HLN June 2015

Your Monthly Guide to Healthy Lifestyles

He lthy Li ing News June 2015 • FREE

Also available at hlntoledo.com

Run for the border!

Also in this issue: • Skin spruce-up for spring • Take the sting out of insect allergies • Men get osteoporosis, too!

• Where have all the role models gone?

• Travel tips for retirees

Make a splash for water safety

e lthy l ng ews

June 2015 • Vol. 20, Issue 6

Your Monthly Guide to Healthy Living

TAKING CARE OF YOUR LIFE

HEALTH & BEAUTY

5 Ohio/Michigan 8K/5K promises family fun and competition for every activity level 7 The Academy Corner The Basics of bike safety

by Ernest G. Brookfield, MD, FAAP 13 Staying “cool” this summer, by Amanda Manthey 17 A Walk in the Park Taking it for granted

by LeMoyne Mercer 21 Spiritually Speaking Dads are special

by Sister Mary Thill 36 Everdry Waterproofing: your prescription for a healthier home—and family 43 Health Crossword, by Myles Mellor 44 Travel tips for retirees

2 Skin spruce-up for spring 4 There’s no need to suffer with single-sided deafness, by Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A 6 Life beyond diagnosis: understanding cancer survivorship 10 Take the sting out of insect allergies and anaphylaxis 11 Men, you’re at risk for osteoporosis, too!

14 Local chiropractors certified in post-surgery treatment, by Christine A. Holliday 20 Don’t let summer sabotage your health and fitness efforts! by Jim Berger 22 Innovative schizophrenia treatment is a FIRST in Lucas and Wood Counties 28 Osteoarthritis and acupuncture—a new hope

by Douglas A. Schwan, DC, Dipl ac 30 Understanding seasonal allergies

by Michelle Schroeder, PharmD, BCACP, CDE 33 Ultraviolet radiation and its relation to the human eye, by Bennett Romanoff, MD 34 The importance of proper posture in reducing pain

by Ashleigh Stubleski, PT 38 Palliative care—providing comfort for people

CHILDREN & PARENTING 8 Swim programs keep youth active and teach safety

by Jennifer Ruple 29 Role models: Where have they gone?

By Mark S. Faber, USPTA Elite Professional 31 Sound Advice from Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, by Randa Mansour-Shousher, AuD, CCC-A

living with chronic illness

OUR COMMUNITY 24 Senior Living Guide 26 New staff members enhance clinical capabilities at St. Clare Commons 32 Laurels therapy team embraces guests’ hobbies and interests 34 Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture announces the addition of ChiroThin™ to their office 37 Support group is indispensable to Parkinson’s patient 40 Mercy challenge gets right to the heart of West Toledo 40 FCAPC team works to break the cycle of family violence Dear Readers; Thank you for picking up the June issue of Healthy Living News. Our cover this month features the annual Ohio/Michigan 8K/5K, “The Original Border Battle Run and Race in Two States,” to be held Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Sylvania’s Centennial Quarry. Sponsored by Dave’s Performance Footgear, this weekday evening event promises a mix of summer fun and a little friendly competition, and we’re especially proud to serve as a forum to help promote family-friendly events like this. See page 5 for more details.

Our cover inset this month is a photo from the YMCA’s free Splash program, which teaches kids ages 3 to 12 the essentials of water safety and basic swimming skills.

Splash, to be held this year from June 15

FOOD & NUTRITION 25 Nobody’s Perfect Should I eat it?

by Sister Karen J. Zielinski, OSF 39 Food Shark Bite 3: Schakolad’s tortoise bar 41 Eating Well Plan a healthy vegan diet

by Laurie A. Syring, RD/LD

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to 18 at six area locations, is just one of many different swimming programs offered through the Y. Be sure to read the article on page 8 for more information and some timely water-safety tips.

Also in this issue, Sue MahoneyStombaugh of The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers discusses the positive trend of cancer survivorship and the challenges that come with it (p. 6), Dr. Jeffrey Bair of ProMedica Physicians Orthopaedics explains that men, too, are vulnerable to osteoporosis (p. 11), Dr. Mickey Frame of Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture and Dr. Mike Jajuga of Foundation Chiropractic Clinic share their insights on providing post-surgical spine rehab using the innovative Laser Spine Institute protocol (p. 14), Toledo Clinic allergist/immunologist Dr. Binod Thakur

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tells readers how to “take the sting out of insect allergies and anaphylaxis” (p. 10), and Mercy marketing pros Kathy Valtin and Sarah Velliquette urge area residents to get “heart smart” by taking part in the Heart of West Toledo Challenge—another family friendly community event (p. 40).

June is a month for graduations, weddings, and, of course, healthy outdoor activities. And the Toledo area offers all sorts of opportunities to get moving in the great outdoors—from tennis to swimming to hiking, boating, or biking and just about any other activity that might interest you.

We encourage you and your family to make the most of them!

Until next month, stay safe, active, and healthy!

By Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A

Mission Statement Healthy Living News offers the residents of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan a monthly guide to news and information about healthy life styles, health care, sports and fitness, and other issues related to physical, mental and emotional quality of life. The publication promises to be an attractive, interesting and entertaining source of valuable information for all ages, especially those 35 to 50. Healthy Living News is locally owned, committed to quality, and dedicated to serving our great community.

Healthy Living News is published the first of each month. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of any kind. While HLN makes every attempt to present accurate, timely information, the publication and its publisher and/or advertisers will not be held responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc.

Contacts Business office:

To advertise: Healthy Living News, 3758 Rose Glenn Drive, Toledo, OH 43615.

Phone: (419) 841-8202 or email Kevin O’Connell at sfstennis76@bex.net.

Ad reservation deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.

HLN reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason and does not accept advertising promoting the use of tobacco.

There’s no need to suffer with single-sided deafness

T

he loss of hearing in one ear, or single-sided deafness (SSD), is more common and more troublesome than most people realize. In the US alone, about 60,000 people acquire single-sided deafness (SSD) every year. Many of those people try to manage with their one normal-hearing ear and miss out on the benefit of available hearing devices. While there is no cure for SSD, there are treatment options available that can restore the sensation of hearing on the deaf side.

People who use these hearing devices report that listening is easier and more comfortable with a device than without one. Some current hearing device options include bone-anchored implants, CROS (contralateral routing of signal) and BiCROS (bilateral contralateral routing of signal) hearing aids, and TransEar®.

People with SSD have significant or total hearing loss in one ear and normal to near-normal hearing ability in the other ear. Some have complete deafness in the ear, while others may have some ability to hear very loud sounds in the affected ear but the

ear’s ability to understand speech is so poor that traditional hearing aids cannot help.

People with SSD often will have to strategically place their friends on their “good” side in order to participate in conversations. They will find group conversations difficult and background noise even more difficult. Or they may miss sounds or voices coming from the affected ear side.

The cause of SSD varies from one individual to another. Some people are born with one deaf ear while for others, it occurs later in life. SSD can arise from a number of different conditions, including: • Sudden deafness, often with an unknown cause • Physical damage or trauma to the ear • Pressure on the hearing nerve from a tumor • Inner ear problems including infections (viral or bacterial) • Diseases such as Meniere’s.

Regardless of the cause of the SSD, there are several options for

Editorial office: Deadline for editorial submissions is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Send submissions to: Editor, Healthy Living News, 1619 Circular Dr., Toledo, OH 43614. Phone: 419-754-1339, fax 888-506-5790; email: editorhln@bex.net.

Publisher: Kevin O’Connell

Amplification options for SSD

Editor: Jeff Kurtz Travel Editor: LeMoyne Mercer Sales: Robin Buckey Print Designer: Jan Sharkey Web Designer: Strategically Digital LLC Social Media: Miranda Hassen Distribution: Jim Welsh • Alison Foster Dominion Distribution Distributech–Toledo Copyright © 2014 Healthy Living News Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Healthy Living News is published for the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well being of the general public and its subscribers. The information published in Healthy Living News is not intended to diagnose or prescribe.

Please consult your physician or health care professional before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.

improving hearing ability with the condition. Following a complete hearing evaluation and medical clearance from an otologist (ear specialist) or ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist), options for hearing devices can be investigated for SSD. Medical clearance should include an investigation into why the ear has hearing loss and what is the risk of hearing loss in the good ear.

Current Food and Drug Administration approved treatment options call for routing the speech and other sound signals from the “bad” ear to the “good” ear. All hearing options for the affected or bad ear should be investigated before pursuing this option. In other words, the current FDA-approved options for SSD do not “restore” hearing to the deaf ear.

They reroute sound signals to the good ear. Cochlear implants are not currently approved for use in SSD. Also included in the evaluation for SSD is counseling to be vigilant about the use of hearing protection in noise so that the good ear is protected from noise-induced hearing loss. Disposable earplugs and earmuffs are readily available for retail purchase. Custom hearing protection is available from your audiologist, and there are even special options for musicians and hunters.

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Non-surgical options include the CROS (contralateral routing of signal) system and TransEar®. A bone-anchored implant is a surgical choice. Even an adult (or child) who was born deaf in one ear is still likely to benefit from these options. Descriptions of each type of amplification follow: • The CROS (contralateral routing of signal) system wirelessly transmits speech from a microphone worn on the poorer-hearing ear to a receiver worn on the better-hearing ear. It typically also has the flexibility to be reprogrammed should a hearing loss develop in the better ear. When the hearing aid in the better ear is also providing amplification to the better ear, it is called a BiCROS. CROS and BiCROS hearing aids look just like regular hearing aids.

• The TransEar® system consists of a single device that is worn on

the poorer-hearing ear. It consists of is much greater than when two ears a deep, tight-fitting ear mold that are working together. Additionally, vibrates in response to sound and choosing the ideal seat at a party or sends the sound vibrations through positioning oneself on the “right” side the bone of the ear canal and skull of a conversation partner becomes to the better-hearing ear. less important.

• Bone-anchored implant (BAI) In closing, hearing devices for is the one current surgical option for Single Sided Deafness can be of SSD. Brand names are BAHA considerable help to people and PONTO. It consists of with this problem. The first a surgically implanted tisteps are to have a complete tanium abutment that is hearing evaluation by your placed on the mastoid bone audiologist and to obtain behind the ear. A removable medical clearance from an sound processor (hearing Bone-anchored implant ear, nose, and throat phyaid) is snapped on to the abutment sician. Following those evaluations, each day to wear the device. This a hearing aid consultation can be device sends the sound signal to the performed. better ear through bone conduction If you think you may have hearof the skull. ing loss in one (or both) ears, contact Although these devices do not the audiologists at Northwest Ohio restore hearing in the deaf ear, most Hearing Clinic to have your questions people who decide to pursue a de- answered and to schedule your hearing vice for SSD report that they cannot evaluation at 419-873-4327 (Perrysburg) ❦ believe how much sound they were or 419-383-4012 (Toledo). missing and how much easier it is to hear and listen. Focusing and con- Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor centrating with only one ear in order of Audiology with Northwest Ohio to stay connected in a conversation Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital can cause unnecessary strain and Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) fatigue. When relying on only one and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in ear, the “listening effort” expended Perrysburg (419-873-4327).

Ohio/Michigan 8K/5K promises family fun and competition for every activity level

A

rea residents looking for a family event that combines summertime fun and a little friendly competition need look no further than the Ohio/ Michigan 8K/5K, to be held Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Centennial Quarry, 5773 Centennial Road, in Sylvania, Ohio.

Whether you bleed scarlet and gray or maize and blue—or have no preference between the two—you and your family will have a blast at “The Original Border Battle Run and Race in Two States.” This evening event, sponsored by Dave’s Performance Footgear, is less about a long-running rivalry than location—it’s the only 8K that crosses the Ohio-Michigan border. Of course, it’s not unusual for diehard OSU and UM fans to show up in their respective colors.

The Ohio/Michigan 8K/5K offers something for everyone. The entrance fee gets you access to Centennial Quarry for beach activities and swimming until dusk; your choice of the 8K run, 5K walk, or kids 1-mile fun run in the evening; a T-shirt; beverage tickets; a post-race barbecue dinner;

and live music by Booyah!

Participants of all activity levels are welcome and encouraged to join in the Ohio/Michigan 8K/5K. Those who are looking for a more competitive challenge will enjoy the 8K run, which begins at 7:30 p.m., while others might prefer the scenic 5K walk, which starts at 7:15 p.m. and can be as relaxed or as vigorous as participants like. Kids love to come for an afternoon of swimming followed by the fun run at 7:00 p.m. Or, you can just come for the party and entertainment, which also kicks off at 7:00.

Racers will appreciate the fact that the 8K and 5K are on separate courses so the runners and walkers don’t interfere with one another.

Also, this event is held in the evening on a weeknight, so families with already jam-packed summer weekend schedules won’t miss out on all the fun!

For further details on the Ohio/ Michigan 8K/5K, please visit daves running.com and click on “Sponsored Events.” ❦

LIFE BEYOND DIAGNOSIS

Understanding cancer survivorship

W

ith June being designated ty incorporates family members in Cancer Survivorship Month, the survivorship definition as well now is the perfect time to not only because they’re usually dealing with celebrate the positive trend in cancer the ramifications of the disease as survivorship, but also to heighten much as the patients are,” she says. our awareness of what survivorship There are differing perspectives actually means—including the im- on precisely how survivorship should pact that living longer after a can- be defined, but according to Macer diagnosis has on patients, their honey-Stombaugh, there seems to be families, and the practitioners who a growing consensus that it begins when the cancer diagnosis is given care for them.

According to Sue Mahoney-Stom- and continues until the end of the baugh, MSN, CNP, of The Toledo patient’s life. Throughout that time, Clinic Cancer Centers, the general numerous physical, emotional, and public tends to think of cancer sur- psychosocial issues can arise as a result of either the cancer vivorship as being cured of the disease, but oncology or its treatment. practitioners take a somewhat Examples include perdifferent view. “What people sistent pain, excessive famay not recognize is that tigue, osteoporosis, heart cancer survivors may still damage resulting from need chemotherapy or other certain medications or maintenance treatments and radiation, compromised often require surveillance long hematology (problems with after their active treatment the blood), neuropathy ends to monitor for potential in the extremities, fear of side effects and recurrence. recurrence, employment Sue MahoneyAlso, the medical communiissues, and body-image Stombaugh

Kenneth E. Endicott, Prosthodontics, Inc.

issues. The high cost of cancer treat- detection. A growing recognition of ment coupled with time lost at work the importance of screening tests, can also lead to serious financial such as mammogram and colonosdifficulties—for both patients and copy, as well as an increasing general their families. Of course, just as with awareness of the symptoms associated the broader population, living longer with certain cancers is translating into means cancer survivors are at increased more cancer patients seeking medical risk of developing chronic health care in earlier stages of their disease. problems not necessarily connected Also, the treatment options for to their cancer or its treatment. certain forms of cancer are improving Mahoney-Stombaugh has observed as well. “More and more state-of-thean increased awareness art therapies are targeted in the medical commuGenetic testing is to specific cancer types, nity of the concept of and advanced genetic cancer survivorship and helping to determine testing is helping to dethe issues surrounding whether a patient’s termine not only whether it. She notes that it’s cancer type is likely someone is at increased becoming a more prevrisk for developing certo respond to alent topic in nursing tain forms of cancer, but specific drugs. and medical literature also whether a patient’s and that more research cancer type is likely to is being done on the best ways to respond to specific drugs. In breast monitor cancer patients, for example cancer alone, better treatments, such determining whether an annual CAT as hormone therapy and genetic scan would be beneficial for certain testing, are making a tremendous cancer patients. “The result has been difference in survival rates,” Mathe development of more research/ honey-Stombaugh states.

