IGH MV 151 September 2018

PRICELESS

Meet Your Doctor

MVHEALTHNEWS.COM

Michael W. Redner, D.O., recently joined the staff at the Falcon Clinic for Health, Wellness and Recovery in New Hartford, specializing in osteopathic medicine.

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SEPTEMBER 2018 • ISSUE 151

Managing Anger FFFailing to control temper can lead to despair Page 7

Riding high

Psychology of Color

Root of the matter

Color psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior. Believe it or not, colors in your home can dictate your mood!

Utica Bike Rescue offers area residents healthy way to stay active.

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‘Smile With Dr. Suy’ talks about root canal process.

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Why you should eat pears A crisp pear is refreshing and delicious, a super source of fiber and a goldmine for phytonutrients.

See SmartBites Page 12

Men’s Health Special Edition September 2018 •

Wheelchair Warrior

Jason Robinson of Westmoreland creates excitement while dominating the wheelchair racing circuit.

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PTSD Post traumatic stress disorder will affect nearly 10 percent of the population.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized?

Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Mondays

Thursdays

Food Addicts in Recovery Root Farm offers fresh to meet local produce Food Addicts in Recovery holds an anonymous meeting from 6:308 p.m. Mondays at Trinity United Methodist Church, 8595 Westmoreland Road, Whitesboro.

For more information, call Helen at 315-794-2314.

Tuesdays

Insight House offers family support group Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. is offering a family support group meeting from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Insight House, 500 Whitesboro St., Utica.

The group is free and open to anyone who is concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, opiates/heroin, or other substances.

For more information about the group, call 724-5168, ext. 265, from 8:30-4 p.m. weekdays.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Are you interested in savoring healthy, farm fresh produce each week this summer?

The Root Farm is in its second year of offering its community supported agriculture opportunity, enabling participants to enjoy 15 weeks of locally grown vegetables and flowers.

Full shares cost $450 each and can be picked up at the Root Farm, 2680 King Road, Sauquoit, from 3-6:30 p.m. every Thursday. Half shares are also available for $300.

“This is a wonderful way to support The Root Farm and the services it provides to so many children and adults from our community, while also enjoying a wide variety of fresh, local produce,” said a Root Farm spokesperson.

For more information, email info@rootfarm.org or call 315-5207046.

AMERICANS WALK 5,000 STEPS A DAY ONLY HALF THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT Let’s get stepping! ExcellusBCBS.com/LiveFearlessNation Page 2

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

Continued on Page 17

U.S. murder, suicide rates escalate again A fter a period of steady decline, homicides and suicides are on the rise again in America, new statistics show.

Experts believe the opioid addiction crisis may be at least partly to blame.

Researchers tracked data from a national injury-reporting database and found that, especially between 2014 and 2016, the homicide rate climbed sharply for blacks, while suicide rates rose steadily for whites.

Rates of deaths from accidental injuries -— things like traffic fatalities or falls — have also charted a steady rise in recent years, said a team led by physician Angela Sauaia, of the Denver Health Medical Center.

“The data demonstrate alarming upward trends in both violent and unintentional injuries,” her team reported Aug. 1 in the journal JAMA Surgery. There were “large, significant increases from 2014 to 2016, reducing survival gains observed since 2001,” the researchers added.

The study authors couldn’t pinpoint reasons for the trends, but one expert who has seen the tragic results of violence offered up his theory.

“The opioid epidemic may play at least part of the role for the increase in murders and suicides observed from 2014-2016,” said Robert Glatter, an emergency department physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Meet Our New Physicians!

“The increase seen in fentanyl-laced heroin may explain some of the uptick seen in firearm murders, suicides as well as unintentional injuries, he said.

According to the new study, America’s homicide rate was actually on a slow but steady decline until about 2014, when that trend reversed and began a sharp rise among blacks.

Early in 2014 the homicide rate for blacks was about 18 deaths per 100,000 people, but by the end of 2016 it had jumped to about 23 per 100,000, the study found.

While homicide rates remained relatively unchanged among whites (about three deaths per 100,000), suicide rates for this group have seen a steady, significant rise, Sauaia’s team reports. From a low of 12 suicide deaths per 100,000 in 2000, these tragedies rose to almost 17 per 100,000 by the end of 2016. Suicide deaths remained largely unchanged between 2000 and 2016 for blacks and Hispanics, however, at about 6 per 100,000, the study found.

The researchers noted that two-thirds of homicides and about a half of suicides involved guns, and gun-related deaths have spiked in recent years.

“The continued availability of access to guns, and spikes in violence associated with drug trafficking could be behind the uptick in murders and suicides,” Glatter said.

If someone you know might be struggling with thoughts of suicide, we can help.

Call the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) at 315.732.6228 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255 September is National Suicide Prevention Month #BeThe1To: Ask. Keep them Safe.

Be There. Help Them Connect.

Follow Up. For more information, call us at 315.733.1709

Oneida, Herkimer in good

and

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

Madison

counties

A monthly newspaper published

by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($21 per year), call 315-749-7070.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2018 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Deb Dittner, Pauline DiGiorgio, Brooke Stacia Demott Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Kimberley Tyler No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement — not to take the place of — the recommendations of your health provider.

September 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Number of Opioid-Addicted Women Giving Birth Quadruples

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he number of pregnant women addicted to opioids as they give birth has more than quadrupled since 1999, a disturbing new report shows.

In 2014, for every 1,000 hospital deliveries, 6.5 were mothers who arrived at the hospital with opioid use disorder, up from 1.5 per 1,000 in 1999, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found.

This increase is likely linked to America’s ongoing opioid epidemic, said study co-author Jean Ko, an epidemiologist with the CDC’s division of reproductive health.

“With the opioid overdose epidemic, it’s natural to see increases in opioid use disorder among the general population,” Ko said.

“Our data tell us that women presenting for labor and delivery are no different.”

Opioid use during pregnancy has been tied to maternal death during delivery, stillbirth and preterm birth, the CDC researchers noted.

Even babies born healthy might have to go through opioid withdrawal, a condition known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Babies with NAS can experience tremors, convulsions, seizures, difficulty feeding, breathing problems, fever, diarrhea and trouble sleeping, according to the March of Dimes.

The CDC study used data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, focusing on 28 states with at least three years of data available for analysis.

Between 1999 and 2014, all 28 states saw significant increases in opioid-addicted pregnant women entering labor.

Vermont and West Virginia had the most cases of opioid-affected pregnancies in 2014.

Vermont had 48.6 cases for every 1,000 deliveries; West Virginia had 32.1 cases per 1,000. On the low end, Nebraska had 1.2 cases per 1,000 and the District of Columbia had 0.7 per 1,000.

The average annual rate increases were highest in Maine, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia. Those states all had growth of more than 2.5 cases per 1,000 each year — six times higher than the national average of 0.4 cases per 1,000.

The states with the lowest increases were California and Hawaii, with fewer than 0.1 new cases per 1,000 each year.

Subscribe to In Good Health!

Call 315-749-7070 today!

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

Michael W. Redner, D.O. Michael W. Redner, D.O., recently joined the practice of Dr. Richard Chmielewski at the Falcon Clinic for Health, Wellness and Recovery in New Hartford, specializing in osteopathic medicine. He recently spoke with In Good Health correspondent Patricia J. Malin about his career.

Q.: What prompted you to study medicine?

A.: I was very motivated from the time I was 9 years old when I was injured in a dirt bike accident. I was taken to Faxton Children’s Hospital in Utica, but injuries to my nose were not life-threatening so the doctor postponed surgery. He felt it was safer to delay surgery. I developed a tremendous respect for the doctor’s limitations and his power.

I felt my life was in his hands while recognizing what an incredible job he has. I began chasing the whole idea of becoming a doctor and realized that every day is an opportunity to learn. When I became a nurse and then a physician assistant, I began to respect my ability to connect with patients.

Q.: From the awards you earned in high school and college, it appears you took easily to the subject matter and your courses in medicine.

A.: Yes, things did come naturally. Part of that was due to my parents. My mother is from Thailand who became a registered nurse after her children were grown, and my father is from Germany. He worked in a factory and later began his own logging business.

They both had a strong work ethic and would discuss with me the steps I needed to take to get to college and then to medical school.

I attended Adirondack Central in Boonville for many years. I went to technical school for my junior and senior years and took BOCES courses in nursing.

By the time I graduated high school, I had become a licensed practical nurse. Then I earned a four-year Founders’ Scholarship to Syracuse University.

Q.: Why did you decide to specialize in osteopathy?

A.: I was a physician assistant in otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat care), but later decided to take a less conventional approach and study osteopathy.

I thought I was going to be OK as a PA, but I was “just” a PA. I thought I was selling myself short.

I took more courses to obtain better knowledge, then I changed to an osteopathic track. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Having been in the field as a PA, I learned how to help and manipulate the body. Working as a nurse and a PA gives you more tools in your toolbox, more than the medical doctor track.

When I was in my fourth year

not going to just hand out a prescription.

And it’s been reported that 50 percent of prescriptions aren’t being filled anyway.

People don’t want pills. Osteopathy is a balance of functionality and freedom from discomfort.

Patients want increased functionality and I want to treat patients who want to be healed.

Many of them have chronic hip, shoulder, back and knee pain. They can’t get a joint replacement right away and don’t want to take pills for pain. of medical school, I was looking for places where I could do my osteopathic muscle manipulation.

I’m from the area and familiar with the Mohawk Valley Health Service system. I saw the value of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Program.

It’s known as “birth to earth” from prenatal care to all ages; it’s a huge spectrum.

I met Dr. Richard Chmielewski in 2014 and he became a mentor. I saw the patients’ satisfaction with muscular manipulation, sometimes after one treatment.

Q.: Describe your typical patient.

A.: It’s someone who isn’t interested in a pharmacological solution to his or her medical problems. I tell them that there is no magic pill. I’m

Q.: What makes osteopathic practice unique?

A.: It’s holistic. We stress literacy and education, exercise and nutrition, and how to manage stress. We build a relationship with the patient.

They want to try a non-pharmaceutical approach. You are the captain of your care and I am the compass.

You come to me to help you set the course of treatment. One patient came to us with pain from a shoulder dislocation, so we treated the pectoral muscles.

We’re not chasing dollar signs or subspecialties. We’ve discovered more patient satisfaction. Whether it’s hypertension or diabetes or something else, we refocus on the best outcome with the least amount of pharmaceutical solution.

Lifelines Age: 37 Hometown: Rome Residence: Utica Education: Howard G. Sackett Technical Center, Glenfield, nursing, 1997-99 valedictorian, 1999; Syracuse University, bachelor’s degree, 2003; SUNY Stony Brook, Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies, 2005–07, cum laude, 2007; University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 2011-15 Family: Fiance, Audrey Hobbies: Competitive racquetball and softball player; competitive archery, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, mountain biking, boating, canoeing, waterskiing, carpentry and construction

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

Men’s Health

Beer Belly Blues

That belly fat you are wearing can actually kill you

By Barbara Pierce

B

esides being pretty unsexy, belly fat can be more of a health risk than you think, cautioned Joe Martin.

Belly fat is that unattractive, puffed-out bulge around our middle that seems to grow as we age. It is also known as a “beer gut.”

That stubborn fat just doesn’t go away, even when we lose weight.

And, if you knew how it looks, you’d throw up.

The fat we can’t see is the nasty stuff. This hidden fat matters, Martin said.

Martin is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, founder and CEO of Function Better Physical Therapy, with locations in Clinton, Herkimer, New Hartford, Oneida, Rome, Utica and Yorkville.

For some of us, this hidden fat matters very much indeed. It may be killing us.

“What’s really scary is that many people don’t realize it’s not the belly fat that we see that’s deadly. Under the fat that we can see is the deadly fat, which is called adipose tissue (or visceral fat), and it surrounds our organs,” said Martin.

It’s stored around a number of important internal organs, such as the liver, pancreas and intestines. It can be suffocating these organs and interfering with how they function.

The best way to tell if you have too much of it is to check your waistline. “The belly fat that you can see in the mirror — that fat, subcutaneous

fat — is OK. It’s normal to have a little of it,” explained Martin. “But it’s the fat you can’t see that’s the issue. It’s a manufacturing center for a whole host of diseases and early death.”

It raises the risk for diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, even Alzheimer’s. It’s nasty stuff, this visceral fat.

