Mv igh 107 jan15

in good

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

January 2015 • Issue 107

Let’s ‘Meet Your Doctor’ See Page 4

Diet & Nutrition

free

ShellShocked For many vets, real battle is after the war See Page 3

Women’s Health Edition A salad a day ...

See Page 9

From mundane to magnificent!

Get in vogue with the latest makeup tips

STAY FIT IN WINTER

See Page 5 Yumminess of yogurt See Page 10

Do nice girls really finish last?

See Page 7

What Makes Romaine So Remarkable See Smart Bites on page 10

Dangers of pot Secondhand smoke can prove lethal.

See Page 9

See Page 19 Visit our interactive online version at MVhealthnews. com

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Mondays

Women’s support group to get together A women’s support/therapy group is meeting weekly from 5:30-7 on Mondays.

Groups will be held in a confidential location in New Hartford and group size will be limited to protect anonymity.

Topics of discussion may include family issues, stress, anger, relationships, grief, and more.

Clinical therapist Cynthia Davis, who has over 20 years of experience, will lead the group.

To pre-register, contact Davis at 315-736-1231, 315-794-2454 or email cindycsw@yahoo.com

Tuesdays

Support for the grief stricken Grief Survivors meets from 6-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at The Good News

Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. Drop-ins are welcome.

This is a faith-based support group for those suffering the loss of a loved one.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit online at www. thegoodnewscenter.org.

Wednesdays/Thursdays

Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings

Is food a problem for you? Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Do you binge, purge or restrict? Is your weight affecting your life?

Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome Memorial Hospital, 1500 James St., Rome.

It also meets from 7-8 p.m. every Thursday at Oneida Baptist Church, 242 Main St., Oneida. Participants are asked to use the rear door.

There are no dues, fees, weigh-ins or diets.

For more information, call OA at 315-468-1588 or visit oa.org.

Jan. 11

Separated? Divorced?

There is support The Separated & Divorced Support Group will meet from 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The group meets every other Sunday.

The meetings are free and open to all.

For more information, contact Judy at 315-735-6210, judy@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Jan. 11

Ready to explore The Third Option?

The Third Option support group for married couples will meet from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The group meets every other Sunday.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Jan. 12

FSLH Wellness Center offers specials The Faxton St. Luke’s Wellness Center is offering membership specials.

Anyone who purchases a threemonth membership before Jan. 31 will receive two free weeks.

The wellness center is also offering specialty classes. All classes run in eight-week sessions and begin the week of Jan. 12.

Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first- served basis.

Participants must register and pay for the entire eight-week session of a class or purchase a pre-paid punch card for per-class entry.

Class offerings include aquatic exercise, aquatic dance, aquatics for back pain, “Mommy and Me” (for parents and their children under 4 years of age), PiYo, t’ai chi chih, yoga and Zumba.

Visit www.faxtonstlukes.com/ wellness for more information on each class.

Call 315-624-5484 or email wellness@mvnhealth.com to register for classes or to purchase a membership.

Jan. 15

Prayer group ready to assemble The Rest in God prayer group meets from 6-8 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The next meeting is on Jan. 15.

For more information, contact Diana at 831-5946 or email her at lovericd@gmail.com.

To register, call Tanya at 735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org.

Jan. 25

Women at the Well to gather Women at the Well will meet from 6:30–8 p.m. Jan. 25 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The faith-based group meets on the last Tuesday of each month. Drop-ins are welcome.

For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Common knee surgery may boost arthritis risk, study suggests

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

common type of knee surgery may increase the chances of arthritis, a new study suggests.

The procedure repairs tears in the meniscus, a piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber. There are two in each knee, and they stabilize the knee joint. Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries, and surgery is

often performed to reduce pain and improve joint function, the researchers said.

In their study, the scientists used MRI scans to look at 355 knees with arthritis, and compared them to a similar number of knees without arthritis. The average age of the patients was about 60 and most were overweight.

All 31 knees that were operated on to repair meniscal tears developed arthritis within a year, compared with 59 percent of knees with meniscal damage that did not have surgery.

Cartilage loss occurred in nearly 81 percent of knees that had meniscal surgery, compared with almost 40 percent of knees with meniscal damage that did not have surgery, the study found.

The study was presented recently at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting in Chicago.

Even though surgery to repair meniscal tears is common, “increasing evidence is emerging that suggests meniscal surgery may be detrimental to the knee joint,” study author Frank Roemer, a physician from Boston University School of Medicine and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany, said in a society news release.

“The indications for meniscal surgery might need to be discussed more carefully in order to avoid accelerated knee joint degeneration,” he suggested.

Cover Story

Real cost of war Rome Clinic provides vital health services to veterans

By Patricia J. Malin

S

hell shock. Battle fatigue.

Post-traumatic stress syndrome.

These terms are used to refer to a number of psychological and physical disorders suffered by many military veterans.

Military historians and health care professionals now believe such stress has existed long before these conditions began to be recognized in the 1920s.

The military culture, which sometimes includes fellow veterans, has until recently tended to turn its back on soldiers with these perceived mental health issues.

“You were supposed to suck it up and carry on,” said Carolyn T. Jackson, a clinical psychologist. “The old joke goes, that if the Army wanted you to have feelings, they would have issued them to you.”

Serving the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Syracuse and the Rome Community Outpatient Clinic at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park, Jackson sees the consequences of battle fatigue, PTSD, stress, depression and disabling injuries associated with repeated military service.

Jackson was invited to speak about the health issues of veterans during a dinner presented recently by the Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida counties at the American Legion in New Hartford. The theme of the event was “Honoring our Military Women: Past, Present and Future.”

Jackson and Shirley Eadline, a retired Vietnam-era veteran and former Air Force pilot, were among a group of about 25 servicewomen recognized by the women’s fund. Eadline gave a lecture about the history and the role of women in the armed forces, which dates back to the Revolutionary War. A medical dictionary describes the symptoms of shell shock and battle fatigue as “ranging from extreme fear to dementia, commonly attributed to the noise and concussion of exploding shells or bombs, but actually a traumat-

ic reaction to the stress of combat.”

In this era of an all-volunteer army, plus a prolonged, 10-year war in Iraq and Afghanistan, some service members have been deployed as many as seven times to the battlefield with only short respites at home.

Mission comes first

Most of the soldiers feel they have to carry out their mission and not succumb to the “stigma” of fatigue, major depression disorder, substance abuse, domestic abuse, attempted suicide or alcoholism, explained Jackson, an Air Force veteran herself.

She said up to 50 percent of returning veterans suffer from chronic pain, while 25 percent “admit” to PTSD. Brain injuries affect about 23 percent and major depression 13 percent, and perhaps as many as 20 percent of those with major depression disorder are women veterans.

When hostile operations do cease, an estimated 90,000 veterans will return to New York state. About 200 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum returned to Watertown at Thanksgiving following 10 months of duty in Afghanistan.

The division was one of the first units to go into the country, in 2002, and had multiple deployments.

There are no numbers on how many of those veterans will need physical and mental rehabilitation, or whether they will seek VA services.

“The VA’s motto has always been to bind up the nation’s wounds,” Jackson noted. “Arguably, we have the best healthcare in the nation.”

Not all servicemen and women find their way to the VA’s doors due to “perceived barriers to seeking help,” Jackson added.

“There’s a cultural expectation that soldiers should have ‘grit’ or stoicism, or they could be unaware of post-separation services, or concerned that asking for help will delay their separation from the military,” she said.

Jackson said older veterans should extend a hand to returning veterans

Carolyn Jackson, left, is shown with Shirley Eadline, who is married to Stephen Eadline, president of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford. and encourage them to discuss their experiences and seek help.

“The American Legion and the VFW posts can be helpful avenues for new veterans. Think about sharing your experiences and insights as a veteran with your friends and colleagues.”

Women face big challenges

Jackson, 49, whose father is a Vietnam veteran, enlisted in the Air Force at 17. She served eight years of active duty as a military police officer and in law enforcement with the Air Force, both overseas and stateside in the 1990s.

The Vermont native later used her active duty background as a springboard to a second career in the military.

It wasn’t until Jackson went to college that she discovered her passion for sociology and a desire to help heal her fellow servicemen and women.

“Active duty personnel make up just 1 percent of the American population, and only 15 percent of the one percent are women,” Jackson said, and the numbers — while still a tiny minority — are growing.

The general population in the

INSIGHT HOUSE

Oneida, Herkimer, Madison and Otsego counties in good A monthly newspaper published

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 315-749-7070.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2015 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Malissa Allen, Mary Stevenson, Deb Dittner, Amylynn Pastorella, Mary Christopher, Traci DeLore Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Marsha Preston, Jasmine Maldonado Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Office Manager: Alice Davis No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement — not to take the place of — the recommendations of your health provider.

nation consists of 2 million women veterans. “By 2035, women will comprise 15 percent of the living veteran population. Nearly 50 percent of all women veterans served during the Gulf War era, 1992 to the present.”

More than 1,000 women reportedly get care at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The number of women seeking primary care at the VA has tripled in 12 years.

In response, the Syracuse VA spent $1.1 million to expand its Women Veterans Wellness Center on the hospital’s ninth floor. The center provides primary care, gynecological care and mental health services.

The women’s center has two procedure rooms, four exam rooms, two nursing triage rooms and one mental health consultation room.

The Rome Community Outpatient Care Center gets more than 600 women patients a year.

Now in the 21st century, it’s not uncommon for women soldiers to serve on the front lines. Though they have advanced to become four-star generals and admirals, they still face a battle of discrimination.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

Dr. James S. Ward

James Singleton Ward wears two hats as an attending physician in family medicine/geriatrics and as the medical director of Valley Health Services in Herkimer, a division of Bassett Healthcare Network.

He has enjoyed a diversified practice, spanning more than 40 years as a physician and medical school instructor both in the U.S. Navy and in civilian life. He recently spoke with In Good Health senior writer Patricia J. Malin about his distinguished career.

Q.: Why did you decide to practice in the Mohawk Valley?

A.: Both my wife and I are from the Hudson Valley. I grew up near Newburgh, a small place called Walden. I went to college at Hamilton (in Clinton). I love the rugged independence of the people and the scenery of the Adirondacks. Frankly, though, Mary Imogene Bassett Healthcare offered me a job. I admire its tradition and commitment to caring for rural indigent residents. It’s quality medicine, so it was an easy decision for me. I came here in July 2000 and in September 2000 I became medical director.

Q.: What prompted you to become a physician?

A.: I had several crises of conscience before I decided. I was interested in law at one time, but I felt it was too abstract. I had a lot of respect for my father, who was police chief in Newburgh, but by the time I was 15, I gave up the idea of police work.

I had several doctors who cared for me in my youth and I thought of them as role models. In the early 1960s, I had a chance to work at Newburgh Hospital and I loved the contact with patients. Three years later, I met my wife, who was an RN there, and my mind was made up.

Q.: What specific ailments or disorders do you treat?

A.: Valley Heath Services is a rehabilitation facility, so I practice mostly geriatric medicine. The average age of our patients is in the 70s, although I just treated and released a patient who was 100.

We have 121 beds at this facility. I treat folks who are recovering from falls, who are injured or ill, and I help them recover. Some patients might have diseases such as diabetes, pneumonia, urinary tract infections or chronic heart disease. Sadly, some people can’t return home, so we have long-term care. Some of those patients have dementia, but not all of them.

Q.: What prompted you to specialize in geriatrics?

A.: In 1990, when I was working in family practice in Pensacola, Fla., our program director decided we needed a geriatrician on our board.

We got faculty to volunteer to study and to take courses. Actually, when I was in the Navy, I did a lot of pediatrics and Bassett hired me as a pediatrician. Other physicians at Bassett were doing geriatrics then, but they gradually dropped out.

Q.: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

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A.: The complexity of the illnesses in our patients that we deal with rapid fire in a day. It’s quite challenging. Medicine is getting more complicated, but there’s also more documentation and paperwork, increasing the burden on physicians. The state has issued a directive that we use electronic records and we hope to accomplish that by the end of the first quarter in 2015.

Q.: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

A.: I have the most fun easing the problems of patients. Sometimes you get recognized on the street by a (former) patient who says, “You took care of me.”

That doesn’t happen every day, but it’s wonderful when it does. I think the good Lord put me here to be of service to others.

It’s rewarding to work with people when I ease their transition from home to the hospital or to long-term care or from the hospital to home. It can be an extremely troubling time for some patients and their families, and sometimes there is a lack of communication.

