IGH - Rochester, #194 OCTOBER 2021

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INSIDE ■ HEALTH CAREER Physician assistant carries a median salary in Rochester of $108,180. P. 10

■ COVID-19 New ‘mu’ coronavirus variant: what you need to know. P. 2

GVHEALTHNEWS.COM

OCTOBER 2021 • ISSUE 194

■ COPD Could I have it and not know it? P. 9

Good sleep is the basic and foremost step for a healthy and successful life because it plays a pivotal role in mental and emotional conditions.

Local expert discusses five things you need to know about it. P. 12

■ LIVE ALONE Having the courage of living alone. P. 6

BETTER SLEEP COVID-19 VACCINE Physician Edward E. Walsh has been involved in clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccines and talks about their efficacy, booster shots and more. P. 4

SEN. KLOBUCHAR'S CANCER SCARE

Diet, Hormones Can Play a Role in Women’s Hair Loss WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUE STARTS ON PAGE 17

New ‘Mu’ Coronavirus Variant: What You Need to Know

A

new coronavirus variant called "mu" that may be able to evade existing antibodies, including those from vaccines, is under close watch by U.S. health officials.

The variant hasn’t taken extensive hold in the United States at this point, but the U.S. National Institute

of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is taking it "very seriously," according to its director, Anthony Fauci.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on it... but it is not at all even close to being dominant,” Fauci told CBS News. “As you know, the delta is more than 99% dominant.”

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consider it an immediate threat right now,” CBS News reported.

Early September, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated mu a “variant of interest,” and said more research is needed to determine if it can evade existing antibodies.

Mu was first detected in Colombia in January.

Mu has been responsible for the country’s third wave of coronavirus infections from April to June, Colombian health official Marcela Mercado told a local radio station. She said there were nearly 700 deaths per day during that wave, and nearly two-thirds of tests from people who died came back positive for the mu variant, CBS News reported.

In the past week, Colombia has seen just under 14,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 530 new deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Less than 30% of the country's citizens are fully vaccinated, CBS News reported.

“Although the global prevalence of the mu variant among sequenced cases has declined and is currently below 0.1%, the prevalence in Colombia (39%) and Ecuador (13%) has consistently increased,” according to the WHO, CBS News reported.

Some larger outbreaks of the mu variant have been reported in South America and Europe.

Johns Hopkins University reported that Colombia has had about 14,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 530 deaths in the first week of September, CBS reported. Its vaccination rate is below 30%.

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He noted that while mu, technically known as B.1.621, has mutations suggesting “it would evade certain antibodies,” there isn’t a lot of clinical data to suggest that.

“It is mostly laboratory in vitro data,” Fauci explained.

He added that officials “don’t

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Edward E. Walsh, M.D.

Rochester doctor involved in clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccines talks about efficacy of vaccine, booster shots and more Q: What do vaccination rates look like in New York and Rochester in particular?

A: In terms of how we’re doing? I don’t have a graph in front of me, but my understanding is we’re somewhere in the range of 70% [as mid-September]. When you talk about who has been vaccinated, one way to look at it is the percentage of people who are vaccinated out of the group that is eligible. That’s going to be a higher percentage than the percentage of people vaccinated out of the total population. Anybody under 12, for example, is not eligible. But overall Monroe County is running about even with the state—New York City is a little higher—and the state is doing better with vaccination than most states. On the other hand, it’s very clear we have significant ways to go. We’re still seeing a lot of people hospitalized who have not been immunized. And the question is why not? It’s certainly available. For some it might be a matter of access, but I think the number of people who haven’t gotten it for that reason is quite small. In most cases it’s a matter of not wanting to be vaccinated.

Q: In talking to people who are hesitant toward taking the vaccine, what are their major concerns?

A: A lot of them say the same thing. They’re afraid the vaccine is new and doesn’t have a long track record. And that is a truthful statement. It is new. And the track record at this point for the various vaccines is about a year, maybe a bit longer if you include the clinical trials, which started in March and April of 2020.

So they have at most a year and a half under their belt. And they have concerns about their not being 10, 20 years of data on it. And there’s absolutely nothing you can do about that.

You can simply make the argument that, if that’s the way you feel, you’re going to be waiting a long time for a therapy that comes along for any disease. Other people argue that it was developed too quickly, which is not accurate. go?

of research on those. For COVID, that would be the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As far as the mRNA vaccines, the research goes back seven or eight years. So there was a very slow and methodical development of these platforms to deliver vaccines. When the pandemic came in December of 2019, it was simply a matter of speeding up the testing of them in phase 1 studies where you sort out of the dose needed to get the immune response you want and sort out any immediate side effects. Normally those take a year, but by changing the strategy of how you do those studies you can move them along much more quickly with no change in how you evaluate safety and effectiveness. So that was able to move us into the larger scale phase 3 testing within months rather than within a year or so. The ability to show a vaccine is effective can often take a year two, but with the pandemic raging it was only a matter of

months to get data showing that the vaccines were highly effective. Now, we couldn’t get licensure right away because the FDA wanted to have a longer period of time for safety information. They require six months of safety data with a large population.

That’s why Pfizer recently got full licensure and Moderna is hot on their heels. Johnson & Johnson got going a little later. That meets all the safety and effectiveness data that the FDA has put forth for every other vaccine out there. No corners were cut.

Q: How about safety in younger age groups?

A: Some people are complaining that the pediatric group doesn’t have a vaccine, and it’s true. They don’t yet. You can’t cut corners and say it works down to age 12, let’s just barrel ahead down to age 1. It is coming slower for that group because you have to do all the proper testing and studies.

Q: And you’re currently working on phase 3 trials?

A: Yes, they’re not done. We have several trials going on in Rochester.

We have two at Rochester General Hospital; Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine trial is finishing its first year and has a year to go. The AstraZeneca vaccine has a little more than a year to go. There are other studies going on as well in the Rochester area with regard to booster doses and covering the variants that may emerge.

Q: Is waning immunity a cause for concern? Is that something boosters can keep up with?

A: The way you can view booster may depend on how you measure the effectiveness of a vaccine.

When we set out back in April 2020 to help develop these vaccines, the goal was the prevent, not so much infection itself but the outcome of infection. Specifically, death, hospitalization, pneumonia and serious illness. The intent was not to block all infection. We were surprised when initial studies found the mRNA vaccines were able to block all infection with a 95% effectiveness rate.

The adenovirus vector

Q: How far back does development

A: The programs that created this vaccine go back more than 10 years ago.

There was a large amount of preclinical research, a lot of preliminary studies on how to produce and use these types of vaccines. The two novel technologies being used are mRNA vaccines and adenovirus vector vaccines. Research on adenovirus vector vaccines goes back to the 1990s. So there’s been an enormous amount Page 4

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

vaccines, while not quite as potent, were 70 -75% protective against any infection at all. So if that is your measure of effectiveness is all infection, that has fallen from 95% to as low as 40% depending on the study. If your goal is in line with the original goal of preventing severe illness, the efficacy has only dropped a few percentage points.

Q: What accounts for the difference?

A: If one thinks about the immune system, there are two components you might consider. The first is the ability to completely block infection. That’s handled primarily by antibodies. Whereas the immunity that allows you to recover from infection quickly seems to be persistent. So even though we’re seeing infections, we’re not seeing a large number of hospitalizations or severe illness. If you look at vaccinated people who are being hospitalized, almost all of them are immuno-compromised. The other group that gets into trouble is very old, very frail people who don’t respond to vaccines very well. But even they won’t be as sick as they would otherwise. This has created a bit of a debate as to whether we actually need booster doses. If your goal is to prevent all infection, then booster doses make sense. The other line of thought on them is that if we’re losing the infection prevention, we may also eventually lose the severe disease prevention, so they want to try to get ahead of that rather than wait to see if that happens. Whether we need a modified vaccine isn’t clear.

Q: As far as priorities go, what’s the consideration for people who aren’t vaccinated but have already had COVID-19?

A: They’re an important priority.

We have data that indicates the immune response to the infection is not as potent as the immune response to the vaccine. That may sound very odd, but viruses are very tricky.

The only way they can survive after infecting you is by actively limiting your immune response. Vaccines aren’t infectious agents. They don’t shut down your immune system, only stimulating it. For that reason, it’s been recommended that people who have previously been infected receive at least a single dose of vaccine, essentially what you might call a booster dose. Studies have found that if you get a dose after natural infection, your levels of immunity rise substantially and even exceed those of just being vaccinated. Most respiratory viruses have the ability to reinfect people. So you’re better off if you get immunized after being infected.

Lifelines

Name: Edward E. Walsh, M.D. Position: Professor in the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) department of medicine, infectious diseases. Member of the infectious diseases unit at Rochester General Hospital Hometown: New York, New York Education: SUNY Downstate Medical Center Affiliations: Rochester General; Strong Memorial Organizations: Infectious Disease Society of America Family: Wife; five children; 10 grandchildren Hobbies: Cross-county skiing; running; biking

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Having the Courage to Live Alone

I

was inspired to write this column on courage after receiving this email below from a reader:

Dear Gwenn, You would appreciate this. I just have to share these two recent experiences I had as a single woman.

Last week, on the spur of the moment, I got up and off my couch and went to an outdoor concert at a cool, rustic music venue called Lincoln Hill Farms overlooking Canandaigua Lake. It’s the first live music I’ve heard since COVID turned me into a couch potato.

A self-described old hippie, I thought this Woodstock-ish farm setting would be a safe bet for me. So, I mustered the courage to make a solo trip to the lake to listen to an acoustic duo play oldies, but goodies.

Easy, right? Well, not so much.

After ordering a salad (delicious!) from the food truck, I took a seat at one of the picnic tables near the stage and tried to adopt the carefree posture of a single confident woman on her own. I faked it for a while, then retreated to the safety of my car, and ultimately to my couch at home. Still, I felt good I made the effort!

Then this week, I went to meet a “match date” — only I went to the

right place on the wrong day. I waited an hour, established rapport with the single-mom hostess, and then gave up. I moved inside to a high-top near the bar and ordered a glass of wine and an appetizer.

I could tell the waitress thought it was odd I was alone. (I did not have the courage to eat outdoors where all of the other couples had seen me waiting for an hour). Last night, I met the guy at the right place on the right day.

Being single requires courage!

Erica (not her real name)

—

How right this reader is. Living alone does require courage. In fact, “Erica’s” email got me thinking about all the many and varied ways that living alone asks (demands) that we demonstrate courage, almost on a daily basis.

On my own, I’ve discovered it takes courage to: • Sleep alone. That “bump in the night” can test even the strongest among us. Thank goodness for my white-noise maker.

• Get up alone. Where did all this anxiety come from? I just woke up for cripes sake! This is when I repeat my mantra: “All I need is within me now.” Then I set my intentions

for my day.

• Show up alone. Early on, this was hard for me, especially if I suspected my ex might be at the event.

I discovered that a little preparation goes a long way. I would visualize handling the encounter with grace and, importantly, brevity.

A few pleasantries and a “take care” helped me move past the encounter in a relatively quick and painless manner.

• Throw a party. What was I thinking? Will anyone show up? The bathroom still needs cleaning! As a single host, I found that starting small was key. Having a few friends over for a “breakfast at Wimbledon” get-together got the ball rolling for me. And it was easier than I thought.

Since then, inviting friends and family into my home has been a tremendous source of joy.

• Ask for help. It took me a while to overcome my fear of being seen as weak or vulnerable after my divorce.

When I finally acknowledged that I did, indeed, need help from time to time, I was pleasantly surprised by the kindness of others and deeply touched by their willingness to pitch in and offer a helping hand.

• Set a mousetrap. Or worse, dispose of one that’s “occupied.” Mice, spiders, pet accidents, a plugged toilet: you name it, I’ve dealt with it.

And so can you. All it takes is a little resolve and a heavy-duty pair of rubber gloves. One exception: I found a bat in my living room a few years ago and needed to call in reinforcements.

• Say “yes” to a welcome invitation. He’s kinda cute. But then what?

At my age? I say give it whirl! One of the advantages of being a little older is increased self-awareness and the confidence to be who you truly are “as is.” Pretending to be otherwise will only compromise your chances of meeting someone who loves you

just the way you are.

• Say “no” to an unwelcome advance. The ring on his finger is a real turn-off! Depending on the situation, and with a clear unapologetic voice, consider one of these responses: I don’t welcome this kind of attention; No, I’m not interested; This makes me uncomfortable, please leave me alone.