Also, abdominal obesity is one of the hallmarks of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. When these occur together, it increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

So getting rid of your belly bulge is important for more than just vanity’s sake. “This information is straight from the medical journals,” Martin added.

how it gains and loses weight. Both men and women experience a declining metabolic rate, or the number of calories the body needs to function normally. Hormone levels for both men and women slow down. This shift in hormones causes us to hold onto weight in our bellies.

The good news: You can fight this process, but not with sit-ups or abdominal crunches, said Martin.

This is a popular myth. By performing sit-ups or crunches, you are helping to strengthen and firm up the muscles commonly known as the “six-pack.”

But crunches will do nothing to reduce your belly fat. “They don’t do anything as they’re not getting at the heart of the problem of middle-aged fat,” said Martin.

“Belly fat accumulates because the person is inactive, and eating food that is not optimal for the body,” explained Martin. This includes processed food, sugar, and restaurant food. Restaurant food is designed to taste good and to keep people satisfied.

It contains tons of salt, meat that was raised with hormones and an-

tibiotics, and fish that is farm raised not wild caught.

“Our bodies are not designed to eat the large portions that are served at restaurants,” Martin added.

“When you drink alcohol in addition to all the food, you’re taking in up to 6,000 calories.”

It’s true: You are what you eat.

The accumulation of belly fat is there because of excessive calorie consumption and lack of exercise, Martin said.

“There are three things to consider to get rid of belly fat,” added Martin. “Consistently do aerobic exercise, at least three or four days a week.

Exercise like running or jogging, swimming, cycling or walking briskly.”

“Couple exercise with reasonable caloric intake, eat more fruits and vegetables and choose good quality protein. Maximize what you prepare at home,” Martin recommended.

The key is consistency, he said.

“You have to let your body know you’re in it for the long haul. The problem with humans is that they don’t stick to things,” he said.

Bane of aging

As we age, our body changes

Mohawk Valley Practitioners In practice for 22 years Now accepting New Patients for Primary Care beginning August 1, 2018 Call Now for an Appointment We are excited to announce the addition of Sarah Alexander RN, MS, FNP-C to the practice Cathryn J. Barns RN, MS, FNP, ANP-C

Will continue to treat current and new dermatology patients: Diseases of the skin, including acne, warts, moles, mole removal, skin cancer, rashes, psoriasis, eczema, skin infections, sun damages, shingles, hair and nail disease.

1 Notre Dame Lane. Utica, NY 13502

315-733-7913

We continue to be located next to Notre Dame High School

Accepting Most Insurances

Getting Back to Your Way of Life New Innovation in Orthopedic Surgery

The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) offers the Accelerated Recovery Program for Orthopedics (ARPO) with the use of SwiftPath, an advanced care management system. It helps patients succeed with outpatient knee and hip replacements.

Andrew Wickline, MD, Total Joint medical director at the St. Elizabeth Campus of MVHS and one of the top orthopedic surgeons in New York State, is a leader in the use of the SwiftPath Program. Qualified patients may be discharged the same day after surgery for total knee or total hip replacement.

The Accelerated Recovery Program includes: •Minimally Invasive Surgery •Pain control by continuous medication delivery directly into the surgical site

•Exercises to perform once an hour while awake •Increased patient satisfaction and •Improved outcomes, with patients walking device free sooner.

For information, call 315-738-5069 or visit us at mvhealthsystem.org/swiftpath or swiftpath.com.

We look foward to providing your care

September 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Men’s Health

The Specter of PTSD Ways to combat post-traumatic stress disorder

By David L. Podos

P

ost-traumatic stress disorder awareness day was recognized on June 27.

Each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs and organizations across the United States raise awareness about PTSD. Here are some startling statistics from The National Center for PTSD, based upon the population of the United States.

About eight out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Almost 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year, and about 10 percent of women develop PTSD sometime in their lives compared to 4 percent of men.

The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Some examples of such events are sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, or other threats on a person’s life.

— The cost to people who have PTSD and to society as a whole is quite dramatic. Consider the following information from the National

Institute of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Sidran Institute.

The annual cost to society is estimated at $42.3 billion often due to misdiagnosis and under-treatment. This includes psychiatric and non-psychiatric medical treatment costs, indirect workplace costs, mortality costs, and prescription drug costs.

— People with PTSD have among the highest rates of health care service use.

— Almost 50 percent of all mental health outpatients have PTSD. — According to veterans’ affairs’ experts, estimates are that up to 20 percent of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, up to 10 percent of Gulf War veterans, and up to 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have experienced PTSD symptoms.

Of course, this does not preclude the real human suffering that people with PTSD experience.

From MayoClinic.org, here are some of the more common symptoms people who have PTSD experience.

— Recurrent and unwanted distressing memories of the traumat-

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experienced Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 hurricane that slammed into Florida in 2004. Thirty-five people died as a result of the hurricane, and the damage expense went as high as $16.3 billion. Of the 384 children involved in the study, 35 percent of them showed signs of moderate to very severe PTSD nine months after the event, and 29 percent reported having comparable levels of PTSD 21 months after the event.

People suffering from PTSD can better cope with their condition and even recover by seeking professional help.

Most common treatments

ic event, upsetting dreams or nightmares, and severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds them of the traumatic event — Other symptoms can include negative thoughts about oneself, hopelessness about the future, memory problems, difficulty maintaining close relationships, feeling detached from family and friends, and feeling emotionally numb. Symptoms do not always show up right after the event has been experienced, but certainly can. In many cases, symptoms occur weeks, months or even years later.

Other situations and events also cause PTSD. From a post on Sunrise House, an addiction treatment center located in Sussex County. N.J., natural disasters can and do cause PTSD. Natural disasters are an obvious source of trauma for a lot of people.

Even with plenty of advance warning, the sheer power unleashed by natural forces is hard to comprehend, let alone survive.

In the aftermath of an event like Hurricane Sandy, survivors are left without homes, jobs and oftentimes family members or close friends. The loss of a childhood home or items of sentimental value can be a source of deep pain as such mementos can never be replaced.

A study also suggested that kids with clinical anxiety may be more likely to develop PTSD by being exposed to images and videos of the devastation caused by Sandy. This confirms the findings of previous research that found a connection between watching distressing events on TV and later showing symptoms consistent with those of PTSD. The psychological and emotional vulnerability of children was discussed in a Psychology Today article that talked about the long-term traumatic effects in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

The study by the University of Miami looked at 384 children who

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

From the National Center for PTSD, the following are treatments with the most medical support.

• Trauma-focused psychotherapies are the most highly recommended type of treatment for PTSD. “Trauma-focused” means that the treatment focuses on the memory of the traumatic event or its meaning.

These treatments use different techniques to help the patient process the traumatic experience.

Some involve visualizing, talking or thinking about the traumatic memory.

• Prolonged exposure teaches a patient how to gain control by facing negative feelings. It involves talking about one’s trauma with a provider and doing some of the things that have been avoided since the trauma.

• Cognitive processing therapy teaches a patient to reframe negative thoughts about the trauma. It involves talking with a provider about negative thoughts and doing short writing assignments.

• Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing helps one process and make sense of trauma. It involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a backand-forth movement or sound, like a finger waving side to side, a light or a tone.

• Medications that have been shown to be helpful in treating PTSD symptoms are some of the same medications also used for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Here are four antidepressant medications that are recommended for PTSD: Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Venlafaxine (Effexor).

Dealing with PTSD

Prakash Masand, a psychiatrist and founder of Centers of Psychiatric Excellence, offers 10 tips for dealing with PTSD: — Set realistic goals for yourself.

Remember there is no overnight fix, and patience is required to address the recovery.

— Talk it over. Talk about your PTSD and triggers to help educate others, and find a trusted friend to help in your recovery.

— Research and become familiar with the topic. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the better you feel.

— Seek professional help through a doctor or therapist.

— Integrate new methods in daily life. The techniques and therapies introduced are only helpful if you put them into use.

Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Time to Chill

Anger can have dire consequences for everyone involved

“

When I get mad, my face gets red, the veins on my neck pop out. I start yelling; I cuss like a sailor; I can’t stop, the words just pour out,” said my friend Eddy.

“I got so mad at my wife the other day and she didn’t even do anything. I had to apologize and admit it wasn’t her fault. I don’t want to be getting angry all the time like that; I’m trying to train my brain not to get so mad,” he Pierce added.

There are times anger can be helpful, such as when someone is intentionally hurting you or if your anger will help you achieve a desired goal.

If you are the victim of an abusive partner, your anger is necessary so you’ll do something about it.

But usually, anger doesn’t serve any purpose.

Anger is a powerful emotion, with some benefits. It feels good to yell and throw things. It gets people’s attention; they know you mean business. But you may feel guilty and ashamed afterwards.

Angry outbursts don’t help. You may have found this out. “He who angers you, conquers you,” said someone wise. He who maintains his cool when you do not is the winner.

Getting angry does lots of harmful things to your body. Anger triggers your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, flooding your body with stress hormones. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase,

body temperature rises and skin perspires.

This flood of stress chemicals and metabolic changes can harm many different systems of the body. Health problems linked to unmanaged anger include headaches, digestive problems, sleeplessness, skin problems, and even heart attack or stroke.

So yes, Eddy is wise to try to control his anger.

“You do not have to be angry, and it serves no purpose,” says psychologist Wayne Dyer. “The irony of anger is that it never changes others.”

“You will not be punished for your anger,” said the Buddha. “You will be punished by your anger.”

Here are some things that have worked for me and other people I know: — First, you have to cool down.

If you feel out of control, walk away until you cool down.

No one thinks rationally when they are furious. When you’re close to the boiling point, take a deep breath. Leave. Take the dog for a walk; clean the garage.

— If you need to talk about the issue, do it when you’re both calm and way past the anger.

— Don’t fuel your anger. When you think about and talk about what is making you angry, you’ll get even angrier. Stop these thoughts.

“If you would fuel your anger, feed it,” said the Buddha.

Ask why

Try to pinpoint the reasons why you feel angry. Once you have identified the problem, consider coming up with different strategies on how to

September 2018 •

remedy the situation.

What helps me is to remember that anger is like the front of a building. Behind that front is usually either hurt, or a feeling we’ve been treated unfairly, or thinking that something or someone isn’t behaving as they “should.” And these thoughts cause us pain. But it is important to get behind the front, get into the building and see what’s behind. See what thoughts are there.

If your anger is caused by hurt, and you can get in touch with that hurt, your anger will go away. Maybe Eddy was hurt that his wife wasn’t paying enough attention to him and he got angry at her.

Or fear. Eddy might have gotten mad at his wife because he feared she would leave him.

Or we get angry because we believe we’ve been treated unfairly.

“It’s not fair what’s going on at work; my boss isn’t fair,” is what Eddy might have thought. What’s fair to one person is not fair to another person; fairness is an abstract concept.

Sometimes it helps to see the world through the other’s eyes. If Eddy could see the world from his boss’s eyes, how would it look from there?

And things rarely happen the way they “should;” people rarely act the way we think they “should.” You just have to drop the “shoulds,” and accept things the way they are.

If there is a person that really annoys you, really pushes your buttons, it may help to make a caricature of that person in your mind; make the person ridiculous in your mind.

It works wonderfully to take away the power that person has over you.

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When You Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Men’s Health Wheelchair and a dream

Jason Robinson of Westmoreland defies expectations as wheelchair competitor

By Patricia J. Malin

W

hile many eyes were on elite runners during the Utica Boilermaker road race, the local crowd anxiously awaited 15-year-old wheelchair sensation Jason Robinson of Westmoreland.

If competing in a 9.3-mile race in a wheelchair isn’t daunting enough, Robinson literally had to travel thousands of miles to get here. He had just spent a week in Ireland at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Junior Games, where he won five medals (four bronze and a silver) in track and field.

The IWAS Youth World Games are a biennial event for young athletes with a physical disability. This year’s event drew 165 athletes from 15 countries.

He captured bronze medals in the 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter runs and silver in the 1,500-meter run, all in the under-17 age division.

Robinson returned home less than 48 hours before the Boilermaker, obviously one of his favorite races.

Despite his fatigue, he put on a good show and finished 13th overall in 38:26 against a field of older adults and many professionals.

“I took 17 minutes off (my personal best),” exclaimed Robinson.

“I must say I was speechless

when I saw Jason approaching the finish line,” commented Marc DePerno, director of the Sitrin Stars program, which sponsors and organizes the wheelchair division. “While I expected a fast time, 38:26 was an incredible blistering pace.”

Robinson was diagnosed with spinal segmental dysgenesis at birth.

