January 2014 Thrive

nc

January 2014

THRiVE » NORTHERN COLORADO WELLNESS

Concussion conundrum

Debate is on about head injuries in younger athletes and how best to prevent them.

Page 6.

» INSIDE: MANAGE SPACE WHEN DRIVING • COOKING AT HOME KEY TO HEALTH • HEALTH EVENTS

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It’s what you don’t see that makes it so impressive.

When it comes to minimally invasive surgery, a smaller scar is just the start. For our patients it typically also means shorter hospital stays, and a faster recovery time. If you’ve been old you need surgery, there may be a minimally-invasive option available right here in the convenience of your hometown.

Learn more and find a Banner Health Minimally Invasive Surgeon: www.BannerHealth.com/SmallScar

North Colorado Medical Center McKee Medical Center Sterling Regional MedCenter

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JANUARY HEALTH EVENTS « STAR-support touch and reach

breast cancer survivors (Breast Cancer Support Group), 5:30-7 p.m.

Jan. 2 at NCMC Cancer Institute Conference Room. For more information call Betty Parson at (970) 339-7137.

« Spirit Girls and Moms Too, 9:30-11:30

a.m. Jan. 4 at NCMC Auditorium, 1801 16th St. The better you prepare your daughter for those upcoming changes — physical and emotional — the easier her transition to womanhood will be.

Join us for a visit with pediatricians and gynecologists from Banner Health Clinics for a discussion of normal puberty-related events and the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed setting. There will be treats and fun activities to enjoy for moms and daughters ages approximately 8-12.

Adult admission is free for Spirit members and $10 for non-members. All girls enter free. To reserve your space call (970) 392-2222. More information at www.bannerhealth.com/NCMCspirit.

« CPR for Health Care Providers (Re-

certification), 3-5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at NCMC Union Colony Room. This class is designed for licensed and non-licensed health care providers who need to recertify through the American Heart Association. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $50. To register call (970) 350-6633. Please notify one week in advance if you are unable to attend the class. Your registration will be refunded less a $10 service charge. If you are absent from the class, you will be charged a $10 service fee.

« Yoga Basics, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 6-Feb. 10. Yoga Basics is an introduction to the foundational poses in a beginning yoga practice. This class will focus on careful physical alignment for the creation of a safe practice. This class is best suited for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Yoga Flow, noon-12:45 p.m. Wednes-

days, Jan. 8-Feb. 12. Yoga Flow teaches the student to build skills into flowing sequences with a focus on combining breath with movement. This class is challenging and dynamic, for those with no physical limitations. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Chair Yoga, 10-10:45 a.m. Mondays,

Jan. 6-Feb. 10. Primarily from sitting in a chair, we focus on gentle movements coordinated with breathing exercises to facilitate greater range of motion, flexibility, and relaxation. Some standing poses may be included. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Gentle Yoga, 5:45-6:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 6-Feb. 12. In Gentle Yoga, the postures are presented in an easy to follow, accessible manner with plenty of time for modifications and focus on breath work. An excellent class for seniors, those with chronic illness or injuries, those newer to yoga, or students wanting a gentle practice. Cost is $48 for six weeks.

« Body Check... What you need to

know: Head to Toe, by appointment Jan. 7 and 20 at Summit View Medical Commons. This head-to-toe health assessment gives you the tools to put your health first by receiving a comprehensive set of preventive health screenings. Invest in your health today! This screening includes: Health Fair Panel (fasting blood work-please fast 10-12 hours), sleep questionnaire, lung function test, body composition, weight and Body Mass Index, hip and waist measurements, health education with a wellness specialist, EKG with results read by a board-certified cardiologist, bone density screening, Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening including: education about peripheral vascular disease, stroke, stroke prevention and osteoporosis prevention, ankle brachial index, ultrasound of the carotid vessels, ultrasound of the aorta (screenings are read by a board-certified radiologist). Upon

Request: Colorectal Take-Home Kit, $10, Prostate Specific Blood Antigen screening, $23. Cost for screening is $175. Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insurance. Call (970) 350-6070 to schedule an appointment. All results are sent to your personal physician and to you.

« PAD Screening (Peripheral Vascular

Disease), 1-3 p.m. Jan. 7 and 21 at Summit View Medical Commons, 2001 70th Ave. NCMC’s Peripheral Vascular Disease Screening program offers the education and prevention proven to be the best tools for fighting vascular disease and stroke. Patients receive: ankle brachial index: evaluation of leg circulation, carotid artery disease screening: ultrasound of the carotid vessels, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: ultrasound of the aorta, CardioChek fingerstick: lipid panel, health education with a wellness specialist; health information packet.

Cost is $100, payment is due at time of service. NCMC is unable to bill insurance. To schedule an appointment call (970) 350-6070.

« Blood Tests, 7-8:45 a.m. Jan. 8 and

22 at NCMC Entrance 6 and Jan. 17 at Johnstown Family Physicians, 222 Johnstown Ct. Dr. Wellness Services offers low-cost blood screenings open to community members. Some immunizations are also available upon request and availability. Cost varies and payment is due at time of service.

NCMC Wellness Services will not bill insurance. To schedule an appointment, call (970) 350-6633. Please fast 12 hours prior to blood draw.

« Be Well with Diabetes, 9 a.m.-

12:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 13.

Wellness Classroom at North Colorado Medical Center. Weld County Area Agency on Aging offers a variety of aging well self-management classes such as Be Well with Diabetes. For more information or to sign up, call (970) 346-6950 ext. 6117.

« Heartsaver CPR with AED — Wind-

sor, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9 at Windsor Recreation Center, 250 11th St. Taught by the American Heart Association certified health care professionals, this class covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, Heimlich maneuver, and the use of a barrier device. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $48. To register call (970) 674-3500. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

« 2014 Women’s Wellness Series:

Passport to Health, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at NCMC Auditorium Entrance 6, 1801 16th St. Wear your toga over your clothes and celebrate the Olympics. Come with us to Greece.

Diet and exercise should not be just a New Year’s resolution. Learn how to “go the distance” with gynecologist, Dr. Susan Carter and registered dietitian, Julie Gormley, RD, as they help us obtain gold medal results. Admission is free for Spirit members and $10 for non-members. To reserve your space call (970) 392-2222 and visit www. bannerhealth/NCMCspirit for costume instructions.

« Prostate Cancer Support Group,

5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 16 at NCMC Cancer Institute Conference Room. For more information call Julianne Fritz at (970) 350-6567

« Walk with a Doc, Jan. 18 at South Entrance of the Greeley Mall. Upcoming walks are posted at www.walkingwithadoc.org.

« Safe Sitter-Greeley, 9-3 p.m. Jan. 20

at the Family FunPlex. Safe Sitter is a one-day, six-hour curriculum designed for 11- to 13-year-olds. Participants learn care of the choking infant and child, baby sitting as a business, success on the job, child care essentials, safety for the sitter, preventing injuries, injury and behavior management and

preventing problem behavior. For more information and to register call (970) 350-9400. Registration closes at noon, two days prior to class.