• Travel alone. Traveling alone, just like living alone requires the right frame of mind to be successful and enjoyable. When people hear about my solo travels, many exclaim, “Oh, you are so brave!” I want to respond, “Well, not really.”

With thoughtful planning and precautions, going it alone can be empowering and exhilarating. When was the last time you experienced the freedom to do whatever you wanted to do on your terms, your budget, your time table?

• Make a major purchase. I knew I should be practical, but what I really wanted was that sporty, little red sedan. What to do? I bought it! All on my own.

In my teens, I relied on my father’s advice when making major purchases. When I got married, I relied on husband’s. Now, I rely on myself. And that’s major.

When we demonstrate courage, when we take risks, we grow. We become stronger, more resilient, more independent, and more able to live the life of our dreams.

We become better at living alone.

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 Voelckers to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com

Kids’ Accidental Poisonings Are on the Rise: Protect Your Child

A

s the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on and stress on families mounts, more kids are falling victim to accidental poisoning.

Experts attribute the surge to disrupted sleep patterns, work schedules and parenting routines.

“I think what’s happening is, parents are challenged with a couple of things,” said Helen Arbogast, manager of the injury prevention program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “One is working from home, so they may be incredibly distracted and leave things around that they ordinarily use. And I also think we can’t underestimate the impact of the stress caused by the pandemic. Medical marijuana is one of the strategies people use to alleviate some of that.”

The hospital, which typically sees one or two poisoning cases a week, saw that double in the second half of 2020. Edible marijuana and

Page 6

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prescription meds are the most common ingested substances.

To keep kids safe, Arbogast suggests parents and caregivers start by making sure medications are locked up and out of reach. Keep them in the childproof container supplied by the pharmacy, she urged, and not in a Sunday-through-Saturday pill box, which can be easy for a child to open.

If pills have expired, dispose of them responsibly.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a primer on safely getting rid of unused meds. The best way with most is to take them to the pharmacy or designated take-back site. Some meds can be placed in household trash and a few can be flushed down the toilet, Arbogast said. The FDA has a list of those.

She said the whole family needs to be educated and on top of safety.

While grandparents may be caring for young grandchildren, their home

Edible marijuana and prescription meds are the most common ingested substances by kids. may not be childproofed.

“Now grandma’s doing the work, and it’s been a long time since she’s had a small child,” Arbogast said. “So she doesn’t even think to put her heart medication away.”

Make sure everyone who cares for your child is aware of the potential for poison ingestion. Remind them to put all medications or cannabis away.

Keep the poison control number (800-222-1222) handy. Call it immediately if you suspect your child has swallowed something poisonous.

Don’t wait for an adverse reaction to confirm it, because reactions vary by the toxin consumed.

“Some may cause vomiting;

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

some may cause lethargy where the kid is kind of non-responsive; some might cause a stomach illness,” Arbogast said. “If you think they ingested edibles, that’s not going to have the same kind of reaction as prescription medication. We can’t say, ‘If they look like this, do this.’”

Poison Control can help you determine next steps.

“This pandemic is not behind us yet, and families are still trying to figure out what normal is,” Arbogast said. “So, it’s time for us to think about having our children in new environments. We just want them to be thinking about their child’s safety at every destination.”

15 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Wasted in U.S. Since March 1

A

t least 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been thrown away in the United States since March 1, government data shows.

That’s a far greater amount than previously known, but it is still just a small fraction of the total doses administered in this country, according to NBC News.

The data is self-reported by pharmacies, states and other vaccine providers, but does not include some states and federal providers, and it also does not explain the reasons doses were thrown away, NBC News reported.

Four national pharmacy chains each reported more than 1 million wasted doses, led by Walgreens with 2.6 million, the most of any pharmacy, state or other vaccine provider, followed by CVS (2.3 million), Walmart (1.6 million) and Rite Aid (1.1 million), NBC News reported.

There are numerous reasons why doses may be marked as wasted, from a cracked vial or an error diluting the vaccine to a freezer malfunction to more doses in a vial than people who want them. A wastage report can also happen when a vial contains fewer doses than it should, NBC News said.

As early September, 438 million doses have been distributed in the

United States, while an additional 111.7 million doses have been sent to other countries since Aug. 3, NBC News reported.

The data was released as many countries struggle to get COVID-19 vaccines.

“It’s really tragic that we have a situation where vaccines are being wasted while lots of African countries have not had even 5% of their populations vaccinated,” Sharifah Sekalala, an associate professor of global health law at England’s University of Warwick who studies health care inequalities in infectious diseases, told NBC News.

But Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the portion of wasted doses “remains extremely low.”

“As access to COVID-19 vaccine has increased, it is important for providers to not miss any opportunity to vaccinate every eligible person who presents at vaccine clinics, even if it may increase the likelihood of leaving unused doses in a vial,” Nordlund told NBC News.

Change in the Kitchen Could Help Men in the Bedroom The Mediterranean diet can bring many benefits for the human body, including a healthier heart and a sharper brain.

But there’s another benefit that might be of particular interest to men.

Following a Mediterranean diet can lower a man’s future risk of erectile dysfunction, according to research presented online in August at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting.

Researchers found that the diet improves blood vessel health throughout the entire body — includ-

ing the penis.

Men following the Mediterranean diet had higher levels of testosterone, better erectile performance and more flexible arteries, results showed.

“It seems plausible that this dietary pattern may improve fitness and erectile performance by enhancing function of the blood vessels and limiting the fall in testosterone that occurs in midlife,” physicians Athanasios Angelis, from the University of Athens in Greece, said in a meeting news release.

SERVING MONROE AND ONTARIO COUNTIES A monthly newspaper published

by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 33,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high-traffic locations.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2021 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564.

Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Chris Motola, Ernst Lamothe Jr., John Addyman, Jennifer Faringer, Rola O'Meally, Christoine Green • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington • Layout & Design: Joey Sweener • Office Manager: 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. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

October 2021 •

D E PAUL IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Providers Refusing Treatment to Unvaccinated Patients

Y

es, they can. This will become more prevalent as the pandemic continues to surge.

Understandably, physicians must protect both their stressed out and frustrated employees and vaccinated patients from unnecessary exposure to the virus. Non-vaccinated patients have the option of being seen via telemedicine.

Critics have falsely claimed this policy violates a physician’s Hippocratic Oath. The oath requires a

physician to do no harm. Exposing staff and patients to the virus constitutes doing harm. Physicians reserve the right to fire noncompliant patients. However, they must continue to care for patients in the middle of treatment or find them an alternative provider.

Providers may soon require new patients to furnish proof of vaccination. This would have to be approved by the insurance companies with which they participate.

2022 Insurance Rates

higher rate increases than northeastern states. MEDPAC, the Medicare advisory committee, is considering a temporary increase in payments to providers who are on the front lines of the pandemic war. Rural hospitals and physicians have been hit hardest by the pandemic.

The pandemic has been a giant curveball and it has actuaries scratching their heads when pondering insurance rates for next year. They must tease out “normal” trends in healthcare utilization from “temporary” trends created by and endemic to the pandemic. The current surge of the delta variance does not make their calculations any easier. Keep in mind the ACA requires insurers to spend at least 85% of premiums and revenues on claims. They can retain 15% of premiums for profit and operating expenses. Any amount less than 85% must be rebated to employers or individuals. Insurers have three years to calculate and comply. Most insurers issued rebates in 2018 and 2019.

So any fears of significant premium increases or price gouging by insurers in 2022 is mitigated by the ACA 85% rule. Actuaries did not factor in COVID-19 adjustments to their 2021 calculations due to the uncertainty created by the novel virus and that they had to issue rebates in 2018 and 2019. However, now that they have plenty of actual pandemic data, so there is less uncertainty. Most likely, COVID-19 adjustments will be factored into 2022 rates. Rates will vary by region based on the percentage of population vaccinated, COVID-19 related emergency room claims and of course hospitalizations. Theoretically, southeastern states could incur Page 8

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Hospitals Under Siege Hospitals and their staffs are our much-underappreciated frontline in the war against the virus. Currently, with the surge in the delta virus fueled primarily by vaccine hesitancy, it seems we are all losing the war.

(1,500 deaths per day as of mid September.) Incredibly, despite massive staff burnout, turnover, resignations and financial distress, Congress is cutting their funding in the midst of the war. The shortsighted “Pay As You Go” act of 2010 decrees unbudgeted increases in overall federal spending triggers automatic cuts in some programs like — Medicare.

In defense of the curious act, it was written almost a decade before the pandemic. Consequently, the hospital lobby has been busy. The mandated cut of 4% or $36 billion went into effect Sept. 30. Even if the lobby convinces Congress to cancel the 4% cut, their work is just beginning. Incredibly, the recently passed $1 trillion infrastructure bill calls for cuts to…

Medicare to pay for it. And this was written in the middle of the pandem-

ic. Cutting hospital funding in the middle of a war is patently absurd.

On top of this all, the payroll tax supported Medicare hospital fund (Part A versus physician Part B) is projected to run out in five years. The main reason is less people working the past two years means less taxes collected.

Theranos Scandal Three years since being indicted on 11 counts of fraud and conspiracy, the trial of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has begun. “Wunderkind” Holmes quit Stanford after one year in 2003 to start a lab that promised to produce several blood assays on just a few drops of blood (versus the traditional several vials of blood).

Investors including Walgreens, Henry Kissinger, Betsy DeVos and Rupert Murdoch were quick to dump more than $600 million into the fledgling startup Theranos. By 2015 the company was valued at an incredible $10 billion despite never having produced a single test. When asked to do so, she ran blood tests on standard blood analyzers. Holmes is facing 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine per 11 indictments.

Best Cities for Mental Health A national survey conducted by a telehealth company ranked the quality of mental health services in our 50 most populous cities. Seven factors went into calculating the rankings: cost per therapy session; total prescription charges; mandatory treatment laws; criminalization of mental illness; provider to population ratio; poor mental health days; overall community well- being.

The “best” cities were: Denver, Salt Lake, Minneapolis, Seattle, Hartford and Baltimore. The “worst” cities were: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Orlando and Miami. As for entire states, Colorado had the lowest cost per therapy session at $115, one of the best ratios of providers per population at 1/70 and one of the lowest total prescription charges at just over $3 billion. (While that sounds high, we lead the world

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

in prescription drug usage at $1,300 per person annually. The total mental health drug charges in “worst” city Dallas were more than $23 billion.) In Florida, with three of the “worst” cities, the average therapy session cost $142 an hour and there is only one provider per 590 people. The cities with the best provider to population ratios were New York, San Francisco and Portland.

Drug Prices You have may noticed two new, ubiquitous, polar opposite, TV ads regarding drug pricing. One ad, sponsored by a consumer advocacy group, implores Congress and Medicare to use its vast purchasing power to fairly negotiate prices with drug manufacturers. Drug manufactures have been free to raise prices at will, totally unrestricted. (It should be noted that Medicare does not bother to negotiate prices with physicians and hospitals as it literally SETS what they will pay.) Medical debt, often the result of hugely expensive drug copays, is the number one cause of personal bankruptcy. The other ad is sponsored by the drug manufacturers. It attempts to scare people into believing their medicine will no longer be available if Medicare negotiates prices. There isn’t a drug company, let alone ANY company, in the world that would refuse to sit down and fairly negotiate with a buyer (Medicare) representing more than 160 million consumers. The drug ad leads you to believe innovation will be negatively impacted. Over the last five years, most of drug profits have gone towards buying back stock.

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

Still Using Hand Sanitizers?

Some Contain CancerCausing Ingredient

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

or more than 18 months, much of the world has been slathering on hand sanitizer to protect against COVID-19.

That may not be a good idea.

A new study found in several brands of sanitizer high levels of “contaminants” — including benzene, a cancer-causing agent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA has issued a list of sanitizer brands to avoid.

Valisure, a product testing company in Connecticut, examined 260 bottles of sanitizer from 168 brands and discovered that 17% of the samples contained detectable levels of benzene. Of those, 21 bottles contained levels of benzene above two parts per million. The FDA set that amount as a temporary measure to help supply sanitizer during the pandemic. Ordinarily, the FDA ranks benzene as too toxic for inclusion in personal care products.

Liliana Yohann, pharmacist at Irondequoit Pharmacy in Rochester, advises clients to properly wash whenever possible.

“If your hands are visibly soiled, use soap and water and wash for 20 seconds,” Yohann said. “That is the best recommendation.”

