MV-IGH 181 March 21

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MARCH 2021 • ISSUE 181

What Kids Are Losing with Virtual Learning

Online classes are effective to contain the transmission of coronavirus but they are robbing kids from having the full school experience: interacting with others, developing connections, teamwork. See story on page 7

Kids Special Inside n One in five Americans has STD n Speeding on U.S. roads taking thousands of teenagers’ lives n Child suicides are rising n Keeping your cool with kids n Just 2% of teens eat recommended amount of veggies.

The Winter Blues Are Real, and COVID-19 May Make it Worse

How to Snack Better During the Pandemic DEBUNKING VACCINE MYTHS WEIGHT LOSS A new drug, marketed as Ozempic can cut 15-20% of body weight. ‘Drug turned out to be amazingly more effective than anything else we’ve seen come before,’ says researcher

NEW NAME FOR ROME MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Anne Palumbo, author of the SmartBites column, offers several recipes that will make you FEEL NOT guilty about snacking. P. 10

Medical Minute: Debunking Vaccine Myths

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accine. The word conjures up a host of emotions, from relief and hope to skepticism and even fear.

In truth, says physician Patrick Gavigan, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Penn State Children’s Hospital, vaccines are among the most heavily studied of all medical interventions, and the evidence shows they are safe and extremely effective. Many once-daunting diseases, such as measles, meningitis and pneumonia, have been combatted successfully with childhood vaccinations.

Most parents readily accept the vaccine schedule and bring their children for well-child visits expecting the vaccines will be given, Gavigan said. Those who hesitate often want clarification on things they have heard about vaccine safety or additives. Doctors understand there is misinformation and are happy to set the record straight.

“Most people with reservations about vaccines come to us with pretty good questions and are just looking for advice,” Gavigan said.

Here are a few of the most common myths about vaccines and reassuring truths. n Vaccines can make you sick and cause the illness they’re supposed to prevent.

The truth: Vaccines contain inactive viruses or components of the virus or bacteria and cannot cause infection in people with normally functioning immune systems. “Common side effects, such as fever or pain at the injection site, that people often

mistake for illness are the immune system’s response to the components and actually show the body is building immunity to the virus or bacteria,” Gavigan said. (People with compromised immune systems should consult their physician before taking any live virus vaccines.) n Vaccines contain toxic ingredients.

The truth: Mercury and thimerosal, a mercury-containing organic compound, are no longer used in childhood vaccines or in many other vaccines. Safety data shows, however, that there was no increased risk of harm even when these compounds were present, Gavigan said. n The choice not to vaccinate

affects only my child, or only me.

The truth: Vaccines protect the person who gets vaccinated and build herd immunity by decreasing the prevalence of the virus to such low levels that people who are unable to get vaccinated or who don’t fully respond to the vaccine also are protected. A certain percentage of the population must be vaccinated to attain herd immunity, so a decision against vaccination affects the whole group, Gavigan said. n Natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity.

The truth: While it may be true that someone who naturally catches a virus has longer-term immunity, the

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

risks and consequences from actually getting sick with the infection far outweigh any value that may come from having the virus itself. “And with COVID-19, we don’t know that immunity from getting the infection is any better than the vaccine,” Gavigan said. n It’s best to space out vaccines and even delay the COVID-19 vaccine until the pandemic is over.

The truth: All of the data on a standard schedule for vaccines has shown them to be very safe. “Any time you space out vaccines, there’s a big risk that you’re providing additional time when you can contract the disease,” Gavigan said. In addition, getting multiple vaccines at the same time doesn’t diminish your immune system’s response to them, and there’s no need to worry that your body can’t withstand multiple vaccinations in short order. “The amount of antigen, or virus protein, in the vaccine is much lower than what you would encounter if you got the infection,” Gavigan said.

The COVID-19 vaccine has been developed and approved in short order, which makes people understandably concerned about its safety, Gavigan said.

“However, the data has been thoroughly looked at in tens of thousands of people involved in the studies, and the rates of adverse effects were exceedingly low,” he said.

“This vaccine looks to be as safe and effective as we could hope for.”

The Medical Minute is a health news feature produced by Penn State Health.

Articles feature the expertise of faculty, physicians and staff. It’s distributed by Newswise.com

Right now, it’s easy to focus on all the things we can’t do. But what if we all focused on the things we can do?

We can learn more about testing and vaccines.

We can protect ourselves and others by continuing to wear a mask.

We can show support for essential workers and local businesses.

We can stay home and safely connect with the people who matter to us.

Construction of the new MVHS Medical Center in downtown Utica is moving ahead.

Photo by Daniel Baldwin.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Accepting Community Health Award Applications Nonprofits in the Mohawk Valley & North Country region are invited to apply for grants

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MVHS Downtown Medical Center Construction on Schedule Despite COVID-19, construction continues according to schedule, says VP

By Daniel Baldwin

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he COVID-19 outbreak has so far not impacted nor delayed the construction of the new MVHS Medical Center in downtown Utica.

Bob Scholefield, MVHS’s executive vice president of facilities and real estate, has overseen the construction process of the new hospital, and Gilbane Building Company has provided MVHS the construction services and crew to get the project done.

Gilbane and MVHS faced a few COVID-19 obstacles. Scholefield said that a few of the construction work-

Oneida, Herkimer In Good

and

Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper

ers got COVID-19 outside of the site and had to quarantine. Scholefield also said that social distancing made it harder for the workers to complete a certain project.

There were a few days where the crew was short-staffed and fell behind schedule. But despite the COVID-19 issues and setbacks, the team managed to work through the problems and get right back on schedule.

“We’ve had people that had been exposed (to COVID-19),” Scholefield said. “Not exposed here, but in their personal lives. So that reduced the

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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Contributing Writers: Barbara Pierce, David Podos, Deb Dittner, Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg, Brooke Stacia Demott, Daniel Baldwin, Traci DeLore Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Nancy Nitz 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.

number of people available; but also because of the requirement for social distancing. We do know that in some parts of the project there are fewer people working in congested areas, which does take a little longer to get some of those areas completed.”

The steel structure of the building was completed on Feb. 2, according to a MVHS press release and the crew is now working on the interior and exterior design of the building.

Scholefield said that the construction of this new medical center should be completed in 2023.

The building will be 10 stories high, have 359 bedrooms and 14 operating rooms, according to Scholefield. The most recent and state-of-the-art medical equipment, from the patients’ beds to the MRI scans, will be installed in the new hospital. The patients will have their very own private bedrooms. All the bedrooms, no matter what floor they are on, will be exactly alike with the beds, restrooms, TV and other props being in the same location. A medical storage closet will be located right next to every bedroom so the doctors and nurses have easy access to medical supplies and do not have to run up and down the hallway to get it. Nurse stations will be near the patients’ rooms and not at the end of a corridor, thus making it and faster to reach patients.

MVHS’s downtown hospital will come at the expense of the two other Utica hospitals MVHS owns and operates, St. Elizabeth and St. Luke’s.

Scholefield said that these two hospitals would shut down once the new one opens. All the doctors, nurses and staff that currently work at St. Elizabeth and St. Luke will move to the new downtown medical center and continue to do their jobs there.

Even the patients currently recovering and being treated at these two hospitals will be medically transported to the new facility.

March 2021 •

onprofit organizations in Upstate New York can apply for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Award grants of up to $5,000, which the company is offering to help fund health and wellness programs in the region. The application period closes Friday, March 5.

All nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations in Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Mohawk Valley and North Country regions are invited to apply for an award. The award can be used for programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care of a specific population. Any program that aims to improve the health status of the community, closes the gap in health disparities, reduces the incidence of specific diseases, promotes health education and assists our communities in dealing with COVID-19 will be considered.

For additional information and the online application, go to https://news.excellusbcbs.com and type “community investment partnerships.” Award winners will be announced later this spring.

“The company’s Community Health Awards demonstrate a corporate commitment to support local organizations that share our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” said Eve Van de Wal, regional president, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “These awards complement our existing grants and sponsorships with agencies that work to improve community health in upstate New York.”

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield divides its 31-county upstate New York operating area into four regions: the Utica/North Country region, comprising Clinton, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and St. Lawrence counties; the Central New York region, which includes Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego and Tompkins counties; the Southern Tier region, including Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Tioga, Schuyler and Steuben counties; and the Rochester region, encompassing Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.

The company’s corporate giving follows all applicable laws and regulations and does not support funding organizations that conflict with its corporate mission, goals, policies or products.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Most Americans Will Keep Wearing Masks, Distancing Even After Pandemic: Survey

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earing masks, frequent hand-washing and avoiding large crowds may not have been part of the American culture before the coronavirus pandemic began, but those habits are likely to stick around for a while, new research suggests.

A national survey from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center of more than 2,000 Americans shows that a majority of people don’t plan to return to their old ways anytime soon.

The survey found that nine of 10 Americans will continue frequent hand-washing and sanitizer use after COVID-19, while four of five will still avoid crowds. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they planned to continue wearing masks in public.

“While the progress we’re making toward recovery is exciting, it is critical that we don’t ease up on the precautions that we know have worked thus far,” said survey leader Iahn Gonsenhauser, a physician and chief quality and patient safety officer at Wexner Medical Center.

“Masks and physical distancing are still our very best weapons for limiting spread, and now that we have a vaccine it will make those precautions even more effective and will drive new cases way down if we stay the course,” he said in a university news release.

These behaviors may help ease people’s anxiety about returning to public spaces and provide a sense of control, researchers said. Some societal changes forced by the pandemic may also continue, including telehealth for medical appointments and working from home.

Gonsenhauser pointed to this year’s flu season as proof of the effectiveness of behaviors such as hand-washing, social distancing and mask wearing.

“Flu cases and hospitalizations are way down compared to recent years, and a lot of that is likely because precautions like masking, physical distancing and hand hygiene are absolutely working for flu,” Gonsenhauser said. “I think a lot of people are realizing that what we’ve learned from COVID-19 can be applied more generally to keep our population healthy.”

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Uzma Abbasi, M.D.

Gastroenterologist at Oneida Heath discusses colorectal cancer and a new endoscopic ultrasound procedure — EUS — that allows the doctor to see detailed image of the lining of the digestive tract and the surrounding organs Q: What falls under the spectrum of gastroenterology?

A: Gastroenterology works with diagnosis and treatment of different digestive illnesses: esophagus, stomach, large intestines, small intestines, pancreatic diseases. So it’s medical treatment, plus endoscopic procedures that help to diagnose and screen for these diseases.

Q: What is EUS? A: EUS is endoscopic ultrasound.

It is considered an advanced endoscopic procedure. It gives a detailed image of the lining of the digestive tract. But, it can allow us to see surrounding organs in addition to the stomach and small intestines. So we can also visualize the gall bladder, the pancreas, the liver and bile ducts.

It helps us to diagnose growths and abnormalities that might have been picked up on a CT scan or X-ray so we can get detailed visualizations of those conditions and then take a biopsy if needed.

Q: What are some of the benefits of using this procedure?

A: The benefit of EUS is it gives us a better image through the lining of the stomach and the small intestine and also allows us to access them if we need to take a biopsy.

From the patient’s perspective, if they have chronic abdominal pain or if they’re losing weight without any explanation, then it can allow us to investigate the symptoms.

And it allows us to see cancers in surrounding structures and see the extent and spread of those cancers.

