In Good Health: Mohawk Valley #191 - January 2022

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JANUARY 2022 • ISSUE 191

DIETS TO CONSIDER IN 2022 From classics like W.W. (formerly Weight Watchers) to new trends like keto, we discuss the pros and cons of 12 diets — which one is right for you? Local experts weigh in. P. 12 ALSO INSIDE: PFIZER VS. MODERNA: Which One Has the Edge? P. 5 OBESE: Almost 1 in 3 College-Age Americans is Now Obese. P. 2 LIVE ALONE & THRIVE: Flying Solo at 73. P. 6

Why You Should Give Ice Skating a Try Winter enthusiasts ice skating at New Hartford Recreation Center Ice Skating Rink.

RADIATION OR CHEMOTHERAPY? New radiation oncologist at MVHS, physician Hsin Kwung Li, talks about difference and says “one day cancer will be a chronic disease.” P. 4

YOGA AND WELLNESS STUDIOS ABOUND IN THE REGION Region is rich with yogis and yoga centers. P. 16

LOOKING FOR LOVE IN 2022?

See what writer Barbara Pierce has to say about it. P. 7

Experts: It’s a good workout and it’s safe and easy to learn. P. 14

Almost 1 in Every 3 CollegeAge Americans is Now Obese

Prevalence of obesity on U.S. campuses from 1976 to 1980: just over 6% — in 2017 to 2018

I

t’s probably fair to say that most people know of the so-called “Freshman 15” — the weight that college students are often said to gain when they’re away from home for the first time.

But in recent decades, matters have gotten much worse in the United States. A new study using national data for people aged 18 to 25 found that while the prevalence of obesity was just over 6% in 1976 to 1980, it neared 33% by 2017 to 2018.

“We know that these are the trends that we’ve seen in children, adults, all age groups, but we were a little bit surprised by the magnitude of the increase,” said study author, physician Alejandra Ellison-Barnes.

She is an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore.

“We don’t know if it’s significantly higher than in children because we didn’t conduct that analysis, but it seems to be higher. And we were surprised that the mean BMI [body mass index] in this age group is now in the overweight range,” Ellison-Barnes said.

While it’s not news that experts are concerned about obesity across most age groups, finding solutions for this age group might offer a huge public health opportunity, the researchers suggested.

The study concluded that this

age group may be a key target for preventing obesity, given that habits formed during this period often persist throughout a lifetime.

These young adult years are critical for adult development, filled with some major life transitions, Ellison-Barnes noted. It is also a time that scientists see obesity emerging.

Researchers are working to figure out why, she said, including studying whether cultural trends in terms of education or workforce over the past several decades may be contributing to these changes.

“Weight loss in general, and particularly the maintenance of weight loss, is notoriously challenging,” Ellison-Barnes said. “Studies in the past have shown that even those — and this is applied to all adults not just emerging adults — but even those who are successful at losing weight often regain the majority of it within five years. We’re hoping that we can look at emerging adulthood as potentially a critical period for preventing the establishment of overweight and obesity that would theoretically persist into adulthood, because it is so hard to reverse once it’s established.”

Some precedence exists for adolescents with emerging obesity reversing that course as young adults, she said, and it may help provide information about reversing the trend in emerging adults.

The findings were published Nov. 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study results are consistent with other data she’s seen, said physician Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“The rate of obesity in every single age group is higher than it used to be,” Apovian said.

Theories why include that it’s the food supply and that perhaps people who are genetically predisposed are reacting to diets of ultra-pro-

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If you, a loved one, friend or colleague is in need of treatment for substance use disorder, please contact us at 315-470-8304 or visit crouse.org/addiction.

Bill & Sandra Pomeroy Treatment Center in Syracuse. The two-story, 42,000 square-foot facility at 2775 Erie Blvd., East, replaces the 100-year-old former location of Crouse’s outpatient treatment services at 410 South Crouse Avenue.

Page 2 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

cessed foods, storing it as fat when someone predisposed to being lean might burn those same foods, she added.

Some believe that modern, well-controlled thermostats have kept bodies from working hard to maintain their core temperatures in cold and heat, she noted. It may also be that the ingredients in ultra-processed foods are affecting people’s reward centers and making them want more of certain unhealthy foods. There could also be endocrine disruptors in the food supply.

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Barbara Pierce

Fear Keeps Some Cancer Patients From Getting COVID Vaccine

C

ancer patients are at risk for serious COVID-19 illness, but some are still afraid to get vaccinated against the virus, new research shows.

Study authors surveyed nearly 200 high-risk cancer patients at the Mays Cancer Center in San Antonio, Texas. Only 56% said they’d received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, compared to the community vaccination rate of 76%.

The three most common reasons patients gave for not getting vaccinated were: “My doctor has not told me to get the vaccine,” or “I do not think it is safe for me because I have cancer,” or “I’m afraid of the side effects.”

Patients were given six options to select for declining the vaccination. Aside from the three top reasons, other options included, “I already had COVID, so I don’t think I need the vaccine” and “I want the vaccine but have not been able to schedule an appointment.”

“We concluded that the reasons cancer patients declined the COVID-19 vaccination can all be addressed by improving patient-physician communication regarding the known safety of the COVID-19 vaccines,” said study lead author, physician Kate Lathrop. She’s a medical oncologist and breast cancer specialist at the cancer center and associate professor of medicine at University of Texas Health San Antonio.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges and barriers to care for patients on active cancer treatments,” Lathrop noted in a UT Health news release.

The Mays Cancer Center — home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center — implemented a system to remind patients about COVID-19 vaccines.

The study found that before discussing it with their oncologist, 45% of high-risk cancer patients had not received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, but that fell to 20% after a reminder.

The patients were surveyed when they arrived at an outpatient infusion clinic between May and June 2021. The survey results are being presented this week at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Studies presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Hsin Kwung Li

Radiation or chemotherapy? New radiation oncologist at MVHS talks about difference and says “one day cancer will be a chronic disease” Q: What is radiation therapy?

A: Radiation therapy is the use of high energy X-rays, generated by a machine and deposited in a tumor cell. It damages the DNA to keep cancer cells from growing, and causes the tumor to die. Many folks, unless they’ve been diagnosed with cancer or had a family member diagnosed, may not know much about radiation. They hear the term ‘radiation,’ it’s scary; the things they’ve heard are scary. But there are always two sides to any story: radiology can be extremely beneficial. It can target the tumor; can sculpt the radiation to the tumor.

Q: How does radiation therapy differ from chemotherapy?

A: Radiation is local. It treats just where the tumor is and where it may travel to. Chemotherapy treats the whole body for cancer that may have spread. Radiation is aimed at and affects only the part of the body needing treatment. Chemotherapy exposes the whole body to cancer fighting drugs. Both types of therapy have side effects; each person experiences different side effects, depending on the type of cancer, its location, the radiation therapy dose, your general health and other factors. Early in the treatment planning process, we plan for how to manage the side effects you may have.

sits down regularly each Tuesday, to talk through and decide the best treatment course for each patient, whether surgery, chemo, radiation or another option. It’s not me that’s responsible. It’s all of our staff. I couldn’t do it without the team.

Q: Is the outlook for cancer better now? Are more patients surviving?

A: We’ve come so far. The survival rate in the past two decades has made significant strides. We have better surgical techniques, better chemotherapy, better radiation; there have been advances in each area.

One day cancer will be a chronic disease.

Q: What led to your decision to become a physician specializing in treatment for cancer?

A: I’m local, from Albany, born and raised in Albany. I thought I wanted to be a pharmacist, so I began graduate school to become a pharmacist. Halfway through school, I was involved in medical school as part of my training. During this experience, through introduction and shadowing experiences, I got to experience the medical profession. That was when I realized I wanted to be a physician, not a pharmacist.

Q: How is the decision made about which therapy is best for each patient?

A: Our multi-disciplinary tumor board

Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

Q: What are the rewards of working as a radiation therapist?

A: I like the patient care.

I like both the patients and the technology that is involved

In the News Physician Hsin Kwung Li recently has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Cancer Center as a radiation oncologist, where he provides and directs radiation therapy treatments for cancer patients. Li has more than five years of experience in medicine, including the last four in radiation oncology.

He specializes in X-ray guided radiation treatment of tumors in the body.

Li earned his medical degree and completed his residency in radiation oncology at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse. He previously earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania.

a great deal. I’m able to make this treatment a meaningful thing for the individual who is going through such a difficult time in his life. This is one or the really great fields to work in; radiology is a unique field.

In treatment, patients are going through such a hard time. I can have a meaningful impact in their lives, from alleviating their pain to curing their cancer.

Q: What are the challenges of being a radiation therapist?

A: The challenge in radiation is that the folks I get to know are going through a tough time. And there’s not always a good outcome. It’s a great privilege and an honor to be a part of a patient’s life, entrusted by the patient and their family to help get them through this tough time.

Q: You are also an assistant professor of radiation oncology at SUNY. What do you feel it is most important for students in medical school to learn?

A: I believe that it’s most important for medical students to learn to provide good patient care. Book knowledge can always be gained, but they have to want to strive to provide good patient care.

Q: You’re new to the Mohawk Valley. What are your impressions of this area?

A: I continue to live in Syracuse and commute back and forth. I also spend time in Albany, where my parents live. I’m a very big “foodie;” I love hanging out in restaurants, and Utica has a great food scene.

Lifelines

Birth date: Late 1980s Birthplace: Albany, NY Current residence: Syracuse, NY Education: Li earned his medical degree and performed his residency in radiation oncology at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. He previously earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Affiliations: Faxon St. Luke’s, MVHS. Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University.

Personal: Single, no children Hobbies: Very big “foodie.” Loves hanging out in restaurants, enjoys Utica’s great food scene.

HOW CAN NY CONNECTS HELP? Free, easy, local access to information and assistance about long term care services and supports… regardless of age, income, or payor source.

Get help with community services/supports designed to help people remain healthy and independent for Older Adults, Adults or Children with Disabilities as well as their Families and Caregivers.

