Health WATCH January 2020
New Year, New You
2 • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • Health Watch
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Health Watch • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • 3
IN THIS ISSUE 4......1st New year, New You/5K Expo 6......‘Dear Dietitian’ answers your questions 7.......Innovative spinal cord-injury surgery 8.......‘Exercise snacking’ 9........What to know about diabetes 10......AMH’s Vera Bock Diabetes Fund 10......SSP recommendations 11.......AMH’s new EMS coordinator
healthwatch HEALTH WATCH PUBLISHER Denise VonderHaar dvonderhaar@edwpub.net (618) 463-2500 — HEALTH WATCH ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carole Fredeking carole.fredeking@hearst.com (618) 463-2500 — HEALTH WATCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jill Moon jill.moon@hearst.com (618) 208-6448 — HEALTH WATCH COORDINATOR Regina Harbison rharbison@thetelegraph.com (618) 208-6433 —
ON THE COVER: The inaugural New Year, New You Expo starts with a bang as more than 70 participants warm up with a morning 5K run/ walk. The health and wellness event, hosted by Hearst Midwest Media Group, the parent company of The Telegraph, The Intelligencer and On The Edge of The Weekend weekly magazine, was held on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus and inside the Vadalabene Center. The event featured informational booths, fitness demonstrations, entertainment and a fashion show featuring clothing from Bohemian Road Boutique, in East Alton. (Melissa Pitts|Hearst Midwest Media Group)
4 • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • Health Watch
Resolution roundup, restoration to help people with every First Community Credit Union, Hearst Midwest like aspect of that.” Roeder explained that First give child advocacy center $1,000 check Community has investment serBy David Blanchette For Health Watch
EDWARDSVILLE — During the inaugural New Year, New You Expo and 5K run/walk Saturday visitors got a jump on New Year’s resolutions. The New Year, New You Expo featured informational booths, entertainment, fitness demonstrations, a fashion show and it started with a bang with the 5K run/walk with more than 70 participants. Hosted by Hearst Midwest Media Group, the parent company of The Telegraph, The Intelligencer and On The Edge of The Weekend weekly magazine, the New Year, New You Expo and 5K was held on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus and its Vadalabene Center. Hearst Midwest Media Group and New Year, New You Expo title sponsor, First Community Credit Union, teamed up during the event to present the Madison County Child Advocacy Center with a $1,000 check so that the nonprofit agency has a boost in the new year to help area children. The center served more
than 500 children last year in Madison and Bond counties, as a resource to fight abuse. “The more we talk about abuse and the more we talk about protecting kids and keeping them safe, the better kids can thrive and grow,” said executive director Carrie Cohan, of the Madison County Child Advocacy Center. “Going through abusive situations is incredibly traumatizing to kids and families, and when the community is supportive of intervention and ongoing services, the trajectory for a brighter future is so much better.” Guests seeking to make good on their 2020 resolutions came to the New Year, New You Expo, a one-stop source for all sorts of improvement guidance from fitness to finances, for rewarding and rejuvenating advice from experts in their fields. First Community’s Mike Roeder helped people who made resolutions about their finances. “Just think about the overall stress that money takes on a lot of people,” Roeder said. “It takes a big toll on everybody’s life. We
vices to assist people with their overall monetary health, and for their physical health, it boasts a health savings account program, which can help people meet expenses related to insurance plans’ high deductibles. “We also have a lot of different seasonal programs,” he said. “We’ve got vacation loans and a Christmas Club. You can save up all year long for things, so you can actually enjoy the season.” It’s also easier to enjoy the season if you aren’t in pain. Dr. Christina Claywell, from Glen Carbon’s Elite Chiropractic Center, helped visitors realize their physical New Year’s goals. “Chiropractic can help people accomplish the goals that they set forth this new year,” she said. “Not only does it help with mobility and decreasing unnecessary pain, but overall it gives you the benefit of a healthy nervous system, which is going to control your entire body and keep you well. “It’s an amazing tool for people to have in their tool bags,” Claywell said, “to have a healthy spine and nervous system to start the
Float Edwardsville’s Karen Swanner talks to a visitor Saturday. Ami Null, of East Alton, and Krista Coyle, of Bethalto, talk Float Edwardsville offers sensory deprivation tank services. to a New Year, New You Expo vendor. (David Blanchette|For (David Blanchette|For Health Watch) Health Watch)
First Community Credit Union’s Laura Mattson presents a $1,000 check Saturday to Madison County Child Advocacy Center Executive Director Carrie Cohan during the New Year, New You Expo. First Community Credit Union, the event’s title sponsor, and Hearst Midwest Media Group, host of New Year, New You Expo teamed up to give the gift to the nonprofit agency. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
Pearl Essentials’ Annette Clark talks to a visitor about essential oils Saturday. Pearl Essentials is based in Troy. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
First Community Credit Union’s booth at New Year, New You, manned by Mike Roeder and Bethany Reckmann. First Community Credit Union was the title sponsor for the inaugural New Year, New You Expo and 5K. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