But Valley Health Services is trying to improve its facilities, whether it’s at Bassett or Little Falls Hospital, and our communications with patients.

Q.: When you look back over your

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

long career, what were the most enjoyable times?

A.: Teaching and my family residency. I have a courtesy appointment with Columbia University (College of Physicians and Surgeons), and I get to

work with advanced clinician students at Bassett. These are college students who are going to become nurse practitioners or physician assistants, not doctors.

Q.: Medicine has changed dramatically since the 1970s. What changes have impressed you the most?

A.: Computerization, especially in the last 10 years. It’s very much a challenge for me to keep up with the technology. Bassett subscribes to some very good websites like WebMD to keep us up to date. It’s amazing to see my students who have apps on their cell phones that allow them to read a book and check the required dosage of medicines for geriatric patients while at the patient’s bedside.

Q.: What advice would you give to a young person preparing for a career in medicine today?

A.: Look in your heart and prepare for what’s ahead. Medical school is very expensive, too expensive. You need to be sure that you’re ready to pile up a lot of debt. I was extremely lucky.

I took a competitive Regent’s exam and New York state paid for my tuition through college and medical school, so my wife and I had no major debts when I graduated.

Secondly, I would tell a young person to do a patience and compassion check. You don’t go into medicine to make a lot of money, so be sure of your motives. You don’t want to get burned out.

Continued on Page 15

Lifelines Age: 70 Birthplace: Newburgh Current residence: Ilion Education: Hamilton College, Clinton, valedictorian, 1965; fellowship in pathology, University of Rochester, 1967-68; American Society of Anesthesiology summer fellowship, Genesee Hospital, Rochester, 1969; University of Rochester, medical degree, 1970 Affiliations: American Academy of Family Physicians,1973-present, elected fellow, 1975; American Medical Directors Association, 2005-present; American Medical Association; Christian Medical and Dental Society, 1975-present Family: Wife, Linda; daughters: Lynn Marie of Ilion and Sarah Elizabeth of Nashville, Tenn.; three grandchildren Hobbies: Antique cars, spending time with family, reading history, traveling, home repair

Women’s Health

Magic of makeup

Here are some makeup tips that nobody ever told you about on the bottom; it can smear and make you look terrifying. Instead, use eye shadow.”

“Using eye shadow instead of eyeliner under your eyes is one of my favorite makeup tricks,” she adds.

“You’ll look natural and get the look you’re going for.”

By Barbara Pierce

L

ove it or hate it, we’ve been using makeup in different forms for a very long time — tens of thousands of years, as a matter of fact.

Even before we began wearing clothes, we decorated our faces and bodies with paint.

Most of us have been experimenting with it since we were about 10, and we know how much more dazzling we feel after a swipe of rosy blush.

And some of us will be lying there on our deathbeds asking, “Where’s my lipstick?”

It’s for sure that we feel better about ourselves when we’ve put on our makeup. No wonder that we shell out about $40 billion a year on the stuff.

Makeup artist Stephanie Lisi Orsomarso shares the top mistakes people make and gives some tips about how you can better apply your favorite makeup products.

Orsomarso is the owner of Tease and Makeup in Utica, specializing in hair and makeOrsomarso up for weddings and other special events.

“The most common mistake people make — across the board, whether they’re 10 and just trying out makeup, or in their 60s — they don’t match their foundation to their skin tone,” Orsomarso says. “If it’s too much darker than your skin tone, you’ll age yourself. Or if it’s too much lighter, you’ll look pale and sickly.”

How can you tell if you’re wearing the wrong foundation?

Make the proper choice

With your foundation on, look at your jaw line; if you see a line, if you clearly see the difference between your jaw line and your neck, your foundation is wrong for you. If you cannot see a line, you have chosen the right tone for your skin.

Find the right match

High-end cosmetic counters in the stores will help you find the color that is right for you, Orsomarso advises.

Drugstores have translucent paper in the colors of the foundations. Hold the paper up to your face in good light; if you cannot see the paper, you’re on!

Or, do like one woman on youtube. com — buy the smallest container of the one the high-end seller recommends for you and take it to the drugstore for a match.

Many stores, even drugstores and grocery stores, will accept a return if

you get the foundation home and it just doesn’t work for you.

Another mistake many women make is by trying to over-conceal imperfections, blemishes, and under eye circles. Some pound on way too much foundation to conceal the imperfection. By doing this, you just draw more attention to the flaw, Orsomarso says.

Because it is covered up, the blemish can’t heal, and it will last longer.

Magnifying mirrors are awesome for putting on eye makeup, but not for foundation, suggests Orsomarso. Take a regular mirror, get near a window or natural light, and check your neck and décolletage area to make sure you have blended it in enough.

Another makeup mistake that adds years to your face is eyeliner, says Orsomarso. “Everyone is shocked by this easy trick: Never use solid eyeliner

As for the color of your eyeliner, that depends on your skin and eye color. Navy blue might be a good choice for some. “I have brown eyes and olive skin, so blue would be a bad choice for me,” she says. “I use brown for a more natural look, black for more drama.

It depends on how much drama you want.”

Lip liner is still a good choice for most of us, recommends the expert.

A tip she suggests for when you can’t touch up your lipstick is to cover your lips with lip liner, then add lipstick on top.

“I do makeup for weddings, when the bride will need her lipstick to last. I color the entire lip with liner, and then put lipstick on top. The brides say it works to keep them looking good the whole day. For a deeper color that you want to last, try this. It’s also good for someone who works in a busy office and can’t be putting on lipstick often.”

Orsomarso’s final hint: We see a lot of ads that come out with the best new thing and everyone always wants to try the latest new cosmetic. But stay away from shimmer. Avoid the iridescent stuff. Sparkles over-emphasize things you don’t want anyone to notice. For a classy look, go with a matte look, especially as you mature.

Orsomaro’s Tease and Makeup in Utica specializes in bridal makeup and hair, and also provides services for engagement sessions, special events, photo shoots, proms, boudoir, maternity, and many more.

The Pill remains most common birth control method But long-acting IUDs are gaining in popularity, experts note

T

he pill remains one of the most popular methods of birth control for women, along with female sterilization and condoms, a new report shows.

Among the two-thirds of women aged 15 to 44 who used birth control between 2011 and 2013, approximately 16 percent used the pill.

Female sterilization, where women have their fallopian tubes closed or blocked, was used by 15.5 percent of women, while 9.4 percent used male condoms, according to the report published Dec. 11 by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

But intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, both types of long-acting reversible contraceptives, are close on the heels of these other forms of birth

control, with 7.2 percent of women using them.

“Use of long-acting reversible contraceptives is becoming more popular,” said report author Kimberly Daniels, of the NCHS. Their use has nearly doubled since the last report on findings from five years earlier, when approximately 3.8 percent of women were using them, Daniels said.

The most popular long-acting reversible contraception is the IUD, used by 3.5 percent of women in 2006 to 2010 and by 6.4 percent of women in 2011 to 2013, according to Daniels.

The IUDs available in the United States include two hormonal versions, Mirena and Skyla, and one containing copper, ParaGard.

This increase in long-acting revers-

ible contraception has followed changes in guidelines by leading health care organizations that now recommend their use to younger women and those without children, said Laura Lindberg, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute.

When IUDs came out years ago, there were concerns they might raise the risk of pelvic infection and jeopardize a woman’s fertility. But IUDs currently on the market don’t carry those risks, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The academy now recommends these contraception devices as the first option for teens.

January 2015 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Women’s Health Glycemic index GI ranks foods according to their impact on blood sugar levels

By Barbara Pierce

T

his latest big thing in the food world is the glycemic index, a term that seems to pop up more often than Channing Tatum or Leonardo DiCaprio in magazines and online these days.

For example: “When it comes to managing your weight, the two most important letters you need to know are ‘G’ and ‘I,’” says MyDailyMoment. com, and this is echoed over and over.

“Glycemic index has become the buzzwords of the diet movement in recent years.”

We asked local expert Crystal Hein, registered dietitian at Crystal Clear Nutrition in Herkimer, what she thinks about this newest fad.

“The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a carbohydrate containing food causes our blood sugar levels to rise,” Hein explained. “Food is ranked on a scale of 0 to 100 in comparison to a reference food — glucose (sugar) or white bread.”

The GI has been used as a basis for popular diets like South Beach and The Zone.

Foods with a high GI will cause a rapid rise in blood sugar. The lower a food’s GI, the less it affects blood sugar and insulin levels.

For instance, a doughnut has a GI of 76. Yogurt, on the other hand, has a GI value of 14. White bread is 71, corn chips are 74 and waffles are 76.

Other examples of foods with a high GI are white bread, bagels, corn flakes, puffed rice, instant oatmeal, white rice, russet potatoes, pretzels and rice cakes.

Foods with a low GI are digested and absorbed at a slower rate, which causes a slower rise in blood sugar.

Foods with a lower GI contain more fiber, protein and/or fat.

Examples of food with a low GI include many whole grain breads and cereals, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, barley, bulgur, milk, Greek yogurt, peanuts, legumes and lentils, most fruits, all non-starchy vegetables, and some starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes.

Meats and fats don’t contain carbohydrates and therefore, do not have a GI.

Beneficial for diabetics

GI isn’t a perfect system, Hein says, but it can be another useful tool for making healthier food choices. For diabetes, it is a good tool to manage blood glucose levels.

It is a good tool for people with diabetes to use, so that they can avoid foods that will raise their blood sugar.

The down side to using GI as a guide is that is it can be complicated because many factors affect a food’s GI — aspects such as ripeness and storage time, degree of processing, and length of cooking time.

Also, the GI ranking only applies when a food is consumed on an empty stomach. By adding protein, fiber or fat to a meal, the GI is lowered. Also, the GI ranking does not take into account how much food is normally consumed.

But using the GI alone for dieting will not necessarily result in weight loss, says Hein. It is important to remember that portion size matters too.

No matter what type of carbohydrate or the GI of the food, the more you eat

©

the more calories you will consume.

GI is not the magic bullet for weight loss.

If you do choose to eat a food with a high GI, have a smaller portion.

Overall, include more whole grains, nuts, legumes, fruits and non-starchy vegetables in your diet and decrease your consumption of low GI carbohydrates and sweets (candy, cookies, cakes and sweetened drinks).

Generally, in most cases, unprocessed foods tend to have a lower GI than refined foods. Stick to the basics of eating mainly whole and unprocessed foods and fruits and vegetables and you’ll be well on your way to good health.

Hein provides individual nutrition

counseling to show people how to make small, realistic changes in their lifestyle to make them healthier and happier. She said nutrition counseling starts with a thorough assessment based on your medical issues, weight, nutritional needs, dietary intake, exercise routines, personal goals and your lifestyle.

Whether for weight loss, medical reasons, or to make a healthy lifestyle change, a specialized nutrition plan will be developed for you.

Education will include, but not be limited to: my plate, portion sizes, grocery shopping techniques, meal planning, recipe suggestions, tips for eating out and eating on the go, healthy snacking and reading food labels.

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To find out more, visit DrGraberMD.com or call 877-269-0355 to discuss how we might help you in your search to find a healthier you!

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

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Women’s Health Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Nice girls do finish last Why ‘not nice’ is best

T

erri just got dumped. Steve dumped her.

She’s stunned, unhappy and didn’t see it coming. She doesn’t understand why; he didn’t give her a reason. She thought she was doing everything right.

She was always so good to him. She brought him cookies when she went to his house. She paid whenever they went out for dinner, because he’s a loser financially. His house was always so dirty that she had to clean it before she could spend the night.

She went above and beyond the call of duty for Steve. She cared for him so much and showed him.

But all those nice things she did for him Pierce is exactly the reason he dumped her. She was “too nice.” Not a good thing to be. So if you are nice to the man you are dating, stop right now. Being nice works against you. Big time.

Men are turned off by doormat behavior in a woman; they hate our eager-to-please behavior. It makes us less interesting and definitely less challenging to pursue.

When a guy says a woman is “too nice,” it means that she’s not enough of a challenge for him.

They may not want to admit it, but men don’t like it when things are too easy for them. They enjoy the uncertainty of not knowing if they really have you hooked.

Men like a challenge; they pursue the woman who retreats from them, the woman who they can never be quite sure of. The one who is always there for them has little appeal.

Men need to feel as though they have something to offer in the relationship. They want to feel they have something vital to offer you.

Are you ‘too nice?’

Here are some of the ways we are too nice: • Leaving your weekend open for him. Yes, men are terrible at logistics.

