Healthline Magazine February

Complimentary

February 26, 2015

MONTHLY

HealthLine Of Northern Colorado

MEDICATION

SAFETY

Disposing of your medications properly Medical Marijuana: What you should know

+ 5 easy ways to improve your health right now +How healthcare will affect your taxes

contents

s5

tips to slash prescription

also inside

DRUG COSTS

Page 8

s

MEDICAL MARIJUANA in Northern Colorado Page 10

NUTRITION: What parents feed baby can have a long-term impact ......................... 4 Foot Health and Aging............................................................................................. 6 Checking on Medicare beneďŹ ts application.............................................................. 9 FITNESS: When it comes to jogging, less is more, study argues ............................. 14 5 Ways to improve your health right now................................................................ 15 UNCOMMON SENSE ............................................................................................ 16 HEALTH NEWS: New hope for hepatitis C patients................................................. 18 How health care will affect your taxes .................................................................... 20 Guided Hikes in Larimer County ............................................................................ 21 High-tech sensors will lead to highly personalized care ......................................... 22 Health Calendar and Briefs ................................................................................... 24

Health Line of Northern Colorado is a monthly publication produced by the Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald. The information provided in this publication is intended for personal, noncommercial, informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company, product, procedure or activity.

You should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

For advertising information contact: Linda Story, advertising director: 970-635-3614

For editorial:

Misty Kaiser, 303-473-1425 kaiserm@reporterherald.com

on the cover MEDICATION SAFETY

Disposing of your medications properly

_________ PAGE 12

February 26, 2015

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HEALTHLINE 3

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NUTRITION

What parents feed baby can have a long-term impact (BPT) - Experts agree that the food babies eat helps set the stage for growth and development, but did you know that it also impacts long-term eating habits and taste development?

Children who consumed fruits and vegetables infrequently and drank sweet drinks during late infancy showed those same habits at age six, according to new data published in the journal Pediatrics. Infants who consumed sweetened beverages more than three times a week at 10-12 months were twice as likely to be obese at age six.

These findings validate the 2008 Nestle Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS), which also found eating habits are set in early infancy and mimic unhealthy eating habits seen in older children and adults. FITS is the largest, most comprehensive dietary intake survey of over 3,300 parents and caregivers of young children. The FITS findings showed preschoolers are getting nearly one-third (400 calories) of their total daily calories from fats and added sugars, and common childhood foods such as whole milk, cheese and hot dogs are contributing to excessive saturated fat and sodium in young children’s diets.

Nutrition expert Dr. Kathleen Reidy, who heads Nutrition, Meals and Drinks at

4 HEALTHLINE

Don’t forget the fruits and veggies • Pick foods low in salt/ sodium, such as fruits and vegetables instead of those high in sodium like hot dogs, chicken nuggets and dishes that contain cheese.

• Offer a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for snacks and meals; for mixed dishes, choose items with a serving of vegetables.

• If your baby or toddler resists a new fruit or vegetable, don’t fret and try again. It can take up to 10 tries before a child accepts a new food.

Nestle Nutrition, says, “What you feed your baby now affects them not just today, but tomorrow and beyond. The first years of a child’s life are a critical period of development, and instilling good eating habits during this time can help put a child on the path to a healthy future.”

For parents and caregivers, Dr. Reidy has some tips to help instill healthy eating habits for young children:

Meal time is game time • Replace foods high in saturated fat with lean meats, low-fat dairy products and foods high in healthier fats

such as avocado, fish and those made with olive, safflower and canola oils.

• Offer a variety of healthy foods, and try to set a good example by eating them yourself. If a child sees mom, dad or siblings eating a nutritious food, she may be more willing to try it.

• Milk is key in children’s diets and a top contributor of many important nutrients. Children over the age of two should be offered lower fat options such as one percent and skim instead of whole milk to limit saturated fat intake.

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

A healthy snack attack • Plan ahead for healthy snacks to take onthe-go. Pack fruit and vegetable pouches for older toddlers.

• Speak with family and other caregivers about limiting sweets and choosing healthy snacks when they are caring for your child.

For additional tips on providing babies and toddlers with the best nutrition and a foundation for healthy eating habits, visit gerber.com to learn more.

February 26 , 2015

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HEALTHLINE 5

Emily's back in the

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6 HEALTHLINE

Foot Health and Aging Dr Kate Johnson DPM, A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Center, PLLC

Many mature adults believe that it is normal for feet to hurt, and resign themselves to foot problems that could be treated. There are over 300 different foot ailments. Many are heredity, but for an aging population, they are often due to years of neglect or abuse. Normal wear and tear cause the feet to widen, the arch to fall, and the foot to lengthen. Fatty pads that cushion the bottom of the feet become thin and skin becomes more fragile.

Fortunately, there are many simple steps that people in their retirement years can take to help.