Q: Colorectal cancer seems like it’s become a major public health focus. Who is generally vulnerable to colorectal cancer and why are we taking it as seriously as we are?

A: I think all of us

are vulnerable to colorectal cancer.

It’s a common disease, unfortunately.

Recent data shows there are close to 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed every year in the United States. So it’s still the second leading cause of death of men in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in women. So it’s a big concern. The death rate from colorectal cancer has been declining since 1990. A lot of that is because of the screening we’ve been doing. We’re detecting it earlier and preventing colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer increases with age. So the recommendation from the American Cancer Society is that screening be done on everyone 45 years old and older. If they have a family history of colon cancer or digestive issues like colitis, they may have to be screened at a younger age.

Q: And this is a type of cancer that’s generally asymptomatic until it’s very advanced, yes?

A: That is correct and a challenging part. For the majority of patients, there are no symptoms for early stage colon cancer. They’re the people we want to make sure we diagnose.

Q: Why are people with conditions like colitis more likely to develop cancer?

A: It’s because of inflammation.

Since their colon is inflamed chronically for years, that inflammation increases their risk of colon cancer above that of the general population. The recommendation is that for patients who have had eight years or more of colitis to screen every two years instead of every five or 10 years.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

Q: Does this apply to colon irritation more broadly, or is it more specific to colitis?

A: It’s more specific. Not all will increase your chances of getting cancer.

It’s

very specific. This is specifically inflammatory bowel diseases, which includes colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Those are specifically the ones that increase your chances of developing colon cancer.

Q: So something like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) doesn’t put you at higher risk?

A: Correct. IBS has not been linked with colon cancer.

Q: What kinds of inventions are used if early stage cancer is found?

A: Our goal is early detection.

We can usually offer a cure if the cancer is detected at Stage I or Stage II. Patients can undergo surgical procedures to remove the tumor, which is often a cure. That’s compared to if it is detected after it’s spread to the lymph nodes, in which case they’d need other treatments like chemotherapy.

Q: So the prognosis is very good.

A: It’s very good. If we diagnose it in the early stages and the tumors are removed, they’re cured. We’ll always have to keep up with screening to make sure there’s no recurrence, but patients do great at that stage.

Q: Other than screening, what can patients do to reduce their chances of developing colorectal cancers.

A: In general, there are lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute. Smoking is a big risk factor, so is obesity. Over the years we’ve learned that diet plays a big role in colon and pancreatic cancer.

We’ve found that you should limit processed food intake, eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. So there’s a lot of diet and lifestyle involved. There was a study I was involved in New York City where we were looking at African Americans and recent African immigrants, the first group had much higher incidences of colon cancer, and a lot of that had to do with exposure to the Western diet.

Q: Is it the fiber that matters so far as diet is concerned? Or something else?

A: It’s fiber. So studies have shown that people who consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, which are high in fiber, do have a reduced risk of colon cancer and polyps.

Q: What got you interested in gastroenterology?

A: I enjoy medicine. I always liked internal medicine, especially endoscopic procedures. They let you screen and prevent cancers and still do treatments. It’s a great mix of procedures and medicine. It’s always evolving and getting more sophisticated as well, which keeps things interesting.

Lifelines Name: Uzma Abbasi, M.D. Position: Gastroenterologist at Oneida Heath Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan Education: Allama Iqbal Medical College Affiliations: Oneida Health Organizations: American College of Gastroenterology, American Society Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Gastroenterological Association Family: Husband, two sons (7 and 5) Hobbies: Hiking, board games

NYS Health Insurance Second Highest In Nation Take time to find the best coverage for you

By Barbara Pierce “The average cost of health insurance in New York State is $701 per month,” Sterling Price said. “Premiums here are 42% above the national average!”

Price, research analyst at ValuePenguin, specializes in health and life insurance. ValuePenguin and its parent company, LendingTree, empower consumers with information and resources to make better informed financial decisions.

In a recent health insurance survey Price found: Compared to the rest of the U.S., we have stunningly high rates to purchase a private health insurance plan, second highest in the U.S. To determine this, ValuePenguin gathered rates and plan details from every county in the state, then averaged the rates and sorted them by metal tier, age and family size.

The survey also found that half of us have huge gaps in our knowledge of health insurance concepts.

Some basic concepts important to know: A premium is the regular payment you make to pay for your health care insurance. A higher premium usually means lower deductibles. A deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket for health care before your health insurance kicks in. Copay is what you pay the health care provider for each service after meeting your deductible.

If you need health coverage or wish to change your insurance, you have until the end of this month to find the plan that works best for you and enroll in that plan. Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the open enrollment deadline to March 31. (The set dates when you can buy or change

your health insurance are called Open Enrollment Period.)

All New York State residents are mandated to have health insurance, and it is one of the most important decisions you make. If you are not covered by your employer, choosing the right health insurance is an important decision.

Most health insurance plans fall into one of four categories called metal tiers. They are named after metals – bronze, silver, gold, platinum. The tiers aren’t related to the quality of medical care. They refer to the out-ofpocket expenses you will have.

All plans are required to cover essential health services: visits to your health care professional, labs, pediatrics, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity, mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation, prescription drugs.

“Although the metal tier classification is supposed to make the decision easier, it’s confusing,” Price said. “We need to do a better job of explaining what it means.”

“Health insurance is a complex product,” he added. “If you don’t get it from your employer, it can be daunting.”

“Employee plans are more expensive overall, generally,” he continued. “But employees will pay less because their employer shoulders much of the premium costs.”

If your employer does not offer health insurance, it is available through many providers. From private to public options, there are many different types of health insurance to choose from. Each plan has pros and cons, and costs can greatly range, depending on the deductibles, copays, and premiums.

How to choose?

Making the best choice depends on your values and preferences, and some good luck predicting your future health.

Few of us are good at predicting what health care needs we’ll have in the coming year. Picking an ideal health plan requires combining all of

these features – knowing what you might use, what it might cost you, and how those expenses combine with the plan’s monthly premium.

“Look at your medical expenses.

Gauge what the general numbers are,” Price recommended. Then, review the premiums and deductibles for each metal tier.

The difference is how much you choose to pay each month as a premium, your upfront cost. A lower premium (bronze) usually means you’ll pay a higher cost of care (copay) for each visit to a health care professional. A higher monthly premium (platinum) generally means you’ll pay less for each visit.

The best policy for you will depend on the plans available in your area, as well as your medical and financial situation. This means that it covers the basics, but also covers you if there is a serious medical emergency that ends up being expensive.

If you have an emergency savings account, and don’t expect to have significant medical expenses, then a lower metal tier plan with more affordable premiums would make more financial sense.

“For a family, I recommend they start with Silver, a middle of the pack plan,” Price said. “It has expensive premiums but attainable deductions.” silver plans are best for people with low income or average medical costs.

If you’re very healthy, bronze may be best in terms of cost-effectiveness. Gold and platinum plans often have the most expensive monthly premiums but lower deductibles.

They can be the most cost-effective for people with higher medical costs, as you would reach the deductible quickly.

If your income is below a certain level, you may be eligible or free or low-cost state sponsored plans to help pay.

“Take the time to inform yourself,” Price advised. “It’s a complex product.”

For the complete survey, see: www.valuepenguin.com/best-cheaphealth-insurance-new-york.

What Is the Leading Cancer Worldwide?

Hint: It’s Changed Overall, one in five people get cancer during their lifetime; one in eight men and one in 11 women die from the disease

B

reast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the world’s most commonly diagnosed cancer.

In 2020, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million cancer deaths worldwide, according to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020 report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Overall, one in five people get cancer during their lifetime; one in eight men and one in 11 women die from the disease.

Female breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer last year, with an estimated 2.3 million new cases (11.7%), followed by lung (11.4%), colon (10%), prostate (7.3%), and stomach (5.6%) cancers, according to the study.

The report — published Feb. 4

in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians — looked at 10 major cancer types that account for more than 60% of new diagnoses and more than 70% of cancer deaths.

It found that breast cancer is on the rise in countries where rates had historically been low.

“Dramatic changes in lifestyle and built environment have had an impact on the prevalence of breast cancer risk factors such as excess body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, postponement of childbearing, fewer childbirths, and less breastfeeding,” the authors said in an ACS news release.

These factors, along with changes as countries go through periods of social and economic transition have narrowed international gaps in cancer rates, researchers said.

Breast cancer death rates in tran-

sitioning countries were higher than in transitioned countries (15 and 12.8 per 100,000, respectively), despite the substantially lower incidence rates (29.7 and 55.9 per 100,000, respectively), the report said.

The poor outcome in these countries largely owes to later diagnosis and treatment, the authors said.

“Efforts to promote early detection, followed by timely and appropriate treatment, are urgently needed through the implementation of evidence-based and resource-stratified guidelines,” lead author Hyuna Sung, principal scientist at the ACS, said in the release.

Lung cancer remained the leading cause of cancer death in 2020, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths (18%), followed by cancers of the colon (9.4%), liver (8.3%), stomach (7.7%), and female breast (6.9%).

March 2021 •

While lung cancer death rates are up to four times higher in transitioned countries than in transitioning ones, this pattern may change because 80% of smokers are in low- and middle-income nations, according to the study.

About two-thirds of lung cancer deaths worldwide are due to smoking, according to the study.

It forecast 28.4 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2040 — up 47% from 2020.

If not controlled, the rising cancer rates in transitioning countries could overwhelm their health care systems, researchers warned.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Embrace the Joy of Missing Out!

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hances are you’ve heard the expression: Fear of missing out — or FOMO. It refers to the anxiety that occurs when you fear you are missing out on fun, events, experiences or invitations that could potentially make your life more exciting.

Gripped by FOMO, you can become consumed with chasing any and every opportunity to be socially connected and in-the-know. The constant striving and longing, comparing and despairing, can be exhausting. And seriously stressful.

The good news? The pandemic has knocked the wind out of FOMO, given that many of us still remain anchored at home with few outside activities.

It came as no surprise then when FOMO was replaced with a better, healthier version of itself: The joy of missing out — or JOMO. It’s all about appreciating the life you have, living in the moment, and being content with your life “as is.”

JOMO means slowing down, deepening human connections, being intentional with your time, and focusing on the things that matter to you.

The poem below sums it up beautifully:

“Oh, the joy of missing out.

When the world begins to shout And rush towards that shining thing; The latest bit of mental bling – Trying to have it, see it, do it, You simply know you won’t go through it; The anxious clamoring and need This restless hungry thing to feed.

Instead, you feel the loveliness; The pleasure, of your emptiness.

You spurn the treasure on the shelf In favor of your peaceful self; Without regret, without a doubt, Oh, the joy of missing out!”

– Michael Leunig Making the most of missing out during this pandemic has been an eye-opening experiment and experience for me.

Here are a few of the joys I’ve discovered in the hopes that they might inspire you to create your own list. n The joy of guilt-free rest and relaxation I’ve embraced my inner sloth.

Even in retirement, I was running at

a frenzied pace, overprogrammed, and overwhelmed with things to do. Today, I enjoy more leisure time, often watching a matinee movie, followed by a luxurious “no-power” nap. n The joy of deepening relationships With fewer options for going out and socializing, I’ve stayed in closer touch with my dearest friends during our weekly “walks and talks” (at a safe distance). Strolling along the canal, on park trails or in residential neighborhoods, we are getting to know each other on a deeper level.