Yi’s Martial Arts Fitness Academy’s Chris Lee demonstrates a device that measures the strength of martial arts moves. The academy is located in Wood River. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
Health Watch • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • 5
year off right.” Wellness also was on the agenda for Annette Clark, from Troy-based Pearl Essentials, an essential oil business. “It’s a natural way of taking care of your health,” Clark said. “It allows you to be proactive in your health, so you’re not getting sick, you’re not having to deal with all of those bugs that go around, especially during these winter months. Plus, it makes rooms smell good.” Essential oils can be used three ways. “You can use them aromatically, which is great because everybody in the room benefits from them,” Clark explained, “and topically, when you have a specific area of concern you are trying to deal with. “Then, there’s internally, for systematic responses, but only use highgrade oils for that,” she said. “Don’t get your oils from a convenience store.” Visitors searching for a new, healthier look for the new year found Mary Kay sales director Deborah
Hack. “This is ‘New Year, New You,’ so if you want something changed, a new moisturizer or a new look for the new year, I have all of that to offer,” she said. “People who want to really take care of their skin should take care if it with the best product. Mary Kay has been around for fifty-five years and we have proven that we have the best products.” In addition to title sponsor First Community Credit Union, other New Year, New You Expo sponsors included West Star Aviation, Pearl Pro Audio Pearl Pro Case, Southern Illinois Medical Weight Loss Clinic, and Integrity Spine and Joint Center. New Year, New You Expo’s Regina Harbison, Hearst Midwest Media Group’s coordinator for the event, said she was pleased with the inaugural New Year, New You. “We’ve done everything to make this a great event,” Harbison said. “We hope to do this as an annual event and continue to grow it each year.”
Vendors talk to visitors at the inaugural New Year, New You Expo held on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus at the Vadalabene Center. The expo was a one-stop source for all sorts of improvement guidance from fitness to finances and rewarding and rejuvenating advice from experts in their fields. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
Hearst Midwest Media Group’s Carole Fredeking, advertising director for The Telegraph and The Intelligencer, models fashions from Bohemian Road, in East Alton, during a runway show at the New Year, New You Expo. (David Blanchette|For Health Watch)
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6 • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • Health Watch
Cutting sugar: A goal for this year By Leanne McCrate For Health Watch
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Dear Readers, Another year is behind us, and now it’s time to get back to our normal routines. Many of us, including myself, have overeaten during the holidays; it’s just part of it. It’s a great time with family, close friends — and homemade desserts. Every year a family friend Leanne McCrate, RDN, LD, bakes a homeCNSC, aka Dear Dietitian, is made pecan an award-winning dietitian pie using nutritionist based in fresh pecans Missouri. Her mission is to from her own educate consumers on sound, property, and science-based nutrition. Do you have a nutrition believe me, question? Email her today it is a slice of at deardietitian411@gmail. paradise! com. Dear Dietitian does not Special occaendorse any products, health sions aside, programs, or diet plans. Americans eat a lot of sugar, with some estimates totaling 57 pounds of added sugar per person per year. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to 6 teaspoons(24 grams) a day for women and 8 teaspoons (32 grams) a day for men. To be clear, we are talking about added sugar, not naturally occurring sugar found in fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). Sugar is not inherently bad for you; it’s the excessive amount that becomes a problem. Lots of sugar means lots of calories, which may lead to weight gain and put one at greater risk for certain diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food manufacturers to list the amount of
added sugars in their product on the Nutrition Facts label. While most of us recognize sugar, or sucrose, there are other ingredients that are very similar to sugar and should be noted. They include: • Any food with sugar in its name, such as coconut sugar or date sugar • Cane juice • Caramel • Dextrin • Dextrose • Fruit juice • Fruit juice concentrate • Glucose • Glucose solids • High-fructose corn syrup • Honey • Maltodextrin • Maltose • Molasses • Nectar, such as apricot or agave nectar • Sweet sorghum • Syrup and any food with syrup in its name, such as rice syrup or maple syrup Practical tips for decreasing sugar in your diet: • Focus on fresh foods, which will not have added sugars. • Cut out sugar-sweetened beverages. Drink more water; try flavor enhancers; switch to diet drinks. • Cut back on adding sugar at the table. Start by using half the amount of sugar you normally use and decrease from there. Use fruit to sweeten your cereal or oatmeal. • Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. These foods will provide vitamins and minerals, which will help decrease cravings. The fruit also will help satisfy a sweet tooth. • If you like to have sweets in your everyday diet, try to limit them to around 100 to 200 calories a day. You also may consider saving dessert for a once-a-week treat.