They don’t realize the weekend is a weekly thing and they find themselves every Friday asking, “What am I going to do for the next two days?”

To make it easy on guys, you might leave your weekends totally clear in case he calls and asks you to have dinner in 30 minutes.

• You have a life, live it. Show him he needs to schedule in advance and respect your schedule. It’ll be bumpy at first, but once he realizes he doesn’t get to see you if he doesn’t give you at least 24 hours notice, he’ll sharpen up.

• Don’t cook dinner for him. Even if you’re a great cook and you’re sure he’ll fall in love with you when you serve him your favorite pasta dish, don’t do this until you have dated him several times. Don’t start the pattern of cooking for him; that is giving too much too soon.

• Don’t change your plans for him.

Do not cancel plans you have made with your friends when he calls you at the last minute. Remember: He needs to respect your time and book plans with you in advance.

• Do not pay for him. If he cannot pay, go places that don’t cost much, and go Dutch.

• Don’t go over and clean his house for him, or do his laundry. If it’s too dirty for you there, find another place to be alone together or put up with the dirt.

• Letting him finish too soon is not good. How long has it been since your guy helped you achieve your peak in bed? You shouldn’t have to think about

that for more than a couple of seconds.

You probably tell yourself that your body is too complicated, or that you take too long to orgasm, so you just let him jump into the position that lets him finish in two seconds and pretend you’re happy.

You deserve the same pleasure he does!

Another thing Terri did wrong was to say “I love you” to Steve early in their relationship, before he said it.

It’s surprising he didn’t just run away then; her last boyfriend sure high-tailed it out of her life when he heard that.

She was in lust, not in love. Love takes time to develop. Stifle yourself if you feel the need to let those words slip out of your mouth too soon.

Take it from me; I used to be a too nice girl. I was shocked when someone suggested I was giving too much too soon, and not just in bed.

They were right on. I have to work to squash my tendencies to be giving,

but I’ve found that men do like a challenge, definitely.

And Terri — she’s my younger sister. She just called, in tears, from Florida. The guy she brought to Florida with her — her latest boyfriend of three weeks — just ended their relationship.

Didn’t even wait until they got home — classless guy, clueless girl.

So don’t be like Terri. Don’t come off as being too eager to please him all the time. Being overly available kills the tension of mutual attraction. And that tension is a good thing.

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years’ experience in helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book “If I’m so Fantastic, Why am I Still Single?” contact her at BarbaraPierce06@yahoo.com, or contact her if you have any concerns you would like her to address.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Diet & Nutrition Malissa’s Culinary Corner

By Malissa Allen

January’s healthy food choice: eggplant K nown in North America as the eggplant, solanum melongena is a species of flowering plant.

Also known as the brinjal, brinjal eggplant, melongene, or guinea squash, it is a member of the family solanaceae.

Like its cousin the tomato, eggplant is actually a fruit, not a vegetable. It bears a fruit of the same name, eggplant or aubergine widely used in cooking, most notably in moussaka and ratatouille. As a nightshade (solanum), it is closely related to both the tomato and potato.

It was domesticated in India Allen from the wild nightshade, the thorn or bitter apple, S. incanum.

S. melongena is a delicate, tropical perennial often cultivated as a tender or half-hardy annual in temperate climates.

Different varieties of the plant produce fruit of different size, shape and color, though typically purple.

The flower is white to purple, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens. The egg-shaped glossy black fruit has white flesh with a meaty texture. The cut surface of the flesh rapidly turns brown when the fruit is cut open.

The fruit is classified botanically as a berry and contains numerous small, soft seeds which are edible, but have a bitter taste because they contain nicotinoid alkaloids (it is a close relative of tobacco).

The raw fruit becomes tender when cooked and develops a rich, complex flavor. Many recipes advise salting, rinsing and draining of the

such as in the Turkish dish patlıcan kızartması (meaning: fried aubergines) or without yogurt as in patlıcan şakşuka.

What is the link to eggs?

sliced fruit (known as “degorging”), to soften it and to reduce the amount of fat absorbed during cooking, but mainly to remove the bitterness of the earliest cultivars.

Some modern varieties do not need this treatment. The fruit is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, making for very rich dishes, but salting reduces the amount of oil absorbed.

As in the related tomato, the numerous seeds are soft and edible along with the rest of the fruit, including the thin skin.

Eggplant is used in the cuisine of many countries. While popular in Mediterranean dishes from Greece, Italy and southern France, eggplant is also a staple in Indian, Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisines since it’s native to Asia and Africa.

It is often stewed, battered, deepfried and served with a sauce. It can be sliced and deep fried, then served with plain yogurt. Optionally, it can be topped with a tomato and garlic sauce,

Unlike today’s purple pear-shaped types, early eggplants were white and egg shaped. Specialty markets often carry white, purple-and-white-striped, thin Japanese and small Italian eggplant varieties.

Eggplant is available year-round with the peak harvest from late summer to mid-autumn. Meaty in texture, eggplant is often used in sandwiches and casseroles in place of meat. It’s also delicious in stews, pasta sauces and dips.

It may also be roasted in its skin until charred, so the pulp can be removed and blended with other ingredients, such as lemon, tahini and garlic, mashed and mixed with onions, tomatoes and spices.

The skins of small, young eggplants are edible and do not need peeling. The tough skins of older eggplants and white eggplants should be peeled with a vegetable peeler or paring knife.

Peel just before using as the flesh discolors quickly.

Cut eggplant into crosswise or lengthwise slices with a chef’s knife.

The slices can then be cut into cubes, if desired.

To salt eggplant, cut as directed.

Place in a colander and sprinkle evenly with salt. Let stand 30 minutes to drain.

Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

Small young eggplants usually do not require salt.

Roasting, sautéing, baking, frying, steaming, microwaving and broiling are all acceptable cooking methods.

Since eggplant absorbs oil like a sponge during cooking, slices are often dipped in a flour, egg and breadcrumb coating before frying.

Brush eggplant slices with oil or vinaigrette and grill with other vegetables for a delicious side dish.

Tuck cooked eggplant slices into your favorite sandwich filling. Add peeled,

chopped eggplant to the vegetables in your favorite chili recipe.

Prepare delicious classic dishes, such as eggplant parmesan, ratatouille, caponata and moussaka. Toss chopped eggplant into your favorite stir-fry as it blends well with the flavors of garlic and sesame oil. Stir roasted eggplant chunks into marinara sauce before tossing with pasta.

Health benefits

The nutritional value and health benefits of eggplant make it ideal for maintaining optimum health and weight loss. Don’t include too many eggplants in your diet if you’re interested in weight gain.

Eggplant is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol, high in dietary fiber, folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus and copper.

Use the eggplant as soon as possible and within five days of refrigeration to avoid shriveling and aging. Uncut eggplants will stay fresh for about a week in the refrigerator. Be sure to place them carefully without cutting or scraping the skin.

The skin is an important part of the plant that keeps them fresh for a longer period of time either in or out of the refrigerator. Storing eggplant in the vegetable drawer keeps it away from the freezer compartment so that it stays cool without freezing.

Putting the eggplant slices in freezer bags will last up to five months. Vacuum-sealed bags will extend the life of eggplant in the freezer for 14 months.

Another option is to batter dip the slices to coat them in bread crumbs before freezing them on wax paper which is put together in a freezer bag.

They are ready to fry after defrosting with no trouble.

• Malissa A. Allen is a gluten-free chef and cooking instructor based in Camden. “Malissa’s Culinary Corner’ appears regularly in Mohawk Valley In Good Health.

Upstate adults more likely to smoke than rest of state, nation

C

igarette smoking among Upstate New Yorkers has steadily declined since 2004, but smoking rates in Upstate New York continue to be higher than state and national averages, according to a recent Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report.

Frank Dubeck, Excellus BCBS vice president and chief medical officer for medical policy, said there are a variety of tools available to help smokers who have resolved to quit.

A provision of the Affordable Care Act provides greater access to resources that can help smokers quit. For many Americans who have private health insurance plans, tobacco use screenings for adults, cessation interventions for tobacco users and expanded counselPage 8

•

ing for pregnant women who smoke are covered at no out-of-pocket cost.

For people who have Medicare coverage, stop smoking counseling also is covered.

Issued during the 50th anniversary year of the first surgeon general’s report linking smoking to lung cancer, the Excellus BCBS report found that while 20.9 percent of Upstate New York adults smoke, the smoking rate among all New York state adults is significantly lower (16.2 percent), and the smoking rate among U.S. adults is also lower (18.1 percent).

In the Utica/Rome/North Country Region, 18.8 percent of the adult population smokes. Among adult males in the region, 21.7 percent smoke. Among

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

adult females in the region, 18.4 percent smoke.

The data also shows that over the past decade, the rate of adult smokers in Upstate New York has declined 5.4 points, while the rate of adult smokers in New York state declined 4.9 points, and the rate of adult smokers in the U.S. declined 3.7 points.

Dubeck expressed frustration that more people haven’t quit.

“A fortune has been spent over the past five decades to educate the public about the dangers of smoking, New York state passed legislation restricting where people can smoke, and the state’s taxes on cigarettes are among the highest in the country,” said Dubeck. “Despite all that, about

24,000 New Yorkers die each year from diseases caused by smoking cigarettes, and another 3,000 lives are claimed by exposure to secondhand smoke.”

Excellus BCBS’s “The Facts About Cigarette Smoking Among Upstate New York Adults” reports that smoking costs New York state more than $15.6 billion (2014 dollars) each year in direct medical costs and economic productivity losses.

“Imagine the initiatives that could be funded in our state by redirecting $15.6 billion to purposes other than those related to tobacco use,” said Dubeck.

One in five New York state adults aged 25 to 34 (21.0 percent) smoke.

Ace’s Angle

Pot’s Pitfall

By Amylynn Pastorella

Sensational salads!

There are dangers associated with second-hand marijuana smoke

By Kristen Raab

M

Salads at lunch pack healthy punch

H

appy New Year!

I want to wish you and yours a very happy and healthy new year.

Starting today, this is going to be your best year yet. Everything is going to work out for you as long as you keep an open mind, welcome new opportunities, eat healthy and continue exercising.

From my own experience, eating balanced meals and exercising at least 30 minutes each day has helped me stay fit and feeling great.

Those who know me really well know that I love to eat. Food and I have one of the best relationships!

Pastorella One of my best-kept secrets, until now, to eating healthy is to have a salad for lunch every day. Three days a week I make a nicely tossed garden salad and a tuna salad the other days.

I buy all my ingredients at the local supermarket. The one thing I love besides the health benefits is the taste of the cold lettuce when taken out of the fridge.

During a busy day at the office, to sit down for at least 30 minutes to eat my lunch is heavenly. Here is my recipe for a great salad:

Garden salad

Head of lettuce, organic baby carrots, unfrozen broccoli, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni, croutons and low-fat ranch dressing

Tuna salad

One package or can of tuna fish, head of lettuce, mozzarella cheese, croutons and Caesar dressing I make my lunch the night before so it has time to cool overnight in the refrigerator and I make my salads in a glass dish with a cover.

According to an article from Copy Writer’s Kitchen, using glass containers keeps food safe, enhances food flavor and helps keep the planet cleaner.

The presentation of a good salad makes you want to eat it more. Salads look prettier when they have ingredients mixed together. All the color and scents that come from a salad are mouth watering.

To add to your delicious salad for lunch, pack a snack and a piece of fruit and you will be the envy of all your lunchtime pals.

A salad a day makes your smile stay!

One of my goals this year is to connect more with you, our faithful readers.

Email me at acesangle@gmail.com.

I’d love to hear from you!

• Amylynn Pastorella is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health. To reach Amy, send correspondence to In Good Health, 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, 13502 attn: Amy or email her at acesangle@ gmail.com.

ost people are aware of the dangers of second-hand cigarette smoke due to the abundance of media coverage regarding the risks.

Second-hand cigarette smoke is dangerous because of the carcinogens, and new studies show that second-hand marijuana smoke is likely harmful as well. Now that several states have legalized marijuana for recreational usage, it is time to consider the safety of second-hand marijuana smoke exposure.

A recent study in rats concluded that being exposed to marijuana smoke could harm people as much as second-hand tobacco smoke. The preliminary study found the smoke reduces blood vessel function, which is dangerous because it could lead to atherosclerosis.

Dr. Frank Dubeck, American Heart Association Advisory Board member, said Dubeck blood vessels’ major function is to deliver blood (carrying oxygen) to the tissues. When someone has atherosclerosis, plaque builds up in the arteries and there is an increased risk for heart attack. Additionally, the American Lung Association states that marijuana contains 33 cancer-causing chemicals.