“My brain doesn’t send signals to my legs,” he explained.

He recalled his parents, James and Erin, taking him and his siblings to the Boilermaker races as a young child and his thrill at seeing a wheelchair athlete for the first time.

“Throughout my life, I have been introduced into many adaptive sports,” Robinson said. “I was first introduced to wheelchair basketball and I enjoyed it, but found another sport in wheelchair racing, which I grew to love.”

He made his Boilermaker debut in 2013 at age 10, the youngest ever in the wheelchair division. He finished the 15K under the twohour limit and qualified for a racing wheelchair courtesy of Sitrin Rehabilitation Center of New Hartford.

“It has been so enjoyable watching Jason’s growth over the past seven years,” DePerno added. “In the beginning, he participated in wheelchair basketball. At the age of 8, he was unable to reach the rim with the ball, but clearly had the drive to keep

Teenage wheelchair sensation Jason Robinson of Westmoreland is competing on the highest level. trying. Now he’s a force in everything that he does.”

Four years ago, Robinson learned about a wheelchair track and field team in New Jersey. The North Jersey Navigators have introduced him to a much larger world of wheelchair racing. He has competed in the 5th Avenue Mile (he won the junior division in 2017), the Junior Nationals, and now international competitions.

On his Facebook page, Robinson asked for $2,500 in donations for his overseas competition. “Since I am a junior wheelchair athlete competing for my country, this trip is self-funded,” he said.

He surpassed it, receiving $2,600 as of July 9. “The support means a lot to me,” he said. “Thank you again for helping me chase my goals and dreams!”

Wheelchair sports sanctioned

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Robinson is entering his sophomore year at Westmoreland Central School. He has carved out his own niche in scholastic sports not only in Section 3, which covers the greater Syracuse-Utica region, but is paving the way for other student wheelchair athletes throughout New York State.

He competed for Westmoreland on the modified track team for two seasons and made it to the varsity level in his freshman year. Even though he runs solely against the clock, rather than against able-bodied runners, he continues to achieve remarkable times.

In March 2017, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association approved a pilot program to allow wheelchair athletes the opportunity to compete in track and field.

Before the 2017-18 school year started, Robinson said he and his

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

mother met with state officials to discuss the rules for his competitions.

Last September, he was given permission to compete in the Section 3 state qualifier.

Robinson made headlines by clocking a U.S. record in the 3,200 meters (8:23.3) and second best in the nation in the 1,600 meters at 3:59.71.

Sports ‘N Spokes magazine reported on Robinson’s success and named him Junior Athlete of the Year.

Last spring, NYSPHSAA officially approved a wheelchair division in track and field that would carry over into the state championships. Only two other states in the U.S. include wheelchair athletes in high school sports.

Robinson, although racing alone, did compete in 10 meets for Westmoreland last season and earned official points for the team. He also stayed true to form in the state championships. He won the 3,200-meter event in 8:25.38 and the following day took the 1,600 in 4:00.98.

“I hope we’ll see more wheelchair athletes in the future,” he said.

“I want parents to see that if they have a kid in a wheelchair that they’ll have a chance to play sports.”

Consistent performers

Success breeds success and produces repeat winners at the Utica Boilermaker road race.

Back-to-back-to-back titles were the norm at the 41st annual Boilermaker in several divisions of the 15-kilometer race, which was contested under ideal conditions recently.

Mary Wacera of Kenya won her fourth women’s open division title with a time of 50:01 minutes, tying her with another Kenyan, Catherine Ndereba, as the winningest female open runner in Boilermaker history.

Ready for Rehab

Out of hospital, rehabilitation process begins

By Barbara Pierce

R

ecovery rarely ends at the hospital.

If you and your doctor aren’t sure you’re ready to get back to normal — whatever normal may mean for you — then a short-term rehab center is your next best option.

A few weeks or months of focused recovery under the care of an expert team can be far more effective than that same period spent at home.

If you’re ready to leave the hospital, but need more care than you and your family can provide at home, your doctor may recommend short-term rehabilitation in a facility that provides that kind of care.

Like 85-year-old Louise Hamilton of Port Charlotte, Fla. who fell, breaking her hip. She lived with her husband, who was older than her and frail as well. They had no other family in the area.

When released from the hospital, she went to a facility that provided rehab for about three months, until she was able to get around so she could continue to care for herself and husband in their home.

Before you can go home, you should be able to safely walk, or use a cane, walker, crutches, or wheelchair; get in and out of a chair or bed without needing much help, and go up and down stairs if you must.

Other factors may also prevent you from going directly home from the hospital. These include living alone with no one to assist you during your recovery; or because of where you live, you need to be stronger and more mobile before going home; or medical problems,

such as diabetes, lung problems, and heart problems, that are not well controlled; medicines that cannot safely be given at home; or surgical wounds that need frequent care.

“We have 32 beds designated for short-term rehabilitation,” said Warren Mundrick, director of rehabilitation at the Masonic Care Community in Utica.

Services from A to Z

A licensed skilled nursing facility, Masonic Care offers a full spectrum of services, including independent living, long-term nursing care, and short-term rehab with follow-up home care.

“We care for hundreds of people each year in rehab. They recover and are able to go home successfully,” he added.

“We’re in the process of enhancing the services we provide to our patients who are here for rehabilitation,” he said. “These services will be in addition to physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.”

“Think about what we do when we live in our own home — we wake up in the morning, get washed and dressed, make breakfast and go out to the pharmacy, the bank, or the grocery store. We need to be able to do a lot of things to live independently, like get in and out of a car, shop for groceries, or go to the bank,” Mundrick said.

Masonic Care will help people prepare to do the activities necessary to live independently. “We’ll have a designated space with a full-size kitchen to help you prepare to be in

your own kitchen,” Mundrick said.

“We’ll have a car to practice getting in and out of, whether you’re driving or you’re a passenger, as well as a large grocery store, an ATM, and various surfaces to learn to walk on.

When you complete our program, you’ll be able to say you’re more than ready to go home.”

“It’ll be really awesome!” Mundrick exclaimed. The renovations began in July and the enhanced services will be ready to go before the end of the year.

Masonic Care is one of only a few facilities in the country that provide this augmented level of rehabilitation. “No other facility in Central New York provides this,” Mundrick added. “Most facilities deal with basic skills, like walking; they just care for the person, not the skills a person needs to live independently.”

If you or a family member may

need short-term rehabilitation, Mundrick advises, plan ahead to choose the facility that will be best.

Also, call and tour potential facilities before surgery.

“Ask us if we have beds. We’ll tell you whether we will have a bed for you and whether your insurance will cover your stay,” he said.

Medicare covers short-term rehabilitation provided the facility is Medicare-certified and you have spent three nights as an inpatient within the last 30 days. Your doctor needs to order rehab.

Once in rehab, you have up to 100 days of care under Medicare, contingent on continued improvement. If you’re not improving, Medicare stops paying under the assumption you require a different form of care.

The amount of time you’ll spend in rehab depends on your condition.

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Warren Mundrick, director of rehabilitation at the Masonic Care Community in Utica, assists a patient.

September 2018 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Auditory Overload

garbage disposals, blenders, and noisy toys.

Loud noises do cause hearing loss, said Robert Bishton, hearing specialist at Action Ear Hearing of New Hartford.

Repeated or prolonged exposure to anything over 85 decibels can harm your inner ear. Music played through earphones can easily reach

By Barbara Pierce 105 decibels.

“Even one blast of a shotgun can hether we want it to be a cause damage,” he said. part of our lives or not, Loudness isn’t the only issue, noise is inescapable. Noise though; it’s also about how continual levels throughout the world are it is. growing at alarmHow to protect ourselves from ing levels. the stress of noise pollution?

We’re living in If you’re moving, find a quiet the noisiest time home. Sit still and really listen before and place ever you sign the contract. Check for — phones going double-paned windows and noisy off constantly, the neighbors. hum of traffic, the In your existing home, hang obnoxious noise muffling drapes. At night, consider a of leaf blowers, white-noise machine or fan to mask and the sound of noise. construction.

Do your best to avoid seriously Peace and noisy situations, and always target Andres quiet have gone by the quiet parts of noisy areas or limit the wayside, and your exposure to a small amount of that’s just sad. Not only is it sad, it’s time. And yes, you are allowed to detrimental to our health. take noise-canceling headphones or Noise has pretty serious conseearplugs around with you. quences for your health, it turns out.

Wear earplugs while sleeping, Too much noise interferes with all particularly if you don’t live in a ditions such as cancer, heart disease, “Unnecessary noise and unwantkinds of things, from concentration, quiet area. obesity, chronic fatigue, mental ed sound are a community issue,” he which is obvious, to the release of Truth be told, we’re not likely health issues, aggressive behavior added. stress hormones. to stop using our smart phones and and several others.

So what counts as too much Sound can trigger the stress headphones. Traffic is getting worse, Loud street noise is now considnoise? response, causing high levels of not better, and noise can be expected ered the No. 2 threat to public health, “One man’s noise is another stress hormones to flood our bodies. to increase. after air pollution, declared the man’s pleasure,” Andres said. “Loud Chronic stress compromises your Instead, our goal should be to World Health Organization. A study rock music played by your neighbor immune system. consume more silence. It will help in Germany found that traffic noise across the canal may cause you to MP Order Proposal# As a result, noise keep the noise from deafening us. caused nearly 2,000 heart attacks pull out your hair. It’s subjective.” he classification of: pollution has been linked with heart disease, high each year in Germany alone. People “But what is considered exces- Ad And it will certainly help keep it Letter blood pressure, and stroke. Even mifrom demoralizing us. Besides, siappear to be particularly vulnerable sive noise is determined by law,” he nor responses to noise pollution have to the ill effects of noise pollution at lence is what makes sound meaningexplained. “You can take a meter and ful in the first place. night, during sleep. see if it exceeds the ordinance.”

2014 serious outcomes.

Each honk of a horn, scream of a Pursue silence. Seek out silence.

“Everyone should be concerned siren, and buzz fromRep: a phone is met Acct# A1ZGFE Sales GRIMALDI, JENNIFER L noise Size: HCN6 Contract# 5544766 Silence is so important in our lives. about noise,” said control en- Ad Id: AMZHMA1 Dangerous levels with a corresponding spike in stress Make times of silence a priority in gineer Bob Andres of Baldwinsville.

Noise levels over 80 decibels hormones, heart rate and blood your life. Times of silence are healing Andres, owner of Environmental are considered potentially hazardpressure. Even though we may think for us physically and mentally. Turn Safety Associates, Syracuse, is an ous. Increasingly, everyday sounds we’re able to ignore all these sounds, off your phone, remove all distracindependent noise and safety consulapproach or exceed this level. For our bodies are mounting a stress tions and just sit quietly. tant and serves as technical adviser example, a vacuum cleaner is around response. Over time, the cumulative As a consultant for Noise Free to Noise Free America: a Coalition to 70 decibels. Lawnmowers, shop effect takes a toll on our body.

America: A Coalition to Promote Promote Quiet. tools, and truck traffic approach 90 Stress hormones aggravate conQuiet, Andres has recommendations decibels. Snowmobiles and chain in terms of how to protect yourself saws are around 100 decibels. from the harmful effects of noise: Physically painful noise in— Wear ear protectors or cusDiabetes? cludes car stereos at 140 decibels, tom-made earplugs. a jackhammer at 130, jet engines at Flat Feet?

— Limit your exposure to noise.

140, and the peak of a rock con— Don’t sit next to the speakers Plantar Fasciitis? cert at 150. Other sources of noise at concerts, discos, or auditoriums. between 90 and 140 decibels include You may be eligible for shoes at little or no cost!

— Turn down the volume when motorcycles, firearms, firecrackers, using headsets or listening to music headset listening systems, tractors, in confined place such as a car.

Keep an ear out for health risks associated with too much noise

W

New dads can get baby blues, too

P

ostpartum depression isn›t limited to moms.

Rates of depression among new fathers are similar to those among new mothers, and more needs to be done to help these men, two psychologists say.

“Recent research has shown that roughly 10 percent of new dads experience postpartum depression, and up to 18 percent have some type of anxiety disorder,” said Dan Singley, of the Center for Men’s Excellence in San Diego.

“Unfortunately, few psychologists receive focused training regarding identifying, assessing or treating common men’s issues in the period from conception to a year or so post-childbirth,” Singley said in a news release from the American

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AMZHMDNLM 14-Mar-2014 07:57

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

Psychological Association.

