Be Fall 2014

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n • Se e • R u n ni n Autumn 2014

Water aerobics offers

fitness alternative ...page 6

Sharp minds

Ways to help keep the mind fit

...page 21

RX to Health

Parks offer a way for free exercise

...page 26

Check your eyes Doctor gives advice ...page 16

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Be... Autumn 2014

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Be… Comfortable

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Contents

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14

21

water aerobics offer an alternative fitness

Is gluten-free the way to go?

Methods for keeping the mind sharp

Features

Columns

Fit

Get your eyes checked 8

Roche: RX to Health with parks 11

Local programs help shed pounds 28

Outdoor activities bring threat of Lyme disease 16

Church: When will you say, ‘I am?’

18

HRH Foundation supporting hospital 28

Speer: Protect yourself from the flu 28

Publisher Harold Allen

harold.allen@flyergroup.com

Production Director/Design Terry Ballard

Sales Director David Johnson david.johnson@flyergroup.com

I got a phone call the other night from a friend out of state who inquired as to what kind of weather we were having. The first word to come to mind was “comfortable.”

It’s not hot and it’s not cold.

It’s nearly fall in Indiana and this is a favorite time of year for many Hoosiers.

Staying hydrated and practicing sun safety is not as much of a concern now that we’re welcoming soft breezes and cool evenings. We’re not shoveling snow or slipping on the ice.

We’re comfortable.

But when it comes to our health, it’s never wise to get too comfortable.

Exercising the mind and the body, eating right, watching your weight, getting regular physicals and checks — these are all important factors in determining just how comfortable we are and how comfortable we’ll remain to be.

We’ll soon be entering another harsh winter and that’s the time of year when Hoosiers tend to hunker down, bundle up and wait for the thaw.

Get healthy now in an effort to make that brutal winter a little less so.

For now, we hope you settle down in a comfortable spot and enjoy this issue of BE magazine.

Anyone with a story idea for a future issue of BE is welcome to contact me by e-mailing to kathy.linton@ flyergroup.com and including the word “BE” in the e-mail subject line or by calling 2725800 ext. 134.

Kathy Linton, editor

8109 Kingston Street, Suite 500 Avon, IN 46123 1-800-359-3747 (317) 272-5800 FAX (317) 272-5887

www.flyergroup.com

Editor Kathy Linton

kathy.linton@flyergroup.com

terry.ballard@flyergroup.com

Layout: Patrick McCauley | pat.mccauley@indianamediagroup.com

TheHCFlyer

Be... AWARE 5

Story & Photos by Steven Penn steven.penn@flyergroup.com

Knowledge is power HRH scans give patients valuable information

Hendricks Regional Health (HRH) is offering patients two scans aimed at providing them with potentially lifesaving information.

The scans are a $49 lung scan or heart scan, or a bundle of the two for $69.

According to HRH, the heart scan checks for coronary artery disease, which is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries. The guidelines for people who may benefit from a heart scan are if they have high or borderline high blood pressure, high or borderline high cholesterol, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, are over 40, are overweight or obese, or smoke.

The lung scan, when done annually, can help find lung cancer in its earliest stage, when up to 90 percent can be cured. The scan is recommend for people between ages 55 and 80, who have a “pack-year” smoking history higher than 30 and currently smoke or have smoked within the past 15 years. The National Institutes of Health says that “packyears” are calculated by multiplying the amount of packs of cigarettes smoked per day, by the number of years the person has smoked.

Gertrude Grossi, 68, of Plainfield, who has been one of the subjects of HRH’s recent advertising campaign, decided to get the heart scan to check it off of her health “to-do list.”

“It’s right on your list with the mammogram. When you get to be my age, you just check them off and do them,” Grossi said. “The gal came out with the results and she said we’re going to have to send these to your doctor. I just assumed they

Be... Autumn 2014

would be good. It was a horrible result.”

Grossi said the ideal heart scan has a value of zero, but her scan came back with a 454.

“They sent the results to my family doctor and she recommended that I see a cardiologist,” Grossi said. “I saw (the doctor) and he did a stress cardiolite treadmill (test), and it was good. To be absolutely honest, there’s not a reversal for this. It’s information, it tells you that you’ve got this going on and you need to change your lifestyle, which is what I did.”

Next, Grossi said she was sent to a cardiologist who specializes in people with high lipids (which means a person has a high amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood).

“One of the battery of tests that (he had me do) he sent to California and they do genetic testing and they found that there’s an enzyme that most people have (that I don’t have),” Grossi said. “Your body makes 1,000 milligrams of cholesterol a day, because you need it, and some people don’t have the enzyme that gets the excess out of their body. I happened to win that genetic prize.”

Even though she has a family history of heart disease, Grossi said she was still relatively surprised to get the unsettling news. However, now that she has that information, she’s using it to get healthier.

“I’ve always exercised, but my diet was poor,” Grossi said. “I was eating way too much cholesterol. Making changes like that and being aware of what has high animal fat, high cholesterol, has brought my cholesterol (down). The total reading has always been 250-plus, usually around 300, and after making these changes, my last reading was 166.”

Grossi said she’s been working with a nutritionist, who also has a background as an exercise consultant, to ramp up her exercise routines.

Grossi, who retired from HRH in 2011 after working 18 years as a nurse in several different capacities, said she would urge anyone she knows who might benefit from the scan to get it. She said her case is a perfect example.

“I might die from heart disease, but at least I’m going down fighting,” Grossi said. “I will have taken all the measures to prevent.”

Gert Grossi (right) talks to Pam Spainhower of Hendricks Regional Health guest services.

by Melissa Gibson melissa.gibson@flyergroup.com

Water aerobics provides alternative to traditional methods

Above: Judy Holzkencht regularly instructs water aerobics classes of 30 attendees or more.

Many individuals recovering from recent surgery, afflicted with arthritis or suffering from joint pain, have found an exercise technique offering low-impact, yet high calorieburning results.

However, patrons don’t have to be in pain to join. Individuals of all ages enjoy the fun exercise water brings to their daily regular workout.

Because cool water lowers your body temperature, participants don’t get as hot and sticky when swimming, as opposed to other forms of exercise or sports.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Swimming is the fourth most popular sports activity in the United States, and “swimmers have about half the risk of death compared with inactive people.”

Judy Holzkencht has been

a water aerobics instructor for nine years at the Plainfield Aquatic Center.

Holzkencht loves the variety offered in the program.

“It’s a personal routine in a group setting,” Holzkencht said. “If you want to add weights, you’ll get a little more.