Changing attitudes toward lifestyle evidence-based surveillance plans, especially for some of the major choices may be having a positive effect cancers,” she adds. on cancer survivorship as well. For The ongoing improvement in example, heightened awareness of the rate of cancer survivorship can the benefits of exercise and proper be attributed in large part to earlier nutrition and the dangers of tobacco

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use and excessive alcohol consumption is leading some people to adopt healthier habits. Also, more research is being done on the effects of physical activity with respect to cancer prevention and survivorship. Yet the influence of lifestyle on survivorship remains a “mixed bag,” with some populations making healthier strides than others and plenty of room left for improvement.

With more and more cancer patients leading longer lives after their diagnosis and active treatment, the demand for oncology-trained physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, RNs, and other practitioners who can monitor them is definitely growing.

Mahoney-Stombaugh is gratified that more and more training and educational opportunities are available to oncology practitioners looking to expand their knowledge and skills related to cancer survivorship.

In fact, she and fellow Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers nurse practitioner Brenda Brien completed a program, developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering and City of Hope and funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, with the goal of educating 200 nurses in survivorship care. “This is a three-day program followed by a monitored 18-month period in which the nurses implement goals they’ve set at their home facilities. It’s a lot of work, but it has been worthwhile. What we

learned has helped keep us focused and given us the tools for developing a cancer survivorship program and specific care plans here at The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers,” says Mahoney-Stombaugh.

Asked what advice she would give Healthy Living News readers during Cancer Survivorship Month, Mahoney-Stombaugh replies, “If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to be diligent about follow-up care and adhere to recommendations for cancer screenings—and not just for the type of cancer you have. Also, I encourage everyone to develop or continue healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating right, staying active, avoiding tobacco use, and limiting alcohol consumption.” ❦ Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105, has eight board-certified hematologists/oncologists and eight nurse practitioners on staff and can provide imaging and laboratory diagnostic services, chemotherapy services, and IV services. TCCC also has satellite centers in Maumee, Bowling Green, Oregon, Adrian, and Monroe for the convenience of the patient, and many TCCC patients are enrolled in the latest cancer research and studies in our region through the Toledo Community Oncology Program (TCOP). For more information, please call the Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at 419-479-5605.

THE ACADEMY CORNER

CANCER CENTER

Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105 Toledo, OH 43623 GET DIRECTIONS TO HERE Scan the QR code and use Google Maps to get directions to this location.

or call 419-479-5605 Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has moved to better serve our patients and families.

Be sure to join us for our open house on March 5th, 2014 from 4pm - 7pm!

Located on N. Holland Sylvania Road, we have laboratory, MRI and other specialty services conveniently located on the premises.

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I

The Basics of bike safety

Why area doctors trust us the most…

by Ernest G. Brookfield, MD, FAAP

• Area’s most experienced cancer care team • Enrolling more patients in clinical trials than any other cancer care provider in the region • Largest number of referred patients • NW Ohio’s first QOPI Certified Cancer Center

n a previous installment of The Academy Corner, Julia Roberts wrote an excellent article titled “Benefits of the Bicycle.” As an active biker and bike tour traveler, I strongly agree that cycling is a great form of exercise, travel, and recreation, and I would like to bring up some points about bike safety.

Safe biking requires alertness and careful attention to avoid accidents and injuries.

Many automobile drivers are oblivious of bikers, and cyclists must be alert

for cars pulling out of driveways, cars making right or left turns (even if the cyclist has the right of way), sewer grates, potholes, and even loose dogs. A cyclist should keep both hands on the handlebars, eyes on the road, and mind on the ride. A bike ride may not be a good place for meditation.

For safe biking, a well-fitting helmet is a must for both kids and adults. Most of us fall sooner or later, and there is abundant evidence that helmets reduce traumatic

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head injury. It is also important to have a bike that fits your body (bike shops are helpful) and good tires and brakes. Biking gloves and shoes, as well as a rearview mirror and bell or horn, are valuable additions.

Perhaps the most important contribution to bike safety is good judgment.

Avoiding riding at night or dusk, in rain or snow, and on roads with traffic and no bike lanes is important. In our community, there are excellent

bike trails, including the University, Wabash Cannonball, and Slippery Elm from Bowling Green to North Baltimore.

Parents can supervise bike safety for their children, and everyone can enjoy cycling safely keeping these suggestions in mind. ❦ Ernest G. Brookfield, MD, FAAP, is a member of The Academy of Medicine of Toledo and Lucas County.

by Jennifer Ruple

Swim programs keep youth active and teach safety

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ummertime means pool time for many children and adults, and as they venture to their favorite spots to swim, play, and create lasting memories, the YMCA of Greater Toledo reminds swimmers to practice safety when in or around the water. As part of its commitment to strengthening community through youth development and healthy living, the Y offers a variety of swim programs that teach water safety skills and give children and adults the chance to explore the many health benefits of swimming.

“Swimming is a fun and enjoyable activity for children and adults alike, and it’s an easy way to stay physically active and improve strength, flexibility, and stamina,” said Wendy Baldwin, aquatics director at the Fort Meigs YMCA Center for Health Promotion.

“The Y encourages all children and adults to learn how to swim. It’s never too late. Basic swimming skills and water-safety practices save lives every day.”

The Y recommends children and adults practice the following safety tips when in and around the water: • Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone.

• Adults should constantly and actively watch their children.

• Inexperienced or nonswimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

• Parents or guardians of young children should be within an arm’s reach.

• Children and adults should not engage in breath-holding activities.

In addition to learning lifesaving water-safety skills, swimmers at the Y can enjoy water sports, enhance or learn new techniques, meet new friends, and develop confidence and a positive mental attitude. And, swimming is a great way to help more children be physically active.

Only 19 percent of US children get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, according to the latest findings of the YMCA’s Family Health Snapshot—a survey that gauges children’s activity levels during the school year.

As a leading nonprofit organization that’s committed to youth development, the Y will offer its annual Splash program from June 15 to 18 at six area locations. Splash, the Y’s free water safety and basic swimming skills program, is open to all children ages 3 to 12. The Y also offers year-round progressive swimming lessons, family swim programs, and competitive swimming teams. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate, financial assistance is available for families to help cover the costs.

To learn more or to register for YMCA Splash 2015 or other swimming programs, call your neighborhood YMCA or visit www.ymcatoledo. org/splash. ❦ Jennifer Ruple is the director of marketing and communication for the YMCA of Greater Toledo.

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Take the sting out of insect allergies and anaphylaxis

ecoming the target of a stinging insect is painful and unpleasant under the best of circumstances. But for people who are allergic to insect venom, a simple sting that would cause nothing more than localized pain, redness, and swelling in most people can quickly lead to a life-ordeath situation.

According to Toledo Clinic allergist/immunologist Dr. Binod Thakur, in individuals who are sensitized to insect venom, the reaction to a sting can prove life-threatening very rapidly. This severe allergic response, known as anaphylaxis, can cause a constellation of symptoms, including itching and hives over large areas of the body, not just at the site of the sting; swelling of the throat, tongue, face, or other parts of the body; difficulty breathing due to the throat closing or chest tightness; dizziness; and gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

“Anaphylaxis can quickly progress to falling blood pressure, leading to shock and loss of consciousness. This is a medical emergency and can be rapidly fatal. If you experience these symptoms after an insect sting, you must use auto-injectable epinephrine— which you should have on hand if you know you’re allergic—and call 911 for emergency help immediately,” Dr. Thakur advises.

In some instances, usually after receiving multiple stings, people experience a toxic reaction because the venom acts like a poison in their body, causing symptoms similar to a severe allergic reaction. In rare cases, sting victims have a serum sickness-like reaction, meaning they experience a delayed immunological response.

In our area, four types of stinging insects are the biggest troublemakers: honeybees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets. In warmer regions of the US, you need to add fire ants

to that list. In most cases, allergic brightly colored clothing and perindividuals become sensitized to an fumes (including sweet-smelling insect’s venom after an initial sting soaps, lotions, and shampoos), use but don’t experience a severe reaction caution when cooking or eating that first time. It’s the next sting that outdoors and when drinking sweet usually causes a dangerous allergic beverages such as soda or juice, wear response—and they become more closed-toe footwear (remember, some and more sensitized stinging insects make each time they’re stung. Great news for people who are nests in the ground), However, there are allergic to insect stings is that and avoid loose-fitting exceptions. “In some they can be desensitized through garments that can trap cases, a severe reacstinging insects against venom immunotherapy. tion occurs with the your body and lead to first sting,” Dr. Thakur multiple stings. explains. “And, it is Dr. Thakur also repossible for a sensiminds patients with tized person to have insect allergies to be no reaction after being well prepared when stung because stinging they travel over the insects don’t always summer. “If you know inject venom. That can you’re allergic, be sure lead to a false sense to take your auto-injectI really don't of security because able epinephrine as well want to hurt they’re still sensitized as antihistamines and, if and can have a bad reyou have asthma, your you, so please action the next time.” rescue inhaler. It’s also beware and be The first line of important to make sure prepared! defense against inyou know how to use sect stings—whether auto-injectable epinephyou’re allergic or not—is avoidance rine properly,” he says. “There are a of the culprits. If you spot a stinging significant number of cases in which insect, stay calm and quiet and slow- these devices are used improperly ly move away. Also, avoid wearing when needed. Remember, when

Binod K. Thakur MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI

Certified by American Board of Allergy and Immunology Fellow of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Dr Thakur offers a full spectrum of services for diagnosis and management of complex or recurring immunological and allergic conditions including, but not limited to: • Sinusitis, hay fever, asthma, eczema, hives and immune deficiency • Allergic reactions to foods, drugs, chemicals, latex, insect stings and others • Blood and skin allergy tests for pollens, dust, molds, animal dander, foods and drugs • Expanded patch test panel for allergies to metals, cosmetics, chemicals, orthopedic/dental implants and other contact allergens • Ingestion challenge test for foods and drugs • Spirometry end exhaled nitric oxide test for asthma • Allergy shots as well as oral immunotherapy/desensitization for pollen, dust mites, mold, animal danders, stinging insects, aspirin and other drugs For any allergy concerns consult Dr. Thakur, a Board Certified Allergist with over 20 years of experience.

Contact his office to set up an appointment.

4235 Secor Road Building 3, 2nd Floor Toledo, OH 43623

6800 West Central Avenue Suite J Toledo, OH 43617

P: 419.479.5485 F: 419.479.5480 www.ToledoClinicAllergy.com

your throat is closing and you’re getting ready to pass out is not the time to read instructions. You need to practice how to use it ahead of time with the training unit. Most allergists offer this training and make sure their patients practice in front of them until they get the hang of it.”

Anyone who has had a severe reaction to an insect sting is urged to make an appointment with an allergist for an evaluation and testing to determine whether they’re sensitized or not and which types of insect venom they’re allergic to.

“When you see an allergist, he or she will test you for all the stinging insects prevalent in your area and, if it turns out you are allergic, get you started on an appropriate treatment plan and avoidance strategy,” says Dr. Thakur.

Great news for people who are allergic to insect stings is that they can be desensitized through venom immunotherapy, which involves administering a series of shots containing minute amounts of venom over time so the patient gradually develops a tolerance. Thus, they either don’t react to future stings or have only a minor reaction. According to Dr. Thakur, the process is slow but highly effective.

“Too often, we see people with insect allergies going from one crisis to the next, even after life-threatening reactions. Even worse, people con-

tinue to die from severe reactions to insect stings despite the availability of very effective preventive treatment.

If you’ve ever had a severe reaction to an insect sting, see your allergist

promptly for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Anaphylaxis from insect stings is a serious problem, but it’s also very preventable,” Dr Thakur emphasizes. ❦

Men, you’re at risk for osteoporosis, too!

M

ention osteoporosis, and most people are likely to think of a mother, grandmother, aunt, or other female relative who had the disease and experienced a debilitating fracture. But despite osteoporosis being more prevalent among women, men need to be aware that it’s not strictly limited to females. In fact, studies suggest that 25 percent of men have osteoporosis and that one of four men over the age of 50 will sustain a fragility fracture—a broken bone resulting from minimal to no trauma, commonly a fall from a standing position (three feet or less)—in their lifetime.

Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mineral density, which reduces bone strength and increases the risk of fracture. It’s a “silent” disease in that it typically causes no early symptoms. The first sign is often a fragility fracture, usually in the hip, spine, pelvis, or wrist, though other

areas can also be affected.

In both men and women, the risk of osteoporosis increases with advancing age. As we get older, the natural balance between the processes of breaking down old bone and building new bone gradually tips in favor of the breakdown process, making the bones more vulnerable to fracture.

There are also various secondary causes that can contribute to the loss of bone density. Examples include chronic illnesses, such as COPD, low testosterone, GI/malabsorption syndromes, calcium or vitamin D deficiencies, cancers, and hormone disorders; the use of certain medications, such as oral steroids, anti-depressants, anticonvulsant/anti-seizure drugs,

and chemotherapy agents; as well as certain lifestyle choices, like tobacco use, alcohol use, and lack of regular physical activity. A family history of osteoporosis and fragility fractures is another significant risk factor.

According to Jeffrey Bair, MD, of ProMedica Physicians Orthopaedics, women tend to develop osteoporosis at a younger age than men do because they achieve skeletal maturity sooner and then experience a significant reduction in the production of the hormone estrogen—which protects against the loss of bone mass—following menopause.

Men, on the other hand, continue to develop their skeleton for a few years longer than women do and achieve a higher peak bone mass. They’re also protected by sex hormones longer than females are (testosterone gets converted to bone-protective estrogen). “So, in men, osteoporosis usually develops later in life, around age 70 or older. As these men age and other medical problems develop, the identification and management of their skeleton becomes a lower priority.

Failure to diagnose leads directly to under-treatment, resulting in more fractures that could potentially have been prevented,” says Dr. Bair.

