In Good Health by In Good Health: MV's Healthcare Newspaper

in good

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

December 2012 • Issue 82

Meet Dr. Jeffrey Sekula Story, Page 4

y p p a H ! s y a d Holi

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‘e-patient’ Internet becomes ‘cyber doc’ for those seeking self-help. See Page 5

Autism Dietitian: Reduce stress with proper diet. Story, Page 6 Get ‘In Good Health’ at home. See coupon inside

Get control over those holiday cravings

Can diet make a difference? See Page 16

Special Kids’/Teens’ Health Edition • What does it take to reel in teens? See Page 14 • Raising awareness of Down syndrome See Page 15 December 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Counseling for Individuals and Families

Specializing in Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Parenting and Marital/Relationships Dan Silverman, LCSWR 310 E. Chestnut St., Suite#9 Rome, NY 13440 315-717-7080 Most insurances accepted with night and weekend hours.

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

Dec. 6

GriefShare meets from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. GriefShare is a faith-based support group. For more information, contact Andrea, program coordinator, at 315-7356210, andrea@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Do you snore at night or stop breathing while sleeping? Are you sleepy during the day and long to wake up feeling rested? If so, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, its symptoms, testing and treatment options will be addressed at Rome Memorial Hospital’s Health Night lecture at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Nurse practitioner Laura Carnevale and Karen St. Louis, supervisor of Rome Memorial Hospital’s sleep disorders center, will present the program. Health night is a monthly lecture series, sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. Rome Memorial Hospital’s classroom is located on the second floor of the hospital. For more information, call 3387143.

Opportunity to share grief with others

Dec. 4

Are you ready to kick butts? The Tri-County Quits Tobacco Cessation Program is offering a three-part Fresh Start class to help participants stop smoking. The Fresh Start program is a groupbased tobacco cessation support program offered by the American Cancer Society. Classes will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at the Regional Cancer Center at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. The Fresh Start program is designed to help individuals quit smoking by providing essential information, skills for coping with cravings and group support. For more information or to register, call the Tri-County Quits Tobacco Cessation Program at 315-624-5639.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

Learn how sleep medicine can help

Dec. 7

CNY diabetes education program offers clinic Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Central New York Diabetes Education

Continued on Page 13

Are students going hungry? School lunch programs blasted for strict dietary guidelines By Patricia J. Malin

s it possible for nutritious food to leave a bad taste in the mouths of schoolchildren or are they simply whining about the lack of junk food on their new school lunch menus? School children around the country have been loudly rebelling since Uncle Sam instituted federal nutritional guidelines for the school lunch program earlier this year. U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) visited the Westmoreland Elementary School cafeteria recently to get a firsthand account. He was joined by Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney (R,C,INew Hartford) of Westmoreland; a representative for state Senator Joseph A. Griffo’s (R-C-IP, Rome) office; and Herkimer-Oneida-Madison BOCES Superintendent Howard Mettelman. They were treated to the same noontime meal as the third and fourthgraders: a pint of fat-free or 1 percent milk, fruit juice, a taco and a small cup of fruit. Nine-year-old Noah Grant decided to go with the school menu that day, one taco and chocolate milk, but refused dessert. His classmate, Samuel Huyck, said he bought a bag of cheddar cheese snacks at school to bolster his taco, chocolate milk and cranberry juice. “I brought my lunch from home,” said Kayla Winchell, 9, pointing to healthy sliced turkey, a small carrot and cookies. She also bought a small container of strawberry sundae ice cream from the cafeteria. Clare Calogero was happy with the tacos and chocolate milk. “I always finish my lunch,” she said. “I like it. But last year we were allowed to have two tacos. Now we only get one.” She was asked if she gets hungry before the end of the school day. “Yes,” she replied. She said she almost never brings a packed lunch from home. “I always eat here (the cafeteria). I like pizza, but we only get it on Fridays. They’ve taken away a lot of food from us that we used to eat. We never get soda anymore.” Children in fourth grade are getting up at 7:30 a.m. and starting school before 9. Lunch doesn’t come until 12:30 and if it’s light on calories, as the Halloween lunch appeared to be, the kids complain that they’re hungry

everyone raised their hands again. “How many of you would eat more food if it was available?” This time, it appeared to be completely unanimous. “What is your favorite food?” Tacos, they shouted. “Do you think the food guidelines are too complicated?” Hanna continued. “Yes,” they all replied again, to which Hanna responded, “Welcome to the (rules of) federal government.” Hanna, who was re-elected for his second two-year term, serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, and is a member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, which has jurisdiction over school lunch and child nutrition programs. When Congress reStudents eat lunch at Westmoreland Elementary School. turns to session, he said he hopes his committee can petition long before they get home around 3 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to p.m. The Calogero family, for example, allow local schools greater flexibility in doesn’t eat dinner at home until 5 p.m. making nutritional decisions. So the kids might resort to eating junk “How many of you throw out (caffood, whether they find it at home or eteria) food?” Hanna asked. This time, buy it at vending machines off school only a few children admitted it. grounds, which runs rings around the Hanna said he has received comgovernment guidelines. plaints from parents, students and school officials in Central New York Food goes to waste and the Southern Tier “regarding probThanks to some well-publicized lems stemming from the 850-calorie YouTube protests from older students, maximum for high school students.” school officials are getting an earful He described it as “a one-size-fits-all from students and parents that the policy” that is failing. Previously, the children are not only turning up their government called for only an 825noses at the more nutritious lunches, calorie minimum. but throwing away food they dislike (for example, vegetables). Wasted Teen rage food, of course, is costly for the school Teens, especially athletes, “report districts. that they are still hungry after eating,” As Hanna was introduced to the Hanna said. Meanwhile, the schools children in the Westmoreland Elemenhave noticed “large quantities of tary School cafeteria, he gave them wasted fruits and vegetables, as well as a quiz. “How many of you go hunincreased compliance costs,” he added. gry?” he asked. About 99 percent of Mettelman, the district superinthe children raised their hands. “How many like your school lunch?” Nearly

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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2012 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, Amylynn Pastorella, Mary Stevenson, Deb Dittner Advertising: Jennifer Wise Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Ofﬁce Manager: Laura Beckwith

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.

tendent, said the school district began following federal guidelines in 2006 to address childhood obesity and prepare healthier school lunches. “We tried to make it (the guidelines) customized based on the district and the schools. We do want nutrition. The (new) legislation is well-intentioned, but it’s unfair how it’s translated.” In 2010, when the Healthy HungerFree Kids Act was drawn up, school food authorities were asked to report the contents of a nutritional weekly menu for three grades: kindergarten to fifth grade, grades six to eight, and grades ninth to 12th or optional kindergarten to eighth grade, for each breakfast and lunch. The schools are also required to use USDA-approved computer software to determine the nutritional analysis. If the schools comply, they will receive an additional 6 cents in federal funds for each lunch, and this amount will be revised annually. These guidelines became effective in July. “They put a floor and a ceiling on calorie counts and prescribed the number of grains and proteins and vegetables and meats/meat alternatives that can be offered in a meal,” Mettelman said. Students in kindergarten to fifth grades are limited to 650 calories per school lunch; sixth to eighth graders can have 700 calories and students in high school can get 850. He pointed out that last year’s eighth-graders had access to a salad bar at lunch. As ninth-graders, their daily protein is restricted to a small salad, plus a tuna fish sandwich and an egg. In addition, the salad bar that was fit for last year’s eighth-graders now exceeds the number of daily calories recommended for current eighth-graders under the current guidelines. Hanna also gave the media copies of a letter sent by the New York State Education Department to the chief of the child nutrition division of the USDA in which the state discussed the complexity and drawbacks of the federal nutrition guidelines. According to state officials, the guidelines don’t take into account cultural or religious differences. In addition, they say the caloric counts are very narrowly defined. For now, the schools and the students are stuck with the 2010 menus.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Confirmed flu cases on rise in Oneida County Health department urges immunizations

neida County has seen a sudden rise in the number of laboratory confirmed cases of seasonal influenza, and is urging the public to get their flu shot now, Oneida County Health Department officials said recently. “Recently we have had 94 confirmed cases of influenza reported in the county so it’s safe to say the flu season has arrived,” Patrice Bogan, interim director of the health department said. “To put this in perspective, during last year’s mild flu season the first confirmed case of flu in Oneida County was not reported until late December.” Almost all of the cases reported are Type A influenza. Health department officials remind the public that it takes about two weeks to develop immunity after receiving the vaccine, and urges everyone to see their health care provider or one of the many area retail outlets offering flu shots as soon as possible. The health department is offering the flu vaccine through its Utica and Rome clinic sites. The walk-in clinics do not require an appointment and are held in Utica at 406 Elizabeth St. from 1-3:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The Rome clinic at 300 W. Dominic St. holds a walk-in clinic from 1-3 pm. on Tuesdays. The cost for those not covered by Medicaid, Medicare Part B or an accepted private insurance is $25. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. While the vaccine will not guarantee immunity, vaccinated people who get influenza tend to have a milder form of the illness and one of shorter duration. Health department officials stress the importance of other measures to stop the spread of flu, which include: • Frequent and thorough hand washing: Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water is unavailable. • Covering coughs and sneezes using the bend of your arm. Never use your hands. • Avoiding people with flu-like illness or symptoms and staying home from work or school if you exhibit flu-like illness. For more information, call the Oneida County Health Department at 798-5748 or visit its website at www. ocgov.net/oneida/health.