If you want to do half time, that’s okay too. Set your own speed.”

The benefits to all involved can’t be denied.

Jan Sharp, water aerobics instructor/personal trainer at the Hendricks Regional YMCA in Avon, said, “Depending on weight and how active they get in the pool, (water aerobics) burns anywhere from 500 to 800 calories every hour.”

Sharp has seen numerous people come out of the program drastically improved from when they arrived.

“I had a lady that was 82 years old, and she failed her balance test to get her drivers license renewed.” Sharp recalled. “A year later, she passed it and got reinstated.”

Water aerobics is moving against the resistance of the water, which helps with balance, bone density and physical therapy.

Supplemental materials are provided, such as water weights, bands, noodles and flotation belts for deep-water exercise or for those with a fear of water.

Sharp said that different from land aerobics, “When you are using weighted materials, it works both sides of the muscle.”

Demonstrating the forward and backward motion of a typical weight exercise, Sharp continued, “The equal muscle Be... Autumn 2014

Be... healthy 7 exercise is what strengthens those joints.

“Consistency is key. It’s not like on land where you do one set of muscles and then recover for a day.”

What matters most to water aerobics patrons?

Above and beyond the exercise itself, the benefits to having an effective instructor and the social aspect of joining friends outweigh the calories burned.

Nate Thorne is the Deputy Director at the Plainfield Aquatic Center, and said, “It’s been proven over and over again, instructor preference is the key to where most people decide to go.

“Instructor is first, obviously

Beverly Hammons kicks against the water’s resistance in order to build tone and muscle in her legs and core.

location or convenience (second), interest in social interaction (is third) and actual exercise is number four.”

Different instructors offer varying

Judy Williams works with water weights during a segment of the aerobic routine.

Be... Autumn 2014

music, intensity and routine.

Avon’s Hendricks Regional YMCA and the Plainfield Aquatic Center offer shallow-water aerobics class, open swim and lap swim multiple times throughout the week.

Sharon Smith, water aerobics and water Zumba instructor said, “I do a little more dance than other instructors. I use music as my foreground, where others use music as their background.”

It’s that kind of variety that keeps patrons coming back.

It’s not uncommon for patrons to continue frequenting an old class after a change in day or class time.

“People are very loyal to their instructor.” Thorne says. “We have people that live further away, but come here because they want a particular instructor.”

Holzkencht knows firsthand the emotional and social support members of the program are looking for.

“I do an hour class, but a lot of times I do an hour afterwards just listening to someone that needs someone to talk to,” Holzkencht said. “That’s when I do my mental health.”

The Centers for Disease Control state, “Water-based exercise improves mental health. Swimming can improve mood in both men and women. For people with

OL

8 Be... healthy fibromyalgia, it can decrease anxiety and exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood. Water-based exercise can improve the health of mothers and their unborn children and has a positive effect on the mothers’ mental health.”

Thorne pointed out many patrons of the water aerobics classes in Plainfield use the current river to warm up or cool down after class.

Whether in or out of the water, the socializing continues.

Longtime attendee Myrtle Collicott sat with friends Marsha Miller and Marylou Lollar before class, talking about recent events and catching up

on family updates.

She misses her friends when off on hiatus.

Janice Burger holds water weights above her head, working the upper and lower arms, as well as her core.

“I have three sons, and that’s wonderful,” Collicott says, “But it’s also wonderful to be around women.”

Sharp said for individuals healing from a surgery, water aerobics is their “best friend.”

Collicott agrees, “It takes the pressure off. I have bad knees. I should have had them replaced.”

All three women couldn’t say enough about their instructor, and the contribution she has had to their experience of exercise and friendship over the years.

Miller said, “I like that she doesn’t do the same thing every time.”

“She’s fun, and she keeps you busy the whole time,” Miller added.

Lollar, a self-proclaimed “water dog” said, “Judy is special. They’re all good, but she’s special.”

Tox-Away Day ONLY 2 LEFT IN 2014!

September 20th-Danville @ 4-H Fairgrounds October 18th-Plainfield @ Plainfield Middle School

Both events are 8:00am-1:00pm For More Information on What is Accepted, Log on or Call!

HendricksSolidWaste.com • 858-6070

Stories & Photos by Melissa Gibson melissa.gibson@flyergroup.com

10 Be... aware Summer is on its way out and fall is moving in, but the threat of Lyme disease still remains.

Those spending time in the great outdoors need to be aware of ways to protect the skin, symptoms of a tick bite, and most importantly, where to seek help if lyme disease is suspected.

Lyme was first diagnosed in the late 1970s as rheumatoid arthritis found in children in Lyme, Conn. Caused by the bacteria borrelia burgdorferi carried by the black legged tick or commonly known as the deer tick, it can best be avoided by prevention.

Julie Haan, field supervisor with the Environmental Health Department, says the best thing people can do is to be aware.

“Know that they are out there,” Haan said. “I always suggest pulling socks over long pants because you’re trying to cover your skin.”

In fact, the Indiana Department of Health has posted signs in areas known for ticks with prevention techniques: avoid overhanging grass and brush, wear light colored clothing, use insect repellent with 20 to 30 percent DEET, and shower as soon as possible after tick exposure.

Most importantly, check yourself and pets for ticks immediately after leaving a wooded area, campground or park.

Bonnie Parent was diagnosed with lyme disease after her cat brought ticks into her home.

“At the time, I didn’t think anything of it, but about three weeks later I had developed a bulls-eye rash,” she said. “They like little cracks and crevices in

Outdoor activities bring threat of Lyme disease

The Hendricks County Health Department warns that tick bites are most common when working in a high brush, grassy area.

Inset: Craig Moore has encountered ticks while fishing and camping but is sure to wash clothing separately and shower immediately after coming in from the wooded area.

your skin.”

Look in armpits, hairlines, the groin area and behind the knees. Once identified, be sure to remove correctly. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to pull the tick straight out. Jerking or twisting the tick can cause the head to break off in the skin. Finally, clean the bite and your hands with rubbing alcohol, or soap and water.

While not every tick carries

the lyme bacteria, and removal before 36 hours greatly reduces chances of being infected, sometimes, the victim is unaware of the bite or did not seek treatment right away. Initial symptoms include a bulls-eye rash, fever, flu-like symptoms, Be... Autumn 2014

Be... aware 11 stiffness in muscles and joints, and fatigue.

The controversy surrounding the disease is the difficulty in diagnosis.

