Bayou Catholic Magazine | April 2013 | Wellness

Bayou

Catholic

Ba ou

wellness 2013

Contents

On Our Cover

Safety with Vaccines Why so many vaccines?

Physical therapist Jane Lyles of the Home Health Center of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center works with retired Deacon Al Landry who is a resident of St. Joseph Manor in Thibodaux

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Cover photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

50 Bullying What does is look like?

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Scoliosis

Stress

Screening offered in Catholic schools

Relax, it’s only a little stress!

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Eyecare

Dental hygiene

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Bayou Wellness

By Dr. Kenneth Cruse There are many times in my pediatric practice that I have to respond to this question. There is something inherently offensive to the thought of injecting our children with needles even though the purpose is to prevent dangerous diseases. Many parents let the immediate emotion of loving and caring for the new life God has created with them interfere with the sound judgment of providing protection from future illnesses.

In my field we strive with many families to help them understand the importance of timely vaccinations.

The current vaccine schedule for children in the first two years of life provides protection for more than 10 illnesses. In the past, these illnesses caused serious disease in infants and some were fatal. The success of the vaccine initiatives has 48 led to decreased infant mortality worldwide. Currently, the routine vaccines cover the following illnesses: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, meningitis, pneumonia, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, chicken pox, mumps, measles and rubella. In the teenage years, there are routine vaccines for another form of meningitis and human papilloma virus. The American Academy of Pediatrics

Michael S. Haydel, M.D., FIPP Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice Board Board Certified CertifiedininAnesthesiology Interventional Pain Management and Anesthesiology

Why so many

n i c vac

has promoted and helped develop multiple combination vaccines to decrease the number of injections required to afford protection for all these illnesses.

The success of the vaccination program can be illustrated by considering small pox and polio.

Small pox has been eradicated in the world as of 1979, as declared by the World Health Organization.

There has not been a case of wild polio in the United States in over 30 years due to the successful vaccine program. Polio still exists in developing countries today which demonstrates the reason for world wide cooperation in this battle against preventable disease. The incidences of childhood pneumonia, meningitis and chicken pox have been drastically reduced also.

Safety with vaccines is a top priority for the developers of vaccines and providers. In the 1990s, a study called the Wakefield study created a lot of controversy and worry concerning the MMR vaccine for mumps, measles and rubella. The study proposed a connection between receiving

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that vaccine and the development of autism. It created a storm of controversy for years about vaccine safety and eventually led to a decline in compliance with vaccines

Michael P. Charlet, M.D., FAAN Board Certified in Neurology Fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases

985-223-3132

1022 Belanger Street,Houma, Houma,LA LA70360 70360 315 Liberty Street, AdId: D 304805311 - 01 LA • April 2013 Bayou Catholic • Houma, CustId: 9276309856 Dir/Iss: HUCLA Y1 02/2011

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? s e n and a rise in cases of these diseases.

It was a methodologically flawed study with only 10 participants, a very small sampling to make such a causal connection. Approximately three years ago, 13 of the 16 authors refuted the study and said their conclusions were incorrect.

However, the work to undo the damage to vaccine reputation and subsequently vaccine compliance continues.

Another controversy developed with the use of mercury as a preservative in vaccines. The science was more substantial and the vaccine industry was able to reformulate vaccines without mercury. There have been no routine vaccines with mercury in the last five to seven years. Mercury

is used in the processing of some of the flu vaccines today, but only in small amounts and most is leached out of the vaccines. This success has demonstrated the dedication of science to vaccine safety as well as efficacy.

Another concern that parents have expressed to me is exposing their children to so many illnesses at one time might harm their immune system. I offer these scientific facts to address this issue. In the 1960s and 1970s, we vaccinated for only a few diseases. Today we vaccinate for greater than 12. The vaccines in the mid-20th century exposed an individual to over 1,000 antigens, which are the particles in vaccines that stimulate immunity. With the development of more sophisticated vaccines and the advancements in studies of immunology, the vaccines used today expose an individual to less than 100 antigens. Thus, today’s vaccine schedule is less taxing on the immune system than the one used years ago, and we are able to protect infants and children from many more diseases.

To get back to the original

question: “Why so many vaccines?”

I would propose that there are so many vaccines because there are so many threats to the health and welfare of our children. We are currently reaping the benefits of years of valid, scientific study and conquering illnesses worldwide.

Although the apprehension parents experience when giving their infants vaccines is real, so is the threat of the illnesses the vaccines prevent. We must not become cavalier about this threat.

We must be vigilant. As healthcare professionals, my colleagues and I must take the time to inform parents of the facts and to dispel the myths. This must be done with compassion and understanding and with the common goal of protecting our children.

(Dr. Kenneth Cruse has a private practice with offices in Houma and Thibodaux. He attended Loyola University in New Orleans, St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, and did his pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.) 49

Journey

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• Located in Houma, we proudly serve South Louisiana.

• We admit patients within two hours of the doctor’s order with patient and family consents.

• Patients on service with Journey Hospice receive contact from our staff 7 days a week.

• Our nurses are on call and available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

• We communicate with the patient’s physician and family regarding the process of care provided in the manner they choose.

• We encourage our patients to continue seeing their physicians.

Hospice

• We continue to provide care for our patient’s families through our Bereavement Program for no less than 13 months following the patient’s passing.

Specialized Care For The Entire Family.

Hospice benefits everyone, and is merely a shift in medical priorities, not abandonment. Our number one goal is always patient comfort and pain management delivered at home by professionals. This process eases the financial and emotional burdens on the family, while ensuring the patient’s dignity and wishes are respected.

Journey Hospice Pays For:

• On call Professional Nursing 24/7 • Certified Nursing Assistants • Psychosocial and Spiritual Care • Bereavement • Trained Volunteers • Medicines Related To The Terminal Diagnosis • Medical Supplies (gloves, bandages, diapers, etc.)

• Medical Equipment (O2, wheelchair, hospital bed, etc.)

Who Pays For Hospice?

Hospice is paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance or Private Pay. We also provide care to the uninsured through our indigent program.

For a personal consultation to see if hospice is right for you or a loved one, please call Journey Hospice • 985-223-1865 • 598 Corporate Drive • Houma, La 70360 • 24 Hours 7 Days A Week www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Maria Montet Today many students, both on the elementary and high school level, are affected by deliberate, hurtful and threatening behavior known as bullying.

Bullying can take many forms: physical bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying and cyberbullying.

Many times bullying is done very discreetly and it can affect both boys and girls.

As a parent or an educator you may wonder what bullying looks like. By being aware of the signs of bullying it can help concerned adults become proactive in working to diffuse a potential bullying situation before one actually begins.

Physical bullying can involve direct physical contact with another person by kicking, hitting, spitting, stealing or vandalizing another person’s property. Verbal bullying results in name calling, threats, harassment and intimidation.

: g n i y l l u B

What is it? ~ What does it look like? ~ What can we do?

Social bullying can be hard to detect. It is not always as obvious as other forms of bullying. Examples of social bullying are destroying relationships, humiliation, gossip,

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Houma Physical Therapy Southern Orthopedic & Sports Therapy Inc.

Mark J. Kinnard, P.T. Donald P. Kinnard, P.T. Luke T. Kinnard, P.T. 1014 Belanger Street Houma, Louisiana 70360 Phone: (985) 879-4388 Fax: (985) 879-2854

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

exclusion from a group and facial expressions. Finally, with the widespread availability of social networks and text messaging, cyberbullying has become a major source of harassment and bullying in schools.

Examples of cyberbullying are negative or threatening text messages, and negative or demeaning posts on

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social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Many people question why one child would purposefully hurt another student. There are many reasons why a child would decide to bully another. Sometimes a bully will “need” a victim. They choose to pick on a peer who is weaker than them in order to seem powerful in the eyes of others. Other children bully because it is a learned behavior. They may be picked on by others or bullying-type behaviors may be seen at home, on TV or in social situations.

When a child is being bullied there are usually many warning signs that are present. It is so important for concerned adults to recognize these warning signs before a situation spirals out of control. One of the first signs a child is being bullied at school is a decline in grades or the child suddenly does not want to go to a particular class or school anymore. In this case the child would be trying to avoid the person or situation where the harassment is occurring. Students who are being bullied often have a change in body language, i.e.

lacks eye contact when speaking with others, hunched shoulders, or hangs head. Many times the child is embarrassed that he or she is being picked on and feels self conscious.

Children who are bullied sometimes show a change in behavior by nail biting, bedwetting and by faking an illness or actually becoming ill. Students who are harassed sometimes develop anxiety and internalize their feelings in an effort to not worry their parents.

Additionally, some children are so depressed by bullying that they want to harm themselves through cutting, not eating, overeating, drinking alcohol or using drugs, or by talking about or attempting suicide. It is so important to not take any of these behaviors lightly.

As soon as a student expresses harm to himself, proper school officials and parents must be notified in order to protect the life and well-being of the child. Every student should be seen as a child of God and all bullying situations should be addressed by the proper adults as soon as possible.

When a child expresses to you that they are the target of a bully it is so important to offer comfort and support. Many times students are afraid to tell a trusted adult that they are being bullied out of fear or shame, or even that the situation could get worse. It is our job as parents and educators to make all children feel safe and welcomed in their environment. Many students who have been bullied have a low self-esteem. Parents should encourage the child to participate in positive activities that can help raise their self-esteem and build healthy relationships with other students. Sometimes the issue of bullying can go beyond the boundaries of school and the victim of bullying may need to seek professional help. Recognizing the warning signs of bullying early can help to prevent lasting emotional problems in the child.

