Health Beat, July 2013

Health Beat MAGAZINE

JULY 2013

A PUBLICATION OF THE RICHMOND REGISTER

Celebrate

Ringing in the ears?

You’re not alone An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from a condition known as tinnitus

with healthier take on classic apple pie

A surprise letter from the

First Lady Are you

ADDICTED TO EXERCISE ?

2 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

JULY 2013

Prevent injuries to keep the fun in summer Brain injuries and heat-related illness are common dangers LOUISVILLE — Summer is here, kids are out of school and fun and freedom reign. But with every summer comes an increase of injuries ranging from minor bumps and bruises, to serious head injuries or broken bones.

“A number of summertime injuries are preventable simply by taking some basic precautions,” said Melissa A. Platt, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, associate professor, University of Louisville, Department of Emergency Medicine, and at University of Louisville Hospital. “Wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle, limiting sun exposure and drinking plenty of water are some simple preventative measures that can make a big difference.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 570 Americans die every year from heat exposure. Kentucky has a warm

humid climate and often experiences summer temperatures soaring well into the 90s, as well as a heat index over 100 degrees making heat-related illness a serious threat. Some simple, yet effective steps can help prevent sun and heat-related injury and illness. · Drink two to five times more than the usual amount of water. · Use sunscreen rated SPF-15 or higher and reapply often. · Remember that the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so limit time outside during these hours. Choose cooler, early morning or evening hours for outdoor activities.

· Limit physical activity. If exertion is required, take frequent breaks. Also, heed warning signs such as a pounding heart or shortness of breath, and stop to rest in a cool place. · Never leave a child or pet unattended in a car. Temperatures inside a vehicle can heat to life threatening temperatures in a matter of minutes.

It is also important to avoid sunburns, a significant risk factor in the development of skin cancer. According to the CDC, Kentucky had the sixth highest melanoma death rate nationally from 2002-2006.

Turn to PREVENT, page 4

Independent Living

625-1400 Assisted Living

A Continuum of Care...

625-1400

In a Community That Cares www.standrewsplace.org Conveniently Located off Tates Creek Ave., Near Downtown Richmond

Personal/ Nursing Care

626-5200

JULY 2013

HEALTH BEAT

Richmond Register 3

A surprise

Ringing

letter from the

in the ears?

First Lady PAGES 8-9

You’re not alone An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from a condition known as tinnitus PAGE 10

Local features GROWING UP: Social media habit of teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 5 THE BREAKING POINT: Hold the Twinkie, give me a steak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 6 MADISON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: HEPATITIS AWARENESS . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 7 RINGING IN THE EARS? You’re not alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 10 MENTAL MORSELS: Meet your Generalized Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 11 DR. JACK RUTHERFORD: Are you addicted to exercise? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 12

Ann Laurence Publisher

RECIPE FOR A HEALTHY LIFE: Celebrate with healthier take on classic apple pie . . .page 14 MEDICAL MINUTE: Sweetened drinks now the main source of added sugars . . . . . . .page 15

Carrie Curry Health Beat Editor ADVERTISING STAFF

P e r r y S t o c ke r Media Consultant Nancy W o o d w a r d Media Advisor T im Merlin Media Advisor WHO TO CALL To advertise in Health Beat, call 623-1669.

For story ideas call Carrie Curry at 624-6695.

Health Beat is an official publication of the Richmond Register

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME What is Computer Vision Syndrome?

Eye and vision issues are the most frequently reported health-care problems among computer users – more than headaches, neck strain and wrist pain. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) occurs when eye or vision problems occur during or related to using technology such as computers. CVS symptoms can include eyestrain, blurred vision and dry eye.

Sitting at a computer generally causes a person to look straight ahead for long periods of time and people tend to blink less often while in front of a computer. Further, a dry office or home environment can also contribute to the symptoms of eyestrain and blurry vision experienced.

In addition, computer use requires specific vision skills - such as moving the eyes in various positions and focusing clearly at various distances – that place more demand on the vision system and increase discomfort.

What you can do?

Here are some things you can do to reduce eye strain while at the computer: Practice the 20-20-20 rule. At least every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and view something 20 feet away.

Studies show that people need to rest their eyes to keep them moist. Plus, staring off into the distance helps the

eyes from locking into a close-up position. (Children should take a 15-minute break for every two hours spent on computers or other digital devices.)

Have your eyes examined yearly by an optometrist.

General eyeglass prescriptions may not be enough.

Computers are usually farther away and placed higher than a typical reading task, so glasses (especially bifocals) are not adjusted for that distance or angle. Your optometrist might also recommend using eye drops that serve as artificial tears.

Set your computer monitor on the highest resolution. If that makes items too small, then try increasing the font size.

Adjust the contrast between the characters on the monitor and the background so the letters are easily read. Check the brightness of the monitor to make sure it isn’t too bright or too dim.

Reduce screen glare by using window treatments and dimmer switches on lights.

Work at a distance that is comfortable for you and where the image on the screen is clear.

If your eyes are dry, remember to blink forcefully. A humidifier may help as well.

Developing a plan with your eye care provider is essential to eliminating computer vision syndrome and increasing your comfort and productivity with extended computer use.

4 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

PREVENT Continued from page 2 Also common during summer are brain injuries resulting from a fall, bicycle crash, sports injury or dive into a shallow pool. According to the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky, one in five Kentucky families report they have at least one family member with a brain injury.