Men tend not to seek mental health services during this period, so there›s a lack of scholarly attention to this vulnerable group, Singley added.

Singley’s work on male postpartum depression was scheduled for presentation Thursday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, in San Francisco.

Sara Rosenquist is also addressing dads’ postpartum depression at the meeting at the same time.

“The predominant narrative has attributed these experiences to hormonal changes and fluctuations specifically related to pregnancy and birthing,” said Rosenquist, of the Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health Psychology in Cary, N.C.

Become a safe grill master Be aware of safety when grilling up your favorite grub!

T

is’ the season for grilling!

Grilling is a good way to make quick and healthy food.

“Cheeseburgers and sausage move over. You have competition!

The garden and the grill have met,” said Patricia Salzer, registered dietitian and wellness consultant for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

She said the possibilities are endless.

Besides traditional peppers, zucchini and corn on the cob on the grill, try some of these ideas: eggSalzer plant, portobello mushrooms, asparagus, avocado, jalapeno peppers or plantains.

Make the grilled vegetables the highlight of your plate with a smaller portion of meat, fish or poultry.

One way to do this is in the form of skewers with more produce on them and less protein.

Metal skewers work fine, Salzer said.

“For the wooden ones, it’s important to soak them in water for 30 minutes before adding them to the fire,” she said.

Grilled vegetables can also be added to a sandwich or salad, she adds.

While we all love the grilled flavor in food, it is important to take some precautions when grilling.

Prepare, cook safely

Food poisoning is one of the many things to keep in mind, especially this time of the year. Graduation parties and summer gatherings are likely times when food can be exposed to warmer temperatures, causing germs to flourish.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends the following to help avoid getting sick from food-borne illness: • Clean: Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water before touching food and raw meat, poultry and seafood. Work surfaces, utensils, and the grill should also be clean prior to cooking.

• Separate: When grocery shopping, pick up meat, poultry and seafood last before you are ready to checkout. The less time food is out of refrigeration, the better.

Make sure meats are also separated from the other food in your shopping cart and grocery bags. This can help with preventing cross-contamination.

• Cook: Meat should be cooked to a proper internal temperature, or enough to kill harmful germs that can make you sick. A meat ther-

mometer should be used to check the meat temperature.

• If smoking meat, the temperature inside the smoker should be 225 degrees Fahrenheit to 300 degrees F. • 145 degrees F: Whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb, veal (stand-time of 3 minutes at this temperature); fish • 160 degrees F: Hamburgers and other ground beef • 165 degrees F: All poultry and pre-cooked meats, like hot dogs • Food should be kept at 140 degrees F or warmer until it is served.

• Don’t cross-contaminate. If you marinate your meat, make sure any marinades or sauces that have come in contact with raw meat juices are discarded. Clean utensils and plates should be used to remove the cooked meat after grilling.

• Chill and refrigerate: All cooked food and leftovers should be placed in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees F outside.

Meat, poultry and seafood should also be refrigerated until you are ready to grill. As an alternative, if you are at a park or party, food can be kept in an insulated cooler (below 40 degrees F).

How to clean a grill

Richard M. Cherpak, M.D. Richard M. Cherpak, M.D. Dr Stanley Weiselberg Richard M. Cherpak, M.D. Garth J. Garramone, D.O., F.A.C.P. Garth J. Garramone, D.O., F.A.C.P. Dr Norman Neslin GarthBrett J. Garramone, F.A.C.P Brett R. Gandhi, Gandhi,D.O., M.D. R. M.D. Dr Robert Pavelock Norman R. Neslin, M.D. Brett R. Gandhi, M.D. Dr Bradley Sklar Norman Neslin, M.D. Robert R.R.Pavelock, M.D. Dr Richard Cherpak Norman R.F. Sklar, Neslin, M.D. Bradley M.D. Robert R. Pavelock, M.D. Dr Garth Garramone Stanley P. Weiselberg, M.D. Robert R. Pavelock, M.D. Dr Brett Gandhi 116 Business Park Drive, Bradley F. Sklar, M.D. Utica, 13502 Bradley F.NYSklar, M.D. Dr Harvey Allen p. 315 -624-7070 | f. 315-316-0367 Stanley P. Weiselberg, M.D. info@mveccny.com Dr Emil Miskovsky Stanley P. Weiselberg, M.D.

After cooking, allow your grill to cool down a little before cleaning.

Depending on the type of grill you have, Consumer Reports recommends using a pumice stone or a coil-shaped bristle-free brush to clean the grill. Crumpled up aluminum foil can also be used.

Avoid using metal grill brushes, as it is possible for the bristles to fall off, stick to the grill, and then stick to your food the next time the grill is used.

The following are fire and burn prevention safety tips for grilling: — Clean grease and fat buildup from the grill. Avoid using metal grill UT-000595577 brushes that can pose a danger with bristles that can detach.

— Propane and charcoal barbecue grills should only be used outdoors.

— The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.

— Children and pets should be at least three feet away from the grill area.

— As with cooking in general, you should never leave your grill unattended.

— For charcoal grills, keep charcoal fluid out of reach of children and PROOF O.K. BY:___________________________ O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:________________________ away from heat sources.

— Allow coals to cool completely PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE before disposing into a metal container.

UT-000595577 (100%) — If you smell gas while using a gas grill, immediately get away from ADVERTISER: MOHAWK VALLEY ENDOSCOPY PROOF CREATED AT: 2/22/2017 9:24:00 AM the grill and call the fire department. UT-000595577

mveccny.com

116 Business Park Drive, Utica, NY 13502 Phone Fax p.315-624-7070 315 -624-7070 | f.315-316-0367 315-316-0367 info@mveccny.com mveccny.com

SALES PERSON: UT6021 SIZE: 5.389X10.125 PUBLICATION: UT-SS2

NEXT RUN DATE: 02/26/17

September 2018 •

PROOF DUE: 02/24/17 12:59:55 IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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SmartBites

whisk in oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

Toss greens in large bowl with enough dressing to coat. Divide greens among six plates. Top with pear slices, dividing equally. Sprinkle with cheese and walnuts. Drizzle lightly with remaining dressing and serve.

The skinny on healthy eating

Pears: A sweet treat you should eat

W

hy reach for a pear? Besides how refreshing and delicious a crisp pear can be, pears are a super source of fiber and a goldmine of phytonutrients — those beneficial compounds found in plants that are thought to have health-protecting qualities.

One medium pear — with its skin on — boasts nearly 6 grams of fiber, which, for many, is about a quarter of our daily needs. Conveniently, pears deliver both soluble and insoluble fiber. Pears’ soluble fiber — pectin — helps regulate blood glucose levels and lower cholesterol, while pears’ insoluble fiber promotes regularity. A well-run system improves bowel-related health problems, like constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulitis.

Adequate intake of fiber is a long-established factor in reducing our risk of both heart disease and Type 2 diabetes; and in the case of pears, this benefit may be even more pronounced due to the helpful combination of both kinds of fiber.

Like most fruits and vegetables, pears come packed with important

phytonutrients that help to quell inflammation and mop up cell-damaging free radicals. Many experts believe that the work of these naturally occurring compounds may thwart the development of certain cancers and other life-threatening diseases.

Nicely low in calories — about 100 per medium pear — pears can help with weight maintenance and loss. In fact, studies support that the more fresh fruit and vegetables someone eats, the less likely they are to gain weight. Modest calories notwithstanding, a pear’s high fiber and water content may also contribute to weight control, as both nutrients help us to feel fuller longer.

Although pears contain natural sugars in the form of fructose, they have a low glycemic index (GI), according to the American Diabetic Association. The GI is a scale from one to 100 that ranks how foods affect blood sugar. Because of their impressively high fiber content, pears unleash sugar into the bloodstream slowly, providing us with a steady stream of energy.

What other nutrients do pears

Helpful Tips

bring to the table? Pears are a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C, bone-building vitamin K, and energy-producing copper.

Pear, Walnut and Gorgonzola Salad Adapted from Bon Appetit — Serves 6

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon minced shallot 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/3 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste 5-6 cups of mixed greens 2-3 medium, ripe pears: halved, cored, thinly sliced lengthwise 1 cup crumbled Gorgonzola 1 cup walnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped

If you want a ripe pear to eat immediately, press a finger gently into the top of the pear where the stem joins the fruit. If it yields to pressure, the fruit is ripe. A ripe pear will last in the fridge about three to five days. If you want to eat the pear in a few days, the top should be hard. Hard pears, stored at room temperature, will ripen in a few days. You can speed things up by placing the pears in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple.

Whenever possible, eat the nutrient-rich skin. If you eat canned pears, choose versions packed in 100 percent fruit juice (versus sugary syrup).

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

Whisk first four ingredients in small bowl to blend. Gradually

In emotional pain? Take a Tylenol Study: Acetaminophen has more benefits that people think

By Barbara Pierce

P

opping Tylenol for a headache is second nature to many of us. But what can you take for heartache?

New research suggests that the painkiller might blunt responses to emotional pain, too.

Think about how we express how heartache and other emotional pain, things like: “My heart is broken,” or “I hurt so bad,” or “I’m all torn up inside.” The new research is finding just how accurate that imagery turns out to be.

When the brains of people who are in emotional pain are scanned in brain imaging, the same nerve cells that get triggered by physical pain also light up for emotional pain.

That could be because pain is pain — whether it comes from an injury to your arm or an injury to your feelings. Whether it’s from a bump or a break-up, pain seems to travel through the same pathways.

This is huge! When we’re upset and hurting emotionally, wouldn’t we all like to know that we can swallow a Tylenol and feel better fast. The word hasn’t gotten out there on the street yet.

“Wow! That’s good news!” said 45-year-old Liz Bober of Port Charlotte, Fla. “Next time I’m all upset about something one of my teenPage 12

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agers did, I’ll just take a Tylenol to chill. Many less side effects than an anti-depressant.”

“No, I haven’t heard about that,” Peter Corn told us. Corn owns and operates Peter’s Cornucopia, a health food store in New Hartford. He checked with his employees, none of who were familiar with it either.

Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol that’s responsible for dulling pain, whether it’s physical or emotional. There are many other pain-killing over-the-counter medications that contain acetaminophen, including Excedrin, Benadryl, Midol, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Contac, Dristan, and many more.

“Acetaminophen appears to nudge us into a more psychologically insulated state,” said an expert on NPR. In one study, they found acetaminophen seemed to reduce the sting of rejection that people experienced after they were excluded from a virtual ball-tossing game.

At first the ball is thrown equally between all of the players in the game. But at a certain point, the other players begin to exclude the test subject. As the test subjects begin to realize that they are being ostracized, their brain activity changes. It mirrors what you would see when someone is experiencing physical pain.

The pain pills seemed to dim activity in regions of the brain involved in processing social pain, according to brain imaging. “People knew they were getting left out [of the game].

It just didn’t bother them as much,” said the researcher.

Another study showed when people take acetaminophen for three weeks, their feelings get hurt less when they are socially rejected.

In another study, people who took acetaminophen thought about their own death less negatively than those who weren’t on anything. And a study this year found that when faced with a tough choice, acetaminophen helps dull the discomfort.

Acetaminophen works on several different levels in the body in ways scientists aren’t entirely sure about yet.

More research is needed. But researchers think other drugs besides acetaminophen may affect emotions.

“When a drug goes through clinical trials, they test it for its safety on things like, ‘Does your liver work?’

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

or ‘Is it causing your blood vessels to explode?’” one researcher said online. “But what’s never assessed in those studies is behavior and psychological processes. So one has to wonder: “Are these drugs that people are taking for a variety of different reasons having brain effects? There might be more widespread psychological and behavioral effects than we currently appreciate.”

What is the bottom line? We need to take emotional pain just as seriously as we do physical pain.

But before you begin popping Tylenol for your emotional distress, discuss it with your primary health care provider.

Overuse of acetaminophen has many serious side effects. There are questions about its safety if used for a long time and at high doses. It’s easy to take too much acetaminophen. It’s especially dangerous because some medical experts claim that even taking a small amount over what you’re supposed to can be fatal.

Acetaminophen still seems safe when taken occasionally, or when taken at moderate doses for treatment of long-term chronic pain, said Robert Wergin, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians online. Wergin tells his patients to avoid extra-strength versions of acetaminophen and stick to the directions on the label for use.

The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

For the love of your heart Diet, sufficient sleep, exercise and stress management all key factors in cardiovascular health

Y

our heart — the muscular organ located mid-chest between the lungs, pumping blood through your blood vessels of the circulatory system, providing oxygen and nutrients to your body while also removing metabolic waste.