It is so important for the child to know that he or she is cherished and is supported. As Catholics and Christians it is our duty to make all children feel safe, loved and accepted.

(Maria L. Montet is the senior high guidance counselor at E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux.)

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Bayou Wellness

By Deacon Lloyd Duplantis It only takes about an hour of your time but as far as time well spent, there are few things in this world more beneficial to the individual and his/her community than time spent giving blood. There is a considerable laundry list of benefits to donating blood regularly. In addition to helping save lives, sometimes even getting paid time off from work and enjoying free juice and snacks after donating, there are numerous physical benefits to being a donor.

If you donate blood several times a year, you are likely in better physical shape than those who do not, and you have a reduced risk for several serious diseases.

You also check up on your own health when you donate blood. Every time you give, you’ll get a basic physical from a health care worker at the blood collection clinic, so you’ll be able to find out if your blood pressure, pulse and other vital signs are healthy or not. Healthy donors who meet donation requirements are eligible to give blood once every 56 days, so these people can potentially get a basic physical examination as many as six times a year completely free of charge.

One of the primary physical benefits to the individual giving blood is that it improves your overall cardiovascular health. Various sources report that consistent blood donors (those donating at least three times a year) over time have an almost 90 percent lower 52 risk of heart attacks and a 30 percent lower risk of any severe cardiovascular event such as a stroke. Giving blood seems to neutralize the bad effects of cholesterol in that these impressive numbers occurred even in people who had elevated blood cholesterol levels.

Giving blood helps your body function more efficiently by allowing it to replenish your blood supply regularly.

When you donate blood, your body replaces the blood volume within 48 hours of donation, and all of the red blood cells you lose during donation are completely replaced within four to eight weeks. This process of replenishment can help your body stay healthy and work more efficiently and productively.

Elevated blood iron levels are normalized. High blood iron levels have the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease because iron accelerates the oxidation process in the body which damages arteries.

Every time you give blood, your iron levels are lowered which can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Of course, iron levels aren’t the only factor that plays a role in a person’s risk of heart disease, but there are no downsides to lowering blood iron to normal levels by donating blood regularly. (Before anyone gives blood, a hemoglobin level is taken to be sure the iron level is not too low.)

People seldom think of giving blood as one way to lower your risk of cancer. Because of this “blood stimulation effect” which occurs when blood is removed from the body and the reduction of blood iron levels, free radicals in the blood which are associated with cancer formation are reduced. Diet and exercise as well as other life style factors play a major role in cancer Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

Health benefits of giving

blood

prevention, but consistent blood donation is associated as well with lowered risks for cancers including liver, lung, colon, stomach and throat cancers.

There are blood service centers at most area hospitals and many churches and organizations sponsor drives periodically. If you have never given blood, consider

�o you know your risk? heart disease

Heart disease affects men and women of any age.

Your risk of developing heart disease increases if you have a family history, smoke, are overweight, are inactive, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol or have diabetes.

If not detected and treated, heart disease restricts blood flow in the arteries and can result in chest pain, shortness of breath or a heart attack.

The best way to fight heart disease is to prevent it!

Call the experts at Cardiovascular Institute of the South and get checked today.

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giving it a try. Once the natural aversion to a needle stick is overcome, having done something good both for yourself and for someone in need is very satisfying.

As we age, health circumstances and various medications we take eliminate us from being able to donate. If this is your circumstance, encourage your healthy friends and family members to donate.

The American Cancer Society states on its website “Despite all our medical advances, there is still no good man-made substitute for human blood, which is why blood donations are still so important.”

There is more than just a casual relationship between Jesus’ shedding of his blood that we might live and our being able to donate our blood so that others may live.

Blood is truly the gift of life: life for those in need here on earth and—through the blood of Jesus— everlasting life.

(Deacon Lloyd Duplantis is the owner of Lloyd’s Remedies in Gray.)

For all your physical therapy needs choose our experienced professionals who will become your trusted friends.

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Bayou Wellness

Having a

Smart

By Melissa Robertson As the saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Whether it’s beginning a new weight loss program or deciding to work toward living a healthy lifestyle, you should start with a plan. The first and foremost critical step in the planning process is setting goals and objectives.

Goals and objectives, although often used interchangeably, are quite different. Goals are general, broad, abstract, intangible and long-term. On the other hand, objectives should always follow the SMART method – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-oriented.

Specific: When setting a specific objective ask yourself 54 these questions—what am I going to do? Why is this important? When do I want this to be completed? How am I going to do this?

Measurable: Measurements help you to determine when your objective has been accomplished. When setting objectives that are measurable ask yourself— how will I know when this objective has been achieved?

What measurements can I use?

Achievable: Achievable objectives are those that can actually be accomplished. Achievable objectives should be challenging but not so much so that they are unattainable or cause frustration if unable to be complete.

Realistic: When setting realistic objectives, you should ask yourself these questions—do I have the resources to accomplish this objective? Is this objective possible to complete?

Time-Oriented: These objectives have deadlines for completion. Just as objectives should be realistic and achievable, the time placed on objectives should also be realistic and achievable.

While a particular goal is important to you on its own, objectives are important, too, but not on their own. If an objective does not work to help achieve your goal, change or replace that objective so that it does.

To achieve success, you need both persistence and flexibility. When you face difficulties and unexpected problems, use all your persistence and determination to stick to your goals. But always stay flexible with your objectives. If the way you do things now does not work, try another way. Keep trying until you find the one that works.

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

plan

Don’t change the ends, change the means. Never forget the difference between goals and objectives.

Always remember to be SMART. Don’t set goals because you think you “should” or because they “sound good.” Look at your life and the direction you want it to take – set goals that you realistically can achieve, but more important – pick goals you want to achieve.

“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams” (Og Mandino).

(Melissa Robertson is the diocesan director of the Office of Human Resources and Employee Benefits.)

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Bayou Wellness

By Dr. Catherine Diebold A healthy, well-balanced diet is the best way to supply all of the energy and essential nutrients your body needs to function at an optimal level. This should be your most important nutritional goal for good health. Unfortunately, over 90 percent of Americans fall short of one or more essential nutrients.

This places them at increased risk for illness and disease. A simple but effective regimen of nutritional supplements will help avoid deficiency and provide a significant health benefit.

Is your nutrition optimal?

Your body relies on food as more than just a source of energy. It needs many specialized chemical compounds (like vitamins and minerals) to extract and utilize energy and carry out other essential functions. Important examples are antioxidants which neutralize 56 reactive waste products that form in your body and prevent oxidative damage. Many of these important compounds must be supplied in the food you eat otherwise your health will suffer. These important compounds are called essential nutrients - they are an essential part of a healthy diet. The role of nutritional supplements is to ensure that your body gets all of the beneficial nutrients it needs even when your diet falls short.

An obvious way your diet can fall short is when you eat too many unhealthy foods that are low in nutritional value (empty calories).

Nutritional supplements A way of healthy living

Replacing unhealthy foods with healthier choices like fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and lean proteins should be your first step to improve your nutrition.

Another issue is that the nutritional content of food is not as high as it used to be. Ultimately, food gets nutritional value from the soil in which it (or its feed-stock) is grown. The rapid expansion of the world’s population has placed an ever-growing pressure on limited farmland to produce more food per acre. This dilutes the nutrient density of crops and depletes levels of minerals and other nutrients in the soil. The result is a loss of nutritional value in today’s crops relative to commonly used historical benchmarks.

There may also be physical conditions which impair the ability of some individuals to efficiently absorb nutrients from the food they eat. As people age their digestive systems tend to become less able to absorb some vitamins from their food. This can contribute to chronic nutritional deficiencies in the elderly.

My core recommendation

I have established a simple regimen of nutritional supplements to help ensure patients get optimal levels of essential nutrients. It also includes a few other compounds that provide additional important benefits.

The foundation of my recommendation is a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Ideally, the amount and form of each ingredient should provide maximum benefit. This is not always the case, especially with “one-a-day” varieties.

Any important nutrients that are not adequately provided in your multivitamin/mineral supplement will require additional supplementation. For example, recent studies indicate that most adults are lacking adequate vitamin D. Vitamin D plays important roles in many areas including bone, heart, immune, metabolic and digestive health.

Levels should be checked with blood tests to determine the supplemental amount needed.

This often requires 1000 IU or more of vitamin D in addition to the amount in many multivitamin/

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mineral supplements.

Most healthy adults can also benefit from 1000-2000 mg/day of high-quality fish oil containing both EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids. These have been shown to promote healthy blood, heart, brain and joint function.

Fish oil supplements should be molecularly distilled for purity, and produced, packaged and stored to avoid light, heat and oxidation.

My core recommendation n Good multivitamin & mineral supplement n Vitamin D3 (1000 IU/day, typical) n Fish Oil (1000-2000 mg/day, typical) Pharmaceutical quality Any supplements you take should be “pharmaceutical grade” meaning they meet pharmaceutical manufacturing standards such as United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF-GMP. This ensures your supplements will provide the specified amount and potency of each ingredient and be free of any contaminants or impurities. The highest quality supplements will also provide nutrients in the most bioavailable forms so your body can efficiently absorb and use the supplemented nutrients. These steps to ensure quality and efficacy can add to the cost but are necessary and worthwhile to ensure your good health.