For answers to all your questions Contact us at 800-342-9871 or call one of the NY Connects partnering agencies at 315-697-5700 (Madison Office for the Aging) or 315-427-3122 (ARISE). You may also look for services and support at www.nyconnects.ny.gov

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Pfizer vs. Moderna: Which One Has the Edge?

W

hich coronavirus vaccine is best at beating COVID-19 — Moderna or Pfizer?

New research hands that honor to Moderna: In what is billed as the first head-to-head comparison of the two shots, researchers analyzed the health records of nearly 440,000 U.S. veterans who received one of the two vaccines between early January 2021 and mid-May 2021. All were followed for 24 weeks.

While both vaccines were highly effective in preventing infection, hospitalization and death, the Moderna vaccine conferred a 21% lower risk of infection and a 41% lower risk of hospitalization.

“Both vaccines are incredibly effective, with only rare breakthrough cases,” said research team member J.P. Casas, an epidemiologist and associate professor with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is also executive director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Million Veteran Program for genetics and health research.

“But regardless of the predominant strain — Alpha earlier and then Delta later — Moderna was shown to be slightly more effective,” Casas noted in a VA news release.

The infection rate during the follow-up period was 4.52 per 1,000 in the Moderna vaccine group and 5.75

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per 1,000 in the Pfizer group. Those in the Pfizer group also had higher rates of symptomatic COVID-19 (0.44 more per 1,000), hospitalization (0.55 more per 1,000), ICU admission (0.10 more per 1,000), and death (0.02 more per 1,000) than those in the Moderna group.

An additional phase of the study covering the period when Delta was the main strain in the United States showed that the risk of infection was still higher among those in the Pfizer group (6.54 more per 1,000) than in the Moderna group.

The findings were published Dec. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“Given the high effectiveness of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, confirmed by our study, either one is recommended to any individual offered a choice between the two,” said study first author Barbra Dickerman, an epidemiology instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“However, while the estimated differences in effectiveness were small on an absolute scale, they may be meaningful when considering the large population scale at which these vaccines are deployed. This information may be helpful for larger decision-making bodies,” Dickerman said in the release.

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January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Flying Solo at 73: My Neighbor Has Found Her Wings

I

t’s been five years now since my former neighbor Karen lost her beloved husband to cancer.

Initially devastated by her loss, she understandably retreated into the safety and security of her closest family and friends.

And then COVID-19 hit.

It’s been years since we’ve seen each other, so I was delighted when I bumped into Karen at the grocery store last week. I asked how she was doing and she declared with a touch of hesitancy, but noticeable pride, that “I’m more resilient than I thought.”

Then she quickly added with a good-natured smile, “Did you hear?

I moved into a smaller home in that new housing development near the village.”

I could tell that Karen had taken the time to grieve and grow into the next phase of her life. And I was pleased when she readily accepted my invitation to share a little bit about her journey.

We met in her charming patio home for a heart-to-heart about what it’s been like since her husband of 49 years died in 2016.

Karen and Jim were high-school sweethearts. They married right after college and started a family soon thereafter, two daughters and a boy.

“Jim was my rock,” said Karen. “He did repairs around the house, mowed the lawn, kept our cars running, and so much more. We were good partners. And best friends.”

She stared into the distance, “I still miss him.”

They shared a conventional marriage, with responsibilities drawn

along traditional lines: Jim took care of the finances and maintenance projects, while Karen managed the household and tended to the children. “It was a happy marriage,” said Karen, “and we had an active and fulfilling social life.”

And then, unexpectedly, Jim (a non-smoker) was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died four and a half years later. For Karen, his death felt very sudden, despite his long and brave battle. “I guess I wasn’t facing reality,” she confided.

Karen’s next few years were consumed with grief and mourning.

But slowly and steadily she began to feel a return to normalcy. “I could talk about Jim without crying,” she shared.

As Karen regained her footing, she was also becoming more aware of her surroundings. Absent Jim’s care and attention, the house had fallen into disrepair. There was water in the basement, peeling paint and long overdue maintenance. “It was overwhelming,” Karen revealed. “I couldn’t sleep for worrying about the house, the finances and the long, never-ending list of chores.”

Below, Karen talks about how she got through the toughest times.

Q: How did you carry on after the love and support you had enjoyed for years was suddenly gone?

A: It wasn’t easy. Getting a handle on financial matters was one of my first priorities. Thankfully Jim had made good provisions for our retirement and made sure I knew what was what before he died. That was a

What’s Behind Unexplained Epilepsy in Kids?

G

enetic testing can help guide management and treatment of unexplained epilepsy in children, new research suggests.

“A genetic diagnosis impacted medical management for nearly three out of four children in our study,” said study author Isabel Haviland.

She’s a physician and a postdoctoral research fellow in neurology/neurobiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

In the study, Haviland’s team examined the medical records of 152 children with epilepsy who were

tested between 2012 and 2019 at one U.S. institution and received a genetic diagnosis.

For 72% of the children, genetic testing affected at least one of four areas of management of their condition: care coordination, meaning they were referred to specialists or for diagnostic testing because of health issues related to the genetic finding (48%); treatment (45%); prognosis, or outlook for the course of their epilepsy (28%); and diagnosis (1%).

Among the children whose treatment was affected by genet-

blessing. Still, though, you wouldn’t believe how much there was to learn and do after Jim’s death.

My saving grace was our financial adviser. He helped me make sense of all the accounts, the transfers, the documents . . . everything.

Looking back, I don’t know how I got through it. It took time, but now I feel more in control of things. I even enrolled in online bill paying. I know that’s commonplace these days, but for me it was a big leap.

Q: Beyond finances, what other challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

A: The emotional ups and downs were my biggest challenges. I could be going along just fine and then a wave of deep grief would wash over me out of nowhere. Or I would get overcome with fears about the future.

Thank goodness for my adult children. They were my emotional anchors and I didn’t hesitate to call on them. When I was feeling sad and scared, they would scoop me into their arms and remind me that I wasn’t alone.

On a more practical level, my children also helped me with the new house. My daughters showed me how to change the furnace filter, my son mowed the lawn, and I’ve taught myself how to make some basic repairs around the house. Thank goodness for “how to” videos on YouTube! If needed, I’ll hire contractors to tackle the big stuff.

Q: What are your challenges today?

Is loneliness an issue?

A: Today? Oh, my challenges are very different. (Karen is smiling.) A challenge might be choosing between two equally inviting options: Walking with friends or playing Mahjong with my foursome. I think I’ll do both!

My life is very full; I don’t struggle with loneliness. I have my piano, my books, my friends and my adorable cat Lucy. I love curling up with her and a good mystery novel

by Louise Penny. ic testing: 36% had an impact on anti-seizure medication choice; 10% were eligible for gene-specific clinical trials or experimental drug use; 7% were started on gene-specific vitamin or metabolic treatments, such as the ketogenic diet; and 3% were treated with a drug not yet approved for their type of epilepsy.

The findings were presented in December at the American Epilepsy Society annual meeting, in Chicago. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

“We found the impact of a genetic diagnosis was even higher in children whose epilepsy began before they turned 2 years old,” Haviland said in a meeting news release.

“About twothirds of pediatric epilepsy is unexplained, and genetic testing should be offered in these cases because of the significant potential impact on

Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

Q: And what about romance?

A: I doubt I’ll marry again. I’ve come to enjoy my independence. If I feel like eating cereal for dinner, that’s what I have. If I want to wear purple and pink together, that’s what I wear. I take pleasure in that freedom. Would I welcome a male companion for walks, movies or a dinner out? Sure, I’m open to that. I like to stay active.

Q: What advice do you have for others?

A: Maintain your friendships.

My friends carried me through the tough times and now they carry me through the good times.

I don’t wait for people to call me.

I pick up the phone. I invite people over and make plans. And, while I don’t consider myself computer savvy, I use email and Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family.

We share videos and jokes, and make arrangements to get together. My friends make all the difference!

As more women like Karen embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with living alone, they are finding their wings and the ability to fly solo with confidence and creativity. They learn first-hand, just as I did, that life goes on, that life can get better.

Even with the inevitable turbulence, living alone can lead to meaningful new relationships, surprising and satisfying self-discovery, and a renewed love for this precious, ever-changing life we live.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com management, including on clinical treatment and eligibility for clinical studies,” Haviland suggested.

Changes in treatment can make a significant difference for a child with epilepsy, according to Haviland.

For example, vitamin B6 is important for brain development but some genetic disorders affect its pathway in the brain. Supplements or related vitamins may partially correct the problem and treat the epilepsy.

“Genetic testing should be part of the standard evaluation of children with unexplained epilepsy,” Haviland concluded.

Between You & Me

By Barbara Pierce

Looking for Love in 2022?

A

t the start of every new year, there’s an energizing “clean slate” feeling in the air that makes it the perfect time for a change ---- a time to reconnect with work, possibly change jobs, and maybe even get serious about making a relationship happen.

As that’s not an easy thing to make happen, I’d like to share some things I learned, things that worked for me and for people I know and may work for you. I’d been divorced several years. I was fine with being alone; my life was full and happy with work and raising my daughter.

Then she grew up and I was ready for a relationship.

I looked and looked for the right man. I tried all the things I heard: visualize what he looks like and he’ll appear — that was a total bust.

Get out there and expose yourself to a whole bunch of single men and surely one will be right for you. Yes, I dated many men, but no one who really worked for the long haul.

Then I went to a workshop called: “If I’m so wonderful, why am

I still single?” by Susan Page. And no longer after, taking what I learned from her, I found the perfect man and married him. What I’m sharing here I learned from her. (She wrote a book with that same title.)

First, think about the reasons you’re not with anyone. Run through all the reasons you can, off the top of your head. Take your time; let your mind wander through all the reasons.

Maybe you’ve said, “I just haven’t found the right person,” or “I keep getting involved with people who are wrong for me,” or “It’s just too hard!” or “I don’t have the time!”

But if you really want to be in a relationship, whatever your reasons are, no reason is good enough.

That’s right. There is no reason not to be in a relationship, if you really want to.

Here’s the real reason: You’re on the fence. You’re ambivalent, being pulled in two directions. You’re not totally committed to finding someone and you’re not totally committed to being single.

Ambivalence is the most power-

ful reason why people are single.