The gold standard screening/ diagnostic test for patients at risk of developing osteoporosis is the DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan. DEXA is a painless, noninvasive

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imaging technique that utilizes two x-ray beams of different energy levels to measure bone mineral density at various locations, often the hips, spine, or forearms. The result, called a T-score, is determined by comparing a patient’s measurement to a young adult standard. A T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis.

Osteopenia—a less severe form of osteoporosis—is signified by a T-score between -1.0 and -2.5.

Treatment for osteoporosis, which is focused on preventing fragility fractures, often demands a multipronged approach that might involve the use of medications to prevent bone loss or stimulate bone formation, as well as addressing risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, increasing weight-bearing exercise, and optimizing calcium and vitamin D intake.

However, Dr. Bair notes that there is some “blurriness” when it comes to interpreting test results and prescribing treatment for osteoporosis in men. “Most of the baselines and thresholds we use were established in females,” he explains. “But is it appropriate to determine what’s right for men based on findings in women? We really don’t have a definitive answer yet, but it’s the best information and guidance available.”

Though the risk of osteoporosis increases with advancing age, Dr. Bair emphasizes that prevention efforts need to be focused on much younger populations—adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. “We achieve our peak bone mass in our 20s. Therefore, if we target healthier skeletons at a younger age, we achieve a higher peak bone mass and have more ‘room’ for resorption as older adults before we see osteoporosis as a problem,” he says.

In this young age group, building healthy bones is largely based

on healthy eating and physical activity, but there’s also the issue of vitamin D deficiency to address.

More than 70 percent of teens and young adults are deficient in vitamin D, which is needed to absorb and drive calcium into the skeleton. Several factors may be contributing to this deficiency, among them inadequate dietary intake and lack of sun exposure.

According to Dr. Bair, vitamin D supplements can help compensate for inadequate dietary intake. As far as sun exposure is concerned, you can get all the vitamin D you need in less than half the time it takes for your skin to turn pink—so you don’t have to risk sunburn in order to synthesize enough vitamin D. Dr. Bair explains that ProMedica Physicians is targeting osteoporosis in our community on two major fronts. “Our primary care physicians pursue screening DEXA scans in appropriate patients, accounting for age, medical problems, and fall-risk profiles. Additionally, ProMedica Physicians Orthopaedics has a core of surgeons fellowship trained in orthopaedic trauma who collaborate with our patients’ PCPs to focus on secondary prevention efforts, which are necessary after a fragility fracture has occurred. While caring for patients’ acute fractures, we begin the evaluation and treatment process to optimize their skeletal health. This can be done by implementing calcium/vitamin D supplementation, ordering DEXA scans, and initiating or coordinating the anti-resorptive therapies aimed at preventing the next fracture,” he says. ❦ To schedule an appointment with ProMedica Physicians Orthopaedics/ Trauma & Adult Reconstruction, call 419-291-3858.

Staying "cool" this summer

by Amanda Manthey

W

hat should you know before you head outdoors this summer for a three-mile run or walk? Any aerobic exercise in hot weather can be difficult.

Keeping your body properly hydrated with the right fluids is essential to your safety and your fitness performance.

Drinking enough water before you exercise and during your run will help your endurance and give you a better workout.

Dehydration affects your performance and increases the risk of heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or potentially deadly heat stroke.

Some signs of dehydration include headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, and abnormal chills.

Following the right fluid-replacement plan can prevent dehydration.

Here are some training tips for proper hydration during your next run or road race: • Drink to stay hydrated, but don’t over-hydrate yourself.

• Drink two cups of water two hours before exercising and then nine ounces every 15

minutes during your workout.

Excess body water will be passed as urine before you start to run. Clear urine is a sign of good hydration.

• Get enough salt in your diet to replace salt lost during your workout.

• If you work out longer than one hour, sports drinks will replenish your sodium quicker.

• Finally, recognize the warning signs. When in doubt, stop exercising and seek medical attention immediately.

In addition to hydration, choosing the right type of workout clothing is essential to fitness performance in the warm climate. Shorts, T-shirts, and socks made of evaporative polyester fabric will help keep you cool this summer. ❦ Amanda Manthey is a former collegiate runner at Eastern Michigan University.

She writes about running and fitness on behalf of Dave’s Performance Footgear.

Don’t miss Dave’s Races Runners, get ready to “take your mark” in these exciting community events coming in June and sponsored by Dave’s Performance Footgear. For full details on events (including information on registration and any applicable fees), please visit davesrunning.com.

DABA 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run/ Walk Scholarship Fundraiser—Saturday, June 6, 2015, 8:00 a.m. at 420 Ypsilanti St., Dundee, Michigan.

Rotary Tropical 5K—Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 6751 Providence St., Whitehouse, Ohio. 5K run begins at 5:30 p.m. Kids Fun Run at 5:00 p.m.

St. Wendelin Festival Steve Gillig Memorial Run—Friday, June 12, 2015 at 533 N. Countyline St., Fostoria, Ohio. 5K Race and 1-Mile Walk begin at 6:30 p.m. Kids Fun Run at 6:00 p.m.

Happy Trails 5K Race/Walk—

Saturday, June 13, 2015, 8:00 a.m. at Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo, Ohio.

Power of Purple 5K Run & Walk—

Saturday, June 20, 2015, 9:00 a.m. at 11661 W. State Route 163 in Oak Harbor, Ohio.

Black Swamp Benefit Bullfrog

5K—Saturday, June 20, 2015, 7:30 a.m. at 8514 St. Rt. 108, Wauseon, Ohio.

Race4Justice—Saturday, June 20, 2015, 9:00 a.m. in Downtown Toledo.

Toledo Jack and Jill Annual Juneteenth Run/Walk—Saturday, June

20, 2015, 9:00 a.m. at Swan Creek Metropark, 4659 Airport Hwy., Toledo, Ohio.

Docs-N-Socks 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run—Saturday, June 20,

2015 at 1501 Bright Rd., Findlay, Ohio.

5K Run/Walk at 9:00 a.m. Kids Fun Run at 10:00 a.m.

Go the Distance Running School—

Monday, June 22, 2015–Thursday, June 25, 2015, 8:30 a.m. at 1025 West River Road, Maumee, Ohio.

Run for Safety 5K—Saturday, June 27, 2015, 9:00 a.m. at Owens Campus Center for Emergency Preparedness, 30150 Tracy Rd, Walbridge, Ohio. ❦

Recovery to Home...

Local chiropractors certified in post-surgery treatment

One patient at a time D

Lutheran Homes Society’s rehabilitation services focus on the needs of the patient. Do you want a private room for your recovery?

We have that. Looking for individualized care? We have that, too. Our care plans are designed to restore function, reduce pain, prevent further injury, and, most importantly, get you back home.

Lutheran Homes Society has four therapy centers to serve you.

Lutheran Village at Wolf Creek (West Toledo/Holland) 419-861-5634 Lutheran Home at Toledo (East Toledo/Oregon) 419-724-1841 Lutheran Home at Napoleon (Napoleon) 419-592-1688 Lutheran Memorial Home (Sandusky) 419-502-5706 Lutheran Homes Society 2021 N. McCord Road Toledo, OH 43615 www.LHSOH.org

by Christine A. Holliday

Our rehab services include: y Inpatient and outpatient therapy

y Physical, occupational and speech therapy y Skilled nursing care y IV therapy y Complex wound care y Tracheostomy care y Home assessments y And much more

o you think about your back?

That’s where Dr. Mickey Frame of If you are like 60-80% of Amer- Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture icans, the pain in your back forces and Dr. Mike Jajuga of Foundation you to think about it…why it hurts Chiropractic Clinic enter the picture. and what you can do to make it feel They have recently completed the better. It doesn’t matter if you pulled Post-Surgical Spine Rehabilitation or lifted or pushed too much or too training program offered through often, had an injury, are overweight, The Laser Spine Institute, a leader or did one too many activities as a in minimally invasive spine surgery. “weekend warrior.” Your back might They are the first two trained chirorespond—with pain that comes from practors in Northwest Ohio certified the muscles or tendons or other soft to offer rehabilitation using the Laser tissues, joints, discs, or the nerves Spine Institute protocol. that carry messages to Dr. Jajuga explains, your lower body. And you “The Laser Spine institute want relief! has developed a procedure The anatomy of the for treating many of the spine is complicated. It typical spine problems is designed to provide by outpatient endoscopic support for the body and surgery. While the patient protection for the spinal is under a local anesthetic, cord and is formed by the surgeon creates a small 24 bones (vertebrae) that incision in the skin and are held together by liginserts a camera via an Dr. Mickey Frame aments. Between each endoscopic tube, as well vertebra is a soft, gel-like as laser light and surgical cushion that absorbs the instrumentation. The surgeon uses the instrument shock of movement and injury to the vertebrae. to gently remove pieces The open column made of bone, bone spurs, or by the “stacked” vertebrae disc material that may be houses the spinal cord compressing the nerve. and nerves.

The tube is removed, and We feel pain in the the patient is sent home spine area for a variety in a few hours with just of reasons, including hera small bandage to mark Dr. Mike Jajuga niation or bulging of the the site of the surgery. disc out of its proper locaThere is less likelihood of tion where it pushes on a pain, infection, or longnerve. We might feel pain if the disc term recovery time with this type of is compressed or pinched between minimally invasive surgery. With the vertebrae or if it degenerates and right kind of post-operative care, the doesn’t provide a cushion between patient is typically released sooner two vertebrae rubbing together. An to return back to work or to resume injury or long period of wear and their normal activities of daily living.” tear on the spine (think truck driver) “The Laser Spine Institute has could also result in pain. tracked long-term outcomes of their There are a number of ways to procedure and have established a proease that pain, some obviously more tocol for the best care after surgery,” successful than others. Patients might Dr. Frame notes. “Being certified means try applying heat to the sore area or that trained chiropractic physicians taking over-the-counter pain med- like us are a preferred resource for the ications. Some might try physical patient’s post-op care. We can follow therapy, cold therapy, or bed rest. the sequence of steps the physicians In extreme cases, where nothing of The Laser Spine Institute outlined else has worked, surgery might be for the best outcomes. And, because necessary, which usually involves of our familiarity with the procedure a long healing time, possibility of performed by the surgeons, we can infection, a large scar, and only a refer patients to The Laser Spine In30% success rate. stitute with an explanation of what

that treatment involves.”

The best outcome is functionality—the ability of the patient to go back to his pre-op life without pain, and both doctors stress that they have that same goal. They liken the back to a machine, and Dr. Jajuga says, “You want to fix the machine so that it is functional. You want to be able to go back to work and perform your job.

You want to be able to sit without pain or play with your kids.”

Both doctors can provide more information. Dr. Mickey Frame can be contacted at 419-475-9355. Frame

Chiropractic and Acupuncture, 3829 Woodley Road, Building A in Toledo.

Website: http://www.getwelltoledo. com/.

Dr. Mike Jajuga can be contacted at 419-389-1721. Foundation Chiropractic Clinic, 1515 S. Byrne Road #106 in Toledo. Website: http://www. doctorjajuga.com.

More information is also available at www.laserspineinstitute.com. ❦ Chris Holliday is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Healthy Living News.

A Walk in the Park

by LeMoyne Mercer

Taking it for granted

S

hirley and I are history buffs. But, then, one of us is a geezer who has actually lived through a lot of history since the Fall of Rome. Young Americans, though, are notorious for disliking history and not knowing who we fought in the Revolution or when Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton were president.

(They’re on money, aren’t they, so they must be “dead presidents.”)

We have Black History Month because African-Americans know the importance of understanding their heritage. We have Women’s History Month because women likewise want to recognize the contributions of women to our history. But we tend to take it for granted that American history is inherently boring and that

This monument for the 1st and 3rd Mississippi recognizes the 18,000 black soldiers who served in the Union army.

the country will somehow survive if ordinary citizens don’t know or appreciate what it takes to preserve their freedoms.

When Shirley and I travel, we are looking not only for scenic beauty and good trout fishing, but also for places with historic significance. That

includes destinations like Colonial Williamsburg and Valley Forge; the homes of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe; Yorktown where Cornwallis (who?) surrendered ending the Revolution. We have followed the route of Lewis and Clark up the Missouri River to

Lemhi Pass where they crossed the Continental Divide and then down the Lochsa River to the Columbia and on to Fort Clatsop where they spent the winter on the Pacific coast.

For sheer number of historic sites, though, the leader by far is Civil War battlefield parks, beginning with Fort

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Sumter in Charleston Harbor where the whole thing began on April 12, 1861. (Even if you are not a history buff, it is a nice boat ride with dolphins frolicking in the bow wake.)

A significant percentage of Civil War battlefield parks are in Virginia where a disproportionate amount of the struggle took place. Sometimes we got a two-fer as at Manassas where the First and Second Battles of Bull Run were fought. (In one of those fascinating coincidences of history, Wilmer McLean moved away from Manassas to escape the war. In April, 1865, Lee surrendered to Grant in the parlor of the house McLean moved to in Appomattox.)

Then there is little Winchester, VA that changed hands 72 times as Union and Confederate troops passed back and forth trying to dominate the crucial Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the Confederacy.

Near our favorite city, Savannah, GA, are Fort McAllister, taken by Gen. Sherman ending his March to the Sea, and Fort Pulaski guarding the entrance to that critical port through which so many Confederate blockade runners passed. There are other battlefield parks at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, The Wilderness, Antietam, Chickamauga, Chattanooga.

And Gettysburg, of course.

There is something inspirational about standing on ground where so many people sacrificed to make us free and preserve the Union. Standing on the terrain brings understanding of how events unfolded in ways that maps never can do. There is a powerful emotional component to the experience but, paradoxically, you can’t have the emotion without knowing the significance of the place.

At the top—or bottom—of a hill at Gettysburg or Fredericksburg, the very clear military advantages of holding the high ground become undeniable. And frightening. From the crest of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, Union troops taunted Confederates with shouts of “Fredericksburg!

Fredericksburg!” They remembered that 8,000 of their comrades under Gen. Ambrose Burnside had fallen in a disastrous assault against well fortified Rebels there. Not a single Union soldier reached the top. At Gettysburg, it was the Confederate charge that was destroyed trying to

breach the Union line.

And speaking of Burnside, at the bridge across Antietam Creek named for him, 450 Georgians firing from a low bluff held off 14,000 Union soldiers because the bridge funneled them into a narrow space. There is a knee-high stone wall running parallel to the stream. Had I been a member of Col. George Crook’s Ohio Brigade, I would have been tempted to just hunker down behind that wall and wait for the shooting to stop. The thing is, Antietam Creek is quite shallow. Union officers should have been able to find a place where troops could cross with less risk of getting shot. Gen. Burnside sitting on a horse a half mile away, couldn’t tell how deep the creek was. But he might at least have sent somebody to find out. Successful generals are like real estate agents. They know the critical importance of location, location, location.