Further recommendations Beyond the core recommendations provided here, there are other supplements that may be beneficial depending upon age and individual needs. Please contact me if you would like to discuss the benefits of other supplements in regards to your personal health goals.

(Dr. Catherine Diebold is a board certified obstetrician/ gynecologist. She has also received advanced training in Age Management Medicine by Cenegenics and AAMG. She has offices in Gray and Thibodaux. For appointments, call (985) 448-1216.)

o d en

s ? n i e r i p m x e a vit

Wh

A common concern you may have is “Are my vitamins expired?” Vitamins and supplements do carry expiration dates on the label. For optimal freshness and potency use your supplements by this date. Storing them in a place free of humidity and temperature swings may help extend their life. If you have a supplement which is past its expiration date – you will not know if its potency, and thus effectiveness, has diminished. A week past expiration may not be a problem, however, if months to years have passed – you have no guarantees and should probably replace them for optimal health.

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Bayou Wellness Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine that affects about 10 percent of the population. It usually develops during pre- and early adolescence and is more prevalent in girls than in boys.

A 30 second screen during the bone growing years can make the difference between a preventable condition and a disability in adult years.

“A lot of people see the signs but don’t know what scoliosis is,” says Craig Hebert, PT, owner of Thibodaux Physical Therapy. “If you look at a person from the back the normal spinal column should be straight up and down, but typically in a person with scoliosis there is an S-curve. The spine will go off in one direction and come back to the other, so it tries to balance itself out. The key is that with clothes on, the condition is hidden, unless you really are looking for it.”

Hebert became aware of the need for scoliosis screening when one of the employees at Thibodaux Physical Therapy found out her son, who was attending E.D. White Catholic High School, had scoliosis.

“After that, I realized that I had never even screened my own children, so I screened my youngest son who was also in eighth grade at E.D. White 58 at the time, and I discovered that he had a significant curvature, but with no pain,” says Hebert. “That’s when I came up with the idea to offer the service to the Catholic schools because I knew the public schools had screenings but the Catholic schools didn’t.”

Hebert coordinates the program for the Catholic schools in which more than 20 different therapists throughout the diocese perform the screening as a free service to the students. “All of the therapists have really jumped on board to provide this service to our Catholic schools,” says Hebert.

Last school year was the first time

Scoliosis screening being offered in the Catholic schools of the diocese

Story by Janet Marcel Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier

FAMILY DOCTOR CLINIC 291 Liberty Street • Houma, Louisiana Phone: (985) 868-7882 • Fax (985) 876-1700 Bruce E. Guidry, M.D. • Brian J. Matherne, M.D. Nicole W. McKee, M.D. • Andre F. Guidry, M.D. Drug Screening Lab: M-F 8am-1pm, 2pm-4:30pm Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

the free scoliosis screening was offered in the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, beginning with E.D. White Catholic High School, then St. Joseph and St. Genevieve. This school year fourth, sixth and eighth grade students in all of the schools in the diocese are being screened.

The screening process is very simple, says Hebert. Male therapists screen male students and female therapists screen female students in a private area; teachers are present right outside the room. The student is required to take off their blouse or shirt, since scoliosis is hidden with clothes on. The screener will have the child stand in front of them while they do a visual assessment to check shoulder and hip height.

Then the child is asked to bend forward while the screener looks for a hump - a classic sign of scoliosis. They look at the child from the back and from the front.

They also screen for possible Kyphosis or “round back.” The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

Therapists performing the screening do not give a diagnosis

at the time of the screening. If he or she sees enough signs to indicate that a child may have scoliosis, a letter will be sent to parents recommending that the child see their family physician, pediatrician or orthopedist.

The only true way to determine if someone has scoliosis is by x-ray. To determine how effective the screening process is, the same parents are sent a letter six months later asking them for feedback regarding if they followed up and what their results ultimately were.

Last year, out of the 817 students screened, 140 showed signs of possible scoliosis.

For the vast majority of cases, treatment is not necessary; it’s just a matter of monitoring the situation. Sometimes the child will be required to wear a brace to try to maintain the curvature where it is, however a brace won’t improve the curvature. The brace is made out of two pieces of light plastic that are molded to the child’s chest and when the child has on clothes you can’t even see it.

The only way to straighten the curve is through surgery; typically if a curvature is over 40 degrees,

surgery may be needed. In this case if left uncorrected, respiratory problems and back pain could develop. Once the child is past their growing years, scoliosis more or less stays stable.

“Scoliosis tends to run in families, so if a parent has it they should be more diligent in checking their children for it. Parents need to have an awareness of scoliosis. They need to actually look for it. A lot of time there is no pain associated with it; however some kids may complain of back aches,” says Hebert. “If a diagnosis is made, there are usually no lifestyle limitations and for the most part the child is not restricted in his or her activities.

In fact children are encouraged to participate in sports, etc.”

According to the National Scoliosis Foundation, 80 percent of scoliosis cases are “idiopathic” which means the cause is unknown. Some of the more frequent signs of scoliosis that parents should look for are a prominent shoulder blade, uneven hip and shoulder levels, unequal distance between arms and body, and clothes that do not seem to “hang right.”

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LEADING THE WAY TO BETTER HEALTH & VITALITY Dr. Catherine Diebold, MD  As a board certified OB/GYN and Age Management certified physician, Dr. Diebold is uniquely skilled to identify where your current health & fitness efforts may be failing due to diet, exercise, or metabolic/hormonal imbalances.  Dr. Diebold’s program can improve:  health  vitality & energy  mental focus  libido  body composition  sense of well-being and reduce your risk of age-related diseases like heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer & Alzheimer’s.  See Dr. Diebold to get started on your way to better health, well-being and vitality in this new year!

Board Certified OB/GYN Certified in Age Management

by Cenegenics Medical Institute

985-448-1216

5040 W. Main St (Gray) 506 N. Acadia Rd (Thibodaux) www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Glenn G. Blair This seems to be the number one statement that is provided by families whose loved ones were enrolled in hospice services. Patients and families are faced with many decisions in regards to receiving care when coming to terms with lifelimiting illnesses and what level of care best suits their needs.

It is for this reason that patients and caregivers are reluctant to choose hospice, thus creating the myth that it is only for patients that are within days or hours of passing away. When the patient and caregivers finally do elect to choose hospice as a form of care, more often than not the patient is at that threshold of hours or a few days. But what have they missed?

For starters, when a patient elects to receive hospice services early on, their level of direct patient care will increase significantly. Most patients are already receiving some other form of care such as skilled care or home health care. While these forms of care are enormously successful in most cases, patients with an advanced illness are requiring more care as their condition causes overall decline.

That is where hospice can provide 24 hour access to skilled nursing and physician services, increased skilled nursing visits, increased certified nursing assistant visits, accessibility to a social worker to address the emotional needs of the patient and care givers, as well 60 as a chaplain to provide spiritual care for the patient and their family. Volunteers are also available to the patient and their family to provide support in the form of companionship or other duties that may arise.

There are other disciplines available such as a licensed dietician and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. All of these are directed by a medical director, and in most cases, the patient’s physician if so desired. The goal of this team is to focus on and develop an individual plan of care for each patient. Their goal and mission is to relieve the symptoms, pain and emotional needs of the patient and caregivers. Once the patient has passed away, bereavement is also provided to the surviving family for no less than 13 months after the patient has passed away.

In addition to the dedicated professionals focused on the patient and their caregivers, hospice provides medicines related to the qualifying diagnosis. When enrolled in hospice, the primary focus is to address the symptoms and pain associated with the disease process.

It is for that reason that those medicines are covered by hospice at 100 percent. Medicines related to the qualifying diagnosis are covered at 100 percent as well.

The patient is not discouraged from continuing their current medicines, but educated on those medicines that are medically necessary to maintain a quality of life.

Along with medical management and the availability of medicines, the patient would receive supplies necessary to care for them. These supplies include, but are not limited to, gloves, hygiene supplies, bandages, wound care supplies, nutritional supplements, and protective undergarments (diapers). In addition to Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

“I wish we had known about hospice sooner … ” the availability of supplies, the patient has access to medical equipment necessary to provide care for them.

This includes a hospital bed, specialty mattresses, oxygen, a wheelchair, a patient lift, as well as numerous other medical appliances. All of this again is provided

LA Terre Physical Therapy, Inc. 116 Twin Oaks Dr. • Raceland, LA 70394

Phone: (985) 537-7012 Fax: (985) 537-4145 Luke T. Kinnard, P.T. Donald P. Kinnard, P.T. Marci D. Ellender, P.T. Mark J. Kinnard, P.T. Annette Rodrigue, P.T.A.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

at 100 percent, with no charge to the patient.

Hospice services are covered by Medicare Part A, Medicaid, private insurances or in some cases private pay. Indigent care is also provided to patients. A patient must qualify by a physician that their disease has an

estimated prognosis of six months or less. As long as a patient declines with the advancement of their disease and its natural course, they are hospice eligible.

Patients can receive hospice in their home, nursing facility, assisted living, and in some hospitals. There are no homebound criteria for the patient. In fact, we encourage patients to live as best they can, given their circumstances. Patients often travel on short trips to see loved ones or friends. This will in no way disqualify them from receiving services.