Making more meaningful connections has been one of the pandemic’s silver linings for which I am so grateful. n The joy of uninterrupted presence Having the time and space to pause and savor pleasant experiences has made an enormous and positive difference in my life. I’m determined to never let this go. I’ve made a promise to myself to stand still and admire what’s right in front of me, to take the time to internalize the beauty and goodness that’s all around us.

One simple example: Lately, I’ve been watching the birds at my feeder for longer than usual. I can now identify the species, marvel at their exquisite markings and recognize their songs.

This practice of paying closer attention to life’s sweet pleasures has been a tremendous source of joy for me. n The joy of masking up Oh, the freedom! I love not putting on make-up these days. Behind my mask I’m all “naturelle,” as the French would say. No foundation, no blush, no lipstick, no nothing. The time and effort I save at my bathroom sink can be better spent watching the birds!

My mask also provides, at times, a welcome measure of anonymity, especially when I complete the look with my big, furry winter hat. All

s d i K Corner

Just 2% of U.S. Teens Eat Recommended Amount of Veggies

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n findings that may ring true to parents, a new government survey shows that a paltry 2% of U.S. high school students are eating enough vegetables.

The study is the latest look at teenagers’ eating habits by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And experts described the results as “disappointing.”

Of more than 13,000 high school students surveyed in 2017, only 2% were getting the minimum recommended allotment of veggies: 2.5 to 3 cups per day.

Fruit, meanwhile, was only Page 6

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mildly more popular. About 7% of high schoolers were getting enough, and 100% fruit juice counted toward those servings.

The figures show no progress since the CDC’s previous report on the topic: In 2013, as well, 2% of high school kids were eating their veggies as recommended.

“The findings aren’t necessarily surprising, but they are discouraging,” said Marlene Schwartz, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut, in Hartford.

There have been some positive

policy moves in recent years, according to Schwartz, who was not involved in the study.

They include efforts to make fresh produce more accessible to low-income Americans through food stamps and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. There are also rules around fruits and vegetables in the National School Lunch Program.

The problem is that relatively few high school students participate in lunch programs — about 39%, according to the CDC. Instead, Schwartz said, they are free to bring lunch to school or go off-campus, often to fast-food places.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

covered up, I can sneak in and out of the local grocery store without being stopped to discuss, well, nothing actually.

Being incognito has been a gift! n The joy of cooking or not Many of my married friends have shared this particular joy: They relish being released from food shopping and the routine of preparing three square meals a day. The pandemic has relaxed many of our daily rituals and this is probably most noticeable in the kitchen.

Eating avocado toast four nights in a row? Is that so wrong? n The joy of fewer choices I just saw this headline: “The paradox of modern life: so many choices, so little joy.” That resonates with me. I think it explains my love of air travel. My choices are limited.

I’m confined to my seat, my meal options are few, and my activity pattern is reduced to reading, listening to music, and ignoring the snoring person seated next to me.

On the plane, I have no important decisions to make or complex problems to solve. It’s heaven! Too many choices can be paralyzing.

The pandemic has contracted our lives and limited our choices. It has delivered untold hardship and heartache. But it has also delivered valuable time in which to reflect and rethink the way we live, the way we love, and the way we experience joy.

Are you missing out on life?

Good for you. It’s time for a joyful celebration!

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

“Unfortunately, that leads to a decline in dietary quality,” she said.

The findings, published Jan. 22 in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, paint a generally bleak dietary picture.

Vegetable intake was low across the board (among boys and girls, and white, Black and Hispanic teens). The median veggie intake was just one serving per day, which means half of the students ate even less.

The CDC said “new strategies,” such as social media campaigns, are needed to coax kids into eating more healthfully.

Any strategies would be up against a powerful marketing campaign by food manufacturers.

And research shows that such marketing, via traditional ads and social media, undoubtedly gets kids — and adults — to eat processed foods.

“There’s a reason companies spend all that money,” Schwartz said.

In contrast, she added, “fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t branded.”

Then there are the economic factors. Despite nutrition assistance programs, many families find fresh produce too expensive, Schwartz said. And if parents are not buying vegetables, kids won’t develop an affinity for them.

“I think parents are doing the best they can, with the resources they have,” Schwartz said.

kids special

What Kids Are Losing with Virtual Learning

Online classes are effective to contain the transmission of coronavirus but they are robbing kids from having the full school experience: interacting with others, developing connections, teamwork

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

ttending school is more than learning academic subjects and physical education. For many children, it represents their main source of socializing opportunities with peers. Because of the pandemic, this important aspect of school has been indefinitely put on hold.

Even children who home school have lost face-to-face connections with those in their home school groups, clubs, athletic teams and other social outlets as these have been shuttered or at least curtailed during the pandemic.

While deemed necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus, online school presents a different dynamic to children.

They may be able to interact with teachers in real time and with each other on a limited basis, but they have lost the incidental socializing in a normal school day: chatting between classes, sharing stories over lunch, hanging out while waiting for the school bus, sitting with friends riding to and from school.

These moments may seem inconsequential; however, they help children learn and develop in many ways.

“Socializing is a really important part of childhood development from

birth to adolescence,” said Megan Campbell, a pediatrician in Syracuse.

From the pre-school age and onward, peers grow in importance to children as they learn about sharing, social skills, personal boundaries and social norms. Some of these differ from those they have experienced in their own families.

A lack of social interactions – positive, negative and neutral — means fewer opportunities for developing emotional intelligence and skills that will help children navigate relationships of all sorts. Unlike planned interactions with friends through technology (a Zoom meeting between best friends), the more spontaneous interactions in a school day (learning how to befriend an irksome classmate) tend to be more educational. Children also miss chances to develop teamwork skills without group activities and sports.

“At adolescence, their peer group is very important to them,” Campbell said. “They’re learning who they are still. At that age, they’re trying to separate from their parents in preparation for adulthood. It’s very difficult during COVID to get those socialization needs.”

She added that virtual socializing can help and activities like drive-by birthday parties and socially

distanced outings. But interactions at school through teams and other groups may take more time to become available to children.

Physician Geoffrey Hopkins, chairman of the department of psychiatry St. Joseph’s Health, said that restricting sports “is one of the big, important things if your child previously enjoyed sports.”

In addition to the physical activity, sports teach teamwork, sacrifice, delayed gratification and respect.

But the temporary loss of sports and other interactions should not have lasting effects on childhood development.

“Children in general are incredibly resilient,” Hopkins said.

“Allowing them to transition back to activities in a graduated matter is important. Many have had two-week quarantines from school. When they returned the first day or two of their hybrid model, they have had some anxiety. Being able to speak openly with your children and how they may feel – nervous, worried or shy — is a normal consequence of having that separation.”

In the meantime, he encourages parents to help their children to participate in activities in a safe way, such as a socially distanced winter activity with friends or engaging in

outings as a family.

Since the pandemic began, school – and more – shifted to the digital world. While those who are introverted may welcome less pressure to engage with others and more barriers between themselves and social interactions, that may not be beneficial for their development. And for those who thrive on socializing, stunting these interactions can feel as if they are hamstrung.

Hopkins encourages parents to stay attentive to their children’s emotional needs and watch for any signs of depression or anxiety, such as changes in eating and sleeping habits and extreme changes in behavior beyond the garden variety acting up or regression. Although it is not the same as peer interactions, taking time for one-on-one interaction with the children can help them feel better connected.

Taking time to pay attention to each child one-on-one can help mitigate the effects of fewer peer interactions. Especially for older children whose peer groups are even more important, it can help to connect through Facetime or Zoom with friends.

simply be being present in their lives.

For example, make meals together as a family, play games, and share outdoor activities such as walks or runs, Jolly suggested.

“Anything you can do together as a family will help,” he said.

Some gatherings with friends

are fine, as long as everyone follows social distancing measures such as meeting in open spaces, wearing masks and staying 6 feet apart, according to Jolly.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 in the United States.

Child Suicides Are Rising During Lockdown; Watch for the Warning Signs

A

mong the many dangers the coronavirus pandemic has brought, parents really need to be on the lookout for one in particular: an increased risk of suicide among vulnerable teens.

“We’ve seen an upsurge in really bad suicide attempts,” and the pandemic is likely behind that increase, said Taranjeet Jolly, an adult and pediatric psychiatrist at Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Social isolation during the pandemic can push youngsters with underlying mental health issues “over the edge,” Jolly said in a Penn State Health news release.

Other factors include family dysfunction and long amounts of forced time with others. Even children in socalled healthy families can feel over-

whelmed. Anxiety about pandemic shutdown-related financial struggles, constant bad news and health-related worries can also transfer from parents to children.

Parents should watch for certain behavioral changes in their children, Jolly said. Have their sleep habits changed? Do they sleep more or less?

Do they have trouble concentrating?

Do they seem drowsy or lethargic?

Do they spend more time alone in their room? Do they snap at or become angry at small things?

“Don’t be afraid to reach out,” Jolly said.

If parents are concerned about their children’s mental health, they should consult a primary care provider, who can recommend what to do next, he advised.

Parents can help their children

March 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

kids special

Tips For Blended Families Accepting the changes in everyone’s lives takes time

By Barbara Pierce

W

hen your remarriage or livein arrangement includes children from previous relationships, blending families takes adjustment. It’s complicated. The joining of two families, different parenting styles and new family routines will be a huge challenge.

Suggestions from social worker Richard Petty of Catholic Charities in, Onedia & Madison counties, and other experts to guide in forming a new family unit which includes children from previous relationships.

It’s important to develop a climate of trust that allows the children to express any concerns or emotions they are experiencing, said Petty.

A cornerstone of communication is listening to them and validating their concerns and emotions.

Discuss everything. Uncertainty and concern about family issues comes from poor communication, so talk as much as possible. Children may have questions about the legal status of the custody arrangements, he added. Also, some children have fantasies about their birth parents being reunited. Accepting this fantasy is important, while you also offer realistic and age-suitable information about the decisions you’re making as parents.

Sometimes it’s easier to communicate when you’re doing things together as a family - games, sports and activities. And, doing things together as a family will create bonds that help you all begin to identify as a family.

Don’t expect to fall in love with your partner’s children overnight. Get to know them. Love and affection take time to develop.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind to help children adjust to a blended family is that the children didn’t pick this. Be sensitive to the fact they didn’t ask for their lives to be turned upside down.

While you as parents are likely to be happy and excited about living together, your kids or your new

partner’s kids may not be nearly as excited. They’ll feel uncertain about the upcoming changes, worry about living with new stepsiblings, whom they may not know, or may not even like.

Kids of different ages and genders tend to adjust differently to a blended family. The physical and emotional needs of a 2-year-old girl are, of course, very different than those of a 13-year-old boy. But don’t mistake differences in development and age for differences in fundamental needs. Just because a teenager may take a long time to accept your love and affection doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want it.

Let your stepchild set the pace.

1 in 5 Americans Has an STD

O

ne in five people in the United States probably carries a sexually transmitted infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

On any given day in 2018, nearly 68 million people had a sexually transmitted disease, according to the new CDC report. There were 26 million new cases that year. The agency refers to these diseases — such as HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea — as sexually transmitted infections, or Page 8

•

STIs. Nearly half of newly acquired STIs occurred in people aged 15 to 24 years, and new cases in 2018 would result in nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs, the report said.