Until next time, be healthy! Dear Dietitian
Health Watch • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • 7
Participants sought for innovative spinal cord-injury surgery Health Watch
ST. LOUIS — Spinal cord injuries caused by accidents, violence and disease paralyze from the neck down more than 5,000 people every year. In the first few months after injury, some people regain some movement and sensation in their limbs. Those who do not show improvement in the first few months are unlikely to ever recover. Now, a team of researchers led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is launching a phase 2 multicenter clinical trial to assess whether surgically rerouting nerves can restore hand and arm function in people who have suffered spinal cord injuries in their necks. Previous smallscale studies have shown good to excellent results in many surgically treated patients. “If you ask people with quadriplegia — paralysis of both the arms and the legs — what function they’d most like to get back, they’ll tell you hand and arm function,” said principal investigator Dr. Wilson “Zack” Ray, an associate professor of neurosurgery, of biomedical engineering and of orthopedic surgery at Washington University. “It’s more important to many than bladder and bowel control, sexual function or walking,” he said. “If you have control over your arms and hands, you can get into and out of a wheelchair by yourself, use a cell phone, feed yourself. It gives them a measure of independence. Not everyone who has had the surgery has regained these abilities, but some have. “In the phase 1 trial we conducted, some people had very profound, dramatic improvements and did very well, and others had very minimal functional improvements that didn’t add to their independence,” Ray recalled. “What we hope to do with this phase two trial is determine who is most likely to benefit from this procedure.” The clinical trial is being conducted at medical centers affiliated with seven universities across North America — Washington University, Stanford University, and the University of Utah, of Michigan, of Calgary, of Pennsylvania, and of Texas —
because no single site has enough eligible patients. Funded by a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, the trial will enroll 70 people who were paralyzed by a spinal cord injury in the neck within the last three years, and have seen no improvement in their abilities in the past three months. Each participant will undergo surgery to attach a nerve from above the site of injury to nerves below the site of injury that connect to muscles in the hands and arms. The patients then will participate in regular physical therapy for the next two years. Every six months, the researchers will measure participants’ ability to extend and turn their arms and grip with their hands. By analyzing the results of the surgery in a large group of people, the researchers hope to identify the optimal time after injury to perform the procedure, which kinds of injuries are best treated with this approach, and other factors that affect how much hand and arm function people regain. Participants are needed at all seven sites. For more information, contact Linda Koester at 314-362-7368 or koesterl@wustl. edu. Further details about the study can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov
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================================================= A patient with a suspected spinal cord injury is carried into a hospital with her head and neck immobilized. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are launching a clinical trial to evaluate whether a surgery to connect nerves to muscles can restore hand and arm function in people paralyzed by spinal cord injuries in their necks. (Getty Images| For Health Watch)
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8 • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • Health Watch
‘Exercise snacking’ — quick, easy way to healthier heart OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center Special to Health Watch
ALTON — By now you’re probably aware that exercise is good for your heart. But guess what? You’re busy! You have a job, kids, friends, hobbies, obligations of all sorts, and a full workout will simply not fit into your packed schedule. Well, just because you cannot get to the gym regularly does not mean you have to give up on your heart health, and one OSF HealthCare specialist has just the trick to help you make your heart healthier without sacrificing the other priorities on your calendar. A great tip to try is “exercise snack-