There are several levels of care that are also available to the patient receiving hospice, including routine home care, 24 hour crisis care, respite care and inpatient care in a hospital. Diagnoses that qualify a patient for hospice services include cancer, liver disease, end stage renal disease, congestive heart failure, stroke or any other life-limiting illnesses.

The benefits far exceed most forms of health care available today. Before choosing a provider for you or a loved one, it is suggested that you interview several to see if one is right for you. A physician’s order is not required to do this; however, one will be required after you and your physician discuss your options in your plan of care. When selecting a provider, the choice of agency is strictly that of the patient and their family.

For more information to see if the benefits of hospice are right for you or a loved one, contact Journey Hospice at (985) 223-1865 for further information.

(Glenn G. Blair is the executive director of Journey Hospice.)

Leslie Daigle, PT • Eddie Himel, PT, DSc., OCS, Cert. MDT • John Daigle, PT, OCS, COMT Tracy Peltier, PT, CMT • Steven Landry, OT, CHT • Sawyer Triche, PT, DPT

447-3164

808 Bayou Lane

Thibodaux

876-1155

1321 Grand Caillou

Houma

223-4760

125 Bayou Gardens Blvd.

Houma

w w w. p t cen t er-la .com www.bayoucatholic.com

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Bayou Wellness

By Dr. Mark J. Roy III, O.D. The number of Americans who are legally blind or visually impaired is expected to double by the year 2030.

In fact, an estimated 80 million Americans may already have a potentially blinding eye disease. But thankfully, half of all vision loss is preventable with appropriate care and treatment.

Number five in our countdown is a simple, but often overlooked, reason why many Americans are saddled with less than 20/20 vision: an uncorrected prescription. As simple as it may be, many children and senior citizens have slowly and imperceptibly lost vision due to changes in the size and shape of the eye, which can easily be corrected by contact lenses or glasses.

Number four in our countdown is an eye condition that everyone will get if they live long enough …cataracts. It is currently estimated that 22 million Americans aged 40 or over have cataracts. In fact, cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States each year, with an average of three million Americans undergoing the procedure annually.

And those numbers will only continue to rise as the “Baby Boomer” population continues to age.

But what is a cataract? Many people don’t realize there is small lens, similar to the lens in a pair of glasses, located behind the pupil of our eye. This natural lens of the eye serves to focus light on the retina. For the vast majority of us, the eye’s natural lens is perfectly crystal clear at birth, but with enough 62 time, exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, and various environmental and genetic factors, this lens begins to get dingy, or hazy, and may develop a “cracked glass” appearance. In short, any time the natural lens of the eye is not crystal clear, a cataract is present.

A number of commonly prescribed medications, including steroids, can cause cataracts as a side effect.

Additionally, health conditions like diabetes also tend to hasten cataract formation.

Number three in our countdown is glaucoma (it is actually the leading cause of vision impairment in African Americans). Much confusion exists about what this condition is, and in fact, as research progresses, we are still learning much about glaucoma. In short, glaucoma exists when the small nerve fibers that make up the optic nerve begin to die, most often from the pressure inside the eye being above a safe level. This occurs slowly and painlessly for the vast majority of patients with glaucoma, and it ultimately results in a loss of peripheral vision. If undiagnosed and untreated, complete blindness follows.

The number two cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). AMD is actually the leading direct cause of blindness in the United States and is also the number one cause of vision loss of any degree in the over-65 population. It is estimated that 1.75 million patients have this condition, with that number expected to double within the next 12 years.

The macula is the area in the back of the eye that we use to see fine detail. It is what the eye automatically lines up to use when we look at an object. Because the macula provides such high resolution vision, it requires lots of nutrients, and thus also produces a significant Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

Don’t get blindsided!

Know the

P O T E V FI

amount of waste products. Another set of cells in the eye, the retinal pigment epithelial cells, are located underneath the macula, and they function to remove, or flush, these waste products from the retina before they build up. When the retinal pigment epithelial cells no longer remove the waste products as efficiently as they should, the waste products begin to build up in the back of the eye as what we call drusen. As more

Two Wolves

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life.

He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil -- full of fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, jealousy, and ego.

“The other is good -- full of joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

Looking into the eyes of his grandchildren he went on to say, “this same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.”

The grandchildren thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked, “Which wolf will win, Grandfather?”

The wise old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

J. Michael Flynn D.C., F.I.C.C. Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors 567 Corporate Drive • Houma, LA 70360 Phone: (985) 223-3811 • Email: flynn@cajun.net www.drmikeflynn.com

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

drusen form, we see the cells in the macula begin to degenerate due to lack of oxygen.

This brings us to the number one cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States – diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is estimated to affect over 23 million Americans (approximately eight percent of the population), with that number expected to double in the next 40 years. In addition, about 25 percent of those

individuals with diabetes don’t even know they have it.

The American Diabetes Association reports that diabetes is responsible for eight percent of legal blindness, making it the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age in the U.S. Diabetes can cause vision loss and blindness in a multitude of ways both directly and indirectly. Diabetes can lead to temporary changes in the prescription needed in glasses or contacts (a result of the body storing excess glucose inside the natural lens of the eye), to increased risk of cataracts and glaucoma, to more direct causes such as diabetic retinopathy or clinically significant macular edema (changes that occur in the back of the eye due to diabetes).

Regular eye exams can detect diabetic changes to the eye, macula degeneration, glaucoma, cataract formation and the need for glasses or contact lenses.

The best way to avoid or detect any of these and many other conditions is with regularly scheduled eye exams.

So don’t delay scheduling an exam for you or your loved one today.

(Dr. Mark J. Roy III, O.D., is the president of Thibodaux Vision Center. He has played an important role in the advancement of Optometry in the State of Louisiana, serving on every committee of leadership in the Optometry Association of Louisiana. Dr. Roy also serves on the Board of Trustees for SECO, International, LLC, a premier organization serving the educational needs of doctors of optometry in the U.S. and abroad. He was elected OD of the Year by his peers in 2010, and is currently serving a five-year term as a member of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners as appointed by Governor Jindal in 2010.)

Gilsbar is bending the health care trend and improving Louisiana lives — one client at a time For more than 50 years, Gilsbar has been committed to Louisiana employers.

Our vision remains focused on changing employee behavior, improving health and curbing health care cost trends for employers — not just here at home — but across the country.

Gilsbar’s insurance services, medical management and consumer advocacy programs make these goals a reality for thousands of Louisiana families and employers alike.

Health • Life • Disability • Wellness 800.445.7227 • gilsbar.com

2100 Covington Centre • Covington, LA 70433 • gilsbar.com • marketing@gilsbar.com

Bayou Catholic Magazine - April 2013.indd 1

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Bayou Wellness

By Molly Koenig, CWWS W e l l n e s s and medical management programs go far beyond decreasing the cost of healthcare.

W e l l n e s s programs have a huge impact on absenteeism, presenteeism, morale, job performance, productivity, job satisfaction and recruiting and retaining good employees.

The latest trend for employers is understanding that presenteeism (employees go to work but are less productive because of poor health or well-being) has a huge impact in the work environment. When you walk into a work environment that has a culture of health, you notice it, you feel it and you want to work there. We spend most of our waking hours at work; therefore, the work environment must support healthy lifestyles, employee well-being and a work-life balance. Employers that provide education, resources, 64 flex time, gym membership reimbursements, incentives and premium differentials or credits will see the impact in reduced presenteeism.

A team of researchers from the Health Enhancement Research Organization discovered that healthy lifestyles do in fact have a huge impact on job performance and absenteeism. They conducted a study of 20,000 American workers and found that the employees who ate healthy and exercised on a regular basis had a 27 percent lower absenteeism rate. Key job performance findings include: n Workers who ate healthy the entire day were 25 percent more likely to have higher job performance n Workers who ate five or more servings of fruit and vegetables on four or more days in the past week were 20 percent more likely to have higher job performance n Workers who exercised for 30 or more minutes on three or more days a week were 15 percent more likely to have higher job performance American businesses spend $153 billion annually in lost Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

Presenteesim and the bottom line

productivity; these costs are linked to unhealthy workers. Only 14 percent of full-time U.S. workers are of a normal weight and without chronic illness. Full-time workers who are of normal weight and do not suffer from chronic health conditions make up 13.9 percent of the U.S. workforce and average .34 unhealthy (unproductive) days each month – or about four days per year.

The average number of unhealthy (unproductive) days per month is slightly higher at .36 among those who are overweight or obese and do not have additional chronic health conditions.

Unhealthy (unproductive) days per month increase further to 1.08 for workers who are overweight or obese and have one to two additional chronic health conditions. Workers who are of an above-normal weight and have three or more chronic health conditions report a significantly higher average of 3.51 unhealthy (unproductive) days per month –

that is about 42 days per year.

Years of research indicate businesses which employ wellness programs have healthy employees and a healthy bottom line. Gilsbar clients who utilize the full suite of wellness products have seen decreases in healthcare related costs as high as five (5) times more than those businesses who do not utilize wellness programs. For more information on how wellness programs can impact business, contact Stephen Cali at (800) 4457227, ext. 630 or scali@gilsbar.com.