• Properly fitted shoes are essential; an astonishing number of people wear shoes that don’t fit right.

Since feet change over time, they should be measured more frequently.

• A shoe with a firm sole and soft upper is best for daily activities. For those with painful calluses at the forefoot, a running shoe will often provide the most cushion. In addition, many bony prominences can be offloaded with an orthotic.

• Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Feet swell during the day and a shoe that feels comfortable in the morning may be too tight at the end of the day.

• Pantyhose or stockings should be the correct size and preferably free of seams. Do not wear con-

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

stricting garters or tie your stockings in knots.

• Never cut corns and calluses with a razor or pocket knife; use overthe-counter products only with the advice of a podiatrist.

• Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm (not hot) water using mild soap, preferably containing moisturizers. Pat feet dry, dry well between the toes, and then apply a thick moisturizing cream (not lotion) as soon as possible to reduce dryness and cracking.

• Trim or file your toenails straight across. Avoid cutting ingrown nails down the edges, that can exacerbate the problem.

If there is concern of an ingrown nail contact your podiatrist to avoid infection.

• Walking is the best exercise for your feet. Keep moving, every day if you can, to prevent muscle weakness and loss of balance.

• Inspect your feet every day or have someone do it for you. If you notice redness, swelling, cracks, or sores, consult your podiatrist.

Medicine and health awareness have progressed so rapidly that the life expectancy of the average American has increased by about 30 years. Older adults have become a significant proportion of our total population and their numbers are growing. They now outnumber children for the first time in history. Mobility vital to maintaining a satisfying lifestyle. Through education regarding foot care, you can to continue to enjoy the lifestyle and quality of life you cherish.

February 26 , 2015

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HEALTHLINE 7

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P R E S C R I P T I O N M E D I C AT I O N

5 tips to slash prescription drug costs (BPT) - Today’s rising health care costs can feel out of control. Fortunately, prescription drugs are an exception. Consider these five simple ways to save money on your prescriptions so you can stay healthy and maintain your budget.

1

Ask about generic or lower-cost equivalents.

Your health plan has a list of covered prescription drugs, called a formulary. Within that list are preferred drugs, which have a lower copayment cost for the patient.

These are clinical or therapeutic equivalents to higherpriced brand drugs.

Always ask your prescriber or pharmacist, “Is there a generic for that?” It’s

8 HEALTHLINE

a fair question. Many physicians write for the familiar brands, the “tried and true,” or the newest, most highly marketed drug in the therapy class. Until you ask, they may not be well acquainted with lower-cost equivalents on your particular plan’s formulary.

2

Don’t be duped by drug coupons. Hundreds of high-priced brand drugs offer coupons that apply to the consumer’s share of the drug’s cost. But beware: A temporary discount may end up costing you more in the long run. A recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 62 percent of coupons were for brand-name drugs for which

lower-cost alternatives were available.

“Despite the short-term savings achievable with coupons, they do not offset higher, long-term costs because they’re nearly always time-delimited,” the study states. “Some coupons can be used once and others more than once. But we found that few offered savings for more than a year.

Once a coupon program ends, patients with chronic disease face copayments for these brand-name medications that are higher than for those generic alternatives.”

3

Use preferred retail pharmacies for acute medications. Many prescription plans offer a preferred

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

network of retail pharmacies within a wider network.

These plans allow you to save between $5 and $10 on copayments just by choosing a preferred pharmacy.

Chances are good that a preferred pharmacy is conveniently located near you.

Before you fill a prescription for an acute medication, such as an antibiotic or painkiller, use your plan’s pharmacy locator to find a preferred option. And inform your doctor, as he or she may now send electronic prescriptions directly to the pharmacy.

Medicare patients choosing a prescription plan should look for one that offers preferred networks.

Savings at the pharmacy window can easily exceed any small difference in premium amount.

4

Use home delivery for chronic or maintenance medications. With home delivery, many patients can save up to 33 percent on their copayment costs and have the medication delivered right to their door.

Home delivery is a safe and convenient way to obtain medications that you use long term. Many pharmacy plans will provide you with a 90-day supply for a lower copayment. Be sure to tell your doctor that you use home delivery so your prescription can be written for a 90-day supply.

There’s an important bonus that can save you even more: Patients using home delivery are more likely to take their medication as prescribed (see No. 5).

February 26 , 2015

SOCIAL SECURITY Q&A:

5

Take your medications as prescribed. While it might be tempting to stretch your medication dollar by skipping daily doses, this can be harmful to your health and end up costing you significantly more money to treat the health complications that could have been avoided.

Adherence to your prescribed therapy is the best way to make sure you get the most from your pharmacy benefit. Take your medication at the proper time and frequency as indicated by your doctor, and refill and renew prescriptions as early as possible so you are never emptyhanded. Express Scripts offers mobile apps, as well as auto-refill and renewal reminder programs to help you stay on track.