People with STIs don’t always have symptoms. Left untreated, some STIs can increase the risk of HIV infection or cause chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and/or severe pregnancy and newborn complications,

Every child is different and will show you how slow or fast to go as you get to know them. Given enough time, patience, and interest, most children will eventually give you a chance.

Remember that you’re not their mother, and you never will be.

They’re conflicted enough and pushing them to call you mom will only confuse them more.

Don’t try to take the place of your partner’s ex. Depending on the circumstances, the other parent might not be in the child’s life, but this doesn’t give you permission to slip into the role of “mom.” The child has a mom and it is not you. The child has the right to love their mom or memories of their mom while still having a close relationship with you as a step parent.

Neither of you should ever badmouth the ex. Studies show that one of the primarily reasons kids have problems after a breakup is that parents don’t keep their negative feelings about their ex to themselves.

That ex is your child’s parent; he needs to have positive feelings about that parent.

No matter how much you disagree with your ex, or how angry you get it’s important to never bad mouth a parent to the children.

“Amicable interaction between former partners may be difficult, yet it’s beneficial for the children and

everyone involved,” said Petty.

Disciplining or criticizing your stepchildren is best viewed as the domain of the biological parent, Petty continued.

Keep your cool, walk away and wait to speak to your partner about what happened and let the parent impose the punishment. This doesn’t mean you should let your step-children abuse you and take advantage.

Instead, it’s important to remember your role is different than it would be with your own children.

Some families find that family counseling helps the transition. It can be an effective way for a blended family to work through issues each individual member wants to bring to the table. Catholic Charities offers such counseling. Call 315-724-2158 or see www.catholiccharitiesom.org/.

Most step parents genuinely grow to feel affection for the kids in their care and the kids usually learn to accept and return the affection, said therapist Judy Osborne, director of the Stepfamily Association, online.

It usually takes between two and five years for a blended family to establish itself. Change isn’t going to happen quickly and it will take a long time before everyone gets used to their new role. But have hope. It will happen.

according to the report published online Jan. 23 in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the costliest STIs, according to the report. Medical expenses for these infections include lifetime treatment for people with HIV as well as treatment for HPV-related cancers.

Of the estimated $16 billion in lifetime medical costs from STIs acquired in 2018, most ($13.7 billion) were associated with HIV. Another $755 million were attributed to HPV infections.

More than $1 billion in life-

time medical costs were connected with chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis combined, the researchers said in a CDC news release.

About 60% of those costs were among 15- to 24-year-olds. Nearly 75% of the $2.2 billion in non-HIV-related STI medical costs were among women, according to the report.

The total cost of STIs is far higher than the medical costs estimated, however, the study authors noted.

The report didn’t include costs associated with lost productivity, other non-medical expenses, or STI prevention.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

kids special

Keeping Your Cool With Kids There are many ways to relax and have fun

By Barbara Pierce

B

alancing the demands of motherhood has never been easy.

Now, with Covid-19 forcing many women to be an employee, parent and teacher all at once, many mothers are having a hard time keeping it all together.

“This time is so much more stressful to be a parent. Though it’s always stressful to be a parent, these days you need to be a multi-tasking maniac!” said Katie Drake, mother from Little Falls, contributing writer for My Little Falls newspaper. “If you’re lucky enough to work, you have that stress, plus the stress of caring for your kids. If you’re not working, you have a different level of stress.”

Drake’s management position in advertising for a large company was eliminated.

“Sometimes, to take a moment for yourself is really hard,” said Drake, mother of Nolan, who just celebrated his first birthday.

“In order to keep your patience and hold it together, you have to give yourself time. Take time to sip a fresh cup of coffee. Or, step outside to get a breath of fresh air,” she suggested.

Take a time out. Walk away for a few minutes. If there’s someone to watch the kids, take a nice long break.

Other simple alternatives Drake

suggests for those days it’s tough to be a mom: • Do something fun with your kids, something creative, something new. This is helpful to you as well as your kids. There are many things out there that don’t cost anything and are safe during the pandemic, like an outdoor skating rink, going for a walk together, building a snowman. Working on something creative floods your brain with dopamine, the feel-good chemical, as well as having calming effects on your brain.

• Tap into the stress-busting effect of nature. Spending time outdoors in a natural environment can reduce stress and frustration for both you and your kids. Being outside in nature reduces stress and increases the dopamine in your brain. As well as making you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical well-being.

• It’s really tempting to want to just let your kids zone out with their video games. But, if you do something together that you all would enjoy, you’re decreasing your stress as well as theirs.

• And, when your level of stress from being around your kids without a break is high, taking a “fun break” together will put you in a much better frame of mind.

Finding new experiences can be challenging, but it can be done, added Drake.

Reading to your kids, no matter their age, is another stress reliever. It helps you and your child bond, and has so many benefits for your child.

Even if they can’t understand, read to them. Drake said the rhythm of the words helps kids develop language skills early.

She’s been reading to Nolan since he was an infant. Now he walks to the bookshelf, grabs a book and brings it over to ask his mom or dad to read to him. Even if it’s the same book or books over and over, it is so good for his development, she said.

If you aren’t sure what books to choose, call your local library for help and suggestions. If they are closed for COVID, they offer pick-ups.

Now is a good time to learn something new, Drake suggested. “I learned to make the perfect chocolate cake. Then I ate most of it.”

Teach your children how to create something. How to build a snowman.

How to make ice cream. Let them do dishes in a big pan on the floor. Give them something to do outside the box, like taking them snowshoeing at the Utica Zoo, where they even rent out snowshoes.

With your child, learn about local history. “Google somewhere nearby like the Fort Herkimer Church. Learn the history, then make a day of it with your children — go there, walk around, see it and share what you’ve learned with your children.

Other things that help your stress as a parent: Phone a friend. Let them help you get through a tough day.

They may have you laughing and feeling better in minutes.

Find joy in the small things, focus on the good things in your life, pay attention to your child’s smiles, notice how readily he laughs, share a

Katie Drake with her son Nolan.

“Though it’s always stressful to be a parent, these days you need to be a multitasking maniac!” the Little Falls mother says. spontaneous hug. Or remember some fun memories, share jokes and pet the family dog.

All of these things will cause the endorphins to flood your brain and bring you a state of calm and well-being.

While you don’t want your child to witness every stressful moment you experience, you don’t have to constantly suppress your emotions.

It’s okay – and even healthy – for children to see their parents cope with stress every now and then. But, you want to explain why you reacted the way that you did.

Speeding on U.S. Roads Is Taking Thousands of Teenagers’ Lives

N

early half — 43% — of all fatal car crashes involving teens and their passengers are the result of speeding, a new automobile safety report reveals.

The finding stems from an in-depth analysis of all fatal motor vehicle accidents across the United States between 2015 and 2019. During this five-year period, 4,930 teen drivers and passengers died in crashes involving speeding.

And while the report acknowledges that deadly speeding is a problem at any age, it warns that the consequences of speeding pose a particularly grave danger to young drivers between the ages of 16 and 19.

“We have a culture of speeding in this country,” said Pam Fischer. She’s senior director of external engagement for the Washington, D.C.-based Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), which represents highway safety offices across all U.S. states and territories.

Although the period studied did not include the pandemic, GHSA executive director Jonathan Adkins said in a statement that the United States “has a speeding problem that has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.»

According to Adkins, “Thousands of people die needlessly on our roads because some drivers mistakenly think less traffic means they can speed and nothing bad will happen. The data tell us that teen drivers are the most likely to be tempted to speed, so the need to address this issue is more

critical than ever, given traffic death trends during the pandemic.”

Fischer noted that wide acceptance of speeding means that, in practice, many drivers view speed limits as minimums rather than maximums.

As a result, speeding has become a “national pandemic,” she said.

Fischer puts it down to a simple equation: Inexperience plus immaturity plus speeding equals deadly accidents.

As the GHSA report itself noted, “Teen drivers do not have the expe-

rience necessary to recognize and quickly react appropriately to dangerous situations, which makes speeding even riskier for them.”

Fischer presented the findings earlier this year.

The study found that teen drivers who died in a speeding accident were more likely to be male (37% versus 28%), and were more likely to not be wearing a seatbelt. Teen fatalities also tended to involve being run off the road and/or car rollovers.

Younger teens (16- to 17-year-

March 2021 •

olds) were found to be at the highest risk for a deadly speeding crash. But teens aged 18 and 19 were more likely to get into an accident between midnight and 5 a.m. Older teens were also more likely to have accidents while on a highway or freeway.

And when it comes to speeding fatalities when passengers were in the car, more was decidedly worse: The greater the number of teenagers in the car alongside a teen driver, the greater the risk for a deadly speeding accident.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Make healthy swaps

It’s easy and fun to come up with healthier versions of your favorite indulgences. Call a family powwow, list your most popular snacks, and assess their integrity. Too sugary?

Too salty? Too high-fat? Too devoid of any nutrients whatsoever? Highlight the ones that don’t make the healthy cut and consider alternatives.

Suggestions: If you have a sweet tooth, choose fresh or dried fruit over candy, homemade banana ice cream or smoothies over ice cream, and healthy granola bars instead of cookies. If you have a salty tooth, reach for popcorn over chips, nuts over crackers, and meat roll-ups instead of beef jerky.

Practice portion control

Remember, size matters, especially when it comes to snacks, including healthy ones. Controlling your portion can help you enjoy between-meal bites without spoiling your appetite for lunch or dinner. A few portion-control tips: Place snacks on smaller plates; brighten up where you snack (research from Cornell University found that subjects who dined in a darker room consumed 36% more food and were less accurate in estimating how much they consumed than those who ate in a bright room); and don’t give healthy foods — i.e., avocado, granola, smoothies, whole grains — a free pass just because their nutrient-rich.

Their calories can add up, too.

How to Snack Better During the Pandemic

By Anne Palumbo

W

hat do potato chips, pretzels and popcorn have in common? You may have guessed: They’ve been flying off the shelves during the coronavirus pandemic.

Same for cookies, candy and other indulgences during this stressful time.

Snack food consumption has increased by over 8% since lockdown, which is more than during the Great Recession, between 2008 and 2010, where snack-food consumption increased by only 1%.

Unfortunately, all this snacking has resulted in snugger waistbands for many, with an average weight gain of seven pounds, according to new data from a COVID-19 symptom study.

On the bright side, however, and because of our move toward healthier eating in recent years, many of us are bypassing highly processed, empty-calorie snacks for more nutritious snacks. So the issue is not the snack as much as it is the constant craving for the snack.

I can relate. After working at my desk for hours on end, my mind starts to wander … to the just-baked granola bars whose scent has made a beeline for my nose … or to the creamy hummus with my name etched in the top … or to the popcorn laced with soy sauce and Parmesan cheese. Feet don’t fail me now!

Page 10

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Unquestionably, being homebound can turn snacking into a fullfledged pastime; and, if you’ve got kids at home, well, that pastime can become a battleground.

But it doesn’t have to be. When eaten in moderation, good-for-you snacks can help manage hunger, boost nutrition, and even foster togetherness time for those living under the same roof.