(Molly Koenig, CWWS, is a wellness consultant at Gilsbar, LLC, one of the country’s largest and fastest growing privately-held health and benefit management organizations. Koenig’s main focus is assessing and understanding an employer’s population needs to develop a unique strategy to impact their bottom line and ultimately create a culture of health within the organization.)

SENIOR

By Jane Lyles What is senior physical fitness?

It is being the best that you can be, regardless of your age.

Physical fitness entails two concepts. Firstly, it is a state of health and well-being. Secondly, it is specific fitness as it relates to your ability to perform specific actions. The term senior typically refers to persons over the age of 65.

Maintaining physical fitness will help to maximize your health and quality of life. Some of the benefits of exercise include weight control, decreased risk of heart attack and stroke, decreased risk of type II diabetes, decreased risk of colon and breast cancer, improved mental health, improved strength of muscles and bones, improved mood, decreased risk of falls, decreased pain associated with arthritis, increased confidence, improved sleep and increased life span.

Studies show that once approved by your physician, the benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks of getting hurt, and that moderate exercise like walking is safe for most people. There are four important keys to maximizing your physical function at any age. These are strength, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular function.

Your strength refers to how much power you have. Strengthening exercises should be performed through the entire range of motion.

Resistance bands work well for seniors because they are safe and easily accessible. Once your physician gives you the green light for resistive exercise, you could use bands that offer enough resistance to make repetitions zero to five easy, but five to 10 more challenging. In general, 30 repetitions for each large muscle

group are recommended with a day of rest also recommended before you repeat the same muscle group exercise. Most resistance bands come with recommended exercises and in different colors reflecting different resistance.

Strength training increases muscle mass which in turn increases your metabolism. Muscles consume calories thus making you leaner.

A leaner body has a decreased risk for heart disease.

Your flexibility reflects how freely joints in your body are able to move. A person’s balance and reflexive ability to maintain proper footing can become decreased with decreased flexibility thus increasing fall risk. Joint limitations from decreased flexibility can lead to pain and stiffness. Once approved by your physician, it is important to work daily toward healthy flexibility. Work within your pain tolerance, not bouncing into and out of movement, but rather holding positions for five to 10 seconds.

Start by identifying those positions that you perform routinely during your day. Work toward “stepping out” of those fixed favorites to maximize your flexibility. It may be as easy as getting onto your back when in bed especially if you are a side sleeper.

Balance is defined as our ability to remain upright and steady.

It is controlled by three basic components: your sensory system, your brain, and your muscles and joints which coordinate movements required to maintain balance. A decline in strength and flexibility can affect balance.

Balance decline is not a normal part of aging. It is important that we maintain strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular function in order to maintain balance. In addition to decreased strength and flexibility, balance disorders can be caused by various medical conditions as well as medications. If you have

Physical Fitness balance difficulty, seek help from a medical professional. Balance can be regained through accurate diagnosis followed by appropriate treatment and/or exercises from a trained and qualified medical professional.

Finally, we come to cardiovascular function, one’s ability to remain active for a certain length of time.

One way to improve cardiovascular function is to practice aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is brisk exercise that promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood and is associated with an increased rate of breathing. It conditions the heart and the lungs by increasing oxygen available to the body and allows the heart to use oxygen more efficiently. Walking is aerobic exercise. After physician 65 approval, everyone should aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day. Remember the signs that indicate that you should stop and seek medical attention: dizziness, shortness of breath/ inability to have conversation, and chest or upper body/jaw pain.

We never outgrow the need to love and be loved, and we never outgrow the need to exercise. It is the only way that we will achieve physical fitness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend two and a half hours per week, or 30 minutes five days per week. You will get the same benefit if you break up your exercise into two or three sessions per day. Find a friend or local group that you can join and stick to your new lifestyle change. It’s never too late to begin exercising as long as you have the approval of your physician. Strive to be the best that you can be! Don’t get old, just get older!

(Jane Lyles is a physical therapist at the Home Health Center of Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Tara Landry Every year the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates N a t i o n a l Nutrition Month in the month of March. Nutrition professionals nationwide use this month as the opportunity to get the message to Americans that healthy eating is an integral part of improving their quality of life. And while traditionally we use the month of March to relay this important information, the concepts should be applied year round.

Each year the Academy picks a theme to make the message understandable and applicable to Americans and their lifestyles. As a dietitian I am most excited about this year’s theme because I feel that it is so relevant to Americans and their busy lives.

This year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way, Everyday.” What exactly does this mean? It means 66 that as individuals, you have the convenience of developing a healthful eating plan that includes your particular food choices and preferences that are balanced with your physical activity levels. In a nutshell it means that everyone can incorporate their favorite foods in their eating plan when consumed in moderation and appropriate serving sizes. There is no one perfect diet for everyone. Each person has different nutritional needs based on their health concerns, cultural and ethnic traditions and lifestyle habits. And let’s face it not everyone likes the same foods nor can they eat the same foods.

This all makes great sense, but how does someone get started in this journey to eat right, their way, everyday? Some basic examples to follow include using the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans which offer a sensible roadmap to help you make changes in your eating plan to improve your health.

These recommendations include shifting eating patterns to eat more nutrient dense foods and less empty calorie foods. Empty calorie foods include foods that pack a lot of calories but not so many vitamins and minerals. For example a donut Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

will provide a lot of calories but little else in the way of nutritional value. But a donut can fit into your healthy eating plan if balanced with other nutrient dense foods, physical activity levels, and it is the appropriate serving size (meaning you eat one, not half a dozen).

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines also relate important messages that include balancing calories to manage weight. Daily calorie intake has to be balanced with physical activity level. You can eat the healthiest foods in the world, but if you take in too many calories from those healthy foods and you don’t balance that with the calories you burn (activity levels), you will gain weight! It is simple math, but this can usually be an individual’s biggest downfall.

The Dietary Guidelines advise with each meal that you should

Eating right, your way make half your plate fruits and vegetables, about one quarter protein such as lean meats or beans, and about one quarter grains, preferably whole grains.

Fat-free, low fat milk, or yogurt and cheese is also recommended at each meal.

Whole grains include whole grain breads, cereals, brown rice and whole wheat pasta. You should make half of your daily servings of grains from whole grain sources.

Your daily goal of fruits and vegetables intake should be around 2-1/2 cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit. It is important to vary your choice with fruits and vegetables to allow more intake of vitamins, minerals and fiber. In other words don’t eat the same fruit and vegetable choices every day.

Eat the fruits and vegetables that are in season for the best nutrient

levels. And if fresh options are too hard to find, buy frozen and canned fruits and vegetables which are a great alternative.

Three servings of dairy foods such as low fat or fat free milk, yogurt and cheese are needed for calcium, vitamin D, protein and potassium.

If you are lactose intolerant, fortified soy beverages and lactose free milk are great substitutes.

Proteins are also important in your daily diet. It is important to try to eat lean proteins including seafood, poultry, beans, eggs and nuts more often than fattier proteins including steak, bacon, sausage, etc.

It is scary to think that more than one third of all calories consumed by Americans come from solid fats and added sugars.

Try to replace solid fats and Trans fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (canola, olive, peanut oil and nuts, seeds and avocadoes), which are healthier fats. Solid fats like well-marble meat, poultry skin, bacon, sausage, butter and whole milk products can be limited in your diet. Try also to reduce your intake of foods with Trans fat like cookies, donuts, pastries and crackers.

Physical activity is also really significant to your overall health no matter what your size is. Fit people come in all sizes. It is recommended that adults should do at least two hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity at a moderate level or one hour and 15 minutes each week at a vigorous level. Spreading activity level over the week is best and each activity should be done for at least 10 minutes at a time. Strengthening activities like push-ups, sit-ups and lifting weights are recommended at least two days a week.

Your total diet is the most important focus on healthy eating.

Ultimately, you have the flexibility in making choices to fit your nutrient needs and calorie limits balance with your daily activity levels.

(Tara Landry is a registered dietician who works for the State of Louisiana’s Office of Public Health. She has been a practicing dietitian for 13 years with experience in other areas including weight management and cancer care.)

ST JOSEPH u

HOSPICE

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STAT

Home Health www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Claire Kelbaugh We all have it. It can’t be avoided.

You can’t escape it.

If not managed properly, it can be overwhelming and detrimental to our health.

Knowing how to respond to stress can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being.

Everyone will experience stress to some level in their lives. Some stress is good, such as planning for a wedding, a baby or a new job.

Other stress can take a toll on our bodies physically, mentally and socially. Negative sources of stress include overload, grief, illness, frustration and fear. Avoiding destructive responses to stress like anger, drug or alcohol dependency, and anxiety will improve your chances of overcoming the stressor in your life.

Stress is often perceived as a mental battle, but your physical body is the best indicator of how 68 you manage your stress. Poor sleep, weight loss or gain, increased

Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

Relax,

it’s only a little stress!

heart rate, digestive problems, and inflammatory skin conditions can all be intensified if stress is left uncontrolled. A study by the Wellness Councils of America determined that in 85 percent of disease cases, stress is the culprit.

In many stressful situations, little priority is placed on relaxation and stress management techniques. It’s easier to grin and bear it through the situation and hope that it will pass quickly. Stress also has its way of creating a new normal in our lives to the point where we forget what it was like to be stress free.