« Cooking Classes, 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 22

at NCMC Cardiac Rehab Kitchen. Come and learn a variety of fun and healthy cooking options like healthier versions of crowd pleasing favorite appetizers and game day snacks. These courses are taught by registered dietician, Mary Branom, RD. Classes are a great way to modify your cooking habits and learn about heart healthy cooking. Recipes and samples are included. Cost is $10 per class. To register call (970) 350-6633.

« Heartsaver CPR with AED, 7-9 p.m.

Jan. 23 at the Family FunPlex. The class is taught by American Heart Association-certified health care professionals and covers adult and infant/child CPR, obstructed airway, the Heimlich maneuver, the use of a barrier device, and AED hands-on training. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver course completion card.

The certification is valid for two years.

Cost is $48. You can pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

« Heartsaver First Aid, 4-6:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 at the Family FunPlex.

Taught by the American Heart Association-certified health care professionals, this First Aid class provides participants with an understanding of first aid basics, medical emergencies, injury emergencies & environmental emergencies. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Heartsaver First Aid course completion card. The certification is valid for two years. Cost is $45. You can pay $88 to get CPR and First Aid certificate. To register call (970) 350-9401.

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« CT Heart Score, 1-2 p.m.

Monday-Friday at NCMC. Provides a non-invasive test that accurately measures the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. The procedure begins with a fast, painless computed tomography CT exam. CT, more commonly known as CAT scanning, uses X-rays and multiple detectors to create interior images of the heart. The heart score program includes a 10-minute consultation with a wellness specialist, focusing on cardiac risk factor education, identification of non-modifiable and modifiable risks and lifestyle behavior change options. Cost is $199. Payment is due at time of service, Wellness Services cannot bill insurance. Call (970)

« Living Well with Diabetes Program, by appointment or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland, Windsor and Johnstown. Education offered for patients with diabetes, and their care givers or families, to provide knowledge, skills and tools to successfully manage their diabetes. Topics include nutrition, activity, monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping, reducing risks, weight loss, insulin, or considering insulin pump therapy.

Cost varies, insurance billing available. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

« Diabetes and Pregnancy

information, by appointment or class schedule. Services available in Greeley, Loveland,

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Johnstown and Windsor.

Group and individual sessions for women with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes to teach skills needed to care for themselves during pregnancy.

Topics include: healthy eating, being active, blood glucose monitoring, medications, problem solving, healthy coping and reducing risks. The goal is to help you and your baby stay healthy. No referral needed for group sessions, referral from provider is required for individual appointments. Individual appointments billable to insurance. Cost is $10 per class. Call (970) 392-2344 to schedule an appointment.

« Pulmonary Rehabilitation — Lung Disease Management Education and Exercise, For more information call (970) 350-6924.

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MANAGING SPACE AROUND YOUR CAR KEY TO SAFE DRIVING

There’s more to good health than health care

flow, time of day, traffic controls, One of the best forms of protection weather conditions, visibility, for a driver is space, the distance lane width, roadway conditions between you and the other traffic. and speed limits. During inclemManaging the space is key to ent weather, the rule is generally being a defensive driver. In order to reduce the speed by at least a for any driver to be able to react third of the posted speed limit and to situations that come up, it is maintain a larger space cushion. important to leave some distance By managing your speed, you can around your vehicle — front, back control the space between your car and on the sides — if possible. The and other cars or obstacles. most critical distance is the space The more space you leave, the you leave between you and the vehicle in front of you. A recommend- more likely the person behind you will leave more space, as well. Use ed rule is 3 to 6 seconds. your signals when you are going to How do you measure seconds do a lane change or turn. It is how between you and the vehicle in you communicate your intentions front of you? While following at to other drivers. Covering the a constant distance, identify a brakes is another strategy, stationary object like a sign where you place your foot or a tree and wait until the lightly on the brake pedal vehicle in front of you has without applying any prespassed that object. Count sure. The brake lights go on, one-one thousand, twoand it signals the driver beone thousand, three-one hind you that you are slowing thousand until your vehicle Lyn Be careful not to apply comes to the object. Speed TAUSAN down. too much pressure, particumatters. The faster you are DRIVE larly if the driver behind you traveling, the more space SMART is following too closely. If is needed to maintain that they are not paying attention, they cushion. could hit you from behind.

Young drivers need to know how It is important to teach your much space they have in front of young driver to be aware of what is them and to maintain a minimum going on around them at all times. of 4 seconds. If anything out of the ordinary happens, the young driver Teaching them to drive in the right lane is a good place as it provides will need enough of an interval to a road shoulder as an option, and see it, decide what to do and then execute their decision. This all hap- they can maintain the speed limit.

Remember space will always be pens quickly, and with little space, your friend, and you will get into it is almost impossible to avoid a the habit of maintaining a safe crash. distance cushion. Eventually, it will Controlling speed is a driver’s become second nature, no matter best friend when it comes to drivwhat the traffic conditions. ing safely. If there is an obstacle in your path, a change in speed is the Lyn Tausan is a retired school adfirst response. The car will respond ministrator and resides in Greeley differently depending on the condiwith her husband. She is the martions on the road and the condiketing/public relations specialist tions of the tires. Some conditions for DRIVE SMART Weld County. that would require action are traffic

Rural Health News Service

By Trudy Lieberman

Because so much of the national discussion lately has focused on health, the Affordable Care Act and its troubles, you might think that health insurance is all that matters when it comes to making people healthy. It isn’t. That good health is more than health care was a point I heard many times on my recent Fulbright fellowship visit to Canada, and it’s a topic we don’t talk much about in the U.S. I visited a doctor in Toronto who has created a simple brochure — he calls it a poverty tool — to help doctors think about poverty during office visits and help their patients cope. For example, the tool tells docs to factor poverty into an assessment of a patient’s risk factors, say for diabetes.

The Canadian Medical Association held town hall meetings this year in several cities, and participants identified nutrition and food security, income, housing and early childhood development as the main drivers of good health.

A major Canadian study has found that providing private apartments for homeless people who are mentally ill has made a difference in the quality of their lives and social functioning. Plus they use more health services in their communities rather than in more expensive hospitals. Redirecting services to less expensive community facilities is a goal in Canada, as well as in the U.S. Wherever I went, I heard a lot about what the nation can do to improve the health of what Canadians call their aboriginal populations. The health problems — diabetes, mental illness and obesity — that plague Canada’s native populations are the same ones Native Americans face. But I don’t hear many people in U.S. health care circles talk much about our native populations.

And I heard more talk about what can be done to improve the health of Canadians in general than I heard complaints about their infamous waiting lists for cataract or hip replacement surgery. Dr. Marcia Anderson DeCoteau, a physician on the faculty at the University of Manitoba, told me that education contributes to every health outcome from kindergarten on, and if people are poorly educated, that deprives them of good health from the beginning.