The CDC research indicates that 75 percent of all traumatic brain injuries are concussions and many concussion victims may show no symptoms initially.

If a child experiences a head injury, be sure to keep a watchful eye. Changes in normal behavior, vomiting or loss of consciousness can all be a sign of something more serious— requiring immediate medical attention.

“Brain injuries can be life changing, but some can be prevented by using cautionary

JULY 2013

measures,” said Darryl Kaelin, MD, Associate Professor and Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehab at University of Louisville. “Many people assume that a concussion is minor, but a concussion/traumatic brain injury can have long-term effects like physical disability, pain, cognitive disabilities and more.”

To prevent injury, keep this advice in mind during summer activities: All play equipment should be an appropriate height for each child. Tree houses should never be more than 10 feet in the air. · Protective gear is a must. Be sure to outfit children with activity-appropriate protective gear, like bike helmets or shin guards for soccer, whenever they engage in these activities.

Protective gear should also be worn while riding ATVs and other motorized vehicles. · When engaging in water activities, be mindful of the water’s depth.

Summertime safety fact sheet The backyard is often the central hub of summertime family activities. Whether it be a neighborhood cookout or playing on the swing set, parents should be mindful of the potential dangers and take simple steps to prevent injury and harm.

• Insects can carry threatening diseases, so be sure to regularly apply insect repellant. Check children and pets for ticks after playing outside, especially when near wooded areas.

• Never leave a child unattended near a pool or other body of water.

• Ensure that swing sets and other play equipment offer a safe place to land in the event of a fall.

• Lawn mowers can result in serious injury. Deep cuts, loss of limb, broken bones, burns and eye injury are common injuries that can be caused even to bystanders as lawnmowers blow debris.

• Check your yard for poisonous plants and teach your children to never put any berries, plants or flowers in their mouths.

Be mindful that many fertilizers, pesticides and cleaners can be poisonous.

• Keep children away from grills and other outdoor cooking supplies and keep the grill away from other objects, including the house and bushes.

The summer sun can be fun, but beware of sunburns, a significant risk factor in the development of skin cancer.

Always be sure to wear sunscreen rated SPF-15 or higher and reapply often. Be aware that the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so limit time outside during these hours.According to the CDC, Kentucky had the sixth highest melanoma death rate nationally from 2002-2006.

• • • • • • • • • Brain injuries are common among many summer sports and activities.

According to the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky, one in five Kentucky families report they have at least one family member with a brain injury. · Every year, at least 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur either as an isolated injury or along with other injuries. · Concussions and other brain injuries are most common among infants, children, teens and the elderly (65 and older). · Headache (85%) and Dizziness (70-80%) are most commonly reported symptoms immediately following concussions for injured athletes.

Richmond Register 5

GROWING UP

DAN FLORELL, PH.D. AND PRAVEENA SALINS, M.D.

Teens should know ‘cost’ of social media A

typical weekday night for families with teenagers usually includes the teen texting friends and going onto various social networking sites like Facebook to connect with friends. These two activities can consume hours and yet many parents and grandparents are not sure if this behavior is typical or if it is something they need to be concerned about.

One resource that can be used by parents is a recently released study by the Pew Research Center on teens, their social media habits and their attitudes toward privacy on these sites. The report compared how teens’ social media habits have changed over the past five years.

Overall, most teens still use Facebook and have about 300 friends. However, many teens are beginning to tire of Facebook and are looking for alternative social media. One site gaining in popularity is Twitter where teens have an average of 79 followers.

Locally, Instagram has become popular, as has Snapchat, a photo sharing site where the photos delete themselves a few seconds after being received.

In regards to privacy, teens are sharing more information about themselves than they have in the past. For example, most teens post their real name, interests, birth date, relationship status and pictures of themselves. They also reveal

what town they live in and what school they attend. Posting this much personal information can pose some significant issues regarding identity theft and data mining by companies.

Identity theft and data mining are the furthest things from teens’ minds as a vast majority of them were not concerned about others using the information they posted. We have found that most teens have not considered the consequences of how others could use this information.

Rather than having an absolute ban on posting personal information to social media sites, it would be better for parents to show teens how the information being collected on them is being used. We like to point out that everything has a price, including Facebook and Instagram. If the price isn’t money, then it is the information being provided to the companies that they can sell to advertisers.

It is OK to give out some private information, but teens need to be aware of what is being collected. An easy example to illustrate how data mining is occurring is with Amazon and the suggestions for other products that come up when you are shopping on the site.

The good news is that teens are becoming more aware of and using the privacy settings on social media sites. They are also engaging in active reputa-

tion management by managing their social networks, masking information they don’t want others to know and deleting people from their networks.

This has contributed to a majority of teens reporting that they were more likely to have positive experiences using social

Dan Florell, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at Eastern Kentucky University and has a private practice, MindPsi (www.mindpsi.net). Praveena Salins, M.D., is a pediatrician at Madison Pediatric Associates (www.madisonpeds.com). media than not.

As parents, the takeaway is to ensure teens appreciate the value of their personal information and that they take steps to protect their privacy so that they can continue to have good experiences online.

6 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

JULY 2013

THE BREAKING POINT

Hold the Twinkie; give me a steak Y

ou’ve heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” What do you eat? How often? What proportions? Are you, like me, a meat eater? Possibly a vegetarian? You could even be a junka-holic.