There are many techniques that can improve our outlook during stressful times and restore balance to our mental and physical well-being. Practicing relaxation techniques takes little time and can offer a great benefit. Knowing how to handle stress before its onset is

the key to managing it effectively.

Practice these relaxation techniques now so the next time you are faced with a stressful situation you are conditioned to respond.

Since stress comes in multiple forms, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Learn what forms of relaxation are right for you.

Deep breathing - In stressful situations, our natural response is to take short, shallow breaths.

When you take full, deep breaths, it sends a signal to your brain to relax and reduce tension. Deep breathing can slow a rapid heart rate and lower blood pressure. It’s as easy as breathing in through your nose, letting the area below your ribs fill with air, and breathing out through pursed lips. Repeat this movement slowly at least five times.

Take “me time” - Spending time alone can be perceived as selfish or unproductive. Society

often glorifies the idea of busying oneself in a career, parenthood and community involvement. We already face the struggle to get everything done in the 24 hour day. It seems counter-productive to step away from the to-do list, and spend time alone. Use this time to do a leisure activity you enjoy doing. Paint, journal, pray, listen to soft music or read an enjoyable book. Creating a healthy work/life balance will overflow to all aspects of your life.

Mindfulness and visualization - Worry, anxiety and fear of the

unknown can create a powerful stressor in our lives. Guided visualization can relax the mind and body and prepare you for uncertainty that lies ahead.

Although this practice is usually preformed with a soft voice guiding your thoughts, audio recordings can be found online at www.theguided-meditation-site.com. This stress relaxation technique can be used to de-clutter our minds and imagine positive experiences.

The experience may seem a little unusual at first, but give it a try to see if you reap the mental, emotional or physical benefits!

Prioritize healthy habits - Make sleep, nutrition and exercise a priority in your life. Stress affects the digestive system more than any other system in the body, which is often why ulcers, acid reflux and bowel changes rear their ugly head during stressful situations.

The vicious cycle here is that during stressful times, our instinct is to reach for comfort food and processed foods high in sugar, salt and fat. This food in turn triggers and promotes the stress response.

In busy times, our instinct is also to skimp on sleep and forego the workout. Again, these behaviors don’t help stress, they intensify it!

Finally, it’s important to build strong social connections and have a network of people that you can rely on during tough times.

Friends, family and peers can provide you with a sense of security and belonging and contribute to your mental and emotional well-being. Positive thinking can also have great health benefits.

Eliminating negative self-talk has been proven to increase life span, improve immunity and decrease risk of death from cardiovascular disease. This “I think I can, I think I can” mantra can help you cope under pressure and lower your level of stress during tense times.

If you would like more information on stress relaxation techniques or would like to speak to a health coach, please call Sterling Wellness Solutions at 1 (800) 8380337 or visit our website at www.

Sterling-Wellness.com.

(Claire Kelbaugh is president of Sterling Wellness Solutions.)

Terrebonne Physical Therapy Clinic LA Terre Physical Therapy, Inc. 901 Verret Street • Houma, LA 70360-4637 Phone: (985) 868-3806 • Fax: (985) 868-3805 Donald P. Kinnard, P.T.

Luke T. Kinnard, P.T.

Mark J. Kinnard, P.T.

Marci D. Ellender, P.T. www.bayoucatholic.com

69

Bayou Wellness

By Dr. Sara Guidry, DDS “No offence, but I hate coming to the dentist.”

As a dentist, I hear this phrase all of the time.

After I assure them that I’m totally used to being hated by someone at least once a week, we almost always begin a conversation about how a horrible childhood experience has led them to feel this way about the dentist. My advice to them is to face their fears and visit the dentist because good dental health affects more than just the teeth.

Because so many people fear the dentist, I encourage parents to bring their children to the dentist and to find a place that makes it fun. Most parents already teach their children about good diet and hygiene, but not as many parents are aware of the importance of flossing. Flossing, along with a good diet and hygiene, is the key to preventing decay in children. For adults, flossing is one of the number 70 one ways to reduce the buildup of harmful plaque and bacteria between the teeth that can lead to gum disease or periodontitis.

Periodontal disease and its association with conditions such as premature births, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes has become the focus of increasing attention.

Periodontal disease is characterized by infection causing bacteria, bone loss and, ultimately, the loss of permanent teeth. It is influenced by environmental factors including smoking, stress, poor oral hygiene, and systemic factors like diabetes mellitus. These are also risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

These shared risk factors show an association between cardiovascular disease and gum disease.

Studies have found that certain bacteria associated with gum disease can enter the blood stream when chewing and create clogged and inflamed arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Also, inflammation from gum disease can cause the liver to produce Creactive proteins which are known to be a risk factor for myocardial infarction or peripheral artery Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

A healthy mouth = a healthy body disease. Available data indicates that systemic inflammation can be reduced by periodontal treatment.

The relation between PD and atherosclerosis is potentially of great public health importance because of their high prevalence.

The role of tobacco use in the observed association between gum disease and atherosclerosis outcomes is a critical one, because smoking is a major risk factor for both conditions, and smoking cessation is a critical component of health maintenance and prevention of many diseases, including both gum disease and atherosclerosis.

Also, researchers are finding that the diabetic condition is worsened by existing infections like periodontal disease. This is because diabetics must control all sources of infection to be able to maintain good glucose control.

Periodontal disease can serve as a silent infection because patients will not have the usual alerts like fever and malaise from mild to moderate periodontal disease. It usually presents as a slow and chronic disease that can persist in patients and go unnoticed by their

physicians. The good news is that treatment of periodontal disease has been found to significantly lower high blood sugar levels.

Finally, studies have shown that pelvic infections can cause pre term births by triggering the release of prostaglandins that induce labor. Periodontal disease can also cause the release of these substances. Mothers who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease should also be informed about the transmission of periodontal bacteria to children from family members and caregivers and from spouse to spouse. Children are not born with oral bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease.

These pathogens are spread to children through saliva from kissing and sharing utensils.

I have outlined only three of the serious links between periodontal disease and systemic disease, but there are many more. This is why avoiding the dentist until problems arise is never a good idea. It is always best to visit a dentist and to be placed on a regular recall list so that your oral health can always be monitored.

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

It is recommended by the American Dental Association that one should see a dentist every six months. At these appointments, the dentist will perform a visual oral exam and take x-rays of the teeth.

The x-rays are a great diagnostic tool in order to diagnose decay and to evaluate the level of the bone to screen for signs of bone loss which is a main indicator of periodontal disease.

So, the next time you are reminded to go to the dentist, don’t put it off until something hurts.

Pain or swelling in the mouth is usually not a good sign. Find a dentist who is sympathetic to your fears and go regularly because a healthy mouth equals a healthy body.

(Dr. Sara Guidry, DDS, graduated from LSU Dental School in May of 2004. She has been practicing dentistry with her husband, Dr. Josh Guidry, for the last nine years.

She graduated from E.D. Catholic White High School and Nicholls State University. Dr. Guidry and her husband will be moving into a new office on North Canal Blvd.)

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Nicole O. Bourgeois, PA-C ~ Neil J. Maki, MD

Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Expert In Shoulder Care Named as Top Doctor in the New Orleans Magazine Team Physician, Nicholls State University Athletic Programs

525 St. Mary Street ~ Thibodaux, Louisiana 70301

985-446-6284 • 1-800-521-2647 www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Dr. Mike Flynn Do you ever wonder about all the people who just don’t get the message that personal fitness – in mind, body and spirit – is important?

It seems that too many are not listening or don’t care.

W e have to do something about it. We have to set an example, encourage education about all the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and we have to let people know they can do it. They just 72 have to choose to. We all need to be motivated - to be inspired in our lives. I remember hearing the late Zig Zigler say, “some people think that motivation does not last. Well neither does bathing. That is why I recommend both daily.”

Think of being self inspired with every breath you take. A good time to take that first deep breath of the day is when you wake up in the morning. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). There is the plan for the day. Can you wake up, take a deep breath and inspire yourself for the day? You don’t necessarily have to rejoice every day, but you can be glad in it.

Sure you can – just choose to.

It is difficult to rejoice, when too many are suffering from a deficiency in fitness. Do you agree? These days there appears to be less religion, more violence, food choices that lack nourishment, too few getting off the couch and exercising, too many addicted to drugs, gambling, alcohol and other bad habits. We

live in a world of lifestyle sickness – stressed, worried and distracted beyond what should be normal.

Some say there are three kinds of people in our world; those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. When I mention we have to do

week; be aware of and improve your posture; listen to your body – pain should not be ignored or constantly covered up; be an optimist and recognize that you own your attitude; express gratitude every chance you get and learn more by reading, listening and sharing with others.

In every prayer, ask for guidance in the courage and the discipline to make good choices in your life. Put a genuine smile on your face and the feeling of love in your heart.

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love” (Mother Teresa).

There is a favorite parable that says it this way, “Your task is to build a better world,” God said. I answered, “How? This world is such a large, vast place, so complicated now – there is nothing I can do.” And God replied in all his wisdom, “Just build a better you.”

The greatest teacher of all, the carpenter from the Plains of Galilee gave us the secret time and time again: “As ye believe, so shall it be done – unto you.” Believe in yourself.

The poet Maria Robinson said it best, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Begin today with the desire to be healthier and happier.

Understand that you have complete control over but one thing in your life – what you choose to think about. What you think about comes about in building that better you and better world. For those who do get the message, share it.