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Lou Sorendo

Dr. Jeffrey J. Sekula Jeffrey J. Sekula is a urologist who recently joined the New Hartford Division of Associated Medical Professionals and the St. Elizabeth Medical Center medical staff in Utica. Q.: Why did you choose Upstate New York and the Mohawk Valley region to practice in? A.: I ended up in this area almost accidentally. I was in a hospital-employed practice in Arkansas and realized that the practice I was in was not a good fit. I spoke to a former professor of mine at Duke, David Albala, who had relocated to Syracuse, and it just so happened that his group was looking for an associate in its New Hartford division. The practice opportunity in this market is phenomenal, and the support of the local healthcare systems was very attractive. We were drawn to the combination of quality of life and simplicity of life here that are not available in huge metro areas as well as proximity to our families in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Q.: Why did you choose urology as your specialty? What motivated you to take that career path? A.: When I was a student, I was able to go into the operating room and watch a transurethral resection of the prostate on the video monitor. I said to myself, “That is the coolest thing I have ever seen. I want to do that for a living.” Urology is a field that allows the physician to be both the medical and surgical specialist for an entire organ system. The variety of disease processes we treat and the high emphasis on use of technology combine for a very satisfying experience as practitioners. Q.: Is there a shortage of urologists in the medical field or are more graduates choosing the specialty? A.: It depends on whom you ask, but the short answer is yes. There are about 250 newly minted urologists that graduate from training yearly in the United States. With the graying of the population and increase in many of the problems we treat, our services are in high demand. There is a limit on how many people can enter the field based on the number of accredited residency positions that exist. Since the field is so attractive, it has become extremely difficult to land a training position. Q.: What significant medical developments have occurred in urology over the past several years that have enhanced your ability to detect and treat illnesses? A.: There have not been many groundbreaking advances in urologic disease diagnosis over the last decade. We’ve gotten better at using certain imaging modalities and molecular diagnostics to find cancers earlier. But there have been enormous advances in treatment for just about every urologic disease during that period. We now use surgical robots to assist in our cancer surgery, scopes to treat diseases that used to require incisions, and

Continued on Page 17

Lifelines Birth date: November 1970 Birthplace: Paterson, N.J. Residence: New Hartford Education: Bachelor of Arts in biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1992; medical degree, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 1996; urology residency, Duke University, 2003 Affiliations: Associated Medical Professionals of NY, New Hartford; St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Utica; Faxton St Luke’s Medical Center, Utica; Oneida Healthcare, Oneida; Rome Memorial Hospital, Rome Personal: Spouse, Kristin; three children ranging in age from 511 Hobbies: Reading; following Atlantic Coast Conference basketball; lifting weights/exercising; playing guitar

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

The ‘e-patient’ takes matters in own hands Thanks to Internet, patients can empower themselves regarding healthcare By Patricia J. Malin

hether you’re seeing your doctor merely for a flu shot or whether you’ve been hospitalized and received treatment for a serious disease, you might be surprised to learn that a patient’s ability to get first-rate, effective care is directly in his or her own hands. According to “e-patient Dave” deBronkart, physicians are not the infallible masters of our health we expect. No longer should patients be puppets of all-knowing, secretive and expensive hospitals, insurance companies and doctors, nor the healthcare industry as a whole, but rather engage in an equal partnership that will advance their qualify of life. DeBronkart, 65, of Nashua, N.H., is a former cancer patient and now a high-profile activist who believes in using the Internet to research advances in medicine, and then sharing the very latest and critical information with patients, often via personal blogs. Thus, in his words, the e-patient becomes “empowered, engaged, equipped and enabled.” He was the keynote speaker at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s 11th annual Campaign For Quality symposium recently. DeBronkart recently published “Laugh, Sing, and Eat Like a Pig: How an Empowered Patient Beat Stage IV Cancer (And What Healthcare Can Learn From It).” The Campaign for Quality educational series invited international, national and local experts to discuss current trends in healthcare, quality improvement topics and patient safety initiatives. The free, two-day event was open to employees, medical staff and volunteers from area hospitals, as well as the general public. DeBronkart explained to his audience that just five years ago, he was at death’s door. Following a routine

physical and an X-ray for a shoulder injury, his physician spotted a “shadow” on his lung. He was diagnosed with severe Stage IV kidney cancer (Grade 4 renal cell carcinoma) in January 2007. With tumors in both lungs, several bones and muscle tissue, he was told that his median survival time was just 24 weeks.

Facing down death

Instead of being demoralized by such a grim prognosis, he somehow became energized. He was not going to go down without a fight. “Facing the reaper, I thought of the impact of my death on my mother, my daughter,” deBronkart said. “It was a big motivation. At a moment like that, your family is asking, ‘Is there anything we can do?’” During his treatment at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he requested access to his personal medical records, including lab results, and was surprised to find errors and misleading information. He ended up discussing his treatment and care on the hospital’s website. He later began a blog on Google Health. Interestingly, deBronkart’s effort to publicize his condition was hailed by his physicians, Tom Ferguson and Danny Sands. DeBronkart became an active blogger, documenting his journey on Ferguson’s e-patients.net and CaringBridge.org and educating himself about this “incurable” cancer. He said he began watching batches of cartoons. He spent his birthday in February 2007 hanging around with “Bugs Bunny” He now believes that large doses of humor can help heal patients in small ways. DeBronkart underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove his kidney—he also broke his leg and had the bone replaced by a steel rod—and participated in a biologic therapy clinical trial for high dosage Interleukin-2. His last treatment was July 2007. His lesions

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have disappeared and he has remained in remission. A year after the diagnosis, deBronkart was invited by Sands to join the e-Patient Scholars Working Group. It consists of medical and lay persons “who have been quietly (and not so quietly) altering the balance of power in healthcare,” deBronkart said. “(By) demonstrating that as the Internet brings patients together with information and with each other, a new world of participatory medicine is evolving, in which patients become potent agents in creating and managing their own health, in partnership with physicians.” A writer-speaker in the information technology industry before his illness, he decided in 2010 to begin specializing full-time in healthcare literature. DeBronkart now publishes an e-newsletter through the Society for Cooperative Medicine. He discusses developments in clinical research and provides links to websites that provide support and resources for patients. He began using www.acor.org, the Association of Cancer Online Resources, when he got sick in 2007 and he calls it an invaluable site.

Life and death matter

The importance of giving patients immediate access to resources and medical research is crucial. “The lag time between any successful research and the time it takes to publication is two to five years,” deBronkart told his audience. “How many thousands of patients will die in that time without

this knowledge?” While some doctors might have misgivings about consumers searching the Internet and researching their illnesses, deBronkart firmly endorses it. “It may be more dangerous not to Google your condition,” he commented. DeBronkart is an ally of Gunther Eysenbach, a founding scholar in the field of cybermedicine (also called informatics), which calls for transparency and publishing of medical research directly on the Internet. In 2008, Eysenbach inaugurated the first annual Medicine 2.0 World Congress, which deals with the use of social media, mobile apps, and Internet in health, medicine and biomedical research. Eysenbach is senior scientist at the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation at the University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and associate professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. DeBronkart was a participant in Medicine 2.0 2009-Toronto. In a presentation he titled, “Gimme My Damn Data—Because You Can’t Be Trusted With It,” he referred to his 2007 battle with cancer (and the hospital) and discussed the implications for patients who have invalid medical records. He followed it up at Medicine 2.0 2012Boston with “Gimme My Damn Data, Three Years On: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t” at Harvard Medical School.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Happy Holidays ‘Tis the season to overindulge Protect the last waistline of defense By Kristen Raab

hile temperatures drop, enthusiasm for the holidays is on the rise. This is the time of year when people typically start eating comfort foods and abandoning exercise for the company of family and friends. All hope is not lost; there are ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the busy holiday season. Pat Salzer, registered dietitian and health and wellness consultant at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, recommends taking some of the focus away from food. Salzer “Food is a special part of the holidays, but it’s only one part,” she said. It is OK to enjoy delicious treats as long a balance is achieved. “After your holiday meal, leave the food, and go for a stroll,” Salzer suggests. Staying around the food will make you more likely to keep nibbling long after you are full. During the holiday season, decadent desserts such as pies and cookies will be present on a regular basis. Salzer says to treat yourself while being “selective with your choices.” One way to do this is to limit

portions. Another option is to pick a reduced fat or lower calorie version of your favorites. It can be hard to avoid overindulging when in social settings. A tip for preventing this outcome is to have a small snack before you go to parties. Salzer recommends an apple or a handful of nuts. “If you are ravenous when you get to the event, your willpower goes out the window,” she said. You also have the option to partially control the menu. If you are able to bring a dish to the party, make a healthy choice such as a vegetable or fruit tray. This will ensure that you have something healthy to munch on as you socialize. Wise food choices are only part of the equation. Working in enough physical activity is a necessary step to staying healthy and fit. At this time of year, “Increase your physical activity to offset any extra calories you consume,” Salzer says. One way to do this is to walk more. If you’re at the mall, Salzer suggests walking around a bit before actually shopping. She also points out that the minimum goal for daily exercise should be 30 minutes, which can be broken up over the course of the day.

Stress and food Diet can affect anxiety levels By Kristen Raab

etween holiday preparations, busy work schedules, and family commitments, many people are feeling the weight of stress right now. Stress can be difficult to handle and it may lead to poor choices. Diving into unhealthy foods is a common method of coping. However, there are ways to combat stress, including eating the right foods. Why do we turn to food during stressful times? Pat Salzer, registered dietitian and health and wellness consultant for Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, says, “Food is the universal coping mechanism. When life becomes too difficult, and we are not sure of how to make it better, we go to food as the answer.” This short-term treatment can actually produce more stress. Salzer explains, “You may feel better initially, but you still have the initial problem and now you overate.” One way to prevent overeating is Page 6

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to eat mindfully. Give eating your full attention, and you will eat less. Salzer says, “Phase out inattentive eating.” Many people are guilty of munching on chips straight out of the bag in front of the television set. This can trigger overeating. “When we are distracted when eating, we less accurately remember what we ate,” which Salzer explains can lead to overeating.

Quench your hunger

Staying hydrated can make a huge difference in food intake. Thirst is easily mistaken for hunger. If you are not sure if you are hungry or reacting to emotions, grab a glass of water first. The water will fill your stomach, which reduces your urge to eat. Wait to see if you still feel hungry, and then grab a healthy snack. Chew gum afterwards because it signifies the end of a meal and helps with concentration. Certain foods may combat stress. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help protect us from damage. Salzer mentions a study indicating people with higher blood levels of

Reduce your stress by “taking a 10-minute walk three times a day. This still counts as 30 minutes of physical activity,” she said. Being healthy is easier when it is a group effort. Get your friends and families involved and try to make it a fun experience for everyone. Salzer suggests giving gifts that promote health such as a subscription to a healthy cooking magazine to a friend who enjoys preparing new recipes.

In addition, you can add these types of gifts to your own wish list. Some examples include weights, workout clothing, a yoga mat and DVD or an indoor grill. With these tips, you can sample plenty of holiday treats without having to unbutton your jeans. Making healthy choices is not always easy, but it is worth the payoff. Enjoy that slice of pumpkin pie, but then take Salzer’s advice: “Get some fresh air. Play in the snow, shovel, go for a walk, or snowshoe.”

vitamin C showed “less mental and physical signs of stress when faced with challenges.” This vitamin reduces cortisol and other stress hormones. Foods such as blueberries, citrus fruits, and avocados are vitamin C rich options. Maintaining proper magnesium levels is also important because when they dip low, headaches and fatigue can occur. Spinach is an excellent source of magnesium. Lastly, adding omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna will keep stress hormone levels (cortisol and adrenaline) under control. Sipping tea is an alternative to indulging in unhealthy food. The act of brewing a hot cup of tea and then sitting down to enjoy it can actually be seen as a stress reliever. Salzer explains that by slowing down, sitting, and relaxing, the body benefits. “You can’t gulp hot tea,” she explains. Because chronic stress can produce increased cortisol, which increases appetite, we need to find ways to reduce stress.