The most successful Union general, eventually, was U. S. Grant.

But not until President Lincoln had tried McDowell, McClellanv, Pope, McClellan again, Burnside, Hooker, and Meade. Grant was put in charge after his success in the West; i.e., in the Mississippi Valley. That success came first at Forts Henry and Donelson in middle Tennessee, both of which he captured in February, 1862. Before those victories, he had not been held in high regard by his superiors. His career at West Point had been not what you would call

Re-enactors at numerous military parks, like these at Ft. McAllister where Sherman reached the sea, help explain and demonstrate for visitors what happened at their location.

They often possess amazingly detailed historic information.

stellar. He performed admirably in the Mexican War, but the years leading up to the Civil War can only be described as one failure after another.

The loss of the forts in Tennessee caused the Confederates under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard to regroup in northern Mississippi. Grant proceeded up the Tennessee River to the Mississippi state line where on April 6 and 7 the bloodiest battle of the war, to that point, was fought near a little Methodist country church called Shiloh.

Headstones at military parks, like these at Shiloh, testify to the price paid for our freedoms.

But there were to be many far bloodier battles. Grant ultimately succeeded not because he was a better

strategist than his predecessors but because, unlike them, he absolutely refused to give up. The typical Union pattern had been for the general commanding to run up against an obstacle, often named Jackson or Lee, and then back off to reconsider it. The pattern for Grant was to hit an obstacle and find a way around it or through it.

Vicksburg is probably the best example of this, and it is Vicksburg that got him eventually made the head of all Union armies. Lincoln had said “Vicksburg is the key. The war can

never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.” Taking Vicksburg would break the Confederacy in half and make it much more difficult for the South to receive supplies and troops from the West. But the city sits on high bluffs overlooking the river. Vicksburg was protected on the north by a tangle of woods and swamps. Grant tried sending men through them but discovered that way was impassible. He sent troops under Sherman in boats up

—Continues on page 45

Don’t let summer sabotage your health and fitness efforts!

by Jim Berger

W

hen you think about getting together with friends for an evening, what activities come to mind? Catching a movie? Meeting up at a favorite restaurant? What about an office party or a summer get-together? More than likely, these functions center on food and leisure rather than physical activity or working out.

Many times in this atmosphere we tend to overindulge a little more. If we’re with a group of people enjoying a night on the town or a weekend getaway, we’re likely to treat ourselves to an extra drink or a dessert that we would otherwise resist.

This may be the biggest reason summer can actually work against your fitness goals. When the weather is nice, we tend to socialize more, which is wonderful. But when that socialization brings more tempting treats and moves us off track from our good habits, it’s time to make a plan to stay fit while still enjoying

an active, summer social life.

What can we do to help keep us on track for the summer? In your circle of colleagues or friends, suggest get-togethers that require physical activity. Suggest an afternoon of walking or even a weekend hiking trip. When the main attraction of a gathering requires physical exertion, people are less likely to gravitate to the lounge chairs and beer coolers!

Put your fitness first!

Another option that would be high on the list is to put your fitness first!

Don’t sacrifice your daily workout for the party. Even if you have developed the habit of consistently working out, it is easy to get busy and skip a workout here and there because of a busy schedule or a fun invitation.

Before you know it, you will wake up one morning and realize that it has been weeks since you had a really good workout. Make every invitation you accept conditional on whether

you get your workout in that day.

Parties and social gatherings then become a reward for sticking to your fitness routines!

Stay accountable!

One of the smartest things you can do to stay fit all the time and not just during the summer is to have accountability. Don’t be a lone ranger. If you have others who are working hard to live a life of vibrant health checking up on you and holding you to your comittments, your chances of staying on track skyrocket.

Be smart about sunscreen!

Sunscreen is another “hot“ topic during the summer. You have focused on eating right, getting your workouts in (outdoors if possible), sleeping seven to nine hours per night, and managing stress, but have you focussed on other potential environmental toxins that could be affecting your health?

Did you know: • Our skin absorbs 60% of any topical product we use.

• More than 10,000 chemical ingredients are permitted for use in personal care products.

• These chemicals have been scientifically linked to a range of harmful diseases and bodily reactions.

Does sunscreen help protect us from skin cancer? There are two types of ultraviolet rays: UVA and UVB. UVB is what tans or burns our skin. We know we are getting too much UVB when we start to turn red and eventually burn. Most sunscreens with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 or higher filter out the UVB rays, which is good. The UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of our skin. It is these rays that cause the significant damage and are associated with malignant melanoma.

Liz Wolfe, author of Skintervention Guide, writes, “Skin cancer can develop as a result of excessive sun exposure, and it can happen with or without sunscreen, but the type of sun exposure that makes us vulnerable to cancer is vastly different from the

type of sun exposure that boosts our Vitamin D levels and helps prevent cancer and other maladies.”

If you are going to be in the sun for a long period of time, look for a sunscreen with broad-spectrum coverage and an SPF of 15 or higher. A mineral-based sunscreen that contains non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide and has both UVA and UVB protection is better. Non-nano zinc and titanium dioxide create a physical barrier on your skin, leaving a white residue behind. This barrier limits the amount of rays that get deep into the skin.

In addition to using sunscreen, here are a few other simple tips to help protect your skin:

• Wear a hat.

• Wear sunglasses.

• Dress to limit UV skin exposure.

• Find shade and or limit the amount of time you spend out in direct sun. ❦

ter of fact, we can only be ourselves who may be somewhat influenced by our parents.

As I observe today’s dads, I’m struck by how complex their lives have become. Maybe it’s a good thing that they change diapers, cook meals, ferry kids to and from activities, and really try to be more involved in

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the lives of their family. Family can be quite complicated these days.

My grandfathers and my dad had well-defined roles in the family, and family usually consisted of Dad, Mom, and three or more kids. Sundays were spent visiting grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We were a close-knit group of people

BySister Mary Thill

Spiritually Speaking Dads are special My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.”

“We’re not raising grass,” my dad would reply, “we’re raising boys.”

—Harmon Killebrew

He opened the jar of pickles when no one else could. He was the only one in the house who wasn’t afraid to go into the basement by himself. He cut himself shaving, but no one kissed it or got excited about it. It was understood when it rained, he got the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went to get the prescription filled.

He took lots of pictures, but he was never in them.

—Erma Bombeck

W

hat makes dads special today?

Do they do the same things that Killebrew and Bombeck’s dads did in their day? I think so, but they also face new challenges that make them special in the eyes of their families today.

There are young fathers who are looking for a job that will allow them to support their families in a time when everything seems to be getting so expensive. Some dads are bearing the weight of student loans, house payments, car payments, and medical expenses for a sick wife or child or even a parent. Others feel stuck in a job they dislike but realize they have mouths to feed and bills to pay and are responsible for lives other than their own. There are dads who are constantly reaching out to others and getting involved in church, the kids’ school, the soccer team, and many community events.

This may lead to burnout or just someone giving his all whenever and wherever he is able.

Some dads are good at balancing the many aspects of life these days,

and some are not able to do so for a variety of reasons. I think it helps to have had a dad who could do this balancing act, but not everyone can be just like his or her dad. As a mat-

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who gathered for birthdays, baby/ wedding showers, First Communions, weddings/wedding anniversaries, and funerals.

As I look at today ’s families, I don’t see much of this happening.

I do see folks involved in sports, taking vacations to faraway places, spending more time on electronic devices, and trying to navigate in a society that has many demands on them. Life sure seemed simple back in the “good old days.” But was it?

I guess every generation, every movement in society will be judged differently by those who lived it and

those who viewed it from different perspectives. I like to think that today’s dads are just as wonderful in the minds of their children and spouses as my dad was and is in mine. Maybe it takes 70 years to gain a generous perspective on someone who has been such an important part of one’s life.

I hope and pray that today’s Dads are now and will always be considered special people by their families no matter how different things may be in their lives today. As Margaret Truman once said about her father, President Truman, it’s only when you grow up, and step back from him,

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or leave him for you own career and your own home—it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love. ❦

Sister Mary Thill is a Sylvania Franciscan Sister. She is Patient Liaison for Mature Health Connections at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. She can be reached at 419-251-3600.

Innovative schizophrenia treatment is a FIRST in Lucas and Wood Counties

W

ith early identification and months of treatment are either worktreatment, people with schizo- ing or pursuing educational goals, or phrenia can and do live productive, both, either full or part time,” says Lon fulfilling lives. Yet many individuals Herman, director of the Best Practices with schizophrenia suffer needlessly, in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) waiting months—even years—before Center, which partners with agencies an appropriate diagnosis is made and and mental health boards across treatment begins. the state to offer Emerging research FIRST programs. suggests that inter“And the re-hospivening as soon as talization rate for “More than 69 possible following FIRST clients is expercent of FIRST tremely low. an initial episode of psychoWe are pleased clients who have sis can lessen its severity with these important trends and promote a faster, more had more than 12 and hopeful that FIRST complete recovery from will continue to months of treatment programs schizophrenia. FIRST Lucas make positive differences and Wood Counties is a are either working or in people’s lives.” new program that provides pursuing educational Anyone between the team-based, comprehensive ages of 15 and 40 who has goals, or both...” been experiencing these early identification and outpatient treatment for symptoms for no more than schizophrenia. Treatment 18 months may contact includes psychiatric care, individual FIRST Lucas and Wood Counties counseling, family psychoeducation, team leader Brandi Hahn, MSW, LISW, supported employment/education, at 419-764-2773. FIRST Lucas and and case management, all of which Wood Counties treatment services are delivered by a six-person treat- are available in Lucas County at Zepf Center Central Community Support, ment team.

“Our providers work as a team to Medical & Vocational Services, 6605 help individuals affected by schizo- W. Central Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43617 phrenia and their families to achieve and Zepf Center Nebraska Medical, their personal recovery goals and to Child & Adolescent Services, 905 improve the long-term course of the Nebraska Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43607; illness,” says Lisa Faber, director of and in Wood County at Compass, a community integration at the Zepf division of the Zepf Center, 541 W. Wooster St., 3rd Floor, Bowling Green, Center.

Although the course and features Ohio 43402. of schizophrenia and related disorFIRST Lucas and Wood Counties ders vary from person to person, is a partnership between the Zepf schizophrenia includes periods when Center; University of Toledo Medical an individual experiences psychotic Center; Coleman Professional Sersymptoms, meaning that there is vices; Wood County Alcohol, Drug some loss of contact with reality. Addiction and Mental Health Services Schizophrenia is characterized by Board; Mental Health & Recovery hallucinations (seeing or hearing Services Board of Lucas County; and things that others do not), delusions the Best Practices in Schizophrenia (firmly held false beliefs, such as Treatment (BeST) Center at Northeast paranoia), disordered thinking, so- Ohio Medical University. There are cial withdrawal, limited emotional also FIRST early identification and expression, problems with attention treatment programs in Cuyahoga, and certain types of memory, and Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit, loss or decrease in the abilities that and Trumbull counties as well as the allow people to plan and organize. Greater Cincinnati Area and Greater “More than 69 percent of FIRST Lima. To learn more, please visit clients who have had more than 12 www.neomed.edu/bestcenter. ❦

Elizabeth Scott Community 2720 Albon Road Maumee, OH 43537 419-865-3002 www.elizabethscott.org

Spring Meadows Senior Community 1125 Clarion Ave. Holland, OH 43528 419-866-6124 www.springmeadowsecf.com

Aspen Grove Assisted Living Residence 7515 Secor Rd. Lambertville, MI 48144 734-856-4400 www.aspengrovefamily.com

St. Clare Commons 12469 Five Point Road Perrysburg, OH 43551 419-931-0050 www.homeishere.org

Sunset House 4030 Indian Rd. Ottawa Hills, OH 43606 419-536-4645 www.sunset-communities.org

The Woodlands 4030 Indian Rd. Ottawa Hills, OH 43606 419-724-1220 www.sunset-communities.org

Lutheran Village at Wolf Creek 2001 Perrysburg-Holland Rd. Holland, OH 43528 419-861-2233 www.lhsoh.org

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Senior Living Guide Choosing a senior living community that’s right for you or a loved one is among the most important—and challenging— decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. We’re fortunate here in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to have a wide variety of high-quality senior living options, including independent living, assisted living, continuing-care, and subsidized low-income housing communities.

To make your decision a bit easier, we’ve assembled this guide to all the senior living properties that regularly support Healthy Living News through advertising. In addition to referencing this page for each organization’s contact information, we urge you to see their ads in the pages of this issue, check out their websites, and give them a call to schedule a tour if you are interested in hearing more about all the services and amenities they offer.

Senior Star at West Park Place

Kingston Care Center of Sylvania 4121 King Road Sylvania, OH 43560 419-517-8200 www.kingstonhealthcare.com

Pelham Manor 2700 Pelham Rd Toledo, OH 43606 419-537-1515 www.jewishtoledo.org

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345 E. Boundary Street Perrysburg, OH 43551

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Otterbein Skilled Nursing and Rehab Neighborhoods Monclova/Perrysburg 3529 Rivers Edge Drive Perrysburg, OH 43551 Joy Riedl • 419-308-0585 jriedl@otterbein.org

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The Laurels of Toledo

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Sunset Village

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nobody’s perfect Sister Karen Zielinski, OSF

Should I eat it?

I

am pretty good at figuring out whether food should be discarded.

If the milk smells sour or there is a gray layer of fur on my sour cream, out it goes! This is not, however, the approved method of checking for freshness. The approved way lies in a voluntary system of food labeling.

Yes, voluntary. The only items required by federal law to be labeled for expiration are infant formula and some baby foods. Some states also mandate pulling dairy from store shelves on the expiration date. A clear explanation of expiration date terminology, or “lingo,” can be found online at WebMD. The actual term “Expiration Date” refers to the last date a food should be eaten or used. Last means last— proceed at your own risk. Other, more commonly spotted terms are:

“Sell by” date The labeling “sell by” tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires. This is basically a guide for the retailer so the store knows when to pull the item. This is not mandatory, so reach in back and get the freshest. The issue is the quality of the item (freshness, taste, and consistency) rather than whether it is on the verge of spoiling.

Paul VanLandingham, EdD, a senior faculty member at the Center for Food and Beverage Management of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, says that the “sell by” date is the last day the item is at its highest level of quality, but it will still be edible for some time after.

“Best if used by (or before)” date This refers strictly to quality, not safety. This date is recommended for

best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. Sour cream, for instance, is already sour, but can have a zippier, fresher taste when freshly sour (if that’s not an oxymoron!).