Dr. Kim Lentz says, “The debate is whether [lyme disease] can be chronic or not. The bulls-eye rash isn’t as common as the studies state.”

Lentz’s experience reflects only a 20 percent sighting of the rash as an indication of lyme.

my ear drum burst. I didn’t have a cold, and just like that, I had pneumonia.”

The illnesses seemed to be stress-induced and immediate.

Eventually, “the ER people knew me by name,” Haskell said. Tested for a variety of diseases, including reynolds, lupus and circulatory problems, Haskell was eventually diagnosed nine and a half years later. “The disease represents itself in so many different ways. Mine

Avid campers Brian and Courtney Guth protect their family with insect repellent and regular skin checks.

Another issue is testing.

“Testing is poor,” Lentz says. The most reliable test currently used is the Western blot test. Other testing sources find negative results simply because there are so many strains of lyme and the testing doesn’t identify every type.

Jaime Haskell found Lentz after her 2-year-old son, Austin, started exhibiting symptoms of lyme disease. Haskell suffered with “random, extreme illnesses. I had never had ear infections, and then Be... Autumn 2014

was more auto-immune, but my son’s is more neurological.”

For a chronic lyme disesase sufferer, antibiotics help control the symptoms but those not experiencing the illness are quick to question the validity of on-going antibiotic treatment. Doctors in various states have had backlash in treating chronic lyme.

Just last week, Vermont passed a bill through the Senate promising the “Vermont State Board of Medical Practice will issue a policy

that assures health providers that regulators won’t pursue disciplinary action solely for providing care that meets recognized guidelines.”

After seeking medical advice from four to 40 doctors, “eventually, patients are told they are crazy,” Lentz said. “These are highly active people, now disabled.”

Chronic lyme disease is found in those victims that were unaware they were bit or never exhibited any of the cardinal symptoms.

“Early intervention is key,” Haan says. Left untreated, “lyme disease can leave neurological symptoms for life.”

Patients with a severe or chronic case of lyme disease have symptoms such as temporary paralysis, cardiovascular blockage, vision disruption, meningitis, and encephalitis, lasting for several months to years.

Parent says, “I’ve known people who have died from lyme disease.”

Although Marilee Evans, public health nurse, says to “start with your primary care physician.”

It was difficult to find a “lyme-literate” doctor, according to Parent. Support groups and blogs dedicated to chronic lyme patients agree legislation is needed to protect doctors treating chronic symptoms with prolonged antibiotic regimens and other courses of treatment.

Evans stated in Hendricks County she receives “less than five reports per year” documenting a lyme diagnosis but there are many surrounding areas that hunters, fisherman, and campers should be aware of. The statistic comes only

12 Be... fit from those testing positive with various degrees of test success.

There are many false facts about lyme and the tick carriers that give some people confidence and others fear. Only 80 percent of lyme victims get a bulls-eye rash. Lentz argues this number is greatly disproportionate. If other symptoms are present, a doctor should be consulted.

“Ticks do not jump from trees,” Haan says. “They are in tall grass and cling on as you walk by.”

Typically, victims are bit in wooded areas, near parks, lakes, and tall grass or brush.

Another belief is that lyme is only contracted on the northeast coast of the United States. In fact, lyme disease has been diagnosed in nearly all 50 continental states but reporting is done in the county of residence, not infection. Finally, you can get lyme disease again if bitten by another infected tick, so prevention is necessary even if you’ve been infected previously.

While the ideal preventative measures and two- or three-week antibiotic cycle should heal the majority of lyme disease victims, so many chronic lyme sufferers are begging for recognition, validation, and additional testing development.

“Any time a friend or a coworker complains of ongoing, unexplainable medical issues, I suggest they ask for the Western blot test from their doctor,” Haskell said. “It’s better safe than sorry.”

by Melissa Gibson melissa.gibson@flyergroup.com

Local programs help shed pounds Weight loss is a constant struggle for many individuals and families, but some are finding support among groups and local programs.

Louise Smith knows all too well the struggles with weight gain and loss.

“At my highest I was 350,” Smith said. “I’ve lost 175 pounds, and mine was surgical.”

After initially losing a portion of the weight, Smith started having medical issues, which caused additional weight gain and eventually led to doctors suggesting surgery.

Smith underwent gastric bypass and rejoined Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), a program aimed at supporting individuals in whatever healthy living or weight challenge they choose.

“I’ve been to Weight Watchers and did the Medifast diet,” Smith said. “I tried to do it on my own and I knew I had to do something.

I had to have accountability.”

Bob and Shirley Day are the area captains for the Plainfield chapter of TOPS. Shirley said, “The biggest one

TOPS members regularly contribute to a group scrapbook, chronicling their success stories as well as the many awards they’ve won individually and as a group.

word is ‘support.’ We’re not out for your money, not to sell you our meals. We don’t have any. We want to inform you and we want to support you.”

In the TOPS program, “You’re not a number, you’re a person,” Smith said.

Lennie Linton agreed, “We’ve all become very good friends.

When we have newcomers, they become a new friend.”

Linton continued, “The sharing

is very helpful. In a big organization, you don’t get the camaraderie you have here.”

For Linton, TOPS is not so much about losing the weight as it is keeping it off.

“I didn’t have as much to lose as some people do, but it has helped tremendously to have accountability, to come in every week and weigh in,” she said.

The organization has approximately 25 chapters in the area,

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... fit 13 and groups meet at state, national and international levels.

A major factor separating TOPS from other weight loss programs is cost. Yearly membership is $28 and includes a monthly magazine with no advertising, just healthy eating tips, news and inspirational stories from other members.

“It’s more of a family,” Smith said. “You come in here and root for each other. You support each other.”

Hendricks Regional Health and YMCA of Avon are looking to help families, specifically children between the ages of 8 and 18.

Stop Taking On Pounds (STOP) is designed to help the entire family become more active, choose the right kinds of foods and steer clear of screen time.

Katie Delgado, a registered certified dietitian for Hendricks Regional Health, leads the program along with another dietician and a YMCA personal trainer.

Participants receive a manual, featuring the ‘house’ concept and personal journal.

“The whole program is based on the food house,” Delgado explained. “The idea is if we have no dairy, and we eat no fruit today, what happens to our house?

“We want to have a healthy house or body. If you overeat, it goes in the attic.”

The house concept is designed to give kids a visual example of what their body needs to stay healthy and maintain a working metabolism.

So many people think just eating less or eating one specific food group helps with losing weight, but Delgado said it’s just the opposite.