Author Sue Grafton’s character Kinsey Milhone describes it well in one of Grafton’s novels: “Being single can be confusing.

On one hand, you yearn for the simple comfort of companionship.

Someone to discuss the day with, to celebrate with, who’ll commiserate with you when you’re sick. On the other hand, once you get used to being alone, you have to wonder why you’d ever take on the aggravation of a relationship. Other human beings have all these habits, opinions, mannerisms, peculiar tastes, not to mention mood disorders and attitudes that in no way coincide with the correct ones, namely yours.”

You probably aren’t even aware that you’re ambivalent. But whether you’re aware of it or not, it’s sabotaging your efforts to be in a relationship.

If you’re not wholeheartedly committed to love, if finding love is not your top priority, you may be talking as if you want love, but holding back on your follow through.

Learning this changed my life.

Officially I was “looking” for someone. But I kept getting involved with the “wrong” men. Of course, they were men I met in singles bar or men who were scared of commitment.

Most of us aren’t sure. If this describes you, what do you do? How do you get off the fence?

The only thing you can do is start acting “as if.”

One side of the fence is being single. You may want to stay on that side of the fence for now; that’s fine.

Then start acting as if you really enjoy the single life style. Throw

yourself wholeheartedly into being single. Be glad you don’t have the complications of another person to deal with.

When we’re single, we wait for that special person to come along to buy nice furniture or fix up our place or go on our dream trip. Instead, act is if you really enjoy being single, buy nice furniture, go on that trip.

Appreciate your time alone.

On the other side of the fence is being in a relationship. You have to give up many things to be in a relationship. You have to compromise on so many things.

If you really want to be on the relationship side of the fence, you will need to act as if this is your priority. You will need to be determined to reach this goal; to persevere in working towards this goal. Proceed steadily towards your goal and overcome the obstacles that will be in your way.

I have a lot of suggestions for you on ideas of how to do this. I’ll share them next in the next issue.

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.

HAPPY

BABIES BORN IN ONEIDA

oneidahealth.org

January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 7

Rural Hospitals’ ERs Just as Effective as Urban Ones: Study

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f you live the country life, new research brings a reassuring finding: Your chances of surviving a heart attack, stroke or other potentially life-threatening medical emergency at a rural emergency department are

similar to odds at a city ER in the United States.

Researchers analyzed more than 470,000 outcomes among Medicare beneficiaries treated at rural and urban ERs between 2011 and 2015.

Overall 30-day death rates were 3.9% in rural ERs and 4.1% in urban ERs, according to the study. However, patients with symptoms that did not result in a specific diagnosis had higher death rates at rural ERs than urban ERs. The researchers also found that patients in rural ERs were much more likely to be transferred than those in urban ERs, 6.2% versus 2%.

“The rural emergency department system functions well for discrete conditions that can be quickly diagnosed and approached for treatment and, if necessary, transferred,” said senior study author, physician Keith Kocher, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Michigan Medicine-University of Michigan.

“We initially expected to see a more significant difference in mortality, as rates for inpatients are often higher at rural hospitals. However, the findings indicate these critical points of access for care are doing well for the patients they serve, even though they are frequently not resourced like peer institutions in

metropolitan areas,” Kocher said in a university news release.

“Arranging timely transfer of patients from a rural hospital can often be very challenging and has been made even more difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” added study lead author, physician Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen. She’s a graduate of Michigan’s National Clinician Scholars Program at the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

“These findings further highlight how impressive it is that we found rural hospitals produced the same outcomes despite these challenges,” she said in the release.

The study was published Nov. 19 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

The researchers noted that more than 100 rural U.S. hospitals have closed since 2010, depriving their communities of emergency care.

“This work demonstrates the critical importance of rural emergency departments,” Kocher said, stressing that policymakers should focus on ensuring access to these ERs.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Vaccine Saga Continues: 90-95% Compliance from Healthcare Workers

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YS has already mandated all NYS healthcare workers must be vaccinated by early this past December 2021.

While many workers chose to quit rather than get the vaccine, most NYS healthcare facilities and physician offices report compliance rates in the 90% to 95% range.

Not all states issued a vaccine mandate. So, the federal government issued its own mandate ordering all healthcare workers in all states to be vaccinated by Jan. 4. Rather than comply, 14 states chose to sue. In December, a federal court in Louisiana granted them a temporary hold on the federal mandate. As the delta variant once again surges and the

omicron variant begins to spread, more and more people are getting vaccinated. Ninety-nine percent of patients who end up hospitalized, and possibly in the ICU on vents, are unvaccinated. Consequently, 99% of deaths are among the unvaccinated. Meanwhile, surveys of non-healthcare employers reveal 60% have mandates or are about to implement one. The major healthcare organizations, (AHA, AMA, ANA, etc.) remain fully supportive of vaccine mandates to protect both their members and their patients.

The administration is going to require health insurers to fully cover COVID-19 testing at your physician’s office and at home.

Women as Health System CEOs

supply costs and a workforce that is overworked, overwhelmed, underappreciated and demoralized.

To make matters worse, in the middle of the war, Medicare was about to impose salt- in- the- woundthanks- for- your- service cuts to their reimbursement effective Jan. 1. This is tantamount to cutting a soldiers pay and supplies in the middle of a war. The overall cut would be 10% while medical inflation is currently running around 10%. So it’s a 20% slash.

Physicians were to be cut 4% and clinical labs, performing all kinds of pandemic-related testing in addition to routine testing would be cut 23%.

Hospitals and nursing facilities were to be chopped as well. And to top it all off, the cuts come at a time when physician visits and hospital procedure declined. Granted, most of the cuts were planned pre-pandemic. But why did it take a last ditch effort by Congress to postpone (not cancel) the cuts? Didn’t anyone see this coming?

The very least we can do to support our “troops” and win the war is to get vaccinated and be patient

Forty percent of practicing physicians are women. This has been steadily increasing over the past two decades as there are now more females (52%) than males in medical school. Ninety percent of nurses are women. But according to a survey of more than 250 healthcare systems and national insurers, reported in the AMA Journal, in an industry dominated by women, only 15% of respondents had a female CEO. Female representation was slightly better in other senior suite positions like COO, CFO, etc. Maybe as a consequence, only 25% of the respondents had a female chair of the board. By comparison, various surveys of top US corporations reveal only 5% to 10% are headed by a woman.

Really Bad Timing Hospitals, nursing facilities, clinics and physician offices are the veritable front lines in the pandemic war. They are saddled with labor shortages, skyrocketing labor and

and appreciative when we seek care.

Sadly, the cuts to reimbursement was passed by Congress.

Death Rate Increased The overall death rate in the US increased 17% from 2019 to 2020. NYS ranked No. 1 with a 29% increase. Much of the national overall rate is due to preventable COVID-19 and overdose-related deaths. COVID-19 disproportionately impacted minorities, including American Indians, Blacks, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders. COVID-19 was the No. 3 leading cause of death.

Again, most of those deaths were preventable. Out of the 38 countries studied, the US ranked low (No. 33 for infant mortality) in most metrics.

Once again the US claimed No. 1 for most spending per capita. In sort of good news, the number of us with three or more chronic conditions decreased and the per capita spending on public health was up 33% to $116 per capita. Unfortunately, most of the public health spending increase was to put out fires like COVID-19.

Opioid Epidemic Overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 100,000 people died of a drug overdose the year between March 2020 and April 2021, and 75% of all drug overdoses were caused by opioids.

Drug overdoses killed more of us than car crashes and guns combined. Fentanyl-laced opioid pills (more kick) helped fuel the continuing epidemic. COVID-19 exacerbates the situation by causing relapses in addicts suffering from anxiety, depression and isolation. More must be done to battle this ongoing epidemic which impacts mostly rural teens and young adults. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses. We need to expand the supply of, access to and affordability of Naloxone. Use telemedicine to reach isolated and rural areas where the epidemic is at its worst.

MAT (medically assisted treatment),

Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

which combines medication management and counseling, works well virtually.

To get a dramatic glimpse into the opioid problem, I suggest watching “Dopesick” starring Michael Keaton on Hulu. It focuses on the notorious Sackler family which developed and marketed OxyContin via their company, Purdue Pharma.

Having been sued by dozens of state attorneys general, the Sacklers agreed to a one-time settlement of $4.5 billion to be released over nine years. The average victim would be compensated between $3,500 and $48,000 which seems paltry. The Sackers never admitted guilt nor expressed remorse. All future profits from Purdue Pharma will be diverted to addiction centers. The Sacklers remain one of the wealthiest families in the world.

ACA Enrollment Open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act programs began Nov. 1, 2020, for new participants. As of early December, 4.6 million people had enrolled though either federal or state exchanges. Ninety-five percent of the new enrollees are eligible for tax credits which subsidize their monthly premiums. These enrollees are just above the poverty line and make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Consequently, they can purchase commercial insurance online at a graduated discount based on income. The ACA now covers 32 million people, or one in ten citizens.

George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

‘Long Haulers’: Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 People can experience problems four or more weeks after first being infected

By Barbara Pierce

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lthough most people with COVID-19 get better within weeks of the illness, some people experience post-COVID-19 conditions, known as long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID-19.

This is a wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus.

Even people who did not have COVID-19 symptoms when they were infected can have postCOVID-19 conditions; the likelihood of developing ongoing symptoms is not related to the severity of the initial illness. Even those who were fully vaccinated and got a break through infection can suffer from post-COVID-19 conditions.

CDC and experts around the world are working to learn more about short- and long-term health effects associated with COVID-19, who gets them and why.

“Starting last fall, in 2020, I began seeing many patients who had had COVID-19 six to seven months before and still had fatigue, headache, loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath and brain fog,” said physician Richard Chmielewski, head of the Falcon Clinic for Health, Wellness and Recovery in New Hartford.

“So many people come crying to me, asking: ‘Can you do anything for me?’” he added. “They say, ‘I have a headache and neck pain, I’ve lost my smell and taste and I’m so tired all the time.’ They’re really suffering.”

The COVID-19 virus causes an array of symptoms that are different for each person. For some, these symptoms are so severe that they are unable to return to their job or usual activities.