(Dr. Mike Flynn provides chiropractic health care for patients of all ages at Holistic Health Medical Center, 567 Corporate Drive, Houma – (985) 855-4875 – www.drmikeflynn.com.)

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Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

y d o B , Mind t i r i p and S something about it, I am referring to all of us who don’t just watch or wonder. Those who make things happen need to make attention to fitness happen! Isn’t fitness something for all of us to get inspired about? It can start with always remembering that today’s choices shape tomorrow’s future.

And by never forgetting the Latin words “dum spiro, spero” – while I breathe, I hope.

The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

My recommendations for a healthier life are simple. They require taking responsibility and being inspired to make good choices which will help you achieve better health. Breathe deeper and with purpose; eat more nourishing food and less junk food; read labels and avoid as many chemicals as you can; drink water and juice often; get a good nights sleep; do some form of exercise three to five times a

By Amy D. LAFleur, R.N. “I was a stranger, and you took me in ... sick, and you visited me ...

When did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? ... Or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee? ... Amen I say to you as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:35-40).

Many people have misconceptions about what home health is and who can benefit from our service; hopefully after reading this article, a few of those inconsistencies will be dissolved. To be eligible for home health, the patient needs to be home bound, which means there needs to be a taxing effort to leave one’s home. Many people think you have to be bed bound and that is simply not the case. Our patients can have recently had surgery, new wounds, recent medicine changes or a flare up of a particular disease that is making leaving the home difficult.

This does not mean that the patient can not leave their house; it just means that because of their current health status, they are having a hard time getting around and may need the help of family and friends to do so. The purpose of home health is to keep the patient out of the hospital and get him or her back to a stable way of life and hopefully a better quality of life than before.

Home health to me, is taking care of patients as if they were your mother, father, sister, uncle or friend in their own home where they feel the most comfortable.

We can perform various skills in the home such as IV therapy, wound care and ostomy care, as well as education on active disease processes, self injections and blood glucose monitoring to name a few.

Education is an integral part of home health, whether it is teaching the patient or caregiver to perform a particular skill or how to manage medications and prescribed diet.

Many times patients are started on new medication, and may be told what it is for and why they are on

LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC

What is home health? it, but not how it works, what they need to avoid and/or what can be expected.

Sometimes patients are told these things by doctors, nurses and pharmacists, but once they get home, they say, “now what was I supposed to watch for?” That’s where we come in to remind, set up, reinforce and teach our patients how to cope with and manage these very serious health issues.

We are not a sitting service; although we can give our patients information on sitters and set them up with a social worker to apply for certain state funded programs for sitters. We are not a cleaning service, maids or cooks although if help is needed with cleaning, or there is a need for meals on wheels, we can contact the council on aging to set up an appointment. We do not carry any medications with us but we can give out information on pharmacies that deliver to your area.

We are a team of healthcare professionals who have our patients’ best interest at heart. We are there to observe your current living situation and assess what needs are present and what services we can provide. We have nurses to monitor vital signs, educate on diseases, obtain blood samples for ordered labs, teach on medications, perform and reinforce skills in the home that need to be overseen or

closely monitored.

Home health can provide physical and occupational therapy in the home to build strength and independence. Occupational therapy, which unlike its name, has nothing to do with the person’s 73 occupation, but more with the activities of daily living such as bathroom safety, upper body strengthening, and building fine motor skills that may have been lost due to inactivity or strokes.

We can provide a home health aide two to three times a week to assist with bathing; and social workers to provide information on local resources, help with applications for medication assistance programs and long term planning. We also can provide speech therapists for stroke victims, patients with swallowing difficulties or new onset of certain speech impediments.

If you know someone who might benefit from our services, please feel free to contact our office at (985) 537-8362.

(Amy Duplantis LaFleur earned an associate of science degree in nursing from Nicholls State University. She has worked at West Jefferson Medical Center and Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. In 2010, she began working in home health and has been working at Ochsner Home Health out of Raceland since November 2012.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

By Bivonia Olivier As a woman in her 50s who lived a healthy lifestyle, Kim Waldrup of Bourg, LA, did not think she was at risk for cardiovascular disease. She was more concerned about her husband’s heart health, sending him to Cardiovascular Institute of the South for a free screening in July 2011. But just three weeks later, she suffered a heart attack.

Initially, Waldrup began having a pain in her left shoulder blade and neck. At times, her left arm would ache and go numb, and she was also experiencing pain in her left jaw. These symptoms went on for two weeks, with the pain increasing and lasting for longer intervals, but she simply attributed these aches to an old neck and shoulder injury. She even visited her primary care physician, who had prescribed muscle relaxers, 74 pain pills and anti-inflammatory medications for a pinched back nerve. But when she woke up three days later, she was having difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.

This ultimately took her to the emergency room at Terrebonne General Medical Center, where she was told that she had had a heart attack and was undergoing heart failure.

An angiogram, which uses x-ray imaging and dye to see the arteries of the heart, determined that she had four significantly blocked arteries, two of which were 99 percent blocked. Waldrup received stents in these arteries to restore blood flow.

“I was shocked to learn that I had blockages to that extent at 55 years old,” explained Waldrup. “I had strived to live a healthy lifestyle.”

What Waldrup didn’t take seriously was that she had two major risk factors: family history and high cholesterol. Her father experienced two heart attacks, and though her cholesterol was high, she was not taking any medication.

She also did not realize that her symptoms were indicators of heart attack in women. Traditional, Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

Take your health to heart: Kim Waldrup’s story

well-known signs of heart attack include chest pain or shortness of breath. But other symptoms may be present, particularly in women, such as tightness or squeezing of the chest, pain or discomfort in the arms, back, neck or jaw, nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweats.

Months later, with the help of her cardiologist, Waldrup was able to reach healthy cholesterol levels. She has now resumed an active lifestyle and is thankful

to be on a journey to better heart health. “I am grateful to both Dr. Anil Chagarlamudi and Dr. Vinod Nair at CIS for helping to give me a second chance at the rest of my life,” she said. “I am also very thankful to Dr. Craig Walker for establishing CIS in Louisiana because, with the prevalence of heart disease in our area, we need access to superior heart care. We have that in CIS.” She now advocates for others to know their risk and prevent heart disease before it strikes. “The first

way to protect yourself is to learn your risk factors and talk about them with your cardiologist,” explained Waldrup. “We cannot make the mistake of thinking that heart disease just happens to someone else.”

Heart disease kills nearly twice as many women than all cancers combined. That is why Waldrup especially encourages women to know their risk. “Many women take for granted that they cannot be affected simply because of their age or gender,” she explained.

“Women also tend to overlook their symptoms, as I did,” she added.

Do you know your risk? Risk factors for heart disease include family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, as well as smoking, being overweight or being inactive.

“The key to effectively prevent heart disease is education,” said Dr. Craig Walker, founder of CIS. “Anyone with risk factors should consider the possibility of having heart disease regardless of the presence of symptoms.”

The best way to fight heart disease is to prevent it. Looking back, Waldrup realized she should have acted sooner. “We can only take care of those that we love if we are around to do it,” said Waldrup.

“You must take an active role in saving your own life. We only get one heart, and sometimes we only get one chance to save it. Don’t blow that chance,” she urged. “Be a survivor.”

If you are concerned about your risk of heart disease, consider visiting a cardiologist for a risk assessment.

With a team of nearly 500 dedicated team members at 14 clinics throughout south Louisiana, CIS has provided cardiovascular care to our community for nearly 30 years. For more information about CIS, call 1 (800) 425-2565 or visit www.cardio.com.

(Bivonia Olivier is the public relations & events coordinator for Cardiovascular Institute of the South.)

By Mae Hitt, RN, CDE When some people are told that they have diabetes, the first thought that usually pops into their head is “no more sugar for me.” They dread the thought of giving up their favorite cake or pralines, or at the worse having to give up Grandma’s homemade lemon pie. They might tell family and friends – “I have sugar blood.” They are actually somewhat correct. When you are diagnosed with diabetes, it means you have too much sugar in your blood.

Their next thought is probably going to be – “how did I get all this sugar in my blood?” High blood sugar problems start when your body no longer makes enough of a hormone called insulin or your body is not using insulin properly.

Your body changes much of the food you eat into a type of sugar called glucose. The sugar then travels into your blood. Insulin’s job is to help sugar move from your blood into your body’s cells for energy. Without insulin, your cells can’t get the sugar they need to keep you healthy and energetic.

Insulin keeps your blood sugar levels normal.

Another forthcoming question is “what caused me to get diabetes did I catch it from my friend?” No one knows what causes diabetes, but researchers do know that you can’t “catch” diabetes from someone and you can’t give it to someone else. It is not a contagious disease!

Researchers know that diabetes tends to run in families, especially Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.

They know that some of the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are obesity, family history, race and a sedentary lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adults, but the number of children and young people with Type 2 is growing. The increased numbers of children and young people being diagnosed are related to an increase in childhood obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

“Doc, what are you going to do to me to get the extra sugar out of

Diabetes versus you Diabetes who will win the battle? my blood?” is another question of concern for the newly diagnosed diabetic. There are three ways to treat Type 2 diabetes. The first is meal planning. It’s not about giving up your Grandma’s pie or your favorite cake. It’s about eating healthy and portion control. There are dieticians and nutritionists, to which your doctor can refer you, to work with you to teach you how to read food labels, count carbohydrates and use food exchange list. They can teach you how you can still have that occasional piece of Grandma’s pie.