I’ve just started reading a book titled “The Power of Focus.” To sum it up so far, it says that you are what your habits are. If you have poor, slothful and lazy habits then so will your performance and life results be.

Now think about it. What did you eat today? What did your mind focus your hand to in turn focus your wallet to focus your money on to then focus it into your stomach today? Was it the latest chicken sandwich or hamburger from Wendy’s or McDonalds? Maybe a roast beef sandwich from

Arby’s, or even a chili dog from Sonic. Or for you, like us working folks, was it a Snickers bar or a Twinkie for lunch?

We are the product of what we feed ourselves, be it mentally with the thoughts we think, the books we read, the music we listen to and the television we watch.

The same is true for physical activity. Do you sit on your butt all day? Do you ever exercise?

By exercise I mean getting that heart rate beating and your body sweating. You know – the earth is shaking, walls are breaking, going all out exercise.

Now let’s stay on the physical aspect and put a dollar amount on it. I recently went through the drive-thru window at a local fast food place. I bought a number something, it included a breaded chicken

We Offer FREE Delivery!

That’s right! FREE delivery right to your door, with a smile! One more example of The Medicine Shoppe® promise — to meet your individual health needs accurately and completely.

Call us today!

Easy, Convenient Parking • Medical Equipment Medication Reviews • Free Delivery • Compounding

RICHMOND

238 E Main Richmond, KY 40475 M–F 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sat 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

859.623.8900

Visit our Website at www.medicineshoppe.com/0654

©2013 Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., a Cardinal Health company. All rights reserved.

All images are copyright-protected and must not be reproduced in any manner.

sandwich, fries and a strawberry milkshake (I had a sweet tooth).

My bill was $5.18! For the same money I could have gotten a full, sit-down meal at a good restaurant, possibly even a homemade hamburger at a truck stop, or even bought the meat and made one at home (I may be single but that is one of the few things that I can make.).

Heck, for $2.49 you could go to the Kroger deli and have a custom-made sandwich, with the bread, meat and fixings of your choosing. Plus a lot of fast food places have a long wait time and if you have my luck, you end up sending it back because of cheese on a nocheese or maybe the totally wrong order. So we lose the time advantage.

Our bodies are machines.

I’m definitely not a nutritionist or a health guru by any stretch of the imagination. But have you looked at the fuel that you are feeding your most precious engine lately?

Are you feeding it good healthy meats, lots of greens, fresh delicious plump fruits, a little bit of mil and some helpful non sugared grains?

Beware not just what you eat but where it came from. A hamburger and pie that your mom and grandma made does not belong anywhere in the same vicinity as one you would order at a fast food place.

Have you ever noticed the smell of fast food? Boy it lingers, even after you’ve thrown it out. If it smells that bad outside of your body, imagine all the nice smells and effects it’s making inside.

Now let’s go over the King Will’s rules of eating, brought to by yours truly: 1) Parents, you are not allowed to EVER let your kids have anything with caffeine in it. Remember they are the kids and you are the mommy or daddy. We brought them into this world and you know

the rest ...

2) Just because it’s a cereal and has nice cartoon MASTER WILL characters SCHNEIDER on it, doesn’t mean it’s healthy for you or your children.

3) No biscuits and gravy in the morning, unless you want to sit next to that person for the rest of the day with your nose planted firmly in your shirt.

4) Fast food is just that, the food is so bad you hope that it goes through your body fast!

5) Parents, kids must eat something other than French fries, pizza, chicken tenders and macaroni.

6) Since we’re talking about kids: Don’t let kids have any soda whatsoever, the sugar is unbearable.

7) It is not uncool or sexist to cook on your stove. In fact guys, it’s a great way to impress the ladies if you can cook and husbands – well, that’s an age-old secret to get out of the doghouse.

8) Eat at least three solid full meals each day. If you’re too busy, at least you won’t have to worry about being busy when you’re too unhealthy, obese and probably worse off in a few short years.

9) Parents, if your kids are always sick please re-examine their eating habits. Bouts of the flu can only penetrate an already weakened immune system.

10) Give yourself the five-aday challenge. Every day you must eat five fruits and vegetables.

Master Will Schneider is the CEO of Elite Martial Arts & Fitness, Martial Arts Global and the Elite Martial Arts Challenge. He is a 1996 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee and a popular speaker on self-defense, leadership skills and child protection skills.

He can be reached at Was8189@gmail.com

HEALTH BEAT

Richmond Register 7

M A D I S O N C O U N T Y H E A LT H D E P A R T M E N T

beware of Hepatitis

CHRISTIE GREEN, MPH MCHD

Even professionals often ignorant of risk P

ublic health officials are calling viral hepatitis a silent epidemic in the United States. Although it claims the lives of nearly 15,000 Americans each year, hepatitis remains virtually unknown to the general public.

Even policymakers and health care providers lack knowledge about this infectious disease. As a result, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that most of the estimated three to five million people living with viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected. This places them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications from the disease. It also increases the likelihood that they will unknowingly spread hepatitis to others.

The Madison County Health Department now offers free or low-cost Hepatitis B vaccine for adults.

Anyone is eligible for this vaccine, regardless of insurance coverage or income. The cost is $20 or less and is based on income.