Using sanitizer to try to scrub off soil uses much more of the product and is not as effective as washing for removing soil.

“Sanitizer is not something to use

all the time,” she said.

Reducing the amount of sanitizer used can help reduce exposure to any possible contaminants and minimize drying of the skin. Yohann refers patients to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on hand hygiene recommendations at www.cdc.gov/handwashing, which recommends using hand sanitizer of at least 60% alcohol content when soap and water are not available to clean hands.

Greg Ladd, pharmacist at Danwins Pharmacy in Webster, encourages those who use sanitizer — especially those who use it regularly — to seek a name brand.

“Purell is a common household name,” he said. “Any product you don’t know where it’s from or you don’t know its source is a risk. If you’re ordering on Amazon, you don’t know.”

Off brands could be sourced from countries not as stringent with ingredients as the United States, which means contaminants not deemed safe by the FDA could be present.

During the quarantine, some distillers began making sanitizer to bolster the supply. Ladd said that these would fall under US guidelines and would be safe to use.

“Anything the distilleries were making was basically alcohol,” he said.

Could I Have COPD and Not Know It?

By Jim Miller

C

OPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive lung disease that affects an estimated 30 million Americans, but about half of them don’t know they have it.

Many people mistake shortness of breath as a normal part of aging,

or a result of being out of shape, but that’s not necessarily the case. COPD — a term used to describe a variety of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis — develops slowly, so symptoms may not be obvious until damage has occurred.

Symptoms can include an ongoOctober 2021 •

He added that it may be important to scrutinize labels of products of lesser-known origin if they boast of added benefits such as moisturizers or coloring agents.

“Anything with extra things in it may be a marketing technique,” Ladd said. “You might be paying extra so it’s dyed green. Some ingredients may help hands dry faster

or may not include ingredients that make hands sticky. Big name brands are good at this. But there’s not necessarily anything wrong with one that’s runnier or stickier.”

Although sanitizing stations have become part of most public facilities, taking your own bottle from home can ensure you have a safe product to use.

ing cough or a cough that produces a lot of mucus, lack of energy and shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, wheezing and chest tightness, blue lips or fingernails, or swelling in your feet, ankles or legs.

Those most at risk are smokers or former smokers over age 40, and people who have had long-term exposure to other lung irritants like secondhand smoke, air pollution, chemical fumes and dust. There is also a rare genetic condition known as alpha-1-antitrypsin, or AAT deficiency that can increase the risks.

If you’re experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, you need to get tested by your doctor. A simple breathing test called spirometry can tell if you have COPD, and if so, how severe it is. Early screening can also identify COPD before major loss of lung function occurs.

If you do indeed have COPD, you need to know that while there’s no cure, there are things you can do to help manage symptoms and protect your lungs from further damage, including: • Quit smoking: If you smoke, the best thing you can do to prevent more damage to your lungs is to quit. To get help, the National Cancer Institute offers a number of smoking cessation resources at SmokeFree. gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Or ask your doctor about prescription antismoking drugs that can help reduce your nicotine craving. If you smoke marijuana for a medical condition, talk to your doctor about edible versions.

• Avoid air pollutants: Stay away from things that could irritate your lungs like dust, allergens and strong fumes. Also, to help improve your air quality at home, remove dust-collecting clutter and keep carpets clean; run the exhaust fan when using smelly cleaning products, bug sprays or paint; ban smoking indoors; and keep windows closed when outdoor air pollution is high (see AirNow. gov for daily air-quality reports).

• Get vaccinated: The coronavirus and flu can cause serious problems for people who have COPD, so if you haven’t already done so, get vaccinated for COVID-19 and get a flu shot every fall to help avoid getting sick.

Also ask your doctor about getting the pneumococcal immunizations for protection against pneumonia.

• Take prescribed medications: Bronchodilators (taken with an inhaler) are commonly used for COPD. They help relax the airway muscles to make breathing easier.

Depending on how severe your condition, you may need a short-acting version only for when symptoms occur, or a long-acting prescription for daily use. Inhaled steroids may also help reduce inflammation and mucus and prevent flare-ups.

For more information, visit the COPD Foundation at COPDfoundation.org or call the COPD information line at 866-316-2673.

Jim Miller is the author of Savvy Senior, a column published every issue in this paper.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Health Career

PAs can perform physical examinations and a number of other tasks

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

ers, which includes physician assistants. “It’s highly competitive.”

The capacity for PA programs is limited and the demands for applicants are high. Strong grades in science and math are a must, along with 500 to 2,000 hours volunteering or working in some facet of healthcare to demonstrate their dedication to the field. Without these, “you don’t even get past the admission office,” Mujezinovic said.

It’s also helpful if applicants have participated in extracurricular activities such as sports that demonstrate high achievement and teamwork.

“When they get to an interview process, you get into a smaller group setting interviewing with faculty,” Mujezinovic said. “They assess com-

Burnout a ‘Growing Problem’ for Physician Assistants Burnout symptoms have stronger effect on PA professional outcomes than depression

M

ore than one-third of physician assistants (PAs) meet criteria for burnout, suggests a study in the September issue of JAAPA, Journal of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Burnout symptoms are key Page 10

•

aminations, diagnose, order lab work, interpret lab work, perform procedures and assist at surgeries. At some practices, such as Rosinski’s, they see their own panel of patients.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are sometimes referred to as “physician extenders”—not a term preferred by PAs—because they allow the office to extend care to more patients. “Mid-level provider” is also a term viewed negatively by PAs. “There’s nothing ‘mid-level’ about what we do,” Rosinski said.

“There’s a long history of a strong relationship between PAs and physicians. We designate a physician who’s our supervising physician. We work in tandem with that physician.

I have a panel, I see patients. The professional relationship has always been collaborative. The most successful clinical teams utilize the different skills and abilities.”

He views the PA role as offering a better work-life balance than that of a MD. He also likes the idea that PAs can pivot to different locations of care and specialties, which offers limitless opportunities. Physicians who study a specialty are much less nimble in their career.

“It’s hard to ignore that we have a lot of amazing physicians who are looking at perhaps retiring over the next five to 10 years,” Rosinki said.

“I’m not convinced that the number of physicians in primary care practices is going to be able to replace them. PAs are uniquely positioned to fill some of that void. The financial expense, when you look at medical school, there’s a huge value with PAs.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook from 2020 through 2030 is 31% growth, much higher than most other careers. The annual median pay for a PA in the Rochester area is $108,180.

ing importance in the healthcare system.”

Burnout mediates depression’s effects on professional outcomes in PAs In the survey study, 858 PAs completed the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, which assesses aspects of burnout (work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement) along with professional fulfillment. Other assessments included anxiety and depression, information on professional practice as a PA, and experience with medical errors.

Approximately 34% of PAs responding to the survey met criteria for burnout. Forty-six percent met criteria for work exhaustion and 30% for interpersonal disengagement. But despite these measures of burnout, more than half of PAs (53%) reported at least moderate levels of professional fulfillment.

“About 6% of PAs met criteria for depression: a lower rate than previously reported in physicians or in the general population. Thirteen percent

had moderate to severe levels of anxiety. About 80% of PAs self-reported making at least one medical error during their careers.”

Studies in physicians have shown a link between depression and burnout, with both factors negatively affecting performance including medical errors and patient outcomes.

The researchers performed a series of “mediation analyses” to explore the interrelationships among burnout, depression, medical errors, and professional fulfillment among PAs. The results suggested that the burnout symptoms of work exhaustion and interpersonal disengagement “fully mediated” the relationship between depression on the one hand and professional fulfillment on the other. “[B]urnout plays a stronger role in job satisfaction than symptoms of depression,” the researchers write.

Burnout and depression occur at high rates among physicians and other healthcare providers, with important implications for quality of care, patient safety, and retention of qualified professionals. But less is known about burnout and depression among PAs, who play an increasingly important role in providing patient care.

The annual median pay for a PA in the Rochester region is $108,180.

Physician Assistant: A Fulfilling, Broad-based Healthcare Career ew careers in healthcare share the same kind of impact as the physician assistant.

The PA often performs tasks and works in roles like that of the medical doctor, but the PA educational path is shorter than the Doctor of Medicine’s. That means that more PAs can enter the field to fill the gaps in healthcare caused by the increased demand and massive number of MD retirements happening. Like the MD, the entrance into PA programs is tough.

“PA programs have low acceptance rates—2% to 3%—and high application rates,” said Selma Mujezinovic, doctor of nurse practice, and vice president of Rochester Regional Health’s Advanced Practice Provid-

munication skills, ability to answer questions.

That’s just to get into the program.”

The entry is so challenging that nationwide, PA programs boast an attrition rate of less than 1%. The applicants can participate in the five-year program directly out of high school or enter the two-year program if they already have a bachelor’s degree.

Participants must maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher in most programs.

“The level of rigor that these programs require does sort of stratify the workforce as the top performers,” Mujezinovic said. “There’s no surprise that when they come out, they’re ready to take on the task.”

The final year of either program is working at hospital, rotating through a variety of settings every four or five weeks. After graduation, PAs must take a board exam and pass a background check to obtain their state license. At that point, they can practice in every setting in healthcare and in any specialty, augmented by on-the-job training. They must also complete 100 hours of continuing education credits every two years and sit for the exam every 10 years.

Gregory Rosinski, physician assistant with Clinton Medical Associates and APP Manager at UR Primary Care Network, said that PAs filling a healthcare provider shortage is not a new concept.

“The origin of the PA goes back to the mid-1960s,” he said. “There were Navy military men coming back from Vietnam with a phenomenal skillset. A physician at Duke saw the potential to fill many of the gaps in primary care. There was a huge shortage, not unlike what we have now. These combat healthcare experienced medics helped fill the shortage.

The first PAs were men, but the first females were graduated from Duke in 1970.”

PAs can perform physical ex-

contributors to both depression and medical errors among PAs, according to the new research by Sarah R. Blackstone, PhD, of University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, and colleagues. They write, “This study provides evidence supporting the need to address burnout in PAs, who continue to be of grow-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

Meet Your Provider The Eye Care Center With the professionals at The Eye Care Center, you will have access to exceptional care from a knowledgeable team. Plus, the latest technology is an integral part of the practice.

Since 1973, our team has delivered routine eye exams, surgeries, laser vision correction (LASIK), cosmetic care and emergency eye care.

What sets apart The Eye Care Center from other eye care providers?

Excellence and understanding.

Our doctors have extensive experience and truly care about our patients.

How often should people see a physician when it comes to eye health?

Regular visits will vary, depending on the patient’s age, family history and current health. It’s a good idea to see your doctor once every three years if you’re under 50 and once per year when you are 50 or older.

Why is eye health important?

Your eyes are a crucial part of everyday life, regardless of your age.

With your eyes, you are able to see — to connect to other individuals,

view your surroundings, complete work and much more. In fact, 80% of what you perceive around you, comes through your sense of sight.

What surgery and medical services do you provide?

The team cares for patients who need laser cataract surgery, eyelid surgery, corneal disease surgery, glaucoma and retinal disease surgery.

Canandaigua Office

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Can you offer any tips for people who work at a computer all day for their eye health?

One recommendation is the 2020-20 rule. Individuals should take a break every 20 minutes to look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s also important to keep your monitor bright, so there is less “computer flicker,” which can lead to eyestrain and headaches.

which is called an intraocular lens (or IOL). What’s terrific about this surgery is that most patients experience significant improvement in their vision and they are often surprised at how easy the process is to get through.

Are there things people should know about cataracts?

When your vision becomes hazy, blurry or less colorful, you may find you have a cataract. During cataract surgery, the doctor will remove your eye’s cloudy natural lens (cataract) and replace it with an artificial lens,

What kind of cosmetic care do you offer?

You can enjoy the results of great treatments, including Botox, dry eye care, Dysport, facial peels, fillers, Kybella, Ultherapy and wrinkle reduction/skin resurfacing through Venus Versa.

Newark Office

When are you open?

The Geneva and Newark offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. In Canandaigua, patients are welcome on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.; on Tuesdays, from 8 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.

How do you handle emergencies?

Urgent problems are handled for established patients by the ophthalmologist-on-call. You can count on us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Eye Care Center – 585-394-2020 • Canandaigua – Geneva – Newark Email: info@eyecarectr.com Website: www.TheEyeCareCenter.com

Daily Coffee Protects Against Heart Disease, Stroke

T

he latest buzz on coffee? It may be good for your heart, a new, large study suggests.