ing.” Below, Dr. Darrel Gumm, one of the leading physicians for OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute, shares a simple to-do, snack-size exercise regimen that just about anyone can fit into their day, no matter how busy their schedule. “Exercise snacking” Dr. Gumm suggests “exercise snacking” for people who can’t block out the kind of time that guidelines suggest, which is ideally getting 30 to 40 minutes of “moderate to vigorous activity” four or five times per week. A brisk walk works, or anything that somewhat elevates your heart rate. But, exercise snacking means doing small portions of exercise sessions spread throughout the day. There’s no way around it, exercise
is a vital component of heart health. “Getting in 10,000 steps every day or getting to the gym regularly is not possible for some people,” Dr. Gumm said. One cardiovascular suggestion is to climb three flights of stairs, three times per day, three days a week. It’s simple and quick, and as long as you can handle stairs with no risk to your health and safety, it has been shown to get results. A study by McMasters University showed improved fitness among a group who did this exercise snacking for six weeks. “It’s really, really important to think about incorporating exercise into our daily routine. This is a great way to do it,” Dr. Gumm explained. High stakes
Being physically active is one of the best things you can do to help prevent heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. So, take your health in your own hands and take the stairs. Just a few flights of stairs, a few times a day, a few days a week — that’s just nine flights of stairs per week — can make a big impact, and maybe it will help give you some momentum to take on higher activity levels. If you have not exercised regularly in a while, you should speak with your doctor for safety’s sake before starting any new exercising regimen. For more information, contact OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center.
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Health Watch • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • 9
What you need to know about diabetes OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony’s Health Center Special to Health Watch
ALTON — Diabetes is a lifelong disease that requires a lot of responsibility to manage it. “Receiving treatment and embracing huge changes that affect your life can be stressful and difficult,” said Dr. David Jones, with OSF Medical Group – Primary Care, in Normal. Dr. Jones said people should take the opportunity to have a conversation with their primary care provider if there are any concerns that diabetes may be an issue. “While there is still no cure for diabetes, there is good news; type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed,” he said. What is it? Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or where the body is unable to use the insulin it makes. The body needs the hormone insulin to change blood sugar (glucose) into energy. Without insulin, too much glucose collects in the blood. Diabetes may also be a result of other conditions including genetic syndromes, chemicals, medicines, pancreatitis, infections and viruses. The statistics The number of diabetes cases is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of diagnosed diabetes is estimated at 30.3 million — 9.4% of the U.S. population. It is the seventh leading cause of death. The types There are a number of different types of diabetes, some of which are more prevalent than others. The most common form of diabetes in the general population is type 2 diabetes, which often develops from pre-diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is more common in children and gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic syndrome, which includes a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as type 2 diabetes. These condition clusters include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat
around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Metabolic disorders affect the way the body uses (metabolizes) food to make glucose. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. “When it comes to treatment of any type of diabetes, individualized care is becoming more important in treating the disease,” Dr. Jones said. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This means the body has no or only a small amount of insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day in order to live. Type 1 is usually detected through lab work. “Individuals diagnosed with type 1 have increased glucose in their blood and urine,” Dr. Jones explained. “Sometime they have abdominal pain. “There are no medications or vaccines to prevent type 1. There are genetic testing options being developed.” Type 2 diabetes, or adult onset diabetes, happens when the body cannot make enough insulin or is not able to use it properly.