Let’s take a look at six ways to snack better during the pandemic:

Prep and plan snacks ahead of time

They say not to grocery shop on an empty stomach and the same holds true for snacking: Know what’s in your snacking future and you’ll be less likely to overindulge or land on something unhealthy. Game for some fruits and veggies? Then take time the night before or in the early morning to wash and cut up your produce. After, place everything at eye level in the fridge so it’s the first thing you reach for. Do the same for other healthy snacks, such as dips, smoothies, roll-ups, hard-boiled eggs, and more. Be sure to enlist help — from snack suggestions to prep, assembly to serving.

Don’t multitask while snacking

Snacking straight out of the bag

while watching TV or working at your computer can lead to overeating and weight gain. Distraction and not really thinking about what you’re consuming can do that. When you’re ready to snack, eliminate distractions (screens, social media, texting), sit down, and focus on your snack. Chew slowly, savor every bite, appreciate textures and tune into your hunger-fullness scale. According to a recent study, people who ate a meal in 22 minutes consumed 88 fewer calories and felt less hungry than those who cleaned their plates in nine minutes.

Set snack times

The urge to graze is understandable these days, now that COVID-19 has upended our schedules and routines. Feeling adrift and uncertain, many of us have found ourselves reaching for snacks at all hours, with restless kiddos being particularly vulnerable. Establishing structure around snacks by setting specific times has numerous advantages, according to health experts. It establishes an expected routine and gives us purpose; it helps us feel more in control; and it reins in the urge to constantly nibble. A good rule of thumb is to snack (or provide snacks) a few hours after one meal ends and about one to two hours before the next meal begins.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

Creamy White Bean Hummus

1-2 garlic cloves 1 can cannellini beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons tahini 2 tablespoons olive oil juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon water (more, if seems thick) 1 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon coriander ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Place garlic in food processor and pulse until minced. Add remaining ingredients and process until well blended. Serve with cut-up veggies.

Bump up healthy snacks with protein and good-foryou fats

Ever eat a pretzel or cracker and feel hungry shortly after? Snacking on carbohydrate-based snacks can have that affect — even snacks made with fiber-rich whole grains.

Same with celery, carrots, apples and bananas. While their dietary fiber certainly helps us feel fuller longer, the feeling doesn’t last forever.

An excellent way to prolong the “fullness factor,” say nutritionists, is to pair your healthy snack with protein or good-for-you fats — two nutrients that take longer to digest.

Some popular snack pairings: Wholegrain toast with mashed avocado, veggies dipped in hummus or Greek yogurt ranch dip, popcorn sprinkled with grated cheese, or a scoop of peanut butter spread over a lengthwise-sliced banana.

Lastly, the internet is loaded with healthy snack recipes. From roasted chickpeas to baked sweet potato chips, fruit roll-ups to applesauce muffins, the recipes are yours for the trying.

Here in our household, we aim to try something new every week. Not only does it give us something to do, but it encourages meaningful time together in our favorite area of the house: the kitchen!

Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing

1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or rice vinegar 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon dried dill or chives ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper milk or water, as needed to achieve desired consistency In a medium bowl, stir together all the ingredients. Add milk or water by the tablespoon until desired consistency is reached.

Bake for 30 minutes; cool in pan for about an hour. Using parchment handles, remove from pan and cut into bars.

Ready-in-Minutes Banana Ice Cream

3-4 bananas, peeled, frozen, broken into chunks ½ cup coconut milk (lite or regular) 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla

Baked Granola Bars

2 ½ cups rolled oats (not quick or instant) 2 tablespoons brown sugar ¼ cup flaked sweetened coconut 1 cup (total) of “extras”— chopped nuts, dried cranberries, chocolate chips 3 tablespoons canola oil ¼ cup honey 1 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 9-by-9-inch square pan with 2 crisscross sheets of parchment paper (not foil), leaving extra overhang on all sides.

Combine oats, brown sugar, coconut and extras in a large bowl.

Whisk together oil, honey, cinnamon, salt and vanilla in a small bowl. Add honey mixture to oat mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread in prepared baking pan, pressing down firmly with the back of a spatula.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Canned Tomatoes Linked to Better Health

D

o I have an unusual attachment to canned tomato products? You might think so by the stash in my pantry: diced, crushed, whole, stewed, pureed.

Truth is, of all the canned goods I tap for cooking, canned tomatoes make my heart sing more than any other.

They’re economical, convenient and never seem to spoil. I like that in a vegetable. No waste!

They’re also, much like their forbearer, high in both nutrition and flavor.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, canned foods can be just as nutritious as fresh and frozen foods because the fruits and vegetables used for canning are picked at peak freshness.

Although most nutrients remain relatively unchanged by the canning process, the water-soluble nutrients — such as vitamins A and C, thiamine and riboflavin — can be damaged by the high heat canning requires. On average, canning destroys from one-third to one-half of the vitamins mentioned above.

The high heat, however, has a remarkable affect on perhaps a tomato’s most valuable nutrient: lycopene.

It increases the amount. For example, one medium-size fresh tomato delivers 4 mg of lycopene, whereas a cup

Put the frozen bananas, coconut milk (shake can before opening), honey (or maple syrup) and vanilla into a blender and blend, starting at low speed and working your way up gradually to high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Do not over blend (otherwise the friction will melt your ice cream).

Serve immediately as soft-serve, or transfer to an airtight container and freeze for a few hours for firmer ice cream.

nutrient don’t end there. Several studies suggest that lycopene may also be your heart’s best friend, thanks to its ability to help reduce inflammation, lower bad cholesterol, and maintain good blood pressure.

In fact, promising research from Finland demonstrated that men with the greatest amount of lycopene in their blood had a 55% lower chance of having any kind of stroke. Another V8, please!

Worried about the sun’s harmful rays? Premature wrinkling? A diet rich in lycopene may help increase your skin’s defense against sunburns and damage caused by UV rays.

While tomatoes, especially those canned or cooked, can’t substitute for sunscreen, they can provide a consistent level of skin protection, say scientists.

Anne’s Break-Out-the-Chips Salsa

of tomato soup or a half-cup of tomato puree delivers a whopping 25 mg.

Although there is no recommended daily intake for lycopene, current studies suggest daily intakes between 8-21 mg to be most beneficial.

A powerful antioxidant, lycopene helps defend your cells from damage caused by potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals. When free radicals accumulate, they can increase your risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Fortunately, eating antioxidant-rich foods like tomatoes can help reduce the risk of these diseases.

But the benefits of this superstar

4 cloves garlic 1 jalapeno pepper (less if desired) 1 cup fresh cilantro (optional) 1 large onion 1 orange bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 28-oz. can crushed tomatoes 1 15-oz. can petite diced tomatoes fresh lime juice from 1 to 2 limes 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon sugar 1 ½ teaspoons salt (or more) ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper Finely chop garlic and jalapeno pepper in a food processor, then add cilantro (if using) and process about a minute more. Cut onion and bell peppers into large chunks and add to food processor. Pulse about 10 times or until onion and peppers look

March 2021 •

Helpful tips Not all canned tomato products are created equal, so be sure to read the label and ingredient list.

Choose “low sodium” or “no salt added” if salt is a concern for you.

Look for cans that say or indicate “Non BPA” (most do). Since your body absorbs more lycopene when it’s combined with a little fat, consider adding some healthy fats, like olive oil, to your dish. evenly chopped.

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add mixture from food processor to saucepan and sauté for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, and lowering heat if mixture starts to burn.

Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, lime juice and all spices to saucepan; mix well. Bring mixture to a simmer and let it simmer, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn heat down if it starts to boil and sputter. After 15 minutes, adjust seasonings, cover, turn heat to lowest setting and let it cook for 15 minutes more. Turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Place in jars and refrigerate: good for about 2 weeks.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

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

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Practice Good Dental Health Simple tips to keep your mouth healthy and smile ready

By Deborah Dittner

T

here is a distinct connection between your dental health and your overall health and well-

ness.

Since we are all different, we each require specific measures to make sure our dental health is smile ready. Your dentist is part of your health care team to address your specific needs, so please make sure you keep your regularly scheduled appointments.

How can you take the best care of your mouth in between regular dental cleanings and visits? By creating a healthy balance of bacteria.

Yes, your mouth is full of bacteria – some good and some bad. The bad bacteria can erode teeth and contribute to gum disease and when overly abundant can cause dental decay and periodontal disease. The good bacteria help to utilize vitamins efficiently and prevent pathogens from entering the body.

Let’s begin by using a tongue scraper in the morning before brushing your teeth. Consider purchasing a stainless-steel tongue scraper (not plastic) as the metal ones are easier to clean and won’t chip. By using a tongue scraper, you help in removing harmful toxins and bacteria creating a healthier environment in your mouth.

Brush your teeth at least twice daily for approximately two minutes.

Use a soft bristle brush at a 45-degree

angle. This method will adequately remove the bacteria causing a plaque buildup and decay. Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months as the bristles wear down and bacteria from your mouth cling to the bristles. If you already have gum disease you will need to replace your toothbrush more frequently approximately every four to six weeks.

If you have been sick or have had a strep infection of the throat, you will need to replace your toothbrush after the illness. You mustn’t forget to floss. Flossing removes food particles and bacteria that get stuck between your teeth. Some brands have added tea tree oil (antimicrobial) or coconut oil.

If you have bleeding gums, you may be brushing too hard or using a hard bristle brush. Bleeding gums can also be caused by improper flossing which you can review with your dentist. Worst case scenario, bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease so make sure to talk with your dentist.

In addition to brushing and flossing, consider oil pulling. Studies have shown that oil pulling decreases the development of plaque and plaque-induced gingivitis in the mouth. Coconut or sesame oil is swished around in the mouth for 10 to 20 minutes daily. Consider oil pulling while taking a shower to accomplish two tasks at once. Do not swallow and never spit the oils down

the drain but into a waste basket. The oils distribute vitamins and lauric acid (anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties) while “pulling” bad bacteria from the mouth.

Adding salt water gargles to your mouth care helps to alkalize your mouth decreasing the number of bacteria and reducing inflammation. Gargle with 8 ounces of warm water and a quarter teaspoon of salt added and mixed well.

If you drink lemon water or apple cider vinegar in water in the morning, consider using a straw. A straw helps to protect your teeth and gums from the acid.

A diet consisting of whole nutrient dense foods is essential as these foods affect your body’s immune system fighting against infection. Gum (periodontal) disease starts out as an infection and poor nutrition decreases the body’s capability to take action against it. Foods that are low in sugar and carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits, lean clean protein and nuts chewed well not only take care of the body but also the teeth.

Vitamin deficiencies put your teeth and your overall health at risk.

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is

‘Maskne’ — the Face of the Pandemic

Some medical professionals are experiencing skin abrasions and breakouts from longterm mask wearing.

A new issue arises with constant use of mask: maskne

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

asks are not the only things on people’s faces during the pandemic.

Crops of acne — colloquially called “maskne” — have also made an appearance, thanks to the face masks’ presence. Many people have to wear a mask all day, which only exacerbates the problem.

Elizabeth Arthur, dermatologist with Helendale Dermatology in Rochester, recommends wearing only a clean mask.

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“A lot of people don’t have access to a clean, disposable mask every day so they rely on cloth masks,” she said. “I wear cloth, but I wear a clean one every morning. If I’ve been someplace I will change it into a new one.”

