or visit and sing to entertain the residents.

Jackson (573) 243-3101

Tutor reading, math or English as a second language.

Cape Girardeau (573) 334-3669

SALVATION ARMY

PHOTO BY CHRIS MALACARNE

ADULT LEARNING CENTER

Help collect and sort through gently used clothes, or stock and organize the food pantry.

Alton (618) 465-7764 STLSalvationArmy.org/ways-to-give/ volunteer

CAPE GIRARDEAU CONSERVATION NATURE CENTER

Want to handle reptiles and feed fish like volunteer Ivas Dambrauskas on the cover?

Volunteer as an animal care assistant.

Cape Girardeau (573) 290-5218

PHOENIX HOUSE CENTRALIA HOMELESS SHELTERS AND SERVICES

Clean rooms, make beds, and wash laundry for homeless people.

Centralia (618) 533-9639

VOLUNTEERISM OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS As the economy has suffered, one might expect volunteerism to wane.

But the numbers have stayed steady.

35

AGE GROUPS

PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION WHO VOLUNTEERED

65+

55-64

30 45-54

Ivas Dambrauskas, 32, plays guitar and fronts a blues and roots band called The Ivas John Band. He says working with the animals is a nice contrast from being in bars until late at night. “It lets me enjoy other aspects of life. I initially got into volunteering because of my interest in animals. I look forward to it each week, and have made a lot of friends at the nature center.” He says working with the animals is very rewarding. “It’s given me a better understanding of them. It’s a privilege that not everyone has.”

So many people feel guilty if they can’t be there every week or every day.

But that’s OK. SALLY MICHELSON PADUCAH, KY., VOLUNTEER

35-44

25

25-34

16-24

20 2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

INFORMATION COMPILED FROM THE U.S. DEPT. OF BUREAU LABOR STATISTICS

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

43

A HEALING

EVOLUTI N As people in pain continue to swear by their services, chiropractors gain medical recognition

BY KIRSTEN SRINIVASAN

It’s been more than 100 years since healer Daniel David Palmer founded the first chiropractic college in Davenport, Iowa. Long before that, healers in ancient Greece and China wrote about healing through the manipulation of the spine.

Fast-forward to the present day, and chiropractic has quashed criticism and legal challenges to evolve into a mainstream practice. It’s one some people swear is the only way they can find relief from chronic pain and life-limiting ailments.

But the progression has not been without its share of challenges. The American Medical Association opposed chiropractic from its modern establishment in the 1960s through the 1980s, going so far as to call the practice an “unscientific cult,” and deeming it unethical for medical doctors to work with “unscientific practitioners.” It prohibited its members from referring patients to chiropractors, until 1987, when a federal court ruled against the AMA in an anti-trust lawsuit. The judge in the case determined the AMA was trying to suppress the field through its restrictions.

Dr. Janice Bloink, a chiropractor in Scottsville, Ky., has been in the field before and after the ruling. When she started her practice in 1984, she says it was highly unlikely for chiropractors and medical doctors to interact with each other. She says the AMA’s efforts gave chiropractic a black eye, one that’s taken some time to fade away.

“They were guilty of antitrust violations and trying to eliminate chiropractic,” Bloink says. “A lot of attitudes and misinformation stemmed from that, and we still see it. But we do see a lot more cooperation between other medical fields and ourselves now.”

1895

Daniel David Palmer founded chiropractic

MORE MDs WORK WITH DCs Today, chiropractors are among the many major health care providers, with about 60,000 licensed in the United States, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Patient testimonials and word of mouth drive the profession forward.

And over the last 30 years, Bloink says the relationship between doctors of chiropractic and medical doctors has greatly improved.

“Back then before the lawsuit, a medical doctor would not have been able to even accept a referral from a chiropractor. They could lose their hospital privileges if they did it. And they could certainly never refer to a chiropractor,” she says.

“Now, we do refer to other medical professionals all the time, and do occasionally get referrals from practitioners. It just makes more sense.”

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

45

SPINAL SCHOOLING The number accredited chiropractic colleges in the United States has stayed fairly steady, says Missouri chiropractor Dr. Clay McDonald. There are 18 U.S. institutions, but schools continue to expand globally.

“For 20 or 30 years, growth has come internationally, and almost all those schools have been based in major universities,” he says.

Chiropractic study programs typically last four to five academic years, with a minimum of a one-year clinical based program dealing with patient care. The curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, lab and clinical experience.