For more information, visit lab. express-scripts.com.

change

Checking on Medicare benefits application Tribune News Service (TNS)

I applied for Medicare Q benefits last week. How can :

I check the status of my application?

A

: Checking the status of your application is easy. If you applied for benefits, you can check the status at our secure website, secure.ssa.gov/ apps6z/IAPS/applicationStatus, but you must wait five days from the date you originally filed. You will need to enter your Social Security number and the confirmation number you received when you filed your application. Your application status also shows the date that we

received your application, any requests for additional documents, the address of the office processing your application and whether a decision has been made about your benefits. If you are unable to check your status online, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-3250778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

——— (This column was prepared by the Social Security Administration. For fast answers to specific Social Security questions, contact Social Security toll-free at 800.772.1213 or visit socialsecurity. gov.)

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HEALTHLINE 9

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FEATURE: MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Medical Marijuana in Northern Colorado

Recreational sales make inroads, but MMJ dispensaries still provide an important service to their patients

By L. L. Charles, Healthline Magazine

Just over 55 percent of Colorado voters passed Amendment 64 in November 2012, allowing for the recreational sales and use of marijuana in our state.

In some Colorado communities, that meant the “green rush” was on for anyone who wanted to get into this new industry. For a while, it seemed like retail marijuana dispensaries were popping up in Denver like coffee shops.

10 HEALTHLINE

But in Northern Colorado, lifestyles and sensibilities are a bit more conservative, and each of the municipalities has taken its own lead on regulating local sales.

After initially restricting recreational sales, Fort Collins now allows both medical and recreational sales. Berthoud restricts sales to medical marijuana only, and Loveland has banned sales of both recreational and medical marijuana.

“When it comes to marijuana, Berthoud is very different from Denver,” says Erik Williams, director of government and public affairs for Mindful, a cannabis company that operates three medical dispensaries in Colorado, including a location in Berthoud. “We recognize these differences

and are passionate about providing medical marijuana to patients who need it, in a way that is acceptable in their own communities.”

Mindful employs approximately 90 employees in their cultivation center and stores. Williams is quick to point out all the other people – the accountants, plumbers, electricians and HVAC workers – who benefit from added employment, too. “We’re proud of what we have contributed to the local economy,” he says.

Medical Cannabis dispensaries provide specialized services Even with recreational sales in place, there’s still a need for medical cannabis dispensaries and a trained staff who can provide a high-

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

er level of care for patients who are using marijuana for pain management, arthritis or to counteract the effects of cancer treatments.

When Colorado “went recreational,” Williams recalls, “there was a huge rush for everyone to convert their stores to recreational. We made a commitment to keep serving our medical patients.

At our Berthoud store, I’ve met many different patients and learned about their pain and discussed managing that discomfort.”

Mindful serves 70 to 100 visitors on any given day.

Some of them have driven over an hour just to get to the store. New patients can sign up for an optional membership, which allows more consistent and personalized care by consultants. “We ask

February 26 , 2015

“We...are passionate about providing medical marijuana to patients who need it, in a way that is acceptable in their own communities.”

— Erik Williams, Mindful

patients to tell us about the conditions they are experiencing and how their symptoms change throughout the day,” Williams explains.

“They may need to use different strains in the morning than in the evening; we’ve invested a lot in knowing the effects of all of our flowers.”

“Besides our regular patients, we also get 35 to

40 calls a day asking if we are a recreational store,” Williams notes. Recreational sales generate an additional 10 percent sales tax for the state (over medical sales) and municipalities are allowed to impose an extra local tax specifically on “rec” sales. “We’re keeping track, because we’re hoping Berthoud will go recreational, too.”

Mindful grows all of the marijuana flowers (buds) sold in the Berthoud dispensary using organic growing methods. This accounts for about 70 percent of their sales, with the remainder coming from edibles, oils, tinctures and other marijuana-sourced products.

Working with each patient, cannabis consultants select the right strain to provide the

best relief, and recommend the appropriate means of delivery for the meds. While smoking still appears to be the most common method, many patients are using new vaporizing technologies that reduce the intake of harmful substances created by combustion.

Edibles are another popular means of administering medical marijuana – and they come with their own concerns and limitations. Some patients favor them as an alternative to inhaling their medicine, but the effects are delayed and determining the right dosage can be tricky.

edibles are often produced

Child-resistant packaging protects your edibles – and the kids

items in a child-resistant bag

Medical marijuana

in the form of hard candies, cookies, brownies and other tempting treats. They can look exactly the same as their non-medicated versions, and kids can’t tell the difference. That’s why it’s imperative that all marijuana edibles are kept safely out of the hands of children.