In addition to those mentioned above, other symptoms include depression, difficulty thinking and concentrating, muscle aches, fast beating heart, shortness of breath, cough and chest pain, explained Chmielewski.

“A study in China found that, six months after having COVID-19, half of the patients had at least one signif-

Physician Richard Chmielewski, head of the Falcon Clinic for Health, Wellness and Recovery in New Hartford. “A study in China found that, six months after having COVID-19, half of the patients had at least one significant symptom,” he says. icant symptom,” he added.

Penn State College of Medicine researchers found the same result: more than half of the millions of people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will experience post-COVID-19 symptoms up to six months after recovering, they report online.

“I’ve been treating this and I’m getting good results,” said Chmielewski, who has been tracking data on the patients he sees with post-COVID-19 symptoms. “I’m excited about it!”

Patients are coming from Syracuse, Albany even Rochester. “I’m seeing a lot of suffering,” he added.

“People who have gone to their local emergency room or health care professional and got sent home without any help.”

“I aim to reverse the symptoms in four to five treatments,” he added.

“The prognosis is quite good. After four to five treatments, patients’ symptoms are going from 10 to a two

or a three. ‘You’re giving us hope,’ they say.”

“For example, one fellow was so angry. His doctor wouldn’t listen to him when he complained he was tired and depressed all the time. His doctor sent him to a psychiatrist who put him on antidepressant medication. ‘Of course, I’m depressed!’ he said. ‘I can’t function and I hurt all the time!’ After the four treatments, I’ve given him, he’s better. He’s getting his humor back and is less angry.”

“It affects people of all ages,” he continued. “I saw a 12-year-old who had been coughing and had a mild fever since he had COVID-19. His pediatrician gave him an inhaler which didn’t work. He just needed one treatment. After the one, his mother reported he wasn’t coughing at all.

Younger kids heal quickly.”

The treatment Chmielewski offers is called “virus infection protocol,” a holistic, osteopathic medical approach, based on things learned during the 1918 flu epidemic.

“It takes seven to eight minutes, that’s it,” he said. “People come every seven to 10 days, just four or five times.”

You can see a demonstration of the treatment at http://falconclinic. com The osteopathic paradigm is not what people are interested in, he added. Traditional medicine gives you something from the outside, a shot or a pill. Osteopathy is used alongside traditional medicine to improve health.

The osteopathic part of it has to come from inside. For example, when you bring an antibiotic and a bacterial infection together, it makes your immune system work to gobble up the bacterial. But if you don’t have a healthy immune system, if your white blood count is low, you can’t treat the infection until you get the while blood cell count up.

In osteopathy, we summon up the body’s own ability to compensate or heal itself, he explained.

Osteopathic physicians are also medical doctors, MDs who specialize in osteopathy, which focuses on the health of the whole body, not just the injured or affected part.

If you have long-haul symptoms, be proactive; seek treatment early on, Chmielewski urged.

“The earlier you get something taken care of, the better the results,” he said. ”We can turn the symptoms around.”

Singer Selena Gomez to Launch Mental Health Platform

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new mental health media platform meant to connect people with educational resources and reduce the stigma around mental illness is planned by pop star Selena Gomez and her partners.

Wondermind is set to launch in February 2022 and will include mental health experts sharing their expertise, and daily exercises that people can do to strengthen their mental health.

For the project, Gomez is teaming with her mother, Mandy Teefey, and The Newsette founder and CEO Daniella Pierson.

Gomez announced in April that she has bipolar disorder.

“I went to one of the best mental hospitals in America, McLean Hospital, and I discussed that after years of going through a lot of different things, I realized that I was bipolar,” Gomez said on Miley Cyrus’ Instagram show “Bright Minded” in April, CNN reported.

“And so when I got to know more information, it actually helps me. It doesn’t scare me once I know it,” she added.

In the Wondermind website’s welcome video — www. wondermind.com — Teefey revealed that she was misdiagnosed for over 20 years with bipolar disorder that later turned out to be attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with trauma, CNN reported.

“I’m so excited about Wondermind, because I want there to be a place of people coming together and understanding that they’re not alone,” Gomez said in the video.

Aside from Wondermind, Gomez’s cosmetics company, Rare Beauty, launched the Rare Impact Fund in July 2020. The goal: to raise $100 million over 10 years to fund mental health education.

“With the Rare Impact Fund, we want to reduce the stigma associated with mental health, address the epidemic of chronic loneliness, and help give people access to the resources and services they need to support their mental well-being,” Gomez told CNN.

January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9

12 Popular Diets for 2022 Here are the facts about several options

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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osing weight represents a top New Year’s resolution. Considering the obesity epidemic, it is a good idea. Many people turn to a popular eating plan or “diet” to shed pounds.

The following are some of the plans popular in 2022:

1 5:2 Diet / Intermittent Fasting • How it works: With 5:2, you eat as normal five days a week and restrict yourself to 500-600 calories on the two other days. With standard intermittent fasting, you eat only during an eight-hour window every day.

• Why it works: You are not restricted on what you eat, which helps you feel satisfied and not deprived. The calorie depravation days will result in overall calorie reduction. Most people think this is easier to stick with longterm.

• Caveats: You are not restricted on what you eat, which means you can eat a lot of unhealthful foods. You

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may also really overdo it when you do eat.

2 Sirtfood Diet • How it works: Initially, you drink a lot of green juice smoothies. Then, you eat primarily foods that contain sirtuin proteins, such as kale, parsley, red wine, onions, strawberries, soy, matcha tea, salmon and mackerel.

• Why it works: The initial phase restricts calories, and the second phase includes foods many people enjoy.

• Caveats: It can be hard to stick with the smoothie phase and with the second phase, it can be challenging to eliminate many favorite foods. You also need nutrients from foods not on the list.

3 The Mayr Diet • How it works: You reduce high acidity foods and mindfully consume high-alkaline foods like vegetables and fish.

• Why it works: You are not eating as many calories by boosting the intake of low-calorie foods.

• Caveats: It is difficult to sustain longterm as it eliminates entire food groups. You can also miss nutrients found in certain foods.

4 The New Keto • How it works: You eat as minimal sugar and carbohydrates as possible and eat moderate amounts of healthful fat and high levels of protein. (The standard keto diet limited protein to 20%).

• Why it works: Minimizing consumption of sugar and carbohydrates will reduce caloric intake and force the body to burn stored calories (fat).

• Caveats: It demonizes good sources of nutrients and can be hard to commit to long term.

packages of ingredients to prepare as your meals or completely prepared meals.

• Why it works: You have the convenience of home-cooked meals without the time commitment. Restaurant food can be high in fat and calories.

If you fix it yourself, you may save calories. The portions of meal kits or ready-to-eat meals may be lower than at restaurants as well.

• Caveats: Unless you select a company with dietary considerations built in, you may not save as many calories as you think. This is also expensive and could be repetitive (most companies have a limited number of entrees and may not vary them often), which can make it hard to stick with.

6 Noom

5 Meal Kits/Ready-to-Eat Meals

• How it works: The app tracks your calories and helps you learn whether they are helping you lose weight or

• How it works: A company ships you

(continued on next page)

So, What a Local Expert Says About Popular Dieting?

aurel Sterling, registered dietitian and educator with Carlson Labs in Canastota, is not a fan of super low-calorie eating plans that cause rapid weight loss.

“Research says losing it very quickly typically with just a dietary plan and not backing it with physical activity is not sustainable,” she said. “People typically gain it back after a year or two. Taking it slow and steady and making small, consistent changes works, unless it is someone who needs something that will shake them up.”

Any drastic change to an eating plan, such as severe calorie restriction, would require medical supervision and for a life-threatening level of obesity. For most people, improving their eating and integrating more physical activity is all that is necessary.

Sterling thinks that intermittent fasting shows promise.

“They’ve seen benefits with immunity, cognition and longevi-

ty,” she said.

While she recalls when the “rule” to eat small meals throughout the day was important, additional research is showing that intermittent fasting can lead to weight loss for some people.

An oldie but a goodie, she also likes WW (Weight Watchers), as it was developed by dietitians and has been tweaked and improved in the recent past.

“It’s about eating good food,” she said. “It gets people away from the fast food and eating more aware at home, prepping stuff themselves.”

She has also heard similar things about Noom. Like WW, Noom builds in accountability and the mental health aspects of weight loss.

She believes that paleo, keto and other low-carb eating plans are a bit extreme and she would adjust them to include sufficient nutrients.

“I’ve seen in clients when

they’ve done this to an extreme that they had irregular bowels, developed kidney stones and hair loss,” Sterling said. “You can do these safely as they have a certain percentage of fat allowed.”

Juicing aallows high amounts of fruits, but calories are still low so participants lose weight.

“They are filling. I’ve done a juice fast for a week. It’s not sustainable because people miss eating. Eating is a social thing. We have to acknowledge that. It’s so social with family, functions and parties and events, Sterling said.

“If you can’t allow yourself to have something to eat, you’ll feel deprived. It can have tons of natural sugars, which can be an issue [can lack fiber]. Some higher end juicers allow more pulp to go through.”

Instead of huge changes all at once, it is more healthful to make “slow, small, consistent changes, things that you wouldn’t see as hard to maintain and do it for

Page 10 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

life, “Sterling added. “Those wide swings are where people will gain weight back. When they gain it back, it’s typically more than what they were to begin with.”

She advises against adopting eating plans that nix entire food groups or require eating only one food group. Sterling believes that while focusing on healthful foods, any food eaten in moderation can belong in a healthful eating plan.

“I always come back to being sensible about it and individualized to you,” she said. “If you like a little bit of this plan and that plan, work with it and be consistent.”

Indulging in non-food rewards for meeting goals can also help build in motivation, such as a new outfit for sticking with the plan for three months.

Popular Diets

(continued from previous page) not.

• Why it works: It also offers the support of coaches for accountability, along with facing the cold, hard nutrition facts. People who like technology can find this very convenient. Noom can help you learn about food, which can result in lasting changes.

• Caveats: You can fudge about your consumption of fudge and other foods. No one will ever know. Also, it can seem a hassle for people who do not like using technology.