Feeling anxious? Try a few simple yoga moves or basic stretches to release the tension in your body. Exercise actually reduces stress hormones, which can improve one’s mood rather quickly. If you know that you are a stress eater, it may be helpful to keep a food diary. This diary should be detailed and include the times you eat, your mood, and the food you choose. There may be a connection and food choice that you are unaware of before tracking your habits. Salzer says you must identify patterns before you can make changes to improve. The most important steps are to figure out if you are stress eating, identify your triggers, and substitute healthy solutions. Doing more productive activities such as organizing your desk or closet can give you the mood boost you are seeking from food. Eating healthy foods all the time is likely not realistic. The goal should be to find a good balance. As Salzer says, “I stress healthy eating, but I don’t want to be stressed by it.” Try to incorporate healthy snacks into your diet to keep your energy levels up, make time to exercise, and find a positive outlet for your emotions.

Let’s get physical

Exercise is a great tactic for reducing the stress we feel. “Find a positive way to deal with stress like walking,” Salzer says. Instead of reaching for a cookie, reach for free weights.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

Happy Holidays Crunch those cravings The one and only tip you need about holiday food cells function properly,” she added. Your body may just be trying to create the balance it needs by creating the craving for salt. Try lightly salting your food. It adds great taste and replenishes the reserves.” The key is to avoid highly processed foods that contain a large amount of sodium. Read labels, notice the sodium content. If you crave sugar, your blood glucose level could be low. This happens when you have gone awhile without eating. Plan ahead during the busy holiday times, so that you do not go long periods without eating. Also, sugar provides a quick response to help calm the brain, Thompson said. It is often associated with a stress response. When you find yourself reaching for a sugary food, ask yourself if you are really hungry, or is there something going on that is causing you stress.

By Barbara Pierce

t this time of year, tips about how to eat better during the holidays are more popular than Christmas cookies. But here’s the one and only tip you really need: Certain foods are created to stimulate our cravings and make us eat more and more of them, despite our better judgment. The formula that drives our cravings and triggers our overeating: sugar, fat, salt. Foods high in sugar, fat, and salt alter the brain’s chemistry in ways that compel us to overeat. David A. Kessler, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, describes this startling information in his book, “The End of Overeating.” Instead of satisfying hunger, the salt-fat-sugar combination stimulates the brain to crave more, Kessler said. For many, the come-on offered by Lay’s Potato Chips—”Bet you can’t eat just one”—is scientifically accurate. And the food industry manipulates this neurological response by designing foods to induce people to eat more than they should or they want, Kessler found. Our brains have been captured by our cravings for these foods. “The food the industry is selling is much more powerful than we realized,” he said. “I used to think I ate to feel full. Now I know, we have the science that shows, we’re eating to stimulate ourselves.” Knowing this, what can you do? Kim Thompson, functional nutritionist and owner and operator of Healthy Transformations in New Hartford, has recommendations to counter our craving for unhealthy food. Thompson works with people to improve their health and is an adjunct instructor of anatomy and physiology

Savor the moment

at Utica School of Commerce, as well as an adjunct instructor at Mohawk Valley Community College where she teaches community education classes on nutrition and wellness.

“I suggest that if someone really thinks they want sugar to have a piece of dark chocolate (60 percent or greater),” said Thompson. “The

Water, water and more water

key to this is allowing the chocolate to melt in your mouth so the brain will get the quick response to create a sense of calm. If you chew the chocolate, it must go through the digestion process and it will take much longer for the brain to get the message to calm down. This is why someone may be able to polish off a bag of M&M’s without thinking.” Processed food, (prepared, prepackaged food) is not all bad. However, many of these products are made with the combination of fat, salt and sugar; the combination that makes you crave more fat, salty and sugary foods. Examples of processed food with unhealthy, empty calories include chips, candies, frozen fish sticks, frozen dinner, packaged cakes and cookies, boxed meal mixes high in fat and sodium, and sugary breakfast cereals. Read labels and avoid foods with high trans-fat or saturated fat content, and with high sodium content. “What’s needed is a perceptual shift,” Kessler said. “We did this with cigarettes,” he said. “It used to be sexy and glamorous but now people look at it and say, ‘That’s not my friend, that’s not something I want.’ We need to make a shift as a country and change the way we look at food. Instead of viewing that huge plate of nachos and fries as a guilty pleasure, we have to look at it and say, ‘That’s not going to make me feel good. In fact, that’s disgusting.’”

Relieving Pain

Keep yourself well hydrated, Thompson recommends. “It is best to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. When a craving for salty foods strikes, try drinking a glass of water first. ”Salt is an electrolyte that is needed by your body, needed so that all your

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Pain Management

Accepting New Patients

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Food & Nutrition The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

The belly fat blues Are you ready to take on the ‘Battle of the Bulge’?

elly fat is the excess weight that builds up around your middle and, for most, it is the most difficult to lose. It is also the most dangerous to your health. This fat buildup is an external sign of deep, internal fat that surrounds your organs. Belly fat causes an increase of hormones that can raise blood pressure and increase LDL (the bad type) cholesterol that in turn can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and premature death. Additionally, belly fat has been linked to metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Dittner colorectal cancer. So what causes belly fat? Age, stress, lifestyle habits, and genetics can play a role in belly fat but so can one’s nutritional choices. To begin with, consuming too many calories will increase the weight around the middle as does certain foods and drink. The phrase “beer belly” accurately describes what happens when too much alcohol is imbibed. Alcohol causes the liver to work extra hard to burn off the alcohol instead of the high fat content. Alcohol also increases the munchies, causing the consumption of more calories. Soda anyone? How about sugarladen drinks such as Gatorade, juice and sweetened ice tea? These too add to belly fat. When reading the labels, note the large amounts of high fructose corn syrup and empty calories.

Foods made with trans fats, a manmade fat created with partially hydrogenated oil, also cause belly fat. What foods are these you ask? Items such as cookies, potato chips, fried foods, pastries, margarine, and processed/packaged items (I’ll call these non-foods) are all included in this category.

White out

Another category to avoid is the “whites”— white rice, white bread, white sugar, and white flour. Included in this group are cereals—just another fancy term for having dessert for breakfast. Keeping any of the above choices to small portions also seems to be a challenge for most people. These choices are devoid of nutrients and cause a spike in insulin, a hormone responsible for keeping blood sugar at its optimal level. Too much insulin creates all sorts of problems. High carbohydrate “comfort” foods will increase insulin levels dangerously high, causing the cells to become resistant to the insulin. Fatigue, inability to focus, and hunger occurs when your cells can’t get enough “sugar.” In order to take control of belly fat, one must take control of insulin by changing nutritional habits and breaking the vicious cycle. That’s not all. Daily stress and worry from job and family now increase as insulin resistance triggers an increase in cortisol. Cortisol increases blood sugar to provide quick energy for physical activity. The phrase “fight or flight” accurately describes this fat-storing hormone. And where is cortisol’s favorite

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storage place? You guessed it—around the belly! Quite the vicious cycle, huh? So how do we get rid of belly fat? Start by eating a balanced diet high in vegetables (about six to eight servings daily), fruit (about two to three servings daily), lean protein, whole grains, and drink plenty of pure water. A regular movement program, one that you enjoy, is also an important factor. Aim for 30 minutes most days of the week to see positive benefits. Stress reduction in the form of meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques plus seven to nine hours of sleep nightly will improve focus and overall energy. A flat belly won’t just happen overnight. Consider how many years it has taken to develop in the first place. A truly flat belly comes from a combination of a consistent and challenging movement routine, stress reduction, proper rest, and clean eating. Here’s to your health!! • Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner who specializes in Reiki and holistic nutrition. For more information, visit her website at www. The-Balanced-Body.com or phone 518596-8565.

Go-AwayBelly-Fat Smoothie

moothies are a great way to get your veggies and fruit, are quick and easy to make, and will aid in losing belly fat. This smoothie will also help increase energy and clear thinking. Ingredients: • 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen • 1 tablespoon cinnamon • 2 tablespoons coconut butter or dried coconut • ¼ teaspoon cardamom • 2-3 cups baby arugula • 1 tablespoon chia seed • 1 teaspoon spirulina • 1 lime or lemon, juiced • 1 cup water Directions: Put all ingredients into a blender, starting with the softest ingredients first. Blend well. Add extra water or ice until the desired consistency is reached.

Video series explores Bible

he series will be presented from 10 a.m. to noon or from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays from Jan. 8-June 18 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. Jeff Cavins, renowned Bible teacher and evangelist, will teach the Bible timeline through a 24-part video series. A $30 registration fee includes workbook, Bible timeline chart, mem-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

ory-bead wristband and color-coded bookmark. A $20 registration fee will be assessed to former study participants with original student pack. For more information, contact Tanya at 315-735-6210, Tanya@thegoodnewscenter.org, or register online at thegoodnewscenter.org.

Caught in the Web Mohawk Valley-based hospitals get graded on websites hosp.org” (we had noticed that in the http://www bar above the big, blue box) which led us to the hospital’s site. The home page offered a prominent link to “Patients & Visitors” where we immediately found what we were looking for. This search experience was the best we’ve had so far, with two exceptions. First, how many users will return for another search after seeing the “site under construction” message? Secondly, users who do persevere have no way of knowing if they are seeing an old version of the hospital’s website, with potentially inaccurate information, or a new site that was the result of recent site construction. That said, the site we saw was user friendly, easy to navigate, comprehensive and clear.

By Suzanne M. Ellis

uring the past few months, we’ve taken an informal, unscientific look at the websites of hospitals in and around Western and Central New York, comparing them to others in their region and rating them accordingly. This time, we decided to take a look at the websites of five hospitals in the Mohawk Valley region, using these questions as our checkpoints: • Is the website easily accessible, especially for someone who doesn’t know the exact name of the hospital or isn’t terribly computer savvy? • Is the website easy to navigate? • Does the website provide fastworking links to helpful, consumer-relevant information? • Is the information we’re seeking simple and quick to obtain or is it a frustrating experience? For the purpose of this article, we searched for visiting hours in the intensive care and maternity units. We chose Bassett Medical Center, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, Little Falls Hospital, Rome Memorial Hospital and St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Our research—which is presented strictly for entertainment purposes—was completed during the week of Nov. 5. All searches were done using the Google engine.

Bassett Medical Center We typed “Bassett Hospital” and were taken to the home page of Bassett Healthcare Network, where we quickly learned there’s no such thing as Bassett Hospital. A link at the bottom of the page took us instead to Bassett Medical Center, “a 180-bed, acute-care, inpatient teaching facility in Cooperstown.” A “Network Quicklink” on Bassett Medical Center’s home page took us to “Patient Services,” where we hoped to find something that would answer our questions about visiting hours. What we found instead was a long list of alphabetized topics, presumably put there for patients—from cancer institute to women’s health—but nothing to guide someone who wanted to visit those patients. We clicked on “Other Services,” only to find another alphabetized list of departments, this time from allergy/immunology to sleep lab. At that point, we decided to try the search bar and typed “Visiting Hours.” That gave us a screen—three times—informing us that our request couldn’t be processed. Even though they didn’t seem the least bit promising, we tried half a dozen other links but none got us any closer to finding the visitors’ information we sought. The only option left was to return to the home page for the medical center’s phone number.