Experts recommend that all edibles should be stored separately from anything that kids might be looking for, such as real cookies. Keep purchased products in their original wrappers and retain the labels, and place all or container, which can be purchased at most dispensaries.

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HEALTHLINE 11

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F E AT U R E : P R E S C R I P T I O N M E D I C I N E S A F E T Y

OUT with the OLD

By Dan Powers, Healthline Magazine

When your bathroom cabinet, hall closet, or even kitchen drawers start looking like a small pharmacy, perhaps it’s time to toss away some unnecessary reminders of old aches and injuries. But you can’t just dump them in the trash or down the sink – or can you? Here are some reasons why you should get rid of old, expired and/ or unneeded prescription medications and how you can do it right.

Why It Matters

Expired medicines are more of a possible danger than most people realize.

There are the obvious potentials of little kids getting into them, or getting old bottles confused and giving pets a powerful drug by accident.

However, Jeff McClusky, an American Pharmacists Association (APhA) spokesperson, says expiration dates are a guard against potential spoilage of medication ingredients as well as potential losses

12 HEALTHLINE

in potency. If you take heart or diabetes medication, for example, a dose at lower potency could cause “a negative effect almost immediately,” he says.

Similarly, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) some medicines may be especially harmful whether they are expired or not. Some strong narcotics can even be fatal with just one dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed.

Another unfortunate reality is that some prescription medicines that are not properly disposed of are used or abused recreationally. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, after marijuana and alcohol the most commonly abused substances by Americans age 14 and older are prescription drugs.

Most teens get prescription drugs from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing. And don’t forget nosey pets: according to the national Pet

Proper Prescription Medicine Disposal

Poison Helpline, nearly 50 percent of all pet poisonings involve human drugs.

Forget Flushing

Returning your unwanted medicines to a take-back program is the safest and most environmentally protective way to dispose of unused medication. Until recently, the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led efforts across the country to organize drug take-back events; policy changes at the federal level have changed this relationship for 2015.

Check with your pharmacist or local police department for upcoming events.

While most medications should not be flushed down a toilet or sink, the FDA does caution people to take seriously prescription instructions that direct flushing for drugs such as powerful narcotic pain relievers. See a full list of FDA-recommended “flushable” meds at http:// goo.gl/ugms.

Other than take-back programs and flush-

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ing directives, the FDA and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy suggest these disposal tips: • Remove meds from their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter (this makes the drug less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through the trash seeking drugs).

Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the drug from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.

• Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.

Closely related to medicines due to similar disposal concerns are “sharps”— medical devices with sharp points or

February 26 , 2015

edges that can puncture or Thomas mentions the cut skin. The most important Loveland Stormwater Engirule for sharps: never place neering division sponsors a them loose in household or household hazardous waste public trash cans or recycling bins, and never flush Syringes are a dangerous find for workers. Photo courtesy of Loveland them down the toilet. This Department of water and Power. puts anyone handling your trash at risk of being harmed.

Bill Thomas, pre-treatment coordinator with the City of Loveland’s Dept. of Water and Power says it can be dangerous when sewer pumps get clogged with all sorts of debris and workers have to reach in with their hands. “We pick up for senior citizens and the disabled, restricted to 40 find needles mixed in with households. To sign up for rags, rope and other things this year’s fall pick-up, call and workers can get poked; the Office of Clean Harbors besides being cut, who knows at 1.855.607.3452, option what they might get infected with?”

No. 3.

Larimer County residents can bring medications and used sharps to the Household Hazardous Materials facility at the Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road in Fort Collins on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. No fees are charged.

NOTE: Sharps must be brought in an OSHA-approved sharps container, which can be purchased from most local drug stores. Needles brought in any other containers or loose needles will not be accepted. Call 970.498.5771 for information.

Ilisa Bernstein, Pharm.D., J.D., FDA’s Deputy Director of the Office of Compliance, says when in doubt about proper disposal talk to your pharmacist. “Do not give your medicine to friends. Doctors prescribe medicines based on a person’s specific symptoms and medical history.

A medicine that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.”

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HEALTHLINE 13

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FITNESS

When it comes to jogging, less is more, study argues

By Monte Morin, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Hey, fitness junkies, here’s something to ponder the next time you lace up your athletic shoes for that long, heart-pounding run: A Danish study recently concluded that high-intensity, high-mileage joggers die at the same rate as channelsurfing couch potatoes.

The study, published Monday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is the latest to confront the controversial topic of what constitutes too much exercise.

Although previous research has found that physically active people have at least a 30 percent lower risk of death compared with inactive people, the ideal “dose” of exercise remains uncertain.

Noting that the most famous — and perhaps apocryphal — case of physically overdoing it involved the Athenian messenger Pheidippides, who dropped dead after running 26 miles from the battlefield of Marathon to shout the word “Nike!” or “victory,” the researchers hypothesize that strenuous running can damage the heart over time.