“If you take in 1500 calories of oranges, it doesn’t do you any good,” Delgado says. “Even for those people eating healthy, you have to get in the correct nutritional values.”

The STOP program works with Be... Autumn 2014

Lennie Linton has been a member of TOPS for six years.

Louise Smith attends weekly and enjoys the accountability of weighing in.

portion control, activity levels and choosing the right foods, but it also comes with lab work and a one-on-one meeting with a dietician.

A parent or guardian is required to attend the program with the

child.

“We focus on the kids, but the kids aren’t going to the grocery store and buying the foods, they aren’t planning and cooking the meals,” Delgado said.

The program builds upon 12 weeks of challenges. Each week, Delgado gives them a nutrition, behavior and activity goal.

Class time consists of a physical activity. The Avon Jump Team came out during the last session and taught kids how to double Dutch.

The one thing kids can do to drastically reduce their risk of obesity and live healthier lives is limit screen time.

Delgado said, “I have kids that are watching eight or more hours of video games, iPhone, iPads, computers and television per day.”

STOP cost is $204 for a parent and child. Extra children cost $60, and YMCA members receive a discount.

Like many programs, STOP depends on donations and grants for operation.

The word is getting out to individuals and families, that programs are available to assist in losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle.

Most importantly, support is out there.

“I give out my phone number.

I am here for the participants,” Delgado said. “It’s so rewarding to see kids and adults that have changed their lives.”

For more information on local TOPS chapters, call 800-932-8677 or visit www.tops.org.

Information for the children’s STOP program can be found at http://www.hendricks.org/stop and Hendricks also offers a 16week adult weight loss program with Delgado called Lifesteps. For more information on Lifesteps, visit http://www.hendricks.org/ lifesteps.

14 Be... healthy

Is gluten-free the

by Devan Strebing devan.strebing@flyergroup.com

way to go?

The new craze for many people is going gluten-free, a diet that excludes the protein gluten, which is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye).

Gluten-free diets are also used to treat celiac disease.

Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of people with the disease, and eating a gluten-free diet helps them control symptoms and prevent complications.

Carolyn Burdsall, a registered dietitian at Hendricks Regional Health, said that while about 1

percent of the population has celiac disease and 7 percent is gluten intolerant, 25 percent buy gluten-free products.

“The good thing about this is that there are a lot more gluten-free products, and they are more affordable,” she said. “This craze is helping the people who need it. Twenty years ago, if people would ask for gluten-free items, they would think the person is crazy, but now the products are all in the marketplace.”

Burdsall, who has specialized as a generalist for 26 years, said about 1 in 130 people

have celiac disease.

“Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity have similar symptoms; losing weight, gas, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia,” she said. “Some folks that have these symptoms jump to the conclusion that they are gluten sensitive and they change their diet.

“Our biggest concern is if a person thinks they have celiac disease and they remove gluten from the diet, it can get in the way of getting into the right treatment. The person will have to get back on a regular diet and then go to the doctor.”

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... healthy 15

One misconception is that gluten-free foods are good for weight loss, when in reality, many are higher in calories.

If people that have celiac disease or are gluten intolerant don’t follow a gluten-free diet, it can lead to deficiencies such as osteoporosis, intestinal cancers and infertility.

Kari Schilling’s daughter, 8-year-old Madison, was diagnosed with celiac disease at 14 months old.

“She wasn’t gaining weight and now she can’t come into contact with gluten at all,” Schilling said. “Madison gets really sick if she does. She’s lucky that she doesn’t know what real food tastes like.”

At first, the Schilling family had a separate toaster and separate peanut butter jars, as nothing could come in contact with Madison’s food. Now, Be... Autumn 2014

Schilling says her house is gluten-free.

“I did not go gluten-free until I found I had health benefits from it. I suffered from migraine headaches and now I don’t have those issues anymore,” she said. “The only way to be diagnosed is through a surgical procedure, but I know the diet makes me feel better. It makes my life easier. I used to have to go to five grocery stores.”

Schilling reads labels on every kind of food. She looks for wheat and other ingredients such as food starch and caramel coloring, and sometimes has to check with companies to see if a food had any crosscontamination with gluten.

“Now gluten-free is more mainstream, and I think there are benefits of it. Restaurants are a lot more aware with gluten-free menus,” she said.

Amy Ketterer, public relations coordinator at HRH, said her husband, Jim, is gluten intolerant and has to watch what he eats constantly, even though he does not have celiac disease.

“He was having gut issues and they did a colonoscopy, but his gastroenterologist said he didn’t have celiac disease,” she said. “We have to be careful with ingredients and we have to be careful with restaurants and cross-contamination.

It is tricky.”

Ketterer said her husband eats bread that is half the size of regular bread but is over $5 a loaf, and that he eats more fruits and vegetables and less carbs.

“Sometimes he says, ‘Forget it,’ and eats what he wants, but he ends up having to pay for it later,” she said.

Burdsall said a gluten-free diet can be costly and takes a lot of time and energy, but for many people, they don’t have a choice.

“Gluten is very pervasive. It’s in baked goods, cereal, pasta, crackers, most sauces, salad dressings, hot dogs, ice cream, licorice, it can be an over the counter medication or vitamins.

(It) is a filler in many things,” she said. “Many people think they’re going gluten-free but aren’t. But the thing that people really need is the diagnosis. There are good support groups, smart phone apps … you want to know what you are dealing with, not just guessing.”

For more information about gluten-free products and symptoms related to gluten intolerance, contact a local dietitian.

16 Be... aware

Dr. William Keeling Ph.D. M.D. is an ophthalmologist from Indiana Eye Clinic.

by Devan Strebing devan.strebing@flyergroup.com

Indiana eye care ophthalmologist offers words of optometry advice Children and adults of all ages should get their eyes checked regularly. For students going back to school, it is of the utmost importance to get an eye exam to prevent possible confusion and loss of concentration.

Indiana Eye Clinic in Plainfield and Greenwood is a comprehensive eye center and outpatient facility that does everything from eye exams to eye surgery.

Much of it is more diagnosis and treatment of eye problems, like cataract and Lasik surgery. They have provided eye care for 35 years, and their team is made up of ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, nurses and speciallytrained staff.

Pediatric eye care is very important for the children they see, from ages 2 and up. Youngsters up to 24 months usually see their pediatric doctor first, and then are referred to the eye clinic. Children ages 6 to 18 should have an annual eye exam.