Dubeck said research about second-hand marijuana smoke is still new.

“As more states consider legalizing marijuana, research in the field is increasing,” he said.

Legal, yet restricted

Several states have already legalized the drug for recreational use. One of those states, Colorado, explains the law on Colorodo.gov: “Retail marijuana is intended for private, personal use.

Marijuana may not be consumed open-

ly or publicly.” If properly enforced, nonsmokers typically would have a choice about exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke.

The danger of second-hand tobacco smoke has been well established to the point of banning tobacco smoking in most public places, Dubeck said. However, public entrances are still polluted by people smoking cigarettes, and nonsmokers inhale some of the toxins.

Therefore, it is important to know about the dangers of second-hand marijuana smoke as we may unintentionally come in contact with it. In addition, marijuana has been smoked at various concerts and events for years in spite of laws prohibiting such activity.

Dubeck cautions, “Being at an event where marijuana is in the air may be as harmful as a smoke-filled room.”

He suggests individuals decide if “the potential risks are worth the perceived benefit.”

Published studies have not looked into third-hand marijuana smoke.

Research studies have shown that third-hand cigarette smoke is harmful.

Future research may determine that annoying odor of marijuana on the clothes of a friend, bar patron or classmate may actually harm you.

Dubeck concisely shares the most important message: “Your body’s initial reaction to inhaling smoke of any kind (coughing, gagging and choking) should tell you something without a scientific study.”

U.S. birth rate hits all-time low

T

he U.S. birth rate reached an alltime low in 2013, as the number of babies born in the country declined for the sixth straight year since the peak in 2007, a new report finds.

The country’s birth rate dipped to 62.5 births per 1,000 women between ages 15 and 44, according to a Dec. 4 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is 10 percent lower than the birth rate in 2007, which was 69.3 per 1,000 women, and a record low since the government started tracking birth rates in 1909, when birth rate was 126.8.

In 2013, there were 3.93 million babies born in the U.S., down less than 1 percent from 2012, and down 9 percent from 2007, when a record-breaking 4.32 million babies were born in the U.S. But trends in the birth rate varied among age groups. Among women

January 2015 •

under age 30, childbearing is on the decline, whereas it continues to rise among women older than 30, in line with the general trend over the last three decades. In fact, 2013 birth rates for women aged 35 and over was “at the highest levels seen in approximately 50 years,” the researchers wrote in their report.

In 2013, the birth rate for women aged 35-39 reached 49.3 births per 1,000, and for women aged 30–34, the rate reached 98 births per 1,000, both small increases from the previous year.

The rate for women aged 40 to 44 was unchanged from the previous year, at 10.4 births per 1,000, whereas for women aged 45 to 49 the birth rate increased from 0.7 to 0.8 per 1,000.

In contrast, among teenagers the birth rate fell 10 percent from 2012, dropping to 26.5 births per 1,000.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 9

Diet & Nutrition Your Serving of Dairy News

By Victoria Treadwell

The Yogurt Craze A new ‘culture’ of healthy food choices is taking place

W

ell, it’s that time of year again for resolutions.

Studies show most resolutions call for people to lose weight and get healthier.

Yogurt is a product that can help you stay on track with your weight goal. With all the choices and flavors from yogurt brands, there’s plenty to satisfy you.

Yogurt is gaining in popularity as more Americans are becoming aware of its nutritional value.

What is yogurt?

Yogurt is a mixture of milk (whole, reduced fat, low fat or non-fat) and cream fermented by a culture of lactic acid-producing bacteria.

Yogurt contains at least 3.25 percent milk fat and 8.25 percent milk solids non-fat. The optional flavoring ingredients, such as honey, sugars and fruit, along with the dairy mixture must be pasteurized or ultra pasteur-

ized. Milk in most yogurts is homogenized before the mixing process.

Some yogurts carry a seal on the label indicating the yogurt contains a significant level of live, active cultures.

Yogurt plays a role in providing a source of calcium, riboflavin and protein. Make sure to check the nutrition facts panel on product labels for the nutritional content Treadwell of specific products.

The benefit of yogurt is it provides protein, calcium, vitamins and other minerals. Numerous health benefits beyond its nutritional value have been associated with consuming yogurt.

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

What makes romaine so remarkable

A

h, January…month of snug waistbands and shirts that won’t button, no thanks to the endless supply of goodies over the holidays. But the eating season has come to a close and we all know what that means: Time to get back in the saddle and “eat clean” for a while until those favorite jeans fit again.

My favorite go-to “clean” food is lettuce; and of all the varieties, romaine finds its way onto my plate more than any others. Crunchy like iceberg, but much more nutritious because of its darker green color, romaine delivers the goods: it’s tasty, it’s super low in calories, and it’s loaded with nutrients.

To begin, romaine is a vitamin A heavyweight, providing over 100 percent of our daily needs in an average serving (about two cups). A nutrient we can’t live without, vitamin A benefits the body in several ways: it promotes good vision; it helps keep our immune system healthy; and it’s needed for normal bone growth and proper tooth development. While deficiencies are rare in countries like ours, they do occur and typically present with a decreased ability to see in dim light.

Romaine also packs an impressive vitamin K punch, knocking off over Page 10

•

Scientists have found that the intake of yogurt with live, active cultures may aid with digestion, ease diarrhea, boost immunity, fight infection and protect against cancer. Benefits vary on the strain and viability of the culture in the yogurt.

Yogurt is beneficial for individuals with lactose intolerance. Many yogurts contain lower amounts of lactose than milk. When lactose ferments, some of the lactose changes to lactic acid.

Starter cultures in yogurt may produce the enzyme lactase, which digests lactose. Yogurt’s semi-solid state contributes to improve the tolerance to lactose.

Creamy Roasted Beet Soup with FAGE Total INGREDIENTS — 4 large or 6 small red beets — 2 tbsp butter

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

• Victoria Treadwell is one of 35 county dairy princesses involved in the New York State Dairy Princess and Promotion Program. The purpose of the program is to promote the dairy industry and increase milk and dairy product sales, and is funded by local dairy farmers through their check-off investments in the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, Inc.

serving), this delicious green, with its incredibly high water content, keeps me hydrated, happy and full.

Helpful tips Choose crisp, compact heads of romaine lettuce that are free of holes or discoloration. To help romaine last longer in the fridge: cut off the core, separate the leaves, wash it, pat it dry, then wrap it with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Store away from ethylene-producing fruits, such as apples, bananas and pears, since they will cause the leaves to turn brown. Limp leaves can be revived by immersing them in ice water for a few minutes.

Charred Romaine with Gorgonzola and Toasted Pecans 100 percent of our daily needs with just a few cups. Vitamin K, which helps blood clot properly, is a key ingredient in maintaining strong, healthy bones. As a middle-aged boomer with budding osteoporosis, I’m always looking for foods that will fortify my bones.

I also reach for romaine because it’s a decent source of two more vital nutrients: folic acid (a B vitamin that reduces the risk of birth defects and may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke) and heart-healthy fiber (2 grams per serving).

Romaine is not only my go-to “clean” food during January, it’s also my yearlong salad staple. Remarkably low in calories (only 15 per average

— ½ tsp salt — Small shallot, minced — 3 cups vegetable broth — 2 tsp fresh thyme — 1 bay leaf — ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper — ¼ cup FAGE Total Classic, FAGE Total 2% or FAGE Total 0%, plus a dollop for garnish DIRECTIONS — Preheat oven to 400 degrees — Wrap each beet in tin foil and roast for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender. Set aside and allow to cool. Once cooled at room temperature, peel and cut into large chunks.

— In a medium to large sauce pot over medium heat, sauté the shallots, butter and salt until translucent. Cook for approximately 3 to 5 minutes.

— Add the vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, pepper and beets to the pot.

Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

— Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until beets are tender enough to purée.

Remove pot from stove to cool.

— Purée soup in batches in a blender or use an immersion blender.

Return puréed soup to pot and do not place on heat.

— Stir in FAGE Total. To serve, garnish with a dollop of FAGE Total.

Adapted from Bon Appetit Serves 4 3 cups crumbled Gorgonzola cheese ½ cup light mayonnaise ½ cup plain yogurt ¼ cup water 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional) 2 heads of romaine lettuce, outer leaves removed, halved lengthwise 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil Kosher salt ½ cup pecan halves, toasted, coarsely chopped Blend 1½ cups cheese, mayonnaise, and yogurt in food processor. Add 1/4 cup water, garlic and hot pepper sauce;

blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead.

Cover; chill. Whisk before using.)

Prepare grill for medium-high heat.

Drizzle cut sides of romaine with oil; season with salt. Grill, cut side down, until charred, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill just until warmed through, about 30 seconds.

Place romaine on plate, charred side up, and drizzle dressing over lettuce. Sprinkle with pecans and remaining cheese.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, 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.

Healthcare in a Minute

Diet & Nutrition The Balanced Body

By George Chapman

U.S. still No. 1 in healthcare spending

By Deb Dittner

Empower yourself!

Medical inflation runs rampant

O

ur annual spending on healthcare increased 3.6 percent in 2013, which has been about average since 2009.

We spent $2.9 trillion or $9,255 per person in 2013 to once again retain the dubious No. 1 ranking in the cost of care among developed countries.

Healthcare spending is 17.4 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

Many experts attribute the historically modest increases to lingering effects of the recession.

The fear is that as the economy picks up, so will the annual increase in healthcare spending. Despite another year of modest medical inflation (3.6 percent) most likely your premium (through the exchange or through your employer) for next year will increase two to three times the medical inflation rate.

Almost half of that increase is attributable to taxes on insurers for: Obamacare subsidies, number of participants or insured in their plan and health information technology. Insurers must charge the same for comparable plans offered on the exchange or through employers.

New book out on healthy food choices

M

y recently released book, “Body Balance Empowering Performance,” is a product of the passionate work I have dedicated to my career.

I hope to provide you the reader, the athlete, the coach, the parent, the team, the athletic trainer, and the weekend warrior, with information necessary to make the best-educated decisions on lifestyle changes for a healthier, more balanced you.

There’s a lot of information out there, some contradictory, seemingly produced daily. I’m here to help you sort through that ever-changing information and Dittner determine what works best for you, the individual.

The intention of this book is to empower each and every person to take control of his or her dream — whatever that might be — so at the end of the day you can say, “I did everything I could do to be the best I can be.”

I also want to provide the needed information for you to make very educated decisions when it comes to the fuel you put into your body — your temple — and for you to dig deep into looking at your life style, what you are eating, and if it’s working for or against you.

Sharing information about all the things that I love about health is my passion.

Health is a blending of many things — the food we eat, the thoughts we think, the relationships we nurture, the exercise we provide for our body, the profession and pastimes we devote ourselves to, and the passionate commitment of our souls.

All of these things take love, dedication, and compassion to balance our health and happiness.

What motivates me to continue to do what I do best are those who I have guided to a better life from athletes to diabetics to obese people to those who want to live to a ripe old age with the fewest problems possible.

‘Eating clean’

Our nutrition, our eating clean, the wholesome foods that we put into our body is what motivates me to educate each and every one of you.

When I talk about eating clean, a part of me comes out that is pure

enthusiasm. I’ve instilled into my children that eating clean is a way of life and our kitchens are our wellness centers.

Where there is food, there’s life. It’s what carries us on to bigger and better and more fulfilled lives.

Creating balance in our lives is a step-by-step process that simply doesn’t happen overnight. This process needs to be developed and nurtured.

Following your passion, being true to yourself and working hard toward your goals will bring you to that reality.

The mission here is quite simple.

My vision is to help empower all people. “Body Balance Empowering Performance” will help you look at things a bit differently and help guide you along in your journey no matter what it might be. My goal is to explain nutrition in the simplest way using basic common sense so you will have the knowledge to consciously choose foods wisely.

Purchasing information can be found at the Northshire Bookstore: http://www.northshire.com/ book/9781605712260 and by visiting my website at http://www.the-balanced-body.com/body-balance-empowering-performance/.

I am also available for speaking engagements for groups, schools/colleges, and athletic teams, and can be contacted at 518-596-8565.

• Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner specializing in Reiki and holistic nutrition. Visit her at www.The-Balanced-Body.com.

Retail clinics gaining acceptance.

Walgreens, RiteAid, CVS and Target all offer primary care services.