“Long-term excessive exercise may be associated with coronary artery calcification, diastolic dysfunction and large artery wall stiffening,” wrote lead study author Dr. Peter Schnohrof Copenhagen’s Frederiksberg Hospital and his colleagues.

14 HEALTHLINE

“To our knowledge, there has been no study of the longevity of marathon, half-marathon or triathlon participants, but such studies would clearly be informative.”

The researchers based their findings on data from the Copenhagen Heart Study, and followed 1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 nonjoggers for about 12 years. By the end of the study, 28 of the joggers and 128 of the nonjoggers had died.

“Although joggers as a group appear to live longer than sedentary nonjoggers, light joggers and moderate joggers have lower mortality rates than sedentary nonjoggers,” the authors wrote.

However, strenuous joggers — people who ran faster than 7 mph for more than four hours a week; or who ran faster than 7 mph for more than 2.5 hours a week with a frequency of more than three times a week — had a mortality rate that “is not statistically different from that

of the sedentary group,” the authors wrote.

The study is by no means the last word in the matter — the researchers themselves say the subject needs further investigation — but it may come as welcome news to those easygoing joggers who prefer shuffling along at modest speeds.

“The dose of running that was most favorable for reducing mortality was jogging 1 to 1.4 hours per week, with no more than three running days per week, at a slow or average pace,” the authors wrote.

(A slow or average running pace was determined to be 5 mph, or a 12-minute mile.)

In an editorial that accompanied the paper, the authors noted that the study was limited by a number of factors.

The study participants included white men and women from Copenhagen between the ages of 20 and 93.

However, it did not take into account other forms of physi-

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

cal exercise besides running, according to the editorial’s lead author, Duck-Chul Lee, an Iowa State University kinesiologist, and his colleagues.

Lee and his colleagues, who did not participate in the Copenhagen study, wrote that since the study participants self-reported their running habits, they may be subject to error or bias. They wrote also that the 127 study participants who were identified as strenuous joggers may have been too small a group to accurately calculate mortality risk.

“Further studies are needed to better evaluate this controversial issue,” wrote the authors of the editorial.

“Ideally, these studies will be well-controlled interventions, because we certainly agree that the goal is not to unnecessarily frighten people who wish to participate in more strenuous exercise.”

February 26 , 2015

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FITNESS

Walking is a fast, easy way to get some exercise and improve your health. (Photo courtesy Fotolia/TNS)

Walk more, use sunscreen and 3 other easy ways to improve your health now

By Rene Lynch, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to embrace a more healthful lifestyle. What new diet book should you buy? Should you join a CrossFit gym? Do you need a tracker, and if so, which one? And — gulp! — how much is this all going to cost? It’s enough to make you plop back down on the couch and reach for the remote.

Here are five ways to improve your health starting today that might even save you money in the long run.

1. Walk more.

It’s the fastest, easiest way to get in some exercise.

February 26, 2015

And taking a walk right after a meal is especially good for curbing glucose levels, which is helpful for anyone trying to rein in blood sugar.

Don’t wait, though: Glucose hits its peak 30 to 60 minutes after a meal.

2. Protect yourself from the sun.

Slather on sunscreen and don a wide-brimmed hat. Discuss your skin sensitivity with a doctor, and find out if you need to take additional measures, such as long-sleeved shirts, driving gloves and long pants.

3. Speaking of doctors: Stop the foot-dragging when it comes to scheduling your annual physical. Just

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do it.

4. Slash the sugar.

No one is trying to take away all your ice cream.

But how about a scoop or two once or twice a week instead of three heaping scoops every night? Find small, simple ways to trim the sugar out of your diet and you’ll trim your waistline.

5. Get more sleep.

This should be welcome news. Research increasingly suggests that a run-yourselfragged lifestyle leads to stress, and stress leads to weight gain (and a stubborn resistance to weight loss).

So get more Zzzs.

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HEALTHLINE 15

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UNCOMMON SENSE

Maintaining personal independence when friends change Dear Dr. Beth, I am 22 and I attend a university here in the area.

My question is about how to handle social situations when I’m out with my friends. I have had some good friends for the last year or two and we all like going out to hear music and socialize at the bars.

However over time, several of my friends have gotten more and more into alcohol and some of them have started using pot and occasionally other drugs. Sometimes they act in ways that embarrass me and I really don’t enjoy being around them when they get really drunk or high. I still want to socialize with them, but I’m not sure how to handle the situation.

Partying and going out to bars to socialize and hear some good music are fun and common ways for college students to enjoy themselves.

Relaxation is the counterpart to studying hard and striving for good grades. However, for some students partying and friendships become the focus of their college experience at the expense of what they are really paying the school to do for them.