Early eye exams and proper treatment for vision problems are a critical part of a child’s health care. Untreated problems could result in learning disabilities or

“If a child isn’t learning like they should, sometimes it’s tied to poor vision.

If a child acts up and can’t concentrate, they probably can’t see. Many people don’t realize that’s the problem.”

– Lenore Terek, Indiana Eye Clinic

poor vision later in life. Treatment of strabismus (misaligned or crossed eyes) or amblyopia (lazy eye) is most effective when detected early. Treatment may include glasses, eye exercises, eye patches or surgery.

“If a child isn’t learning like they should, sometimes it’s tied to poor vision,” Lenore Terek with Indiana Eye Clinic said. “If a child acts up and can’t concentrate, they probably can’t see. Many

people don’t realize that’s the problem.”

It is also very important for children with glasses and contact lenses know how to use them properly.

“Students of all ages that overwear their contact lenses can damage the cornea,” Terek said.

“It’s a long-term effect.”

Although uncommon, serious eye problems do occur in infants and children. For obvious reasons, these conditions can be difficult to detect. Because early detection is so important, Indiana Eye Clinic recommended that even seemingly normal infants have an eye exam by age 6 months, and that all children be examined again before age 3.

Dr. William Keeling Ph.D. M.D., an ophthalmologist from Indiana Eye Clinic, said some kids might never have other access to an eye test, if not for the annual school exam.

Keeling said school exams are not complete, but can detect large issues like lazy eye or the need for glasses. A brief eye exam can detect most any eye disease that might affect a child.

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... AWARE 17 “If we see amblyopia, or the misalignment of the eye, if caught before age 6 it can be corrected. After age 6 it can’t completely be corrected,” he said. “Because the lazy eye is silent, it can run in families, and family history is a big thing that people don’t think about.”

Keeling mainly works on surgical procedures with adults, but on occasion works with children.

He has practiced for 21 years. He said many conditions can be corrected by eye exams.

Close examination of the eye, and retina in particular, can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple systemic conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, hypertension and neurologic conditions.

“Pediatric glaucoma can be corrected,” he said. “If one eye never made its connection to the brain, if you would have gotten proper treatment, even glasses, you could have corrected it.”

Five percent of the male population has a color vision defect. If discovered early, that can be fixed as well.

Keeling said the first rule for everyone is to get glasses if contacts give them trouble, and that there should be no child younger than 10 with contacts.

“They have to take them out at night, and if they leave the contacts in for too long, it’s dangerous,” he said. “It can leave the kid with a scarred cornea. I see it a few times a year where they have to get a cornea transplant (sewing a new cornea on a patient’s eyes).”

Keeling said no one should put contact lenses in their mouth, and that he sees people with permanent vision loss at least twice a year.

For parents who think there may be something wrong with their child’s eyes, Keeling asks them to look for certain signs.

“If your child has a white pupil, it could be a life-threatening illness, red eye or poor vision,” he said. “Something parents can do is observe and cover one of their eyes. Ask the child how well they can see and see if their depth-perception is off. This gives you a good idea of what’s going on.”

If parents notice this, they should take it seriously. Often times, it is something that can be fixed.

“There’s a lot of ways of getting an eye exam for adult. Go to Walmart, Vision Masters or walk down the street and there is an eye care professional in

Be... Autumn 2014

Indiana Eye Clinic Optician Amanda Elmolki (right) helps patient Jasmine Tatoya, of Brownsburg, select new eyeglasses.

any small town,” Keeling said.

Most adults should have an eye exam no less than every two years. Seniors or adults with risk factors such as diabetes, previous eye trauma or family history of eye disease may need to have their eyes examined more frequently.

For more information, go to http://www.indianaeyeclinic.com/ index.php.

Steve Cain, the Extension Disaster Education Network Homeland Security Project Director, gives an overview of what a Community Organization Active in Disaster means. The map shows Indiana counties that currently have a COAD.

Story & Photos by Brenda L. Holmes brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com

Hendricks County COAD holds informational meeting

Be... Autumn 2014

DANVILLE — A town hall meeting was recently called by the Hendricks County Community Organizations Active in Disaster Response and Recovery (HC-COAD). The organization’s name might be long, but it has an important job to do: organize volunteer efforts following a disaster.

Brittney Younger, public health preparedness coordinator for the Hendricks County Health Department, helped run the meeting and introduced the speakers.

“It’s critical to plan in advance to help mitigate the effects of any future disaster,” Younger said.

The meeting was an open call to all who want to help with disaster response or recovery efforts.

Steve Cain, of the Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (I-VOAD), was one of the main speakers. He looked out at the audience of 14 people and thanked them for their interest.

“This really is a good group,” Cain said. “It’s difficult to get people together before a disaster.”

Cain said there was a COAD

meeting held in Henryville just days before the 2012 tornadoes.

“There were seven people in that meeting,” he said. “A week later, they held another meeting.

There were 175 people at that meeting.”

Cain said local COADs are becoming more important because it’s getting more difficult to get events declared as disasters by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“FEMA is getting out of the disaster business and getting into the catastrophic disaster business,” he said. “Indiana now has 18 COADs. We are there to organize the chaos after a tragedy. A well-established COAD is key to handling disasters.

“You’re doing your community a favor. Sometimes you’ll get millions of dollars of donations and you need help to distribute that money.”

Cain said that during the Henryville clean-up efforts, he heard many volunteers say they came to Indiana to work because of the good organization.

“I heard it over and over,” Cain said. “They came to Indiana instead of Kentucky or Illinois because we took care of them.

They knew at the end of the day they would have a place to sleep and a meal to eat.”

Scott Tibbetts of the American Red Cross explained who should belong to the HC-COAD. He said it should be made up of groups already organized. The common list of groups include neighborhood organizations, government, Community Emergency Response Teams, schools and educators, the faith community, civic organizations, emergency management, businesses and non-profits.

“Everybody has a role to play,” Tibbetts said. “And we’ve found if you have no flash, you have no cash, meaning that if the media doesn’t show up, you’re not going to get donations.”

Tibbetts said that all groups can bring something valuable to the table during a disaster.

“Your Boy Scouts can provide volunteers,” he said. “There’s a job for everybody. The health

20 Be... aware department can help with immediate needs, and non-profits are certainly able to provide shelter and feeding.”

Points of consensus for a COAD include advocacy, communications, community preparedness, disaster case management, donations management, emotional and spiritual care, and housing.

The United Way in Hendricks County is in charge of the Volunteer Reception Center in the case of a disaster in the community.