The Advisory Board, a healthcare consultancy group, surveyed users of these retail clinics and found the following to be the main reasons for user satisfaction: centralized online scheduling, extended hours, price transparency, less than 30 minutes waiting time and a broad range of services.

Some see these clinics as a threat to traditional private practices and others see them as the future of primary care and a way to mitigate the shortage of primary caregivers.

In any event, these successful and growing companies have seized upon opportunity in the market and are becoming more popular with consumers.

2014 is active year for hospital mergers. Odds are if your favorite hospital hasn’t already merged with another hospital or hospital system, it may do so in the next couple of years.

2014 was a busy year in the industry for healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Worldwide, healthcare related deals reached $438 billion, which is about 14 percent of all mergers and acquisition business.

Hospitals also continued to gobble up physician practices to shore up their market share and achieve operating efficiencies.

Rural hospitals continue to be most at risk if they continue to stand alone.

There are too many hospital beds in the US and mergers/acquisitions often result in the reduction of beds. Twenty years ago there were about one million licensed beds in the US. Today, there are about 800,000 and on an average day, 35 percent are vacant/unused.

January 2015 •

Integrating your medical device with your EHR. There are a lot of personal medical devices on the market ranging from heart, blood pressure and sugar monitors to Fitbits. iHealth is a leading developer in taking these devices a step further by integrating the information from them with your electronic medical record. iHealth is working with Apple, Duke, Stanford and Epic, which is the largest EHR vendor in the country. Critics caution that while the intent is great, already over taxed clinicians could be further overwhelmed with this additional data.

Paying upfront. More and more providers are requiring their patients to pay their deductible or coinsurance upfront prior to an elective procedure.

In the past, the provider would bill the insurance company after the procedure was performed.

The insurance company would pay the provider the negotiated fee less whatever the patient owes in deductible or coinsurance. The provider would then, in turn, bill the patient.

However, with 20 percent of us now having a high deductible plan, bad debt for providers has increased significantly. Consequently, they are requiring payment up front. Many hospitals offer payment plans directly or through outside loaners like Banker’s Healthcare Group.

Future of Obamacare. Republicans now control both houses in Congress.

They are proposing to repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical device sales, which will cut $30 billion in revenue over the next 10 years from the Affordable Care Act forcing the administration to find alternatives.

Experts predict that this cut alone, if not replaced, could increase premiums by 45 percent.

The GOP also wants to increase the work week definition (hours an employee works per week to receive health insurance from their employer) from 30 hours to 40 hours. The Congressional Budget Office estimates one million people would lose their employer based coverage if hours were increased to 40.

Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the federal government offering tax payer subsidized insurance rates through the 34 federally run exchanges. The 16 state-run exchanges could continue to do so.

GEORGE W. CHAPMAN is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Upstate New York.

To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Business Spotlight Inertia Wellness Center Utica

By Patricia J. Malin

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hen it comes to providing physical and occupational therapy to their clients, Raymond Alessandrini and Richard Panetta believe in thinking outside the proverbial box.

They founded Inertia Wellness Center in Utica to provide rehabilitation care that is uniquely tailored to each individual, whether it’s a child with disabilities, a worker recovering from an injury or accident, or support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Alessandrini is a licensed occupational therapist, while his partner, Panetta, has a clinical doctorate degree in physical therapy.

“Our idea is to offer a variety of services,” said Panetta. This includes pain management, aquatic therapy, lymphedema treatment and management, spinal treatment and functional job capacity evaluation.

Start with the fact that their wellness center is housed in an unconventional place at 505 Roberts St. in west Utica. It’s a century-old brick building in the “arts district” on Roberts Street, a small street that runs between Lincoln Avenue and State Street.

Inertia Wellness Center is an example of the pair’s dedication to detail, as well as their imagination.

They are both former employees of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group. In 2011, they decided to go into business together. Panetta and Alessandrini looked for commercial office space in the usual locations in the suburbs.

Then they learned the historic and solid structure on Roberts Street was available.

“It used to be the home of the Fred Divine Co. and they were known worldwide for manufacturing fishing rods,” Panetta said.

Divine began making fishing rods in the 1870s and held several U.S. patents. He died unexpectedly on March 17, 1900, at the age of 44, following

a tragic accident at the factory. His widow and his brother continued the factory until 1955, Panetta noted.

The building was abandoned for decades. Alessandrini and Panetta bought the building and spent more than a year refurbishing it before opening in October 2013.

They even included a plaque and memorial to Divine and decorated the place with famous quotations that refer to inertia, momentum and energy.

One of their favorite inscriptions comes from Einstein, who once said in relation to physics, “Nothing happens until something moves.” The quote, nevertheless, seems to apply to physical therapy.

“We could have located someplace else but we fell in love with this place,” said Panetta. Despite the major reconstruction of the North-South Arterial that has contributed to noise and traffic problems throughout this year and continuing next year, he said Inertia’s customers share their interest in restoring the location and patronizing the business.

“We service customers who live close by,” Panetta noted. “We get people from the Kennedy Apartments (on Court Street) and professionals from west Utica. We fill a niche.”

Experience factor

Alessandrini, who is licensed by New York state, has been practicing 22 years. In addition to his work at Inertia, he teaches health life studies and occupational therapy part-time at Utica College.

He provides a number of common occupational therapy interventions. He is a certified lymphedema specialist, which involves helping individuals, usually seniors, who have circulatory problems in their hands, feet and legs. Lymphedema also contributes to vascular problems in women who are battling breast cancer.

Alessandrini said therapy can also be a tool used to help children with developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and

Ray Alessandrini, left, joins Richard Panetta at Inertia Therapy. autism, and help them integrate into school and social situations. The children come to Inertia to play.

“They work on their balance.

They’ll toss balls or swing a bat at balloons or go ‘fishing’ (for objects in a plastic pond),” Alessandrini explained.

“This helps them with their balance and coordination.”

Panetta, who began his career in physical therapy 23 years ago, specializes in pediatrics, gerontology, sports medicine and outpatient rehabilitation.

He said Inertia has a contract with the New York state office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation. This agency offers access to a full range of employment and independent living services that might be needed by persons with disabilities.

Other patients come to Inertia for physical and occupational therapy to treat injuries sustained on the job. This can include a wide range of issues, from carpal tunnel syndrome to recovery from a serious workplace accident.

“We determine (a worker’s) functional job capacity and their physical abilities,” said Panetta. “This is common for those with head injuries and it’s covered by workers compensation.”

Panetta also teaches physical therapy at Utica College. In his spare time, he teaches adaptive paddling and is involved with the local wheelchair athletes training for the Boilermaker Road Race.

Inertia Therapy has plenty of space for additional services on the second floor, which is serviced by an old-fashioned, glass-front elevator. In restoring the building upstairs, Panetta and Alessandrini divided the large spaces into individual rooms, complete with antique wooden classroom doors that came from a college.

“There are just two of us here now, but maybe after another year we can provide office space for other part-time therapists,” said Alessandrini. “We don’t need more space, but maybe we can offer space for counseling or for a private practice.”

Recently, Inertia teamed up with the owner of the Universal Yoga Center of New Hartford to provide a weekly yoga class at Roberts Street to enhance the “mind-body connection.”

Inertia Therapy is located one block south of Court Street and just a few blocks north of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and the Player’s Theatre.

New Study: Jogging keeps you young

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new study by researchers at Humboldt State University and the University of Colorado in Boulder is shedding light on an unexpected benefit of jogging in older adults.

The study looked at adults over the age of 65 —some of whom walk for exercise and some who run for exercise.

The researchers found that those who run at least 30 minutes, three times a week were less likely to experience age-related physical decline in walking efficiency than those who simply walked.

In fact, the older runners were 7-10 percent more efficient at walking than those who didn’t jog.

The paper was published online in Page 12

•

the journal PLOS ONE Nov. 20.

“What we found is that older adults who regularly participate in high aerobic activities — running in particular — have what we call a lower metabolic cost of walking than older, sedentary adults. In fact, their metabolic cost of walking is similar to young adults in their 20s,” said Justus Ortega, a Kinesiology Professor at Humboldt State and director of HSU’s Biomechanics Lab. Metabolic cost is the amount of energy needed to move and naturally increases as we age. High metabolic cost contributes to making walking more difficult and tiring.

Decline in walking ability is a key predictor of morbidity in older adults.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

In the study, researchers looked at self-reported older joggers over the age of 65 — those who ran at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week — and self-reported walkers, those who walked three times a week for 30 minutes.

Pick up the pace

Participants were asked to walk on a treadmill at three speeds (1.6, 2.8 and 3.9 miles per hour) as researchers measured their oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.

Overall, older joggers were 7-10 percent more efficient at walking than older adults who just walked for exercise. Their metabolic cost was similar to young people in their 20s.

Researchers aren’t yet sure what

makes joggers more efficient than walkers but they believe it may have something to do with the mitochondria found in cells. Evidence suggests that people who exercise vigorously have healthier mitochondria in their muscles.

“The bottom line is that running keeps you younger, at least in terms of efficiency,” said Rodger Kram, a professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a co-author of the paper.

Future studies are planned to examine whether other highly-aerobic activities—such as swimming and cycling—also mitigate age-related physical decline.

Lurking danger January: National Radon Action Month

By Barbara Pierce

H

omes in the Mohawk Valley are at high risk of having radon.

Radon is a hidden danger in your home — a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell or taste.

Radon is a health risk because it can be deadly. It is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. And the odds of surviving lung cancer are against you.

If your home has high radon levels, you are at high risk for developing lung cancer, especially if you or a family member smokes. Children are especially sensitive to damage from radon.

The Environmental Protection Agency has designated January as National Radon Action Month as the EPA and the U.S. surgeon general believe radon poses a significant health risk.

“We have high levels of radon in this area,” said Michael Smith of Smith Inspection Services in Sherrill. “All homes in this area should be inspected to see if they have radon.”

By now you may be wondering, “What is radon and why do I need a test for it?”

Or you may have heard of it, but haven’t taken action yet.

Here’s what could be lurking in your home: Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that comes from the decay of radium and uranium in soil, rocks and water. It occurs naturally in the earth, but can become a problem when it builds up indoors.

It seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, and joints, to get into the air you and your family breath. It can get into any type of building — homes, offices and schools — but you and your family are likely to get your greatest exposure at home, where you spend most of your time.

Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation.

Because of this difference in pressure, your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings.

Any home can have high radon levels, whether it is old or new, has a basement or is built on a slab.

Threat to health, life

All homes should be tested, but radon is especially dangerous if you have remodeled your basement into a living space as it is most prevalent in lower levels, says home builder George Mason of Randolph.

Radon gas is colorless and odorless, so the only way to know if your home has a problem is to test for it.

EPA recommends that you have a qualified radon mitigation contractor test and fix your home because lowering high radon levels requires specific technical knowledge.

Without the proper equipment or knowledge, you could actually increase your radon level or create other potential hazards and additional costs.

“The EPA says any level above 4 is dangerous and needs to be fixed,” said Smith. “Many of the homes I have tested have levels of 6.” Smith is certified by the New York State Department of

By Jim Miller

How to improve balance as you age Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve always been a walker, but when I fell last month my doctor suggested I start doing some balance exercises. Is this really something I need to practice? What can you tell me?

Avid Walker

One way to eliminate radon is to create a ventilation system that directs the deadly gas outside of the home.

Health as a certified radon tester.

“I do home inspections in Oneida and Madison counties, and have mapped out the homes I have inspected in those counties — which have high levels of radon and which do not,” Smith explained. “From my map, I can tell if you are in an area where you are likely to have a high level in your home.”

“Radon cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, which makes testing for this dangerous gas essential,” says the New York State Department of Health on its website. “Testing is simple and inexpensive, and New Yorkers should take every precaution to avoid exposure.”

Homeowners can test their homes at any time. However, it is best to do so during the heating season when homes typically let in less outdoor air.

Every home in New York should be tested and then tested again after remodeling, as testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk.

If a test shows elevated levels of radon, simple, inexpensive techniques may be all that is needed to reduce radon. There are several systems you can use to get rid of it, said Smith. He prefers a mitigation system that prevents radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the home and venting it through a pipe to the air outside the home.

When purchasing a home, Smith recommends a home inspection that includes radon testing. Radon testing costs $125. if the home is found to have radon, the seller is obligated to get rid of it, which costs considerably more than the test. An inspection looks for other health hazards in the home also, including mold, asbestos, leaks, structural defects and any potential problems.