For more information, call our clinic at 623-7312 or visit www.madisoncountyhealthdept.org.

Viral hepatitis is a major cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Because people can be infected for decades without symptoms, as many as 75 percent of infected individuals do not know their status and are not getting care and treatment. Without treatment, someone infected with hepatitis has a high risk of serious liver damage.

Rates of liver cancer have tripled over the last three decades, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blame at least half of that increase on hepatitis infections. Because so many people are infected but do not know it, the CDC estimates that more than 150,000 people will die in the next 10 years from liver cancer or end-stage liver disease caused by viral hepatitis.

The word hepatitis means literally “inflammation of the liver.” There are actually five types of hepatitis, but public health officials are most concerned with the three most common types: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Hepatitis A is commonly associated with contaminated foods, such as with the multistate outbreak linked to contaminated frozen berries in May and June in the western United States. Hepatitis A is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, either through contaminated food or water or by person-to-person contact.

Contamination often happens when someone who is infected with Hepatitis A does not practice good hand wash-

ing before preparing foods.

The virus is very hardy and can live on surfaces for many days. Freezing temperatures will not kill it, which is why outbreaks are sometimes linked to frozen foods.

Hepatitis A can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.

Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, jaundice, joint pain,

PUBLIC

INFORMATION OFFICER

abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, dark urine and claycolored stool.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent Hepatitis A infection. The Hepatitis A vaccine was introduced in 1995 and is now routinely recommended for all children, as well as for most international travelers.

As a result of vaccination and

Turn to HEPATITIS, page 13

New! Women’s -Ghost 6

$

New!

$

Men’s -Ghost 6

10999

10999

8 Richmond Register Editor’s note: The Register featured Richmond native Neil Burns three times over the course of his incredible weight-loss journey. In 2010, Burns was a 680pound backhoe operator who began to lose weight “the old-fashioned way,” through healthy eating and exercise. Today, Burns is a personal trainer at First Step Fitness and is CRYSTAL WYLIE helping others make FEELING THE BURN their own incredible weight-loss stories.

WITH BURNS Register reporter Crystal Wylie began training with Neil in January.

HEALTH BEAT

JULY 2013

A surprise letter from the

First Lady I

n May, I had the privilege of covering First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to Richmond to speak at Eastern Kentucky University’s graduation ceremony.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and as part of the press pool, I was able to snap photos of the First Lady within a few feet of her.

But before her visit, I wanted to let her know about Neil, just in case she had a few minutes to shake his hand or pat him on the back.

I sent an email to the First Lady’s press office and in it I wrote, “Neil is a genuine person who only wants to help others live the life he cheated himself of.

This isn’t about self-promotion for Neil, it’s about getting his message out to others ... He is a big supporter of the Let’s Move! campaign, as he is a living testament of what is possible if you lead a healthy lifestyle. May 15 will mark three years since Neil began losing weight, and shaking hands with Mrs. Obama would just be the pinnacle of his incredible weight-loss journey.”

Although that opportunity never came (I knew it was a long shot), on June 3, a manila envelope bearing the White House seal and addressed to Neil and me was lying atop the mess on my desk. I quickly opened it, snapped a photo of the letter and texted it to Neil (see picture).

“It’s not every day someone gets a letter from the First Lady,” one of Neil’s clients told him.

As many know, Mrs. Obama launched the Let’s Move! initiative in 2010.

Through the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act, the legislative component of Let’s Move! championed by the First Lady and signed into law by President Obama, the United State Department of Agriculture is “making the first major changes in school meals in 15 years,” according to the USDA website.

JULY 2013

The act requires the phasing in of sodium-reduction targets; the offering of only fat-free and low-fat milk; increased daily fruit and vegetable offerings; calorie ranges per age group; all grains to be whole-grain rich and daily minimums and weekly ranges for meat/meat alternatives.

Most changes must be implemented by school year 2014-15, and all federally reimbursed meals must meet these requirements.

Many schools in the county have already moved to comply with the new federal laws.

Neil and I discussed this campaign during our weekly workouts. And despite naysayers who claim “school lunches are awful now,” we both agreed the Let’s Move! initiative was the best thing for children and the health future of this country.

Let’s Move! was designed with the intent that children born in 2010 “will grow up in a very different food culture and a very different physical fitness culture,” Obama Foodorama blogger Eddie Gehman Kohan said in a February 2012 PBS article.

I wish someone had forced me to eat better when I was a kid. Perhaps making those healthy choices would be a lot easier today if I had a childhood that didn’t involve so many sugary fruit-flavored drinks, hamburgers and “pizza and fries Fridays.”

I’m not blaming my weight problems on unhealthy school lunches, but children

HEALTH BEAT

spend most of their day in school, and more often than not, they eat most of their meals there. School is where we learn about life — not just how to put together a sentence or how to calculate fractions.

If healthy choices are emphasized in school, perhaps that behavior will spread to those student’s families as well. The Let’s Move! initiative seems to be a step in the right direction.

Since becoming the education reporter for the Register in 2011, I’ve had the opportunity to see how our schools are already implementing changes. From using exercise balls for chairs at Glenn Marshall Elementary to using locally grown fruits and vegetables at Berea Community Schools, many schools have found their own ways of making healthy choices easier for students.