Drinking light to moderate amounts — up to three cups a day — may lower the risk of stroke, fatal heart disease and all-cause death, researchers found.

“Regular coffee consumption of up to three cups per day is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and stroke,” said lead researcher Judit Simon, from the Heart and Vascular Center at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary.

These benefits might be partly explained by positive alterations in heart structure and function, she said.

Better yet, all types of coffee — caffeinated, decaf, brewed and instant — may offer heart benefits, Simon said.

“In a sub-analysis on types of mostly consumed coffee, decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths, but not with lower stroke incidence, suggesting that caffeine is not the main or only component that is responsible for these favorable outcomes,” she said.

Instant coffee was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, while ground coffee was linked with reduced risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death and lower stroke incidence, she said.

For the study, Simon and her colleagues collected data on nearly 470,000 men and women listed in the

U.K. Biobank. At the study’s start, participants had no signs of heart disease and were an average age of 56. They were followed for up to 15 years.

Compared with non-coffee drinkers, those who drank light to moderate amounts had a 12% lower risk of all-cause death. Their odds for stroke were reduced by 21% and fatal heart disease by 17%, the researchers found, though only an association rather than a cause-andeffect link was seen.

October 2021 •

The findings remained after the researchers accounted for age, sex, weight, height, smoking status, physical activity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, income and diet.

Using cardiac MRIs, Simon’s group also looked at the effect daily coffee consumption had on the structure and function of the heart among nearly 31,000 people who were followed for 11 years on average.

They found that compared with not drinking coffee regularly, those who drank coffee daily had healthier,

better-functioning hearts.

One U.S. heart expert looked over the findings.

“A significant number of observational studies have suggested that regular consumption of coffee is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality,” said physician Gregg Fonarow, director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center in Los Angeles.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

When Stress Robs Sleep Here are a few tips to help you relax for a good night’s rest

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

W

hether it’s ruminating over the past or fretting about the future, stress can cause a restful night’s sleep to become elusive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one third of Americans do not regularly obtain sufficient sleep. For most adults, the CDC recommends a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep nightly. Although eliminating sleep-robbing stressors is not possible, Keith Wilson, licensed mental health counselor in private practice in Rochester, said that better management of stress can help.

“Sometimes people can set up an appointment for themselves to think about a concern the next day and tell themselves they will work on that when they’re awake,” he said.

Jot down worries on a notepad near the bed and let them go. Wilson said that this offers a sense of documentation and release from worry.

“All of this takes a lot of practice and is hard to do initially if you don’t practice this kind of self-discipline,” Wilson said. “If the thoughts enter your head and you dismiss them, what will happen is you’ll reduce the duration the thoughts in your head but not necessarily reduce the

incidences of having those thoughts.

They’ll happen just as frequently, if not more so, but by reducing the duration, you make progress and eventually the incidences reduce.”

As another stress management strategy, Wilson advises exercise during the day, but not too close to bedtime.

“That will help you feel tired at night,” he said.

He also encourages basic principles of sleep hygiene, including a comfortable place to sleep uninterrupted and setting a regular time to lie down and get up. A bedtime routine can help cue the body it’s time to rest.

A cool, dark bedroom reserved for only sleep and intimacy helps the body settle down for sleep. Keep work, chores and entertainment out of the bedroom, especially screens.

The blue light they emit signals the body to waken and most kinds of entertainment stimulates the mind.

“If you still have some trouble, it’s best to not lie there in bed frustrated,” Wilson said. “Get up and do some reading.”

This is not the best time for a suspense novel or other engaging reading. Stick with mundane reading that is easy to set aside.

Marge Pickering-Picone, health and nutrition coach and owner of Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. in Webster. She says natural supplements may support better sleep without side affects.

To make up for missed sleep, a brief nap—no longer than 20 minutes—early in the afternoon can help catch up on sleep. Waiting until closer to bedtime or napping longer than 20 minutes can disrupt the circadian rhythm and interfere with nighttime sleep.

Using medication to induce sleep can result in dependency. However, natural supplements may support better sleep without this effect.

Marge Pickering-Picone, health and nutrition coach and owner of Professional Nutrition Services of Rochester, Inc. in Webster, pairs melatonin supplements with herbs such as valerian root and passionflower.

Melatonin occurs naturally in the

body and helps support good sleep.

Production of melatonin decreases with age.

“Valerian root helps relax muscles for people who tighten up when stressed,” Pickering-Picone said. “Maybe they clench their jaw or tighten their hands in a fist.”

She added that passionflower affects the nervous system, supporting a calming effect for restless legs or neuralgia.

Supplements can prove helpful in supporting good health. However, they are not FDA-regulated. Before taking any supplements, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to ask about contraindications to other health issues or medications.

Do You Snore?

Snoring can be a sign of Sleep Apnea. There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during the night, maybe hundreds of times.

Sleep Disorder Symptoms

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may suffer from a sleep disorder: • Daytime fatigue • Morning drowsiness • Insomnia • Gasping for breath in the middle of the night • Snoring

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Can lead to:

• High blood pressure • Memory problems • Impotence • Cardiovascular disease • Weight gain • Headaches • Depression

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Oral Sleep Appliances can be used to treat sleep apnea and snoring. This is a customized oral device worn by patients during the night to maintain an open airway (reducing snoring and sleep apnea).

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Things You Should Know About Sleep

By Ernst Lamothe Jr. ood sleep is the basic and fore- havior often truncates the quality of most step for a healthy and sleep they have. For example, those successful life because it plays who work evening shifts often have a pivotal role in mental and emotion- abbreviated sleep. al conditions.

“There is a significant difference Quality sleep helps you maintain between sufficient and good sleep and a difference between everyone’s a healthy weight, lowers the risk of biological requirement for sleep,” she serious medical problems, reduces said. “Some people are able to functhe stress level and improves the tion properly with six hours of sleep mood. Sleep also boosts your thinking power and creativity standards at while others require nine hours.”

An easy way to determine what your work. Good sleep also influenccategory you fall into might be by es positively on your decision-maktaking a vacation. ing ability.

“Often times I tell my patients “You can not underestimate the that they gravitate more toward their impact that comes from the lack of circadian rhythm when they are not quality sleep,” said physician Alice working,” said Hoagland. “There Hoagland, who is board-certified in are people who have biological night clinical sleep medicine and clinical hours but they force themselves to go director of insomnia services at the to bed early for work. But when you University of Rochester Medicine are on vacation you closely mirror Sleep Center. “One hundred years your biological sleep requirement.” ago people averaged nine hours of For the average population, chilsleep a night. Today it is closer to dren from 6 to 12 years of age typiseven and a half.” cally need nine to 12 hours of sleep, teenagers need eight to 10 hours and Misconceptions adults need seven to eight hours.

There are many misconceptions regarding sleep, many dealing with the idea of needing entertainGood vs bad sleep ment to ease into the night to accomNot all sleep is created plish good sleep. equal. Just having the right amount “Winding down at night is not of recommended sleep may not necthe same as winding up by getting on essarily be enough. If you are waking the internet,” said Hoagland. “As a up multiple times throughout the parent, think about how you would night and not feeling refreshed in help your child wind down. You the morning, then this may be a sign would read them a story, give them that you could have a sleep problem that needs to be evaluated by a sleep a bath, sit and talk with them; all to specialist. Even a few nights of inget them prepared for the proper sufficient sleep can lead to increased conditions to sleep. This all cues the daytime drowsiness, according to the brain that it is time to sleep. But as adults, we do the opposite. We watch National Center for Biotechnology.

Insufficient sleep wreaks havoc on television, look at videos from our different aspects of the human body phones and tablets and check email like appetite, metabolism, blood preswhich stimulates the brain.” sure, immune system and hormone production.

Required Sleep Experts also say people need to Hoagland said people’s be-

G

Tastings available

3

2

October 2021 •

understand that sleep is medicine.

“There are misconceptions that not getting enough sleep only makes you tired and doesn’t have long-term effects. The reality is that we see patients who are fairly and significantly affected without sufficient sleep such as hypertension and dementia,”said Hoagland. “When you go to sleep, your brain clears proteins that are associated with dementia and if you are not obtaining enough sleep, you are not giving the brain enough time for the cleansing.”

4 Insomnia

There are many sleep conditions and sleep disorders which disturbs human life to a great extent.

Common sleep conditions include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and sleep apnea.

Insomnia is the leading sleep disorder affecting nearly three million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The condition makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep and can drastically alter your quality of life.

Hoagland advises against drinking caffeine, alcohol, snacking or looking at your phone right before bed because any of these activities by itself let alone together will stimulate the brain and not ease your mind.

“Insomnia is a condition that can be very confusing to the average person. While we do see insomnia in women more than men, there are people whose biological sleep patterns just have them sleeping late. Whenever you sleep, if you feel refreshed after that, then insomnia should not be your principal complaint,” Hoagland added. “But if you are finding that you are constantly up even though you are doing all the proper methods to have good sleep then we do recommend you see a

Physician Alice Hoagland is board certified in clinical sleep medicine and clinical director of insomnia services at the University of Rochester Medicine Sleep Center. specialist.”

5 Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing difficulties at night interrupt normal sleep and result in poor health outcomes. It’s usually more prone in older people, those with obesity and is most common in men. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, roughly 22 million Americans suffer from the condition. Symptoms include snoring, gasping for air while sleeping and waking up with a dry mouth and a headache.

“This condition is most commonly known for people who are overweight,” said Hoagland. “People can stop breathing 10 to 100-plus times an hour. Everytime that occurs, their oxygen level drops and their brain wakes them up to get them to breathe again. That can happen all night and you start gasping to catch your breath and you are unaware of that.”

For sleep apnea you can request a home sleep study where you place leads on your body, you sleep and then you give back the equipment for diagnosis. Another option is doing a lab study where the patient spends overnight and is monitored.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

What is the Delta Variant and How Do I Protect Myself?

A Q&A with Physician Lisa Y. Harris, vice president of medical affairs at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Q. What is the COVID-19 delta variant? Is it true that it spreads more easily?

A. Viruses are constantly mutating, or changing, as they infect people. This can lead to new versions of a virus that are known as variants.

The delta variant is a mutation of the COVID-19 virus. The delta variant is powerful and from what experts know, it is more contagious and spreads more easily than the original virus. It accounts for more than 80% of newly diagnosed cases in the U.S., according to the CDC. Q. How does the Delta variant affect those who are unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated?

A. Although more contagious, there is no data that suggests the Delta variant causes more serious symptoms than the original COVID-19 strain. The vast majority of people with serious symptoms are unvaccinated. For those who are fully vaccinated, we know that no vaccine grants us 100% immunity so there will be some breakthrough cases, but it still greatly reduces the risk of major illness. Symptoms will be milder and you are less likely to be hospitalized if you are vaccinated.

Q. How can I protect myself from the Delta variant?

A. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine

remains the safest way to protect yourself. All COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and death from COVID-19. If you’ve gotten the first shot of a two-shot regimen [those from Pfizer and Moderna], make sure to get the second shot—early evidence suggests this is especially important for protecting against the variants.

If you are not vaccinated, get the vaccine. If you can, practice social distancing, wear a mask when in close proximity to other people, and avoid indoor social gatherings.

Even those who are fully vaccinated should consider wearing masks in areas of high transmission. People with a weakened immune system need to be even more careful. Certain counties are recommending that masks be worn in indoor settings. Please check the CDC’s website [CDC.gov]. for more information.

Regardless of your vaccination status, stay home and away from others if you’re feeling ill or have been exposed to COVID-19. Continue to wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face. This will help stop the variants from spreading.

Q. Can fully vaccinated people transmit the Delta variant to other people? How

do I protect my younger family members from the Delta variant?

A. Yes, it is believed that fully vaccinated people can transmit the virus. Parents of children 12+ should consider vaccination for their children. The 3 Ws remain a top priority during this pandemic—please continue to wash your hands, wear a mask, and watch your distance in public.

The information in this document is current as of Aug. 13. For the latest information on COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online at CDC.gov.

Physician Lisa Y. Harris is vice president of medical affairs at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, she has been in clinical practice since 1995.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

Healthy Vegetable Cabbage Soup

The skinny on healthy eating

Why Often-Overlooked Cabbage Deserves a Closer Look

I

always love a good nutritional surprise; and cabbage doesn’t disappoint.

Although many varieties abound, today’s column focuses on the most popular cabbage consumed in the US: green cabbage.