Our rating: C

Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare We hadn’t even typed all of the word “Faxton” before a link appeared for Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare in

Our rating: B+

St. Elizabeth Medical Center

Alyssa Mammano, staff writer for In Good Health newspaper, checks out the website for Rome Memorial Hospital. Utica. Though the rapidly changing photographs at the top of the page were distracting and more than a little annoying, we spotted a link for “Patients & Visitors,” a good sign considering the previous search. There, we found a dropdown menu that included “Visiting Hours,” but the menu kept disappearing as we attempted to scroll down. (We tried repeatedly, always with the same result, then left and came back later, thinking perhaps the site was experiencing technical difficulties that day). When we were finally able to click on the Visiting Hours link, it took us to a page with the heading “Patient/Family/Visiting Info.” Unfortunately, a good percentage of the page was empty white space, so we went back to the home page and started over. We clicked, retried, and clicked again, eventually getting to the section with information about visiting hours. But once again, the top nine or 10 inches of the page was empty white space, leading us to believe we’d hit another dead end. We eventually found what we were looking for, but it was a clumsy, awkward journey that was fraught with frustration.

“Patients and Visitors,” where we scrolled through a lengthy, detailed discussion of everything patients need to know about their stay in Little Falls Hospital. It addressed hospital admissions, what patients should bring for their stay and what not to bring, and the rights and responsibilities of patients. Even though the initial link on the home page and the “headline” on the next page indicated there would be information for visitors, neither had any such thing.

Little Falls Hospital

o matter what climate you live in, you’re more likely to die of heart-related issues in the winter, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012. “This was surprising because climate was thought to be the primary determinant of seasonal variation in death rates,” said physician Bryan Schwartz, lead author of the study. Researchers at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles analyzed 2005-08 death certificate data from seven U.S. locations with different climates: Los Angeles County, Calif.; Texas; Arizona; Georgia; Washington;

Our rating: C+

We quickly realized that Little Falls Hospital—like Bassett Medical Center—was under the umbrella of the Bassett Healthcare Network, so we weren’t optimistic about finding what we were looking for. It made sense that the same Web master would be responsible for all facilities in that network. We were encouraged, however, when we saw a second tier of links at the top of the Little Falls home page, including one for “Patients & Visitors,” but our excitement was short-lived. That link took us to a page titled,

Our rating: C

Rome Memorial Hospital Our search for Rome Memorial took us immediately to a big, blue box informing us, “This site is under construction and coming soon.” Not to be discouraged, we returned to Google and typed “rome-

The top result in our search for “St. Elizabeth Hospital” (remember, we are playing the part of a consumer who may not know the correct name of a facility) gave us a site with an address of www.stemc.org, which seemed a bit odd. We were skeptical that it was the right St. Elizabeth’s, but we clicked on it anyway and found the home page of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. We were happy to see the prominent link for “Visitors” at the top of the page. But, unfortunately, that took us to a brief policy statement, “St. Elizabeth Medical Center has implemented an open visiting policy to allow visitors any time of day,” followed a couple of paragraphs later by this disclaimer, “Visitation may be limited if clinical indicators warrant restrictions in order to promote recovery.” Most potential visitors would be pretty confused by that information, ourselves included. How would a visitor know whether “clinical indicators” exist and whether those indicators “warrant restrictions?” Multiple searches on the site proved equally frustrating and, in the end, we were unable to get any specific information about visiting patients in the intensive care or maternity units.

Our rating: C

Heart-related deaths increase in winter

December 2012 •

Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In all areas, total and “circulatory” deaths rose an average 26 percent to 36 percent from the summer low to the winter peak over four years. Circulatory deaths include fatal heart attack, heart failure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Seasonal patterns of total and cardiac deaths were very similar in the seven different climate patterns. Death rates at all sites clustered closely together and no one site was statistically different from any other site. “People generally don’t live as healthy in winter as they do in summer,” said Schwartz.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

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he ability to choose is a great weapon in helping the body to combat injury and illness. In 1960, Dr. Maxwell Maltz wrote “Psychocybernetics,” which taught people how to add more quality years to their lives. Written in an uncomplicated style, he illustrated with easy-to-follow steps how to achieve this goal. The first step involves being in a relaxed state, followed by prompting the body to embrace a natural healWhite ing cycle. Maltz was a plastic surgeon who found that many people he had worked on still felt unattractive on the inside. He discovered that it was not the outer image but the self-image which was impaired and needed attention. Taking principles from two disciplines, he united psychology, which deals with the mind, and cybernetics,

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

the science of goal-striving machines. In this case, the machine is the subconscious brain and nervous system. The conscious mind, on the other hand, is not a machine. We choose the data to feed or program our brains that directs our body’s healing mechanisms. Since our minds think in pictures, what we picture, we attract like magnets. If we want to carry a tray successfully to a table, but visualize or worry about tripping, we sabotage our own efforts. The same thing occurs when we wish for health but visualize pain, suffering and failure.

Power of positiveness

It’s most important to see our selves in vivid detail, healing and healthy. Most of us worry in distinct detail of the worst happening. What Maltz challenges us to do is change those negative pictures into positive pictures and to make it a habit to do so. Being able to relax and visualize good health is necessary to the goal of

healing and remaining healthy. “A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment,” Maltz said. The mind does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined in vivid detail. For example, relax and imagine that you are at the ocean. Smell the sea air, see the waves hitting the beach, feel the sand crystals under your fingernails, the sun on your back and the towel you are sitting on, see droplets of water on your arm and hear a sea gull, feel the breeze, smell the sun lotion. Do this for 20 minutes and your mind will act as if it were true. If you were hypnotized a year or two later and were recalling your day, you would say you’re seated in your chair and next you would say you are at the ocean. When one is hypnotized, one gives

the controls of one’s thoughts and senses to the hypnotist. If it is a hot summer day, you can be told you are in a walk-in freezer of a grocery store, and your lips will turn purple even if the actual temperature is 100 degrees. That is the power of the brain, and more importantly, the power we have to select our thoughts and program our minds to attract what we want and not what we fear. While we may not be able to change what has happened (perhaps an accident or disease), we can choose how we allow it to affect us. It’s empowering to discover that the choice to select life-affirming images is ours.

Positive imaging

It may be simple to say, but it is not always easy to affirm happiness and physical fitness when we are exhausted and wracked with pain. Some might find this technique difficult or over-

Internet searches reveal time of peak allergy suffering

nternet searches may reveal when allergy suffering in the United States is at its worst, a new study suggests. The results show searches for allergy symptoms such as “sneezing” and “itchy nose,” peak during the second week in May. This may be because allergy sufferers are experiencing both spring and summer allergy symptoms during this time, said study researcher Leonard Bielory, an allergist in New Jersey. Bielory analyzed information from Google between 2004 and 2011, looking at the number of searches for informa-

whelming, but others have embraced this powerful tool that Maltz introduced with great success and formed the habit of positive imaging. While it takes 21 consecutive days to create a habit or extinguish an old one (such as a negative, fearful way of thinking), Maltz shows us that relaxing and taking a little time each day to focus and visualize our goals is how to best program our minds. One’s attitude is key to accelerating healing. The way a person is informed about having a disease or affliction is paramount. Along with telling someone he has cancer, one can say that although this is serious, it can be overcome with the principles of psychocybernetics coupled with examples of how survivors have done it. If someone were to discover that there is disease or a need to have surgery, they can either succumb to fear and despair or decide to fight. We have a choice. Psychocybernetics encourages readers to choose to focus on total heal-

ing and not on the symptoms or the disease itself. Another major point from Maltz is that our mind cancels out the word “not.” So when one says: “I am not scared or in pain.” The mind hears, “I am scared and in pain.” It’s like saying, “I will not think of a pink elephant.” Suddenly one’s mind conjures up this exact image. We must be mindful of our thoughts as many may be suffering largely through the force of their own imagination. Our minds have the power to determine our fate. The body is simply the canvas; the mind is the paintbrush. • Louise White is an educator and motivational speaker. She taught at New Hartford High School for 38 years, still teaches courses on the book “Psychocybernetics” and gives speeches, the latest one for the After Breast Cancer support group at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

tion on the symptoms of nasal allergies, eye allergies, and hay fever. He compared the number of searches with pollen counts. Searches for nasal allergies peaked between March and May, followed by searchers for eye allergies in May. Eye allergy searches were associated with the pollen counts of certain trees in the second week of May. There was also a second peak in searchers for allergy symptoms in September that was linked with an increase in weed pollen and grass pollen season, Bielory said.

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December 2012 •

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Page 11

Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Hop on the body language express It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it

f my husband and I had not read each other’s body language right on our first encounter, we never would have gotten connected. The first time we met—in a huge crowd—I said less than 10 words to him and that was it. We both left there knowing we had met someone who would be important to us. And we both kept coming back until we found each other again. Reading body language—the nonverbal signals people send—is a great skill to have. Not only to meet potential partners, but to make friends, to succeed in a career, to increase your level of success in anything Pierce that has to do with people. It’s a great skill to have, a necessary skill to have. It’s a more important skill than knowing how to make small talk. We judge each other in just seven seconds. Our subconscious minds make snap decisions on a new person we meet in only seven seconds. About how long it took you to read the very first sentence of this column. What do we base these snap decisions on? Fifty-percent is appearance, which includes body language; 40 percent is your voice and the mood you project; and only 10 percent is your actual words. Nonverbal clues make up 90 percent of how others judge us. Say the most banal, stupid things with open body posture and a warm mood, and they’ll love you. Reading body language—to know how to project the body language you want to project, and how to read the body language of others—is a skill that anyone can learn. • Eye contact is essential. If you don’t make eye contact while you’re speaking, it can be interpreted as dishonesty or hiding something, or a lack of self-confidence. If your eyes wander around the room, the other person will assume you aren’t interested in him or her. The speaker doesn’t break eye contact with the person to whom he is speaking. The listener can look away briefly now and then. If you are speaking to a group of people, look each person in the eye as you speak. Make sure each person feels your warm glance. If you see an appealing stranger across the room, one you just have to meet, there is one thing you need to know before you approach him or her.

Make sure that, when you make eye contact with that person, they make eye contact back. If this does not happen, do not try to start a conversation. He or she is not interested in you. As I explain in my book, “If I’m so Fantastic, Why am I Still Single?” don’t take it personally. If the person who looks so perfect for you ignores you, you are probably the wrong size, wrong sex, wrong color, whatever. Save yourself from rejection. Smile: People like warm smiles; smiles are essential. • Open: Keep your body posture open. Communicate with your body that you’re approachable. Arms or legs crossed in front of your body says “keep away.” Let your arms hang freely, or hold a glass of water or a pen while you’re talking with others. Personal space: The closer they are to you, the warmer they feel toward you. The further away that someone is, the less they care. If you move slightly closer to them, do they move slightly further away? That means they don’t want your interaction to be any more personal than it already is. If they don’t move further away, then they are receptive. And if they respond by getting even closer to you, they probably really like you. • Mirroring: If someone mirrors your body posture, this is a genuine sign that they are interested in you and trying to establish rapport with you. Try changing your body position here and there. If you find that they change theirs similarly, they are mirroring. This is something we do unconsciously. • Nodding: If the person you are talking to nods his or her head, they are in agreement with you. This is a good sign. One caution: Don’t judge a person solely by their body language. Cultural differences can account for some misunderstanding. Interpreting body language helps, but it’s not necessarily the whole story. • 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.