7 Pescatarian Diet

10 DASH Diet

8 Mediterranean Diet • How it works: You eat healthful fats and, about twice a week, fish, along with beans, produce, whole grains and, in moderation, cheese and red meat.

• Why it works: Reducing your caloric intake will result in weight loss.

It also offers some benefits by nixing simple carbohydrates. The food is delicious and easy to stick with for weight loss.

• Caveats: Eliminating food groups is tough. This can make it hard to stick with for life.

9 Paleo Diet

• How it works: You eat mostly produce, along with seafood. Its focus is on whole, natural foods, eschewing processed foods. Grilling is an important part of food preparation.

• Why it works: By reducing calories, you will lose weight. Whole foods are also healthful source of nutrients.

• Caveats: Cooking with so few ingredients and methods of preparation is tough. It can take considerable time ensuring you are obtaining all the nutrients you need from such a limited number of foods.

• How it works: You eat only food that would have been available in the wild to people: nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and lean cuts of meat.

• Why it works: By cutting out processed foods, you cut lots of calories.

Many of the foods are tasty and appealing.

• Caveats: Entire food groups like dairy, grains, beans and legumes are eliminated, making it hard to stick with long-term. These food groups offer nutrients you miss.

• How it works: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet was meant to help people reduce their blood pressure by reducing sodium intake. You eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or nonfat dairy products, while limiting saturated fat and dietary cholesterol.

• Why it works: Eliminating processed and fatty foods helps reduce calorie intake. You would also feel better by lowering the body’s inflammatory response. This can make it easier to stick with.

• Caveats: You should still be mindful of calories even while eating very healthful foods. Some people may feel deprived not eating treats occasionally.

11 Volumetrics Diet • How it works: You focus on foods that offer the most nutrition for the least among of calories by dividing foods into four categories, from least to most energy dense and then eat more of the lower-density foods as you can.

• Why it works: Filling up on low-cal-

orie foods will reduce overall caloric intake. The plan will also help you stay satisfied as you eat the most nutritious foods most of the time, yet occasionally can have treats.

• Caveats: It can be difficult to determine what is low-calorie and higher calorie for some people, so Volumetrics does present a learning curve. It also requires constant scrutiny to stick with it.

12 W.W. (formerly Weight Watchers) • How it works: With this still-popular classic, you follow a program that assigns points based upon calories and nutrition.

• Why it works: By keeping the calorie count low, you lose weight. It can be easy to stick with as you can eat as much as you like of zero-point foods.

You can sign up for a point tracking app and get access to meetings. The accountability makes a big difference.

• Caveats: WW can be tricky to learn.

Members with budgetary constraints may find it expensive to maintain at more than $500 per year to join (although WW offers some free information online). Plus, to keep weight off, they will have to learn how assess foods.

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Our Body’s Most Important Nutrient? Water!

Every January, like so many, I make a nutritional resolution: Consume more calcium! Eat more whole grains! Up my protein intake!

This year’s resolution? Drink more water! The deluge of benefits from this nutrient, some new to me, are simply too important to ignore.

Water’s obvious benefits — prevents dehydration, produces sweat to regulate body temperature, flushes out waste, promotes regularity — are well known. What may come as a surprise are all the other important benefits that warrant their day in the blistering sun, too.

Referred to as the “WD-40” for joints and bones, water helps lubricate, cushion and protect your joints, spinal cord and tissues. Since it hydrates the padding between your joints, its consumption makes it easier to move around and may lessen discomfort caused by conditions like arthritis.

Proper hydration is the key to keeping your brain sharp and your mood bright. Research confirms that not getting enough water can negatively affect focus, alertness, shortterm memory and mood. Moreover, you don’t even need to be seriously dehydrated for this to happen: less than four cups of water daily in a 150-pound person. Got a long drive ahead of you? An important test? A long-awaited family reunion? Drink up!

When it comes to digestion and

Helpful tips According to many experts, most generally healthy people need about eight cups of water a day; but even a healthy person’s needs vary if water is lost through exercise or by being outside in the heat. All beverages containing water contribute to your daily needs, including caffeinated beverages or those containing alcohol. While both do make you urinate more, the water from these beverages still

getting the most out of your meals, water is your best friend. Drinking water before, during and after a meal helps your body break down the food you eat more easily. Water also helps with nutrient absorption by dissolving vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from your food and then delivering those health-bombs to the rest of your body for use.

Finally, water is a main component of saliva, which is where digestion begins.

Why do hearts, kidneys and skin love water? Your ticker swoons when you drink enough water because it doesn’t have to work as hard. Skimping on water, which leads to less blood in your body, can lower your

makes a positive contribution to total fluid consumption. To drink more water throughout the day: Fill a large water bottle to the top and make a dent every time you walk by; drink a glass of water before every meal and after every bathroom break; keep water in your car and drink up at stoplights. And know that you also get fluids from water-rich foods, such as fruit and vegetables.

blood pressure and raise your heart rate. Kidneys count on this all-important nutrient because it helps them filter waste more efficiently, as well as prevent kidney stones and urinary tract infections. And skin shines, literally, with adequate water intake. Even mild dehydration can cause skin to lose its luster, plumpness and elasticity.

Last but certainly not least, water could help you lose weight. It’s 100% calorie-free; it can help you burn more calories (the colder, the better); it takes up space in your stomach so you feel more full; and it may even suppress your appetite if consumed before meals.

Strawberry, Kiwi, and Lime Infused Water 5 cups sparkling or regular water 1 cup ice cubes 1 kiwi, peeled and cut into slices ½-1 cup sliced strawberries 1 lime, sliced Pour water into a pitcher. Add ice, kiwi, and strawberries. Squeeze lime slices to release some of their juice into the water before adding them in. Stir to combine flavors. Refrigerate. Infused water tastes best on the day it is made.

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.

January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11

Winter Weather: Help Your Body Adjust, Manage, Thrive There is much to do, even in colder weather

By Barbara Pierce

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inter isn’t just a shock to nature. Our minds and bodies also need to transition to the colder weather, snowstorms and shorter days. January and February are the heaviest months for snow.

Winter temperatures average below freezing during January and February. The sunny days and budding flowers of spring seem like a distant dream.

This takes a toll on our minds and bodies. It’s common to experience a variety of side effects, from winter blues and trouble sleeping to achy muscles and joints and rough, dry skin. Of course, winter is always a hotbed for cold and flu viruses.

And, the coronavirus that just won’t go away.

Unlike animals that grow thicker fur and hibernate during winter, we must continue to work and handle our regular responsibilities.

The good news? There are simple ways you can help your body adjust, manage, even thrive, despite the freezing weather and snow.

Heidi Baldwin, holistic health coach, and physician Heidi Puc, founder of Integrative Medicine of Central New York in Chittenango, offer some tips to boost your immune system and stay healthy through these winter months.

• Eat healthy: Boost your immune system by eating a balanced, healthy diet to help your body fight off illness. “Eat wholesome foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables daily,” said Baldwin.

“Minimize or eliminate sugar and processed foods,” Baldwin added. Your body might crave refined sugar and processed carbs, but binge eating will cause weight gain, blood pressure imbalances, energy crashes, and digestive upset.

Baldwin recommends eating warm or cooked foods during the colder months. “Baked apples with cinnamon are a nice way to get daily fruit, and the cinnamon helps with blood sugar control and inflamma-

Heidi Baldwin is the practice manager at Integrative Medicine of Central New York in Chittenango. She is an internally board-certified integrative nutrition holistic health coach. tion,” she said. “Also, as well, Asian mushrooms and spices/herbs such as turmeric, garlic, onion, paprika and oregano.”

Spices and herbs contribute to our health just as much as fruits and vegetables, providing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

“Take immune boosting supplements such as vitamins C, D, B complex, zinc, and selenium,” said Baldwin. They support your immune system.

“Getting these nutrients in food is also important,” she explained.

They can be found in citrus (oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruits), vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and garlic, leafy greens like spinach or kale, and poultry and shellfish.

There are a lot of vitamins your body needs to function properly and to keep your immune system strong.

Winter is a terrible time for catching and spreading viruses, with people being indoors most of the time. The best way to resist illness is to ensure that your immune system has the support it needs to stay strong and fight off germs.

• Get plenty of sleep: Baldwin recommends. Adults need roughly

Safe Winter Driving Tips

About 46% of auto crashes involving bad weather happen in the winter

By Ken Sturtz

seven to nine hours of sleep each night. This varies from person to person, but if you regularly get less than seven hours of sleep per night, this may weaken your immune system, because sleep deprivation keeps the immune system from building up protective substances like antibodies.

“Be sure to eliminate blue light exposure before bed,” added Baldwin. To encourage a restful sleep, unplug from electronic devices early in the evening, and take the time to relax and unwind as much as possible to encourage the required hours of sleep each night. Baldwin also recommends unplugging your Wi-Fi at night for a more restful sleep.

• Stay active: “Exercise and get outside,” recommended Baldwin.

“Regular daily exercise is important for staying healthy year-round, but especially during the winter months when we naturally move our bodies less than in the warmer months.”

Moderate exercise is an excellent way to support your immune system.

“Getting outside in the fresh air is equally important, so getting outside to enjoy activities like hiking, snow shoeing or skiing are good options,” she added.

Or, go outside for a walk or run.

W

hen motorists head out on the roads during winter it’s important to be extra careful. After all, approximately 46% of crashes involving bad weather take place during winter, according to AAA of Western and Central New York.

With that in mind follow these tips from AAA to make sure you get where you’re going safely.

• Stay inside. If there’s inclement weather and you don’t absolutely have to venture out on the roads, consider staying put. Even if you follow best practices for safe driving, that doesn’t mean everyone else on the road will.

• Slow down. It may seem obvious, but many winter drivers make the mistake of assuming that their vehicle will handle the same on snow or ice as it does on dry pavement.

Reduce your speed and apply the gas slowly to avoid spinning your tires or skidding.

• Increase your following distance.

On a normal day you should maintain a following distance of 3-4 seconds. In bad winter weather, however, you want to increase that

Page 12 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

Doing something active outdoors will keep your blood pumping and encourage warmth. Embrace the winter weather instead of locking yourself inside. Get outside in the fresh snow to make snow angels and snowmen with your children or go on a hike to explore the winter wonderland with family or friends. By exercising with friends, you’re more likely to stick to it.