So what’s so surprising about this underrated vegetable? One, it’s a nutritional powerhouse, on par with many of its cruciferous cousins: broccoli, cauliflower and kale. Two, it’s inexpensive and versatile: as delicious raw as it is cooked. Three, it’s climbed to the top of pandemic cooking for this mundane reason: it lasts longer in the fridge than most vegetables!

Let’s start with one of cabbage’s most noteworthy health perks: its potential to keep chronic inflammation in check. Although inflammation plays a vital role in healing, chronic inflammation may increase the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and some autoimmune diseases. Cabbage teems with powerful compounds and vitamins that quell inflammation by gobbling up toxins that attack tissues and subsequently cause a high inflammatory response.

Another perk to ponder? Cabbage is surprisingly good for hearts, and in more ways than one. Its fiber helps prevents heart disease by lowering both blood pressure and cholesterol and also by filling us up, which helps us eat less and maintain a heart-friendly weight. Its vitamin K benefits tickers by preventing a

build-up of calcium in our blood—a buildup that can harden arteries, a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. And, as mentioned, its inflammation-busting antioxidants— from vitamin C to manganese to phytonutrients—are a heart’s best friend.

If cancer concerns you, this leafy superfood should find its way into your diet on a regular basis. According to the National Cancer Institute, cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage, contain unique sulfur-containing compounds—glucosinolates—that help the body fight cancer. They do this by impeding the growth or development of cancer in a number of ways: by causing carcinogens to become inactive, by inhibiting the formation of blood vessels in tumors, by hindering the migration of cancer cells, and much more.

More good reasons to reach for this nutrient-dense hero: it’s super low in calories (only 20 per chopped, raw cup); it has no fat or cholesterol; and it’s available year-round.

Just How Healthy Are Pomegranates?

P

omegranates can be a little intimidating. Cutting one open requires some precision. And are they even worth the work to free all those little ruby red buds inside?

Nutritionists think so.

“Pomegranates are high in dietary fiber and antioxidants,” said Penny Kris-Etherton, the Evan Pugh University Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The fruit’s red color comes from plant pigments called polyphenols found in many plant-based foods that work as antioxidants in the body and help fight inflammation and aging.

When you open a pomegranate, you find a bounty of red, round arils that have a sweet but tart taste.

Inside each aril is a small seed. It’s OK to eat the arils as a whole or stick with the juice and spit out the seeds.

But don’t eat the rind and white areas, called membranes, around the arils.

Half of a cup of arils has 72 calories, 16 grams of carbohydrates and

three grams of fiber. Pomegranates also have a lot of folate, potassium and vitamin K. Originally from Iran and India, the “jewels of autumn,” as pomegranates are called, are actually considered a berry. They grow primarily in the Mediterranean, Middle East, South Asia and parts of Arizona and California. Even long ago, pomegranates were associated with abundance, fertility and luck.

Pomegranates are believed to boost heart health, although according to the National Institutes of Health, so far research on the berry is still limited.

Kris-Etherton said the antioxidant content in pomegranates could help lower inflammation and, as a result, promote healthy arteries. How October 2021 •

Helpful tips Select cabbage heads that feel solid and heavy in your hand, with leaves that are tightly attached to the head. Avoid buying precut cabbage (including shredded); once cabbage is cut it begins to lose its vitamin C content. To store in the fridge (preferably in the crisper drawer): Keep your cabbage whole, don’t rinse it, and place it in a plastic bag.

Properly stored, cabbage can last from 3 weeks to up to 2 months.

When preparing cabbage, avoid long cooking methods and boiling, which cause vital nutrients to diminish.

pomegranates affect heart disease, however, is not known and requires further study.

A 2017 review published in Pharmacological Research of eight clinical trials showed pomegranate juice reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The effect remained even when consuming pomegranate juice at different amounts. The authors concluded it “may be prudent to include this fruit juice in a heart-healthy diet.”

Results, however, are mixed on whether pomegranate juice helps lower cholesterol.

Researchers in a 2019 review published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine examined 17 trials but did not find any significant effects on cholesterol. Researchers said it was hard to compare the trials because they were designed differently and did not use consistent amounts of pomegranate.

Keep in mind a few precautions before you go pomegranate crazy.

Adapted from Delish.com Serves 6 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 large carrots, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped ½ teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper 1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained and rinsed 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon dried thyme 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth ½ large head cabbage, cored and chopped 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes; then add carrots, celery, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper and cook for about 5-6 minutes more, stirring often. Stir in beans, garlic, and thyme and cook for 1 minute more. Add broth and bring to a simmer.

Stir in tomatoes and cabbage and cook on low until cabbage is wilted, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and red pepper flakes, if using. Adjust seasonings and serve.

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.

Because it can lower blood pressure, Kris-Etherton cautions to first check with your doctor if you take blood pressure medicine. The two together could lower blood pressure too much.

Also, pomegranates could slow the speed at which the liver breaks down some types of medicines.

This includes cholesterol-lowering medication like statins. Pomegranates also may interact with the blood thinner warfarin, decreasing the blood-thinning effect and increasing the chance of clotting. To be safe, talk with a health care professional before regularly consuming pomegranate fruit or pomegranate juice.

A small number of people may experience digestive issues such as diarrhea from eating pomegranates, the National Institutes of Health reports.

Although you probably won’t eat the root, stem and peel, consuming too much of these parts of the fruit may not be safe.

For most people, pomegranates offer yet another tasty option to eat more fruit. At the store, look for pomegranates that feel heavy and have firm skin. Enjoy the fruit on its own, or add it to smoothies, soups and salads.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Women’s Health

Anna Cox Turns 100 and is Still Going Strong The secret, she says, is to do a lot of walking

By Christine Green

I

t’s a scene that would bring a tear anyone’s eye. Anna Rivaldo-Cox of Rochester, decked out in a sparkling pink rhinestone crown emblazoned with “100,” sings to a captive audience.

I need your love, God speed your love to me.

“Unchained Melody” flows easily from her lips despite her 100 years all while a smile stretches across a surprisingly young face.

“I love that song. It’s from the Righteous Brothers,” she said.

This scene perfectly encapsulates 100-year-old Anna Cox’s personality— health, vigor, and joie de vivre.

But despite her happy demeanor, life wasn’t always easy for Cox. “My mom, Anna Rivaldo-Cox, more or less grew up without a dad as he was buried alive in a sewer working for the city of Rochester’s sanitation department when she was 3 years old,” said Ron Cox, 74 of Greece. “My grandpa, Samual Rivaldo’s death was beyond shocking for his wife, Sarah, and their eight children as they barely were able to put food on the table with Samual working for a small income. Consequently, my mom’s childhood was Page 16

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filled with trauma and tremendous obstacles.”

Ninety-seven years later, Anna Cox still remembers. Her father was with another man when the cave-in occurred.

“My father died in a cave-in,” she recalled. “They were digging stuff down, putting pipes down underneath.”

His death left a gaping hole in his family. Sarah spoke almost no English since she and Sam had come to the U.S. from Sicily at the turn of the century before marrying, having children and settling in a house on Bricker Street in Rochester.

During her teen years, Anna Cox went to Benjamin Franklin High for one year but had to leave to work full time to support her family. Later she worked at Haloid, later known as Xerox.

“I worked on film paper. I put it on the rolls and worked in the darkroom,” she said.

Just as World War II was winding down a handsome young man who had fought for four years in North Africa as well as in Sicily joined the crew at Haloid. Benny Cox caught Anna’s eye right away.

“When it was break and time to go outside—we had just met—they’d start singing ‘Here comes the bride.’

And you know what? It really happened,” said Cox with a giggle.

“I think that it’s ironic that she’s originally from Sicily, her family. He goes to Sicily during the war, comes home and meets a girl that was a Sicilian,” said Cox’s daughter, Carol Cox Gursslin, 70, of Hilton.

In 1946 Benny and Anna married at the Church of the Annunciation in Rochester. It was true love. Benny told Anna everyday how much he loved her. “I’ve never seen anybody love so much,” said Cox of her husband. “Benjamin, he was a nice man like my son, Ron.” Ron Cox tried to hide his tears, but was clearly touched by his mother’s tender compliment.

“Don’t cry,” his mother kindly told him.

“We brought up nice children; one daughter and all boys.”

They raised five children — Ron, 74 (wife, Linda), Carol, 70 (husband, Larry), Buzz, 73 (wife, Carol Ann), Ben, 63 (wife, Angela), Marty, 61 (wife, Mary Beth)—in a house they built together in 1948 on McGuire Road in Greece. Anna saw the idea for the house in a magazine and her uncle, Ernie, and Benny built it.

It was here that her love of gardening really took hold. “I used to grow tomatoes and beets, string beans, you name it, whatever the ground liked I planted,” she said.

Gursslin said that her mother got her green thumb from her grandmother and their garden on Bricker Street. “The little patch of grass yard on Bricker Street was filled with every plant that you could think of,” she said. “She learned her love for gardening from her mother.”

A lot of memories were made on McGuire Road, many of which involved Anna Cox’s delicious food including homemade pasta, spaghetti sauce and her famous chicken soup, which even appeared in a cookbook entitled Tasty Memories.

She learned to cook from her own mother who Gursslin remembers fondly.

“She (Anna Cox’s mother, Sarah) would come to our house when she was already close to being 70 or so and we would come home from school and there’d be the smell in the house of the dough rising and they’d be sitting on all the registers because her mother knew how to make the dough from scratch and then we’d have pizza,” she said.

Anna Cox did much more than cook and garden, though. She had five active kids to raise and she was devoted to taking care of them. That care included learning to drive, “so I could go around and pick up my kids and take them to their sports. All my boys were in sports all the time and I had to drop them off and pick them

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

Anna Cox poses with her daughter, Carol Cox Gursslin, and son Ron. up. I did a lot of running around and my daughter was a cheerleader.”

But, like many student drivers, she was frustrated. One day she simply stopped the car and told her husband she was through.

“I stopped and my husband says, ‘Why are you stopping?’ And I say, ‘I just quit. No, I don’t want to drive!’

And he says, ‘Get going, get going.’

He pushed me to get going and start driving. I didn’t give up,” she recalled.

With a little perseverance she managed to get her license. She and her husband also made sure their children understood the value of an education and all five attended college.

“You know that movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life?’ That’s me,” said Anna Cox, when she remembered how happy those years were.

But when Benny turned 55, she had to muster her strength once again because his health took a turn.

“He spent eight very sad years living away from his wife, Anna, from age 61 until his death at age 69,” said Ron Cox. It wasn’t easy for Anna Cox to spend those years without the love of her life at home, but she carried on. She lived alone on McGuire Road from 1978 until 2016 and acquired the nickname The McGuire Road Matriarch.

Today, she lives at The Fleming Point Retirement Community and is an avid Yankees fan, collects elephant figurines and still does some sewing and knitting when she isn’t watching "The Bachelor" or "The Walking Dead."

What’s Anna Cox’s secret to living to 100 years? Do a lot of walking! "As of today, I walk all around the building. Then when I’m in my room I exercise,” said Cox, who then demonstrated the “Annie Roll.” It’s a simple arm exercise that her water aerobics instructor at the YMCA named after her when she used to go to classes. She doesn’t go anymore, but she still has a close group of girlfriends from the class that visit with her and took her to Cracker Barrel for her birthday.

Anna Cox also eats lots of fruits and veggies and drinks tea. She has had knee and hip replacements (she is also known as the Bionic Woman), but is in extremely good health.

Her family celebrated her 100th birthday with a large musical-themed birthday party last August.

“In all my many years of partying I have never had so much fun and of course seeing my mother take all of it in was so special,” said Ron Cox.

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Diet, Hormones Can Play a Role in Women’s Hair Loss

Quite a few things good for your whole body are good for your hair

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

U

nlike male pattern baldness, women’s hair loss can treated successfully in some cases.

Unlike the “horseshoe” pattern of baldness affecting men, women tend to experience overall thinning or thinning at the temples, with the exception of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, which causes recurring patchy baldness.

Most women experience extreme shedding after pregnancy. Christy Muscato, DONA-certified doula and owner of Beautiful Birth Choices in Rochester, said that is normal.

“During pregnancy, as mammals, we add extra hair,” she said. “It’s a way to stay insulated and warm. And we have so much extra blood supply that it’s a natural occurrence. Once you’re not pregnant, you’re losing that that extra hair you added during pregnancy so it feels like you’re losing tons but you’re just going back to what you were before.”