STORY IDEAS?

Email them to lou@cnymail.com Page 12

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Face First The worst things for your face By Barbara Pierce

e often hear about the things we should do for our skin. But what about the things we shouldn’t do? Here what the experts say are the worst things you can do for your face: • Washing your face: Too much of a good thing can be bad. That’s true of washing your face. Doing it a couple of times a day can help keep your skin looking healthy and blemish free. Any more will irritate your skin. People with dry skin might only need to wash once a day, while those with oily skin require more maintenance. If you have oily skin, try using a toner after you wash, instead of washing more often. Shahin You might want to switch to a medicated cleanser as well. “One of the things I find is that people are too harsh with product and too light with touch,” said Christie Shahin, licensed cosmetologist and owner and operator of Faces of Astarte in Little Falls. “Watch out for suds—use a lotion wash instead,” she recommends. “Use firm circular motions to wash your face. After washing, apply moisturizer.” Exfoliate weekly times a week and you’ll be in great shape, she says. • Use products with natural ingredients: Read the ingredients of the moisturizers and other things you put on your skin, Shahin adds. Read the label. The ingredients are listed in order of how much the product contains of each. Make sure the ingredients at the top of the list are pure, natural and organic. Non-natural ingredients are GMO, genetically modified organisms. Sixty percent of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. • Clean your brushes: Cleaning your brushes is important, says Shahin, but not something to get hyper over. Usually weekly or monthly is fine, depending on the makeup and type of product you use. Wash them in lukewarm water and a mild face cleanser or baby shampoo. Do not submerge the whole brush in water, as that will loosen the glue that holds the bristles in place. Also try a yogurt face mask and maybe add some honey or avocado, says Shahin. “Happy face skin needs fat, and honey is a moisturizer.”

Pamper that skin

Realbeauty.com adds these tips: • Don’t fall asleep with makeup on: This can lead to clogged pores which can cause acne (hello, morning pimple). Keep makeup removing wipes next to your bed so you’ll never make this beauty mistake again. • Drink water, not coffee: It’s true;

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

eight glasses a day will keep wrinkles away. Hydrating yourself daily will not only help to fight off aging, but also gives your skin a healthy glow. Both caffeine and alcohol are major culprits when it comes to dry skin. • Picking: Don’t pop or pick a pimple on your face. This only pushes dirt and bacteria deeper into pores, resulting in more breakouts, possibly leaving scars. Dry up pimples with a drying lotion. Even the acid in a strawberry can help. As hard as it is, keep your hands away from your mug! • Hot showers: While many of us love super-hot, long showers, they strip away the outer moist layer of epidermis causing scaly and dried skin. When your skin starts to turn red and itch in the shower, you know it’s time to step out. • Hair spray: If you can’t seem to kick your facial breakouts even though you’ve tried everything, next time you apply hair spray, use a towel to cover your face, protecting your skin. Also, always make sure to use a sweatband when you hit the gym so no hair products drip down when you begin to perspire. • Sleep: Need an excuse to feel better about pressing the snooze button? Getting eight hours of sleep a night will not only help you look refreshed, but it will also replenish and rehydrate skin. Not getting a good night’s sleep can result in dull skin and clogged pores. • Lips: Make sure your beauty regime includes your lips. Dried out lips not only look bad, they age faster. Use moist lipsticks and lip balm to help keep your lips hydrated. • Stress: Stress is the heavy weight knock out when it comes to your skin. Not only can it cause blemishes, acne, dullness and rashes, but stress lines will ingrain in your skin over time. Best way to avoid stress? Take time to do something you enjoy like yoga, read a book, cook, or take a walk. • Smoking: We all know smoking is bad for you; make that very, very, bad for you. But did you know secondhand smoke can be harmful to your skin? Even being around smokers can cause skin sagging and speed up the wrinkle process.

‘Tis the season for the flu

Mary in the Middle

Cherishing holiday memories

Pick up gifts, not germs

s we gather with family and friends and begin holiday shopping, keep in mind it is also the beginning of flu season. According to Rome Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department Director Loretta Myers, the hospital treated 40 people with flu-like symptoms over the weekend of Nov. 17-18. “We saw an upward trend in patients presenting with influenza-like illness during that weekend,” Myers said. “Of those, we have five confirmed cases of the flu.” How can you protect yourself and your family from the flu? “Washing or sanitizing your hands often while shopping is a good way to protect yourself,” said RMH’s Infection Prevention Director LeAnna Grace. “Also, try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth as much as possible especially if you haven’t had a chance to clean your hands.” “Most importantly, get your flu shot,” Grace urged. “There is a lot of holiday shopping to do in December and the stores will be crowded with shoppers and germs.” “Since it takes up to two weeks to develop immunity after receiving the flu vaccine, it is important to be vaccinated as soon as you can,” Grace added. “The flu season usually begins in December and peaks in January and February in our area. Immunity to the flu from the vaccination lasts about one year.”

Drawing from recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Grace offered these additional tips to help people prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like flu: • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; germs spread this way. • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. • If you are sick with flu–like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. • When you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Signs and symptoms of the flu include fever/chills, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and a runny or stuffy nose. The degree of illness from the flu can be very mild to severe. Someone might think they have a cold and they actually have the flu. For most people symptoms only last a few days. More information about seasonal influenza can be found at romehospital. org and www.cdc.gov.

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Continued from Page 2 Program is offering a free “Knock Your Socks Off!” foot (podiatry) clinic for people with diabetes at noon Dec. 7. The event will take place at the CNY Diabetes Education Program office located on the fourth floor of the Faxton Campus of FSLH, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. An area podiatrist will conduct a brief educational seminar followed by a personal foot exam. For more information or to register, call CNY Diabetes at 315-624-5620. Central New York Diabetes Education Program is a cooperative effort of FSLH and St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Dec. 8

Get a handle on conﬂict resolution Conflict Resolution, a program designed for couples and individuals to understand behavior in conflict

By Mary Stevenson

and learn to develop response, will be featured from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The cost is $20 per person, which includes meals and materials. For details or to register, call The Good News Center at 315-735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org—Events Calendar.

Dec. 12

FSLH to hold remembrance service On Dec. 12, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica will hold a remembrance service in memory of all FSLH patients who passed away in 2012. Families, friends and caregivers are invited to attend the service that begins at 7 p.m. in Allen-Calder Conference Rooms 3, 4 and 5 at St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica. For more information, contact Lehmann at 315-624-6418 or plehmann@mvnhealth.com.

Family traditions stand the test of time

olidays for our home mean family, decorations and food, lots and lots of food. From the traditional calamari and seven fishes to our own traditions of lasagna with pepperoni, we have made many dishes over the years. As children, we sat at the kitchen table and watched while mom and Aunt Dolly made the Christmas cakes. Traditional treats with jellied fruits, nuts, and a generous helping of cinnamon, sugar and honey were made every Christmas. They were given as gifts to loved ones and some were saved for us. It was a tradition that I truly miss sharing with them, but have tried my best to continue this with our children, along with my nieces and nephews. We have a Christmas cookie-baking weekend where mom, dad and my four nieces come over for breakfast, which usually consists of bacon, eggs, toast and coffee, many cups of coffee. Once the breakfast dishes Stevenson are cleaned up, the real fun begins. We gather ingredients for several types of cookies all at once. Then there are cookie stations. Soft Italian cookies, wine barrels (“barrels” of dough with wine, deep-fried in a pan of oil and drizzled with honey and sprinkles), chocolate chip cookies and sometimes molasses cookies. Whatever cookie we can dream up, we will make. It’s two days filled with laughter, sweets and cherished memories. We tell the children stories of our childhood Christmases and hope they can feel the love that we did when we were children. Speaking of when we were children, while mom held down the fort inside with the Christmas cake making, dad took care of the outside. He decorated our home with lights, over-sized candy canes, an abundance of Santas, and then more lights. He was the original Clark Griswold. We had the big outdoor lights that were

painted the holiday colors of red, blue, green, white, orange and yellow. We had enough to go around the outside of a two-story house two times over. We had the white and colored ‘twinkie’ lights that flashed on and off at regular intervals for around the windows and around the tree. And don’t forget the silver tinsel! That was the best part!! We took that stuff by the handfuls and threw it on the tree. Where it landed, it landed. Mom wasn’t a big fan of it, though I never truly understood why until I had children of my own. I clearly remember one year there was a rash of Christmas lights thefts. Dad was frustrated to have to go over each line to find the missing bulb and replace it, only to be out there again the next night because another one was missing. So he set a trap. Dad and his brother sat outside and waited for the culprit. Sure enough he showed up. The thief, with his pockets full of bulbs, was then cornered by the brothers. They brought him into the house to find he was a local teenager. They scared the pants off of him. I remember seeing the look of fear on his face when dad said he was going to call his mother. And dad did call his mother, although I was sent to bed at that point. I can only imagine that kid never stole another Christmas light again. I have now inherited their Christmas decorations. I have a few of my own from over the course of the years, but they pale in comparison to the stash my father had. Time gets away from me, and every year I say, “I am going to do the decorations like dad did and I am going to make the cakes like mom did” but it doesn’t seem to happen that way. Life gets in the way. I need to make the time to smell the Christmas cookies and enjoy the light show. • Mary Stevenson is a staff writer with Mohawk Valley In Good Health.

FSLH’s stroke program earns award

axton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica, the area’s designated stroke center, received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award for the second year in a row. The award recognizes FSLH’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines. To receive the award, FSLH achieved 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-

December 2012 •

stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-stroke quality measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, longterm disability. For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.heart. org.