Cloth can be gentler on the skin than disposable paper. Arthur said that after just a couple of hours, a paper mask irritates her skin. The chemicals used for processing can contribute to the irritation. Arthur

recommends using fragrance- and color-free detergent for cleaning cloth masks.

One of the reasons that masks cause breakouts is that they trap moisture against the skin because of respiration.

Before donning a mask, Arthur recommends applying a zinc-based barrier such as one used for diaper dermatitis.

“That would help as it acts as a barrier,” she said.

Rosehip oil, available over the counter, can soothe the skin. Arthur also recommends Mask Armor, a product that contains black elderberry, tea tree, and peppermint oil to calm the skin.

“It’s nice because it helps make your mask more effective as it has antiviral properties,” Arthur said.

“We do have to get people on a topical prescription if the common sense measures don’t work.”

When patients use chemical-based sunscreen—a common ingredient in many all-in-one makeup and moisturizer products — that can irritate their skin.

Men wearing masks tend to experience folliculitis which can manifest as a pimple-like blemish, but it is caused by friction against a shaved hair. Arthur recommends shaving with Aveno brand shave gel with a

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

important during pregnancy to prevent enamel hypoplasia in the child.

Other vitamin deficiencies such as B vitamins, iron and folate have been linked to oral ulcerations and painful fissures at the corners of the mouth.

Consult with your primary health care provider and ask for blood work to help determine any deficiencies and consider supplementation.

At all times you should try to boost your overall health and wellness. These simple steps for mouth care will benefit not only your body but also help create a beautiful smile.

Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner and health consultant.

Her mission is to transform as many individuals as possible through nutrition and lifestyle changes. For more information, check out her website at www.debdittner.com or contact her at 518-596-8565. sharp razor. Or they can use an electric razor and not get quite as close.

Again, the topical zinc can help, but if those tricks aren’t working, see a dermatologist, Arthur said. “We may prescribe an oral antibiotic temporarily as an anti-inflammatory.”

Friction also causes problems for women, especially if they are wearing foundation and other makeup under the mask.

Christina Velez, licensed esthetician and owner of Skintopia in Rochester, said that she avoids wearing makeup under her mask and applies only eye makeup. Considering that is all that is visible on the face anyway, her strategy makes sense.

She advises against using harsh astringents for cleaning the skin.

Alcohol-based cleaners strip out the natural oils of the skin, which causes more breakouts.

“People should be coordinating with a licensed skin therapist, not someone that sells a multi-level marketing item people can sell out of the trunk of their car,” Velez said.

“The therapist can go over if the skin is irritated, red and how to treat it.

Build a relationship with a trusted esthetician. Otherwise, you’ll waste money on consumer products with no useful ingredients.”

She likes Image Skin Care’s Clear Cell, a restoring serum that is oil-free.

“It helps with oily, irritated problematic, inflamed, sensitive skin,” Velez said.

Don’t Delay Dental Care, Even During COVID Oral health is intricately linked with overall full-body health

By Megan Plete Postol

A

new study conducted by Next Smile Dental recently revealed that the majority of people (61%) have delayed dental care due to the ongoing pandemic.

This revelation has caused concern for dentists, as dental and oral health is intricately linked with overall fullbody health.

Most dentists insist that despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, continuing regular dental care is not only safe but crucial.

According to Hudson Valley Dental Care, PC dentist Cristi Freinberg-Trufas, dental office staff is trained in managing viral and bacterial exposures and have known how to sanitize, disinfect, and sterilize instruments, surfaces and treatment areas long before the pandemic.

“Dealing with COVID is no different, other than wearing increased PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and observing higher levels of disinfection,” Freinberg-Trufas said. “We are specialists in this and were able to integrate COVID precautions readily into our practices.”

Some of the practices dental facilities are implementing are evaluating HVAC systems to be sure they are properly circulating air in our offices, observing social distancing with staff and patients, taking temperatures of staff members and patients, rethinking waiting rooms, and check-in/ check-out procedures.

“Our number one priority is to keep our patients and staff members safe during this time,” Freinberg-Trufas said.

Mitchell Josephs, a general, cosmetic and implant dentist of 27 years, has some suggested questions for patients to ask their dentist’s office to ensure that the facility is taking adequate precautions to protect against COVID-19.

Do you check temperatures before allowing entry?

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a temporal artery thermometer to ensure all who enter their facility have a temperature at or below 100.3 F, as CDC guidelines suggest that any temperature 100.4 F or greater is considered a fever. Temporal thermometers are a non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology that provides consistently accurate measurements with a gentle stroke across the forehead. Temperature takers at the office should keep as much distance from clients as they can, wear a cloth face covering, provide one to the client to wear, wash their hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer as well as gloves for extra protection.

Do you have any specific COVID-19 preventative measures on site?

Innovative equipment is now available to enhance safety measures already taken in most dental offices, Josephs said. One such device is an Extra-Oral Suction Unit. These mechanisms remove 99.9% of aerosolized droplets of saliva, blood and other fluids, which can be emitted from a patient’s mouth during a routine dental treatment. Although units are expensive, dentists like Josephs, have taken the initiative. By investing in two Extra-Oral Suction Units his office is one of the first in the country that is better able to protect staff and patients from unnecessary risks of COVID-19 infection.

Do you heat-sterilize all your instruments, including handpieces (“dental drills”), between patients?

In keeping with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, and OSAP recommendations, dentists should be heat-sterilizing all instruments that penetrate or contact a patient’s oral tissues. Although autoclaves are most commonly used to sterilize dental instruments, some offices may have other types of heat sterilizers.

Chemical-vapor sterilizers (“Chemi-

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claves”) and dry-heat sterilizers also are appropriate for sterilizing dental instruments. Your dentist (or his or her staff) should heat-sterilize instruments that have been used on a patient before they are introduced to treat the next patient.

Do you change your gloves for every patient?

Every dental care provider should use new gloves for each and every patient. For procedures that are likely to involve splash or spatter, your dental team will also don a new mask as well as wear protective eyewear and apparel (possibly a gown or clinic jacket).

Do you disinfect the surfaces in the operatory between patients?

Between patients, the dental team should disinfect all the surfaces they are likely to touch during treatment. This eliminates the possibility of a dentist or auxiliary dental care provider transferring germs from a contaminated surface to the patient.

Some practices disinfect all surfaces between patients. Others use protective barriers for all surfaces in the treatment room.

Long-term damage can result from avoiding the dentist or delaying care. Some of this damage can include tooth decay, gum disease, teeth staining, toothache and tooth loss.

“Not giving your mouth proper care will attract harmful bacteria

to your teeth and gums, which can cause massive damage,” Josephs said. “Studies show that bacteria can survive, overgrow, and become unbalanced in one’s mouth and can put the enamel in significant danger.

Once the enamel is torn up, there is no other way to replace it. Too much tooth decay can cause a huge hole in a tooth that cannot be repaired by fillings alone, leaving the tooth vulnerable to cavities. Over a long period, the untreated teeth will progress into becoming painful. Once the pain becomes persistent it will become evident enough that you will need a more invasive treatment, such as root canal or tooth extraction. The infections of the gum consequently lead to inflammation, which can result in separation of the tooth, causing the teeth to become very loose to the point of falling off if not treated.”

Josephs pointed out that poor dental health can also lead to a host of other conditions.

“The accumulation of bacteria in the mouth creates an impending problem and once the bacterium is released into the mouth, there is a possibility of causing systemic infections,” he said.” People who have gum problems are more than likely to develop cardiac problems such as heart attacks. Also, there are increased possibilities of getting respiratory problems, dementia, erectile dysfunction and diabetes complications.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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The Winter Blues Are Real, and COVID-19 May Make it Worse

S

ome people love the cold weather months. They eagerly bundle up for a brisk walk, they hit the ski slopes, they huddle by a window to watch the snowflakes float to the ground. But for other people, this is a dreary time of year filled with feelings of loneliness and malaise known as the winter blues.

“The winter blues doesn’t have a formal diagnosis, but it is very real,” said Sudha Bakshi, a psychiatrist and medical director for behavioral health at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

Feeling sad during the winter may also be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is

a formally diagnosed disorder that often occurs this time of year when we have fewer hours of daylight. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, millions of adults in the U.S. may suffer from SAD, but many are not aware that they have the condition. Women experience SAD more often than men.

“This year, we must also acknowledge the pandemic, and its impact on mental health,” said Bakshi.

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducted in mid-July of 2020, 53% of U.S. adults reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted by worry and stress over the coronavirus.

“In times of stress, people often self-medicate,” said Bakshi. According to a 2020 national survey from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, certain negative behaviors that can impact anxiety, depression and substance use disorders have increased during the pandemic, including: • 23% increase in alcohol consumption • 19% increase in smoking • 15% increase in vaping • 13% increase in non-medical drug use Prior to the pandemic, on average, one in five U.S. adults experi-

enced a mental health condition in a given year, making mental illness more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease. The myths and the stigma that surround mental illness can result in feelings of shame and isolation that can cause affected persons to deny symptoms and delay treatment.

“If there is any good news to come from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the rapid adoption of telemedicine and the resulting increase in access to behavioral health services,” said Bakshi. Behavioral health services include treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

According to an analysis of health plan claims data by Excellus BCBS, there were about 950,000 telemedicine visits for behavioral health services from January to December 2020, which is a 13,000% jump in telemedicine visits for behavioral health compared to the same time period in 2019.

“Telemedicine for behavioral health services isn’t for everyone and every situation,” said Bakshi. “A conversation with your primary care provider is a good place to start if you have concerns about the winter blues or seasonal affective disorder.”

to switch plans.) Competition for members among commercial plans results in a lot of TV advertising.

And for good reason. Forty percent of all Medicare eligibles belonged to a Medicare Advantage plan last year; and with the onslaught of savvy baby boomers turning 65, there is a lot at stake. Traditional or “regular” Medicare will probably phase out for adults without a disability, over the next several years as Medicare Advantage plans continue to grab most of the newly eligible seniors.

There is another reason for the heavy advertising: huge profits. Many commercial carriers are making more money in Medicare Advantage plans than employer-based commercial plans. United Healthcare, for example, covered 3.5 million members last year and expects to add another 900,000 this year. United made $15.4 billion last year, despite the pandemic. The ads claim they may reduce the amount being withheld from your Social Security check for Medicare by $100 or so a month. That is accomplished by switching seniors from their traditional Medicare plan to Advantage plans.

easily identify the 300 procedures. So how do you compare? You can’t. As predicted here last year, this would be a mess. Regardless of trying to find the best deal, can the typical consumer really shop around? The hospital you select may not be in your network. Your chances of getting approval to go outside of your network for one of the routine “shoppable” services is probably zero. The physician you select for a consult or procedure may not be in your network or even have privileges at the hospital you select. Even if he or she does, it may not be their preference. So right now, until there is more uniformity, shopping around for the best deal is a fool’s errand.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

COVID-19 Variants: Experts Believe They Are to Stay

T

he FDA will expedite the review process for manufacturers developing updates and boosters to counter the United Kingdom and South African strains or variants to the coronavirus. An advisory panel of independent experts will be charged with reviewing and approving the booster shots. Pfizer, BioNtech and Moderna boosters have already gone through the process. Most epidemiologists warn COVID-19 will not just go away even after we have achieved herd immunity or have it under control. Like the common flu, we may require annual boosters until a “one and done” shot is developed. The worldwide pandemic will be reduced to a manageable epidemic. In the meantime,

ACA Open Enrollment Expanded

Millions of workers have lost their employer sponsored health insurance primarily due to the ravages of the pandemic. Via executive order, President Biden created a special expanded three-month open enrollment period from Feb. 15 thru May 15. The previous open enrollment period under the previous administration was only the last six weeks of 2020, Nov. 15 thru Dec. 31. The Association of Health Insurance Plans lauded the executive order and expressed no concern over possible “adverse selection.” (Adverse selection can occur when a previously uninsured person can enroll in a plan any time they want, versus only during a designated sign up or enrollment period. The Page 14

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President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act to get more equipment and supplies to vaccine manufacturers for increased points of care and at home testing. The goal is to have 61 million home testing kits available by the end of summer.