My two-year-old son attends the Berea College child development laboratory and each week I receive an email with the lunch menu attached. I’m amazed at how many items are fresh, homemade or whole-grain. His teachers say he usually eats most everything on his plate and sometimes asks for seconds.

Parents know how finicky toddlers can be, so as a mother, I’m so grateful that part of my son’s early learning includes healthy food choices. All I know is, “tossed salad with spinach and cranberries” and “whole grain Ritz crackers with hummus” was never on MY school lunch menu.

Richmond Register 9

TOP: Neil Burns stands with the letter he received from First Lady Michelle Obama.The letter was Obama's response to an email sent by Richmond Register reporter Crystal Wylie in which she shared the story of Burns' 400 pound weight loss. Burns' "Beastmode" class is pictured behind him. For class details, contact Neil at neilburns5469@gmail.com.

ABOVE: This board hangs at First Step Fitness showing the total pounds lost by Neil's clients as of June 5. It now totals 986 pounds (June 12).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a third of children in the United States are considered obese or overweight. So what if your child’s hamburger bun is whole-wheat now? So what if they don’t like to extra veggies on their lunch tray? Adults must set the example so a third of our next generation won’t fall into an appalling statistic.

10 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

JULY 2013

Ringing in the ears?

You’re not alone

By Frank Kourt Richmond Register Correspondent

W

hat do William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Barbra Streisand, Leslie Nielsen, Phil Collins, Cher, Cheryl Tiegs, Ozzy Osbourne and Sylvester Stallone have in common?

They are among the estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from a condition known as tinnitus, which the American Tinnitus Association defines as “the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present.”

It is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking.

Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant with single or multiple tones, and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering, says the ATA. Shatner and Nimoy both suffer from tinnitus as the result of standing too close to a special effects explosion during the filming of a “Star Trek” episode.

Shatner, who is now a spokesperson for the ATA, said that at one point the condition was so bad that he contemplated suicide. However, he now is able to cope with the condition as the result of “tinnitus retraining therapy,” which uses white noise to retrain the brain to become accustomed to the sounds.

The ATA states that there are many causes of tinnitus, including exposure to loud noises; head and neck trauma; certain

disorders, such as Meniere’s disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, and thoracic outlet syndrome and hypo or hyperthyroidism; certain kinds of tumors, earwax buildup; jaw misalignment; cardiovascular disease; and ototoxic medications, which are medications that include some antibiotics, which can temporarily or permanently damage the ear and/or result in tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus is a type of tinnitus that sounds like a rhythmic pulsing in the ear, typically in time with one’s heartbeat.

This kind of tinnitus can be caused by abnormal blood flow in arteries or veins close to the inner ear, brain tumors or irregularities in brain structure.

While tinnitus does not cause hearing loss, in many cases it does accompany it, although a person without measurable hearing loss can still experience tinnitus.

Since exposure to loud noise is the primary cause of tinnitus, it is recommended that one avoid noisy situations when they can, or use ear plugs in noisy environments, such as some workplaces, or concerts where loud music is playing.

It is also important for those using firearms to wear hearing protection. It’s a good idea to turn down the music to a reasonable level when using headphones or earbuds for listening.

While there is no current cure for tinnitus, there are treatments that may be effec-

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

William Shatner, above, and Leonard Nimoy both suffer from tinnitus as the result of standing too close to a special effects explosion during the filming of a “Star Trek” episode. Shatner, who is now a spokesperson for the ATA, said that at one point the condition was so bad that he contemplated suicide. tive, depending on the individual.

According to the ATA, some find relief from “alternative” therapies, such as vitamin and mineral supplements; hypnosis; acupuncture; magnets and other such treatments. Some find relief with the use of a hearing aid, while others say they are helped by biofeedback and cognitive behavioral and mindfulness based stress reduction therapies.

Deaf or near-deaf patients who have had cochlear implants/electrical stimulation have experienced relief from tinnitus.

Sound therapy, which uses sounds like “white noise” to mask the sounds of tinnitus, has proven to be effective for some, especially when combined with some form of counseling.

Treatment for jaw joint dysfunction, known as temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, can sometimes help tinnitus.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, which uses a magnetic field to influence electrical

Turn to RINGING, page 13

JULY 2013

HEALTH BEAT

Richmond Register 11

M E N TA L M O R S E L S

Meet your Generalized Other I’m one of those people who often talks aloud to himself.

This is not abnormal or even a particularly rare behavior. Psychologists and sociologists alike have longrecognized our inescapably social nature. So it amazes me how many people are uncomfortable with self-dialogue, even if they express it in a lighthearted manner.

We’ve all heard that one joke, which states, “It’s not bad if you talk to yourself, unless you answer yourself.” And while this is mostly just goodnatured ribbing, I’ve found that even the ribbers will often admit they do the same thing. They’re just a bit better about not getting caught at it.

Interestingly, though, just because you don’t speak aloud doesn’t mean you aren’t still talking to yourself.

The fact is that just as a society is composed of many individuals, so too are individuals carrying a “society within,” an internalization of the social process. Our thinking is basically an internal dialogue, in which we are both the speaker and the listener.

Sociologist George Herbert Mead observed in the early 20th century that human beings may start out as an individual “I,” but in the act of growing up, we then take on a “Me.” Mead defined the Me as the part we use to look at ourselves through the point of view of our parents and friends.