“The impact to the country of reducing wait times to improve population health is minimal,” she said.

Throwing more money into medical services and using more of the “newest” medical services and “greatest” technology doesn’t always bring better health as we can see from the latest international survey from The Commonwealth Fund, a New York City philanthropic organization focused on health care. (Full disclosure: The foundation funds Thinking About Health columns.)

For more than 10 years, the Fund has surveyed patients in 11 countries about cost, access and quality, and each year, contrary to our widespread belief that we have the best health system in the world, the U.S. comes up short. For starters, the U.S. spends more per person on medical care than any other country. This year spending hit $8,508 per person compared to $5,669 in Norway, the next highest spender. When it came to spending on administrative costs for insurance, the U.S. led the way spending $606 per person compared to France and Switzerland, which spent $277 and $266.

About one-third of Americans spend a lot of time dealing with insurance paper work and fighting with their carriers over claims. In countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, which have competitive insurance markets, far fewer citizens spend less time on insurance hassles. For instance, only 17 percent of Germans complain about insurance matters. Both Americans and Canadians report longer waits for primary care when they are sick.

Given those stats, it’s hardly surprising that 75 percent of Americans said the system needs fundamental changes or should be rebuilt. If and when the Affordable Care Act is successfully implemented, some of these problems are likely to get worse because the system still will not have fundamentally changed, and some patients will shoulder higher out-of-pocket costs.

As patients, consumers of health care, or just ordinary Americans, we need to think about our health care system more broadly and ask what are we getting for all the money we spend. And if we decide to keep the title of the world’s biggest health care spender, exactly what are getting for all that money?

The Rural Health News Service is funded by a grant from The Commonwealth Fund and distributed through the Nebraska Press Association Foundation, the Colorado Press Association and the South Dakota Newspaper Association.

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CONCUSSION CONUND

Young said. “They’re going to have a higher risk of getting hurt over and over.” reeley teen Caitlyn Olson was 12 when she suffered her first conLater in life, children who cussion after colliding with another soccer player as the two girls suffer from concussions that both went for the ball. don’t heal are more likely to Her next one came four months later, after another player have seizures, dementia and booted the ball hard during a Bootlegger Soccer Club match, hitting CaitAlzheimer’s. lyn in the head. Her third concussion came a year after her first, when she “Most people aren’t headed a ball. thinking of that with their A new report shows that little is known about concussions in children 10-year-olds,” Young said. and teens, like Caitlyn, who participated in sports before high school. The Young said concussions report, released earlier this year by the Institute of Medicine and National are tricky and dangerous, Research Council called for a national system to track sports-related conespecially with children, cussions and start answering questions about how often younger athletes whose brains are still desuffer concussions and how best to prevent them, among other topics, veloping. She said it’s often according to the Associated Press. difficult to convince parents their children aren’t ready “That’s where it’s frustratkids.”

Caitlyn’s mother, Dawn Olson played soccer in ing to me because we did all to go back to play, especialOlson, who had also been Caitlyn’s coach since her college, and she passed on of that with Caitlyn,” she ly when concussions aren’t diagnosed with something Mighty Mites days, said her love for “the beautiful said.

Dr. Christy Young, a gen- you can see, like a brain the first concussion was a game,” as it’s often called, to eral neurologist at NCMC scan or X-ray. surprise, the second one her two daughters.

The report released by “I’ve been playing since who treated Caitlyn, said seemed like just bad luck, and the third one was the I was like 4,” Caitlyn said. it’s critical for concussion the Institute of Medicine final straw that pushed the “I’ve gone from a low-level patients to rest until they’re discusses another challenge family to take Caitlyn out of to such a competitive level free of symptoms like head- in diagnosing and propersoccer permanently. A year of soccer, so I’ve seen it all. aches, dizziness and balance ly healing concussions: the and a half after her last con- Soccer meant a lot to me be- issues before returning to idea that young athletes cussion, Caitlyn still strug- cause I’d played it my whole studies, work and activity. face a “culture of resistance” Otherwise, they run a higher when it comes to reporting gles with daily headaches, life.”

After Caitlyn’s first con- risk of a more serious brain injuries and staying on the and her mom is working to help educate coaches, play- cussion, Olson, a former injury or even Second-Im- sidelines, the Associated Press reporters, parents and teachers on athletic trainThe more we can educate about the ed. Millions of the importance of properly er who worked symptoms, how important rest is, I children and at NCMC, had treating concussions. teens play or“Whether we’re doing been educated think we can avoid all those devastating classes for coaches or par- on concussion injuries that can happen and avoid the long- ganized sports, but it’s not clear ents, the whole goal is to protocols, and term effects. It’s all in the best interest of how many get keep kids safe,” said Olson, she knew how kids. who helps organize North important it — DAWN OLSON, Caitlyn’s mom, who helps organ- concussions, in because Colorado Medical Center’s was to take ize North Colorado Medical Center’s concussion ed- part concussion education class- Caitlyn out to ucation classes as director of business development many aren’t diagnosed. es as director of business avoid re-injuYoung said rest, both development. “The more ry. Olson said she followed pact Syndrome — severe, we can educate about the doctors’ orders, giving Cait- permanent brain damage or physical and mental, is the symptoms, how important lyn plenty of mental and sudden death after suffering key to safely healing a conrest is, I think we can avoid physical rest as she recov- a second concussion before cussion. She said she refers patients to therapy to help all those devastating inju- ered from each concussion, the first heals.

“Any of these symptoms them fully recover. ries that can happen and and it was difficult to watch “The big picture is that avoid the long-term effects. Caitlyn get another concus- that aren’t quite right, you’re putting (the child) at risk,” it’s going to be time, and It’s all in the best interest of sion and then another.

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By WHITNEY PHILLIPS wphillips@greeleytribune.com

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PHOTOS BY JOSHUA P

CAITLYN OLSON, 14, WATCHES as a putt rolls to

tices with her indoor putting machine at her home in Gre golf after multiple concussions prevented her from cont

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POLSON/jpolson@greeleytribune.com

oward the hole as she praceeley. Caitlyn began playing tinuing soccer.

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Debate is on about head injuries in younger athletes and how best to prevent, treat them

that you just have to kind of watch out for red-flag symptoms and then get them into therapy,” she said.

Olson said advances in research have revealed better ways to safely deal with concussions, but it’s difficult to get everyone — parents, coaches, teachers and even doctors — on the same page. Olson said coaches are often working with old information, like the outdated belief that you have to keep concussions patients awake or wake them every hour.

“It’s better to just let them rest,” Young said.

Olson said it’s also difficult for teachers and parents to understand that mental rest is as crucial as avoiding physical activity. Teachers often assume that allowing a concussion patient to read is better than having them study hard, but reading and watching TV can be just as harmful.