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Kids’ Health Taming Teens Employ strategies to break those communication barriers By Barbara Pierce

he most difficult time of a person’s life is being a teenager. The second most difficult time of a person’s life is being the parent of a teenager. ”She’s changed overnight,” said Cheryl about her 13-year-old daughter, Crystal. “Last year, she talked to me about everything that was going on in her life. Now when I try to talk to her, she gives me vague answers and I feel like I really don’t know what she’s up to. When I ask her, she gets mad at me.” When kids are between the ages of 12-15, they begin to separate from their parents. They are becoming their own person. They rely on their friends for emotional support and turn away from their parents. They become secretive and private. At a time in their life when they most need the guidance of a caring parent, at a time when they most need to talk about what is going on in their

life, that’s when they pull away from their parents. And it’s frustrating to be that parent. “Don’t judge what they say. Don’t get defensive. And don’t criticize,” urged Kathryn Moss, family advocate for the Center for Family Life and Advocacy in Herkimer. They will shut down communicating with you the minute you begin judging or criticizing. “Be open to your kids and listen,” she added. It’s hard to just listen, and not give advice. But listening is what they need the most. They won’t listen to you if you lecture or preach. They will tune you out, and you will cut down your chances of having an open conversation with them in the future. “If your teen is willing to share something—anything—accept it for the precious and rare moment it is,” says license clinical social worker Maud Purcell online. “Unless the house is on fire, stop and listen non-judgmentally. Rule of thumb: Listen twice as much as

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emotions seem new, personal, and private. No one else ever felt just so. They are insulted when you say ‘I know just how you feel.’” And don’t take away the feelings they have. If your daughter says, “I’m so upset. I can’t go out of the house because of this huge pimple!” squelch the urge to say “That’s ridiculous! You can barely see it.” If your son says, “I’m so mad at Brian because of what he said to me,” resist the urge to say “That’s nothing to be mad about.”

Chill out, parents

you speak.”

Less talk, more listen

The more you listen in a nonjudgmental way, the more your teen will talk. The more you talk, the less your teen will talk. You will have more success if you use a ‘stealth’ approach. Ask harmless questions. Talk about the “American Idol” you watched last night, what’s her favorite song, did she see the funny thing the family cat did, has she seen her friend Hannah lately. Ask these harmless questions in a casual way, like when you’re in the car together, or eating a meal together. Don’t try to have a conversation when one of you is mad at the other. Wait until you calm down. And don’t say, “I know just how you feel. Teenagers do not want understanding,” said child psychologist Haim Ginott. “They feel unique. Their

“Don’t hurry to correct facts,” advised Ginott. “Teenagers often respond to corrections by becoming obstinate. They become unreachable and unteachable, determined not to be influenced by anyone or forced into anything.” When it turns out you’re right about something you predicted, don’t remind them. Forget about your prediction. “Respect his or her privacy,” said Purcell. “If she sees that you understand her need for private phone calls and a closed bedroom door, she may be more willing to try sharing some of her inner world with you.” Never reveal to others the confidences he or she has shared with you, added Purcell. She may not risk offering you her intimate thoughts again for some time to come. Refrain from asking questions, said Purcell. For example, instead of asking, “Why are you 15 minutes late getting home?” say “I noticed you missed your curfew by 15 minutes.” It’s a subtle difference, but one that will meet less resistance. Unfortunately, there is no navigational chart for making it through the rough waters of adolescence. Following these compass points, however, may make the trip just a bit more navigable.

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RMH names new ED medical director

Address ________________________________________

ndrew Bushnell has been named the new medical director of the emergency department at Rome Memorial Hospital. Bushnell, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, did his residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Bushnell Approximately a year ago, Rome Memorial Hospital welcomed a new team of physicians to its

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

emergency department. However, it’s taken approximately a year for “Team Health” to recruit a medical director because of the national physician shortage, Ariglio said. Bushnell hopes to share his enthusiasm for Central New York with other prospective doctors. “We need to get the word out that this is a great area to live and work,” he said. “My goal is to build upon our existing team of talented physicians and find great doctors who want to make this area their home and provide great quality care here.” Bushnell has worked in emergency medicine in medical facilities in Syracuse, Cooperstown, and the Baltimore, Md. area, and was previously employed as attending physician of the division of emergency medicine department of surgery at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. for the past 10 years.

Kids’ Health Upside of Down syndrome Mom takes awareness crusade to Mohawk Valley community By Amylynn Pastorella

amela Smoulcey of Utica is a special education teacher who is professionally trained to work with students with special needs to help them become independent, successful individuals in life. However, little did she know that one day she would apply her professional skills to a very personal cause: her own daughter, Makayla, was born with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. In most cases, Down syndrome occurs when there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. This form of Down syndrome is called Trisomy-21. The extra chromosome causes problems with the way the body and brain develop. There is no specific treatment for Down syndrome; however, a big effort to raise money and awareness for the condition is publicly seen. Makalya was diagnosed with Down syndrome after one week of birth. Smoulcey said she could not believe that anything like this could happen to her and questioned why her baby had Down syndrome. After having negative thoughts, she took a look at Makayla and saw how beautiful she was inside and out. It’s been a difficult journey, but Smoulcey and her husband realized that Down syndrome is not who their daughter is; it is what she has. “She is a typical baby. I finally realized that I did not do anything wrong; I did everything right,” said Smoulcey. “Even though I am educated about children with disabilities, it is a completely different story when you have to live it. I knew exactly what to expect in an early intervention meeting, but I cried. I cried because I know Makayla’s life is going to be difficult and I want her to be included in everything that every typical child does and reach every milestone as any other child. It is just difficult to know that it may take her a bit longer to reach those goals,” said Smoulcey.

Emotions run rampant

Having years of experience attending meetings to develop educational plans for students with special needs, attending her daughter’s meeting was especially emotional for Smoulcey. However, according to Smoulcey, Makayla has surprised her parents with all she has been able to do despite any limits. Makayla receives physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Two therapies are back to back, which is tiring for an 8-month old baby to do, but Makayla never gives up and does all she can with a smile on her face. “She has a great personality. Of course, like any typical child, Makayla has her moments, but unlike every other baby, she wakes every day with a smile on her face. If everyone started

Study: Obese teen boys have less testosterone Doctor: ‘These boys are potentially impotent and infertile’

Pamela Smoulcey celebrates completion of a 63-mile bike journey with her daughter Makayla at the Brody Buddy Walk. their day with a smile, I believe there would be much more happiness in the world. I know every parent says their child is a joy, but Makayla really is and it spreads to all those around her,” said Smoulcey. Soon after Makayla’s birth, Smoulcey and her family became involved with local events to raise money and awareness for Down syndrome. In August, Smoulcey participated in the third annual Brody Buddy Ride, a 63-mile bike ride bringing awareness to Down syndrome. With Down syndrome, it is the 21st chromosome of which there are three copies. The 63mile ride is calculated by multiplying 21 time three. Riders involved left Clinton High School and rode to Sylvan Beach and back. The money raised from the event assists families with any medical needs of individuals with Down syndrome. Monies will also provide activities, scholarships and other events for people with Down syndrome.

Supporters brave elements

“Brody’s Buddy Ride was such a great event. Not only was the ride a success but the family event after the ride was great. There was food, games for kids, face painting, and a presentation by Carrie Bergeron, an adult with Down syndrome who is an accomplished activist in the Down syndrome community. In September, Smoulcey took part in the Buddy Walk for Down syndrome in Utica. This was her first time involved with both events. The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk throughout downtown Utica to raise awareness of Down syndrome. Despite the rainy, cold weather of that day, Smoulcey was overwhelmed by the public support at the event. “I want people to see my daughter how I see her—absolutely fabulous. Makayla may have one extra chromosome over her peers, but she rocks her designer genes,” said Smoulcey.

December 2012 •

study by the University at Buffalo shows for the first time that obese males aged 14 to 20 have up to 50 percent less total testosterone than do normal males of the same age, significantly increasing their potential to be impotent and infertile as adults. The paper (www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed/22970699) was published online as an accepted article in Clinical Endocrinology. The authors are the same researchers in the University at Buffalo’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences who first reported in 2004 the presence of low testosterone levels, known as hypogonadism, in obese, type 2 diabetic adult males and confirmed it in 2010 in more than 2,000 obese men, both diabetic and nondiabetic. “We were surprised to observe a 50 percent reduction in testosterone in this pediatric study because these obese males were young and were not diabetic,” says physician Paresh Dandona, SUNY distinguished professor in the department of medicine, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism in the UB medical school and first author on the study. “The implications of our findings are, frankly, horrendous because these boys are potentially impotent and infertile,” says Dandona. “The message is a grim one with massive epidemiological implications.” The small study included 25 obese and 25 lean males and was controlled for age and level of sexual maturity. Concentrations of total and free testosterone and estradiol, an estrogen hormone, were measured in morning fasting blood samples. The results need to be confirmed with a larger number of subjects, Dandona says. “These findings demonstrate that the effect of obesity is powerful, even in the young, and that lifestyle and nutritional intake starting in childhood have major repercussions throughout all stages of life,” he says. In addition to the reproductive consequences, the absence or low levels of testosterone that were found also will increase the tendency toward abdominal fat and reduced muscle, Dandona says, leading to insulin resistance, which contributes to diabetes. “The good news is that we know that testosterone levels do return to normal in obese adult males who undergo gastric bypass surgery,” says Dandona. “It’s possible that levels also will return to normal through weight loss as a result of lifestyle change, although this needs to be confirmed by larger studies.” The UB researchers now intend to study whether or not weight loss accomplished either through lifestyle changes or through pharmacological intervention will restore testosterone levels in obese teen males.

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Page 15

The Ragin’ Cajun

By Malissa Allen

The autism argument Controversy surrounds the use of gluten-free, casein-free diet

f you read books, the newspaper or watch TV at all today, the word autism is now mentioned in just about every facet available. The numbers of children on the autism spectrum seem to be growing at a rapid speed. Even with all the publicity, many people today still do not know what autism is. It is simply seen as a form of “retardation,” compared to the movie “Rain Man.” It is a disease that steals away a child’s ability to have social and speech skills. Many have “odd, repetitive behaviors,” obsessions with things such as trains, along Allen with many other behavior characteristics as non-autistic children. What seems to be the more notable controversy are the treatments available that many autism families claim increase the value to the life of these children, most popular, the gluten-free, caseinfree diet. For decades, the GF-CF diet has been a popular approach by parents attempting to improve the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of their children’s autism. This approach has been bolstered by anecdotal reports from parents and celebrities that avoiding gluten and/or casein—the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and milk—may help improve symptoms of people living with autism.

Skeptics take aim

Because this is a non-traditional medical treatment, many general practitioners are non-believers to its ability to result in any kind of change, being it’s considered a neurological disorder. To understand the connection of the two, you first must understand each as a single subject to make the connection of how removing food products from a diet can improve behavior issues, increase speech, and offer a better life to those on the autism spectrum. So what is autism? Autism is a potentially severe neurological condition affecting social functioning, communication skills, reasoning, and behavior. It is considered a spectrum disorder, meaning that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a variety of combinations, ranging from extremely mild to quite severe. One of the most frustrating aspects of autism is the lack of physical findings in individuals with autism. Most individuals with autism have normal appearances, and few, if any, have medical problems. Because the specific cause of autism is unknown, there is no prenatal test available for autism. This is where the controversy begins. Medical professionals who practice standard medical protocols do not commonly test Page 16

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for allergies or for non-obvious medical issues nor is it standard practice to dig deeper into the cause of autism to discover there could very well be hidden medical problems. Is there proof that food items that contain gluten and casein could be causing behavior issues associated with autism? As usual, it comes down to man versus medicine. So, what is it about gluten and casein? Don’t we all consume these in everyday food products, used in every kitchen? How could it cause such havoc to a body that would lead thousands of families to go against medical professionals’ advice and put their child on a strict GF-CF diet? Some research suggests that one feature of autism spectrum disorder is reduced enzymatic activity and increased permeability of the intestinal barrier, both of which can lead to potential gastrointestinal problems. Given these digestive disorders, one prevailing theory holds that ingestion of gluten or casein might result in incomplete digestion, in turn causing large, undigested proteins to leak out of the stomach and travel to the brain, where they could eventually interfere with neuro-receptors and cause autistic symptoms. Therefore, it is believed that in susceptible autistic patients, a gluten-free-casein-free diet might produce direct improvements in brain function. To date, research on the topic has been contradictory and characterized by small, poorly designed studies. This is the one side of the argument, but like always, there are two sides to every story.