By exercising regularly, you’ll greatly improve your mood and energy and prevent or reduce your winter-associated blues. Exercising regularly also strengthens your immune system. It may be difficult to stick to regular exercise in winter, but the benefits are too great to ignore.

Be sure you bundle up to be outside for a few hours. Frostbite can occur within minutes in extremely cold temperatures and no one enjoys being outside when they’re shivering the whole time.

“Use daily meditation or other forms of relaxation to boost natural killer cells,” suggested Baldwin.

Humor also boosts natural killer cell activity. Enjoy spending time with funny people! Enjoying activities that you have a passion for can also strengthen your immune system. following distance to 8-10 seconds.

That leaves you a longer distance to stop.

• Avoid braking and turning at the same time as it can cause your vehicle to lose traction and skid out of control.

Brake first and then turn if necessary.

The preferred way to stop is by using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake.

• When road conditions are poor, don’t use cruise control. It can reduce traction and prevent you from feeling if your tires are slipping.

• Don’t stop going up a hill. It can be difficult to drive up hills when it’s snowy or icy, so try to get a little inertia going before the hill to help carry you to the top. Once you reach the top, reduce your speed and go downhill slowly, but avoid slamming on the brakes.

• If you get stuck, try clearing a path several feet long in front of your wheels by driving forward and backward or by shoveling. Point your wheels straight and gently press the gas to avoid spinning the tires. Spinning the tires generally just digs the vehicle deeper into the snow or ice.

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A: Predominantly we serve those who are 18 years of age and older. So, for the most part our services are for adults. However, our clothing program as well as our meal program is for adults as well as for children.

Q: Where does the Utica Rescue Mission receive its funding to keep the doors open and the lights on?

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Left Winter enthusiasts ice skating at New Hartford Recreation Center Ice Skating Rink.

Above Jacqui Scibior, a figure skating coach for the Clinton Figure Skating Club. “It’s easier for kids because they’re not afraid of falling,” Scibior says.

Reasons Why You Should Give Ice Skating a Try It’s a good workout and it’s safe and easy to learn

By Daniel Baldwin

F

igure skating is becoming less popular.

Hockey, on the other hand, is gaining popularity.

While the popularity of these two winter sports increased and decreased, public skating has maintained its popularity, according Jacqui Scibior, a figure skating coach for the Clinton Figure Skating Club.

The number of people, who have no interest in becoming hockey players or figure skaters, but still want to skate for fun or stay in shape during the winter, has neither increased or decreased throughout the years.

“I’ve been skating since I was really little and there used to be twice as many people,” Scibior said.

“Public skating still appears to be popular at the local rinks. The cost of ice time has become more expensive, but most rinks appear to have decent crowds for their public skating sessions.”

Many who never ice skated before, might not try it for fear of falling. They might think that it’s difficult to learn. But it’s actually easy to learn and be good at, Scibior said.

“It’s easier for kids because they’re not afraid of falling,” Scibior said. “Adults tend to be more reserved and hold back a little. Many adults are often afraid to try to learn skating due to the fear of falling or getting hurt. There is a lot of protective gear now that adults can wear to avoid injury if they do fall. Also, it’s never too late to learn skating. ” Skating is a bit of a mental challenge, according to John Randall, rink manager at the New Hartford Recreation Center Ice Skating Rink. A first-time skater must have the mental toughness and be willing to stand back up and glide again after taking a fall. Randall said it’s a guarantee that a person who skates on the ice, whether it is their first or 20th time, is going to fall and get bruises, but if that person falls constantly and gets more and more frustrated or unhap-

py, then it would be best for him or her to find a new hobby. If a person remains calm, has patience, keeps on skating, keeps practicing, then they will be better at it and fall less.

“Whether you fall and hit your elbow and knee, you’ve got to be willing to get up and do it again,” Randall said. “It can become very frustrating if you don’t want to put the time into learning. If you don’t get frustrated, you can learn how to do it. If falling becomes frustrating, I think most people would move onto something different.”

Along with the mental toughness, a person must also stay balanced while on the ice.

“If you can’t balance, you can’t skate,” Randall said.

Once they remain balanced, become mentally stable and also put on skates that fit properly, they will be able to glide and stay up on the ice.

“A lot of it is just having a pair of skates that fit you properly,” Scibior said. “Typically after a few times on the ice, most people can skate around the rink without having to hold onto the boards or something else.”

Those who try ice skating, will get a good workout from it, without the hassle of lifting weights at the gym or jogging in the summer heat.

According to Iceskatingpassion. com, ice skating builds up leg and abdominal muscles. Ice Skating Passion also states that skating increases cardio health and endurance. Skating even improves joint flexibility, strengthens the ligaments and connective tissues around the joints and improves a person’s balance.

“Skating in general is one of those sports that require the use of a lot of different muscle groups,” Scibior said. “It requires coordination, balance and the use of the leg muscles. What a lot of people don’t realize is that you’re using your core and your arms to help keep you balance while you’re going around the ice. Usually people are enjoying their

time and they don’t realize they’re using all of these different muscle groups.”

While skating does more fat burning and leg muscle building, it also does less harm to the body. In regards to wear and tear on the body, there is less of that when gliding on the ice. Randall said there is far less moving and pounding on the feet when skating, as opposed to running where the feet are constantly hitting the ground. Plus, there is less chance of getting injured while on the ice.

“There’s no pounding on the pavement if you’re a runner,” Randall said. “Once you get the legs moving, the blades take care of the rest of it. It’s much easier on your body, especially when you get older.

Once your knees start to break down, becomes a lot more difficult because of the pounding that your body is taking. Hockey is a different animal as far as pounding, but just to come out here and skate, the blades are doing most of the work. I think it’s good cardio with limited chance of any injury when you’re coming out here to get exercise.”

For those who want an intense skating workout or want to become figure skaters, that could be difficult to achieve, according to Scibior.

“If people are interested and want more high intensity workout, skating is difficult to master; easy to learn, difficult to master. There’re a lot of jumps, spins and hard exercises involved,” Scibior said.

Those who’ve mastered the art of skating and/or have fallen less, will find this activity to be a far more relaxing and enjoyable experience than running outdoors or working out at the gym.

“When you go to the rink, it’s not like you have to know how to do anything or use anything,” Scibior said. “You can show up and do anything. If you’re there to socialize and use skating as an experience to stroke around with friends, you have the

Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

opportunity to do that. If you want to get a good fast workout in, you can do that. You’ll often hear people that enjoy skating refer to it as like having the feeling and freedom of flying because you can go really fast. That’s a feeling you can’t get in most other sports. Often if you’re having a bad day or stressed, it’s a good place to clear your mind.”

Randall said the sound inside most rinks is quiet. There is music playing on the speakers inside, but it’s not as loud as the constant clanking of weights or the loud thumping of music; sounds people normally hear at a gym.

“You go to a gym and music is pounding. There’s just a lot of noise going on. Where you come and skate, you can relax a little bit and think about different things. It’s just different than going to your gym to where there’s a lot more noise going on. It’s a relaxing atmosphere out there because we don’t get a lot of people. It’s just you and the ice,” Randall said.

The Mohawk Valley is a great place to skate. There are many ice skating rinks: New Hartford Recreation Center Ice Skating Rink in New Hartford, Clinton Arena in Clinton, Kennedy Arena in Rome, Whitestown Community Ice Rink in Whitesboro and Adirondack Bank Center/ Utica Aud. Despite working around a hockey and figure skating schedule, many local rinks host public skating sessions. The public skating hours at the New Hartford Rink are Sunday 3 to 4:30 p.m., Friday 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 6 to 7:30 p.m. Clinton Arena’s hours are, are Sunday 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday noon to 2 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Randall said he and his staff are doing whatever they can to give residents the chance to skate, fall less, become better at it, get a good workout and most importantly, have fun.

The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Reiki and the Healing Arts Reiki is a subtle form of energy therapy

R

eiki is a subtle form of energy therapy of Japanese lineage.

Developed by Mikao Usui in the early 1900s, the word reiki consists of two kanji (Japanese pictographs) Rei- meaning “universal” and ki meaning “life force energy.”

Together making reiki a universal life force energy used for healing the energetic body.

To experience the healing energy of reiki, the practitioner will place their hands in a series of standard positions on a client who is relaxing on a massage table or chair. Energy will travel through the client’s body where the client may feel warmth, energy waves, a tingling sensation or simply relaxation. The session, usually lasting an hour, will break apart and evenly release stagnant or blocked energy in the body. The energetic body (aura) is connected to the physical body allowing reiki to be helpful in a variety of physiological imbalances, calming the mind and emotions.

Levels of reiki consist of reiki 1, reiki 2 and master level. Reiki 1 is based on an understanding that all conditions of imbalance are rooted in the human energy field which when addressed will create wellness and one’s own ability to heal yourself, others and animals. Many healthcare

facilities will incorporate reiki in a client’s care to help manage stress and soothe and bring comfort.

Reiki 2 strengthens one’s reiki skills, incorporating long distance healing and learning the ancient symbols and protocols.

Master level creates a deeper experience to help heal and transform the ability to promote balance on all levels.

The chakra system was not traditionally used by reiki practitioners for healing. The chakra system is from ancient wisdom originating in India. Chakras coordinate with the endocrine system and help to restore homeostasis.

The crown chakra is associated with the pineal gland (white), and connects our soul’s purpose and higher self. The third eye is associated with the pituitary (indigo), connecting to our vision and intuition. The throat chakra is associated with thyroid (blue), placing communication in relationships as of utmost importance. The heart chakra is associated with the thymus (green) is the connection to giving and receiving of love. The solar plexus chakra is associated with the adrenals (yellow), representing one’s personal power.

The sacral chakra is associated with the gonads (orange), corresponds

with relationships, passion and sex.

The root chakra is associated with the gonads (red) and connects safety, trust and home.

Incorporating the chakra system with reiki can assist in collective healing.