It is also not uncommon for addictions to begin to sur-

16 HEALTHLINE

face during this time. While there is a significant difference between experimentation, social use, occasional heavy use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, this difference may not be obvious when we are younger because almost everybody is engaging in some of these behaviors.

The bottom line is that you have to figure out how to deal with situations with your friends that are highly embarrassing and uncomfortable for you. One thing is for sure—it almost never works to confront someone when they are drunk or high or to get them to stop doing whatever they are doing. In truth, your only real option is to decide how you are going to maintain enough practical independence to disengage when you find yourself in these situations.

If you are out with friends and they have driven, your options are pretty limited.

You can disengage and walk home (if it’s not too far), you can ask another friend who isn’t drunk or high to drive you home or you can call a cab. Drive in a separate car, take the new light rail in town or take the downtown area bus if you can. Regardless, the point is that you have a right to remove yourself from the situation and doing so is the best option most often.

Of course, a lot of times sober friends feel a strong obligation to provide care for

their really drunk friends. You may worry about their welfare or that their out of control behavior is going to get them into trouble. You can make the effort to get your friend to go home with you, but you should absolutely NOT allow them to drive. You can drive them in your car or theirs or call a sober friend or a cab.

However, if your friend refuses to leave with you, then you have to face the facts and do what you need to do to take care of yourself.

At another time when all of you are sober, you really need to talk about your concerns. If he or she minimizes and denies the awkwardness of the situation and isn’t willing or able to change their behavior, you have the option of socializing with them in non-alcohol, non-drug social environments. If this turns out to be impossible, that is, if they insist on drinking and drugging pretty much anywhere you go and even when you are hanging out with them in their dorm room or apartment, you will have to decide whether

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the friendship(s) are worth maintaining and perhaps let them go.

It is an unfortunate situation when friends become out of control with drugs and alcohol, but it’s more important to maintain your personal independence and healthy behavior than to cling to particular friendships with people who are on a path of self-destruction. It is all too easy to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and get caught in the fallout of a bad situation.

Dear Dr. Beth I am having some problems in my life and they have been going on for a couple of years. Recently they seem to be getting worse. I’m not against getting help, but how do I go about finding a therapist?

This is a great question.

Fortunately, it is not difficult to find qualified and skilled therapists these days in northern Colorado.

February 26 , 2015

In my practice I have noticed that people find me in three major ways: referral by a friend or family member who is familiar with me or my work, referral from a health care practitioner who thinks I can be helpful to their patient, and the internet.

Another useful way to locate potential therapists is using the community listings in publications such as the MD Directory of Northern Colorado (published annually) and on the web, such as healthinfosource.com. This website allows you to search a county wide database and specify qualifications, specialties, location and insurance acceptance information.

There are also health and mental health organizations, such as the Larimer Center for Mental Health, college

counseling centers and outpatient mental health services connected to hospitals.

Programs such as Mental Health Connections, affiliated with the community health clinic, assist lower income individuals who meet particular criteria. Fortunately, our area is rich in resources and offers a wide variety of services, including individual, group, couple and family therapy.

Most therapists (not including community agencies) will speak with you on the phone briefly to help you determine whether they have the qualifications and skills you are needing to address your specific concerns. You would provide the therapist with a brief description of your concern and she or he can answer any questions you may have about their

skills, experience and style of therapy. While there are very few therapists who will offer a free face-to-face consultation, several do offer 10 or 15 minute phone consultations to potential clients. The first face-to-face session with the counselor will be most useful in determining whether a therapist is a good fit for you.

I feel optimistic that you will be able to locate a really capable therapist who can meet your needs.

Ask a trusted friend, read some therapist websites and pick one or two counselors to call and screen. You can also ask your insur-

ance company for a list of in-network providers if this is relevant to your situation.

With a little footwork, I am sure you will be able to get the help you are seeking.

Uncommon Sense with Beth Firestein Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 27 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for more than 16 years.

She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116, via email at firewom@webaccess.net or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.

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Specialists in the medicine of motion February 26, 2015

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HEALTHLINE 17

HL

HEALTH NEWS

New drugs, price war provide hope for hepatitis C patients

By Alan Bavley and Edward M. Eveld, The Kansas City Star (TNS)

Sallie Wickens’ life followed a death-defying narrative that traced the medical arc of hepatitis C: A blood-transfusion infection after a car accident in 1959, when she was 5; a positive test for the virus when she was 30; 10 years of deteriorating health; a debilitating course of interferon drug treatments that didn’t work; a liver so damaged she needed a transplant.

And then, her doctor, hepatologist Laura Alba, walked into an exam room last month at St. Luke’s Hospital and gave Wickens, 60, a big smile.

Six months after she finished taking a new drug called Sovaldi, along with an old antiviral, ribavirin, Wickens remains free of the virus.

“You are cured,” Alba told her.