Olson said Caitlyn took final exams after one of her concussions, but doctors told her any kind of stress and strenuous study is a bad idea.

“You just have to forget about the school work,” Olson said.

Olson said recently passed legislation has improved how coaches and parents deal with concussions. The Jake Snakenberg Youth Sports Concussion Act — passed in 2011 and named for an Aurora teen who died suddenly after getting a second concussion — now requires that kids get clearance from a doc-

» Concussion symptoms Dr. Christy Young, a general neurologist at North Colorado Medical Center, says anyone with the following symptoms following a possible concussion should avoid high-risk physical activities and strenuous mental activities: headaches, nausea, fatigue, visual problems, balance problems, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, numbness or tingling, vomiting, dizziness, feeling foggy, problems concentrating, feeling slowed down, irritability, sadness, feeling more emotional, nervousness, drowsiness, sleeping more or less than usual, trouble falling asleep.

Anyone who has symptoms of a concussion should see a physician, as soon as possible and preferably within two weeks of the impact.

» Red-flag symptoms While many concussion patients don’t need to go right to the emergency room, Young said anyone who experiences any of the following symptoms should go to an emergency room: headaches that worsen, seizures, neck pain, feeling very drowsy, can’t be awakened, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, can’t recognize places or people, increasing confusion, weakness or numbness in arms or legs, unusual behavior change, increasing irritability, loss of consciousness.

tor before returning to play and requires coaches to get training on identifying concussions.

Before that law went into place, Olson said there were no uniform requirements in Colorado for dealing with kids who get concussions. It was up to coaches and parents to decide when a child was ready to go back in the game.

“Having the Jake Snaken-

berg legislation pass has really changed that,” Olson said.

The Institute of Medicine report recommends that sports organizations adopt rules to reduce the risk of injuries. The research council supports the idea of developing a hit limit that could be used to regulate the number of hits a player gets in a certain period of time, although there’s no

indicator of how many hits are too many hits, the AP reported.

Olson said as she helps coordinate classes to educate others on concussions, she hopes to spread the word about the importance of rest over a long period of time after a concussion.

“I don’t think I would be as passionate about it if it wasn’t for the fact that I’ve seen the long-term effects of

what can happen,” she said, noting that Caitlyn is finally starting to show signs of healing.

Caitlyn said quitting soccer was devastating, but with support from her family, she’s found other ways to stay active and have fun.

“I can’t replace soccer because it had such a big impact on my life, and it still is a big part of me, but I have kind of found golf, and golf kind of fills that place in me,” she said.

After a leadership camp this past summer, Caitlyn said she’s been starting some special projects — like a big-brother, big-sister program called Super Siblings — at Frontier Academy, where she’s an eighth-grader.

“I was always captain of the team,” Caitlyn said. “I was always the motivator.

When I couldn’t play soccer anymore I kind of didn’t really have that place where I could be a leader anymore, so I was trying to find places where I could be a leader outside of soccer.”

Caitlyn said she wants other kids who suffer concussions to know that it’s not worth it to stay in the game if they feel like they may have a concussion. She said she encourages them to just sit out and to know that it’s not the end of the world if a concussion puts your favorite sport to an end.

“When a door closes another one opens, and you can always find something else that maybe you’re better at or you like better, because I know I did.”

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DIETITIANS: COOKING AT HOME IS KEY TO HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

By Jason Webb

» Healthy home cooking

For The Tribune

T

he New Year is quickly approaching, and many people are planning their resolutions. The registered dietitians at North Colorado Medical Center hope one of your resolutions will be to start eating more home-cooked meals.

According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, food away from home as part of a household’s daily expenditures has increased since 1970, reaching its highest point of 48.7 percent in 2012. It is a trend Mary Branom, registered dietitian at NCMC, thinks is happening because people are busier than ever, often juggling work, children, activity schedules, commuting and more.

“It is hard to meet your health goals when you are relying mostly on fast food or convenience foods,” Branom said. “Eating out or eating processed food limits you from being in control of how the items are prepared.”

Branom notes that the registered dietitians at NCMC often hear the same concern coming from their clients: it takes too long to prepare dinner. However, all of the dietitians have the same piece of advice.

“The secret to success is planning ahead,” Branom said.

Some of the key planning tips Branom and the dieti-

The NCMC dietitians offer a variety of tips to help their clients have healthy, home-cooked meals: » “My suggestion is plan, plan, plan and make things ahead of time.”

— Diane Braithwaite » “One tip I tell patients is to take some time once a week or after grocery shopping to wash, trim cut and peel fresh produce and put it into storage containers in the refrigerator, so that it is ready to go when you want to throw together a quick meal.”

— Mollie Shipman » “A tip I give our patients is to focus on sauces or sides.

You can cook a few chicken breasts or pieces of fish up ahead of time and then make that protein into different meals by adding a different salsa, sauce or fun side dish. I pick one thing to make the focus of the meal instead of trying to be ‘Top Chef’ and make a fancy main dish, salad and side, which is too time consuming.”

— Desiree Pina

FOR THE TRIBUNE

» Cooking classes North Colorado Medical Center offers cooking classes to community members to teach them how to prepare healthy meals. Held in the Cardiac Rehab Kitchen, each class runs from 6-7:30 p.m. at a cost of $10. Classes scheduled are: » Jan. 22: “Appetizing Appetizers” » Feb 11: “Italian Made Lighter” » March 12: “Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas” For more information, go to www.bannerhealth.com/ ncmc and go to the Community Wellness pages. To register for a class, please call (970) 350-6633.

tians suggest include writing down a week’s menu, doing a week’s worth of grocery shopping at a time and preparing fruits and vegetables beforehand.

Once her clients overcome the time-related obstacles, Branom believes they start to see the benefits related to home cooking.

“Cooking at home can save you money, too. My favorite trick is to make

extras on purpose to use leftovers as ‘planned overs,’ ” Branom said. “The leftover top round roast can become tomorrow’s beef barley soup.”

In a Cambridge study published in 2012 in Public Health Nutrition, researchers discovered a link showing people who cook their own meals tend to live longer. Another study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutri-

tion found the women they surveyed were significantly happier and less stressed after cooking at home.

Besides the obvious health benefits, studies have shown a positive impact on the social lives of families. In fact, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University conducted a survey that showed teens whose families ate together frequently were less likely to use alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

“Obviously, not every meal will be made from scratch. Adopt the ‘more often than not’ rule of thumb,” Branom said. “My motto is ‘Strive for progress, not perfection.’ ” Jason Webb is a public relations specialist for Banner Health.

» “Check out low-sodium, heart-healthy crockpot recipes. Prep the food the night before, throw it in the crockpot the next morning, and your dinner is cooked by the time you get home.”

— Kelli Schrader » “Keep salad prepped in bowl in refrigerator and just add fixings when ready to eat. Having breakfast for dinner is easy – scrambled eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit and yogurt.”