Heart disease — one of the most common causes of death and associated with a variety of lifestyle risk factors such as obesity, smoking, high blood Dittner pressure, high cholesterol, little to no exercise, poorly controlled diabetes, and many more.

Heart health — affected by many things from the food you eat to proper sleep to moving your body to how you handle stress.

I usually talk a lot about whole nutrient-dense food, physical movement and the need for adequate sleep, as these lifestyle factors are so important.

Today, I’m going to touch on one subtopic of heart health and that is the need for a vital mineral called magnesium.

Deficiency of this important nutrient may be the cause of many symptoms and diseases, including but not limited to palpitations, obesity, diabetes, elevated blood pressure, angina, insomnia, muscle cramps, heart failure, irritability, sound sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and more. This relaxation mineral can help improve your sleep, can help in constipation, can help offset elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, and can be used during a life-threatening irregular heartbeat.

Magnesium is found in all of your tissues but mainly in your bones, muscles and brain.

Magnesium is necessary for your cells to make energy, for chemical

pumps in your body to work, to balance membranes, and to help relax muscles.

Sadly, most Americans do not consume enough of the necessary foods containing magnesium. And on another sour note, the ground soil that grows many of these food sources is also deficient in magnesium, creating even more of a problem.

The standard American diet consists of refined white flour, dairy products, and meats, all having no magnesium.

Magnesium levels are further decreased by too much salt, coffee, alcohol, the phosphoric acid in sodas, increased sweating, profound stress, certain medications such as diuretics and antibiotics, and some intestinal parasites.

Magnesium can also be difficult to absorb and easily lost from your body when other components are not up to par such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and selenium.

Magnesium deficiency accounts for many issues of the body, including heart health, but this deficiency can be easily corrected. You need to first stop depleting your body of its stores by limiting coffee, soda, salt, sugar and alcohol.

Find a source of meditation or

relaxation techniques to decrease stress.

Check with your health care provider or pharmacist if you are taking any medications causing magnesium loss.

You may have thought you’d get away from a discussion on whole nutrient-dense foods, but guess again.

There are many foods high in magnesium that you can add to your daily nutrition plan, including almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, dulce, millet, pecans, walnuts, tofu, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, avocado, shrimp, barley, garlic, beans and dandelion greens.

Supplementation is another means to obtain magnesium with a recommended daily allowance of 300 milligrams.

Before beginning any supplementation, be sure to discuss this with your health care provider, especially if you have kidney disease or severe heart disease.

• Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner and health consultant. Her mission is to transform as many individuals as possible through nutrition and lifestyle changes. For more information, check out her website at www.debdittner. com or contact her at 518-596-8565.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

1 in 5 new moms experience a mood or anxiety disorder related to pregnancy?

By Jim Miller

How Medicare covers diabetes

Preventive care, treatment costs addressed Dear Savvy Senior,

Although about 80% of moms experience the baby blues, this is different.

New guidelines mean more U.S. kids have high blood pressure

T

here’s good news and bad news from a new report when it comes to high blood pressure among America’s children.

The good news: perhaps because of better diets and use of antihypertensive medications, the percentage of kids with high blood pressure declined between 2001 and 2016, according to a research team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The bad news: New hypertension guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 2017 lowered the threshold for a diagnosis of high blood pressure in those under 19 years of age, and that means 795,000 more children are now Page 14

•

classified as having the condition than before.

But is that really bad news? One heart specialist thinks not.

“The new hypertension guidelines have reclassified those young patients who previously were considered to have ‘normal’ blood pressure to now fall under the category of high blood pressure,» said physician Rachel Bond, who helps direct women’s heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

The new guidelines are “a positive step toward screening and risk-stratifying younger patients, who are often neglected from the health system,” she said.

How well does Medicare cover diabetes? I’m 66 years old and was recently told by my doctor that I have pre-diabetes. If it progresses to full-fledged diabetes, what can I expect from Medicare?

Recently Retired Dear Recently, Medicare actually provides a wide range of coverage to help beneficiaries who have diabetes, as well as those who are at risk of getting it — but they don’t cover everything.

Here’s a breakdown of what Medicare covers when it comes to diabetes services and supplies along with some other tips that can help you save.

Screenings — If you have pre-diabetes or some other health conditions that put you at risk of getting diabetes — such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, are overweight, or have a family history of diabetes — Medicare Part B (medical insurance) will pay 100 percent of the cost of up to two diabetes screenings every year.

• Doctor’s services — If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost of all doctor’s office visits that are related to diabetes. You are responsible for paying the remaining 20 percent after you’ve met this year’s $183 (for 2018) Part B deductible.

• Prevention program — Just launched in April, the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program provides lifestyle change programs offered by health professionals to help you prevent diabetes. This is available for free to all Part B beneficiaries who have pre-diabetes.

• Self-management — If you have diabetes, Medicare covers 80 percent of the cost of self-management training to teach you how to successfully manage your diabetes.

• Supplies and medications — Medicare Part B covers 80 percent of the cost of glucose monitors, test strips (100 per month if you use insulin, or 33 per month if you don’t), lancets, external insulin pumps and insulin (if you use a pump), after you’ve met your deductible.

If, however, you inject insulin with a syringe, Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit will help pay your insulin costs and the sup-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

plies needed to inject it — if you have a plan. Part D plans also cover most other diabetic medications too. You’ll need to check your plan for coverage details.

• Nutrition therapy — Medicare will pick up the entire tab for medical nutrition therapy, which teaches you how to adjust your diet so you can better manage your condition. You’ll need a doctor’s referral to get this service.

• Foot care — Since foot problems are common among diabetics, Medicare covers 80 percent of foot exams every six months for diabetics with diabetes-related nerve damage.

They will also help pay for therapeutic shoes or inserts as long as your podiatrist prescribes them.

• Eye exams — Because diabetes increases the risks of getting glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, 80 percent of dilated medical eye exams are covered each year, but eye refractions for glasses are not.

For more information, see “Medicare’s Coverage of Diabetes Supplies & Services” online booklet at Medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11022-Medicare-Diabetes-Coverage.pdf.

Other insurance If you have a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy, it may pay some of the costs that Medicare doesn’t cover. Call your plan’s benefits administrator for more information.

Or, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), your plan must give you at least the same diabetes coverage as original Medicare does, but it may have different rules. You’ll need to check your policy for details.

Financial assistance If you’re income is low, and you can’t afford your Medicare out-ofpocket costs, you may be able to get help through Medicare Savings Programs. To find out if you qualify or to apply, contact your state Medicaid program.

Also, find out if you are eligible for “Extra Help” which helps Medicare Part D beneficiaries with their medication expenses. Visit SSA.gov/ prescriptionhelp or call Social Security (800-772-1213) to learn more.

• Related story, Page 16 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Spiritual Health Milk & Honey

By Brooke Stacia Demott

Oh my goodness!

What exactly does ‘goodness’ mean?

“

I try to be a good person.”

Everyone would agree that there’s value in goodness. The problem is, we don’t have a consensus on what “goodness” is. Why does my version of good look “bad” to some, and vice versa?

What does it mean to be good, anyway?

“Good” is a standard of measure, and there is a war of interpretation between what feels right and what is right.

As the tremendously wealthy Western world transitions from a scurrying age of Demott discipline and ingenuity, to a yawning era of entertainment-saturated apathy, pleasure has become the new morality.

“Morality” has taken such a beating in our day that one might be tempted to believe absolute truth doesn’t exist. The word itself is shelved and dusty; its heavy crash will silence any conversation.

The Gen X (and Y) consensus is that biblical, godly morality is outdated, archaic, or un-evolved.

That leaves us with a society of impulse-driven happiness seekers, blindly riding their appetites toward meaning.

Ironically, we’re the most anxious and depressed people in history, seeking remedies without understanding, unwilling to see the plain truth.

Our version of “good” isn’t very good after all.

Now, let’s be clear — some things are purely preferential. There are choices that hold no moral value: Chocolate or vanilla? College or

trade school? Adirondacks or Vegas?

(Well, that might walk a line.)

However, just because some things are morally neutral, doesn’t mean everything is. “I’ll do what’s right for me” isn’t about ethics; it’s about dismissing the status quo.

Today, the most original thing you can do is to reject the standard, which makes you a revolutionary.

Independent thought widens those narrow minds, which is the highest virtue, right?

Whole generations have marched away from “antiquated” ideas of God and the common good, and they don’t even realize that they are the new status quo. They have become the mainstream, and they still aren’t happy.

We’ve lost our sense of direction.

Instead of looking toward the godly ideals that gave previous generations peace and order, we forge ahead in our confusion and call it progress. We roll out a new gender every month, toss marriage vows out the door on a whim, and name a dozen new neuropathies that arise with each virtue we cast aside.

We stumble around in this new age fog where families crumble and hopelessness abounds.

We need a “good” that is better than we are.

A rich young ruler asks: “Good teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus: “Why do you call me good? Only God alone is good.”

The young man comes to Jesus with the pretense that he’d always been a good guy; he goes on to remind Jesus of his excellent track record of good works.

Jesus answers with a tongue-incheek trifecta.

First, He responds to the kid’s faith is his own righteousness — “Hate to break it to you, kid, but you

aren’t that good.”

We’ve got to understand that apart from God’s will, instruction, and spirit, our best version of good is misguided at best, and delusional at worst.

Second, He points the boy in the right direction — “Only God alone is good.”

Jesus as God

Finally, He uses a little sarcasm to demonstrate that if Jesus were just a man, He couldn’t be innately good.

But since Jesus is God in the flesh, He is the only good teacher and a far better instructor than our wayward hearts.

No one likes this. Why? It’s because teachers give rules, and rules mean boundaries. Boundaries, to the natural human mind, mean unnecessary restrictions on freedom and potential happiness.

We prefer a world free from limits, where we can reinvent ourselves every day, and consequences are damned.

For example, in a divorce situation, it is not uncommon to hear: “If the kids get shafted and their sense of security is distorted because we got a divorce, well, that’s just life.

They are resilient. They’ll get over it.

After all, I need to be happy. I’m sure

they will understand when they’re older.”

Consequence rarely motivates us unless it’s personal. But selfish is the new sexy; if you are adversely affected by my decisions, well, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

What difference does it make?

If the world is just a random planet in a random universe, if we are just a glitch in monkey DNA, then do whatever you want.

But we know that’s a lie.

How? Humans crave meaning, love, music, heroism, and a sense of accomplishment. Those qualities are useless to a being that evolved by random chance to simply survive. They demonstrate the beauty of a timeless creator, inspiring us to search for purpose outside of ourselves.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31-32 The truth is we are all seeking freedom; there is freedom in the truth. And it’s all good.

• Brooke Stacia Demott is a columnist with In Good Health newspaper. Got a question for Demott? Feel free to email her at brooketo@aol.com.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Mental Health Tints and Tones Is your home interior impacting your mental health?

By Marie Kouthoofd

C

olor can make or break the mood.

It can energize or calm, depress or excite, induce irritation or a feeling of serenity. Choose the correct color for your living quarters and voila, time may feel it is standing still or flowing with ease.

The right touch of color can transform that boring, mundane room into a sanctuary, but beware, it can also create a dark, gloomy pit.

What is more, the colors you favor speak volumes about your personality.

No matter how you look at it, color matters.

The crimson crypt

Making a bold move, I decided to bathe my kitchen walls with a vigorous and robust red, a choice color for the areas of food prep and consumption. Exposing the over-dramatized fallacy that red causes feelings of rage and anger, much of the literature boasted of its rich and energizing properties.

Aside from the sensational claims, red along with its warm analogous hues can essentially make a room not only energetic and warm but feel as if time were standing still.

To that end, I love the color red. So I picked a rich brick-red paint and painstakingly covered every wall and crevice.

Resembling a page from a magazine, the finished product was stunning. With its white trim and dramatic brick-red walls, the room gave off a warm and inviting vibe.

My joy however, was short lived. The more time I spent in the room, the more oppressive the color became.

The mere thought of cooking, eating or even walking through became a chore.

What went wrong? All the research pointed to red for the kitchen.

The color is warm, stimulating and gives that dramatic touch I sought.

Nevertheless, instead of creating a red refuge, my freshly painted kitchen felt like a crimson crypt and the whitewash was soon to follow.

The experience of color is highly subjective. It can improve mood when it is favorable and appeals to the viewer; the key phrase here is favorable to the viewer.