Hormones also influence hair thickness during perimenopausal, as a reduction in reproductive hormones can mean thinner hair. For either case, she encourages women to eat a healthful diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, manage stress and maintain a healthful weight.

“Quite a few things good for your whole body are good for your hair,” she said. “Be kind and gentle to yourself.”

Limiting damage to hair can help hair appear fuller. Damage can be caused by heat, chemical treatments such as coloring, perming or straightening, wearing tight braids, buns or ponytails. Use gentle products on the hair and avoid rubbing it or combing it while it is wet.

Marge Pickering-Picone, health and nutrition coach and owner of Professional Nutrition Services of

Rochester, Inc. in Webster, looks at clients’ diet regarding hair thinning, including protein intake.

“Some people can’t stand to even look at red meat, but let’s make sure you’re getting a plant-based protein source and enough of it,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be from meat.”

She recommends around 90 grams of protein daily, eaten throughout the day ideally, since the body cannot absorb the entire daily quota all at once.

Pickering-Picone also looks at the individual’s stress level, genetics and other factors. Stressors such as an illness, injury, major weight loss or shocks to the system can cause hair loss, but normally it is temporary.

Dermatologist Mary Gail Mercurio, MD, with University of Rochester Medical Center, said that after the pandemic began, she saw an uptick in women’s hair loss cases because of the stress the pandemic brought.

“It happens two to three months after the trigger,” Mercurio said.

“Sometimes people don’t even identify what happened. They have to think back at what changed. They can have complete recovery.”

Stress induced hair loss is usually caused by an interruption of the growth and shedding cycle.

Inflammation on the scalp can also cause hair loss, such as with psoriasis. While that can cause permanent hair loss, patients usually recognize it quickly and can receive treatment to halt its progress.

“If someone who all the women in the family get thinner hair as they age it might be obvious,” Mercurio said. “These conditions are different in cause and different in treatment.

A proper diagnosis is the first step in management. See a dermatologist.”

October 2021 •

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Page 17

Women’s Health

Fighting ‘Mommy Pooch’ Take your time; there’s no need to rush.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

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early all women who birth a baby experience a saggy abdomen afterwards.

The miracle of childbearing leaves a not-so-awe-inspiring “pooch.” To an extent, the pooch is unavoidable, although it can be reduced.

At first, moms need to go easy on themselves.

“Your body is beautiful and you just created a human,” said Christy Muscato, DONA-certified doula and owner of Beautiful Birth Choices in Rochester. “That’s a big job. Be gentle and kind to yourself.”

She encourages new moms to walk with their babies and, once cleared by their doctor, try yoga or any of the fitness activities they engaged in before. But focusing on selfcare is most important at this point.

“We don’t have communities around us,” Muscato said. “People around us are transplants to the Rochester area so they don’t have people to offer them support. That transition to becoming a parent is a totally different than the week before you had a baby. I encourage them to support themselves and get help with breastfeeding support. A lot of it is self-care, taking a shower and taking a walk. They can know the baby is fine and taken care of and they can reset.”

Rebecca Batt, certified as a holistic Matrona doula, operates Whole Love Doula, which serves the Rochester and Buffalo area. She encourages new moms to “take your time; there’s no need to rush. Everyone’s journey is definitely different.”

Even with a perfectly healthy, normal vaginal birth, most mothers are told by their healthcare providers to take it easy for the first six weeks post-partum. Any complication, repair, C-section or other issues may prolong that period of rest or place further restrictions on moms. However, most mothers can still walk once they feel up to it.

Rochester and Buffalo. She said that breastfeeding triggers hormones that promote the natural reduction of the uterus to a normal size as well.

Pregnancy can grow the uterus to up to 500 times its normal size.

“In the postpartum time, the uterus goes through involution,” she said. “While breastfeeding, the hormones release. Oxytocin tells the uterus to go to its original size. It’s not complete until week six postpartum. Many people feel those contractions while nursing in the first week. For some mothers, they’re very noticeable. It’s telling your uterus to close down and the cramping as it returns to its size helps slow postpartum bleeding.”

Some women say that drinking a few cups of red raspberry leaf tea daily can support this process. However, any undue bleeding or other complications should be promptly reported to a healthcare provider.

Nursing is also a good way to burn calories.

“It takes 300 to 500 calories for breastfeeding per day,” Kula said.

“During the post-partum time, your body is using those extra stores to produce breastmilk for the baby.”

Some women find they do not lose as much weight while breastfeeding because of stress, mitigating the loss through eating more or other causes.

It takes time to lose “baby weight” and regain some semblance of a pre-pregnancy body. However, if the pooch is painful, it could be diastasis recti or separation of the abdominal muscles. Left untreated, mothers can experience poor posture, back pain, weak core muscles, constipation, bloating, shallow breathing, pain during intercourse and bladder, rectal or uterine prolapse. While some cases of diastasis recti resolve on their own, others persist.

“Go see a professional, like a pelvic floor specialist to identify what the problem is and help you evaluate it, so you can get specific exercises and therapies tailored to what you need,” Kula said. “I highly recommend it.”

She added that many women have been erroneously told these issues are normal after childbearing and most women simply accept them as part of motherhood. A pelvic floor specialist can assign exercises to improve the condition and in the most severe cases, surgery can correct it.

Batt likes the videos posted by Leslie Sansone on YouTube, which include walking and gentle upper body work and the Mama Stefit program.

“You work into it slowly,” Batt said. “You don’t want to start hardcore as that can cause injuries. Start slowly and work your way up.”

That is particularly true for moms who have not exercised much while pregnant or at all before. Walking while wearing the baby in a sling or wrap can soothe the baby, eliminate the need for childcare during exercise and offer the benefit of extra weight to the workout.

“When washing dishes and doing laundry, do little side steps or leg lifts,” Batt said. “Incorporate dance into your day. It helps to release oxytocin, which is great for your body.”

She also encourages mothers to plan for placenta encapsulation, which “helps with weight loss as you’re balancing out our hormones and helping your body to heal faster and reducing inflammation. Placenta encapsulation is definitely something needed.”

Batt tells new moms to focus on consuming whole foods and keeping healthful foods available for snacks while nursing, along with drinking plenty of water. Focusing on good nutrition, rather than nutrient-void foods, will encourage both good health and weight loss.

In addition to nursing’s numerous benefits to the baby, it can also help moms reduce the pooch.

Jenni Kula, DONA and ProDoula-certified doula and owner Jenni Kula, DONA and ProDoula-certified doula and owner of "Mindful Mama Birthing": It takes time to lose of Mindful Mama Birthing, serves “baby weight.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

Women’s Health

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Routine Mammography Reveals Breast Cancer

U

.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar revealed in early September that she’s been treated for early-stage breast cancer, including surgery to remove a lump and radiation therapy.

The 61-year-old Minnesota Democrat said in a statement posted on social media that Mayo Clinic doctors found worrying signs during a routine mammogram in February,

including "small white spots called calcifications."

A follow-up biopsy revealed that Klobuchar — who campaigned in the Democratic presidential primary in 2020 — had stage 1A breast cancer.

Based on Klobuchar’s description on Twitter, “it sounds like she is very fortunate that the cancer was in an early stage, picked up on a screening mammogram,” said breast can-

cer physician Paul Baron, who wasn’t involved in her care.

“You always want to find your cancer on a screening mammogram because most of the time it's very early and very curable," said Baron, who directs the breast cancer program at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City.

Klobuchar said that after other tests, she returned to Mayo for

a lumpectomy that removed the cancer from her right breast. She completed radiation treatment in May, and by August her doctors reported that her therapy went well.

“Of course this has been scary at times, since cancer is the word all of us fear, but at this point my doctors believe that my chances of developing cancer again are no greater than the average person," Klobuchar said.

Women with breast cancers detected before they spread to other parts of the body have a 99% fiveyear survival rate, according to the American Cancer Society.

Klobuchar urged Americans to not put off routine medical exams because of the pandemic, noting that more than one in three adults have delayed or not sought health care because of concerns over COVID-19.

“Over and over, doctors are seeing patients who are being treated for more serious conditions that could have been caught earlier,” Klobuchar said. “[Americans] are constantly balancing their families, their jobs, and their health. It’s easy to put off health screenings, just like I did. But I hope my experience is a reminder for everyone of the value of routine health check-ups, exams and follow-through,” she continued.

One breast cancer specialist agreed.

“Sen. Klobuchar’s experience is similar to that of many women — during the early days of the pandemic many routine tests such as mammography were delayed," noted physician Nina Vincoff, chief of breast imaging at Northwell Health in Lake Success in Long Island. “But for those who did not have their regular preventative care, including mammography, because of the pandemic, it is critical to return to care now.”

Klobuchar described herself as fortunate “to have caught the cancer at an early enough stage and to not need chemotherapy or other extensive treatments, which unfortunately is not the case for so many others."

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Changing the Conversation: Transform Stigmatizing Language to Reflect the Hope of Recovery!

By Jennifer Faringer

S

ubstance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic brain disease from which people can and do recover every day. Yet too often, the terminology used to describe SUDs further stigmatizes individuals with a substance use disorder (as well as their family members). Use of words such as addict, alcoholic, drug habit, clean or dirty, all tend to suggest that the problematic use of substances is essentially a moral failing.

These terms imply that choice or lack of willpower or character determine one’s use of substances when the disease of addiction is far more complex than that. The terms do not take into consideration current research that shows that addictive substances and behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and problem

gambling) and their repeated use alters an individual’s brain chemistry and the functioning of their brain circuitry, often resulting in a diagnosable disorder.

The term abuse, in and of itself, is more closely associated with a punitive response and with negative attitudes which are more likely to result in diminished quality of care and treatment outcomes. The American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine have recommended adopting language that is less stigmatizing.

Person-first language is being adopted across multiple disciplines for better describing individuals with a range of disabilities or medical conditions, including substance abuse.

Some examples include: • Using the term “person with a substance use disorder” or “person

Falling Doesn’t Have to Be Part of Aging More than one in four older adults in the U.S. report falling each year, according to the CDC, which translates to about 36 million falls.

One out of five of those falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury, and that can have a short-term or long-term impact on an older person’s ability to live independently.

Here’s the good news: Falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented.

“Daily exercise, avoiding certain medications that can affect your balance, and even making sure eyeglass lens prescriptions are up-to-date can help to prevent falls,” said physician Bruce Naughton, Excellus BlueCross

BlueShield medical director for Medicare. “Discuss these things with your doctor.”

Naughton also advises checking your home for obvious tripping hazards.

• Clutter • Worn carpets • Stairs with poor railings • Rooms with bad lighting • Unstable chairs or tables • Bathrooms that lack grab bars • Uneven transitions between bare floors and carpets The Timed Up and Go test, or TUG test, can predict your risk for falling.

“The TUG test is something that older adults can do in the comfort of

with an alcohol use disorder” rather than the terms abuser, addict or alcoholic.

• Using the term “person in long-term or sustained recovery” rather than referring to the person as “clean.” The person in recovery (and there are multiple paths to recovery) exemplifies one who has engaged in a lifelong process of healthy growth and positive change.

• Medication-assisted treatment and medication supported recovery refer to the therapeutic use of any medication that is approved to treat substance use disorders in combination with counseling or psychosocial support. Using terms such as “replacement” or “substitution” therapies imply that the person in recovery is simply substituting one drug for another.

Help transform the conversa-

tion from the use of stigmatizing language to one of health, hope and recovery!

For further information and resources, visit the NCADD-RA’s website at www.ncadd-ra.org or the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NCADDRA.

their own homes to evaluate their basic mobility skills and risk of falling,” said Naughton. “You need a stopwatch or wristwatch with a second hand, a chair, and a friend to assist you.” Naughton advises wearing your regular footwear and using a walking aid, if needed.

How to take the “TUG” test: • Mark a line on the floor that’s 10 feet away from the chair • Sit in the chair • When your assistant with the stopwatch says “go,” stand up from the chair • Walk 10 feet to the line on the floor at your normal pace • Turn and walk back to the chair at your normal pace and sit down again Your assistant should start timing on the word “go” and stop timing after you sit back down.

If you take 12 or more seconds to complete the TUG test, you might have a higher chance of falling and

should seek your doctor’s advice on actions you can take to reduce the risk.

“Be honest with your doctor about issues with balance or concerns about taking Bruce Naughton a fall,” said Naughton. “Falling doesn’t have to be part of the aging process.”

Excellus BCBS has more information on fall prevention online at https://medicare.excellusbcbs. com/health-wellness/preventive/ fall-prevention.