As we finally achieve adulthood, we develop our “Generalized Other,” that “what would people think” perspective we all keep inside us to guide how we behave.

Once we have other people internalized, we never escape them, even when we’re alone.

Have you noticed that when you trip over your own big feet, or you spill something, you get embarrassed about it, even when no one sees you?

As we finally achieve adulthood, we develop our “Generalized Other,” that “what would people think” perspective we all keep inside us to guide how we behave.

Once we have other people internalized, we never escape them, even when we’re alone.

That’s because you’re looking at yourself as both the stumbler and the observer.

You’ll even catch this innersociety at work in our language. When thinking aloud, we’ll say, “So where are we?” on this chore, or “What are we going to do next?” It captures how we’re carrying around more in our head than just one individual’s opinions.

The experience of the inner dialogue can be both positive and negative. A psychologist named Cskikszentmihalyi (yes, that’s his real name) published some research in the late 1970s showing how when we’re alone with our thoughts, we tend toward blueness, to self-doubt.

He described self-reflection as an “aversive” experience. Perhaps that’s because we tend to use our position relative to others to measure how successfully we’re handling life’s vicissitudes. When you combine that tendency with the fact that we also carry those others around in our head, looking at ourselves from their perspective...well, it’s only natural for us to become our own worst critics.

On the other hand, it is also our ability to carry a society within that lets cogni-

tive behavioral counseling strategies work. Particularly “self talk,” in which a person struggling with anxiety or depression is taught to identify which of those clamoring social judgments in the skull are helpful, and which should be ignored.

The goal of self-talk is to get people to use their own internal dialogue to tell themselves the better way to believe about their world. For example, after a bad day, instead of listening to the judgment, “I’m a failure,” the better thought would be, “I didn’t do that task well today.

But I did other things right.”

The Generalized Other, as powerful and necessary as it is to our humanity, still abides by a principle identified by the

Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: THOMAS “Never forget, that all THORNBERRY that is said and written is merely opinion. Just get out of it what you feel to be true.” That applies just as well, even when the opinions are our own.

Thomas W. Thornberry, M.A., is a mental health professional who has worked extensively with those suffering lifestyle stress and communication issues. His interest is in language and the power of words to create change.

Thomas welcomes your feedback: sirtomas@gmail.com.

Serving

Madison, Estill and Powell County

since 1974

Direct Referral Line 859-626-4509 Accredited by the Joint Commission

12 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

Are you

DR. JACK

JULY 2013 ON

H E A LT H & F I T N E S S

ADDICTED ADDICTED

to exercise ?

A

ddiction has become a hot topic in recent years as stories of runners, weight lifters and others who seem unable to control their obsession with physical activity have reached the popular media.

The story of Ironman triathlete Jordan Waxman exemplifies the toll exercise addiction can take on a marriage and a family. Waxman is up for his runs before his family rises in the morning and often comes home after his three children and wife have eaten dinner. Because of his long days, he is usually tired and in bed before anyone else in family. After pleading with Waxman to cut down on his exercise routine, wife Caren and Jordan agreed to some new rules such as family dinners every Friday night and a date night on Saturday.

Exercise addiction is more than just being committed to exercise. If guilty feelings creep in when a person doesn’t exercise, it can signal problems ahead. Researchers have identified several criteria that signal a real problem with exercise addiction.

The Exercise Dependence Scale, developed by exercise psychologists Heather Hausenblas and Danielle Symons Downs, measures a person’s dependence on exercise using the following criteria: Tolerance: either a continual need for increased amounts of exercise or whether they experience a diminished effect with the same amount of exercise.

Withdrawal: either withdrawal symptoms from exercise or increased amount of exercise are required to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Intention Effect: done in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended.

Lack of Control: unsuccessful in efforts to cut down or control exercise.

Time: an extraordinary amount of time is spent in exercise activities.

Reduction in Other Activities: social, occupational or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of exercise.

Continuance: exercise is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely caused or exacerbated by exercise.

According to the authors, a person experiencing three or more of these criteria would be classified as having a high level of exercise dependence.

“Most people won’t think that they have a problem,” said Hausenblas.

Most will see their exercise routine as a healthy habit rather than an impairment. But when physical problems caused by over-exercising start occurring, such as upper respiratory infections, weight loss, anxiety, menstrual irregularities, appetite loss and an increase in resting heart rate, clearly the problem exists. Even more serious health problems, such as stress fractures, spinal scoliosis, osteoporosis, and heart arrhythmia can erase the positive benefits of regular exercise routines.

Sport psychologists say that distinguishing exercise addiction from a rational commitment to exercise isn’t always easy. There is a fine line between exercise as a healthy passion and having it get out of control. If it controls you, then it’s turned the corner and become an addiction, they say. They also liken exercise addiction to eating disorders and obsessive-complusive personality.

Eventually, it will lead to psychological burnout if the individual is unable to detach from the training.

Interestingly, exercise addiction is rarely found in professional or Olympic-caliber athletes, those who are striving for the highest levels of performance. The exercise addict has an unhealthy relationship with exercise. They value it above other physical, social and emotional connections.

Therefore, the addict must change the relationship in order to break free of its hold. Kicking the exercise habit is probably not a realistic alternative since the person has been involved with it for many years. Mixing up activities so as to find a balance between exercise and daily living is the key to restoring a healthy exercise routine.