— Elizabeth Bracken » “I like to batch-cook a single ingredient to be used all week. For example, I poach a whole chicken with chopped onion, garlic and carrots, which can be shredded and used in a variety of meals over the week.

Some can be put into some chicken broth made while poaching the chicken with some frozen veggies to become an ‘instant’ soup served with a salad and some whole grain bread or fruit. Another night, some can be mixed with low-fat sharp cheddar and made into quesadillas to be served with salsa and fruit salad.”

— Stephanie Tarry-Yoo » “I prep all of the meals for the week on Sundays.

This means washing and cutting all the fruits and veggies that will be used for the meals throughout the week. After they are prepped I put them into separate containers that are pre-portioned for each meal — for example, all the veggies for fajitas in one container, all the fruits for smoothies in another container, and all the veggies for the kabobs in another. This makes the final meal prep much quicker.”

— Kristyn Clark » “I teach both patients and outside clients through my own business to use the microwave with scratch cooking to make delicious, nutritious meals quickly.”

— Jen Sajbel

December 25, 2013

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THRIVENC

TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY ACUPUNCTURE

ASSISTED LIVING

PHYLLIS HAMAR, L.A.C.

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN

Master of Science, Traditional Chinese Medicine NCCAOM Board Certified 710 11th Ave., Ste. 106 Greeley, CO 80631 970-539-0324

708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 352-6082 Fax: (970) 356-7970 www.good-sam.com

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC

GRACE POINTE

5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Richard Budensiek, DO; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Angela Mill, MD Website: www.bannerhealth.com

ALLERGY AND ASTHMA

COLORADO ALERGY & ASTHMA CENTERS, P.C. 7251 W. 20th Street, Bldg N, Ste 1 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-3907

1136 E. Stuart St, Bldg 3, Ste 3200 Ft. Collins, CO 80525 Phone: (970) 221-1681 4700 E. Bromley Ln., Ste 207 Brighton, CO 80601 Phone: (303) 654-1234 www.coloradoallergy.com Professionals: Dr. Daniel Laszlo Dr. John James

NORTHERN COLORADO ALLERGY & ASTHMA

Greeley Phone: (970) 330-5391 Loveland Phone: (970) 663-0144 Ft. Collins Phone: (970) 221-2370 www.NCAAC.com Professionals: Dr. Vel Kailasam, MD Krishna C. Murthy, MD Loran Clement, MD Michael Martucci, MD

ALZHEIMER’S/SKILLED CARE

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN

708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352-6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

BALANCE

LIFE CARE CENTER OF GREELEY- ASCENT 4800 25th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-6400 Professionals: Cozette Seaver, PT; Leslie Vail, PT

CARDIAC VASCULAR SURGERY

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Web Site: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

(970) 350-6953 Missy Jensen, FNP-C

DENTISTRY

4750 25th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)339-0022

ASCENT FAMILY DENTAL Scott Williams, DMD 3535 W. 12th Street, Suite B Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-6095 www.dentalgreeley.com

AUDIOLOGY

ALPINE ALL ABOUT HEARING

AUDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES

2528 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-2881 Professionals: Robert M. Traynor, Ed. D. F-AAA; Karen Swope, M. A. CCC-A

MIRACLE-EAR

2404 17th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-6620 749 S. Lemay Avenue, Suite A1 Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970)221-5225

UNC AUDIOLOGY CLINIC

Gunter Hall, Room 0330 Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970)351-2012/TTY Fax: (970)351-1601 Web Site: www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic.htm Professionals: Diane Erdbruegger, Au.D., CCC-A; Erinn Jimmerson, M.A., CCC-A Jennifer Weber, Au.D., CCC-A

1800 15th Street, #310 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 392-0900 Professionals: James H. Beckmann, MD; Harold L. Chapel, MD; John Drury, MD; Lin-Wang Dong, MD; Cynthia L. Gryboski, MD; Cecilia Hirsch, MD; Paul G. Hurst, MD; Brian Lyle, MD; Randall C. Marsh, MD; Arnold Pfahnl, MD; James E. Quillen, MD; Gary A. Rath, MD; Shane Rowan, MD; Ahmad Shihabi, MD; Stephen Zumbrun, MD

HEART FAILURE CLINIC (NCMC)

THE BRIDGE ASSISTED LIVING

1124 E. Elizabeth Street, #E-101 Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: (970)221-3372 Fax: (970)493-9237 3820 N. Grant Avenue Loveland, CO 80538 Phone: (970)461-0225 Fax: (970)593-0670 Web Site: www.allabouthearing.com Professionals: Renita Boesiger, M. A., CCC-A Rachel White, M. A., CCC-A Cheryl Hadlock, M. S., CCC-A

CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE (NCMC)

JULIE KAVANAUGH, D.D.S. 3400 W. 16th Street, Suite 8-E Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)351-0400 www.drjuliekav.com

CARDIAC, THORACIC & VASCULAR SURGERY (NCMC) 1800 15th Street, Suite 340 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4593 Fax: (970)378-4391 Professionals: Lyons, Maurice I. Jr. DO Richards, Kenneth M. MD Tullis, Gene E. MD

CARDIOLOGY

RALPH R. REYNOLDS, D.M.D., M.D. Oral Surgery 7251 W. 20th St. Building H, Suite 2 Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 663-6878 www.reynoldsoralfacial.com

ENDOCRINOLOGY

ENDOCRINOLOGY CLINIC (NCMC) 1801 15th Street, Ste 200 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4676 Fax: (970)-378-4315 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Nirmala Kumar, MD Kimberly Rieniets, MD Corinn Sadler, MD

FAMILY PRACTICE MEDICINE

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Phone: 970-686-5646 Fax: 970-686-5118 Providers: Jonathan Kary, M.D. Trina Kessinger, M.D. Anthony Doft, M.D.

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC

100 S. Cherry Ave., Suite 1 Eaton, CO 80615 Phone: (970)454-3838 Professionals: Marianne Lyons, DO Lance Barker, DO, Internal Medicine

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2013 BANNER HEALTH CLINIC

222 Johnstown Center Drive Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970)587-4974 Professionals: Cara Brown, MD J.Matthew Brown, MD Joseph Gregory, MD Courtney Isley, MD Stephen Kalt, MD, Internal Medicine Thomas Kenigsberg, MD

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-CENTRAL 2520 W. 16th St. Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 356-2520 Professionals: Joanna H. Branum, M.D.; Ann T. Colgan, M.D.; Jennifer D. Dawson, D.O.; Douglas A. Magnuson, M.D.; Lori A. Ripley, M.D.; Andrew P. Stoddard, M.D.; D. Craig Wilson, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-COTTONWOOD 2420 W. 16th Street Greeley ,CO 80634 Phone: (970) 353-7668 Professionals: Christopher T. Kennedy, M.D.; Daniel P. Pflieger, M.D.; Mark D. Young, M.D.; Stacey L. Garber, M.D. Amy E. Mattox, M.D.

FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF GREELEY, LLP-WEST 6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 101 Greeley ,CO Phone: (970) 378-8000 Professionals: Daniel R. Clang, D.O.; Tamara S. Clang, D.O.; R. Scott Haskins, M.D.; Mathew L. Martinez, M.D.; Chima C. Nwizu, M.D.; Michelle K. Paczosa, D.O.; Jeffery E. Peterson, M.D.; Kyle B. Waugh, M.D.; Charles I. Zucker, M.D.

KENNETH M. OLDS

6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 208 Greeley ,CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-9061

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC 5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Tong Jing, MD; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; David Puls, D.O. www.bannerhealth.com

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TRiBUNE MEDiCALDiRECTORY DiRECTORY TRiBUNE MEDiCAL FUNERAL SERVICES

ALLNUTT & RESTHAVEN FUNERAL SERVICES 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 352-3366 650 W. Drake Road, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 482-3208 8426 S. College Avenue, Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970) 667-0202 2100 N. Lincoln, Loveland, CO Phone: (970) 667-1121 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO Phone: (970) 586-3101

GASTROENTEROLOGY

WORK OUT WEST

Health & Recreation Campus 5701 W. 20th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: 970-330-9691 www.workoutwest.com

HOME HEALTH CARE

CARING HEARTS HOME HEALTHCARE 6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 207 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-1409

REHABILITATION AND VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION 2105 Clubhouse Drive Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 330-5655 Fax: (970) 330-7146 Web Site: www.rvna.info Professionals: Crystal Day, CEO

HOSPICE

HOSPICE OF NORTHERN COLORADO Administration Office 2726 W. 11th Street Road Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)352-8487 Fax: (970)475-0037

PATHWAYS HOSPICE

305 Carpenter Road Ft. Collins, CO 80550 Phone: (970)663-3500 Fax: (970)292-1085 Web Site: www.pathways-care.org

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVING

GRACE POINTE DOWGIN, THOMAS A., MD. CENTERS FOR GASTROENTEROLOGY 7251 W. 20th St., Bldg J Greeley, CO Phone: (970)207-9773 3702 Timberline Ft. Collins, CO Phone: (970)207-9773 2555 E. 13th Street, Suite 220 Loveland, CO Phone: (970)669-5432 Website: www.digestive-health.net

NORTH COLORADO GASTROENTEROLOGY (NCMC) 2010 16th Street, Ste. A Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4475 Fax: (970)378-4429 Professionals: Tong Jing, MD Mark Rosenblatt, MD Ahmed M. Sherif, MD Yazan Abu Qwaider, MD

HEALTH AND FITNESS

STUDIO Z FITNESS

3483 W. 10th Street, Unit A Greeley, CO 313-6924 or 388-7956

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

MEADOWVIEW OF GREELEY

5300 29th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-6800 Website: www.meadowviewofgreeley.com

INDEPENDENT ASSISTED LIVING W/SERVICES

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN 708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352-6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

FOX RUN SENIOR LIVING 1720 60th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)353-7773 Fax: (970)330-9708 Web Site: www.good-sam.com

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

BREEN, JOHN F., MD (NCMC) 1801 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-6071 Fax: (970)350-6702

INTERNAL MEDICINE

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC

Susan Goodrich, LCSW Banner Health Clinic-Loveland Pediatrics Loveland Pediatrics Loveland CO Banner Health Clinic- Windsor 1300 Main Street Windsor CO, 80550 Renee Rogers, LMFT Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Banner Health Clinic 303 Colland Drive, Fossil Creek Fort Collins, CO 80525

NEPHROLOGY

GREELEY MEDICAL CLINIC

1900 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-2438 Professionals: Donal Rademacher, MD

NEUROLOGY

2010 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-5660 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Danielle Doro, MD Giovanna Garcia, MD

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

NURSING HOME REHABILITATION

CENTENNIAL HEALTH CARE CENTER 1637 29th Ave. Place Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-8181 Fax: (970) 356-3278

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

BANNER HEALTH GYN CONSULTANTS 1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)353-1335 Professionals: Susan Carter, MD

BANNER HEALTH OB/GYN CLINIC 2410 W. 16th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)352-6353 Professionals: Neil Allen, MD Laurie Berdahl, MD

WESTLAKE FAMILY PHYSICIANS, PC 5623 W. 19th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970) 353-9011 Fax: (970) 353-9135 Professionals: Jacqueline Bearden, MD; Richard Budensiek, D.O.; Janis McCall, MD; Frank Morgan, MD; David Pols, D.O. www.bannerhealth.com

1800 15th Street, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-6680 Toll Free (866) 357-9276 Fax: (970)350-6610 Professionals: Jeffrey Albert, MD Elizabeth Ceilley, MD Brian Fuller, MD Benjamin George, MD Samuel Shelanski, MD Kerry Williams-Wuch, MD Alice Wood, MD Ariel Soriano, MD

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

NCMC - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Dr Patricia Al-Adsani, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Banner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine 2010 16th Street, Suite C Greeley, CO 80631 Banner Health Clinic- Windsor 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550

Elise Pugh, LPC Banner Health Clinic Westlake 5623 W 19th St Greeley CO 80631 Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550

2010 2013

CANCER INSTITUTE (NCMC)

Phone: (970)506-6420

Stephanie Carroll, LCSW, CACIII Banner Health Clinic 1300 Main Street Windsor, CO 80550 Banner Health Clinic Fossil Creek 303 Colland Dr Fort Collins, CO 80525

December 25, 2013

ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY

BANNER HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (NCMC)

Shawn Crawford, LPC Banner Health Clinic 222 Johnstown Center Drive Johnstown, CO 80534 Banner Health Clinic-Internal Medicine 2010 16th Street, Suite C Greeley, CO 80631

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CENTENNIAL NEUROLOGY Dr. David Ewing 7251 W. 20th Street, Unit C Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-3876

NEUROLOGY CLINIC (NCMC) 1800 15th Street, Suite 100B Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 350-5612 Fax: (970) 350-5619 Professionals: Barbara Hager, MD Todd Hayes, DO William Shaffer, MD Christy Young, MD

NEURO-SURGERY BRAIN & SPINE

BANNER HEALTH NEUROSURGERY CLINIC 1800 15th St., Suite 130 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-5996 Professionals: David Blatt, MD Beth Gibbons, MD

OPTOMETRY

FOX HILL VISION CLINIC

2001 46th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 330-7070 Professionals: Dr. Nancy Smith, OD Dr. Tarry Harvey, OD Website: www.foxhillvision.com

ORTHODONTICS

GREELEY ORTHODONTIC CENTER 2021 Clubhouse Dr., Suite 110 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 330-2500 Fax: (970) 330-2548 E-Mail: gocpc@doctork.com Website: www.DoctorK.com Professionals: Dr. Gary J. Kloberdanz