“Born on” date This is the date of manufacture and has been resurrected recently to date beer. Beer can go sub-par after three months. “It is affected by sun,” VanLandingham says. “The light can reactivate microorganisms in the beer.

That’s why you have to be especially careful with beer in clear bottles, as opposed to brown or green.”

“Guaranteed fresh” date This usually refers to bakery items.

They will still be edible after the date but will not be at peak freshness.

“Use by” date This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.

“Pack” date You will find this one on canned or packaged goods as a rule, but it’s tricky. In fact, it may be in code. It can be monthday-year-MMDDYY. Or the manufacturer could revert to the Julian calendar. January would then be 001-0031, and December would be 334-365. It gets even weirder than that.

So what should we do to avoid eating food that is not fresh, not at its maximum flavor, or actually spoiled?

Try to read labels when you purchase food. We all probably reach into the back of the dairy case for the latest date on our milk, but watch canned goods and jars of mustard, mayo, and peanut butter. Also, remember when you are bringing your groceries home to make sure they are not left

out in your car in the sun or in a non-refrigerated bag.

Most food labeling and expiration dates apply to food sold in the United States. So watch what is outside the can or package before you put it in your body! ❦ Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of

Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the Mission of the Sisters St. Francis. She can be reached at kzielins@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3543.

New staff members enhance clinical capabilities at St. Clare Commons

L

ike senior communities all across the nation, St. Clare Commons, a Franciscan Living Community, is facing a significant new challenge in caring for residents. With hospitals under mounting pressure from insurance providers to discharge patients sooner, they’re finding that people are entering their community with much more acute healthcare needs than was once the norm. As a result, the demand for on-site clinical care has grown considerably.

“In essence, people are coming to us quicker and sicker,” says Carrie McGlothlin, Regional Director of Marketing for Franciscan Living Communities. “So in order to ensure all our residents get the proper continuum of care while minimizing the likelihood that they’ll end up back in the hospital, we’ve enhanced our staff with a new executive director and several doctors and nurses with specialized clinical expertise.”

McGlothlin notes that these staffing changes were also motivated by the St. Clare Commons residents themselves, who expressed a concern over clinical staffing levels in resident council meetings and forums, as well as through the recently implemented comment card program. “Our residents communicated a need, and we listened,” McGlothlin states.

St. Clare Commons is proud to introduce the following team members, each of whom brings a unique skill set to the community: Lisa Chalk, Executive Director Lisa has been very successful developing strong customer-service programs, increasing employee retention and workforce stability, as well as implementing creative marketing initiatives to increase census.

Her expertise and sincere passion for providing healthcare services to the senior community compliment the current needs of the campus and will be integral in the future success of St. Clare Commons.

In addition, Lisa has led her team to completing three Deficiency Free Surveys through the Ohio Department of Health. She was nominated in 2013 as Ohio Healthcare Association’s Administrator of the Year and has received other professional achievements such as the Malcolm Balridge Quality Award and HCF President’s Award for exemplary performance.

In her new role, Lisa will oversee the daily operations of the campus, focusing on resident and employee satisfaction, enhancing communication processes, and hiring the most qualified candidates for open positions. She will also be responsible for ensuring the campus is aligned with valuable community partners in the healthcare industry and promoting a thorough understanding of the Mission and Core Values of St. Clare Commons.

Anu Garg, MD, Medical Director Anu Garg, MD, was named St. Clare Commons’ Medical Director in 2013.

With a specialization in Geriatrics, Dr. Garg is Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

She has focused on and championed better senior care since 2007 and is currently the Associate Program Director of the University of Toledo Medical Center ’s Internal Medicine/ Geriatrics program with Dr. Murthy Gokula.

Previously the Fellow of Geriatric Medicine at Cleveland Clinic and collaborating with a neurologist and

neurosurgeon in an “Aging Brain Clinic,” Dr. Garg remains fascinated with the aging body and brain and how they interact to affect dementias, ailments, and behavior.

Dr. Garg’s familiarity with the techniques of Behavior Based Ergonomic Therapy used at St. Clare Commons is a huge asset to the residents and the organization’s goal of improving senior care in Northwest Ohio.

With dementia diagnoses becoming more prevalent, it is important that communities adapt and improve training for professional caregivers, families, and the general public. Dr. Garg plans to foster collaboration with the many resources in the area to achieve that goal.

Irshad Hasan, MD, Family Practice and Geriatrics Dr. Irshad Hasan was born in Washington, DC, and trained at the University of Pennsylvania Hospitals and University of Toledo Medical Center.

He has been in practice since 1995 and has 20 years of experience in Geriatrics and Nursing Home

Care, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Urgent Care. In addition to St. Clare Commons, Dr Hasan visits St. Luke’s Hospital, Maumee; Mercy St. Charles Hospital, Oregon; and ProMedica Baypark Hospital, Oregon. He is a member of Northwest Ohio Primary Care Physicians (NWOPCP) with call coverage 24/7.

His main office is in Rossford, Ohio.

Meagan Bower, MD, Geriatrics and Rehab Dr. Meagan Bower grew up in Sylvania and now resides in Perrysburg. She graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1995 and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Carmel Medical Center in Columbus. Her current medical practice includes a predominant geriatric and rehabilitation patient base.

Dr. Bower is thrilled to be seeing patients at St. Clare Commons. She also sees patients at Franciscan Care Center in Sylvania and appreciates the philosophy and caring spirit at both facilities. She is excited about the

opportunity to see her practice grow at a location so close to home and in the community where she lives.

Steven Sokoloski, MD, FAAOS, Rehab Consultant Dr. Steven Sokoloski of Consulting Orthopaedic Associates has joined the St. Clare Commons care team as a Rehab Consultant. He works closely with the St. Clare Commons therapy and nursing staffs to ensure rehab patients are progressing appropriately and to help remove any barriers to their recovery.

Consulting Orthopaedic Associates has offices in both Sylvania and Bowling Green, and Dr. Sokoloski is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center and ProMedica Flower Hospital. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio and completed his internship and residency at Loyola University Medical Center. He has been in practice for 23 years.

Karen Jones, RN, Director of Nursing Karen Jones has been appointed to lead the Clinical Team at St. Clare Commons.

She has a degree in Psychology from Ohio University but changed career paths to nursing after joining the US Army and earning her nursing degree more than 30 years ago. Karen was brought on to ensure St. Clare Commons provides excellent care for the residents on campus. Whether providing leadership and training for staff or recruiting additional qualified candidates to care for the residents, Karen will use her expertise to create the best team possible. ❦ St. Clare Commons, located at 12469 Five Point Road in Perrysburg, is offering one free month for residents who move in by July 31. To see all the community has to offer, don’t miss their next open house, to be held Saturday, June 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Or, call 419-9310050 to schedule a personalized tour at any time.

MOVE-IN BY JULY 31

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Osteoarthritis and acupuncture—a new hope

by Douglas A. Schwan, DC, Dipl ac

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he bane of getting old includes the “creaky and squeaky” of old bones fighting the war against aging.

Osteoarthritis is universal and found in almost everyone as they age. It is a wear-and-tear arthritis brought on by the bumps and bruises we accumulate over our lifetime.

Remember that whiplash accident 20 years ago that tore your neck ligaments? That 80-pound box you thought you could easily hoist up onto the shelf at work that crushed a disc? Those 10 years wearing out your wrists typing on a keyboard? That time you blew out your knee playing football? All these traumas contribute to damage that leads to accelerated wear and tear in all the joints of your body. This accumulated wear and tear is termed osteoarthritis, where “osteo” means “bone” and “arthritis” means “painful joint.” So osteoarthritis literally means “painful bone joint.”

Symptoms of osteoarthritis typically include stiffness, soreness, and an achy pain when the joint is moved. The symptoms can become acute if the joint is overstressed. For example, a knee can have soreness and stiffness that is inconvenient, but if twisted ever so slightly wrong, it can swell up like a water balloon and painfully cripple a person.

Osteoarthritis appears on an x-ray in a typical pattern. The joint may appear out of alignment. The bones usually appear deformed with collapse, and one can see lipping and spurring deformations around bones.

There can be a marked reduction in the normal joint space between the bones.

In osteoarthritis, pain normally comes from two areas. The first is the bone-on-bone scraping that results from the dying off of damaged cartilage in the joint. Cartilage is that white glistening coating you typically see on the ends of chicken bones. It acts like a Teflon coating on bones where they come together and allows them

to painlessly glide on one another.

When this coating of cartilage cells is damaged, the joint is left with boneon-bone—and bones are sandpaper rough, which can create a great deal of inflammation as they attempt to “glide past” one another.

The second mechanism of pain comes from the soft tissues and ligaments around the joint. As osteoarthritis progresses, the body responds by thickening ligaments and replacing healthy damaged tissue with fibrous scar tissue.

This “thickening” and scar tissue can interfere with nerves and blood vessels around the joint. It also can restrict the draining of inflammatory acids and chemicals produced by the body in response to mechanical irritation in the joint. This leads to chronic pain and slowed healing.

In severe cases, this thickening of tissues can get so out of control that other body parts are impacted. For instance, severe osteoarthritis in the neck can compress the esophagus, making swallowing very difficult. Scar tissue can also compress important nerves, leading to radiating pain patterns like sciatica leg pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

New advances in acupuncture techniques have led to new treatments for osteoarthritis. Traditional needle acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the production of endorphins—the body’s natural pain killers. Acupuncture does more than this, though. It stimulates the body’s healing energy to center on the damaged area. The Chinese call this “Qi” energy. Chiropractors refer to it as the “Innate Healing” energy, while medical physicians call it the “Vitalistic” energy of the body. All have slightly varying definitions, but the core idea remains: The body utilizes a type of energy to maintain function.

New techniques allow us to accentuate this effect like it’s on steroids!

By placing traditional acupuncture

needles around the damaged area and running a computer controlled micostimulation current through them, the energy imparted into the area is multiplied a thousand fold. Modern orthopedists are even utilizing needle and electrical stimulation to entice bad fractures to heal faster. They just stick a needle at each end of a fracture and run a current through it.

The body takes this energy input and does the rest—healing an otherwise recalcitrant fracture!

Termed microstim acupuncture, the treatments have been shown to soften scar tissue, make thickened ligaments more compliant, and chemically assist in the breakdown and removal of trapped inflammatory chemicals around a stricken joint.

Modern surgical approaches have tended to shy away from operating on osteoarthritic joints because history has demonstrated mostly poor outcomes to be associated with such cases.

If you believe you have osteoarthritis associated with neck, back, knee, wrist, or other joint pain, consider a consultation with an acupuncturist specializing in combination acupuncture with microstim therapy. It is important to select an acupuncture physician who has a good understanding of orthopedic anatomy because needle placement is particularly important in getting good results with this therapeutic approach. ❦ Dr. Schwan is available to speak with your group on a wide range of holistic topics. Just drop him a line at Dr_Schwan@acupuncturetoledo.com.

For more information about TCM,

acupuncture, or Schwan Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center, please visit us at www.AcupunctureToledo.com.

Role models: Where have they gone?

by Mark S. Faber, USPTA Elite Professional

R

ecently I Google searched the definition of “role model.” Here is what I found: A role model is “a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated” (OxfordDictionaries.com). So then I started to think, if you were to ask a young person today who they look up to, who would they say?

In my profession, I have the opportunity to ask kids or hear kids talk about sports figures daily. Some of the names I have heard from them are Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Tiger Woods, Ray Lewis, Alex Rodriguez, and Jameis Winston (to name just a few).

Then I started to think about why the young kids would be mentioning these guys and others. The common ingredient among all of them (with which you cannot argue) is their success on the sports field. Their accomplishments are amazing. In the world that we live in today, where success seems to be determined by

winning and losing, can you blame a young child for wanting to reach the level of these athletes? They are making millions and winning trophies, and that seems to be what we are all about.

Why has winning become such a factor in whom kids select as their role models? Is it because we as parents stress winning too much? Is it because we coaches stress winning too much? Has our world lost focus on reality? There is no reason to squash a person’s dream of making it to the professional level. I truly believe that every child should have that dream, but we as parents and coaches need to keep that dream in check and make sure we are teaching and encouraging the correct lessons (ones that are not only beneficial on the playing field but in life). Fewer than one percent of athletes actually make it to the level you see on TV, so we need to keep it real for the masses and assist the outliers.

What I challenge HLN readers to do this month is share with a young person someone they would consider a role model—not just for what they’ve accomplished athletically, but also for what they have done off the playing field and in the community that truly sets them apart. The likes of Arthur Ashe, Roberto Clemente, Walter Peyton, and Jordan Spieth are just a few examples that could fit into this category. People still talk today about what they have done, for their legacy continues beyond their championships.

If we as parents and coaches can start to not only help develop future champions on the field, but also ed-

ucate the youth of today about the impact they can have off the athletic field, then we will be creating an outstanding generation of leaders.

If we all do our part, then maybe, just maybe, we will hear more positives about the athletes our kids are looking up to and, in turn, change the negative trend. ❦

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Understanding seasonal allergies

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easonal allergies are among the most common medical disorders, affecting 400 million people worldwide. In the United States, one person in every four households is affected by seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies occur in response to specific allergens that are usually present at predictable times of the year, typically the spring or fall, and may be commonly referred to as “hay fever” or “allergic rhinitis.”

Seasonal allergies are a heightened response to your body’s defense against harmless materials, such as pollen or mold, and occur when these inhaled particles cause inflammation of the nasal passageways. Not everyone will have the same reaction to the same allergen; one person may find that they are sensitive to several different allergens, while the same allergens may not affect the next person at all.

In many areas of the United States, spring allergies begin in February and last until the early summer. Three of the most common causes of seasonal allergies include trees, grass, and mold. Trees produce pollen commonly causing symptoms in the spring. Grass pollen is among the most common offenders of seasonal allergies in the United States and typically causes symptoms in the late spring and summer. Mold spores are present year round but will be worse in the spring, especially if it has been rainy. Many molds grow on rotting logs and fallen leaves and do not die with the first frost of winter like pollens.

A pollen count signifies how much pollen is in the air. A higher count means that people who are allergic are more likely to exhibit symptoms.

Pollen counts are calculated using the concentration of pollen in a certain area during a specific period, usually 24 hours. Air-sampling devices collect particles from the air, the sample is then examined under a microscope, and the pollen grains are counted and identified. Levels of pollen count are usually described as low, moderate, or high and may vary depending on what type of allergen is being tracked.

The patient with allergic rhinitis typically experiences symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and itchy eyes, ears, or nose. Symptoms begin three to five hours after exposure to the allergen and peak at 12 to 24 hours. For most people, allergies are just a seasonal problem, lasting only for a few weeks at a time, only once or twice each year. In general, over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroid sprays help treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies.