Chiropractors must also pass national board examinations, and become state licensed.

Enrollment dropped during the recent economic downturn, but is on the rise again, according to McDonald. The U.S. Department of Labor lists chiropractors as a growing health care profession. It projects employment to increase 28% from 2010 to 2020.

87%

of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health plans SOURCE: AMERICAN CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION

And there’s a clear change among how generations of chiropractors view the relationship, and their place in the medical world. Thirty to 40 years ago, chiropractors struggled coming into the industry, fighting to maintain their legitimacy. Newer doctors benefit from that groundwork, starting their practices into a field that is more readily accepted.

Dr. Bethany Dreiling, a chiropractor at Division Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Chicago, has been in practice for two years. Her interpretation of the relationship with medical doctors takes on a new flavor. Instead of arguing over what’s the better practice— medical or chiropractic—she says her generation is more concerned with the best outcome.

“We are all working together for the betterment of the patient,” Dreiling says. “We try to co-manage. There’s a time and a place for every practitioner. We put our egos aside.”

ESTABLISHING A NEW FOOTHOLD The medical community’s view of chiropractic is also “evolving rapidly,” says chiropractor Dr. Clay McDonald, president of Logan University, a private chiropractic college in Chesterfield, Mo. Many medical colleges now teach complementary medicine courses, while also letting students learn from chiropractic lectures. But he says it’s still easy to find holdouts within mainstream health care.

“In the medical community, you’ll get everything from a negative reaction to an embracing and open reaction,” he says. “It depends on who you talk to, because it’s in a state of flux.”

But chiropractic is gaining ground, McDonald says. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs—which has the country’s largest education and training program for health professional students and residents—recently decided to add a residency program for chiropractors at VA medical facilities.

The program will “change the culture of medicine,” because doctors and chiropractors will collaborate directly, says Dr. Karen Erickson, who in 2000 became the first chiropractor credentialed by a teaching hospital in the United States.

This collaboration puts the progression of the chiropractic profession in perspective, she says, from the AMA once considering it “cultish,” to now including residencies with the VA. “It really is a very remarkable revolution, one we are very proud of,” says Erickson, a chiropractor at Erickson Healing Arts and a fellow of the American Chiropractic College in New York City.

A MOVE TO INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Chiropractic is at the forefront of a new drive by hospitals to take a more integrated approach to health care. The Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center includes chiropractic care alongside nutrition counseling, acupuncture, biofeedback and hypnosis.

The center’s medical director, Dr. Ronald Glick, says though chiropractic is still a touchy subject at UPMC, the attitude has been shifting over the last 30 years. The main driver of this attitude adjustment, he says, is research supporting the efficacy of

HIGH TECH, BUT STILL HANDS-ON The word “chiropractic” stems from a combination of the Greek words cheir, meaning “hand,” and praktos, meaning “done by,” as in “done by hand.” But today’s chiropractors have more tools at their disposal than just their hands.

Kentucky chiropractor Dr. Janice Bloink uses an Activator tool—a handheld device that delivers a small impulse to the spine—to help with spinal manipulations. She also uses ultrasound therapy, Kinesio tape (used typically for athletic injuries), and muscle stimulation. She recently added therapeutic laser to her practice, and says X-rays and MRIs can also be helpful tools to pinpoint affected areas.

But ultimately, the industry isn’t overly reliant on technology, because it remains a hands-on healing art form, she says.

“We use our hands to help the body heal the way it’s supposed to,” Bloink says.

A lot of people seem to still be afraid. A lot of it’s the unknown, so they are pleasantly surprised when they find out it’s pretty much pain-free.

CHIROPRACTOR DR. JANICE BLOINK

FRONT TO BACK, TOP TO BOTTOM Chiropractors treat people for a wide variety of conditions.

Pregnancy Chronic stress Allergies Asthma

chiropractic—especially for back pain—and the fact that insurance companies have increasingly covered it.

But when it comes to how people view chiropractors, a disconnect still exists between the medical community and the rest of society, Glick says.

“It’s mainstream in that, when a lot of people have back pain, neck pain or muscle spasms, the first thing they will do is see a chiropractor,” he says. “But there is still a ways to go for mainstream medicine to be more accepting of it. I think the thing that will help change that is just further research.”

A MATTER OF COVERAGE Chiropractic care is covered by most insurance plans. Medicare and Medicaid cover certain chiropractic services, and the ACA estimates that as many as 87% of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health plans.