DR. JACK RUTHERFORD

JULY 2013

Richmond Register 13

HEALTH BEAT

HEPATITIS Continued from page 7 improved food-borne illness investigations, rates of Hepatitis A in the United States are the lowest they have been in 40 years.

Hepatitis B is a serious liver infection. It can cause acute illness and lead to lifelong infection. If left untreated, it can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and even death. Symptoms are similar to those of Hepatitis A. It is spread by contact with blood, semen or other body fluids. The most common ways that people are infected include sexual contact, sharing needles or syringes for drug use, and exposures in healthcare settings. Babies can also be infected during birth if the mother has Hepatitis B. The Hepatitis B vaccine has been in use in the United States since 1986. It is a three-dose series. In the early 1990s, health officials recommended that all newborns receive the first dose before they leave the hospital. This, combined with routine testing of pregnant women, vaccination for school-age children and vaccination for health care workers, has significantly reduced the rates of acute Hepatitis B in the U.S. Hepatitis C sometimes results in an acute illness, but it is most often a silent, chronic infection that lives

undetected and leads to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. Hepatitis C is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. Drug users who share needles are at high risk for infection. It is also a concern for healthcare workers. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C at this point.

Anyone can get Hepatitis C, but adults born from 1945 through 1965 are five times more likely to have it. This is because many baby boomers got infected before the dangers of Hepatitis C were well known. Many people may have gotten infected from transfusions or transplants before widespread screening of blood began in 1992.

Unfortunately, the lack of symptoms and chronic nature of this infection means that many people never know how they were infected.

Once symptoms are present, serious liver problems may already be starting.The CDC recommends that everyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for Hepatitis C. Successful treatment can rid the body of the infection before serious liver damage occurs.

Viral hepatitis infections can cause serious disease, even death. It is important to educate ourselves about risks for hepatitis and to take actions that prevent or help diagnose these illnesses.

If you would like to learn more about hepatitis, visit www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis.

Continued from page 10 brain activity, also may help alleviate the condition.

While it lists these various treatments on its website, the ATA does not endorse any of them, but recommends that the patient and a qualified healthcare professional decide together what, if any of them, should be explored.

Sharon Howard, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner with Kentucky Ear, Nose, and Throat, said it is important for those with tinnitus to seek professional help so that the problem can be evaluated and treatment recommended.

She cited hearing loss as a major contributing factor to tinnitus, and she urged particular caution for those who listen to music with iPods not to crank them too loud. “I saw one recent study that suggested that young people

'RXJODV * 2ZHQ 0 ' ) $ & 6 (\H &DUH IRU <RX DQG <RXU )DPLO\

A Premier Senior Living Community Featuring:

'-7 $[RCUU

One- & Two-Bedroom Cottages

532 Cady Drive, Richmond, KY 40475 859-624-0022

www.ArcadianCove.com

Call or Come In for a Tour Today!

+ +PVGTUVCVG

Studio, One Bedroom, & One e Suites Bedroom Deluxe, Private

&3

'XCPU 6KTG

5[NXKC &TKXG 'ZKV

0 9

' 5

6TCHĹżE .KIJV

9

Independent Living

,CUQP &TKXG

MaintenanceFree

All-Inclusive Assisted Living

who play iPod music too loud will graduate from college with hearing loss worse than their parents,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Howard said it is important that tinnitus patients do not dwell on the condition but try to distract themselves and not focus on the noise. Some people, she said, have good luck sleeping with a fan going. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes, distractions work,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She said that while she has no experience with alternative therapies involving magnets, sometimes simpler solutions will help.

She said some patients have reported finding relief using a product called Lipo-Flavonoid Plus, available over the counter at pharmacies. Also, she said, the new generation of hearing aids available, which do more than simply amplify sound, provide relief for some patients.

She said that because there is no cure, and no one best source of relief, it is important to work with a medical professional to explore what may work best for each individual patient.

RINGING

VQ +TXKPG 4QCF

'CUVTKFIG 2NC\C 5WKVG

14 Richmond Register

HEALTH BEAT

JULY 2013

Celebrate The Associated Press

As all-American desserts go, it’s hard to beat apple pie, especially for the Fourth of July.

But celebrating a big holiday shouldn’t have to involve making a big healthy eating sacrifice. So in honor of our nation’s independence, we decided to create an apple dessert that lets us have our pie and our healthy habits, too.

With pie, the real dietary downfall is the crust, which typically is laden with butter or shortening. So we decided to remake the classic into a much lighter handheld flaky pastry.

For the crust, we went with phyllo dough, the papery thin pastry used in baklava. Usually, it is brushed with melted butter to help it bake into thin layers. For ease and less fat, we went with a few quick mists of cooking spray, instead.

We filled the phyllo sheets with sauteed apples, then rolled them into little cigars. You could just as easily fold them into triangles if that suits you better. To do this, just place the filling at one end, then fold like a flag.

One thing about working with phyllo dough — if you let it dry out, it tears easily. So be sure to take out just the amount you need to work with at any given moment. To keep the rest moist, cover

Associated Press photo

with healthier take on classic apple pie with plastic wrap, then a damp, but not wet, kitchen towel. Any phyllo you don’t need should be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, then placed in a zip-close bag and refrigerated.

APPLE PHYLLO CIGARS Phyllo dough tears easily. So while this recipe needs only 4 sheets, it’s a good idea to have 6 or 8 thawed and ready to use.