For more information, contact the New York Department of Health Radon Program at 1-518-402-7556 or visit www.health.ny.gov/environmental/radiological/radon/radon.htm or www. epa.gov/radon.

Dear Walker, Most people don’t think much about practicing their balance, but you should, the same way that you walk to strengthen your heart, lungs and overall health, or you stretch to keep your body limber.

As we age, our balance declines — if it isn’t practiced — and can cause falls. Every year more than one in three people age 65 years or older fall, and the risk increases with age. A simple fall can cause a serious fracture of the hip, pelvis, spine, arm, hand or ankle, which can lead to hospital stays, disability, loss of independence and even death.

How balance works

Balance is the ability to distribute your weight in a way that enables you to hold a steady position or move at will without falling. It’s determined by a complex combination of muscle strength, visual inputs, the inner ear and the work of specialized receptors in the nerves of your joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons that orient you in relation to other objects.

It’s all sorted out in the sensory cortex of your brain, which takes in the information from those sources to give you balance. But aging dulls our balance senses and causes most seniors to gradually become less stable on their feet over time.

Poor balance can also lead to a vicious cycle of inactivity. You feel a little unsteady, so you curtail certain activities. If you’re inactive, you’re not challenging your balance systems or using your muscles. As a result, both balance and strength suffer. Simple acts like strolling through a grocery store or getting up from a chair become trickier.

That shakes your confidence, so you become even less active.

Balance exercises

If you have a balance problem that

January 2015 •

is not tied to illness, medication or some other specific cause, simple exercises can help preserve and improve your balance. Some basic exercises you can do anytime include: • One-legged stands: Stand on one foot for 30 seconds or longer, then switch to the other foot. You can do this while brushing your teeth or waiting around somewhere. In the beginning, you might want to have a wall or chair to hold on to.

• Heel rises: While standing, rise up on your toes as far as you can. Then drop back to the starting position and repeat the process 10 to 20 times. You can make this more difficult by holding light hand weights.

• Heel-toe walk: Take 20 steps while looking straight ahead. Think of a field sobriety test.

• Sit-to-stand: Without using your hands, get up from a straight-backed chair and sit back down 10 to 20 times. This improves balance and leg strength.

For additional balance exercises visit go4life.nia.nih.gov, a resource created by the National Institute on Aging that offers free booklets and a DVD that provides illustrated examples of many appropriate exercises. You can order your free copies online or by calling 800-222-2225.

Some other exercises that can help improve your balance and flexibility is through tai chi and yoga.

To locate a beginner’s class in your area that teaches either of these disciplines, call your local senior center, health club or wellness center, check your yellow pages or try online directory sites like americantaichi.net and yogafinder.com.

If nothing is available near you, there are DVDs and videos that offer tai chi and yoga instructions and routines for seniors that you can do at home. Some good resources for finding them are amazon.com, collagevideo. com and iefit.com, or check with your local public library.

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.

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

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

And the beat goes on

KIDS Corner

Masonic Medical Research Lab on cutting edge of heart research

By Patricia J. Malin

F

or all parents anxiously monitoring every precious breath from their newborn baby, it’s true that every heartbeat counts.

Unfortunately, a small percentage of babies die from sudden infant death syndrome and cardiac arrest.

Scientists at the Masonic Medical Research Lab in Utica are inching ever closer to preventing such tragedies by diagnosing the condition sooner and solving the mystery of atrial fibrillation.

About 260 community leaders recently attended the “Every Heartbeat Counts” celebration hosted by MMRL’s Cardiac Research Institute and raised $85,000 to support lifesavAntzelevitch ing research at the lab. All the funds stay in the local community and 84 cents of every $1 goes directly to support ongoing research at the MMRL. The gala at Mohawk Valley Community College’s Jorgensen Center served to recognize the contributions of the MMRL to the world of science and medicine as well as to highlight its prestigious research.

The MMRL is a nonprofit founded in 1958 by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York. As one of the preeminent cardiac research institutes worldwide, it focuses on research dealing with irregular heart rhythms responsible for atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death, including sudden infant death syndrome.

Charles Antzelevitch, MMRL executive director and director of research, discussed the significant advances by the lab staff in detecting childhood heart disease.

“There are many exciting developments,” he said, “What’s exciting is that we’re discovering the genes responsible for inherited cardiac arrhythmia that causes sudden infant death syndrome, and we hope it will be an effective combination for atrial fibrillation. We have already completed the clinical trials.”

DNA research the key

Thanks to DNA research, the detection of abnormalities in blood cells has been accelerated, which leads to earlier detection and treatment.

Got a story idea?

Call 749-7070!

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“We get blood samples from patients all over the world,” Antzelevitch added. “We isolate the DNA for white blood cells and screen the DNA for variations out of the normal.”

Atrial fibrillation is a major disease, affecting 2.7 million Americans, and causing dizziness, rapid and irregular heart beats, shortness of breath and fatal strokes.

“As a leading cause of death, it comes with aging, but we’d like to know how to prevent it,” he said.

Much of Masonic Lab’s current research focuses on developing new drugs to combat AF. But Masonic Lab researchers think the key to prevention might lie, in the future, with cloning hearts.

From studies done on mice, researchers believe they could clone healthy heart cells, inject them into the areas of the heart that have been damaged and restore heart muscle.

Building new hearts would start by taking heart cells from cadavers, Antzelevitch said. Through a process known as “decellularization” or tissue engineering, the lab is focused on ways to make the donor heart cells and tissue compatible with the recipient, thus avoiding the rejection that is a typical problem of transplants.

“This is the most exciting development in the history of the lab,” Antzelevitch said.

However, it could take another 10 to 15 years before a cloned heart is ready for transplant into a human, noted Myron Thurston, assistant director of development and communications.

Obviously, such painstaking research requires a lot of dollars to hire and train dedicated scientists, thus the need for fundraisers. Three scientists are currently working on this project.

In addition, MMRL provides a summer fellowship program for Utica College students specializing in biology and medicine.

MMRL scientists conduct research in a variety of disciplines, including molecular genetics, molecular biology, electrophysiology, stem cell research and organ and tissue bioengineering.

They also collaborate on research with a number of other institutions worldwide, such as the famous Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minn.

Antzelevitch, 63, has spent 37 years at the Masonic Research lab, including the last 30 as director. “I’m still going strong,” he said.

“Yes, I am an administrator, but I also try to spend my time designing the (research) data, interpreting the data and assigning what to do next,” he added.

He has published his own research on sudden infant death syndrome.

Thanks to some short- and long-term goals, he has no plans to retire for at least a few more years.

As he explained, “I’d like to be able to build new hearts for patients awaiting hearts.”

Study: Higher birth weight means better school performance

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

t’s no secret that low-birth-weight babies face significantly greater risks for certain health problems early on, such as respiratory distress or infection.

Now, a new study from researchers at the University of Florida and Northwestern University shows that lower weights at birth also have an adverse effect on children’s performance in school, which is likely due to the early health struggles small babies often face.

Using a unique set of data that matched birth and school records from 1.6 million children born in Florida between 1992 and 2002, the researchers found that the higher the weight at birth, the better children performed on reading and math tests in school. The findings held true throughout elementary school and into middle school regardless of the quality of the schools children attended.

These findings held true when socioeconomic and demographic factors were equal among children’s families, said Jeffrey Roth, Ph.D., a research professor of pediatrics in the UF College of Medicine and a co-author of the study.

But when socioeconomic factors and demographics are not equal, higher birth weights don’t always translate to better performance in school.

For example, lower-birth-weight babies of highly educated parents tend to perform better in school than heavier babies of high school dropouts because the educational level of a child’s mother is a stronger predictor of school success, Roth said. But when researchers compare children with similar family

backgrounds, birth weight plays a key role in predicting future school success.

“We tend to think that good schools are places where struggling kids get special attention and motivated teachers can correct any problems with learning,” he said. “This research indicates that is not always the case.

Good schools are good for everyone, but even the best schools don’t seem to differentially help kids with early health disadvantage.”

Suicide risk falls following talk therapy

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epeat suicide attempts and deaths by suicide were roughly 25 percent lower among a group of Danish people who underwent voluntary short-term psychosocial counseling after a suicide attempt, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthled research suggests.

The findings are believed to be the first to show that talk therapy-focused suicide prevention actually works, averting future suicide attempts in this very high-risk population. Although just six to 10 talk therapy sessions were provided, researchers found long-term bene-

fits: Five years after the counseling ended, there were 26 percent fewer suicides in the group that received treatment as compared to a group that did not.

A study on the findings is published online Nov. 24 inLancet Psychiatry.

“We know that people who have attempted suicide are a high-risk population and that we need to help them. However, we did not know what would be effective in terms of treatment,” says the study’s leader, Annette Erlangsen, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Mary in the Middle

Ask

The Social Security Office

By Mary Stevenson

New beginnings

M

oving after four years in one place is a pretty big deal.

For a time, we seemed to move once a year, for whatever reasons (mostly financial, but that’s an entirely different column).

This time, I had very few boxes that remained unpacked from the last move. Over the course of living in this house, I did consolidate and de-clutter several times. My mantra was, “If I haven’t seen, touched or used it in the last four years, I didn’t need it.” I unloaded a ton of stuff like that.

This time, I wasn’t smart enough to go through things before I moved. That would be the easier way to do things, right? I packed up Stevenson everything without looking into what I was really moving. I just wanted to get it to the new place and sort it out from there.

My back still thanks me for that wisdom. But I am getting through each box this time, slowly but surely, sitting on the floor of the barn while I do it.

Again, my back sends me gratitude every night.

A box of supplies and do-dads from my home office is what I hit first.

I need my desk, computer and sticky notes to earn a living. The computer was the first thing set up in the new house, even before the beds. Sad, I know. I remember when the bedroom and kitchen were the first rooms set up because they were the most important.

Now it’s the electronics and Internet service. My, how times have changed!

Anyway, back to the box of office accoutrements. I had writing reference books that were packed with the dust on them, photos in frames of my family and stacks and stacks of notebooks.

I am a notebook hoarder and did not really realize it until I had to unpack over 50 of them.

Many were as brand new as they could be after having sat for some

time. Some were journals I attempted so as to have a written record of my thoughts.

I was so good for the first few days, maybe even weeks. There were some I tried to jump right in from the last time — add an update and explain why I hadn’t written in a while. They were all pretty much the same.

I found one that I had started to keep when my husband and I were going through an in vitro fertilization treatment in 2010. It looks like I started it in 2009, when we decided to walk that path but hadn’t begun the actual process.

I had written baby names for boys and girls.

There were thoughts about if the end result were twins, triplets or more, and thoughts of my mental state (“I must be crazy!”) was written several times throughout the pages.

There were thoughts of how I was doing this for my husband, to give him a namesake. There was also a list of actions I wanted or needed to take to make life better, kind of like New Year’s resolutions but in September.

After all of that, here’s the point of my column. While New Year’s is the traditional time to quit smoking, eat healthier, stop swearing as much or love more, many of the good intentions never seem to last past March.

However, it’s never too late to start something new or to change a part of life that isn’t quite the way you had wanted it. If it doesn’t last more than a few weeks, try again. Or choose another habit to break or begin.

I am choosing to clean out one more box at a time, not to start another journal and to get my columns to my editor on time every month. OK wait. I resolve not to start another journal.

Baby steps. Baby steps.

• Mary Stevenson is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health.

Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

Doc: ‘Save time for yourself’ Continued from Page 4 Third, learn to watch your time and save time for yourself. That’s one of my weaknesses. This is a job that can consume you 24/7.

Yes, I have considered retirement.

I’ll be 71 in February. I wrote a retirement letter a year ago, but I haven’t submitted it yet.

Q.: What challenges do you foresee for medical professionals in the future?

A.: Medicine is changing very fast and it’s hard, in part caused by the

Affordable Care Act. There’s a demand for physicians in rural areas like this and we are undermanned. You’re going to need good computer skills. The paperwork is overwhelming and can be a major burden. One has to be prepared for that.

But I also see a lot of exciting things on the horizon. We will be seeing a greater exchange of medical records between patients and doctors, but that can put a lot of burden on the doctor because of the time required to respond to patient inquiries.

Column provided by the local Social Security Office

Unflinching in fight against fraud

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f you’re like most people, you protect what’s valuable to you.

To protect your family financially, you buy health and life insurance.

To protect your home, you get homeowner’s insurance, a security alarm or perhaps a large dog. To protect your jewelry, you hide it in a safe place or buy insurance in case you need to replace it. To protect your money, you invest it, perhaps in a bank that offers FDIC coverage.