But as medical costs rise, many insurance companies have pulled back on coverage, raising co-pays and scaling back benefits, Dreiling says, adding that she is not sure how the Affordable Care Act will affect coverage.

Some insurance companies have moved to a third-party payer system, which has made it challenging for practitioners to get reimbursed, Dreiling says.

“You perform a service you have done with a certain patient for years, and then when they started with the third party, they stopped covering those services,” she says. “So when you contact the insurance company, they say contact the third party. Getting paid for the service you provide has become very difficult if it even happens at all.”

Ironically, research shows chiropractic care can reduce long-term costs for insurers, McDonald says. Patients are significantly less likely to have back surgery, for example, if they seek out a chiropractor before a surgeon.

IT’S NOT ‘BACK CRACKING’ Ask the average person what a chiropractor does, and they probably won’t have an accurate answer. The practice still is not fully understood by the public, Bloink says, partly because it doesn’t get as much exposure as other facets of the medical industry—such as ads for prescription drugs. And this lack of understanding remains one of the biggest challenges faced by the chiropractic industry.

“A lot of people seem to still be afraid,” she says. “Of what, I’m not sure. I think a lot of it is the unknown. So they are pleasantly surprised when they find out it’s pretty much painfree, and they feel better.”

The culture that surrounds chiropractic continues to change, Bloink says. The world of athletics is one of the leaders in the positive shift toward understanding.

“A lot of professional athletes for years used chiropractic—but behind the scenes and not on record,” she says. “Now, most pro sports teams have chiropractors on staff.”

Many athletes have helped spread the word about the benefits, according to Erikson.

“What has driven the success of chiropractic is actually the patients,” she says. “Patients want to do what’s safe and effective.”

Yelp reviews are also a great tool for chiropractors and patients. “People want family and friends to be seen by us because we’ve been able to help people,” Dreiling says. “If you can help someone and they don’t have to go through drugs, surgery and the cost of being cut open, they are more than happy to refer.”

And Ellen Letten, a massage therapist in Chicago, strongly agrees. She has used chiropractic treatment for her own low back and neck pain, and also refers her clients to a chiropractor she trusts. “I think people are tired of just being given pills and surgery, and are seeking out other alternatives,” she says.

Whiplash Bed-wetting Colic Ear infections Pinched nerves Premenstrual syndrome Carpal tunnel syndrome Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

WHAT’S NEXT? CHIROPRACTIC FOR PETS As our devotion to our pets soars, the new field of pet chiropractic has emerged. It’s not as common or as tested as chiropractic treatment for humans, but it does offer the same relief of pain and back injury, says veterinarian Dr. Karin-Susan Breitlauch, owner of Creature Comforts Veterinary Service in Saylorsburg, Pa. “It is still not considered a mainstream way of practice,” she says.

“There’s still research that needs to be done. But one thing to note is that, with people, there can be a placebo effect. With animals, there’s no way they can have a placebo effect. When they come in not walking and leave walking, I’d say that’s a pretty good indicator that it’s working.”

The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association has certified more than 1,000 animal chiropractic professionals since 1989.

Breitlauch has performed animal chiropractic on more than 1,400 animals since 1999. She has worked on dogs, cats, birds, guineas pigs, rats, mice, horses, cows, sheep, pigs, snakes and goats.

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

DECEMBER 2013

47

MID AMERICA

BELLEVILLE, IL

PICTURE OF GOOD HEALTH

Oh, What Fun it is to Run! THE GIFT TO GUSH OVER The annual Gingerbread 5K Run/Walk in downtown Belleville benefits the town’s parks and recreation department.

Runners and walkers traverse Belleville’s Main Street to see award-winning gingerbread creations displayed in downtown merchant windows.

SANTA’S LITTLE HELPERS Mary Pearson, (from left) of Edwardsville, Ill.; Alyssa Bussmann, of Edwardsville, Ill.; Mark Bartholomew, of Jerseyville, Ill.; and Kyle Poole, of Highland, Ill., ran in last year’s event, among 1,044 total runners and walkers.

Do you have a photo you’d like to see in Picture of Good Health? Email dwatt@cmghealth.net.

48

DECEMBER 2013

C O M M U N I T Y H E A LT H

SUPPLIED PHOTO

JOIN THE FUN This year’s event is set for Dec. 7. Visit GingerbreadRun.com for more information. Call (618) 233-1416 to register for the race, or to sign up to volunteer.

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