Controversy takes center stage

In 2005, Jenny McCarthy, actress and New York Times’ bestselling author, published an astonishing book, “Louder than Words, a Mother’s Journey to Healing Autism,” claiming she had “recovered” her son, Evan, from autism, using biomedical protocol,

along with the help of Dr. Jerry Kartzinel. The medical field went crazy with this, stating her claims were false with no proof to back it up other than her own words. The claim was both she and Kartzinel were only out to gain financially off millions of desperate families willing to do anything to “heal” their children. Kartzinel, one of the top autism doctors in the nation, came back with not only medical proof, but human proof as well. Millions of families began joining the GF-CF diet team, using their own children as proof. In their book, “Healing and Preventing Autism” (2009), McCarthy and Kartzinel share their beliefs that the best way to tackle the factors contributing to autism is through a biomedical approach. Biomedical intervention looks at nutrition, detoxification, and removal of interfering factors, such as yeast, food allergies, viruses, bacteria, and heavy metals. McCarthy and Kartzinel admit that biomedical interventions do not help everyone, but thousands of children have improved with this type of therapy. An important focus of this approach involves supporting the body’s innate healing response with healthy food and nutritional supplements. Their book asserts that autism is not rooted in one cause, and therefore successful treatment is often multifaceted.

Take new approach to diet

First of all, clean up the diet. A GF-CF diet is one that has helped thousands of kids. In addition, eat as organically as possible, and avoid artificial colorings and flavorings, sugar, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. Consider nutritional supplements. Kartzinel said autistic kids have major nutrient deficiencies. The book highlights the supplements he has found most helpful for his patients. Kartzinel’s claim is, ”Children with

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

autism have weakened immune systems that cannot simply break down proteins that are found in both gluten and casein. The inability to break these proteins down causes what’s known as “leaky gut syndrome.” On simple terms, the proteins cause the intestinal wall to form holes, allowing the gases from the protein to enter straight into the blood stream causing a euphoria-like feeling, comparing it to the effects of how heroin would feel like to the regular person. This gets them “high,” causing many of autistic behaviors. Think of it this way: We are all born with our own size garbage can that only holds as much toxins as our body is built to withstand, but what happens when our can is full? The toxins will build up outside the can and can cause disease. Two more variables to consider here: One is that we are all born with different size garbage cans, some bigger and some smaller. The next is how efficiently we can dump our garbage can so it can accept more toxins. Now it becomes easy to understand how children with autism can develop symptoms at different times following different exposures. They are just indicating to us when their “garbage container” is full. To back this theory, the Autism Research Institute collected data from 26,000 parents on the effects of biomedical treatments with the results posted on its website, www.autism.com.

Colliding with science

The battle had begun between the millions of families with children with autism and medical professionals. After reviewing the articles, which covered 188 patients between the ages of 2-17, scientists deduced a “limited and weak” connection between a diet low in gluten or casein and brain function in those with autism. They suggested a different factor may be to blame for any observed behavioral changes after dietary restrictions were imposed. So, how does this recent study account for some patients’ reported changes in mood and behavior on the GF-CF diet? Simple: allergies and food intolerance, according to researchers. “Should a child with autism spectrum disorder experience acute behavioral changes, seemingly associated with changes in diet, practitioners should consider testing the child for allergies and food intolerances,” researchers say, “Given the possible risks associated with a strict GF-CF diet in developing children, including nutritional deficiencies and poor bone development, the researchers suggest limiting the use of GF-CF diets to autistic patients who have tested positive for a food allergy or intolerance to gluten or casein. Parents considering a GF-CF diet for their children should consult with a registered dietitian to help design a diet plan and supplement regimen that will meet their child’s growth and development needs.

Meet

Your Doctor

By Lou Sorendo

Urologist shares views on profession, career Continued from Page 4 eases that used to require incisions, and have witnessed major breakthroughs in medical treatment of advanced prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. It is fair to say that the last decade has brought about incredible improvements in the delivery of urologic care in terms of efficacy and patient recovery. Q.: What are some of the more common illnesses and diseases that you encounter in your practice? A.: Prostate enlargement (BPH), prostate cancer, hematuria (blood in urine), kidney stones, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, infertility, and urinary tract infections Q.: Generally speaking, what can individuals do to help prevent urological illnesses? What can men do to boost their prostate health? A.: Stopping tobacco use and maintaining healthy body weight and diet decreases certain cancers and kidney stones. Screening for certain cancers with a prostate-specific antigen tests and routine urine studies for appropriate patients helps identify cancers early. It is thought that Western diets increase risk of prostate enlargement and cancer. Limiting animal fat might help mitigate that risk. One type of medication actually has been shown to decrease the risk of prostate cancer. I’m not aware of anything one can do to make the prostate “healthier” though. Lots of theories have come and gone (selenium, zinc, etc.) but none have clearly shown benefits in studies. Q.: Are there any particular facets of urologic care that you enjoy the most? What are some of the more challenging aspects of your profession? A.: Treating cancer, kidney stones,

and erectile dysfunction. I was fortunate enough to train in the laparoscopy/minimally invasive era and enjoy using newer technologies to give patients the cure they desire using a far less invasive procedure than open surgery. I find the most challenging aspect of my profession to be keeping abreast of evolving literature and emerging technology. There is always some new drug or procedure that challenges your practice pattern, and one is constantly forced to ask oneself, “Why should or shouldn’t I adopt this change in my practice?” We like to do things the way we were taught, but we can no longer rest on what we know and have to constantly modify our practices to do what is best for the patient. Q.: Can you briefly outline what prosthetic urology is all about? Is it becoming more popular as the aging population grows? A.: Prosthetic urology is the use of non-biologic material to replace diseased/damaged tissue. We use prosthetic implants for erectile dysfunction, mesh for incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, and graft materials for Peyronie’s disease. As the population ages and no longer accepts the idea that having certain problems is “part of aging and just needs to be accepted,” use of prosthetic materials has grown. Our success in treating those conditions I mentioned has improved considerably since we’ve had implantable materials in our toolbox. Q.: What is your ultimate goal as a physician? What kind of imprint would you like to leave on the world of urology? A.: As a clinical urologist, providing good patient care is the ultimate goal. I consider it a privilege to get to do it every day.

FSLH’s stroke program earns achievement award

higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-stroke quality measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, longterm disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year. For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit heart. org/quality.

By Jim Miller

How to save money by donating your body to science What can you tell me about body donations? With little money to spare, I’m looking for a cheap way to die and have heard that donating my body to science is free, not to mention it benefits medical research. Old and Poor Dear Old: If you’re looking to eliminate your final farewell expense and help advance medical research, donating your body to science is a great option to consider. Here’s what you should know. Body Donations

Each year, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 Americans donate their whole body, after death, to medical facilities throughout the country to be used in medical research projects, anatomy lessons and surgical practice. After using your body, these facilities will then provide free cremation — which typically costs $600 to $3,000 — and will either bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, usually within a year or two. Here are a few other tidbits you need to know to help you decide on whether whole-body donation is right for you. • Organ donors excluded: Most programs require that you donate your whole body in its entirety. So if you want to be an organ donor, you won’t qualify to be a whole body donor too. You’ll have to choose. • Not all bodies are accepted: If, for example, your body has been badly damaged in a care accident or if you’re morbidly obese, you many not qualify. • Body transporting is covered: Most programs will pay to transport your body to their facility unless your body must be moved from out of state. • No special requests: Most programs won’t allow you to donate your body for a specific purpose — you give them the body and they decide how to use it. • Funeral services are not covered: Most programs will allow your family to conduct any final services they wish before taking custody of your body, but they won’t pay for it.

December 2012 •

• Your family won’t be paid: Federal law prohibits buying bodies.

What To Do

If you do decide you want to donate your body, it’s best to make arrangements in advance with a body donation program in your area. Most programs are offered by university-affiliated medical schools. In Upstate New York, two facilities will accept bodies: SUNY Upstate Medical Center, department of anatomy, in Syracuse, phone 315-464-5120 and 315-464-5047; and University of Rochester School of Medicine, department of anatomy, in Rochester, phone 585275-2592. 585-275-2272. (To find other facilities in the U. S. visit www.med.ufl. edu/anatbd/usprograms.html). In addition to the medical schools, there are also a number of private organizations like Anatomy Gifts Registry (anatomicgift.com), BioGift (biogift.org) and Science Care (sciencecare.com) that accept whole body donations too. If you don’t have Internet access, you can get help over the phone by calling the National Family Services Desk, which operates a free body donation referral service during business hours at 800-727-0700. Once you locate a program in your area, call and ask them to mail you an information/registration packet that will explain exactly how their program works. To sign up, you’ll simply need to fill out a couple of forms. But, you can always change your mind by revoking your authorization in writing. After you have made arrangements, you then need to tell your family members so they will know what to do and who to contact after your death. It’s also a good idea to tell your doctor and put your wishes in writing in your advance directives. These are legal documents that include a medical power of attorney and living will that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. If you don’t have an advance directive, go to caringinfo.org or call 800-658-8898 where you can get free state-specific forms with instructions to help you make one.

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.

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H ealth News St. E’s welcomes new physician Toby Taylor has recently been added to St. Elizabeth Medical Center and its Medical Group’s New Hartford Office at 4401 Middle Settlement Road. Taylor joins Mark Warfel at that location. Also joining the practice as a new provider is family nurse practitioner Tracy Stein, who has been working with Taylor. Taylor Taylor received his medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Ark., where he also completed a combined residency in internal medicine and pediatrics. He completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Harding University, Searcy, Ark. Taylor is board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. Prior to joining the medical group, Taylor was in private practice and a consulting physician at The House of Good Shepherd and Hamilton College. He was a member of the Adirondack Community Physicians Group at Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford. Taylor’s professional affiliations include fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a diplomate of the American College of Physicians. Taylor and his wife, Debbie, are parents of three children, Drew, 19, David, 17 and Emma, 14.