They work with people who show up to help in the time just after an incident. They can hold training for people ahead of a disaster to help facilitate getting volunteers where they need to be in a time of need. These trained individuals are called “Disaster Reservists.”

Amy Boyles is the volunteer engagement coordinator for the

Hendricks County United Way of Central Indiana. She said the agency will look for individuals and groups in the community willing to get the specialized training.

The HC-COAD meets at 3 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, on the second floor of the Hendricks County Government Center.

For more information, contact

These are items that can be put away in a disaster kit in case of an emergency.

Younger at 745-9214 or byounger@ co.hendricks.in.us. You may also contact the organization at hendrickscoad@gmail.com.

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Keeping the mind sharp Memory loss not an automatic side effect of aging No one, regardless of age, is immune to random bouts of memory loss. While misplaced car keys or forgetting items on your grocery list are nothing to get worked up over, many men and women over 50 do start to worry about memory lapses, especially when they start to occur with more frequency than they might have just a few years ago.

But while memory loss might be quickly associated with aging, increased forgetfulness is not an inevitable side effect of getting older, a fact that those at or approaching retirement age should find comforting.

When considering the relationship between memory and

Be... Autumn 2014

aging, it’s important that men and women recognize the distinction between memory lapses and dementia, as the two are not one and the same.

As a person ages, his or her hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation and retrieval of memories, often deteriorates. This can affect how long it takes to learn and recall information. But just because this process is slower does not mean it’s a warning sign of dementia, which is the loss of certain mental functions, including memory.

Though taking longer to recall information can be frustrating, many people still retain their ability to recall information. In ad-

dition, while dementia brought on by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease is untreatable, there are things men and women can do to strengthen their memories and reduce their momentary lapses in memory.

Start playing games Games that test the mind have long been believed to benefit the brain, though some remain skeptical about the true impact of brain games. However, a University of Iowa study funded by the National Institute on Aging found that brain games may in fact pay numerous and long-term dividends.

In the study, 681 healthy volun-

teers over the age of 40 were divided into four groups. One group played computerized crossword puzzles, and three other groups played a brain training video game from Posit Science designed specifically to enhance the speed and accuracy of visual processing. The volunteers showed less decline in visual processing as well as in other tests that measured concentration, memory and the ability to shift quickly between tasks, and the benefits from the training games lasted as long as seven years after training.

Brain games are now more accessible than ever before, as players can access such games on their smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and computers. And in addition to being effective, the games also provide entertainment value.

Alter your routine Many working professionals recognize that each day tends to have its mundane moments. The brain can grow accustomed to these moments, which tend to be a routine part of the day. But altering your daily routine can jar the brain awake, forcing it to focus during those times that had become mundane but now present new challenges. Something as simple as alternating driving routes to work from day to day or preparing some new, yet healthy, breakfast each morning can help the brain stay alert and sharp.

Become a social butterfly Maintaining a social life as you age is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. But there’s another reason to continue to be socially engaged.

A 2008 study spearheaded by the clinical trials administrative director at Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group

Exploring the amazing health benefits of reading It can be hard for some people to pick up a book when there are so many distractions at the ready. But while books might not be as flashy as the latest must-have gadget, they can provide benefits that might surprise even the most avid readers.

In addition to the intellectual benefits of reading, indulging in a good book can also boost physical health. According to Ken Pugh, PhD, president and director of research at Haskins Laboratories, which is devoted to the science of language, when a person is reading “parts of the brain that have evolved for other functions connect in a specific neural circuit for reading, which is very challenging.” Just like muscles in the body, the brain benefits when it is pushed beyond its normal abilities, and reading is a great way to push those limits.

But the benefits of reading do not stop there. Reading can help reduce stress, benefitting the body in numerous ways. A 2009 University of Sussex study found that turning to a good book can be an effective relaxation strategy when things become too stressful. Reading fiction can stimulate the imagination and distract a person from the stressors in everyday life. Choosing a humorous or uplifting story can boost mood and help people relax, particularly when reading before bedtime.

Reading also can help men and women get a better night’s rest.

People who are accustomed to reading books before going to bed actually train their mind and body

and published in the American Journal of Public Health found that older women who maintained large social networks were 26 percent less likely to develop dementia

for relaxation. Picking up a book can send signals that it is time to settle down and get ready for sleep.

Health experts often recommend developing a sleep routine to people who struggle to fall asleep at night, and reading for 30 minutes before bed each night can be an integral part of such routines.

Research has shown that reading and engaging the brain in other ways, such as through intellectual games and puzzles, can stave off dementia. These activities stimulate the cells in the brain to grow and connect, increasing the power of brain tissue. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, keeping the mind active through reading can strengthen connections between brain cells and build up brain cell reserves. Mental activity might even generate new brain cells. All of these factors can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

According to a paper from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, reading can stimulate the brain to produce more white matter.

White matter works together with gray matter and is responsible for sending sensory and motor stimuli to the central nervous system to stimulate a response. Healthy white matter keeps the central nervous system working effectively and may reduce risk of learning disabilities as well as impaired motor functions.

Editor’s note: This article was provided by MetroCreativeConnection.com.

than women with smaller social networks. In addition, those who had daily contact with friends and family cut their risk of dementia by nearly half. The study also noted

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... AWARE 23 that regular social interaction can delay or possibly even prevent cognitive impairment.

Continue your career While the idea of retiring poolside and watching the world go by might seem nice, such a scenario is not necessarily good for your brain.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits that staying engaged in professional activities can have on brain health. The brain does not thrive if it’s sitting on the sideline.

Staying active in your career will continue to provide the challenges your brain needs to stay sharp and avoid memory loss and struggles with concentration. Men and women who want to leave office life behind can branch out on their own and work as consultants or put their years of experience to use by

Photo: MetroCreativeConnection.com

teaching at a nearby university or secondary school. But heading off for the hammock once you have hung up your briefcase can prove troublesome for your brain.

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The educational benefits of reading are widely known. But reading also provides a host of other benefits.

Editor’s note: This article was provided by MetroCreativeConnection.com.

24 Be... aware

HRH Foundation supporting hospital

Stories & Photos by Steven Penn steven.penn@flyergroup.com

Hendricks Regional Health Foundation Executive Director Sue Bogan shows the board local students used to vote on what playground equipment they would like to see.

The Hendricks Regional Health Foundation’s goal is to help support the hospital’s projects, in an effort to make HRH the best hospital it can be.