Crystals and therapeutic grade essential oils can also be used by the practitioner. Some examples: 1. Rose quartz is thought of as the love stone for use with self-love, compassion and joy, adding essential oils of ylang ylang and rose. 2. Amethyst for balance, calm and protection, adding lavender and grounding essential oils. 3. Clear quartz is the “master healer” which amplifies energy, adding essential oils of frankincense and highest potential. 4. Citrine is thought of as the “happy stone” producing optimism, abundance and confidence, adding essential oils of abundance and citrus fresh.

Emotional freedom technique is a tapping pressure on certain body points while thinking about what is bothering you, either physically or emotionally. EFT can be helpful in decreasing anxiety and stress. The tapping technique sequence, using two (index and middle) or four (often used on wider areas such as the top of the head, collarbone, and under the arm) finger tips. Determine the problem you want to focus on and what level of intensity you are experiencing (1 – 10 with 10 being the highest). A common statement to recognize regarding the problem you are experiencing can be: “Even

though I feel _____, I deeply and completely accept myself and these feelings.” Repeat your statement three times while performing the tapping on the karate chop point. Move the tapping to the following meridian points (starting at the eyebrow, side of the eye near the temple, under the eye, under the nose, between the chin and the lip, the collarbone, under the arm, top of the head) repeating your statement five to seven times with each point. Tapping can occur using one or two hands and placed on either side of the body.

Remember to breathe deeply throughout the sequencing. After the sequence is finished, check in with yourself to see how you feel. Repeat this as many times as needed.

Incorporating reiki, chakra, crystals, therapeutic grade essential oils, and EFT sessions, the client will experience peace and calm and healing.

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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January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15

Some of the Benefits of Yoga

improves strength, 1 Yoga balance and flexibility.

➜ Try it: Tree Pose Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle.

Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute.

Yoga and Wellness Studios Abound Central New York Region is rich with yogis and yoga centers

By Megan Plete Postol

Y

oga is a healthy practice that has been used for generations.

The Central New York community is rich with yogis, yoga centers and the practice of regular yoga has numerous health benefits.

No Mud No Lotus Holistic Wellness 8388 Elmer Hill Road, Rome 315-723-9813

No Mud No Lotus Holistic Wellness Center and Yoga Studio is the labor of love and healing of owner Sandy Quattrociocchi.

Her business features offerings that support mind, body and soul.

These include yoga, fitness classes, reiki and other healing energy sessions, meditation, aromatherapy, custom herbal blending, workshops, and more. The center also includes a shop filled with a variety of locally made products from different vendors, such as essential oils, jewelry, concrete Buddha statues, herbal tea bends and natural remedies.

Quattrociocchi, of Westernville, is a registered yoga instructor, Reiki master and a certified aromatherapist. Her own experience with medical issues led her to practice yoga and pursue natural wellness methods.

She strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment at her wellness center.

“Yoga is for every body,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you can do the pose perfectly. It’s that you can come in and do the class. I think a lot of people are afraid of it because they see the pictures of the beautiful girl who is lean and toned, in the perfect pose. You don’t have to be that.”

Once she retired from a career as a respiratory therapist with Bassett Medical Center, she redirected her attention towards the wellness center.

At No Mud No Lotus Holistic Wellness Center and Yoga Studio the philosophy is that wellness starts within and every person is capable of transformation.

“A lot of people have disease,”

she said. “But if you look at the holistic aspect, it’s not called disease; it’s called dis-ease within the body. Medically we are trying to treat that with pharmaceuticals; holistically we are trying to treat that with natural methods. The two can combine. There are certain things that you need to have medicine for. But you might be able to decrease your need for medication if you increase your holistic wellness.

Perhaps you change your diet and it improves your diabetes or you limit inflammatory foods and pair that with yoga to decrease inflammation in the joints.”

Eventually Quattrociocchi wants to add even more services to the mix, including acupuncture and nutrition counseling.

“My ultimate goal is to be able to offer a variety of different programs to different clientele,” she said. “To have something for everyone, so that more people can be introduced to yoga and the overall wellness aspect.”

There is a website, nomudnolotusyoga.com, where people can shop and find information about pricing, schedules, and online booking.

No Mud No Lotus is cultivating a network of return clients and it is gratifying for Quattrociocchi to see the center grow.

“A lot of people like the environment here, the ambiance,” she said.

“It’s a comfortable feeling for them.”

Just Breathe Yoga Studio 1918 N. James St., Rome 315-337-4860

Just Breathe Yoga Studio, Inc., is a yoga studio and school that was established in August 2005. 2021 is the 16th year in business at the Rome location.

The studio operates from the iconic stone building on the corner of North James Street in Rome. Nicole Hayman-Sherman, current owner and president, purchased it in Janu-

ary 2013. She and her husband, Just Breathe Yoga Studio’s vice president, Ray Sherman, manage the day to day operations of the studio and the registered yoga school division with the help of their “keeper of sanity and organization,” studio and registered yoga school manager, Gabby Griffin, and the support of the JBYS board of directors.

Just Breathe Yoga Studio is a registered yoga school with the Yoga Alliance. Just Breathe Yoga Studio offers 200-hour and 300-hour yoga teacher training programs as well as continuing education (YACEP) classes.

Just Breathe Yoga Studio offers in-person, virtual/online classes and hybrid classes which is a combination of in-person and online. The studio even has its own YouTube Channel. The registered yoga school division offers teacher training, workshops and continuing education programs for teachers needing continuing education credits.

More information about offerings, pricing and schedules can be found at justbreatheyogastudio.com

Other Local Yoga Centers In Bloom Yoga Studio

163-181 Kenwood Ave., Oneida 315-790-5481

Universal Yoga and Massage Center 3985 Oneida St., New Hartford 315-210-6333

The Yoga Studio

216 Dominick St., Rome 315-240-3075

Bloom Yoga & Wellness 163 Kenwood Ave., Oneida 315-363-5258

Move Breathe Live

1307 Champlin Ave., Suite 9, Utica 315-507-4422

Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

helps with back pain 2 Yoga relief. ➜ Try it: Cat-Cow Pose Get on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale, as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale, as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching.

3 4

Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms.

Yoga benefits heart health.

➜ Try it: Downward Dog Pose Get on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up, so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees, while lengthening your spine and tailbone. relaxes you, to help 5 Yoga you sleep better. ➜ Try It: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose Sit with your left side against a wall, then gently turn right and lift your legs up to rest against the wall, keeping your back on the floor and your sitting bones close to the wall.

You can remain in this position for five to 15 minutes. can mean more en6 Yoga ergy and brighter moods. helps you manage 7 Yoga stress. ➜ Try It: Corpse Pose (Savasana) Lie down with your limbs gently stretched out, away from the body, with your palms facing up. Try to clear your mind while breathing deeply. You can hold this pose for five to 15 minutes. connects you with a 8 Yoga supportive community.

Source: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

By Jim Miller

Senior Alert: Your Old Cellphone May Not Work in 2022 Dear Savvy Senior, My 80-year-old father has an old flip phone he carries around with him for emergency purposes, but I’ve heard that these devices will soon be phased out. Is this true? If so, how can we know if his phone will be affected, and where can I find him a simple new one that he can operate.

— Searching Daughter

Dear Searching, Yes, it’s true! If your dad’s mobile phone is more than a few years old, he will probably need to upgrade it in the very near future.

Why? Because all of the major cell phone carriers — AT&T, Verizon and

T-Mobile — are shutting down their older 3G networks in 2022 to free up airwaves for 5G and other advanced services. So, if your dad is using an old 3G phone, like millions of other older Americans, he’ll need to get a new device if he wants to make calls, text or reach 911.

How to Upgrade

But you should also know that it’s not just older cellphones that will be obsolete. Older home security systems, medical devices and personal emergency response systems that still harness 3G will also be affected.

Adding to the confusion, older 4G phones that don’t support modern cellular voice technologies, such as Voice Over LTE or HD Voice, are impacted, too. Those customers may need a software upgrade or a new phone.

Here are the timelines for the 3G shutdowns: AT&T: Feb. 2022; T-Mobile: July 1, 2022; Verizon: Dec. 31, 2022; Sprint (which is owned by T-Mobile): March 31, 2022; and Sprint LTE: June 30, 2022. Other smaller carriers like Tracfone, Cricket, Boost and Straight Talk, will also be affected, because they rely on airwaves from the big three.

If you find that you do need to upgrade your dad’s cellphone, carriers are offering discounts and special promotions on replacement devices.

If you’re worried about your dad having to learn your way around a new device, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of modern new flip phones available that work on the next-generation networks.

Or, if your dad decides that he would rather forge ahead without a phone than upgrade, then he will need to cancel the service. Most carriers will let you cancel your plan without any penalty. However, if he forgets to cancel his phone plan and doesn’t upgrade to a working device, the company won’t automatically stop charging him just because he isn’t able to access their network.

Is Your Phone Affected?

How to Recycle

Cellphone carriers say they have been alerting customers who use older phones that services are ending, sending a combination of texts, letters, phone calls and emails. If you’re not sure about your dad’s phone, contact his carrier or check their website for a list of affected devices.

Another way to see if your dad’s phone is 3G is to look up his international mobile equipment identity number which can be found by pressing *#06# on his keypad. Once you have it, go to www.imei.info and type it in the search bar to get the phone’s details. If his phone has a frequency of 900 megahertz (MHz) or 2100 MHz, it’s 3G. You can also look for a “3G” icon at the top corner of his phone, but not all 3G phones have that icon.

If your dad does have to replace his old cellphone, the best way to dispose of it is to recycle it. Large retailers, such as Best Buy, offer recycling programs for old electronics.

Or you can search for local recycling programs on websites like Call2Recycle.org and Earth911.com.

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.

When it comes to learning your risk of cancer – including breast cancer – knowledge is power.

That’s why Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY is proud to offer comprehensive Cancer Genetics Testing and Counseling with specially trained experts.

Available to anyone – not just HOA patients – Cancer Genetics Testing and Counseling: • helps you and your family make better-informed decisions about your healthcare • is covered by most insurance plans • begins with a simple blood sample To see if Cancer Genetics Testing and Counseling is right for you, talk with your doctor and take our five-minute survey at hoacny.com/cancergenetics or by scanning this code.