Jennifer Faringer is the director of DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug DependenceRochester Area.

Submitted by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

Wanda Osmen Boughton One-woman crusade to help kids, single moms, families in distress

By John Addyman

“P

lease help me with this little girl for her birthday. I’m not sure she’s ever had a nice birthday.”

“There is a very poor family in town that is in dire need of food—a single mom with two pre-teen daughters. For whatever reason, mom has no food stamps and no job right now.”

“I have a friend whose 4-year-old son was involved in a serious accident today. Please pray for the doctor and team doing the surgery, and for his dad and mom who are so worried about him.”

“A family in our community is going through very hard times. A mom with four children needs food and toiletries for her family. Transportation is an issue for her. She would appreciate any help that could be given to her family.”

Those are recent Facebook posts.

Each was accompanied by a fuller description of the need and how you could help.

Each posting presented a story

of a family in trouble, mostly single moms with a number of kids who had hit a dead end –— a husband who was suddenly gone, a seriously ill child with huge medical bills, a lost job and benefits, no money and no positive outlook.

People like this, especially single moms, can too often fall between the cracks of the public support systems that are supposed to provide help.

Even with public help, sometimes the simple joys of life for a child must be put aside, like a birthday gift or shampoo and toothpaste. When all you have money for is food, a lot of simple things are missing in a house.

That’s where Wanda Osmen Boughton, 61, of Newark, steps in for people in Wayne County.

She is the new nurse manager at Clifton Springs Nursing Home, following a career in nursing and nursing management at Lifetime Care and Wayne County Nursing Home.

Two of her three sons are nurses. Her daughter is a nurse practitioner.

Boughton was raised in a home October 2021 •

where the concept of want was at her dinner table most nights.

“I was very poor. My mom left my dad,” she said. “There were four of us children. My dad was an alcoholic. In an extreme situation, he tried to abuse my mom and she left right away. We moved to Palmyra, right on Main Street. We lived on the second floor, four of us children in a one-bedroom apartment and her in the living room.

“We struggled for food. Everyone was pretty much poor then. We had needs. People helped us. People gave us things. My mom generated that helping — we didn’t have DSS like you have now. There was a food truck that once in a while you were able to get food from. We would get peanut butter that had two inches of grease on the top, but we didn’t know any better. It was food and we ate it.

“My mom met my stepfather, who’s been my stepfather since I was 5. He really changed our lives so that we could have things and afford things. The whole time since, I’ve tried to help people in one way or another.”

Her first marriage failed. Boughton found herself in a situation similar to her mom’s — four kids to raise and no help.

“In 2000 I was separated and divorced. It was an extremely bad time. I lost my home — I had to let

it go through foreclosure. We moved into an apartment. I was working around the clock. I had to. I had four children and I had to work to survive.

But all along the way, somehow, we were trying to donate and give to people.”

She was working at Wayne County Nursing Home in 2000 when “a resident and I decided to support a family in the community at Christmas. We did one family the first time.

We got so much stuff for that family, which was composed of a grandmother raising her three grandchildren, which is kind of a thing now.

Back in 2000, it wasn’t so common.

“The nursing home lent us a bus.

The resident dressed up as Santa and we took all these gifts to the house.

There was food, gifts. So many people at the nursing home donated so many things. It was just amazing. For the next couple of years we did two families, then three families. There was a change at the nursing home so we weren’t able to take the bus out but we still got everything ready.

Another gentleman dressed as Santa and we went to the homes on Driving Park Circle in Newark with gifts.”

We all know women like Boughton — if there’s someone who’s wired into what’s going on, she’s it. Her field of expertise is people who are in need, people who have run out of options, people who have been given the short end of the stick, people who are almost invisible to the rest of us. She completely understands their situations. Since those early days of providing Christmases to needy families, she has expanded.

Last Christmas, she was able to provide a holiday to 120 children.

In August, she assembled bookbags with school supplies for 40 children.

She mobilizes to provide that aid, much of it is through her own energy and time. Here and there, people have latched onto her efforts and stepped in to provide help.

“If we all do a little, we can accomplish a lot” is a phrase that comes up often in her postings.

The word-of-mouth network is strong. Boughton is tapped into it.

She’ll have people get in touch with her directly, through Facebook messenger or by phone. She has a legion of helpers who will funnel news of a family in distress to her, many of whom have benefitted from her help themselves.

She responds by putting together donations — food, clothing, personal hygiene items, birthday gifts, school supplies.

Funding all of this takes effort.

She is a regular at local nursing homes, where she’s allowed to collect pop bottles.

“I go to gas stations and look in the garbage. Five cents adds up, one nickel at a time,” she said.

In a normal week, she averages $40 in soda bottle returns – that’s 800 bottles.

Getting her Christmas gifting from two families to 120 took some time and help.

She put a toy collection box at the Wayne County Nursing Home.

“The first couple of years I did get a tremendous amount of help,” she said.

When she went to a new job at Lifetime Care, they let her put out a box, too, and suggested she call her Christmas drive for “Wanda’s Kids,” which she did.

“Lifetime did a great deal for us,”

Continued on next page

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 21

Wanda continued from page 21 she said.

After she picked up some support from Kinney’s Drugs in Lyons, Boughton approached Walgreens in Newark.

“I had called Walgreens and asked for donations. They said, ‘We have a box here, why don’t you just bring your letter and put it on the box?’ I said OK. It was just a few days before Christmas. I had found about a number of other kids who really needed something. I didn’t have any money left or any way to get more help. So, I went and there was helps me a lot. At Christmas and a box there that said, Toys for Tots. every event I have. I ask Jan and Al The manager said, ‘Put your note on the box.’ This was only a week before Plumb and they help me — they give me boxes at Thanksgiving. They Christmas. I put my note on there. It take seven or eight families and they said ‘Wanda’s Kids’ and what we don’t care how many are in the famneeded. ily. They are great,” she continued.

“Two days later a man called me.

“Birthdays — a woman not too long He said his name was Cliff, from ago had cancer. So did her husband.

Toys for Tots. He said, ‘Do you know you violated a federal law by putting They were both going back and forth for treatment. Jan gave me $100 for your stuff on our box?’ I said I didn’t them. The whole company helps me. know anything about that, but WalIt’s just amazing.” green’s told me to do it, so I did.

Over the years, Boughton has “He said, ‘Well I’m the guy who has the toys.’ He invited me up to his acquired a number of annual benefactors who contribute something warehouse and he gave me a bunch around Christmas as seed money. of toys to help kids.”

She sends an annual Christmas That started an association with appeal letter, but only to about 50 Monroe County and Sharon Beeke individual and businesses. During there. the year, the soda bottle revenue and “We, my husband, Tom, and I, individual donations allow her to would help them for hours and she would give me a whole bunch of toys meet more immediate requests for food or emergency birthday requests. during Christmas. She would also She has provided gifts for chilgive me toys for birthdays or people dren whose mothers asked her for who had fires, children who were abused and at Easter time,” she said. “anything, so long as her child had something for their birthday.”

“Alpco Recycling in Macedon

Page 22

•

She’s made special efforts for two little boys with leukemia. And for families who had enough money for food and nothing else.

There are critics who feel Boughton is being taken advantage of or people have received extra money from the government and shouldn’t need gifts for kids’ birthdays.

She counters that by doing a little bit of investigating when she takes on a new family.

“Some people will criticize that people have gotten these big government stipends. If a child tells someone in the community that they don’t have food, it had nothing to do with the money the parents should or shouldn’t have had,” she said.

“The last few families I’ve helped, the child has told someone that they didn’t have food. I can’t let stuff like that go by. I believe in the Lord that if I hear about it, even though I might be tired, I’ve got to do something about it.”

In her gift-giving, she doesn’t hand out cash and will rarely pro-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

vide a gift card.

“I’ll purchase the specific items myself and give them to the family,” she said.

She gives out supermarket gift cards for families she knows will use them to buy meat and produce.

A woman whose child committed suicide gave Boughton a check for $100 to use in the charity of her choice. Boughton held onto the money until she got a request for a young girl who wanted a bike. That’s where the $100 went.

Headquartered in Newark, Boughton does a lot of work with families in Clyde, Savannah and Wolcott. She emphasizes that most people do not know how deep the poverty goes in Wayne County.

She is always looking for help— especially at Christmas when so much needs to be collected, packaged and delivered. She is always ready to send a donation, however modest, to helping someone genuinely in need.

You can check out Boughton on Facebook at "Wanda Osmenboughton," at niece "Heather Boughton" (who posts Wanda’s new requests for help) and "Newark, it’s our community and we care" (where Heather also posts new requests for help).

How to Help If you want to make a donation, you may call Wanda Boughton at 315879-8632, or mail or drop off items to 128 Stuerwald Ave., Newark, NY 14513.

“Every year I’ve done this I’ve gotten more people who will help me,” Boughton said. “This has been the busiest year so far.”

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How to Handle Your Medicare Coverage if You Move

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are moving to a different area of the country to be near our daughter. Will this affect our Medicare benefits? Will we need to adjust our coverage or re-enroll in a new plan?

Moving

Dear Moving, Moving can indeed affect your Medicare benefits depending on the type of coverage you have and where you move to.

If you and your husband are enrolled in “original Medicare” Part A and Part B, you’ll be happy to know that you won’t need to change your plans when you move because they’re the same throughout the U.S. You will, however, need to notify the Social Security Administration of your change of address, which you can do at SSA.gov/myaccount/ change-of-address.html or by calling 800-772-1213.

But if you’re enrolled in a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan or a Medicare (Part C) Advantage plan and you move out of your plan’s service area, you’ll need to choose a new plan that serves your new area. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to do depending on the type of coverage you have.

• If you have a Part D plan: If you’re in rolled in original Medicare and have a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you’ll need to contact your Part D plan to find out if it will work in the area you’re moving to. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to enroll in a new plan that provides coverage in your new location.

You can make this switch the month before you move and up to two months after the move.

Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until the next open enrollment (in the fall) and could be penalized for having no acceptable prescription drug coverage.

• If you have a Medicare Advantage plan: If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, again,

contact your plan to find out if it will serve your new area. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to enroll in a new plan that does. To shop for new Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans in your new location, see Medicare.gov/ plan-compare.

You can switch Advantage plans the month before you move and up to two months after you move.

But be aware that if you relocate out of your Medicare Advantage plan’s service area and fail to enroll in a new plan in your new area, you’ll automatically be switched to original Medicare. This will happen when your old Medicare Advantage plan is forced to disenroll you because you don’t live within its service area anymore.

• If you have a Medigap policy: If you’re enrolled in original Medicare and have a supplemental (Medigap) policy, you’ll need to notify your provider that you’re moving, but you should not need to change insurance companies or plans. (Note: there also are Medicare Select plans, which are Medigap plans that are network-based and are available in a few states. These plans may require you to change.)

Medigap plans are standardized across the country; for example, Medigap Plan F offers the same coverage in one state as it does in another state (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have waivers from the federal government allowing them to standardize Medigap plans differently, so plan designs are different in those three states).

But be aware that Medigap costs vary by location, so your monthly Medigap policy premium may be higher or lower depending on the cost of medical care in your new area.

Call your provider and tell them the new ZIP code, and they’ll let you know the cost. Sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it’s lower.

If it’s not, you could look for a cheaper policy. However, you may have to undergo medical underwriting. Medigap policies come with their own rules for enrolling, and some states have different enrollment standards than others.

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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90 West Avenue, Brockport, NY 14420 IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 23

Ask St. Annʼs

By Rola O’Meally

Adult Day Programs Keep the Lonely Blues Away

I

f the pandemic lockdown taught us anything, it’s that isolation can be devastating. For many seniors, that’s true in the best of times.

Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to experience such things as: • Living alone • Loss of family or friends • Chronic illness • Difficulty with mobility • Hearing loss or other impairments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, that puts them at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions.

One way to reduce isolation is to enroll your loved one in an adult day program.

These are specially designed programs for older adults who need assistance, companionship or supervision during the day. They are ideal for those who are alone during the day or otherwise lack regular, meaningful social interaction. Programs offering a medical model also offer attention to advanced medical needs by skilled nursing staff.

Adult day programs allow older adults to engage in social activities, make new friends, and stay connected to the community.

Participants of St. Ann’s program at Durand Senior Apartments, for example, recently took a bus trip to the Rochester Public Market, where with the help of our staff they browsed the fresh produce and other merchandise on a fun-filled weekday afternoon.