MVCAA hosts annual food drive The Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency will be hosting its third annual food drive, collecting non-perishable food items through Dec. 17 to help local families this holiday season. Last year, the MVCAA delivered more than 1,000 cans and packages of non-perishable food and hundreds of bags of potatoes to area food pantries in Utica, Rome and Herkimer County. “This year, we are inviting area businesses to join us so we can help even more families than last year,” a spokesperson said. A MVCAA representative will pick up donations and distribute them to local food pantries in Utica, Rome and Herkimer County. Donations will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the agency’s main offices through Dec. 17: • 9882 River Road, Utica • 1100 Miller St., Utica • 1721 Black River Blvd., Rome • 61 West St. (Catholic Charities), Ilion Community members, businesses and organizations who would like to participate in the food drive are encouraged to use the drop off locations listed above, while businesses are encouraged to set up a box at their own location. To make arrangements for MVCAA staff to pick up business donations on Page 18

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or before Dec. 17, 315-624-9930 and ask for Maureen Murphy, program development director, at ext. 259.

‘Holiday Angel’ emergency appeal goes out AIDS Community Resources has been overwhelmed with requests for assistance from families for help and is sending out an emergency appeal for additional “Holiday Angels” to help fill in the gap. The long-standing Holiday Angel program pairs members of the community with a designated ACR client and his or her family. The “Angels” are supplied with a client’s first name, and a list of “needs” rather than the typical Christmas “wish” list. The number of people who have volunteered as Holiday Angels is down somewhat from previous years, according to ACR Development Director Carrie Portzline-Large. “Poverty is a constant companion for some of our clients and their families, who struggle financially yearround. They often lack health insurance, a decent place to live, or money for medications. They have nothing left for ‘something special’ at holiday time,” she said. ACR serves Cayuga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence counties. All gifts must be wrapped and labeled and financial donations are appreciated. If you would like to be a Holiday Angel, call 800-475-2430, or email event s@AIDSCommunityResources.com.

United Way awards empowerment grants United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area is awarding community empowerment grants to several local organizations. Area programs selected to receive grants include: • Mohawk Perinatal Network, Inc.—“Safe Sleep For Babies” $4,680 awarded: The funds will allow local home visiting programs to comprehensively educate expecting and new families on the topic of safe sleep, SIDS risk reduction, and distribute free portable cribs to families with no other source of a safe sleep space for their baby. • Utica Safe Schools Healthy Students Partnerships, Inc.—“Oneida County Gang Assessment Project” $5,000 awarded: This funding will be utilized to formally establish the Oneida County Gang Assessment Coalition and an initial study of gang activity. This will then leverage to garner support and funding for a full study of area gang activity, which has not been conducted in seven years. • Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, Inc.—“Medical Equipment for Reproductive Health Care Services for Low-Income Women” $5,000 awarded: Purchase new equipment. The investment in a power examination table improves the ability to serve individuals with disabilities

and special needs.

FSLH makes staff announcements Susan Spina has been named director of social work and transitional care for Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica. Spina is responsible for the provision and coordination of social work services across the continuum of care, including St. Luke’s Home, Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, Senior Network Health, Adirondack ComSpina munity Physicians medical offices as well as oversight of the language assistance and wound care programs. Spina also provides counseling services at New Hartford Psychiatric Associates in Whitesboro. Spina received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from SUNY Potsdam and her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University. Lynne Toussaint has been named lead clinical documentation specialist for FSLH. Toussaint oversees the nursing team that assists physicians with accurate and effective documentation reflecting the severity of illness and supporting the case mix index and reimbursement methodology. Toussaint has Toussaint been an employee of FSLH for more than 25 years and has held various nursing positions throughout the organization. Toussaint received her Associate of Applied Science in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica and her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the State University of New York, Upper Division College in Marcy.

New leader named at dialysis center Lila Studnicka has been named executive director of the Regional Dialysis Center at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica. The Regional Dialysis Center at FSLH has outpatient dialysis centers throughout three counties and treats patients from seven surrounding counties. Prior to joining FSLH, Studnicka worked as an operations manager/ clinical manager, area manager and director of operations for Fresenius Medical Care, overseeing programs in several states.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012

Studnicka also held positions as an acute dialysis facility manager for Renal Care Group/Fresenius Medical Care in Nebraska, prenatal tobacco nurse educator for Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, Neb., and program director for Outreach at Every Woman Matters of the YWCA of Adams Studnicka County in Hastings, Neb. Studnicka has held staff RN positions for various medical centers throughout Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota. Studnicka received her Associate of Science in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College for Nursing in Lincoln, Neb., and her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Creighton University in Hastings, Neb.

FSLH’s Urgent Care announces holiday hours Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Urgent Care, located at the Faxton Campus at Burrstone Road and Bennett Street, Utica, will be closed on the following holidays: • Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. • Christmas Day, Dec. 25 • New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2013 Urgent care will be open all other days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. For more information, contact urgent care at 315-624-5226.

Adult day health care program to relocate In early 2013, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Adult Day Health Care Program will relocate to the new, stateof-the-art Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services (also the location of St. Luke’s Home), 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica. The larger location supports the adult day health care program’s mission to provide registrants with a supportive, nurturing and family centered environment that promotes wellness, independence and self-esteem. The program enhances the lives of frail, elderly, chronically ill and disabled adults while maintaining their residence in the community. The program also offers a period of respite for family caregivers. FSLH’s Adult Day Health Care Program is accepting new registrants. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 315-624-4520.

Abraham House features annual wreath sale Abraham House in Utica is selling 12-inch fresh wreaths decorated

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Health EMPLOYMENT in good

H ealth News Continued from Page 18 with pinecones and a bow for $18 to help support the mission of Abraham House. This year, individuals can choose the color of their bows until the bows run out. Afterwards, the wreaths come with a red velvet bow. Wreaths can be picked up at Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica. Abraham House is open 24 hours a day so people can stop by at their convenience. For further information, call Abraham House at 733-8211. Abraham House provides a loving home without charge to the terminally ill in the community.

Herkimer County HealthNet holds symposium The Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play Symposium was recently held at the First United Methodist Church in Herkimer. Sponsored by Herkimer County HealthNet, topics discussed at the symposium served to educate the public on the Creating Healthy Places Grant and various projects that are taking place with the grant funding. The Creating Healthy Places Grant in Herkimer County is targeted to prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes through environmental and policy changes and is funded by the New York State Department of Health. Herkimer County HealthNet was formed in 1990 and is part of the state DOH Rural Health Network.

Presbyterian Homes sets the pace United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area held its second annual mid-campaign report recently. Board members, staff, campaign cabinet volunteers and the 2012 campaign co-chairs reported on the progress of the 2012-2013 annual campaign and recognized one local organization’s efforts with the outstanding pacesetter award. Campaign co-chairs Jim and Alicia Brockway, both from M&T Bank, gave a campaign overview highlighting key events throughout the first half of the 2012 campaign. “We are very proud of all the hard work that has gone into campaign efforts so far and are excited to report we are nearing the $500,000 mark at this mid-point in the annual fundraising campaign,” said Brenda Episcopo, executive director. The outstanding pacesetter award was given to Presbyterian Homes & Services for its outstanding work raising its organization’s overall donation level by 134 percent. Michael Sweeney, CEO, and Mary Pratt, director of human resources at Presbyterian Homes & Services, accepted the award on behalf of their organization. Those interested in workplace campaigns or individual gifts are invited to call United Way at 315-733-4691 or visit www.unitedwaygu.org to donate online.

MV’S HEALTHCARE NEWSPAPER

AHA announces community impact grants available Dr. Frank Dubeck, president for the American Heart Association Greater Utica Area Advisory Board, along with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, are requesting applications for the 2012-2013 Greater Utica Area community impact grant. It was recognized that there was a need to support community-based activities that address AHA’s mission to fight heart disease and stroke. Many local community groups and organizations are working, or would like to work, on projects that would result in improvements in the cardiovascular health of the community. The AHA in Utica will receive $25,000, which will provide funding for community-based organizations in the Greater Utica area. To receive a community impact grant application, call the AHA at 315266-5403 or e-mail heartofutica@heart. org. The deadline to submit grant applications is Dec. 31.

Arc issues pride of workmanship award Kathleen Zammiello, an employee at The Arc, OneidaLewis Chapter, NYSARC, was recognized with the 2012 Pride of Workmanship Award through the Rotary Club of Utica recently. The Arc’s Vice President of Operations Gail Miskowiec nominated Zammiello because of Zammiello her commitment and outstanding performance in the workplace. By receiving this award, she is being recognized for her “keen sense of responsibility and for her ability to exceed expectations while contributing to the success of her organization,” Miskowiec said. The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC, is a nonprofit human services agency that provides advocacy and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oneida and Lewis counties.

VHS selects its top employee of quarter Bonnie Graves of Valley Health Services’ dietary department was selected as the VHS employee of the third quarter of 2012. Bonnie joined the staff at Valley Health Services in Herkimer in November of 1993. The coworker who nominated Bonnie stated, “Bonnie is an exceptional worker who always seems to come into work with a smile on her face and a positive attitude.” The VHS employee of the quarter program recognizes the outstanding performance of Valley Health Services employees.

Advertise your services or products and reach your potential customers throughout Mohawk Valley for as little as $67 a month. Call 749-7070 for more information. Valley Health Services chooses standouts For the first time since its inception, two employees tied as winners of the employee of the quarter award at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. Dottie Day of the purchasing department and Michael Burroughs of environmental services tied for the honors. Day Day has worked at VHS since May of 1984 while Burroughs came aboard in October 2007. The VHS employee of the quarter program recognizes the outstanding performance of VHS employees. Employees submit nominations and the winner is entitled to a designated Burroughs parking spot for three months, a gift certificate, recognition in local newspapers and the facilities newsletter and becomes eligible to participate in the employee of the year program.

VHS welcomes new occupational therapist Chelsea Beehm recently joined the rehabilitation staff at Valley Health Services in Herkimer as an occupational therapist. Beehm recently completed the fiveyear Master’s of Science in occupation-

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al therapy program at Utica College. Her first job interview was with Valley Health Services. “I was so excited about interviewing with VHS. I knew I wanted to stay in the valley and work with the exact population VHS serves. I loved adult rehab during my internBeehm ships and I have not been the least bit disappointed in my short time here,” she said.

AHA announces lifestyle change award The American Heart Association is working to celebrate individuals who have made a positive impact on their health. In partnership with Olivari Mediterranean Olive Oil, the American Heart Association is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Lifestyle Change Award. The Lifestyle Change Award honors someone who has made significant, positive changes in an effort to life longer and healthier. Friends, co-workers or relatives can submit nominations. Individuals can also choose to nominate themselves. A panel of judges from the American Heart Association and Olivari Mediterranean Olive Oil will choose finalists. Those finalists will be announced at the America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk Kick-Off event on Jan. 10. The winner will then be chosen and recognized at the America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk closing ceremony on March 2 in the Utica College gymnasium. Nomination forms can be requested by emailing heartofutica@heart.org or calling 315-266-5403. Deadline for submissions is Dec. 28.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2012