Social Security is much the same.

We value the people we serve, our employees who work hard to provide world-class customer service and the integrity of our programs. We protect these by using many tools to identify, prevent and stop fraud, and we seek the maximum punishment for those who commit it.

The tools we use help us predict where fraud may occur and, by moni-

Q&A

Q: I’m creating my budget for 2015.

How much will my benefit increase at the beginning of the year?

A: The monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for nearly 64 million Americans will increase by 1.7 percent in 2015. This annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is tied to the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. This New Year, you can enjoy your COLA starting in January.

Q: I’d like to change the healthcare coverage that I signed up for through Healthcare.gov. How can I do that?

A: The open enrollment period for Affordable Healthcare coverage takes place from Nov. 15, 2014 to Feb. 15, 2015. During this four-month period, you can enroll in a new plan or change current plans using the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace. To continue health coverage in 2015, simply renew the current health plan or choose a new plan through the Marketplace between now and Feb. 15, 2015. Once the open enrollment deadline passes, the only way to get coverage for 2015 is to qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period” due to a qualifying life event as specified by HealthCare.gov. You have four months to decide what type of coverage you want, but the sooner you act, the sooner you will enjoy the security of affordable healthcare.

Q: I went back to work after retiring, but now the company I work for is downsizing. I’ll be receiving unemployment benefits in a few weeks. Will this affect my retirement benefits?

January 2015 •

toring cases closely, we identify fraud sooner rather than later. We also have stiff penalties that discourage people from committing fraud.

Social Security has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud. While we cannot prevent every instance of fraud any more than law enforcement can prevent all crime, we aggressively investigate and pursue prosecution of those who try to cheat the system. Our message to those who would defraud Social Security is clear: We will find you; we will prosecute you; we will seek the maximum punishment allowable under the law; and we will fight to restore to the American public the money you’ve stolen.

Social Security takes fraud seriously and so should you. If you suspect someone is committing Social Security fraud, report it online at http://oig.ssa. gov/report or call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.

A: When it comes to retirement benefits, Social Security does not count unemployment as earnings, so your retirement benefits will not be affected.

However, any income you receive from Social Security may reduce your unemployment benefits. Contact the state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction to your unemployment compensation.

Q: I was wounded while on military service overseas. What are the benefits for wounded warriors, and how can I apply?

A: Through the Wounded Warrior program, Social Security expedites processing of disability claims of current military service members or veterans disabled while on active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001. Also, service members and veterans who have a Veterans Administration compensation rating of 100 percent Permanent and Total (P&T) may receive expedited processing of applications for Social Security disability benefits. Keep in mind, this expedited process applies to only the application for benefits. To be eligible for benefits, you must meet Social Security’s strict definition of “disability,” which means: • You must be unable to do substantial work because of your medical condition(s); and • Your medical condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year or to result in death.

You can apply online at www. socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability or call our toll-free number, 1-800-7721213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

You can find more information for veterans at www.socialsecurity.gov/ people/veterans.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

H ealth News Go Red For Women campaign readies to launch Maria and Louis Brindisi have been named corporate co-chairwoman and co-chairman of the American Heart Association’s 2015 Go Red For Women luncheon in Utica.

Highlights of the campaign include National Wear Red Day® on Feb. 6, the Circle of Red and Men Go Red groups, and the Have Faith in Heart multicultural outreach program.

The campaign culminates with the Go Red For Women luncheon on May 6.

Maria spent more than 25 years in the auto service industry before becoming the assistant to the mayor of Utica, then director of the Upstate New York Special Olympics. Louis has practiced as a trial lawyer for 54 years and is with Brindisi, Murad, Brindisi & Pearlman, LLP. Both Maria and Louis lost their fathers to heart disease.

For more information on the Go Red For Women movement in the Mohawk Valley and how to get involved, contact Go Red For Women director Anne Sullivan at 315-580-3961.

AHA accepting applications for grants For the first time, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association is accepting applications for community impact grants online.

Community impact grants help local organizations start or continue programs that have a positive impact on the heart health of the Greater Utica area.

The AHA/ASA has recognized the need to fund and to partner with community-based organizations that are working toward their mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Many local groups are working, or would like to work, on projects that would result in improvements in the cardiovascular health of children, families and the community in general.

This funding will help to ensure activities continue and that new, creative projects and partnerships are developed in the Greater Utica area. The AHA in Utica will receive $50,000 that will provide funding for community-based organizations in the Greater Utica area.

New this year, interested organizations can get a grant application at http://heartofuticagrants.heart.org as well as information on grant eligibility, programs of focus, criteria, and a pre-application worksheet. The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 31.

For additional information, call the AHA at 315-580-3964.

SDMG names its employee of year Jennifer Jones was recently named employee of the year for 2014 at Slocum-Dickson Medical Group PLLC, New Hartford.

Jones began her career with SDMG in 2001 as a medical records clerk.

In 2006, she took a position as a medical assistant in the dermatology department. In 2008, she returned to the health information services department Page 16

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as a medical records scanner.

Jones was promoted to the position of release of information coordinator in 2011 where she continues today.

She was nominated for this honor by her suJones pervisor who describes Jones as a dedicated and dependable employee who has greatly improved the level of customer service in the department.

New OB-GYN doctor at SDMG Sunday Asaju will be joining Slocum-Dickson Medical Group on Jan. 5 in the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology.

Asaju is returning to Central New York where he practiced medicine for over 18 years prior to moving out of state.

Asaju specializes in comprehensive gynecologic and obstetrical services.

He is boardAsaju certified in obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has over 28 years of medical experience.

He is a diplomate of the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

He completed his fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

He completed his residency in OBGYN at New York Medical College/ Metropolitan Hospital in New York City and earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago in Chicago, Ill. Asaju completed additional training in medical acupuncture at the Helm’s Medical Institute in Berkeley, Calif.

He has also earned a master’s degree in medical management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a Masters of Business Administration from Syracuse University Whitman School of Business.

In addition to his medical practice, Asaju is a clinical assistant professor of OB-GYN at the SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse.

New radiologist arrives at SDMG Scott Peplinski will be joining Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in New Hartford on Jan. 5 in the radiology department.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

St. E’s celebrates 148th anniversary St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica celebrated its 148th anniversary Dec. 12 by honoring an employee and a recipient of its community award. Following a founder’s day service in the medical center chapel, The Genesis Group received the Founder’s Day Community Award and Theresa Brindisi received the Mother Bernardina Award, which is named after the medical center’s founder and is presented to an employee. Medical center employees choose the winner of this award for significant contributions to the medical center, exemplifying its mission, vision and philosophy and for always going the extra mile. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites business and community leaders who work to advance regional economic, social and cultural interests, and to advance unity across the Mohawk Valley region. In photo above, Ray Durso, Jr., left, accepts the SEMC Founder’s Day Community Award from Robert Scholefield, senior vice president of operations at Mohawk Valley Health System, center, and Brindisi accepts the 2014 Mother Bernardina Award.

Peplinski is a board-certified radiologist with over 10 years of experience.

He specializes in body imaging, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and breast imaging.

Peplinski completed his diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Massachusetts Peplinski School of Medicine in Worcester, Mass. and his internal medicine internship at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa. Peplinski earned his doctorate of medicine from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. Peplinski is a member of the American College of Radiology and is credentialed and experienced in the use of all imaging modalities. He is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and received an American College of Radiology certificate of proficiency in breast MRI with guided biopsy.

Kids Oneida appoints new CEO/executive director Steven Bulger is the new CEO/executive director of Kids Oneida.

He has held the posts since Jan. 1, 2014 on an interim basis.

Bulger has been employed at Kids Oneida since August 2005 and was originally hired as a family service coordinator.

He was instrumental in the development of the Return Home Early project in 2008 and later promoted to director of operations in 2010.

“Steve Bulger’s knowledge of all facets of the organization was without a doubt the deciding factor in his appointment.

Bulger Steve’s energetic approach will ensure our commitment to the children and families we serve for years to come,” said Russ Dalia, president of the Kids Oneida board of directors.

Continued on Page 17

H ealth News Continued from Page 16 Bulger is a native of Oneida County with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Niagara University and a Master of Business Administration from SUNY IT. He and his wife Laura have two young children, Breana and Stevie.

Kids Oneida is a nonprofit provider of community-based services for families at risk in the Mohawk Valley.

Diabetes prevention workshops on tap One in three Americans has pre-diabetes.

Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, many will develop Type 2 diabetes within three years.

If you have pre-diabetes, the National Diabetes Prevention Program offered at Oneida Healthcare, through Hamilton Family Health Center and in the Cazenovia area, can help you make lasting lifestyle changes to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Participants will work in a group with a trained coach to learn how to eat healthier and add physical activity to help lower weight and blood glucose levels.

The reduction of chronic diseases such as diabetes is a priority in the Madison County community health improvement plan.

The groups will meet once a week for 16 weeks, then once a month for six months to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. The program is based on research that found people with pre-diabetes can cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in half by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. There will not be a cost to participants.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and the New York State Health Foundation in collaboration with Herkimer County Healthnet support the program.

Workshops will start in January in locations in Madison County.

To learn more about the National Diabetes Prevention Program and register for a program near you, call the Madison County Rural Health Council at 315-726-4869.

MVHS, ACP welcome family nurse practitioners Adirondack Community Physicians recently welcomed three new family nurse practitioners.

Susan Burgess is in a float position and both Cristin Kirkland and Jennifer D’Onofrio are working out of the ACP Whitesboro Medical Office.

Prior to this position, Burgess was employed as a family nurse Burgess practitioner at Exam Management Services Inc. in Irving, Texas and as a registered nurse clinical examiner at Excelsior College in Albany.

She also previously worked at both the St. Elizabeth Medical Group and ACP offices in Barneveld.

Burgess earned her post-master’s certificate FNP from Sage College, Troy, her master’s degree/adult nurse practitioner and bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNYIT, Utica, and her RN diploma from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Utica.

Prior to this position, Kirkland served as a nurse manager and a registered staff nurse at St. Luke’s Home.

She earned her accelerated bachelor’s/ master’s degree in nursing, family nurse practitioner, at SUNYIT, Utica and an associate’s degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica.

Prior to this position, D’Onofrio was employed as a registered nurse on the intensive care unit and on the medical-surgical/oncology unit at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

D’Onofrio earned her Master of Science Family Nurse Practitioner and Bachelor of Science degree from SUNYIT, Utica; her Associate of Applied Science from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, Utica; and her Bachelor of Science in health and human D’Onofrio studies from Utica College of Syracuse University.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and SEMC are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

MVHS names communications leaders Mohawk Valley Health System in Utica recently made the following staff announcements: • Sandra Fentiman has been named manager of communications and marketing at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and community outreach for Mohawk Valley Health System.

Prior to this position, she was manager of Fentiman marketing, public relations and government affairs at SEMC since 2006.

Before joining SEMC, Fentiman was director of alumni and media relations at USC The Business College, Utica; director of public relations and development assistant at Folts Homes, Herkimer; and was business editor and a bureau reporter at The Observer-Dispatch.

Fentiman holds a bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. and an associate’s degree in liberal arts and humanities from Schenectady County Community College, in Schenectady.

Fentiman’s office is located at the

Tree of Lights campaign commends honoree 2014 Rome Twigs’ Tree of Lights campaign honoree Dr. Paul Temple holds up the commemorative plaque he was awarded prior to the lighting of the tree. More than 250 attended the event that raised more than $11,100 to benefit the Twigs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to support Rome Memorial Hospital. This year’s fundraising campaign was dedicated to Temple for his many years of service to the hospital. Temple was given the honor of flipping the switch to light the tree that has been a visible symbol of the season at the hospital since 1989.

St. Elizabeth Campus and she can be reached at 315-798-8291 or email at sfentiman@stemc.org.

• Erin Gigliotti has been named manager of communications and marketing at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica and media specialist for MVHS. Prior to this position, she was a communications specialist for FSLH since 2008.

Before joining FSLH, she was an event manager at The Selva Group, a medical education company Gigliotti located in Saratoga Springs.

She was also previously employed at Upstate Cerebral Palsy as an event specialist.

Gigliotti holds a master’s degree in information design and technology from SUNYIT Utica/Rome in Marcy, and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications of Syracuse University in Syracuse.

Gigliotti’s office is located at the Faxton Campus and she can be reached at 315-624-5581 or email at egigliot@ mvnhealth.com.