“Symptoms include weight loss, increased urination and increased appetite,” Dr. Jones said. “It may be controlled with diet, exercise and weight loss, or the individual may need oral medicines or insulin injections.” Gestational diabetes happens in pregnant women who have not been diagnosed with diabetes in the past. With gestational diabetes, the body cannot effectively use the insulin that is present. This type of diabetes goes away after delivery. Gestational diabetes may be controlled with diet, exercise and attention to weight gain. Women with this type of diabetes may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Latent autoimmune (LADA) diabetes, sometimes known as type 1.5, in adults is a slow-progressing form of autoimmune diabetes. Like the autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes, LADA occurs because the pancreas stops producing adequate insulin, most likely from some “insult” that slowly damages the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. LADA is a lesser-known type, according to the American Diabetes Association’s research journal, Diabetes. It often acts
like type 2 diabetes, which leads to misdiagnosis. People diagnosed with LADA are typically age 30 or older when symptoms develop. “Patients with LADA can manage it by controlling their glucose levels through diet, exercise and, likely, oral medications,” Dr. Jones said. “Eventually, they will need insulin injections because the body gradually loses its ability to produce insulin.” Who is at risk? According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people age 45 and older should be tested for pre-diabetes or diabetes. If the first blood glucose test is normal, they should be retested every three years. People younger than age 45 should consider being tested for pre-diabetes or diabetes if they have a body mass index (BMI) of greater than or equal to 25 and have one or more of the following risk factors: • Have a first-degree relative with diabetes (mother, father, sibling) • Are a member of a high-risk ethnic group (African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander or Native American) • Delivered a baby weighing more than nine pounds, or had diabetes during pregnancy • Have high blood pressure • Have an inactive lifestyle • Have impaired glucose tolerance when previously tested for diabetes • Have polycystic ovarian syndrome • Have been identified as having prediabetes • Have high cholesterol Complications “Awareness and the subsequent action of lifestyle changes are the two keys to prevent diabetes,” Dr. Jones said. ”The most common long-term complication of diabetes is cardiovascular disease,” he noted, “which can lead to heart attack, chest pain, stroke and even death” People with type 2 diabetes have twice the risk of heart disease as those without diabetes. “My goal is to help patients by guiding them to make the right decision,” he said. “I want to keep them as healthy as possible.”
10 • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • Health Watch
Alton man thrives with help from AMH’s Vera Bock Diabetes Fund Alton Memorial Hospital
From Senior Services Plus
Special to Health Watch
ALTON — John Sanders went to orientation for his new job and was excited to get started the next day, but he woke up feeling drained — because of high blood sugar, for which he uses insulin. But he was hesitant to go to a hospital because his medical insurance wouldn’t kick in for 90 days, he recalled. “When I went to the emergency room, my blood sugar was 800,” Sanders said. “‘They said, ‘How did you walk in here? You should be in a coma.’ “I was terrified.” Sanders was immediately admitted and spent seven days there. Before he was discharged, a pharmacy filled his insulin prescription. His bill was $600. “I thought I’d have to sell my car to pay for my medication,” he said. “I have a nine-year-old daughter, and she is counting on me.” Alton Memorial Hospital’s Lisa James, a diabetes educator, has noticed a concerning increase in the cost of insulin. “The price of insulin has skyrocketed in recent years,” James said. “One vial of insulin can cost approximately $230 for those without insurance. “When we think of this, we must remember that many people take more than one type of insulin and, depending on their dose, they could be using multiple vials of insulin monthly.” Alton Memorial Hospital’s team of certified diabetes educators met with Sanders to teach him not only about nutrition, but also a resource that could help him supplement medication costs. The team encouraged him to apply for assistance through the Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation from its Vera Bock Diabetes Fund. The fund not only helps diabetic patients cover medication costs,
SSP recommends senior citizens increase general RDA for protein Special to Health Watch
For Health Watch
John Sanders, who has diabetes, found help with costs of medications and supplies, when Alton Memorial Hospital’s team of certified diabetes educators encouraged him to apply for assistance through the Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation from its Vera Bock Diabetes Fund.
but also that of supplies. “It felt great to know that there are people out there, who are willing to help people, like, myself, who are going through a tough situation,” Sanders said. The Vera Bock Fund, in 2019, helped 15 patients by providing nearly $5,000 for life-saving medication and supplies. “I have energy again, high hopes,” Sanders said. “Once I get back on my feet, I want to find a
way to give back to the foundation myself.” If you would like to support the Vera Bock Fund, contact Kristen Ryrie at 618-463-7701 or kristen. ryrie@bjc.org. John Sanders is thriving after receiving the medication and supplies he needed to control his diabetes. John and many others are helped through the Vera Bock Diabetes Fund at Alton Memorial Hospital.