It’s all about portion control!

The second treatment is physical activity (never use the word exercise – most people dread the thought of exercise!). It’s about getting up and moving. Being physically active everyday can help you manage your blood sugars.

That’s because being active can improve your body’s ability to use insulin and helps you to maintain a healthy weight. Physical activity will help reduce two of the Type 2 risk factors – being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle. Thirty (30) minutes a day of physical activity is the recommendation, but if daily activity is new to you, begin with 10-15 minutes a day and gradually increase to 30 minutes.

The third treatment is medication, if needed. Sometimes Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by meal planning, physical activity and weight loss. When blood sugars remain elevated despite following a meal plan and physical activity, medications are necessary. Oral medications stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin, or quiet the liver so it doesn’t release as much sugar at one time, or slows down

the digestive process so the insulin can do its job. If oral medications are unsuccessful at controlling your blood sugar, it will be necessary to start on insulin injections to release the sugar from your blood and carry it to your cells.

A very crucial question that diabetics usually ask is: “Well doc, what if I don’t want to eat healthy or start doing physical activity?

I don’t even think I want to take medications, especially insulin shots!” Not following your doctors treatment recommendations can lead to complications from living 75 with high blood sugars. Some of the more severe complications are increased risk for heart disease, kidney failure, loss of your eyesight, and poor circulation which can lead to amputations.

According to statistic from Louisiana State Health Facts, 7.4 of every 100 adults in Louisiana have been diagnosed with diabetes.

An even more alarming statistic is that 42.1 out of every 100,000 adult deaths in Louisiana are due to diabetes, making Louisiana the number one state with the highest rate of diabetes deaths.

Doctors and diabetes educators will do their part to help you keep your blood sugars under control, but it is up to you to follow their recommendations and treatments.

You will determine if you will beat diabetes or if diabetes will win.

If you have questions or would like more information, you can contact the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383).

(Mae Hitt, RN, CDE, is the community outreach director for Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland.) www.bayoucatholic.com

Bayou Wellness

Thibodaux Regional takes leadership role in improving health of region with construction of state-of-the-art Wellness Center Thibodaux Regional Medical Center continues to take a leadership role in improving the health of our region by establishing an innovative, state-of-the-art Wellness Center. The first of its kind in the Bayou Region, the Wellness Center will be a medically integrated facility focused on prevention, education and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases and illness, and injury with an emphasis on physical activity.

Recognizing the community’s increasing health 76 concerns, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes, Thibodaux Regional is taking a proactive role, addressing the health-related challenges within the region and enhancing the continuum of care. The Center’s benefits can be realized by many throughout the region including improved health in individuals which can result in improved quality of life and decreased healthcare costs. Employers can benefit from a healthier community by a reduction in employee medical expense as well as reduced costs associated with health-related employee absenteeism. Benefits to employees are better physical and mental health, improved ability to manage stress, higher morale and productivity.

Statistics indicate that people in Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. James, St. Mary and Assumption Parishes have a high prevalence of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Louisiana ranks seventh in the nation in diabetes prevalence, eighth in the nation for obesity, and fourth for cardiovascular disease. Disease prevalence in the region is higher compared to that of Louisiana. Prevalence of diabetes is 11.7 percent compared to 10.3 percent; heart disease is 6.1 percent compared to 5.3 percent and obesity is 37.2 percent compared to 31.7 percent.

“Thibodaux Regional has long been a leader in providing high quality care and service, including prevention and wellness services,” said Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional. “For example, we partner with numerous businesses and organizations to provide education and screenings, participate in many community health events, and provide nutrition, diabetes and weight management education to Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

patients.”

“Additionally, Thibodaux Regional partnered with Lafourche Parish public and private schools to help fight childhood obesity. Educational sessions focusing on better choices for nutrition and physical activity were provided to sixth grade students. The students learned how they can make behavior changes to achieve success in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The program has been very successful and is in its second year,” Stock continued.

The Wellness Center of Thibodaux Regional will include an imaging center, with a designated women’s imaging center, orthopedic and sports medicine center, neurosciences center, spine center, rheumatology, pulmonary, pain management, diabetes, cardiac rehabilitation, physical, occupational and speech therapy, a therapeutic pool, a competition pool, fitness center, education center, and much more.

The Center is being built with the health of the environment in mind as well. Utilizing sustainable designs, green building materials and energy-efficient systems, the Wellness Center will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

Thibodaux Regional plans to break ground on the project this fall.

About Thibodaux Regional Medical Center Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is a leading regional acute care hospital providing inpatient and outpatient care for the people of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes. Specialized services offered include heart surgery, medical and radiation oncology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, plastic and reconstructive surgery, general, laparoscopic and bariatric surgery, pulmonology, rheumatology, women’s services, sleep disorders, behavioral health, and inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation services. Nationally recognized for quality care and service, Thibodaux Regional has been named a Distinguished Hospital by J.D. Power and Associates and has been honored with the Press Ganey Summit Award for high levels of patient satisfaction.

By Shea Austin Last month was Colorectal C a n c e r Awareness Month and colorectal cancer (commonly called colon cancer) is the third most common cancer for both men and women in America – yet it is preventable, treatable and beatable. In 2013, an estimated 142,820 Americans will be diagnosed with this disease.

So what does one do to reduce the risk of colon cancer? The answer is simple: Get tested.

Colon cancer almost always starts with a polyp – a small growth on the lining of the colon or rectum.

By getting tested, an individual’s doctor can find and remove polyps before they become cancerous.

For those 50 or older, the American Cancer Society recommends talking to their doctor about getting tested and which test is right for them. Nine out of 10 colon cancer cases are diagnosed in people older than 50. Individuals with a family history of colon cancer may need to get tested earlier than age 50.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults maintain a healthy weight by being physically active most days of the week and eating a balanced diet by choosing vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and limiting red and processed meat. American Cancer Society also recommends limiting the amount of alcohol one drinks to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Also, avoid smoking and

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other tobacco products.

Screening for colorectal cancer has been proven to reduce deaths from the disease both by decreasing the number of people who are diagnosed with it and by finding a higher proportion of cancers at early, more treatable stages.

Overall, colorectal cancer rates have declined rapidly in both men and women in the past two decades, due in part to early detection and

the Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM, are working to ensure that all Americans who need colorectal cancer testing and treatment have access to them.

The Society recommends the following tests to find colorectal cancer early: Tests that detect adenomatous polyps and cancer

Colon Cancer

preventable, treatable, beatable

removal of precancerous polyps.

However, only half of the U.S. population aged 50 and older has been tested.

The American Cancer Society is making progress against colorectal cancer and is saving lives. Societyfunded research has led to improved understanding regarding the link between diet and colorectal cancer, and the development of drugs to treat colorectal cancer. In addition,

Phone 985-346-4844

The Houma Center For Wellness

Chiropractic Physician

a

4752 Hwy. 311 Suite 104 Houma, LA 70360

CHIROPRACTIC™.

Dr. Ronnie Haydel Dr. Ronnie Haydel Chiropractic Physician

n Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, or n Colonoscopy every 10 years, or n Double contrast barium enema (DCBE) every five years, or n CT colonography (CTC) every five years.

Tests that primarily detect cancer n Annual guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or

Fax 985-346-4845 www.haydelfamilychiropractic.com

Ph: (935) 346-4344 Fax: (905) 346-4345

4752 Hwy. 311 Ste. 104 Houma, Louisiana 70360

www.bayoucatholic.com

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Bayou Wellness n Annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) with high test sensitivity for cancer, or n Stool DNA test (sDNA), with high sensitivity for cancer, interval uncertain.

Colon cancer is highly treatable if found in its early stages. Since the 1990s, more Americans have been surviving colon cancer than ever before. To learn more about how to prevent colon cancer and reduce the risk, call the American Cancer Society at 1(800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org/colon.

Have you or someone you know been affected by colon cancer?

The American Cancer Society is here to help. Having cancer is hard, but finding help shouldn’t be. If you or a loved one needs information, day-to-day help, or emotional support through your cancer experience, the American Cancer Society can help. By calling or visiting us online, you have access to free, easy-to-understand information to help with decision making during treatment, as

well as help answering questions such as “How do I understand my cancer diagnosis?” “What are my treatment options?” and “Where do I go for treatment?”

Above all, the American Cancer Society is there whenever you need us. You can also find assistance with financial questions, insurance questions, transportation and lodging issues. When you call the Society’s National Cancer Information Center at 1(800) 2272345, you have access to information and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our trained Cancer Information Specialists can even help match patients with clinical trials (research studies) that suit their needs.

About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every

birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest nongovernmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year.

(Shea Austin is a health initiatives representative with American Cancer Society, Inc. She has a bachelor’s of science degree in kinesiology with a concentration in health promotion and wellness.)

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LIVE TO YOUR

POTENTIAL

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For More Information Or To Schedule A Tour, Contact: Natalie Barbera

Marketing/Social Director, St. Joseph Manor

1201 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, LA 70301

(985) 446-9050 Fax: 449-0047

800.838.0337 │ www.Sterling-Wellness.com Bayou Catholic • Houma, LA • April 2013

www.stjosephmanor.org

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www.bayoucatholic.com