ORTHODONTIC ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY, PC

Professionals: Bradford N. Edgren, DDS, MS 3400 W. 16thSt., Bldg 4-V Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 356-5900 Website: www.drbradsmiles.com

December 25, 2013

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TRiBUNE MEDiCAL DiRECTORY ORTHOPEDICS

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS

5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 Web Site: www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Randy M. Bussey, MD Riley Hale, MD Daniel Heaston, MD Thomas Pazik, MD Kelly R. Sanderford, MD Steven Sides, MD Linda Young, MD

PEDIATRICS

BANNER HEALTH CLINIC 6801 W. 20th Street, Suite 201 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)350-5828 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Amanda Harding, MD James Sando, MD

PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION

BANNER REHABILITATION CENTER 1801 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 Fax: (970)378-3858

PERSONAL RESPONSE SERVICE

BANNER LIFE LINE (NCMC) 2010 16th Street, Suite C Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: 1-877-493-8109 (970) 378-4743

PHYSICAL THERAPY

HOPE THERAPY CENTER (Formerly North Colorado Therapy Center) 2780 28th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)339-0011 Website: www.GCIinc.org Professionals: Chris Denham, PT; Kryste Haas, OT; Kathie Hertzke, PTA; Moni Kohlhoff, PT; Alex Luksik, PTA; Jeanne Rabe, PT; Howard Belon, PhD, Clinical Psychologist

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 4401 Union Street Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

PODIATRY

FOOT & ANKLE CENTER OF NORTHERN COLORADO P.C. 1931 65th Ave., Suite A Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 351-0900 Fax: (970) 351-0940

4401 Union Street Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 443-0925 Web Site: www.footandanklecolorado.com Professionals: Daniel J. Hatch, D.P.M. Mike D. Vaardahl, D.P.M.

PULMONARY/CRITICAL CARE

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 4401 Union Street Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

PEAKVIEW MEDICAL CENTER 5881 W. 16th St. Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)313-2775 Fax: (970)313-2777

SKILLED CARE/REHAB

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

BANNER REHABILITATION CENTER 1801 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)350-6160 Fax: (970)378-3858

NORTHERN COLORADO REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 4401 Union Street Johnstown, CO 80534 Phone: (970) 619-3400 Website: NCRH@ernesthealth.com

UNC SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CLINIC

NORTH COLORADO PULMONARY (NCMC)

Gunter Hall, Room 0330 Greeley, CO 80639 Phone: (970)351-2012/TTY Fax: (970)351-1601 Web Site: www.unco.edu/NHS/asls/clinic.htm Professionals: Lynne Jackowiak, M.S., CCC-SLP Julie Hanks, Ed.D Patty Walton, M.A., CCC-SLP

1801 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)392-2026 Professionals: Kelli Janata, DO Robert Janata, DO David Fitzgerlad, DO Michael Shedd, MD Danielle Dial, NP

SURGERY GENERAL & TRAUMA

PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

1620 25th Avenue, Suite A Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: 970-356-2123 Fax: 970-352-4943

HANGER PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

7251 West 20th Street, Building M Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-9449 Fax: (970)330-4217 2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue, Suite 2100 North Medical Office Building Loveland CO 80538 Phone: (970) 619-6585 Fax (970) 619-6591 Website: www.hanger.com Professinal: Ben Struzenberg, CPO Michelle West, Mastectomy Fitter

REHABILITATION

ASCENT AT LIFE CARE CENTER 4800 25th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)330-6400 Website: www.lcca.com Professionals: Annie Bennett Leslie Vail

BANNER REHABILITATION Phone: (970)350-6160

2013 SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF GREELEY PC (NCMC) 1800 15th St. Suite 210 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)352-8216 Toll Free: 1-888-842-4141 Professionals: Molly Decker, DO; Michael Harkabus, MD; Jason Ogren, MD; Samuel Saltz, DO; Robert Vickerman, MD

URGENT CARE

SUMMITVIEW URGENT CARE 2001 70th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-4155 Fax: (970)378-4151 www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Susan Beck, MD Thomas Harms, MD Susan Kelly, MD Amy E. Shenkenberg, MD Linda Young, MD

UROLOGY

MOUNTAIN VISTA UROLOGY 5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 106 Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970)378-1000 Professionals: Curtis Crylen, MD David Ritsema, MD James Wolach, MD www.bannerhealth.com

CERTIFIED PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS, LLC (GREELEY LOCATION)

VEINS

BONELL GOOD SAMARITAN

VEIN CLINIC (NCMC)

708 22nd Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)352- 6082 Fax: (970)356-7970 Website: www.good-sam.com

1800 15th Street, Suite 340 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4593 Fax: (970)378-4591 Professionals: Maurice I. Lyons Jr., DO Kenneth M. Richards, MD Gene E. Tullis, MD

GRACE POINTE

1919 68th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (970) 304-1919 Website: www.gracepointegreeley.com

SPORTS MEDICINE

MOUNTAIN VISTA ORTHOPAEDICS 5890 W. 13th Street, Suite 101 Greeley, CO Phone: (970)348-0020 Fax: (970)348-0044 Web Site: www.bannerhealth.com Professionals: Randy M. Bussey, MD Riley Hale, MD Daniel Heaston, MD Thomas Pazik, MD Kelly R. Sanderford, MD Steven Sides, MD Linda Young, MD

NORTH COLORADO SPORTS MEDICINE 1801 16th Street Greeley, CO Phone: (970)392-2496

BARIATRIC SURGERY (NCMC)

1800 15th Street, Suite 200 Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)378-4433 866-569-5926 Fax: (970)378-4440 Professionals: Michael W. Johnell, MD

SURGERY WESTERN STATES BURN CENTER (NCMC) 1801 16th Street Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970)350-6607 Fax: (970)350-6306 Professionals: Gail Cockrell, MD Cleon W. Goodwin, MD BURN

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December 25, 2013

Ear Candling….A Triumph of Ignorance Over Science While ear candling is an obscure procedure in many parts of the world, there are places where alternative medicine advocates use the procedure to address many ear problems. Consensus of ear candling practitioners, who may be barbers, beauticians, witches, voodoo priests or quacks, suggests that the candles work by creating a vacuum that draws the cerumen (earwax) blockage out of the ear. Even if the practice worked for cerumen removal; Roazen (2013), an emergency physician, notes that proponents claim that ear candling does a lot more, including removal of impurities from the inner ear, the facial sinuses, or even the brain itself, all of which are somehow mysteriously connected to the ear canal. Below is a list of the functions that ear candling is purported to perform: To professionals, such as otolaryngologists, family practitioners, and audiologists who routinely assess and treat auditory and other disorders, this procedure sounds like quackery. Nevertheless, ear candling as a means of removing ear wax has become a popular alternative medicine therapy and many patients have been led to believe the process actually removes the cerumen.