Antihistamines, such as Benadryl® or Claritin®, counter the effects of histamine. Histamine is the substance that causes the eyes to water and the nose to run during an allergic reaction. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness and should be taken with meals or a full glass of water.

Decongestants, such as Sudafed® or Afrin® Nasal Spray, work by thinning nasal secretions and reducing sinus swelling and discomfort. Use of a nasal decongestant spray for more than three to five days can cause “rebound congestion,” a condition that causes even more severe congestion than before trying the treatment.

Sudafed is sold behind the pharmacy counter and should be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure. Nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase® or Nasonex®, work by decreasing inflammation, swelling, and mucus production. If used in low doses for short periods of time, there are relatively low side effects with these medications.

In addition to treating the symptoms of seasonal allergies, there are also some things you can do to prevent allergies from occurring. Minimize your allergen contact by avoiding the outdoors between 5:00 and 10:00 am, saving outside activities for the late afternoon or after a heavy rain when the pollen levels are lower. Instead

of opening your windows to keep cool, consider using air conditioners and avoid using window fans. Dry your clothes in an automatic dryer as pollen can collect on clothes that are hung outside to dry and then be transported indoors. If you are allergic to grass, have someone else mow your yard or wear a mask if you must do the mowing yourself.

Overall, knowing your allergy triggers, avoiding the allergens, and using the proper treatment can help you to reduce your risk for experiencing seasonal allergies this spring and summer. ❦ Dr. Michelle Schroeder is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at UT and is currently the program director of the outpatient diabetes education program.

The information presented in this column is intended for your general knowledge only and does not aim to replace medical advice or treatment for specific medica66l conditions. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.

References: 1. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Seasonal allergies; 2014. Available at: http://acaai.org/ allergies/types/seasonal. 2. ProMedica Health Connect. Surviving seasonal allergies; July 2014. Available at: https://www.promedicahealthconnect.org/body-and-conditions/surviving-seasonal-allergies/?gclid=CPyD7I6aqcUCFWRp7Aod0B0AwQ. 3. National Institutes of Health Medline Plus. How to control your seasonal allergies; 2013. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ magazine/issues/spring13/articles/spring13pg22-23.html.

Q

: We’re taking the entire family on a trip to Disney World this summer. Do you have any tips for flying with babies?

A: You’d be surprised! Most babies do well traveling on a plane; it’s the toddlers that tend to get antsy when confined to a seat. The most important thing is to plan ahead.

Choose your seats in advance; opt for the seats as close to the front of the plane as possible as it’s less noisy than the back. Bulkhead seats offer a little extra room. When arriving at the airport, check your bags at the curb versus inside; you’re already traveling with extra gear, so you won’t want to carry it further than necessary. Of course, travel with a

set of clean clothes, extra diapers, wipes, toys, blankets, and whatever else your baby may need during the flight. Most importantly, prepare to assist in reducing ear discomfort for your little one.

Only about one-third of all travelers experience an ear-popping sensation in flight due to changes in air pressure. This ache is related to the pressure changes in the space behind the eardrum in the middle ear. The Eustachian tube is responsible for equalizing the pressure in the middle ear by opening and releasing air. Our ears pop to allow this adjustment within our middle ear. We experience pain when the air is pushed on the eardrum and isn’t equalized. If your baby has a

cold or runny nose, it could increase the chances of his or her ears being affected. The good news is, this discomfort is only temporary.

We know as adults that it helps to chew gum or yawn during the flight to equalize the middle ear pressure.

However, this isn’t an option for babies for obvious reasons. Instead, offer your baby a bottle or pacifier during takeoff and descent to prevent ears from being plugged. Take comfort in knowing that because of the loudness of the engines, the entire plane won’t be able to hear your baby cry. Cabin level noises can reach as high as 100 decibels and even higher during takeoff. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to use cotton balls or customized earplugs to block out this excessive noise. And remember, everyone has flown (or may soon fly) with a baby, so don’t pay too much attention to your fellow travelers. Focus on your baby, and have a great trip! ❦ Randa Mansour-Shousher, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor of Audiology with Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in Perrysburg (419-873-4327).

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Laurels therapy team embraces guests’ hobbies and interests

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he members of the therapy team at The Laurels of Toledo, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center located at 1011 Byrne Road, understand that successful rehabilitation following a surgery, injury, or illness is about much more than reacquiring the ability to perform basic self-care tasks such as dressing, bathing, and grooming. While these functions are essential to independence, they’re only part of a much broader picture.

“Our approach to occupational therapy also focuses on what are called instrumental activities of daily living, or IADLs,” says Laurels licensed certified occupational therapy assistant Cristina Nickle. “These are more complex tasks vital to living independently at home, such as cooking, shopping, laundry, yard work, and home maintenance.”

Nickle further explains that the Laurels’ therapy gym is equipped with kitchen and laundry facilities so the therapists can help guests with the skills required for cooking and washing clothes. Plus, the team is always looking for innovative ways to incorporate other aspects of guests’ lives into their rehab programs—in-

cluding their favorite hobbies and interests. For example, Nickle and her stepfather recently constructed a raised flowerbed and placed it in the courtyard just outside the therapy gym, with the goal of getting rehab guests involved in flower gardening.

In addition to bringing color and fragrance into guests’ experience at The Laurels, the new flowerbed offers guests a variety of additional benefits. “Accessing the bed in the middle of the courtyard requires them to navigate uneven and soft surfaces, which improves their balance, and all the reaching, bending, and lifting help with strength and function.

From the standpoint of the therapy team, the bed allows us to observe guests’ sequencing, or their ability to do things in the proper order, and to evaluate whether they may need assistance with these types of tasks at home. Beyond that, working in the garden simply enhances guests’ sense of well-being and makes their stay here more comfortable and enjoyable. Gardening can really be someone’s Zen,” Nickle says.

One guest who shares that sentiment is Phyllis Waller, who came to The

Laurels for rehab following a total left knee replacement. Waller maintains a small flowerbed at home and gets a lot of joy from gardening, so she was understandably enthusiastic about the raised bed. “The project went really well, and I appreciated that they asked me to participate,” she says. “Rather than just sitting around feeling bored when I wasn’t in therapy, it gave me something productive and enjoyable to do with my time.”

As part of the project, Waller, along with Nickle, physical therapy assistant Justin Bates, and another rehab guest, also had the opportunity to go on a group outing to Walmart—one of her favorite places to shop—to pick up gardening supplies such as soil, work gloves, a trowel, and a watering can. “All of this reflects the basic philosophy of occupational therapy, which is to focus on meaningful, purposeful, and functional tasks,”

Nickle states.

Having spent two and a half weeks at The Laurels as an inpatient rehab guest and currently going there three times a week for outpatient therapy, Waller is now able to walk unassisted and has nothing but positive comments for the rehab team and facility. “The staff here is truly unbelievable and so skilled at what they do,” she says. “They’re very conscientious and timely, and there’s nothing they won’t do to make your stay more comfortable. I’ve already told other people that if they need rehab for any reason, this is the place to come.”

Waller, a former cleaning lady, was also greatly impressed with the cleanliness of the facilities at The Laurels—and she appreciates that The Laurels provides shuttle service to and from the facility at no charge to guests. “I’m not able to drive just yet, so I’m very grateful for that

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Ultraviolet radiation and its relation to the human eye

by Bennett Romanoff, MD

F

rom young toddlers to adults of all ages, protecting the eyes from ultraviolet light is an absolute necessity.

We all need to wear “sunblock” for our eyes while outdoors. There is no question that exposure to ultraviolet light, sunlight, is damaging to the eye, especially in children.

Numerous studies have conclusively documented the association of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. The association was suggested by ophthalmologists over 100 years ago, but only in the past 20 years have epidemiologic studies well documented this.

Light in the UVR spectrum has a shorter wavelength than visible light and is invisible to the human eye. UVR is divided into three categories: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Ninety-five percent of UVA and 5% of UVB reach the earth’s surface, while UVC is blocked by the earth’s ozone layer. UVC is not found in nature but is emitted in arc welding and UV sterilization lamps.

UVB causes sunburn and is the most harmful form of UVR. It is the main cause of skin cancer. UVA causes sun tanning and also contributes to photo-aging of the skin.

The ozone layer around the earth, acts to filter 90 to 95% of UVA and UVB. Over the past 20 years, the depletion of the ozone layer has been well documented. There has been a 12% depletion of the ozone layer per decade globally. It has also been estimated that a 1% reduction in the ozone layer leads to an increase of 0.2 to 2.0% in the damaging UVB reaching the earth’s surface. For

every 1% decrease in ozone, there is a 4% increase in skin cancer and up to a 0.8% increase in cataracts!

It has been estimated that humans receive 80% of their lifetime exposure to UVR in the first 18 years of life. Children under the age of 10 are generally not capable of filtering UVR out of their eyes. During these vulnerable years, when the eyes are not protected, the eye most likely starts the aging process that can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration later in life. A cataract, the clouding of the lens in the eye, occurs in virtually all adults by the age of 70, mainly due to exposure to UVR. Cataracts are easily treatable with outpatient surgery. Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in adults over 60. There is a very strong association of UVR in the cause of macular degeneration.

The eyelids, brow, cheeks, and nose all serve in blocking or filtering UVR. There are much more effective ways to block virtually all UVR reaching the eye. Photochromic lenses, such as Transitions, block 100% of UVR. Polarized sun glasses and polycarbonate plastic lenses filter out close to 100% of UVR. Of course, a sunvisor hat is very important, in addition to glasses, in minimizing peripheral UVR that gets around the lenses.

Nationally, only 34% of adults who wear prescription glasses also wear prescription sunglasses. Only 14% of adults wear Transtions lenses, whereas the percentages are much lower in children! In my practice, as a result of appropriate education, virtually all my patients wear Transitions lenses and/or polarized lenses, not only to see well, but also as “sunblock” for their eyes. I strongly recommend that patients who have no visual need for glasses always wear overthe-counter polarized sunglasses starting at one year of age.

That old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is very applicable in stopping

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ultraviolet radiation from reaching the eye as well as our skin.

If you have any questions that you would like answered by Dr. “Buzz” Romanoff, please contact Healthy Living News at editorhln@bex.net or 1619 Circular Rd., Toledo, Ohio 43614. Dr. Buzz will write answers to a few typical questions in the next issue. ❦ Dr. Bennett Romanoff is Chief of

Ophthalmology at Flower Hospital, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toledo College of Medicine, and an instructor of Ophthalmology in the Family Practice residencies with Flower and Toledo Hospitals. Since setting up his practice in 1978, Dr. Romanoff has helped thousands of patients in Northwest Ohio achieve better quality of vision with up-to-date treatments and solutions.

The importance of proper posture in reducing pain

by Ashleigh Stubleski, PT

P

osture plays an important role in reducing health complications, including back, neck, and shoulder pain. Most people tend to sit slumped in a chair, which reverses the normal curvature of the lower back and neck. This puts increased pressure on the discs of the lower back, resulting in pain and stiffness.

While sitting at a computer, people also tend to round their back and strain their neck forward. This will shorten the muscles of the neck and can lead to headaches and muscle spasms. Over time, poor posture can cause certain muscles to function improperly, which leads to abnormal stresses in the joints and causes pain.

The benefits of good posture include keeping the bones and joints in correct alignment to ensure the

muscles are used properly, decreasing the abnormal wear of joints, preventing fatigue as muscles are used more efficiently, and preventing backache and muscular pain.

Proper sitting posture creates a slight curve in the lower back and neck. Sit with your buttocks against the back of the chair with the back straight up, not slumped forward.

Your head should sit directly over your shoulders, with the chin tucked and not extended forward. Shoulders should be pulled back and not rounded forward, a relaxed versus an elevated position. The hips and knees should be at 90 degrees with the feet resting flat on the floor. A small towel roll in the lower back will help to maintain the natural curvature of the lower back.

Strive to attain proper posture as often as possible during the day. It may be beneficial to set timers while sitting at a computer to do posture checks and correct the improper posture. You should never sit for longer than 30 to 60 minutes; you should get up and walk around after sitting for this long.

It is also important to maintain upright posture when standing as well as sitting. Keep your shoulders pulled back when standing and reaching to reduce impingement of the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulders.

Should you find yourself with back, neck, or shoulder pain, contact your physical therapist or physician.

There are a variety of exercises to correct posture and reduce neck or back pain associated with postural dysfunction. ❦ Ashleigh Stubleski is a Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer at UT Health Physical Therapy–Regency Court.

Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture announces the addition of ChiroThin™ to their office

L

ocally owned Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture announced recently that it has added the Doctor Supervised ChiroThin Weight Loss Program™ to their office. When asked what made Frame Chiropractic decide to begin offering weight loss, Dr. Mickey Frame said, “The number of people in the United Sates that are overweight or obese has reached near epidemic proportions. Every day I have the opportunity to treat patients who are suffering with health conditions that can be associated with being overweight.

In fact, studies have shown that nearly 80% of health conditions can be either directly or indirectly related to weight issues. I have decided to take a stand and help the people of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan regain control of their weight and, as a result, their health.”

When asked why he thought weight issues have become such a problem, Dr. Mickey Frame said, “People have forgotten how to eat in a way that promotes health and being at their optimal weight and the two go hand-in-hand. In fact, that is what made me decide to go with ChiroThin. It teaches people how and what to eat in the real world. There are no shakes, no eating meals out of a box, no crazy exercise programs, and all of the food is purchased at the grocery store.” Dr. Frame went on to say that many people, when following the ChiroThin program, lose 20-35 pounds in just 6 weeks and they are given the tools to help them make the weight loss more permanent.

For questions or to learn more about the doctor-supervised ChiroThin Weight Loss Program™ or Frame Chiropractic and Acupuncture, please contact Frame Chiropractic & Acupuncture, 3829 Woodley Rd., Toledo, OH 43606, 419-475-9355, www.getwelltoledo. com, drframe@getwelltoledo. com.

P

EVERDRY WATERPROOFING Your prescription for a healthier home—and family

revention is a key component of health care. Scheduling regular doctor visits, taking advantage of health screenings, and seeking medical treatment immediately when any worrisome physical symptoms arise will help you lead a longer, healthier life. And the older you get, the more often you need to see your doctor so he or she can keep close tabs on your health status.

According to Gil Ramirez, general manager of Everdry Waterproofing, you should take the same approach when it comes to the issue of basement water infiltration, which can seriously affect the integrity of your home as well as the health of your family.

Mold and mildew “A damp, musty basement not only robs homeowners of usable living space, but it can also expose their

loved ones to hazardous molds that could be taking a serious toll on their health. Studies have shown that mold is an underlying cause of many serious health problems, including chronic sinus infections, asthma, and a host of other issues.

In fact, research has linked mold to a 300-percent increase in the asthma rate over the last 20 years,” Ramirez says.