ALTON — Senior Services Plus recommends that senior citizens get enough protein to protect their bodies, starting at age 65, as they age. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Nutrition Board’s Recommended Dietary Allowance are general recommendations for the general population. Proteins are large, complex molecules that play many critical roles in the human body, and are particularly important to the senior citizen population. Protein does most of the cells’ work and is required for function and regulation of the body’s tissues, organs and structures, such as bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood. The RDA for protein for males and for females is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. The average RDA for protein for a female is 46-75 grams per day; for a male it’s 56-91 grams per day. To find your general RDA, divide your body weight, in kilograms, by 2.2051 and multiply that total by 0.8. For example, a 200pound person’s RDA for protein would be 72 grams of protein per day. For an 160-pound person, it be 58 grams per day. But these recommendations are only enough to support the body’s needs, yet not enough for building muscle. Thus, protein is particularly important for senior citizens, who include anyone age 65 and older, because it keeps bones strong helping to reduce the likelihood of falling and fractures. In addition to lifting weights, protein keeps older muscles strong and improves the ability to do daily tasks without assistance. Protein also
helps regulate hormones and other body processes. Experts of proteins and aging, recommend daily protein intake between 1.2-2.0 grams per kilogram per day or higher for senior adults. For this age group, the average senior male protein recommendation is 50-100 grams more than the general RDA for age 18 through 64; the average older female protein recommendation is 30-60 grams more than the general RDA those up to the age of 65. Simply put, the older we get, the less responsive we are to protein intake. The easiest way to overcome this deficiency is to increase protein intake. Senior Services Plus recommends the following as ways that senior citizens can get more protein in their diet without gaining more body weight: • Replace regular yogurt with Greek yogurt • Add non-flavored protein powder to baked items, oatmeal or yogurt • Make or purchase shakes containing at least 20 grams of protein • Swap Ensure High Protein for Fairlife brand milk or Muscle Milk brand shakes and powders • Eat eggs or egg whites for breakfast • Add protein to salads with turkey, ham or chicken • Add lean proteins to dinners, with seafood, lean ground beef (93/7 or 95/5), chicken breast or lean turkey • Eat snacks high in protein, such as beef jerky, protein bars and Greek yogurt • Vegan protein sources include lentils, quinoa and chickpeas. Contact Senior Services Plus at 618-465-3298. Senior Services Plus is located at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave., Alton, Illinois.
Health Watch • Wednesday, January 22, 2020 • 11
For Health Watch
Rachel Lair, of Brighton, has recently been named the new EMS coordinator with Alton Memorial Hospital.
Meet AMH’s new EMS coordinator, Rachel Lair Alton Memorial Hospital Special to Health Watch
ALTON — Alton Memorial Hospital (AMH) recently named Rachel Lair as its new EMS coordinator. In 2010, Lair began working at AMH as a patient care technician. Then, in 2011, she joined its Emergency Medical Services while enrolled in Lewis
and Clark Community College’s nursing program. In 2013, she became a licensed registered nurse and began working in the AMH Emergency Department. In 2016, she completed a program in pre-hospital registered nursing, which certified her, as a licensed registered nurse, to practice within an EMS System as emergency medical services personnel for pre-hospital and inter-hospital trans-
ports, as mandated in the Illinois EMS Act. With these credentials, she joined the Brighton Betsey Ann Fire Protection District in order to continue working in a pre-hospital environment. “My job as the EMS coordinator is to act as a liaison between the agencies in the Alton Memorial EMS system and the state of Illinois,” Lair explained. “I make sure training is available to
those in our agencies, that they are compliant with licensure requirements and that they are acting within their scope of practice,” she said. “I plan to spend a good portion of my time visiting our agencies and seeing what they need, as far as education and training.” Lair, originally from Prairietown, now lives in Brighton with her husband and three children.
CANCER. CANCER.
It’s personal.
It’s personal.
Will I be able to work? How will I get to treatments? Will I lose my hair? Will I see my children grow up? Where do I find hope?
Will I be able to work? How will I get to treatments? Will I lose my hair? Because nomy twochildren cancers are alike, team do at OSF Saint Will I see grow up?our Where I findHealthCare hope? Anthony’s Health Center will personalize a treatment plan to meet your Because noistwo are alike, ourOSF team at OSF HealthCare needs. That whycancers we designed the new Moeller Cancer Center Saint Anthony’s Health Center willcan personalize a treatment plan meet as an all-in-one facility, so you focus on what is important toto you – your needs. back That to is your why we getting life.designed the new OSF Moeller Cancer Center
as an all-in-one facility, so you can focus on what is important to you –
We’re by your side from diagnosis through treatment. getting back to your life. Because for all of us – it’s personal.
We’re by your side from diagnosis through treatment. Because for all of us – it’s personal. To learn more, visit osfhealthcare.org/cancercare.