Most packages contain about 40 sheets.

Start to finish: 45 minutes Makes 8 cigars 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 Gala or Fuji apples, peeled, cored and diced Small pinch salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon water 1 teaspoon cornstarch 4 sheets phyllo dough Butter-flavored or plain cooking spray In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, toss the apples with 1 tablespoon of the sugar mixture and the salt. Saute until just tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.

In a small cup, mix together the lemon juice, water and cornstarch. Stir into the

apples and cook for another 30 seconds, or until thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

When ready to assemble the cigars, heat the oven to 400 F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Evenly stack the 4 sheets of phyllo dough. With a paring knife, slice the stack in half lengthwise. Remove one half sheet from the stack and cover the rest with plastic wrap, then a damp, but not wet, kitchen towel.

Place the piece of phyllo dough in front of you and spoon 1 tablespoon of the apple filling across one of the short ends. Spritz the dough lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle lightly with about 1/2 teaspoon of the reserved spiced sugar.

Starting with the apple end, roll up the pastry sheet to create a log with the apples in the middle. Place the cigar on the prepared baking sheet, with the loose end down. Repeat with the remaining apple filling, sugar mixture and pastry sheets.

Spray the tops of the cigars lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with a bit more of the sugar. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition information per cigar (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 70 calories; 10 calories from fat (14 percent of total calories); 1 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 55 mg sodium.

CARE. HOPE. DIGNITY. 208 Kidd Drive, Berea, KY

859-986-1500

JULY 2013

HEALTH BEAT

Richmond Register 15

MEDICAL MINUTE CAROLYN E. HACKER MS, RD,LD

Sodas, sweetened drinks now main source of added sugars in American diet Imagine yourself putting 16 teaspoons of sugar in a bowl and then eating it. Sounds disgusting, doesn’t it? If you’re a lover of soft drinks, though, you should know that 16 teaspoons is the amount of sugar in a 20-ounce soft drink.

Over a year’s time, the extra calories from that one large soft drink will add up to about 25 pounds of added weight.

From the late 1970s to 2006, calories of sugar-sweetened drinks consumed in this country more than doubled. These drinks are now the primary source of added sugars in the American diet. Sweeteners in these drinks include sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup and fruit juice concentrates, all of which have similar effects on the body’s metabolism, including an increased risk of weight gain, the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

During that same period from the late 1970s, obesity, particularly among children, has grown to epidemic proportions in this country.

One meta-analysis found that the association between sugar sweetened beverages and body mass index in children and adolescents “was near zero” [American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June, 2008]. This study, however, was produced by a research center that received financial support from the soft drink industry.

Other large cross-sectional studies and prospective cohort studies with long periods of follow-up “show a positive association between greater intake of (sugar sweetened beverages) and weight gain and obesity in both

DIABETES EDUCATOR

BAPTIST HEALTH RICHMOND

children and adults,” according to a 2006 article [American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, August, 2006].

Admitting that more research is needed, public health officials believe the evidence is strong enough to discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks.

Guidelines of the American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture call for consuming no more than 8 to 12 ounces a day of sugar-sweetened and naturally sweetened beverages.

The problem involves much more than extra calories and weight. A study that followed about 43,000 men for 22 years found that those who consumed 12 ounces or more of sugarsweetened drinks a day had increased levels of harmful fats and inflammation and a 20 percent increased risk of heart disease.

Although 100-percent fruit juices sound like a virtuous alternative, these drinks have similar caloric content and, as the American Academy of Pediatrics has pointed out, “offer no nutrition advantage over whole fruit for children over 6 months of age.”

Beverages are often consumed for thirst or in a social situation without regard for hunger.

Calorie-for-calorie, they tend to be less satiating than the equivalent amount of solid food. And the body doesn’t seem to register fluid calories the same as it does solid food. As a result, they tend to be added on top of other calories rather than substituting for them.

Adults, of course, are just as vulnerable as children and adolescents to the hazards of sugar-sweetened beverages and often seek out diet and zero-calorie versions of their favorite beverage.

A diet drink certainly has fewer calories, but, in most cases, more sweetness. And separating sweetness from calorie consumption may tend to fool the body, confusing the natural mechanisms that govern appetite. One laboratory study found that rats given food sweetened with saccharin took in more calories and gained more weight than those eating sugar-sweetened food.

The most sensible approach, no matter what type of beverage you drink regularly, is to cut back, which is never easy, and may take some time as well as will-power. Have a plan.

If you’re the type of person who walks around clutching a can of pop, think about re-setting that image. Carry a bottle of water instead.

Your body can get by without any added sugar so think of your drink as a treat, a substitute for an occasional candy bar or dessert rather than an add-on or a mindless habit.

Pure unadulterated water right from the tap is arguably the healthiest beverage you can find.

If it’s too bland for you, just squeeze a bit of lemon or lime into your glass.

Drink 20 ounces of water — or even more – every day.

Zero calories, zero sweeteners, 100 percent healthy.

OPHTHALMOLOGY Berea Clinic

859-986-0090 Winchester 859-745-3060 or 888-463-5377

Daniel A. Ewen, M.D. F.A.C.S. Bluegrass Eye and Laser Cataract Surgery-Comprehensive Eye Exams Laser Treatment for Diabetes and Glaucoma