Oftentimes, homeowners see a few spots of mold here and there and figure it’s no major issue. But what they don’t realize is that obvious mold spots are like the above-water portion of an iceberg. Just as the bulk of an iceberg lies unseen below the surface, approximately 90 percent of the mold present in a home is in the form of invisible airborne spores, which can make you ill if you inhale them or even get them on your skin.

Get proactive Preventing basement mold and the structural damage that water infiltration can cause requires a proactive approach—in the form of regular inspections by industry professionals. And just as we need to see our doctor more often as we age, homes require more frequent waterproofing inspections as they get older.

Experts in the building/construction industry highly recommend the following guidelines for basement inspection frequency based on the age of the home:

1–10 years: Once a year 10–30 years: At least twice a year and after every significant weather event 30+ years: Two to three times a year and after every significant weather event.

Ramirez notes that when it comes to handling basement and foundation issues, homeowners often feel so overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation that they decide it’s just easier to ignore and live with the problem. But that can be a recipe for future disaster. “When you’re dealing with your home’s substructure—the part that’s below ground—seemingly minor problems can soon escalate into major ones if left untreated.

If you ignore a small problem now, you may have standing water in the future, which can lead to dangerous mold, dry rot, and even structural damage. So the earlier you call in our waterproofing experts to address the issue, the better,” he emphasizes.

Early warning signs of basement water infiltration to watch for include: • Damp, musty, humid air • Condensation • Efflorescence (chalky white residue) on masonry or concrete walls • Cracking in walls and floors.

Also, don’t assume running a dehumidifier and caulking up cracks will remedy the problem of basement moisture infiltration. As Ramirez points out, these measures merely treat the symptom of the problem, not the cause—sort of like taking Tylenol to reduce a fever without addressing the underlying illness.

Weather and waterproofing After last year’s record-breaking win-

ter, many area residents experienced a lot of melting snow and ice that led to basement complications. But basement water infiltration problems can stem from other—sometimes surprising—weather phenomena as well.

High winds, for example, can damage a home’s foundation. While skyscrapers and other tall buildings are designed with some “give” so they sway in the wind, homes are not. Once they’re cemented and anchored in place, they’re not designed to move, which leaves their foundations vulnerable to wind damage. “For example, a powerful wind blowing from west to east will lift the west side of your home while simultaneously putting pressure on the east side, and as the wind direction changes, the home adjusts accordingly. That can lead to cracks in the foundation. Of course, you should also be aware that extremely heavy rains and extensive freezethaw cycles can take their toll on your foundation,” says Ramirez.

What about climate change and your foundation? Could a few degrees variation in the average temperature make a difference? Ramirez says yes. “Climate experts contend that just a few degrees of global warming can lead to significant changes in local and regional precipitation levels as well as the frequency of certain extreme weather events. All you have to do is watch the news to see the evidence of this. We don’t just get rain anymore; we get deluges and flooding. Instead of normal snowfall amounts, we get blizzards. And, as has been reported in many news sources, extreme heat is leading to more and more wildfires in many parts of the country. We recommend scheduling an inspection after any severe weather event,” he remarks.

Put on your inspector’s hat When Everdry’s experts come out to perform an evaluation of a home’s waterproofing needs, they complete a comprehensive, 20-point inspection covering both the interior and exterior of the home—a $295 value offered at no charge to the homeowner. Just as you see your doctor at least once a year for a physical to assess your health, this free inspection to evaluate

your home’s waterproofing should be done at least once annually, but even more frequently as your home ages.

Ramirez also encourages homeowners to do a little “waterproofing sleuthing” of their own. “Take a look around, note any items that raise concern in your mind, and then share them with your Everdry representative. We educate our customers about what is causing their wet basement and then try to understand their specific expectations. By getting an idea of the basement’s end use, Everdry can determine the best solution for the customer. We then sit down with the customer, identify options to rectify the problem, and together arrive at a solution,” Ramirez explains.

Don’t ignore the problem!

Most importantly, keep in mind that small issues can turn into big ones. If you have any concerns about basement water infiltration or the integrity of your foundation, don’t ignore the problem hoping it will go away. Call to have a certified inspector from Everdry, recipient of the Franchise of the Year Award for 2014, come out and provide you with some answers and get your home back in good health. ❦

Support group proves indispensable to Parkinson’s patient

W

hen Jennifer Traver was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 42, she found she had a lot more questions than answers. Being relatively young and female, having no genetic link to the disease, and never having worked around paints, herbicides, pesticides, or other toxins, she didn’t have any of the normal Parkinson’s risk factors. Yet this working wife and mother of two children was suddenly faced with the prospect of a progressive, debilitating, thoroughly life-altering disease.

As she tried to come to terms with the hand she’d been dealt, Traver began looking for support services.

So, she got online and started searching but couldn’t find anything close to her home in Monroe County.

Then she shifted her focus to Ohio websites and discovered a monthly support group, Parkinson’s Project, at the Fort Meigs Perrysburg YMCA.

*

Her mind still reeling and having no idea what to expect, she decided to attend a meeting.

“It was a completely overwhelming experience,” she recalls.

“Being newly diagnosed and facing the possibility of seeing other Parkinson’s patients who were in more advanced stages of the disease was really scary to me.

But they were so warm and welcoming and gave me the opportunity to share my story. I left there feeling that I wasn’t alone, that I was going to be okay and could overcome whatever adversity Parkinson’s brought into my life. They made me realize that I may have Parkinson’s but Parkinson’s doesn’t have me.”

One of those positive members who inspired Traver was Tom Dunbar, president of the Parkinson Foundation of Northwest Ohio (PFNWO) and a Parkinson’s patient. He explains that Traver ’s fear of seeing fellow

Parkinson’s patients who are further along in the disease process is quite common. “Unfortunately, that fear prevents a lot of people from taking advantage of support groups where they can share resources, stories, and feelings while staying active in the community. One of a support group’s objectives is to find ways to help newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients overcome that initial reluctance so they can enjoy the best possible quality of life.”

Does this sound familiar? If your life has been touched by Parkinson’s disease (PD), perhaps it was your own reaction when someone first suggested that you join, or start, a Parkinson’s support group. In fact, many support group facilitators report that sometimes it’s the caregiver who attends the meetings first. Dunbar says, “The idea of a support group may make you uneasy. Many object to the idea of sharing their problems with others. And who needs other people’s problems?”

However, Traver visited the support group again a few months later, this time with her husband and a friend, and was once again impressed by the positive attitude and mindset of the other members. It also helped

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her decide that she needed to do something proactive in the fight against Parkinson’s. She saw that a PD support group is not a problem exchange or a place to go in order to feel more burdened or blessed.

Dunbar says, “I want to be clear; a PD support group is not group-therapy class, a 12-step program, or a substitute for medical treatment with a health consultant or other professional support. Nor is its purpose to deny the need for family, friends, or personal support. Although the intent of a support group is not to replace those things, it can be a resource for

finding them. Hopefully, if you’re on the fence about joining a support group, the above has already eased your mind somewhat. Your role as support group leader or member is not as ‘heavy’ as you might have thought.”

As Traver found, a PD support group is a self-help group. It is run by and for people who have in common a particular challenge or life situation and are willing to talk freely and trust openly in the good will of the other group members.

Traver’s support group experience encouraged her to set her sights on

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launching a new Parkinson’s support group in Monroe County so other people with the disease won’t experience the same frustration she did when she was newly diagnosed and looking for support. “The group will be open to anyone newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s as well as their caregivers and will offer convenient hours to accommodate members who still work,” she says. Her hope is to make a difference and reach at least one other person like Tom did for her. She also gives much credit to her friend and fellow Parkinson’s patient Todd Gardner, whom she met at a Michigan Parkinson’s walk, for giving her much-needed hope and inspiration.

Both Traver and Dunbar acknowledge that they have both good days and bad days and that maintaining a positive outlook despite their Parkinson’s is not always easy. Dunbar remarks, “But that’s when your network of friends comes in and gives you that boost you need.”

Traver reassures her family that she can take whatever Parkinson’s dishes out as long as they stand together. “My husband and children have been my rock throughout this ordeal, and I’m so grateful for the

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incredible support of my extended family and many of my amazing friends like Tom and Todd. If I can touch the life of at least one other Parkinson’s patient the way they’ve touched mine, I will have truly succeeded,” she says. ❦ To find a support group near you, ask your neurologist (movement disorder specialist) for locations or visit the Parkinson Foundation of Northwest Ohio’s website at PFNWO.org.

PALLIATIVE CARE Providing comfort for people living with chronic illness

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atients who have been diagnosed with a serious long-lasting disease, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer ’s, COPD, CHF, or cancer, are often faced with complex medical challenges, making it difficult to live comfortable and productive lives. Palliative care, a fast-growing healthcare trend, is specialized medical care that focuses on relieving or managing discomfort and slowing the progress of an illness.

It provides holistic approaches that help patients and caregivers manage the complexity of living with multiple diagnoses.

Diane Smith is a nurse practitioner who specializes in palliative care.

She provides such care for Kingston Care Center of Sylvania, a five-star skilled nursing facility. “Often, my patients have multiple medical specialists and care providers who are primarily focused on treatment of an individual disease or symptom. A different doctor and prescription for each ailment can cause a variety of problems in the mind and body. My role is to work together with all the providers and to care for the person as a whole in order to determine the best treatment possible to gain better quality of life,” states Ms. Smith.

Pain management, bowel dysfunction, confusion, depression, or fatigue, are some of the many symptoms that may be alleviated through palliative care. Palliative

care, which can help people with long term chronic illness for years, should not be confused with hospice care, which is focused care and support through the last stages of life.

“We take great pride in having palliative specialists on staff at Kingston HealthCare,” explains Kathy Michaels, RN, Director of Quality Assurance for Kingston. “Over the years, we have seen that our patients and residents are living longer and requiring a higher level of care due to more complex diagnoses. We have made significant strides in our clinical care model to ensure that we make a difference in comfort and quality of life for people of all ages.”

Palliative care can help people make the best and safest decisions regarding their health transitions. In addition, patients can gain knowledge about the disease process, progression, and lifespan expectancy.

Most insurance plans cover palliative care treatment in full or partially.

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about palliative care, or would like to find a specialist in your area, visit www.getpalliativecare. org. For more information about Kingston HealthCare Company, visit kingstonheathcare.com. ❦

Bite 3 Schakolad's tortoise bar Grab a bite with toledoeats.com’s Food Shark, Rob, who will hunt the Toledo area for a tasty morsel worth talking about! To suggest a menu item, contact Food Shark at food@toledoeats.com.

T

his food shark had a hankerin’ for chocolate and found a delicious, locally designed treat at Schakolad Chocolate Factory’s Sylvania location, 7632 W. Sylvania Ave. Schakolad’s tortoise bar was developed by owner Gordon Ebright’s daughter, Ami. “Ami was 17 at the time, shortly after my wife, Anne, and I opened our first store at Levis Commons in Perrysburg,” said Ebright. “She noticed that the pretzels we used to dip in chocolate had broken pieces left over in the bag.”

Ami experimented with the leftover pieces and came up with her version of the tortoise bar—pretzel pieces swimming in peanut butter inside a caramel pillow covered in chocolate.

“The first one she made was

huge, and we cut it up like a pizza and sampled it,” Ebright said. The confection became almost an overnight success and is now the highestselling item in both the Sylvania and Perrysburg stores.

The tortoise bars didn’t disappoint my craving. In fact, even though the

modern version is considerably smaller than Ami’s first creation, a single tortoise bar was packed with enough ingredients to leave me feeling full.

I ate the milk chocolate on location but had to take the white and dark chocolate samples home to eat later.

Ami’s layering of the chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, and pretzels from outside-in gave my jaw a workout as I bit into the tasty treat—these things aren’t easily chewed and swallowed as the differing layers of sweets take some effort. That said, the effort was entirely worth the tired mouth muscles because my taste buds sang!

Ebright said he sometimes gets orders for several hundred tortoise bars at a time—a great success story for a business that began 11 years ago when Ebright lost his job at General Motors.

“I worked for GM for nine years and was a victim of economic cutbacks,” he said. “I sent out hundreds of resumes and had no job offers, so I decided to hire myself.” Ebright, with the support of his wife, decided to buy a Schakolad franchise and opened his first store at

The Town Center At Levis Commons, 3105 Chappel Dr, in Perrysburg in 2009.

“People think it is a big jump going from the automotive industry to candy making, but a product is still a product,” Ebright said. “You’re still meeting production quotas, making the finest quality product you can,

and serving customers.”

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FCAPC team works to break the cycle of family violence

T

he Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center was founded in Lucas County in 1974 by a local pediatrician and a small group of concerned citizens, who saw firsthand the devastating effects of child abuse. While child protection and law enforcement agencies have a crucial role in protecting children, the founders of FCAPC had the foresight to see the need for additional community partners. From the compassion, dedication, and vision of this small group of people, an organization evolved with dedicated professionals who diligently work to break the cycle of family violence. With offices in Lucas and Ottawa counties, Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center served over 50,000 individuals in 2014.

The mission of Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center is to “intervene and educate to reduce family violence.” The services include home-based and school-based child abuse and violence prevention programs, a Children’s Advocacy Center, court-based advocacy for victims of domestic

violence, professional and community awareness training, and facilitation and support of local abuse prevention coalitions.

Founded in 1997, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is a program of Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center (FCAPC). As one of the first CAC’s in the state, we are now one of the 20+ programs in Ohio to have full accreditation status by the National Children’s Alliance, the accrediting body for CAC’s nationwide.

Our mission is to provide the community with a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and sensitive approach to child abuse through a child-friendly center in which child abuse can be investigated. The CAC also recognizes the need to reduce the trauma that children and families experience during the investigation and prosecution process. The CAC provided services to over 1,000 children and non-offending caregivers in 2014.

Over the past 40 years, the Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center has made such a large impact on the lives of the members in our community. FCAPC and the CAC have been able to reach over 800,000 individuals with their programming. They have taught over 200,000 children in our

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community ways to keep themselves safe and how to tell someone if they are being abused. They have turned victims into survivors with their domestic violence court advocacy program. They have helped children and their non-offending caregivers heal from the devastating effects of child sexual abuse.

Each year it becomes harder to maintain this stellar program due to an increased need for services and a steady decline in grant funding

sources. All of this work could not be done without our community.

Generous donations allow FCAPC and the CAC to continue to impact the lives of 50,000 people this year in our community. Please consider a monetary donation to help us end the cycle of abuse.

The Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center/Children’s Advocacy Center is located at 2460 Cherry Street, Toledo, OH 43608 and can be reached at 419-244-3053. ❦

Mercy challenge gets right to the heart of West Toledo

S

triving to spread the message about the benefits of heart disease prevention and promote a healthier West Toledo community, Mercy has launched a series of fun, informative, and innovative heart-health events, dubbed the Heart of West Toledo Challenge. The series kicked off in March and culminates on Saturday, June 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Mercy St. Anne Hospital.

Not just another “ho hum” health fair, the Heart of West Toledo Challenge is a grassroots campaign involving 16 different non-profit organizations, all competing to win one of three grants ($5,000, $3,000, or $2,000) to help support a health initiative within their respective organization.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What’s the best way to engage the community and provide health information in a fun and interactive way?'” explains Kathy Valtin, Marketing Manager for Mercy. “The answer was obvious. Area non-profits are already very active in the community and have such tremendous membership support, so it only made sense to invite them to participate.”

Sarah Velliquette, Digital Marketing and Communications Specialist

for Mercy, states, “The Heart of West Toledo Challenge is also an opportunity for us to raise awareness that, in addition to being a close, convenient, easily accessible hospital, Mercy St. Anne offers a full range of cardiac services, including a state-of-theart catheterization lab as well as the ability to perform open-heart procedures. We want people to feel confident that they’ll be in expert hands if they come to us with any cardiac concerns.”

The competing organizations include American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio, Bedford Public Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio, Eleanor Kahle Senior Center, Hannah’s Socks, Methodist Ministers Affiliation of Toledo, Mobile Meals of Toledo, Inc., Springfield Local Schools, St. Joseph Parish, St. Pius X School, Sylvania Community Services, TARTA, Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank, West Toledo YMCA, YWCA-NWO Heart Plus Program, and the Zepf Center.

People who attend the Challenge, which is free and open to all ages, are given a paper ballot and invited to vote for one of the organizations.

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age restriction on voting. The three winning organizations will be announced at 3:00 p.m. at the June 27 Grand Finale.

Each of the events in the Heart of West Toledo Challenge was assigned a particular health-related theme—nutrition for the March 15 event, healthy lifestyle choices for the second event on April 12, and exercise for the Finale.

“The events have included all kinds of activities and interactive displays, such as healthy cooking demonstrations; a Snack Attack booth, which allows people to assemble their own healthy trail mix; fun games with Kohl’s Kids in Action; Heart-to-Heart talks with a cardiologist; the Right Stuff Grocery Challenge, which encourages people to read food labels and make healthy choices at the supermarket; stations for Mercy Weight Management Center and Mercy Sleep Center; the Toledo Zoo’s Traveling Touch Tank; and much more,” Valtin says.

The Finale, to be held primarily outdoors weather permitting, will also feature cardio drumming demonstrations; an educational, inflatable Mega Heart that participants can walk through to learn about the heart’s

anatomy; and an encore appearance of the Toledo Zoo. “We’re pleased that many of the same people have been coming back to the events, which gives us the incentive to keep changing things

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up so each event is unique,” says Velliquette. “We’ve also heard several participants make comments like, ‘This wasn’t what I expected! I had a lot of fun and it was educational!’”

In addition to fun, interactive activities, the Heart of West Toledo Challenge also features free health screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol. Participants in the Grand Finale are encouraged to have these values rechecked to see if there has been any improvement as a result of the healthier habits they’ve adopted.❦

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Plan a healthy vegan diet

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hen you do what I do for a living, being peppered with questions and comments about diet and nutrition is an occupational hazard. For example, now that my kids are entering high school, concerned parents often say things like, “You’re a dietitian, right? Help me! My kid has gone vegan and I have no idea what to feed them!”

Not so long ago, “going vegan” was a very difficult path filled with lots of challenges and isolation. Today, being vegan is “cool.” Celebrities who have adopted the diet write books about it and discuss their experiences with Oprah and Dr. Oz. And it’s not just the rich and famous who are going vegan. An estimated 2 million Americans currently identify as such.

Why go vegan?

The vegan diet excludes meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, and eggs. Some adherents also eliminate honey and peanut butter (a growing trend). But why do it?

Health experts are coming forward with scientific evidence that supports the benefits of plant-based diets.

Results of many studies have shown that a plant-based diet reduces the risk of ischemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes while lowering LDL cholesterol, reducing body mass, and cutting overall cancer risk. As a result, vegan eating patterns may contribute to positive health outcomes, such as lower levels of obesity, heart disease, and mortality. The reduction in the

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risk of chronic disease is attributed to decreased intake of saturated fat and cholesterol and increased intake of fruits and vegetables with more fiber and phytochemicals, nuts, and soy proteins.

Empower yourself with knowledge To be honest, I tend to cringe when I hear people say they’re starting a vegan diet. I’m doubtful that they’re going to make the right choices and fearful they’ll end up with malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and obesity—as I witness firsthand at my job at the hospital.

If you or your kids have decided to go vegan, whether for philosophical or health reasons, it’s important to put a little thought into your new strategy. The good news is, finding vegetarian and vegan products is much easier these days. Still, it’s important that you plan, educate yourself, and eat appropriately to meet your nutritional needs.

Start with a valid and reliable source, such as www.vegetariannutrition.org or www.nutrition.gov. A good book resource is Becoming Vegan

by Brenda Davis, RD, and Vesanto Melina, MS, RD.

Make sure your diet is complete As I mentioned above, eating vegan the wrong way can lead to deficiencies and health problems. Here’s how to avoid that: Power up your protein. It is possible to get an adequate amount of protein on a vegan diet. To ensure you’re eating enough, get two servings a day of nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, sunflower seeds, and almonds, as well as three servings a day of legumes and soy, such as beans, lentils, peas, and tofu. Buying (or making your

own) fresh-ground nut butters is easy and healthy.

Crank up the calcium. Your body needs calcium, so when you’re excluding meat and dairy, you need to choose calcium-fortified juices, soy milk, and calcium-rich foods, such as dark-green veggies, almonds, and broccoli. Also, consider taking a calcium supplement.

Think zinc. Make sure your daily diet includes whole grains, legumes, green vegetables, and nuts—all good sources of zinc.

Pump iron. Many plant sources contain iron, including spinach, kidney beans, lentils, and whole wheat bread. Be sure to add vitamin C (like juice) when eating these items, as it enhances the absorption of iron.

Don’t omit omega-3! If you’re skipping the fish, you’re missing out on heart-protective omega-3 fatty acids.

Get yours from two servings a day of ground flax seeds, walnuts, canola oil, or soy products.

Rev up with vitamins B12 and D. Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin found in animal products, so you need to consume vitamin B12-fortified foods and probably take a vitamin supplement to meet your needs too.

As far as vitamin D is concerned, it’s hard enough for most of us to get enough of this “sunshine vitamin,” let alone for those going vegan. To stave off deficiency, consume vitamin D-fortified foods, soy or rice milk, cereal, and even orange juice, and take a supplement.

Remember, calories still count! I had two friends in college who were vegetarian, and both were considerably overweight from making the wrong food choices—too rich in calories. Yes, there is such thing as vegan “junk food” out there, so beware!

Focus on whole foods. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Change it up and add variety

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to ensure adequate and varying nutrients.

Before you take the vegan plunge…

Taking the vegan plunge can be beneficial for your health and the environment. But keep in mind that it can be difficult when eating out, traveling, and visiting friends and family. Plus, if you don’t plan carefully, you can come up short nutritionally. So it’s important to educate yourself and follow the steps outlined above.

Choose whole grains, fruits, veg-

etables, nuts, and seeds, and make a daily food plan. And, as always, drink 64 ounces of water per day, aim for an hour of physical activity each day, watch your sodium intake, make half your plate fruits and vegetables, and consume fats and oils and added sugars in moderation. I also recommend taking a multivitamin with minerals for insurance that you’re getting the nutrients you need.

Until next month, enjoy the benefits of optimal health! ❦ Laurie Syring, RD/LD, is chief clinical dietitian at ProMedica Flower Hospital.

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News From

OTTERBEIN Travel tips for retirees

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t’s summertime, and that means vacation season! Whether you are traveling alone, with a friend, with your family, or with a spouse, we’ve scoured the web to find the best travel tips to save money, save your back, and better guarantee a fun experience. Taking a vacation is a great way to relax, learn new things, and connect with faraway family and friends!

1. Pack less. Do you really need six pairs of shoes and purses to match every outfit? Choose mix-and-match outfits based around one color theme and re-wear what you can. Roll your clothing instead of folding. It will save space. If you are going to a place that has a washer and dryer, make use of that! This tip will make your suitcase lighter (get a soft-sided suitcase with wheels), and if you don’t have to check your bag and can put it in an overhead compartment on an

airplane, you can save money! Check with your airline on baggage fees.

2. Remember to layer! Light layers of clothing during the trip will allow you to adjust your comfort no matter what the car or airline cabin temp reads.

3. Leave the destination guidebook at home. Going to Paris but the book is about all of France? Just photocopy the pages on Paris, take them with you, and discard them when you are finished!

4. Think about security. According to the TSA, passengers 75 and older can leave on shoes and light jackets through security checkpoints.

However, if you are traveling during a period of higher security, you may still have to remove your shoes. Choose traveling shoes that are easy to remove and comfortable for walking. Your smartphone and computer will need

to go into one of the security bins.

Have your passport or ID in a place that is easy to access but also secure.

5. Bringing a tablet computer onboard an airplane? You will be asked to keep it in “airplane mode,” but before you leave home, download a book, audio book, and play-alone games (card games, word games, crosswords) onto your tablet so you’ll have plenty to do during the flight without having to have access to a Wi-Fi connection.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Especially if you are travelling with a group. Be open to trying different kinds of culture: foods, music, activities. Compromise and be flexible with others. You can choose some activities and allow others to do the same. If you are too rigid, it causes stress and you don’t want to be known as the “crabby traveler”!

7. Traveling out of the country?

Check on your medical coverage.

Seniors pay more for travel insurance— but are also more likely to need it. Find out whether and how your medical insurance works overseas. (Medicare is not valid outside the US except in very limited circumstances; check your

supplemental insurance coverage for exclusions.) Pre-existing conditions are a problem, especially if you are over 70, but some plans will waive those exclusions. When considering additional travel insurance, pay close attention to evacuation insurance, which covers the substantial expense of getting you to adequate medical care in case of an emergency—especially if you are too ill to fly commercially (source: www.ricksteves.com).

8. Keep medications close. When traveling, keep your medications in your carry-on bag. Also you may want to include a pair of spare underwear, too. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you may have an unexpected overnight stay in a connecting city without your checked luggage.

9. Stow a snack. Put some small bags of snacks in your carry-on bag.

It may be a long time between meals, and a snack will help! Avoid too much salt, as salt causes you to retain water. Water is the best choice for a beverage onboard.

10. Request a wheelchair from the airport. Seniors who have mobility issues, but do not have their own

wheelchair, can usually be provided a wheelchair by the airport that will get them to their gate.

These are just a few simple tips that can make traveling easier for retirees. Many more can be found

by Googling “travel tips for senior citizens.” Don’t use a computer?

Call Jaime at Otterbein at 419-8338917. She will be happy to send our giant list called “100 Travel Tips for Seniors.” You might also request the Otterbein travel club list of day and overnight trips. ❦

A Walk in the Park Continued from page 19

the Yazoo River to attack Chickasaw Bluffs and approach Vicksburg from that side. Failure again. He tried cutting a channel through the swamps.

More failure.

So Grant moved his army across to the west bank of the Mississippi, away from the Confederate artillery on the bluffs, and then south until they were below Vicksburg. Then had them ferried back across. A clever series of diversions kept the Confederates in the dark about what he was up to. Arcing eastward and northward through Mississippi, Union forces defeated Confederate defenders in a series of five battles. He captured Jackson, the state capitol, and reached the outskirts of Vicksburg.

The Vicksburg National Military Park and Cemetery provides another one of those lessons in the critical role of terrain in military matters.

Union troops twice tried charging uphill and relearned some rather painful lessons. Grant established siege lines and gradually tightened the noose by trenching ever closer. There are now placards on the battlefield that show just how very close those

lines were. Eventually Federal and Confederate troops could engage in casual conversation when they had declared unofficial cease fires.

Still, the city was highly fortified and it managed to hold out for two months until starvation forced surrender on July 4, 1863. Coincidentally, up at Gettysburg, Lee’s army had been repulsed and was retreating back into Virginia. The Union celebrated the Glorious Fourth with the two greatest victories of the war.

Just a couple months later, the shoe was on the other foot. At Chattanooga, a Union army was surrounded by Confederates and food was growing scarce. Lincoln sent Grant to the rescue. It took 40 days to rebuild 102 miles of railroad and 182 bridges so that a supply line could provide food and weapons.

Union forces pushed back the

Confederates and built a pontoon bridge so that Sherman’s men could cross the Tennessee River to prepare for an attack. General Joseph Hooker’s men stormed up Lookout Mountain and took the Confederate guns. (It was another one of those stupid uphill battles, but this time it worked).

The next day, Sherman’s men broke through the main Confederate line on Missionary Ridge and Bragg’s army retreated toward Atlanta.

Grant sent Sherman after him.

They agreed on a risky strategy that is now remembered as the March to the Sea. Sherman was to chase the Confederates without a supply line of his own. This meant he would be out of contact and have no way to get reinforcements or more supplies.

His army would have to “live off the land” and, of necessity, keep moving because the food supply in country through which two armies pass is quickly exhausted.

Sherman kept moving all the way to Ft. McAllister at Savannah and then turned north to trap Lee between his army and Grant’s up in Virginia. By then, soldiers on both sides had come to take it for granted, so to speak, that the Union’s commanding general was going to keep pushing them.

Civil War parks contain The iron-sided gunboat USS Cairo was sunk during the more monuments than anassault on Vicksburg. Its remains have been retrieved cient Rome. The veterans who from the Mississippi mud to illustrate the critical role played by the navy under Admiral Porter in cooperation fought and the states that sent them were proud of what with Gen. Grant.

A Union cannonball from the siege of Vicksburg is still imbedded in a wall at the Cedar Grove mansion. Southerners tend to take their history seriously.

they had endured and achieved so they erected impressive memorials in stone and bronze. Plaques mark the positions held by companies and regiments and describe what they did there. Thousands upon thousands of headstones mark the final resting place of men who died defending their ideals or their homeland. Lincoln’s greatest speech, after all, was delivered not at the battlefield but at the dedication of the cemetery.

Historian Shelby Foote has pointed out that before the Civil War, people said the United States are…. After the war, we began to say the United States is…. The fight to preserve the Republic made us a singular instead of a plural. That bloody, painful transformation was not just a walk in the park. Recent events suggest that the struggle to make us one nation, indivisible, is still far from over. ❦ LeMoyne Mercer is the travel editor for Healthy Living News and the regular contributor of A Walk in the Park.

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