They also enjoy activities like musical entertainment, exercise, crafts, games, gardening and more.

If your loved one has medical needs, don’t let that discourage you from seeking out an adult day program.

Whether it’s physical therapy, glucose monitoring, oxygen treatment, tube feeding or other needs requiring specialized care, you can rest assured it’s provided in a medical-model adult day program. In fact, regular health monitoring by our staff has reduced trips to the hospital for our participants. We will also

Adult day programs are ideal for those who lack regular, meaningful social interaction.

coordinate trips to your loved one’s primary care provider if monitoring indicates that’s a good idea.

A word about the people who staff adult day programs: they have caring hearts and are especially attuned to the needs of fragile older adults. They are always on hand to make sure those in their care get everything they need. That may be a reminder to take medication, assistance with eating or personal hygiene or just a friendly smile to help them through a bad day.

At St. Ann’s, we’ve seen elders who refuse to eat or speak when they first arrive; after a while, through the caring attention of staff, they become lively, engaged, and enjoy coming to the program each day.

In addition to being good for elders, adult day programs provide a much-needed respite for the home caregiver. By enrolling your loved one in an adult day program, you can tend to work and other activities while knowing they are in a safe, caring environment. In many cases, such as at St. Ann’s, transportation is provided; costs may be covered by participants’ health insurance.

Contact an adult day program in your area and arrange a visit. It may be just the opportunity your loved one needs to stay healthy and socially engaged.

Rola O’Meally is a registered nurse and director of adult day services at St. Ann’s Community.

She can be reached at 585-450-8086 or romeally@mystanns. com.

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Social Security Benefits You

We take pride in having provided vital benefits and services to this great nation for 86 years. America has a diverse population with a variety of needs. To meet those diverse needs, we’ve created web pages that speak directly to groups of people who may need information about our programs and services. These pages are easy to share with friends and family on social media. Here are just a few resources that might help you or someone you love: • We proudly serve wounded warriors and veterans, who made sacrifices to preserve the freedoms Americans treasure. Many veterans do not know they might be eligible for disability benefits from Social Security. Please share this page with them to make sure they get the benefits they deserve: www.ssa.gov/ people/veterans.

• Social Security plays an important role in providing economic security for women. Nearly 55% of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women. A woman who is 65 years old today can expect to live, on average, until about 87. A 65-year-

Q&A

Q: If I retire at age 62, will I be eligible for Medicare?

A: No. Medicare starts when you reach 65. If you retire at 62, you may be able to continue medical insurance coverage through your employer or purchase it from a private insurance company until you become eligible for Medicare. For more information, read Medicare at www.ssa.gov/pubs, or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Q: I have diabetes and I have to take insulin. Is my insulin covered by Medicare?

A: Medicare Part B does not cover insulin unless use of an insulin pump is medically necessary.

However, certain Medicare Part D prescription drug plans may cover insulin and certain supplies used to inject insulin, like syringes. For more information, visit www.medicare. gov/coverage/insulin.html.

Q: What are the limits on what I can own to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

A: You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth no more than $3,000. Social Security counts real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks, and bonds toward the limits on what you can own. If you own property you are trying to sell, you may be able to get SSI while

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021

old man can expect to live, on average, until about 84. With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater risk of exhausting their sources of income.

Women often have lower lifetime earnings than men, which usually means lower benefits. Women need to plan early and wisely for retirement. We’re here to help with valuable information. Please share this page with someone who needs this information and may need help planning for their golden years: www.ssa. gov/people/women.

• Do you know someone who is just starting their career? Now is the best time for them to start preparing for retirement. Social Security benefit payments provide only a portion of retirement income. Those starting their careers should begin saving early to have adequate income in retirement. Please share this page with a young worker you know: www.ssa. gov/people/earlycareer.

These are just a few of the web pages tailored to specific groups’ needs. You can check out our People Like Me home page at www.ssa.gov/ people to see all of them.

trying to sell it. Social Security does not count everything you own in deciding whether you have too many resources to qualify for SSI. For example, we generally do not count the home you live in and the land it is on; life insurance policies with a face value of $1,500 or less; your car; burial plots for you and immediate family; and up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse. Learn more about SSI at www.ssa.gov/ssi.

Q: I get disability benefits and so does my cousin. Her children receive benefits on her record. I took an application for my children to receive benefits, but I was told that they were not eligible for payment. Why is this?

A: There are a few different reasons why a child might not receive benefits from a parent when the parent receives disability benefits.

A child must be unmarried, below the age of 18, or younger than 19 and 2 months and still enrolled in high school. A child may also receive benefits if they were disabled before they turned 22. If these conditions are met and benefits are still not payable, it is possible that the parent is receiving the maximum amount payable by law on their own benefit.

Additionally, if worker’s compensation is involved, the amount due to the children may be held as part of the parent’s worker’s compensation offset. For specific details regarding your own record, please contact your local Social Security office.

Health News Northeast College names department after former president

Care Cengoal of changing the lives of children ter, including using a team of skilled surgeons to working as an correct congenital facial deformioptical apprenties. The foundation supports yearly tice. Cerniglia medical trips for children deprived Northeast College of Health is currently a of a healthy and joyful life due to Sciences announced the department NYS licensed their deformity and lack of medical of postgraduate and continuing optician and care.

Since the foundation’s inception education has been renamed the contact lens in 2003, its medical mission teams, Frank J. Nicchi School of Continuing practitioner along with Quatela, have gone on 35 Education, in honor of the college’s and holds mission trips in developing countries distinguished president emeritus. the following such as Vietnam, Guatemala and “Dr. Nicchi espouses the values of certifications: Ecuador and have performed more Taylor Cerniglia lifelong learning, clinical excellence, American Board than 1,800 surgical procedures. dedication and service to his alma of Opticianry and National Contact The Rochester Rotary Award mater and the chiropractic profesLens Examiner.

She graduated from recognizes community members who sion — each of which is an attribute Marcus Whitman High School and personify Rotary’s “Service Above desirable for emulation by Northholds an associate’s degree in liberal Self” motto and who demonstrate east College students and alumni in arts and sciences from Finger Lakes exceptional community spirit, touch their professional lives,” said NorthCommunity College. When not the lives of many citizens, serve as east College President Michael working, Cerniglia enjoys spending a positive role model, and share Mestan. “I cannot imagine a more time with her husband and dog, exwisdom and knowledge to empower deserving individual for this high ploring the outdoors. others. honor.”

“These team members have been Previous honorees include B. In 1978 Nicchi earned a doctor of promoted into positions that became Thomas Golisano, Al Sigl, Joseph chiropractic degree from then New Wilson, Marion Folsom, Ritter Shum- available after several long-term York Chiropractic College in 1980 staff members retired,” said Practice way, Constance Mitchell, Burton joined the college’s faculty. Rising to Administrator Terry Parsons. “Their August, Don Alhart, physician Walter the rank of professor of chiropractic combined knowledge and commitclinical sciences, he taught clinical or- Cooper, R. Carlos Carballada, Joan ment to ensuring excellent eye care and Harold Feinbloom, physician thopedics and neurology, differential Ralph Pennino, James Isaac, Andrew diagnosis, and chiropractic technique. and Karen Gallina, David Flaum, VicNicchi served as clinician at the tor Salerno and Paul DeCarolis. college’s outpatient health center in Rochester Rotary presented the Levittown, and lectured extensively award during a reception Sept. 23 at on topics such as management of low the George Eastman Museum. Proback pain, headache, and risk manceeds from the event benefit Rochesagement for the NYCC postgraduate ter Rotary Sunshine Camp and the and continuing education departHUGS Foundation. ment, where he was subsequently named dean in 1997.

In 2000, Nicchi was named president of NYCC, a position he held for 17 years until retiring in 2017. He The Eye Care Center, which demaintains the faculty rank of profeslivers services throughout the Finger sor and the title of president emerLakes region since 1973, recently itus. In 2021 NYCC was renamed announced the promotion of two Northeast College of Health.

In addition to his work at the col- professionals. atients in the greater Roches• Michelle Wheeler was promoted lege, Nicchi has also made significant ter area in need of treatment to the position contributions to for kidney stones, prostate of accounting the chiropractic issues and bladder cancer will manager and profession. He now have better access to less has been manhas presentinvasive treatment options with aging finances ed papers at shorter recovery times thanks to a for The Eye the American Rochester family who continues to Care Center for Back Society give back to the community. several months. and New York Olindo and Filomena Di Her efforts inCity’s Hospital Francesco are giving $5 million to clude working for Joint DiseasRochester Regional Health’s urolwith health ines Spine Center ogy department. With the gift, the surance, patient and conducted health system has established the balances and seminars with Michelle Wheeler Di Francesco Urology Institute, Frank J. Nicchi supervision of the late Janet which features new state of the art employees, including the accounting Travell. Nicchi also held leadership technology that will improve qualteam and the front desk staff at the positions nationally, including presiity of life for patients for decades Canandaigua, Newark and Geneva dent of the Association of Chiropracto come. offi ces.

In the past, she was assistic Colleges and director of the New “Money doesn’t mean anytant accounting manager and office York State Chiropractic Association thing if you can’t do things to help supervisor.

Prior to that, Wheeler (NYSCA), where he was honored others,” said Olindo Di Francesco. with the Ernest G. Napolitano Award, was the office manager and a medical “Dr. John Valvo saved my life, and coder for Wayne Regional Eye Center.

NYSCA’s highest honor.

I wanted to do anything I could to She holds a license as a certified progive back to Rochester Regional fessional coder (CPC). In addition to Health.” accounting expertise, Wheeler has a Known in the community strong background in medical coding, for their Italian supermarket and medical terminology, and current philanthropic donations to Saint procedural terminology or CPT Padre Pio Chapel, the Di FrancesPhysician Vito Quatela, a leader industry knowledge. She graduated cos will now also be known for in the field of facial plastic surgery from Lockport High School and has giving Rochester Regional Health and founder of the HUGS Foundacompleted concentrations at Bryant patients access to a state-of-thetion Inc., will be the 83rd recipient of & Stratton College. Outside of work, art outpatient urologic operating the Rochester Rotary Award, the oldshe enjoys spending time with her room equipped with the first maest and most prestigious civic award family, camping, outdoor activities jor breakthrough in urology laser in Rochester. and traveling. technology in two decades.

Rochester Rotary is honoring • Taylor Cerniglia was promoted to “Olindo and Filomena’ s genQuatela for his work with the HUGS optical manager. Her background Foundation, which has the simple includes several positions at The Eye

The Eye Care Center announces promotions

October 2021 •

Jewish Senior Life held Rosh Hashanah car parade

Jewish Senior Life on Sept. 2 celebrated the Jewish New Year with its second annual Rosh Hashanah car parade. The organization has traditionally hosted large gatherings in its auditoriums for the high holidays, but introduced the parade during last year’s pandemic to provide residents an opportunity to celebrate in a socially distant way.

Jewish Senior Life’s rabbi Steven Rubenstein, and board chairman Bob Baker lead the parade. “After a successful Shanah Tovah Car Parade last year, we are excited to make this an annual tradition,” said Baker. “Rosh Hashanah is a time to celebrate all the best things in life — good health, happiness, hope, peace, and prosperity. We look forward to a joyful New Year with our Jewish Senior Life family.”

Rochester Regional Health Receives $5 Million Gift to Establish Di Francesco Urology Institute

P

Dr. Quatela honored with the 83rd Rochester Rotary Award

services for our patients will play a vital part in the continuing growth of The Eye Care Center.”

erosity will ensure a lasting legacy for their family and the impact of their donation can already be felt for patients at the Di Francesco Urology Institute,” said physician John Valvo, chief of robotic surgery at Rochester Regional Health.

The Di Francesco Urology Institute provides patients with new treatment options for prostate conditions and kidney stones using the Olympus Solitive SuperPulsed Laser System because of the Di Francescos.

“More than half a million Americans seek medical treatment for kidney stone problems every year and this new laser system will allow us to deliver faster and more efficient care to our patients, breaking the stones in less than half the time it would typically take,” said Louis Eichel, chief of urology at Rochester Regional Health. “This gets patients back on their feet faster.”

“Dr. Valvo improved my quality of life, and the chance to play a part in doing that for someone else—you can’t put a price on that,” said Olindo.

Other patient care investments the health system is making because of the Di Francesco’s generosity, include the Olympus plasma technology and narrow band Imaging technologies.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 25

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • October 2021