When Sovaldi hit the market in December 2013, it was welcomed as the first in a series of wonder drugs that would revolutionize treatment of hepatitis C, a chronic disease that can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Earlier hepatitis C drugs had wretched side effects and offered at best a 50-50 shot at a cure. Sovaldi, when used in combination with other drugs, cures more than 90 percent of patients with relatively mild side effects.

By last summer, some

18 HEALTHLINE

New and costly drugs have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C. The Kansas City CARE Clinic has been successfully treating patients, many of whom are uninsured. The clinic has also helped patients find financial assistance for the extremely costly medications. Pictured are medications for treating the different genotypes of the virus. OraQuick, center, is a 20-minute screening test for hepatitis C. (Jill Toyoshiba/Kansas City Star/TNS)

medical researchers were predicting the new drugs could help turn hepatitis C into a rare disease by 2036.

But Sovaldi also became known as “the $1,000 pill,” with a list price of $84,000 for a three-month course of treatment. Adding other drugs, tests and a doctor’s

care put the total cost of a cure at about $150,000.

That’s roughly double what the previous course of treatment cost.

With an estimated 3.2 million Americans suffering chronic hepatitis C infections, the expense would be staggering. State Medicaid

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programs and commercial insurance plans quickly restricted Sovaldi to the sickest patients.

A year later, Sovaldi and other new hepatitis C drugs appear to be living up to their promises, while the anxieties about their prices are easing.

“This is one of the most exciting events in modern medicine,” said Emalie Huriaux, director of federal and state affairs for Project Inform, an advocacy group for people with hepatitis C and HIV. Meanwhile, new hepatitis C drugs just as effective as Sovaldi have entered the market, setting off a price war. Insurers have been able to extract discounts from drug companies. That’s expected to cut the cost of these drugs by about $4 billion this year, according to Express Scripts, a St. Louisbased pharmacy benefits management company.

Sovaldi’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, said this week that discounts on its hepatitis C drugs would average 46 percent this year.

Many uninsured or underinsured patients are getting their medications at little or no cost through manufacturers’ assistance programs. Patient advocates say these programs have been generous, at least to doctors and patients with the savvy and persistence to get through the paperwork.

“Doctors have gone from spending their time manag-

February 26 , 2015

ing the side effects of the old medications to doing paperwork to get the new ones,” Huriaux said.

At the University of Kansas Hospital, liver specialist Richard Gilroy is constantly running interference for his hepatitis C patients. Just last month, an insurance company asked him to try the old hepatitis C therapy, the antiviral drug interferon, first.

“They wanted me to fail him on interferon before they would approve the standard of care,” Gilroy said. “The side effects of interferon can even be life-threatening.”

The Kansas City CARE Clinic, which treats many uninsured and low-income patients, has been able to circumvent the hurdles of Medicaid and commercial insurance plans by going through patient assistance programs. Much of the paperwork is handled by Albers Medical Pharmacy, a local independent pharmacy.

“I think we’ve had almost 100 percent success in obtaining medications for patients, regardless of their insurance,” clinic physician Blair Thedinger said.

Hepatitis C is part of an alphabetic list of distinct viral diseases that inflame the liver. Hepatitis A and B usually go away on their own, and there’s a vaccine that protects against them.

Hepatitis C can be far more dangerous and insidious. The virus usually is spread when an infected person’s blood enters the body of someone who isn’t infected. This commonly happens when intravenous drug users share needles. Risky sexual practices also may pass the

February 26, 2015

virus. But some people, such as Wickens, acquired the infection from blood transfusions before tests excluded infected donors.

Hepatitis C is most common in the baby boom generation, and a government task force recommended in 2013 that everyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for the virus. Even though new hepatitis cases are declining, many boomers have long-smoldering chronic infections.

Until just a few years ago, the only treatment was injections of interferon in combination with other antiviral drugs. Practically all patients suffered severe side effects that included flulike symptoms, diarrhea and nausea, depression and anxiety. Many quit taking the drugs.

Two drugs introduced in 2011, Incivek and Victrelis, bumped up the odds of a cure to nearly 80 percent.

But the drugs also more than doubled treatment costs and still had to be taken with interferon.

Many doctors knew that a third generation of hepatitis C drugs would soon be available and advised their patients to wait.

When Sovaldi was introduced, it immediately became the drug of choice.

But it comes at an even steeper cost than any of the drugs it replaced.

Gilead Sciences has said that pricing of its hepatitis C treatments “reflects the significant clinical, economic and public health value of these drugs, and is comparable to, or in many cases less than, the cost of older,

less effective regimens.”

The drugs are also costeffective over the long term, Gilead said. The quick cure they provide “may lessen the frequency of health care visits and hospitalizations, and lower the need for medications to manage side effects and complications.”