Although the technique seems strange to educated people in the West, consider that in some parts of the world, such as India, cerumen removal is conducted by street vendors and a recent Japanese trend is for a Geisha to remove the wax, offering a sort of EARotic cerumen removal experience. These other procedures notwithstanding, most professionals feel that ear candling is a procedure that does not remove wax and may have some undesirable results.

History

Although ear candling is said to be an ancient practice, its origin and history are quite unclear.

Places and cultures as diverse as China, Egypt, the pre-Columbian Americas, Tibet, the Hopi Indian tribe, and even the mythical Lost City of Atlantis have been men-

tioned as places that originated the practice. No one Place seems to know for certain, but the Hopi Tribal Counsel has publicly stated that the Hopi people do not nor have never practiced ear candling. Who really knows how long this procedure has been around, possibly even practiced by witches, such as those at The Mother Moon, who call themselves the Real Witches of Orange County. So it appears that people in many cultures have been ear candling for quite some time and no one really knows who is responsible or when it began.

Ear Candling Procedure

Most ear candles sold in the United States are manufactured here or in Canada and retail for between $2 and $10. They can be made of linen or cotton (often unbleached, as practitioners claim that chlorine is bad for the ears) soaked in wax or paraffin and allowed to harden. Ironically, one manufacturer uses only pure beeswax, claiming that paraffin is carcinogenic. Some candles are colored, which is controversial in ear-candling circles, though the color of pure beeswax varies.

Home varieties include waxsoaked newspaper and cones of pottery into which herbal smoke is blown. Some waxes contain herbs or other substances, including sage, chamomile, rose, rosemary, burdock root, osha root, periwinkle, jojoba, quassia bark, yucca root, or honey.

Probably to avoid difficulty with the FDA, White Egret, Inc., offers candles, plate guards, a 73-page manual, a 30-minute videotape, flame-retardant cloths, ear oil, and an otoscope. Its wholesale flyer states that its candles are “for entertainment only” and that its kits “supply you with everything you need for a safe and effective session of entertainment.” The ear candling procedure itself involves putting a hollow cone-shaped device or “candle,” typically made of linen or cotton soaked in wax or paraffin, in the ear canal, and lighting it on fire. The person undergoing the procedure lies on his or her side. A paper plate or other

collection device is placed above the ear, and the candle is inserted through a hole in the plate into the ear canal. The candle is lit, and trimmed as it burns down.

After the candle burns down and is removed from the ear, a cotton swab is used to clean visible wax from the ear, and oil is sometimes applied as a finishing touch.

This reminds this author of the classic Doors hit,…..Come on Baby Light My Fire! The process usually ends with a sort of “earwax looking substance inside the candle. The problem is that this material is likely a result of the process of burning the candle and not earwax. In the picture, the left labeled “control” is burning the candle without insertion in the ear and the right labeled “used in patient” is after the ear candling procedure and the material inside the candle is identical.

What About the FDA?

port the safety or effectiveness of these devices for any medical claims or benefits. To make matters even worse, some ear candles are being advertised for use with children. According to the FDA warning, children of any age, including babies, are likely at increased risk for injuries and complications if they are exposed to ear candles. Small children and infants may move during the use of the device, increasing the likelihood of wax burns and ear candle wax plugging up the ear canal.

Also, their smaller ear canal size may make children more susceptible than adults to injuries.

What Do Professionals & Researchers Think?

As one might imagine, professionals are totally skeptical about this procedure and there are a few research studies on this topic. One, published in Laryngoscope by Seeley et al (1966) denies that any vacuum effect

takes place as a result of lighting an ear wax candle, and that ear candling is more likely to result in wax deposits dripping into the ear. In their study, tympanometric measurements (measures of ear canal pressure) in a model demonstrated that ear candles do not produce negative pressure.

While their clinical trial as limited eight ears there was no removal of cerumen from the ear canal.

Candle wax, however, was deposited in the ear canals of some of the subjects. A more recent study

by Ernst (2009) surveyed 122 otolaryngologists who identified 21 ear injuries resulting from ear candle use. Their conclusion was that ear candles have no benefit in the management of cerumen and may result in serious injury.

These results led Ernst (2009) to call ear candling a “triumph of ignorance over science.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited ear candle manufacturers or practitioners from advertising that ear cleaning candles can cure ear aches, sinus infections, tinnitus, headaches, vertigo or other health problems. In 2010, the FDA notified consumers and healthcare providers of its warning not to use ear candles as they can cause serious injuries, even when used according Miller, a co-researcher at Michigan, that the noise-induced hearing loss prevention concoction could be to the manufacturer’s direcavailable years. tions.within Theytwocite concerns about the advertised claims by alternative medicine and ear candle manufacturers that a burning Robert M. Traynor is the CEO and practicing audiologist at Audiology ear candle draws ear wax, Associates, Inc., Greeley, Colorado with particular emphasis in “impurities” or “toxins” out of amplification and operative monitoring. Dr. Traynor holds degrees the ear canal. They also cite from the University of Northern Colorado (BA, 1972, MA 1973, Ed.D., In another studyabout funded by the Oklahoma Foundation, concerns other claims Medical for Research researchers Dr. Robert Floyd and retired Army surgeon, Dr. Richard Kopke, M.D., discovered a 1975), the University of Phoenix (MBA, 2006) as well as Post-Doctoral ear candles that include relief combination of two compounds stopped damage to the inner ear caused by acute acoustic trauma – Study at Northwestern University (1984). He taught Audiology at the from sinus and ear infections, something like an IED exploding. Although they did not indicate what the compounds were they felt headache and earache, as well University of Northern Colorado (1973-1982), University of Arkansas that,“This is a very exciting finding,” said Dr. Floyd, who holds the Merrick Foundation Chair in Aging as improved hearing, for Medical Sciences and Colorado State University (1982Research at OMRF. “The research“blood is still at a pre-clinical stage, but we’re hopeful that (1976-77) we soon can begin purification,” testing in humans. improvements in 1993). Dr. Traynor is a retired Lt. Colonel from the US Army Reserve, brain function, and even cure Medical Service Corps and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor More recently, Dr. Kathryn Campbell's work at Southern Illinois University involves the use of an cancer. of Audiology at the University of Florida, the University of Colorado, antioxidant called D-methionine, a component of fermented protein While the FDA has received and the University of Northern Colorado. For 17 years he was an reports of burns, perforated Audiology Consultant to major hearing instrument and equipment eardrums and blockage of the manufacturers providing academic and product orientation for their ear canal that required outpadomestic and international distributors. A clinician and practice tient surgery from the use of manager for over 35 years, Dr. Traynor has lectured on most aspects ear candles, they have found no of Audiology in over forty countries. valid scientific evidence to sup-

Author’s Bio:

Robert M. Traynor, Ed.D., MBA, FAAA

that is found in yogurt and cheese. The antioxidant, in concentrated doses, has been found to improve some forms of hearing loss and even prevent hearing loss before the