Having two primary moods, colors are categorized as either warm or cold. Red with its analogous hues is the warm and exciting spectrum.

The calming and restorative effects of the blue, greens and violets are considered cool.

When one thinks of red, orange and yellow it is easy to conjure images of fire, a beautiful sunset or sunshine, respectively. In contrast, the cool side of the spectrum may invoke visions of blue skies, green meadows and deep purple flowers.

Clinical side of color

Because we indirectly see hues, color can cause subtle psychological effects.

For example, in a bright, harmonious setting, most will have an improvement in mood. However, it is worthy to note that nervous or anxious individuals tend to be more sensitive to color. Color has been known to impact blood pressure.

Nevertheless, pleasing color combinations can have pleasing and calming effects. In fact, some note success with color therapy becoming increasingly more common. Moreover, blue light has been used to calm those suffering through a psychotic episode. By filtering out red rays, green lenses have been reported to reduce physical tremors.

Research demonstrates the importance of personality and color preferences. For example, if you’re

the extroverted type that is highly sociable, talkative and gregarious, you might fare well with the stimulating effect warm colors provide.

If you, on the other hand, are the shy, quiet introverted soul who likes to seek out solitude, it’s the cool side you may favor.

Having said that, it is worthy to note any color if too vivid or pure can cause distress and is based solely on each individual’s predilections.

Light colors have an active flow and deep colors give off a passive feel.

Create impact with red

Although red may not cause rage, it can have a disruptive effect.

Nevertheless, when immersed in red light, reaction time has been known to increase a respectable 12 percent and the perception of time slows. In addition, red objects appear closer, longer and bigger. With that, warm colors are said to be best for cocktail lounges, living rooms and restaurants.

With blue’s calming effects and green’s restorative qualities, these cool colors are best suitable for routine, monotonous tasks. These are great for workspaces, factories and offices as the perception of time tends to flow or be underestimated.

Objects then seem further, shorter and smaller.

Finally, mental and visual tasks are best done in soft and deep color, providing there is ample illumination.

Of course, there is no one-sizefits-all when it comes to color. For me, red proved to be too vigorous for my introverted tendencies. I still love red, but next time it might be best to take a more experimental approach and paint one or two walls, instead of the whole gamut. Perhaps pick a less saturated hue. Maybe add some cool complementary accents or temporarily paint one wall and see how my psyche handles it.

We put time into what we wear and the colors we put next to our skin, but sometimes disregard the psychological effect of the hue in which we clothe our home’s interior, the place we spend most of our time.

Whatever your preferences, cool, warm, dim or bright, find the most productive color for you and color your world.

Health Briefs Camden wins tap water taste contest The village of Camden won the 2018 tap water taste contest, according to the Oneida County Health Department.

The contest was held at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair recently.

The contest promotes awareness of the value of public drinking water to the public. The contest has been held throughout New York state for the past 21 years.

Its goal is to enable the general public to become aware of the value and quality of public tap water through a non-scientific and publicly involved competition.

Page 16

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

Are you cool as cucumber, or hot like tamale?

By Marie Kouthoofd

S

ome theories proport personality differences via warm or cool dominance.

For instance, as a warm color dominant, you are said to be well-adjusted to the world. Liking color in general, you have a particular penchant for the warm side of the spectrum. You are emotionally warm, receptive and tend to express yourself freely.

Highly suggestible, you are open to outside influence. Having an intimate relationship with the cool color, dominant souls might be seen as reserved. Not overly favoring any color, you lean toward liking the cool side of the spectrum.

Adapting to new situations may not come easily and due to you being emotionally reserved, emotional expression does not flow freely. More of a loner, you appear detached or “split-off” from the outside world.

Coming off as emotionally cool, you enjoy a rich inner life.

Colorful facts

— Difficult and finicky persons like complex colors.

— Brunettes, on average, prefer the color red, whereas blondes pick blues.

— When green light is cast on human flesh, it creates a putrid, cadaver-like illusion. So much so, this technique has been used in mirrored rooms to force criminal confessions.

— Infants prefer bright over dull tones and fixate and reach more toward bright and rich colors. Red and yellow are choice picks.

— By the age of 3 months, infants are least interested in black, green, blue and violet.

— By adulthood, a clear warmcool color preference appears. This on average holds true for sexes and all nationalities and creeds.

— Red light increases reaction time, while green light retards.

— Fish, when immersed in red light, show a simultaneous increase in blood pressure as the saturation of red increases.

— Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are attracted to dark blue, red and brown, and not so much to yellow, orange or white fabrics. In response to this finding, the U.S. Army withdrew darker-colored issued clothing for our troops in malaria-infested areas like Africa and replaced them with lighter-colored fabrics.

— Japanese beetles are caught with yellow traps over any other color.

— Mental and visual tasks are best done in softer, darker and deeper color, along with ample illumination.

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized?

Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Continued from Page 2

Thursdays

Loved one on drugs?

There is support CNY Services Milestones is featuring a support group for anyone dealing with another person’s drug and/or alcohol addiction.

The support group meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays at 502 Court St., Suite 210, Utica.

The support group is free and open to those struggling with a child, partner, wife, husband, mother, father or friend who is battling addiction.

For more information, call Tony at 315-717-9153.

Sept. 4

CNY Diabetes to host grocery store tour People with diabetes, pre-diabetes and their family members are invited to grocery shop with a registered dietitian and learn more about their food choices.

The grocery store tour, hosted by the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Central New York Diabetes Education Program, will run from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 4 at Hannaford Supermarket, 4593 Commercial Drive, New Hartford.

Those interested can call CNY Diabetes at 315-624-5623 to register.

Sept. 6

Parents bond to battle addiction A support group — Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Canajoharie Fire House, 75 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie.

The next meetings are Sept. 6 and Sept. 20.

The support group is for parents with a son or daughter who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

PAL is a nonprofit organization run by a volunteer board of parents.

For more information, visit www. palgroup.org or call PAL at 480-3004712.

Sept. 10

Support forum for patients, cancer survivors The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and can-

Story idea?

Call 315-749-7070

cer survivors will be held at 6 p.m.

Sept. 10.

The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month in the Cancer Center’s fireplace lounge on the main floor of Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

The forum, led by the Cancer Center’s social worker, offers support to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.

Sept. 10

Support group to meet at Rome Memorial Hospital The brain aneurysm, AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and stroke support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Rome Memorial Hospital’s second-floor classroom.

The group meets on the second Monday of every month.

RMH is located at 1500 N. James St., Rome.

For more information, call Deb Dunn at 315-533-6467 or email RomeNY@JoeNiekroFoundation.org.

discuss issues with others who are in the same situation.

Certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Community Recovery Center, 264 W. Dominick St., Rome, offers alcohol and substance abuse treatment for adolescents and adults.

Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, the center participates with most major insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. A sliding scale fee is available for self-pay clients.

For more information about the support group or the Community Recovery Center, call 334-4701.

Sept. 19

Sept. 30

Annual Buddy Walk on tap in Utica The annual Buddy Walk, presented by Upstate Cerebral Palsy, is a one-mile Down syndrome awareness event that will be held Sept. 30 at Hanna Park in Utica.

Registration will be held at 10 and the walk begins at 11.

The walk promotes the acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome.

The one-mile walk begins and ends at Hanna Park in Utica and will include activities, entertainment and refreshments.

For more information, call 315927-3463 or visit upstatecp.org.

Valley Health Services accepts syringes Valley Health Services is accepting the community’s medical waste of needles, syringes and lancets from noon until 2 p.m. on Sept. 19.

The service is available on the third Wednesday of every month.

The waste must be in approved puncture-resistant containers available at local pharmacies and properly marked “biohazard.”

The containers may be brought to the outpatient receptionist on the ground floor at VHS, who will contact the personnel responsible for medical waste disposal.

VHS is located at 690 W. German St., Herkimer.

Questions may be directed to Tammi King, infection control nurse, at 866-3330, ext. 2308.

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Sept. 13

Laryngectomy support group to meet The Laryngectomy Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at noon Sept. 13 in the Sister Regina Conference Room on the first floor of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center hospital building, 2209 Genesee St., Utica. The support group is sponsored by SEMC. Laryngectomy support group meetings are held at noon on the second Thursday of each month.

A laryngectomy is the procedure to remove a person’s larynx and separates the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus. The laryngectomee breathes through an opening in the neck, called a stoma.

The public is welcome to attend.

Those with questions can call the speech therapy department at 315801-4475.

Sept. 17

Family support group focuses on addiction Families who are dealing with the problems of addiction can find help and information at a support group meeting from 6-7 p.m. Sept.

17 in the second floor classroom at Rome Memorial Hospital.

The group meets the third Monday of each month and is free and open to everyone.

Offered by the hospital’s Community Recovery Center, the support group provides an opportunity to September 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 17

To the rescue Utica Bike Rescue offers less-fortunate way to travel, stay healthy

By David L. Podos

U

tica Bike Rescue is a nonprofit organization that literally lives up to its name.

It does not simply give free bikes to people, but it provides a solution to mobility challenges by offering a hand-up, not a handout.

Utica Bike Rescue is located at Westminster Moriah Olivet Presbyterian Church, 714 Washington St., Utica.

It recently opened its Clinton Soul Stop Workshop at 8 College St., Clinton, featuring a fitness studio, yoga classes and a bicycle maintenance shop.

The mission of Utica Bike Rescue is to promote bicycling as an affordable, effective, sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. Utica Bike Rescue provides refurbished, usually donated bicycles and educational programs to the community, especially for children, students and lower-income households.

Executive director Matt VanSlyke said one of the most important benefits his organization provides is affordable transportation to local people. “There is a large percentage of households in our area that do not have a car, making it difficult for

many people. Having a bike provides transportation for them,” he said.

“We also teach responsibility to the people receiving the bikes as they learn the mechanics for the upkeep of their bicycle. Experience has also shown us that it’s necessary to create a sense of ownership and teach the appropriate skills to ride and maintain a bike if you want to provide real, lasting value,” he added. “Our programs will do just that.”

Besides offering a mode of transportation, there are many health benefits to cycling as well.

According to https://www.organicfacts.net, cycling offers a num-

ber of health benefits, both physical as well as mental.

Cycling involves almost every part of the body beyond using the calf and thigh muscles. Arms are toned and strengthened as well, for they are needed to balance the bike.

Cardiovascular health is drastically improved, while cycling improves endurance and increases energy levels. Cycling has been shown to help in reducing stress and weight management. It also helps reduce and prevent arthritis.

Cycling is environmentally friendly, reducing pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases.

VanSlyke has been involved in bike rescue efforts since he lived in Albany.

He is a professional transportation planner, an experienced bicycle mechanic, an avid cyclist and former president of the New York Bicycling Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization.

“There are many bike rescue organizations in New York state, including locations in Ithaca, Schenectady, Syracuse and Buffalo. “We all follow similar models and share resources,” Van Slyke said.

Utica Bike Rescue establishes partnerships with local organizations that can help identify and pre-qualify individuals for their programs. The bikes that have been donated by the public and refurbished by their staff and volunteers are redistributed in the community through outreach programs.

Those interested in getting involved as a volunteer or donating a bike can contact Utica Bike Rescue at 315-525-9554, visit www.UticaBikeRescue.org or email info@uticabikerescue.org.

Health Briefs Arc names new director of business enterprises Chad Hartwig is the new executive director of business enterprises at The Arc, Oneida-Lewis chapter.

Hartwig is a native of Western New York and graduate of Utica College where he played football for two years.

Hartwig began his career in the marketing department at DeIorio’s Frozen Foods, eventually handling sales for the Hartwig company in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

In 2011, having relocated to the Albany area, Hartwig became the marketing and product development manager at Liberty Enterprises of Liberty Arc in Montgomery County.

While serving in that role, Hartwig was successful in growing product awareness, launching effective marketing campaigns, and developing new business relationships.

As executive director of business enterprises, Hartwig will oversee day-to-day business operations of Progress Industries, and Arc-owned businesses the Nickelback Redemption Center in Waterville and the Get-it & Go deli in Lowville.

s d i K Corner

School prep includes planning allergy, asthma management

A

llergies and asthma can make the start of the new school year a challenge for kids who aren’t prepared to deal with flareups, an allergist warns.

“Every age group is different in how much they can handle when it comes to protecting themselves from flare-ups due to allergies and asthma while at school, as well as severe allergic reactions from food allergies,” said physician Bradley Chipps. He is president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

“But every student wants to feel good and be free from their triggers when they’re away from home,” he added in an ACAAI news release.