FSLH and SEMC are affiliates under the MVHS.

January 2015 •

Hospital sewing group seeks new members The Pillow Ladies is a group of volunteers who meet monthly at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica to craft heart-shaped pillows.

Patients of the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute who have undergone major heart surgery use the pillows.

“During recovery, patients hold a heart pillow close to their chest, providing necessary support to their sternum or breastbone,” said Margaret Lalonde, who leads the group. “This can be especially helpful during coughing and breathing exercises, which help prevent fluid from building in the lungs.”

Many of the women have been members for several years, some since the group started more than 15 years ago. Those interested in donating time with the Pillow Ladies may call SEMC’s volunteer department at 315798-8275.

In addition, donations of fabric and sewing materials are always needed and may be taken to the main reception desk in the College of Nursing building, 2215 Genesee St., Utica.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and SEMC are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Continued on Page 18

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H ealth News FSLH hospitalist earns fellow designations

Continued from Page 17

FSLH’s OB-GYN Department receives award

Dialysis center working on Oneida location

Goutham Malempati, a hospitalist at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica, has received the designation of fellow in hospital medicine.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Also desigOB-GYN Department was recently nated a fellow in awarded the New York State Perinafamily medicine, tal Quality Collaborative Obstetrical Malempati has Improvement Project’s 2013 Quality been employed at Improvement Award.

FSLH since 2007.

The award supports the project’s These credentials mission of reducing scheduled delivwere presented eries without a medical indication beas a result of his tween 36 and before 39 weeks gestation experience as a through evidence-based guidelines that hospitalist for support clinical practices. many years and The NYSPQC is an initiative of the his participation New York State Department of Health in educational that aims to provide the best and safest programs decare for women and infants in the state. Malempati signed to enhance Ninety-seven New York state birthprofessional coming hospitals are participating in the petence and the quality of healthcare project.

It’s not easy is being a parent, but here’s something simple provided. you can do. Spend two The award given to facilities minutes twice a day making sure they brush; it could help save them from a lifetime earned his medical Malempati of toothhave pain. Make it fun, text MOUTH 97779 to join the 2MIN2X Challenge. whose teams reported fewerto than degree and bachelor’s degree from three scheduled deliveries without Mahadevappa Rampure Medical medical indication for all of 2013 or College in India.

He is board-certified the six-month period of July through in family medicine and is a graduate of December 2013. FSLH reported one the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Family scheduled delivery without a medical Medicine Residency Program. indication for the last six months of FSLH and St. Elizabeth Medical 2013.

Center are affiliates under the Mohawk The Birthplace at FSLH delivers Valley Health System. more than 2,000 babies each year.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica has signed a lease agreement allowing dialysis treatment to return to Oneida.

The FSLH Oneida Dialysis Treatment Center will be located in Oneida Plaza at 131 Main St. Following approval from the New York State Department of Health as well as construction, the goal is to have the new space completed by fall 2015.

It is anticipated the new dialysis unit will be open from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. with two shifts for patients, six days per week and there are plans to include 12 treatment stations.

The center at FSLH is the sole provider of dialysis treatment within a 25-mile radius of Utica and includes seven locations. As one of the largest hospital-based dialysis programs in the country, the center treats more than 450 patients and performs more than 70,000 dialysis treatments each year.

For more information, visit www. faxtonstlukes.com.

T:11.5”

Sodexo presents check to Country Pantry

efforts and in keeping with this time of thanks, Cindy Caggiano, general manager of Sodexo Senior Living at LutheranCare in Clinton, was able to recently present 125 pounds of non-perishable food and $100 to Country Pantry coordinator, Mary Zimbler.

The donations were received from the staff of LutheranCare, who were asked to drop off the items in marked barrels throughout the facilities in November.

The Country Pantry, now in its 39th year, serves those in need in Clinton, Clark Mills, Westmoreland, New Hartford and parts of Rome and Oriskany.

The number of families served on a regular basis has risen substantially over the years and is currently at 251, representing between 800 and 900 local men, women and children a month.

The pantry operates from the Church of the Annunciation on East South Street in Clark Mills and is supported by 13 local churches, including St. Mary’s in Clinton.

Working to fight hunger is part of Sodexo’s global Stop Hunger initiative and its overall effort to support the communities in which it operates.

For more information, contact Karen Ostinett, director of development at LutheranCare, at 315-235-7104.

Through Sodexo’s stop hunger

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Interested in becoming a friend and mentor to an individual with developmental disabilities?

The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC has full and part time openings in our residential programs in Oneida County Residence Counselor and Managers to assist the people we support achieve their personal life goals through development of individualized supports to help achieve their desired outcomes.

Goals may include housekeeping, money management and other daily life skills. You may accompany them on community outings such as sports events, dances and movies. Variety of shifts available including mornings, evenings, overnights and weekends. Requirements are a high school diploma/GED and a clean, valid NYS driver’s license and the desire to make a difference! Apply at: 241 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13501, email lrpavia@thearcolc.org, fax (315) 272- 1785. The Arc is a drug free work place and an equal opportunity employer. Check us out at www.thearcolc.org.

©2014 Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives. All Rights Reserved.

Message & Data Rates May Apply. Reply STOP to opt-out. We’ll text you 2 times a month. No purchase necessary. Terms and Privacy: http://2min2x.org/privacy-policy.

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Warm up to fitness

Winter weather shouldn’t put a damper on exercise efforts

By Traci DeLore

W

e’ve all heard the saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail,” and that saying is so true when it comes to keeping fit and active during the winter months, according to fitness experts.

While it may be a good workout, shoveling the driveway once or twice a week just isn’t enough.

“It’s so easy just to let the whole winter go by,” without getting in any real exercise or activity, said Chris Freytag, fitness expert, author, star of several workout DVDs, and founder of GetHealthyU.com.

Freytag, who lives in Minnesota, understands first hand just how hard it can be to get active during these colder, shorter days. “The winter time is hard because there’s just not much daylight,” she said. There aren’t as many spontaneous opportunities to get in some exercise like there are in the warmer months, she said. That’s why planning to work out is so crucial.

She suggests adding a layer of accountability to that planning by finding a workout buddy, hiring a personal trainer, or even connecting with other fitness-minded people on social media to help provide motivation to get those workouts done.

“Make exercise a non-negotiable part of your schedule,” advised Melanie Sarafin, certified Insanity, Turbo-

a meeting or social event, and stick to it.”

It doesn’t have to be an allor-nothing approach, Freytag cautioned. If 10 minutes is all you can fit in, she said, it’s a place to start.

Both Freytag and Sarafin advise people to keep an open mind when it comes to winter exercise.

If exercising outside is most appealing, consider walking, hiking, running, ice skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, said Sarafin. “Those are all really fun activities,” Freytag said.

“Many people wonder whether it’s safe to exercise outdoors during the cold weather, especially below freezing,” Sarafin said. “As a general rule, it is, but you will want to take certain precauMelanie Sarafin, right, owner of Fit-N-Fab Studio in tions and pay attention to signs Jordanville, keeps her class hopping during a recent and symptoms of specific cold weather dangers.” workout session.

Dress in layers, said Freytag, starting with a moisture-wicking Kick, and PiYo instructor and owner layer closest to the skin. The second of Fit–N-Fab Studio in Jordanville. layer should be an insulating layer, “If you struggle with time managesuch as fleece. Finally, don something ment, remember that exercise is every weather proof for the outer layer. Some bit as important as eating, sleeping spiky grips such as Yaxtrax added to and breathing. Schedule it into your your shoes will help ensure safe footappointment book the way you would ing on icy terrain, she added.

Other outdoor tips include wearing a hat, Sarafin said, as well as reflective clothing. Pay attention to dangerous weather conditions such as severe wind chill and make sure to properly hydrate.

“Staying hydrated is just as important during the cold weather as during hot weather,” she said.

If heading outdoors isn’t a good option, there are still plenty of options to work up a good sweat inside. “I tell people to explore movement,” Freytag said. “Do you like to dance? Do you like to spin? What do you like to do?”

Build an exercise program around what you enjoy doing and that helps change your mindset from “I have to do this” to “this is fun.”

Indoor options can range from taking a class at a local fitness studio, joining the YMCA to access the indoor pool, joining a gym, working out at home with a DVD, or even mall walking, Sarafin said.

The key, Freytag said, is to be willing to try a range of activities and workouts until you find the one that’s right.

Even those with an established fitness routine can benefit from having an open mind, Sarafin said. “If you generally workout during the morning, try a few days with an evening exercise routine. Mix up your aerobics and strength training as well,” she said.

Changing your workouts around a bit can help alleviate cabin fever.

Looking ahead to the New Year, a popular time for health and fitness resolutions, Freytag again cautioned against an all-or-nothing approach.

Instead of saying, “I have to lose 10 pounds” or “I have to stop eating cookies,” Freytag suggested making a “start doing” list. Add positive changes to that list.

ALL ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN CNY Grab a copy of the 2014 CNY Healthcare Guide at various doctors’ offices, hospitals, diners, dentists’ offices, libraries and many high traffic locations.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

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Spotlight on Nonprofits The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties Not just granting funds, but investing in the area’s future

By Mary Christopher

E

stablishing a healthy community improves the quality of life for everyone.

Few local organizations know that better than The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties.

As a constantly evolving nonprofit organization, the foundation has transitioned its mission and goals in recent years from being solely a grant-giving organization to a social impact investor.

By always looking at ways to address the area’s needs and challenges, the foundation is also building partnerships with other local agencies and organizations.

“This is a great time for The Community Foundation, as well as myself, and I like that,” said Peggy O’Shea, who retired as the organization’s president and CEO in December. “We know we are having a lasting impact and building a foundation for the future.”

Alicia Dicks took over the reins on Jan. 1. She will continue to carry out work already started, but recognizes the foundation must always adapt to changing environments and be flexible about embracing change.

“We have a beautiful blueprint open to build a new era,” Dicks said.

What is the Community Foundation?

The foundation provides grants to local schools, health agencies, arts venues, libraries and other nonprofit organizations. Funding comes in all forms, ranging from small donations to large philanthropic trusts and bequests.

To determine what needs the most attention in Oneida and Herkimer counties, the foundation uses data compiled by the Center for Government Research to bring clarity to issues that affect the quality of life in the community.

After looking at the data, it was decided that focus should be put on four Page 20

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priority areas of impact to strengthen in the Mohawk Valley.

They include economic development, education, health and arts and culture. Different initiatives are set up under each area to target specific needs. These changes and initiatives occurred under the nine-year leadership of O’Shea.

More than $2 million in grants are invested into the community each year from over 300 charitable funds and assets.

Health and education initiatives

Health and education are a priority in the foundation’s grant funding because a community that is well educated tends to be healthier, said O’Shea, a former nurse.

Programs in place to improve health and education in the Mohawk Valley address the following issues: — Reducing the number of children and adults with high blood lead levels — Increasing opportunities for people aged 65 and older to live in the least restrictive settings — Pushing its 25/25 initiative that would increase the percentage of adults in Oneida and Herkimer counties who have a bachelor’s degree to 25 percent by 2025 — Increasing the number of children in Herkimer County who are ready for school by implementing a pilot project through Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES and the Dolgeville school system Originally named the Utica Foundation, The Community Foundation was formed in 1952 to make it possible for charitable endowments to be created in the area. When O’Shea first arrived at the Foundation in 2000, she served as the senior program officer who was in charge of answering the phone when someone called to request funding.

“We waited to hear and took action,” she said. “That ship has been

Peggy O’Shea retired as the president and CEO of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties in December.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2015

completely turned. We recognized that we had a responsibility to be more than a passive grant maker.”

Because of O’Shea and her visions and leadership, The Community Foundation has gone from funder to not just an investor but a proactive investor,” said Cassaundra Baber, the foundation’s marketing and communications officer.

In October, more than 1,200 local residents attended the foundation’s fourth-annual speaker series held at SUNY Polytechnic Institute featuring author Dan Heath. The event prompted those in attendance to look at the bright spots in their community and figure out how to “clone” that.

Future expansion

Another big change to come this year is the foundation’s move from State Street to Genesee Street in South Utica. This will allow more collaborative space and opportunities for community conversations to take place.

As a new president and CEO, Dicks enters with a diverse career history of leadership and management in building government and nonprofit organizations. She has lived in the local area for 15 years and considers it home.

“My deep dedication to this region was what drew me to this job,” Dicks said. “I want this region to grow and prosper and be what I know it can be.”