FEMA has awarded $1.7 billion to 27 states to establish community vaccine centers, especially in underserved areas. Overlooked and under appreciated is the role of primary care providers can play in the delivery of vaccines. Once supplies are adequate and distribution streams improved, primary care practices are clearly more appropriate for vaccine and booster administration than state fairgrounds, hospital parking lots and football stadiums. fear is those who wait until they are sick or injured, then sign up.)

Medicare Ad Fatigue

If you’re wondering why the seemingly endless (and annoying) Medicare ads are still disrupting your favorite TV viewing long after Dec. 31, you’re not alone. In the past, all seniors were covered by “regular” or traditional Medicare. Since there was no choice, the government didn’t need to advertise. The ubiquitous ads ruining your viewing are run by Medicare Advantage plans that are administered by commercial insurers that are looking to sign newly eligible seniors as they turn 65 throughout the year. (Open enrollment, which runs October thru December, is for seniors already covered looking

Hospital Pricing

As of Jan. 1 hospitals must post “prices” for 300 “shoppable” procedures such as MRI, labs, consults, obstetrics, surgeries, psychotherapy.

Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible for just about anyone to do comparison shopping. Warning: you may need psychotherapy if you try to do this. The problem is, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services left it up to the hospitals and didn’t provide many guidelines. Consequently, some posted spread sheets with “prices,” “fees” and “negotiated rates” while others provided online “cost estimators.” To add to the confusion, many don’t even use the universally accepted billing codes to

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

Pandemic Preparedness

Another pandemic is inevitable. The Northeast Business Group on Health has developed a list of recommendations for employers so they aren’t caught off guard again.

1. Build a pandemic response plan; keep it simple. 2. Establish a safe workplace. 3. Enhance employee experience working from home. 4.

Have a strong return to work plan. 5.

Address employee benefits stressed by the pandemic, like behavioral care. Develop your vaccine strategy.

6. Plan for future pandemic or epidemic now.

W. Chapman George

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

Between You & Me

By Barbara Pierce

The Value Of kindness Create A Groundswell Of Powerful Positive Change

I

’ve been gravely saddened by people this past year. The COVID-19 crisis has brought out the worst in some people: hoarding toilet paper, crowding in bars despite guidelines, attacking our Capitol.

What I need are stories of kindness; stories that will restore my faith in people.

Pierce I need reminding that, in these days of darkness, there are those who demonstrate the best in people. Small acts of kindness that are moments of light.

An act of kindness is a selfless act, planned or spontaneous, performed to either help or cheer up someone, for no reason other than to make people happier, with no expectation of a reward.

In the Mohawk Valley, we take care of each other. There is much kindness to be found here. People and organizations in our community do spread volumes of kindness. I was uplifted to find the following stories online, just a few examples: Leo, an elementary student at the Utica Academy of Science, received a

gift card. Instead of spending it, Leo donated it to those who need it the most, the Rescue Mission of Utica.

Judy Jerome of New Hartford shared this: “The coronavirus crisis is overwhelming, but sometimes we witness heroic acts of kindness.

For instance, knowing that we were self-quarantined and unable to shop, a guardian angel left two gallons of distilled water on our front porch for my husband’s C-PAP machine.

Thank you, Angel.”

This from Rev. Tamara Vrooman of Rome: I was snowed in when a friend who had shoveled out and trekked to the grocery store pulled up in front of our house with food and treats for the kids. My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude and love by her simple act of kindness.

I was most impressed with Makenzi Leigh, of Rome, special education teacher at Upstate Cerebral Palsy: “For my 25th birthday, I decided to complete random acts of kindness.

This was a great opportunity to give back and spread some good vibes in a time when we need it the most.”

Leigh spent her birthday doing simple things for others, giving a thank you letter to her mail carrier, bringing a bouquet of flowers to a librarian and another to the person at

the drive-through window where she stopped to buy coffee and doughnuts to bring to the police and fire stations.

“It feels good!” is how she summed up her day. “I had small treasures to brighten the day for people. I’m so glad I choose to do this; it was definitely a fun way to celebrate my birthday!”

“I encourage you to take the time to be kind to strangers, make their day a little bit brighter, just simple things,” she said.

Spreading kindness not only brightens someone’s day, it will boost your health and happiness, according to research. It’s a win-win for all. Studies show that putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return stimulates the reward centers of our brain.

“If we all do one random act of kindness a day, we might just set the world in the right direction,” said Dr. Kelli Harding in her book “The Rabbit Effect.” In her book, she shares groundbreaking new research showing that love, friendship, and community can have a greater impact on our health than anything that happens in the doctor’s office.

“To live a truly healthy life we need to choose to connect to one another and find purpose, joy and meaning in our lives.” She advocates that we choose to do simple acts of kindness daily. “The choices to be kind supports our emotional well-being and reduces stress which may help prevent many diseases.”

Small gestures that support hu-

man worth, when practiced regularly, create community and are good for the doer and the receiver. We build our collective well-being. In that there is great strength.

Little things: When you stop for coffee, say hello and talk to the person who hands you your drink.

There is great power in a friendly hello. That friendly hello may help her be kinder to the next customer.

Lend a hand to someone carrying groceries, say good morning to a neighbor or stranger, offer a compliment, maybe to a stranger, thank someone you appreciate, offer your help to someone, let someone go past you in the grocery line.

Kindness is contagious. Not only will you improve the mood of the recipient, you’ll also make them likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed can create a ripple effect and improve the day of dozens.

As more people create positive ripples, the bigger the effect. Together we can create a groundswell of powerful positive change.

To quote Martin Luther King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can to that.”

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

We did it.

Twice.

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March 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

New Weight-Loss Drug Can Cut 15-20% of Body Weight ‘Drug turned out to be amazingly more effective than anything else we’ve seen come before,’ says researcher

A Age Related Macular Degeneration Makes It Tough To See Clearly There are several risk factors you should watch for

By Megan Plete Postol

A

ge-related macular degeneration can make life difficult.

What is macular degeneration exactly? It is a condition that deteriorates the sharp, central vision that is used for activities such as reading or driving. It’s called age-related because it most commonly occurs in people aged 50 and older.

People with AMD still retain normal peripheral vision, according to Jaydeep Tripathy, a primary care doctor at Doctor Springs.

“So for example if they are looking at an analog clock, they can see the hands of the clock but not the numbers,” Tripathy said. “This is common and is the leading cause of permanent vision loss. Even when it doesn’t lead to complete vision loss, it can still cause severe vision problems.”

In some cases, dry form macular degeneration can lead to wet form.

AMD may not present symptoms in its early stages, but it can be observed when there are changes in your vision. You may observe blurry vision, dark spots in the center of your vision, or in rare cases different color perceptions.

The macula is in the back of the eye and is a part of the central retina that detects light. Age-related macular degeneration causes central vision loss and blurry vision.

“Depending on the type of AMD, there may be gradual vision loss or a more rapid onset with a greater magnitude of vision loss and sometimes blindness,” physician Laurie Marbas, a double board-certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, said. “There are two types of AMD. The first, called dry AMD is the least severe, with a slower onset but the most common.”

Dry AMD impacts 85-90 percent of those with AMD overall, Marbas said. Dry AMD is characterized by Page 16

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blood and fluids leaking into the retina from the vessels that grow under the macula.

“You not only lose central vision but your vision gets so distorted that straight lines appear wavy,” Tripathy said. “Vision loss can be permanent when the bleeding forms a scar.”

This type can be treated with specific vitamins called AREDS or AREDS2.

AREDS/AREDS2 supplements delay progression of intermediate to advanced AMD and may help maintain vision longer. A study conducted by the National Eye Institute followed participants for more than 10 years, and the benefits of AREDS persisted over the duration.

Wet AMD is the most severe type, leading to substantial vision loss and blindness, Marbas said.

It has a rapid onset but is the least common, impacting 10-15 percent of overall AMD cases, according to Dr. Marbas. Treatment requires more intervention and can include surgery.

There are multiple risk factors for AMD including age, smoking, ethnicity, family history, alcohol use, heart disease, cataract surgery and use of certain medications like aspirin.

Diets high in fruits, vegetables, and fish have been correlated with a lower risk of AMD and the greater the adherence to a healthy diet the larger the risk reduction, Dr. Marbas said. Diets highest in carotenoids, zeaxanthin, lutein, zinc and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids had the most benefit.

“My recommendation is to eat a whole food, plant-based diet eating the colors of the rainbow and include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” Dr. Marbas said.

So, eat healthy, watch for symptoms, and consult a doctor if there are any concerns.

new weight-loss drug is almost twice as effective as current medications, clinical trial results show, and experts say it could revolutionize the treatment of obesity.

Overweight and obese people lost an average 15% of their body weight using a weekly injectable 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide (Ozempic), a new report reveals.

What’s more, one-third of all participants lost 20% of their body weight, a result comparable to those of people who’ve undergone weightloss (bariatric) surgery, the researchers said.

That means a person who weighs 250 pounds could wind up losing as much as 50 pounds after a year and a half on the drug, the results showed.

“This drug turned out to be amazingly more effective than anything else we’ve seen come before,” said senior researcher Robert Kushner, a physician and professor of medicine specializing in obesity treatment at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago. “It’s the very first time we have a medication that even begins to approach the weight loss people achieve with bariatric surgery.”

Physician Ania Jastreboff, vice-chairwoman of the Obesity Society’s clinical care committee, agreed that semaglutide’s effectiveness could significantly alter the field of obesity medicine.

“This degree of weight loss is significantly more than what we’ve seen with any other medication thus far,” said Jastreboff, co-director of the Yale Center for Weight Management, in New Haven, Connecticut.

The drug’s maker, Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, applied for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January based on these clinical trial results. It hopes for approval before year’s end, Kushner said. The company funded the drug trial.

Semaglutide is already on the market at a lower dose as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • March 2021

The drug is a synthetic version of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), “a hormone that all of us make,” Kushner said.

“When this hormone is released, it helps reduce our appetite, reduces our hunger and helps us feel full sooner,” Kushner said.

Nearly 2,000 overweight or obese adults participated in the 68-week clinical trial, which ran from the fall of 2019 to spring 2020 at 129 sites in 16 countries.

The entire group started with an average weight of 232 pounds and a body mass index (BMI) of 38, which placed them firmly in the obese category, the researchers said. BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight.

People taking semaglutide had an average weight loss of 15%, compared to about 2% for a group treated with a placebo, the findings showed.