Here are tips from the organization that can help: Page 18

•

• Children from pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. These young students need their parents to speak on their behalf. Talk with your child’s teachers before school starts to inform them of your child’s allergies and the kind of reaction they might have to allergens in the classroom.

Meet with the school nurse and administrators to create a health plan for your child. Also, tour the classroom to identify possible allergy triggers, such as wall-to-wall carpeting or a class pet.

• Children in grades 5 to 8. At this age, children can likely speak up for themselves about possible allergens in the classroom, cafeteria or other areas of the school. But when you fill out your child’s school

registration, be sure to note if they have allergies or asthma, need to carry medications or need to avoid certain foods.

All states allow students to carry and use medications for asthma and severe allergic reactions. Your child should know how to use these medications in an emergency.

• High school students.

Teens probably know how to handle their allergy and asthma medications, but they may be too self-conscious to carry or use them.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

Parents of high school students should encourage them to regard self-care as a “next step” in their journey toward independence.

• Going off to college? Young adults will have to assume much more responsibility for managing their allergy or asthma. For example, he or she might need to contact school administrators to discuss necessary arrangements for dorm living and meals. Students who will be living far from home may have to find a new allergist and pharmacy.

Health News the best nursing homes in the state. I knew I wanted to do more in residential health care, and being able to work with the outstanding staff here is a wonderful opportunity for me.”

Insight House names employees of quarter Amber Difillippo and Don Calicchia were named employees of the quarter for the second quarter of 2018 at Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Utica.

Supervisors nominate employees of the quarter for their reliability, quality of work, initiative, Difillippo professionalism and uniqueness of contribution.

Difillippo, of Dolgeville, is a chemical dependency counselor in the day rehabilitation department, and specializes in group, individual and family clinical services.

Fellow counselor Sonya Merkle nominated Defillippo, who has Calicchia worked at Insight House for two years.

Calicchia, of Clinton, is an activities therapist who prepares and recommends therapeutic recreation, leisure education, and diversionary recreation activities for individual clients and groups.

He was nominated by Difillippo, and has been employed at Insight House for 20 years.

Rome Medical Practice welcomes manager Rome Medical Practice, an affiliate of Rome Memorial Hospital, recently welcomed Lisa Taurisano as its new administrative clinical manager, announced Rosemel Atkinson, vice president of physician practices for the hospital.

“With more than 20 years of clinical nursing Taurisano experience and eight years of management experience in a health care setting, Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and strong leadership skills to her new position at Rome Medical Practice,” Atkinson said.

Taurisano began her career in health care as a licensed practical nurse. She went on to receive her Associate of Science degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College, her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from SUNY IT/Utica College, and her master’s degree in health care administration from Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, N.H.

New food services director at RMH

Rome Memorial recognized nationally for promoting organ, eye and tissue donation Rome Memorial Hospital is among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration. Above, Bill Sainsbury, hospital development and family services manager for the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, along with his children, Ryan and Claire, present Patricia King, assistant vice president continuum of care-donate life chairperson at RMH, with the platinum award through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign as part of Donate Life Night with the Syracuse Chiefs at NBT Bank Stadium, Syracuse. The hospital conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry.

Long-time leader comes out of retirement Anthony Joseph has been named the new administrator at Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility.

The RHCF is an 80-bed skilled nursing facility, located on the hospital’s third floor, which provides long-term care, short-term rehab and respite care programs.

A licensed nursing home adJoseph ministrator, Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree from Utica College, plus master’s degrees in social work and public administration from Syracuse University.

He retired in 2016 as vice president of long-term care services at

Samaritan Health Systems in Watertown.

Prior to that, Joseph was administrator of the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford and the Oneida Healthcare Center Extended Care Facility, director-CEO of the Madison County Office for the Aging, and administrator-CEO of Mohawk Valley Nursing Home in Ilion. He also served as administrator at Rome Memorial Hospital’s RHCF from 1995-97.

In addition to the RHCF, Joseph will also administer the hospital’s senior behavioral health unit, which provides individualized hospital care for adults 55 and older who are suffering from acute symptoms associated with a major mental health illness.

Joseph said he decided to come out of retirement when presented with the opportunity to return to RMH. “I enjoyed my time at the RHCF when I was here before,” Joseph said.

“This is a great facility which I know has consistently been ranked among

September 2018 •

Elizabeth (“Liz”) Nadeau has been named director of food services at Rome Memorial Hospital, announced David Jabs, vice president of support services.

“Liz has worked in Rome Memorial Hospital’s food and nutrition department for over 40 years,” Jabs said. “With experience in Nadeau nearly every aspect of the department, there is no better choice to lead our kitchen and cafeteria staff.”

Nadeau started her career at RMH in 1976, when as a high school student she was hired as a summer food service worker.

After high school, while attending Mohawk Valley Community College, she applied for and was hired full-time as a food service associate.

Her college course work included some business and human services classes, but Nadeau said she found all the job satisfaction she needed in being involved in providing nutritious meals for hospital patients, staff and visitors.

On a weekly basis, the food and nutrition department at RMH provides around 2,656 meals for patients and 1,848 for employees and visitors.

Nadeau oversees a staff of 61.

Rome Twigs’ Gift Shop relocates The Rome Twigs’ Gift Shop at Rome Memorial Hospital has relocated to the hospital’s main lobby area.

Operated by the hospital’s Twig volunteer organization, the gift shop will offer coffee, tea, soft drinks and snacks, as well as a variety of gift items, many of which are made in New York state.

Inventory includes cards, flowers, home décor, jewelry, baby gifts, toys and accessories.

The shop is open to the public and the hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Proceeds from gift shop sales help the Twigs, a nonprofit organization, continue its long tradition of service in support of the hospital and its mission.

Rome Medical Group welcomes nurse manager Marianne Turner is the new clinical nurse manager for the Rome Medical Group, a primary care practice affiliated with Rome Memorial Hospital.

Continued on Page 20

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Health News Continued from Page 19 Rome Medical Group specializes in primary care for children and adults.

She began her career as a certified nursing assistant then became a licensed practical nurse. She pursued her degree as a registered nurse.

She pursued her degree as an RN while working in the pediatric Turner and primary care departments for Rome Medical Group.

“With more than 20 years of nursing experience in various types of medical facilities, including nursing homes, more than 10 years at Rome Medical Group, and in the maternity unit at Rome Memorial Hospital, she is also acutely aware of the ever-changing world of delivering health care and how to navigate those changes to assure that patients receive the best possible care,” said Rosemel Atkinson, vice president of physician practices for the hospital.

HOPE Ministries program to expand Catholic Charities of Herkimer County and The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties have partnered to make an impact in the community.

The two organizations are assisting seniors in Herkimer County by promoting independent living through the use of volunteers.

“The services provided by HOPE Ministries’ volunteers are vital to the health and wellness of the growing senior population in the county and will be provided at no cost to anyone 55 years of age or older who resides in Herkimer County,” said Catholic Charities of Herkimer County program director Rae Raffle-Maxson.

HOPE Ministries is a volunteer program designed to help the frail elderly remain independent in their communities.

Volunteers will provide laundry assistance, light housekeeping, meal preparation, non-medical transportation, shopping for or with a care receiver, telephone reassurance and friendly visiting.

Care receivers and volunteers are needed.

For more information, contact Lori Joy, Hope Ministries’ program coordinator at Catholic Charities of Herkimer, at 315-894-9917 ext. 254, or email ljoy@ccherkimer.org.

The HOPE Ministries program project has been made possible by a grant from the Faxton Street Home Fund of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.

Frankfort business donates grill to Valley Health Services Ron Bushey Refrigeration in Frankfort recently donated a Char-Broil® four-burner propane gas grill with side burner to Valley Health Services’ staff, adult day health care registrants and residents in Herkimer. Celebrating the occasion are, from left, ADHC registrants Scherry McGee, Mary Morvitz and Dan Hall; Bushey; and registrants Henry Howard and Joan Gardner. VHS, a privately owned, nonprofit organization, is a 160-bed long-term care and rehabilitation facility.

Phase II Funds Flow Innovation Award from Central New York Care Collaborative, totaling $248,887.

The family navigator project is a partnership between CNYHHN, United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES, several area school districts and the Oneida County Department of Mental Health.

The family navigator model builds upon the Ready for Kindergarten Initiative of the United Way and Health Homes Serving Children Program of CNYHHN. Through this grant, both family support navigators and Health Homes Serving Children care managers will team together to offer services to youth from birth through the end of their elementary school years.

The goals are to improve the mental and physical trajectories of children at risk, increase early access to mental health services and primary care, and improve overall child-parent/family engagement in health care. The award period is 18 months.

For more information on CNYHHN and the services it provides, contact Jane Vail at 315-624-9670, ext.

5231.

Graduate recipient of two CNYHHN earns innovation area scholarships award Cassie Tinkler, a graduate of Central New York Health Home Network was recently awarded a Page 20

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Little Falls Central School, has been named the recipient of two schol-

arships — the Frederika Vickers Conrad and Dr. Joseph W. Conrad Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 and the Dr. Bernard J. Burke Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.

Dr. Sue Conrad Quinby and Roger P. Quinby established the scholarship fund in 1973 in memory of Frederika Vickers Conrad and her husband, Dr. Joseph W. Conrad.

The Quinbys specified that the income from this fund must be used to award a Tinkler scholarship to a deserving resident of the Little Falls Central School District who is interested in pursuing a career in medicine, paramedicine, nursing, laboratory, technical work, hospital administration or any allied health field.

The scholarship committee of the Little Falls Hospital Board of Trustee chooses the winner.

The Bernard J. Burke Scholarship was established in 1997 by the LFH medical staff in memory of Burke.

The scholarship is presented annually to students who are pursuing a career in medicine.

LFH medical staff chooses the winner.

Tinkler, the daughter of John and Vicki Tinkler, graduated in June. She

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

has chosen to follow a career in the health field as a physician assistant through Le Moyne College’s direct entry program.

“I have chosen to follow this career path due to my personal experiences with biology and health care,” says Tinkler. “I have grown up on a small dairy farm where biology and the health care of animals has been a prevalent aspect of my life.”

UCP promotes staffer to chief psychologist Erik Jacobson was recently promoted to chief psychologist at Upstate Cerebral Palsy.

In his new role, Jacobson will provide oversight to clinical services within the adult, community, Tradewinds and children’s residential program divisions.

Jacobson Jacobson joined UCP in 2006 as director of clinical psychology. He is a licensed clinical psychologist as well as a certified school psychologist.

He received his doctorate in clinical-community psychology from the University of South Carolina.

Continued on 21

Health News This award was created to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of front line staff working in member organizations.

The award’s purpose is to provide patients, residents and other employees the opportunity to distinguish those individuals who have demonstrated a willingness to make personal sacMunio rifices to improve the lives of others by going beyond the expected.

Munio, known as Cliff by co-workers, administration and residents, exemplifies the vision of the award, says Lisa M. Betrus, president of Valley Health Services.

“Seeing the way residents await Cliff as he walks through the corridors of VHS makes it apparent that he has a passion for his job and helping others,” she said.

Munio joined the VHS maintenance staff in March 2002.

Continued from Page 20 Over the past 20 years, Jacobson has provided a range of assessment, diagnostic and treatment services to children, adolescents, and adults with varying degrees of developmental and co-morbid psychiatric disabilities through outpatient, residential and school settings.

Jacobson resides with his family in Clinton.

UCP provides programs and services to thousands of children and adults with differing abilities and their families.

MVHS opens Oneida medical office, lab The Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group has opened a new Oneida medical office and welcomed Andrea Finocchiaro and Kristy Russ to that site.

Both Finocchiaro and Russ transferred to the Oneida practice from the MVHS New Hartford Medical Office-Crossroads Plaza.

A St. Elizabeth Lab-Patient SerFinocchiaro vice Center is located at the site, with MVHS Dialysis Services to follow.

Finocchiaro, a specialist in family medicine, received her Bachelor of Arts in biology with honors from Utica College and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa. She completed her residency in family medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse.

Prior to joining MVHS, Russ was employed at Oneida Healthcare as a surgical services nurse manager.

She has also worked as a surgical services nurse Russ at Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton.

Russ earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Science in adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner at Keuka College.

She is a member the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses and is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

VHS names employee of quarter Stephen LaPorta has been named as Valley Health Services’ employee of the second quarter 2018.