January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17

Ask The Social

Security Office

Q&A

Q: Can I refuse to give my Social Security number to a private business?

A: Yes, you can refuse to disclose your Social Security number, and From the Social Security District Office you should be careful about giving out your number. But, be aware, the person requesting your number can refuse services if you don’t give it.

Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone’s number and use it for any ing homes or other organizations are Some people who receive purpose that doesn’t violate a federal also qualified to be a representative monthly Social Security benefits or or state law. T payee. Ask them to contact us.

Supplemental Security Income payQ: I’m applying for disability benefits.

You can write to us within 60 ments may need help managing their Do I automatically receive Medicare money. When we receive information days of being assigned a representabenefits if I’m approved for disability that shows you need help, we’ll work tive payee if you don’t agree that you benefits? need one or if you want a different with you to find the most suitable A: You will receive Medicare representative payee to manage your representative payee. after you receive disability benefits benefits. A representative payee reWe also offer an option, called, for 24 months. When you become ceives your monthly benefit payment Advance Designation, which allows eligible for disability benefits, we will on your behalf and must use the you to designate now someone to automatically enroll you in Medicare. money to pay for your current needs, be your representative payee in the We start counting the 24 months from including: future. In the event you can no longer the month you were entitled to re• Housing and utilities. make your own financial decisions, ceive disability, not the month when • Food. you and your family will have peace you received your first payment. Speof mind knowing that someone you • Medical and dental expenses. cial rules apply to people with pertrust may be appointed to manage • Personal care items. manent kidney failure and those with your benefits for you.

• Clothing.

“Lou Gehrig’s Disease” (amyotrophic You can submit your advance • Rehabilitation expenses (if you lateral sclerosis). Learn more by readdesignation request when you apply have a disability). ing our publication, Disability Benfor benefits or after you are already If you need help managing your efits, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029. benefits, tell a Social Security reprereceiving benefits. You may do so html. sentative that there is someone you through your personal my Social want to be your representative payee. Security account at www.ssa.gov/ Q: How do I apply for disability benmyaccount or by calling and speakYour representative payee should efits? How long does it take to get a ing to a Social Security representabe someone you trust and see often, decision after I apply for disability tive. and who clearly understands your benefits?

You can find more information at needs. Social service agencies, nursA: You can apply for disability www.ssa.gov/payee. benefits online at www.ssa.gov/

Representative Payees Help You Manage Your Social Security

benefits. To get a decision on your disability application usually takes three to five months. The timeframe can vary depending on: • The nature of your disability.

• How quickly we can get your medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source.

• Whether it’s necessary to send you for a medical examination.

• Whether we review your application for quality purposes.

Create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account at www. ssa.gov/myaccount to check your claim status.

Q: I just got a notice from Social Security that said my Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case is being reviewed.

What does this mean?

A: Social Security reviews every SSI case from time to time to make sure the individuals who are receiving payments should continue to get them. The review also determines whether individuals are receiving the correct amounts. Learn more about SSI at www.ssa.gov/ssi.

Q: I plan to retire in spring. How soon can I file for my Social Security benefits?

A: You can file four months before you plan to receive benefits.

Go ahead and apply now if you plan to retire when winter’s frost finally lets up. To apply, go to www.ssa.gov/ retire. Applying online has never been easier—you can do it from the comfort of your home. All you need is 15 minutes and internet access.

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Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

Health News MVHS set minimum wage at $16 per hour

Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced in December that it would implement two significant wage and rate increases that will benefit its employees.

The MVHS minimum wage is being increased to $16 per hour, effective in the Dec. 12-13 pay period.

This change impacts 783 employees and the increase will be reflected in the Dec. 30-31 pay checks.

All other employees will receive a 2% across-the-board increase, also effective Dec. 12/13. This increase does not apply to employed physicians, mid-level providers or executives.

“This investment in our amazing employees is being made to thank them for their hard work, dedication and resilience during this challenging time,” said Darlene Stromstad, president and chief executive officer at MHVS. “We wanted to show our heartfelt appreciation to our staff for the care and compassion they provide to our patients and the way in which they care for each other.

“The increase in the minimum wage makes our rates more competitive, which not only benefits our employees, but also will serve as an incentive to recruit additional employees. These rates include both nonunion and union employees. We are grateful to our unions who support these increases.”

In total, these increases represent a $6.34 million investment in MVHS employees.

MVHS also announced a few other initiatives in the works that are slated for a Jan. 1 rollout, subject to final contractual approval with MVHS unions.

• Instituting referral bonuses payable to current employees who refer new employees for both RNs ($5,000) and critical positions ($1,000) such as care attendants, monitor techs, unit secretaries, ward clerks, phlebotomists, laboratory medical technologists, nutrition services, EVS, laundry, psych tech, OB tech, respiratory therapists and others.

• Establishing sign-on bonuses ($1,000) for critical positions. Currently there are sign-on bonuses for RNs ($10,000 for those with more than three years of experience, and

$5,000 for those with less than three years).

• Aggressive recruiting with outside firms, including proactively contacting potential applicants.

• Reaching out to community organizations to promote healthcare careers and encourage applicants for existing jobs.

• Implementation of ongoing job fairs where applicants can be hired on the spot.

MVHS has new nurse practitioner at its New Hartford office

Robert Cooper, a family nurse practitioner, has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) as a certified family nurse practitioner at the MVHS Medical Group New Hartford Crossroads Medical Office, where he will provide care to patients of all ages.

Cooper earned his family nurse Robert Cooper practitioner degree as well as his Master of Science in Nursing Education from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute of Utica.

He completed a student teaching internship at St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica. Cooper’s teaching experience brought him to pursue a career as a family nurse practitioner, where he continues to teach graduating nurses and new staff.

Rome Health recognized as ‘Best Nursing Home’

Rome Health has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Nursing Home for the third year in a row. It is one of only 13% of skilled nursing facilities in the nation to earn the designation for 2021-2022.

Rome Health’s Residential Health Care Facility (RHCF) earned best nursing home status by achieving a rating of “High Performing,” the highest possible rating, for shortterm rehabilitation. The RHCF is also rated 5-stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and has

been ranked in the top 20% of skilled nursing facilities for seven consecutive years by the New York State Nursing Home Quality Initiative.

Rome Health provides short-term rehabilitation for individuals recovering from surgery, an illness or an accident to improve their function and strength so they can return home.

Individualized treatment plans may include a combination of physical, occupational and speech/swallowing therapy, along with skilled nursing care. Rome Health also provides respite care and long-term care on its third floor 80-bed skilled nursing facility.

“We are honored that U.S. News & World Report recognized Rome again in its 2021-22 rankings. Our person-centered philosophy creates an environment where our team is empowered to provide the highest quality of care.” said RHCF Administrator Anthony Joseph. “This recognition is a testament to the clinical excellence and compassionate care that our dedicated employees provide on a daily basis. We provide the best care out there. Here.”

U.S. News awards the Best Nursing Homes designation only to those homes that satisfy U.S. News’s assessment of the appropriate use of key services and consistent performance in quality measures.

As nursing homes and facilities across the country continue to grapple with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News remains at the forefront of providing data-driven information and guidance to help residents, families and caregivers understand their long- and short-term care options.

Now in its 12th year, the U.S. News Best Nursing Homes ratings and profiles offer comprehensive information about quality of care, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for residents and staff, flu and pneumonia vaccination rates, and infection control violations listed on the resident safety summary. Individuals can easily conduct customized research for a highly rated nursing home by location, size and Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

The short-term care rating incorporates measures of quality including consistency of registered nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs and success in preventing falls. For 2021-

On Point for College Receives Excellus Support for Mental Health Program

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield provided On Point for College — Utica with a $5,000 sponsorship to support a new mental health program for first-generation college students.

This program provides two mental health workshops for college students and training for front-line advising staff.

Students will gain a better understanding of mental health and learn self-care skills that will allow them to address issues as they arise. Staff training will enhance skills in empathy, advocacy, listening, and mental health issues, allowing them to aid students in crisis.

“Social-emotional learning and

mental health services have become more important for our students since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Kevin Marken, Utica director of On Point for College. “While preparing for college and leaving

home are major disruptions for students in our program, fear and anxiety have been amplified for students by the trauma of the pandemic. This program will help students and staff identify mental health issues and

22, 13,500 facilities received a shortterm tating, while only 1,651 homes earned a high-performing rating.

Excellus supports local food banks Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced that it will be donating a total of $6,000 to 12 food banks located in the organization’s Utica region service area. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Utica region encompasses Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence counties.

“We recognize that the pandemic has created an even greater need for programs that combat food insecurity,” said Eve Van de Wal, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Utica Regional President. “We are pleased to provide funding to these organizations who work tirelessly to improve the lives of individuals in the communities we serve.”

Each of the following organizations will receive a donation of $500: • Community Action Planning Council Food Pantry – Watertown • Joint Council of Economic Opportunity Clinton County – Plattsburgh • Joint Council of Economic Opportunity Franklin County – Malone • Lewis County Opportunities – Lowville • Cooperstown Food Pantry – Cooperstown • Lowville Food Pantry – Lowville • Caz Cares – Cazenovia • Johnson Park Center – Utica • Utica Rescue Mission – Utica • Little Falls Community Outreach Center – Little Falls • Karing Kitchen – Oneida • Hope House – Utica “Social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, negatively affect quality of life and health outcomes,” explained Van de Wal. “Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is proud to partner with community-based organization who address these important issues in order to help reduce health disparities within the communities we serve.”

actions that can be taken to assist.”

The mission of On Point for College is to break down barriers that prevent young, under-served individuals from achieving education and career success. On Point for College strives to transform communities by making college, training, and career success a reality for those who face great obstacles. With office in Syracuse and Utica, the organization serves youth in Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, and Herkimer counties.

“We are proud to assist On Point for College in their effort to provide vital mental health support to first-generation college students in our community,” said Eve Van de Wal, Excellus BCBS Utica Regional President. “Removing barriers to education and career success helps our community thrive.”

January 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 19

• Health Insurance • ADAP/ADAP Plus • Medicare • Medicaid • Medicare Savings Programs • Child Health Plus • Long-term Care • Prescription Assistance

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Page 20 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2022

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