Foundation Executive Director Sue Bogan said the foundation started small, but has since geared up to help on some major projects.

“We’re in our sixth year of raising money for the hospital,” she said. “The first couple of years, because we started with no donors, no previous outreach efforts, on behalf of the hospital we raised money for health screenings for medical care for people that don’t have insurance, just kind of broad general things, because we were starting from nothing. We didn’t want to pick a project and then not be able to fund it. We did that the first couple of years.”

Then, two years ago, the foun-

dation focused on a specific goal.

“At that time, the hospital was renovating the Women’s Center,” Bogan said. “We made a pledge that we would raise $150,000 for that expansion. That was our project in 2012, and we did that and had a nice group of folks that came and joined us to make that possible.”

That expansion, which is now completed, has changed the look of the Women’s Center.

“They added dressing rooms, expanded the waiting room space, added a consultation room and expanded the staffing room,” Bogan said. “We did not expand the number of our mammogram suites or anything else. Surprisingly enough, by expanding the waiting area and adding additional dressing areas, they increased their volume for screening mammograms by a third because there’s just more

space for people to sit and get dressed and to turn over those rooms.”

Bogan said it was also important for the consultation area and ultrasound areas to get a facelift. “(The ultrasound room) was so tiny you could hardly get in and close the door,” she said. “When they do ultrasounds, there’s a radiologist, technician and oftentimes our cancer navigator all in the same room with the patient, and to put three caregivers plus a patient in that tiny room was next to impossible.”

Bogan said the consultation room expansion was necessary because there wasn’t a place for doctors and patients to talk.

“If a woman was diagnosed with cancer or there was a suspicious lump or something and they had to say, ‘You’re going to have to come in for a biopsy,’ or, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do,’ Be... Autumn 2014

Be... AWARE 25 there was no place to have that conversation except in the mammogram room,” she said.

Next on the foundation’s radar is HRH’s first-ever outdoor playground, which will be in an enclosed outdoor courtyard.

“The hospital has been around 52 years now. We’ve never had a playground on site here, and in 2010 when the northwest expansion opened, it really closed in this existing courtyard,” Bogan said. “Right now, there’s nothing out there.

There’s some rocks, and some trees and some weeds and it’s not accessible. There’s no reason for anyone to go out there except for the crew that pulls the weeds.”

Bogan said the project probably won’t be completed until next year, and that the foundation is shooting for about $150,000 in fundraising.

“We’re going to transform that space into a really usable and engaging space. It’ll be used by our pediatric patients, but really I think it will get more use from families who are visiting,” she said. “We’ve talked about the healing power of play, not only for kids who are ill, but also for if you’re here to see a loved one and you bring family members.”

HRH Pediatric Hospitalist Dr. Tony GiaQuinta said there’s truth behind the “healing power of play.”

“I firmly believe that sick kids heal faster at home,” he said.

“At Hendricks, our pediatric staff — physicians, nurses, even our cafeteria staff — understand this and do our best to help create a comfortable, home-away-fromhome environment to facilitate their healing.”

Bogan said to design the playground, they took their ideas to local experts — students.

“We took their options to elementary schools in Avon, Danville, Brownsburg and Plainfield, and I said, ‘Here’s what we’re doing,’” she said. “We told them a little bit Be... Autumn 2014

This enclosed courtyard, which currently has no use, will be the site of a future playground.

The Women’s Center expansion was one of the most recent projects the foundation helped with. This is the newly-expanded waiting area.

about the project … I said, ‘Now remember, some may be 4 years old, some may be 12 years old. So think about that. Some could be in wheelchairs.’”

The students voted on which playground equipment they liked the most.

“They were really excited to be involved with that,” Bogan said. “So when the project is done, we’ll have a play date that’s a public time that we’ll invite the schools to come who helped make the choices, and of course the general public to come and see what we’ve put in.”

The plan is for construction to start within the next few months.

“They’re at the point now where they’re bidding out the components and, of course, the electrical and the landscaping and everything that goes along with that,” Bogan said. “When those bids are back, it

will come back for approval by the hospital managers. I anticipate the construction will begin this fall with completion a year from now.”

Bogan said it’s great to be able to help the hospital complete projects that make it a better place to receive care.

“I think (HRH) has a huge impact on our community, whether you use our health services or not.

Of course we hope you do,” she said. “It would be a very different place if this hospital wasn’t here. I think, everybody has, in some way, indebtedness to what it is we’re doing. We’re caring for them and their neighbors and our community. It’s a huge quality of life indicator to have access to wonderful health care and I think it impacts everybody.”

For more information about the foundation or to get involved, visit www.supporthendricks.org.

26 Be... fit

by William Roche columnist for Be magazine

Parks: Rx to Health!

William Roche William Roche is the superintendent of Hendricks County Parks & Recreation SXC.hu Running is a great outdoor activity to do at the park.

Opposite page: Riding a bike is a great exercise activity.

Odds are, at your annual physical, your family physician has given you the same news the majority of your peers received: you need to increase your physical activity level and lose a few pounds. Typically, this prompts eye-rolling and perhaps brief consideration of several unappealing options.

Do you opt for a gym membership? Not a bad option. I have one. I even use it from time to time. How about a home gym? For 99 percent of us, this is a terrible idea.

The home gym will lose out every time to the comfy couch, tasty leftovers in the fridge or something (anything!!!) on the iPad. Lastly, a few of us promise to begin jogging in our neighborhoods. Fair warning, do not start by jogging by a pond, quacking ducks sound a lot

like mocking laughter.

How about a less often considered option, get out and visit your local parks, where there’s a wide-variety of self-led (and often free) activities that will increase your activity level and improve your health.

The idea of having doctors give patients a ‘prescription’ to visit local parks to improve personal health isn’t new.

Recently, Dr. Robert Zarr out of Washington D.C. made national news with his efforts to motivate young adults into increasing their physical activity in local parks, with wonderful results. Even this isn’t new. For years the Institute at the Golden Gate in San Francisco has had a formalized partnership with local medical providers to issue such prescriptions and give patients a listing of recreation

resources in the area.

A formalized prescription system referring patients to parks doesn’t exist yet in Hendricks County, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write yourself a prescription to visit local parks and improve your health. Here are three reasons it makes sense to make parks an essential component of your healthy living routine: First, parks offer something for everyone. In Hendricks County, you have access to over 1,500 acres of parkland offered by county, town and township park agencies.

Don’t know where the parks are located? Visit www.hendrickscountyparks.org and click on ‘county-wide parks map’ to see the many parks available in each community (and open to everyone).