LaPorta joined VHS on April 16,

Nick and Sara Flihan, along with their newborn son Christian, were patients of Mohawk Valley Health System Maternal Child Services and recent participants in the couplet care program.

Couplet care at MVHS improves mother-baby bonding

M

ohawk Valley Health System’s Maternal Child Services welcomes more than 2,000 newborns into the world every year, providing families of these newborns the family centered standard of care known as “couplet care.”

Couplet care allows mothers and newborn babies to remain together for their entire hospital stay.

The mother and baby share one nurse and providers perform the child’s assessment with the mother present.

Sara Flihan, a mother of three, recently gave birth to her third child. She was unable to experience couplet care with her first two children and it has made a big difference with her youngest child, Christian.

“With my first two children, I didn’t share a nurse with them and that often made it difficult to relay questions about their care,” said Flihan. “With Christian, they did his assessments right in the room with me and my husband present. I’ve been able to be a part of my baby’s care from start to finish.”

“Mothers become comfortable with their newborn’s schedule while still in the hospital, which often makes for a smoother transition from the hospital to the home,” said Lesa Steele, nurse manager of maternal child services. “It can also aid in the likelihood of a successful breastfeeding routine.”

For more information on couplet care at MVHS, visit mvhealthsystem.org/Maternity.

2007 as a dietary aide.

His colleagues attribute his success on the job to his desire to step out of his comfort zone and take on new tasks so that he can continue to learn and grow in his career with VHS. One of the areas that LaPorta enjoys is working with BOCES stuLaPorta dents to give them hands-on career experience in the dietary department.

LaPorta says he has indicated to his supervisor that he wants to

be cross-trained in a lot of different areas so that he can effectively assist where needed.

LaPorta’s colleagues say he has proven to be an asset to the facility through his daily dedication to his job, fellow co-workers and residents.

VHS long-term care employee earns award Clifford Munio, maintenance worker at Valley Health Services in Hannibal, is the recipient of LeadingAge NY’s Long Term Care Employee of Distinction Award.

LeadingAge NY annually awards two recipients in each of its regions the Long Term Care Employee of Distinction award.

September 2018 •

New chair named for Rome run, indoor walk After serving on the event’s volunteer committee for nine years, Brenda McMonagle is stepping into the role as chairperson for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Rome Run & Indoor Walk.

McMonagle has participated in Heart Run & Walk events in both Rome and Utica for more than 20 years.

“I originally became involved because my emMcMonagle ployer, AmeriCU Credit Union, is a large supporter of the American Heart Association,” McMonagle said.

“The cause hit home for me shortly after I joined the Rome volunteer committee. My husband had a major heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery in 2009.”

In addition to her work with the AHA, McMonagle is active with her church, the First Presbyterian Church, Rome, and volunteers with the Rome Relay for Life.

She is also a board member and past president of the Rome College Foundation.

As chairperson, McMonagle will lead the Rome walk committee. The volunteer committee coordinates the planning and logistics details for the event.

The 2018 event saw more than 220 walkers and runners raised more than $23,000.

The 2019 Rome Run & Indoor Walk will be held Feb. 9 at Rome Free Academy. The 45th annual America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk will be March 1-2 at Utica College.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

Dental Health Smile with Dr. Suy

By Dr. Salina Suy

Defining Dentistry: What is a root canal procedure?

Crucial dental process is essential to retaining your teeth

H

appy September everyone! Is it considered fall or summer?

I never quite know with these crazy weather patterns.

I hope everyone is enjoying a fresh start back to school with the holiday season right around the corner.

In last month’s “Defining Dentistry” segment, we talked about caviSuy ties, how they form and how we treat them. If cavities get very large, they may end up in need of a procedure called a root canal.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure removing the nerve out of the tooth,

cleaning the inside out completely, removing the entire pulp and filling it back up with a biocompatible material to retain the tooth in the mouth.

Why would we need a root canal?

There are several indications for a root canal.

Among the most common rea-

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sons are: — Cavities that reach deep into the tooth pulp chamber — Dental abscess — Tooth trauma — Minimal remaining tooth structure Remember, if a tooth nerve dies, the only way to remove potential harm is to remove the source of possible infection — the pulp and whole nerve. This can only be done with a root canal or a tooth extraction.

When you have a choice, it is always wise to consider saving the tooth.

What is the root canal procedure like?

Well, it depends. Are you infected? Are you in pain? Are you doing this preemptively? Every case is different regarding the patient experience. The procedure itself involves some very common goals however.

Basic steps to root canal:

— Get our patient numb — Isolate the tooth with a rubber dam — Take some files down the tooth pulp chamber inside of the tooth and retrieve all of the pulp tissue. Remember, it is in this pulp tissue the nerve and blood vessels live.

— Clean all surfaces of pulp chamber well — Fill empty pulp chamber with biocompatible packing material — Restore tooth back to normal (filling, crown, etc.)

After the root canal

Now that the tooth has a root ca-

nal treatment, there are a few things we try to have you understand. We have taken the life out of the tooth; it no longer has blood, nerves, oxygen or nutrient supply.

Over time, the tooth may discolor and lose strength. Imagine if we did the same procedure to your arm.

What would happen? The blood, nerve and oxygen supply would cause your arm to grow weaker. This is the same procedure that is essentially happening to your tooth in the jaw.

By doing this, we can retain the tooth body in the jaw and preserve it.

Teeth that are farther back in the mouth — such as molars or premolars — may need crowns to protect them from the forces of chewing after root canal treatment.

Procedures that often accompany root canals are crown build-ups, crowns and clinical crown lengthening. The crown acts as a solid unit to protect the tooth from fracture. It’s a procedure that incorporates many factors, such as size of tooth, strength of patient jaw and unpredictable trauma.

In summary, the root canal is a valuable treatment for dental patients. Patients can seek treatment from their general dentist or specialist.

Each dentist will vary in skill and price range. Ask your dentist when the time is right and what is best for you.

• Salina Suy is a health and wellness advocate and general dentist in Utica. Want to learn more?

Visit Facebook @smilewithdrsuy or www.smilewithdrsuy.com.

Radiation oncologist joins the ranks at Rome Memorial

B

oard-certified radiation oncologist Michael Fallon recently joined Rome Memorial Hospital Radiation Medicine at Chestnut Commons, 107 E. Chestnut St., Rome.

Fallon, with more than 20 years of experience, was named a physician of the year by the American College Fallon of Surgeons and has been involved in cancer research to advance the latest

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

treatment protocols for patients.

Fallon received his medical degree from SUNY Stony Brook and completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Rochester and Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, Fallon earned his master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in health care finance from Binghamton University.

He is a diplomat of the American Board of Radiology.

Story idea?

Call 315-749-7070

Safety Nets

Medicare and Medicaid explained: What are the differences between the two?

By David L. Podos

Here is what a few local residents said about their experiences with he Utica Municipal Housing Medicare and Medicaid: Authority recently conducted a — Jim Feketa, a Whitesboro free public workshop on Medi- resident: “I have been receiving care and Medicaid at the Utica Public Medicare services for almost three Library. years. For me, the transition from The Department of Health and personal health care to Medicare was Human Services oversees both proshocking. I just didn’t understand grams with a budget over $1 trillion. the system. Luckily, I had a friend A government agency of this size who helped me through the process can be quite a challenge to manage. of understanding costs as well as For the public, there is often confucoverage. On a more positive side, I sion over what the programs offer in have supplemental insurance along the way of services, as well as who is with Medicare which provides me actually eligible. full coverage.”

The following is a an abbreviated — Patty Lieber of Utica: “I have and generic explanation of services, been on Medicaid for almost 23 so note there are variances in both years. It has been a huge benefit to programs regarding coverage, costs people like me who are financially and eligibility requirements. disadvantaged and unable to work. It Basically, Medicare Part A covers really has been a great help. I would people aged 65 and over and is for not be able to pay my doctor bills hospitalization coverage only. For the without it. most part, it is free and there are no “A few times, I had to call our costs to the end user. Medicare Part local social services department as I B is for all other medical services; for had questions. While it took them a example, visits to a local doctor. Part few days to get back to me, I got the D is for prescriptions and can incur answers I was looking for, so I was additional costs for the subscriber. pleased with the service.”

There is also a cost for Part B that — Joe Aiello, Lee Center: “I have is predicated on one’s income. been on Medicare for nearly four Medicaid is health care coverage years. I only signed up for Part A. for low-income adults, children, the Signing up for Part B or Part D is cost elderly as well as those with disabilprohibitive for me.” ities. Services provided to Medicaid — Frank Wolack of Whitesboro: subscribers are usually free.

“I have been receiving Medicare serDennis Tuttle, service coordivices going on four years. Personally, nator for the housing authority, I have had no problems. Everything and Tim Dittfield, former Medicaid I need is covered and there are no training coordinator for the Oneida issues with billing and or services.

County Department of Social Ser“I signed up on the Medicare vices, spoke at the forum. website. When you do that, you “This is the first time the Utica receive annual updates on preventive Municipal Housing Authority has diagnostic testing that you might sponsored this kind of workshop,” need. They also remind me of my said Tuttle. “We are trying to connect free annual physical I am entitled to. services to people in our community. It is very helpful.”

Services are out there, but people do not know how to find them.”

Clarifying the situation ”Because Medicare and Medicaid In addition to the confusion have similar names, many people many people have in differentiating get confused on what each program offers and are not aware of the differ- Medicaid and Medicare, there are other obstacles. ences, Dittfield said. ”The complexity of navigating “We have a big problem here in Oneida County because of the grow- the service system is real,” Dittfield said. “Also, another big problem is ing number of baby boomers, peothe drug formulary and trying to figple who will eventually need these ure out what medicines are covered services,” he added.

T

be helpful: — In August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mailed new Medicare cards to more than 3.5 million people with Medicare in New York state.

— CMS is mailing the new Medicare cards in geographic waves.

People with Medicare in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont will also be receiving their new card.

People with Medicare in these states and New York were expected to receive their new cards by the end of August and can begin using it right away.

— Social Security numbers have been replaced with new unique identifying numbers, helping protect people with Medicare from identity theft as CMS attempts to fight fraud.

The new Medicare card is free.

Tuttle and Dittfield will also be helping to conduct another free public workshop on Medicare and Medicaid.

It will be held from 6-7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 at the Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee St., Utica, second floor.

Parking is in the rear lot. Refreshments will be served.

Besides the topics of Medicaid and Medicare, information will be presented on the Home Energy Assistance Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, BillPayer, transportation for those in need and disabled persons, and Meals on Wheels.

It will include presentations as well as a question–and-answer period. AmeriCorps members will be available to provide individual followup assistance.

t

and which are not.”

A drug formulary is a list of prescription drugs, both generic as well as brand name drugs. A committee of experts chooses these lists for their safety and effectiveness.

“People need to be educated on all of this,” said Dittfield. “For the most part, generic medications are just as effective as brand names but with huge cost savings to the end user.”

While the mission of the Utica Municipal Housing Authority is to be a leader in the housing industry by providing safe, clean, and affordable housing opportunities to low-income persons, Dittfield and Tuttle made it clear at the forum that MHA is available to reach out and help anyone seeking assistance or those who have questions regarding Medicaid or Medicare, regardless of whether they are looking for affordable housing.

Another source that can answer questions on Medicare and Medicaid is the Oneida County Department of Social Services and local county offices for the aging. There are also plenty of sites online.

Finding a best option for information on Medicaid and Medicare can be based on other factors such as access to a home computer or access to transportation.

Face-to-face counseling is another method. The goal is to be educated on these services, understand eligibility status and minimize frustration.

For further information, Dittfield is available at timdittfield@gmail. com or Tuttle can be reached at 315735-5246 ext. 21.

For people who are utilizing Medicaid and Medicare, the following additional information will also

No Appointment Needed

t

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M-F 9:00am-8:00pm

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QUICK!

FOR WHEN YOU’RE SICK

Sat-Sun 9:00am-2:00pm

Most insurances accepted. Workers’ Comp. & No Fault are not accepted.

357 Genesee Street, Oneida, NY | (315) 363-2123 September 2018 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 23

Had a Stroke.

Back on Stage.

Musician Todd Hobin KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke — but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke risk factors and its signs and symptoms.

F.

FACE DROOPING

A. S. T.

ARM WEAKNESS

SPEECH DIFFICULTY

Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age.

Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices.

What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T. Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“ When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State to have earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment

Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.

Page 24

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2018

TIME TO CALL 911