That makes semaglutide roughly 1.5 to 2 times more effective than other weight-loss drugs, which tend to help people lose between 4% and 11%, the researchers said.

Seven out of 10 participants lost at least 10% of their starting body weight, and one in three lost 20% or more.

There are some side effects, mostly gastrointestinal, the study authors said. More than four of 10 people taking semaglutide experienced nausea.

Some others reported diarrhea, vomiting or constipation.

However, these side effects could be managed, Kushner said. Only 7% of participants had to drop out of the trial because they couldn’t tolerate the drug.

Doctors prescribing this drug probably can limit these side effects by gradually raising the dosage in new patients, Jastreboff said.

MILK & HONEY

By Brooke Stacia DeMott

Column by Brook Stacia DeMott has moved online. www.MVhealthnews.com, then type “milk & honey” in the search button

Rome Memorial Hospital is now Rome Health

By Jim Miller

How to Choose a Hospice Care Program Dear Savvy Senior, Where can I turn to find a good Medicare-covered hospice provider? My husband’s mother has a terminal condition and wants to die at home, if possible, so I’m helping out where I can.

Sad Sandy

Dear Sandy, Hospice is a wonderful option in the last months of life because it offers a variety of services, not only to those who are dying, but also to those left behind. Here’s what you should know about hospice care, along with some tips to help you choose one.

Understanding Hospice Hospice care is a unique service that provides medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support to people who are in the last stages of a terminal illness — it does not speed up or slow down the process of dying. Hospice’s goal is to simply keep the patient as comfortable and pain-free as possible, with loved ones nearby until death.

The various services provided by a hospice program comes from a team of professionals that works together to accommodate all the patients’ end-of-life needs.

The team typically includes hospice doctors that will work with the primary physician and family members to draft up a care plan; nurses who dispense medication for pain control; home care aids that attend to personal needs like eating and bathing; social workers who help the patient and the family prepare for end of life; clergy members who provide spiritual counseling, if desired; and volunteers that fill a variety of niches, from sitting with the patient to helping clean and maintain their property.

Some hospices even offer massage or music therapy, and nearly all provide bereavement services for relatives and short-term inpatient respite care to give family caregivers a break.

Most hospice patients receive care in their own home. However, hospice will go wherever the patient is — hospital, nursing home or assisted living residence. Some even have their own facility to use as an option.

To receive hospice, your motherin-law must get a referral from her physician stating that her life expectancy is six months or less.

It’s also important to know that home-based hospice care does not mean that a hospice nurse or volunteer is in the home 24 hours a day.

Services are based on need or what you request. Hospice care can also be stopped at any time if your motherin-law’s health improves or if she decides to re-enter cure-oriented treatments.

How to Choose The best time to prepare for hospice and consider your options is before it’s necessary, so you’re not making decisions during a stressful time. There are more than 4,300 hospice care agencies in the U.S., so depending on where you live, you may have several options from which to choose.

To locate a good hospice in your area, ask your mother-in-law’s doctor or the discharge planner at your local hospital for a referral, or you can search online at Medicare. gov/care-compare, which provides lists and ratings of hospice providers in your area.

When choosing, look for an established hospice that has been operating for a few years and one that is certified

by Medicare. To help you select one, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offers a worksheet of questions to ask CaringInfo.org.

Rome Memorial Hospital has adopted Rome Health as its new name to more accurately reflect the breadth of services provided by the healthcare system to enhance the health and well-being of the local community, announced President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Murphy.

“Building upon our rich history, we’ve become a comprehensive health care system that connects people to the best clinicians and the latest technologies so they are easily accessible to our community,” Murphy said. “We’re more than a hospital. From primary care to long-term care, we deliver the care people need here in Rome, including the latest advancements in spinal surgery and hereditary risk screening.”

“In addition, we’ve forged relationships with highly-ranked experts, such as St. Joseph’s Health’s cardiologists, to coordinate your care. These teams work together to ease your anxiety when you need a higher level of care,” Murphy said.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rome Health is emerging from the crisis as a stronger system by focusing on what’s most important to the community, Murphy said. “Delivering high-quality, safe patient care is at the heart of everything that we do.”

In the midst of the pandemic, multiple agencies validated Rome Health’s commitment to the highest standards of quality.

• The American Heart Association

awarded the emergency department with Mission Lifeline Gold Plus Referring Quality Achievement Award for their protocols in recognizing heart attacks promptly so they can receive life-saving care.

• Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield recognized the maternity department’s commitment to quality with the Blue Distinction+ for Maternity Care.

• Rome Health earned a “B” Hospital Safety Grade from the Leap Frog Group, which evaluates hospitals on 28 safety measures. The hospital has implemented strategies to earn an “A” in its continuous pursuit of excellence.

• Rome Health was recognized as a “Best Nursing Home” by U.S. News & World Report for short-term rehabilitation.

The new name also ushers in a new era for Rome Health as the system prepares to welcome many new primary care providers and physician specialists, including two new general surgeons and a cardiologist; introduce new service lines, such as bariatric surgery; and break ground on a new Physician Center on the hospital’s main campus in August.

The new Rome Health name will begin to appear over time at its many off-site physician practices and outpatient centers.

“This is an exciting time for Rome Health, for our colleagues, our patients and our community as we look to a strong vibrant future,” Murphy said. “Our promise is to our community to our patients. Our physicians and our staff are dedicated to providing the best care right here at Rome Health.”

Medicare Coverage Medicare covers all aspects of hospice care and services for its beneficiaries. There is no deductible for hospice services although there may be a very small co-payment — such as $5 for each prescription drug for pain and symptom control, or a 5% share for inpatient respite care.

Medicaid also covers hospice in most states, as do most private health insurance plans.

For more information, see the “Medicare Hospice Benefits” online booklet at Medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/02154-medicare-hospice-benefits. pdf.

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

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H ealth News Nicole Eckler certified as perioperative Nurse

Nicole Eckler, a registered nurse with Little Falls Hospital, OneBassett, recently achieved the certified perioperative nurse (CNOR) designation.

CNOR validates that a nurse has the skills and Eckler expertise to care for patients before, during and after surgery. CNOR nurses are knowledgeable of the latest standards of practice and care and have the training and skills necessary to provide the highest quality of care to their patients.

The certification eligibility requires an active RN licensure, at least two years of full-time practice as a registered nurse and 2,400-plus hours of perioperative nursing experience.

“Professional development is an integral component of staying informed on new findings and best practices in a continuously changing field,” said Eckler. “Earning the CNOR certification is a personal accomplishment that will make me a better advocate for staff and patient safety in the perioperative setting.”

Handal-Orefice joins Slocum-Dickson Medical Group

Physician Roxane Handal-Orefice has joined the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Slocum-Dickson Medical Group.

Handal-Orefice cares for women of all ages with an emphasis on maternal-fetal medicine. She is fluent in four languages; English, Spanish, French and Haitian Creole.

Handal-Orefice has experience caring for women of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds and believes in making sure each of her patients feel cared for and important. “I chose to go into medicine because early on in my life I faced hardships that made me realize the importance of adequate healthcare in someone’s life. I wanted to make a difference,” says Handal-Orefice.

Before joining Slocum-Dickson, Handal-Orefice attended Columbia University for a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University Medical Center. She earned her medical degree and a master’s of public health from Boston University School of Medicine and her Bachelor of Science from Boston College. She is a member of the Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine and the American Medical Association.

“I chose OB-GYN and subsequently maternal-fetal medicine because I loved surgery, medicine, and women’s health. These specialties allowed me to combine my strengths and interests, and execute comprehensive health care,” says HanPage 18

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dal-Orefice. She is passionate about women’s health and has done a lot of global health volunteer work in Haiti and she strives to make volunteering a life goal and mission. Recently, one of her patients said, “Dr. Roxane Handal-Orefice was so warm, knowledgeable, and helpful! I can’t thank her enough for her support!”

Rome Health wound specialist earns board certification

Rome Health wound specialist Jennifer Fields has earned board certification as a diplomate by the American Board of Wound Management in recognition of her extensive knowledge and specialized Fields expertise in treating hard to heal wounds.

Fields works together with the center’s doctors and nurses to provide advanced wound care services at the Rome Health Wound Care Center at the Griffiss Business & Technology Park.

The certified wound specialist board certification is a formal recognition of a master level knowledge and specialty practice in wound management. The prestigious and rigorous certification in wound care demonstrates a distinct and specialized expertise in the practice, according to the American Board of Wound Management.

Fields joined the Rome Health Wound Care Center in 2016. A graduate of the St. Elizabeth’s College of Nursing, Fields earned both her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and Master of Science degree in family health administration from SUNY Institute of Technology, Marcy.

“At the wound center we work together to develop the best plan of care to treat not only the wound, but the underlying conditions that are impeding the wound from healing,” the nurse practitioner said.

Plastic surgeon joins Slocum-Dickson Medical Group

Physician Stephan Barrientos has joined the plastic surgery department of Slocum-Dickson Medical Group. He performs breast reductions, lifts, augmentation and reconstruction, tummy tucks, body arm and thigh lifts, Barrientos and liposuction, among other procedures.

Before joining Slocum-Dickson, Barrientos finished a pediatric cranio-

facial fellowship at The Craniofacial Center, Dallas Texas. He specializes in general plastic and reconstructive surgery for patients of all ages.

“My special interests are cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery, craniofacial surgery, pediatric plastic surgery and wound surgery. My goal is to develop a practice that will provide comprehensive well rounded plastic surgery to the region,” he said.

Barrientos completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed a wound fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He also completed his general surgery residency at East Carolina University at Vidant Medical Center. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and is a member of the American Medical Association.

MVHS moves respiratory triage service

The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has closed its respiratory triage trailer at the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave. in Utica, and moved the service into the emergency department (ED) at the campus which has been updated to provide this service. Patients with respiratory symptoms (cough,

shortness of breath, congestion, etc.) should now go directly to the ED at the St. Luke’s Campus for an evaluation.

“As the rate of COVID infections continue to decrease in our community, we’ve seen a significant decrease in the number of patients coming to our respiratory trailer,” said physician Afsar Khan, ED medical director for MVHS. “We made the decision to alter the layout of the ED at St. Luke’s so that patients seeking this service can come right to the ED and receive an evaluation there.

This change helps better align our resources while still meeting the need for the service. We will continue to evaluate the numbers and have the ability to reopen the trailer should the need arise.”

In April 2020, MVHS opened two respiratory triage tents outside its EDs at the St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth campuses for patients with respiratory symptoms. As COVID numbers decreased, the tent at the St. Elizabeth Campus closed and the services in the St. Luke’s tent were transferred into a trailer to better withstand the changing weather.

The respiratory triage service in the ED is not solely for coronavirus testing and the appointment will be considered an ED visit. Patients needing emergency services not related to respiratory issues should continue to use the main ED entrances.

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WE CARE LIKE FAMILY

We are growing and have exciting career opportunities in the health care industry.

To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions.

Become a part of Our Family!

Life in balance.

A company philosophy that speaks to a continual process of individual and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life and personal relationships.

17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-4790 | www.MorningstarCares.com

Our Mission.

To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.

Our Vision.

RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER

To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use of technology, progressive service and being a strong community partner.

Our Team.

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