Within the parks, you have

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... AWARE 27 a host of recreation opportunities available to you. Enjoy walking on trails? There are over 25 miles of nature trails to choose from. Prefer trails open to walking and biking, Plainfield offers over 16 miles of paved trails connecting various community parks. Enjoy basketball, soccer, tennis, disc golf, volleyball or horseshoes? There are plenty of opportunities within your local parks, not to mention many public programs that make use of these facilities should you choose a more organized form of recreation.

My second reason for making parks an essential component of your healthy living routine is you’re already paying for them. Here’s a little known fact: what you pay for parks from your local property tax is some of the best bang for your buck you could hope for. No matter where you live within the county, if your home value is close to the median value, you likely pay less than $40 annually for the operation of your county and local parks. That may be higher if your community is paying on a bond for the development of a major recreation resource, but by and large, you’re paying $40 or less. And by the way, that’s not per person but per household. Compare that cost with any other exercise resource.

For you money, you get unrestricted access to 30+ park areas within the county and many of the aforementioned amenities. Additional fees may apply if you choose to participate in an organized program, visit a recreation center or community pool, but even these fees are pretty minor by comparison.

The third reason, parks are a huge stress reliever. You know that feeling you get when you’re stuck in traffic on the way home from work? That pounding in your ears is your blood pressure rising, often confirmed by the lobster-red color of your face, and infrequently, steam pouring from your ears. Chances are you never felt that way walking in a park. In fact, you’ve probably felt the complete opposite, calm, relaxed and peaceful. Now this may not directly lead to the doctor-advised weight loss, but the fact is, the healthier your emotional state, the more likely you are to follow through with your physical activity plan.

None of the abundant amenities parks offer to your healthy living routine are meant to suggest you should forgo other resources. Gyms are

Be... Autumn 2014

wonderful for those who will make use of them, and home gyms offer a convenient resource for those who have super-human commitment. The truth is, very few resources can compare to the scenery, diverse opportunities and affordability that can be found in your parks.

You don’t have to wait for doctor’s orders. Write yourself a prescription today to visit your local parks and start enjoying better health.

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by Kevin P. Speer columnist for Be magazine

Time is right to prepare

Summertime might not seem like prime flu season, but in the healthcare realm this is the time of year we start gearing up to safeguard our workforce and patients from influenza.

Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that carries some risk of severe complications, even for seemingly healthy individuals. Because different strains of the virus circulate each year, the vaccine itself is changed annually to best protect against the year’s most prevalent strains;

it’s important for individuals to receive the influenza vaccine every year to defend against these viruses.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone six months of age and older should get vaccinated. Vaccination of highrisk individuals is especially important to reduce their chance of severe illness.

Those at high risk include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions (asthma, diabetes, heart and lung

disease), and people 65 and older. Children younger than six months of age are also at high risk of serious illness, but are too young to be vaccinated, therefore, people who live with or provide care for infants should receive the vaccine.

During the flu season, you should always practice preventive steps to stay healthy, such as staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you do become sick with flu, stay home from work or school to

Kevin P. Speer Kevin P. Speer is president and CEO of Hendricks Regional Health.

Be... Autumn 2014

Be... AWARE 29 prevent spreading influenza to others in our community.

In the hospital setting, we offer an optional influenza vaccine to all of our inpatients. Many hospital inpatients are in a weakened state, making them more susceptible to influenza and its potential complications. We want to make sure we are doing our best to protect those in our care and provide them with the vaccine, if they choose to receive it.

Physician offices and immediate care centers will offer the influenza vaccine soon. I encourage you to protect yourself and your family this season by getting the influenza vaccine. Tens of millions of vaccines are given safely each year and have helped reduce the number of deaths from influenza.

Please consider rolling up your sleeve this autumn and getting your influenza vaccine. It really is the best way to keep you, and those around you, healthy during flu season.

Opposite: A runny nose is a common symptom of illness.

Stock photo

Doctor are taking precautions to inform the public about flue season now, to try and curb the number of people who will get sick in the fall and winter months.

During the flu season, you should always practice preventive steps to stay healthy, such as staying away from sick people and washing your hands to reduce the spread of germs. If you do become sick with flu, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading influenza to others in our community.

Be... Autumn 2014

30 Be... healthy

Ask yourself how often you allow the words that you place after “I am” to dictate your life, take you on a whirlwind of various emotions, and dim your own light?

Awareness is the precursor to true change. Watch and witness the patterns in which this occurs in your own life.

MangoFuel

by Megan Church columnist for Be magazine

• When will you say, ‘I am?’

Someone anonymously once wrote “I am”... two of the most profound words, for what you place after them alters your reality.”

Since the day I stumbled across this quote, I’ve been fascinated.

I know in my own life, I can string an array of words following the “I am,” that will be entirely different based off of my mindset for that current day, hour, minute or second. They can range from my identity with food, fitness, relationships with others and myself, business successes and failures, and my spirituality, to name a few. And, after I make my own addition, concurrently my entire body language follows. This could be full of light and love, or full

of darkness and destruction.

My fascination happens to be upon WHY we must have something beyond the punctual period at the end of “I am.” HOW and WHY must we add-on to this perfect sentence, and why does it change so drastically and sometimes rapidly from one minute to the next.

How can we stop forgoing our own light within us, and instead let it shine forth, while also welcoming others to shine forth their light as well? We all have that same light, and it shines forth in various patterns from person to person. However, when we don’t acknowledge it, we are the creators of this dark wall preventing our light from performing its duty of illumi-

nation. All we have to do, is simply “be” and truly understand that “I am” is enough.

Ask yourself how often you allow the words that you place after “I am” to dictate your life, take you on a whirlwind of various emotions, and dim your own light? Awareness is the precursor to true change. Watch and witness the patterns in which this occurs in your own life. When you can witness the behavior, you can learn to delete those unnecessary words. I AM ... is truly enough.

[I would love to hear from YOU about how this affects your life! Tell me your battles and how you have felt defeated or how you have defeated this monster! Email me at mangofuel3@gmail.com.]

Megan Church Megan Church is the CEO of MangoFuel LLC, a holistic health/ fitness/nutrition coach, and health-based, natural foods chef. Her website is mangofuel. co (not .com). She can do corporate motivational lectures, yoga classes, mini retreats, and offers monthly motivational video subscriptions.

Her contact information is by e-mail at mangofuel3@gmail. com or by phone at (765) 620-9227

Be... Autumn 2014

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