Such explanations did not persuade Steve Miller, chief medical officer of Express Scripts and a leading critic of Gilead’s pricing.

Second-generation hepatitis C drugs already were priced at a premium, he said. Gilead was charging a premium over the secondgeneration prices for Sovaldi.

“We believe you shouldn’t take a premium on a premium,” Miller said.

In December, AbbVie introduced a competitor drug called Viekira Pak. Days later, Express Scripts announced it had made a deal with AbbVie for a discount on its new drug. In return, Viekira Pak would become the exclusive option for most hepatitis C patients covered by the Express Scripts National Preferred Formulary. The formulary covers about 25 million people.

Aetna, the nation’s third largest insurer, then negotiated a discount with Gilead.

The deal includes both Sovaldi and Gilead’s newest hepatitis C drug, Harvoni, which combines Sovaldi with a second drug for a one-pillper-day treatment.

And a 25-state consortium struck a deal with AbbVie to make Viekira its preferred choice for treating Medicaid patients.

The price war could continue. Merck has said it

Reporter-Herald — ReporterHerald.com

is planning to seek approval for its Sovaldi competitor, possibly this year.

Wickens’ first treatment for hepatitis C, in 2007, proved unbearable.

The Climax Springs, Mo., woman sailed through treatment — interferon and ribavirin — until the fourth month, when the side effects kicked in.

“It was making me crazy,” she said. “I was having horrible hallucinations, seeing guns pointed at my head. I was hearing voices.”

Treatment was stopped.

The drugs also caused her hair to fall out, but the virus survived.

By 2012, Wickens’ liver was failing. After four months on the transplant list, she received a liver graft.

But transplants don’t eradicate the virus, and last year her doctors at St. Luke’s told her she was ready for the new treatment. Her insurance covered the cost.

Side effects were a minor rash and fatigue.

Six months after the treatment, her viral load remained undetected.

Even now, Wickens’ liver must be monitored, and she’ll continue to need medication to keep her body from rejecting it. But her liver won’t be battling hepatitis C, and in what seems like a miracle to her, neither will she.

“That hammer isn’t hanging over my head,” she said.

“The reason I’m interested in telling the story goes back to when I was 5 years old, riding in the back seat of my mother’s car. The focus now must be on getting everybody tested.”

HEALTHLINE 19

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HE A LT H C A R E

How health care will affect your taxes: 6 tips you need to know $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more. Get started now to avoid overspending. Visit Healthcare. gov for more information.

3

(BPT) - The Affordable Care Act has changed the health care insurance landscape, and for the first time health care and your taxes are now directly related. Millions of Americans will have to start making decisions about health care insurance now to be able to save more of their hard-earned money come tax time. The good news is that people have more options than ever for affordable health insurance and now is the time to find out what works best for you and your family.

Free online resources, like TurboTaxHealth.com, offer a guide on how the health care law affects you and your wallet, and has provided six simple tips to get you started:

1

If you’re not currently insured, act now to buy health insurance this year.

Open enrollment began on Nov. 15, 2014, and ends Feb. 15, 2015. In order to get health insurance coverage that started Jan. 1,

20 HEALTHLINE

Americans needed to enroll

by Dec. 15. For those who enrolled in the Marketplace in 2014, current coverage automatically re-enrolled on Jan. 1. If no action is taken, you will still have until Feb. 15 to decide if you want to change your plan in the Marketplace. You should still check your coverage to ensure that your network and costs are what you expect.

2

Don’t miss the threemonth open enrollment period. If you miss this three-month window of opportunity, you will need to wait until the open enrollment period in 2016 to buy coverage unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. If you don’t have health coverage during 2015 that qualifies as minimum essential coverage, you must either pay a fee or see if you qualify for an exemption from paying the penalty. The fee in 2015 is steeper than it was in 2014 - 2 percent of your household income or

Understand if you qualify for an exemption from purchasing health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Tax exemptions come in many forms. An exemption from the Affordable Care Act will eliminate your obligation to pay a fee for not having health insurance. You can find out if you’re eligible to waive the health care penalty fee with TurboTax Exemption Check.

Check if you’re eligible for a discount on health insurance premiums in the form of a tax credit. To help lower-income families and individuals pay for coverage, the federal government will provide financial support on monthly premiums and outof-pocket costs via subsidies.

To help offset the cost of buying insurance on the exchanges, tax credits are available, depending on your 2015 household size and income. Check out TurboTax’s free health care calculator to see if you are eligible.

4

If you purchased insurance through the state or federal exchanges, be sure to report major life events, change in income or changes like getting married, having a baby or if you received a raise. You can do this online by logging in

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to your insurance Marketplace account or calling the Marketplace Call Center. It is important to report any income changes to the Marketplace so they can change the amount of the tax credit applied to your insurance premium. This may also reduce any potential amount you would have to pay back at tax time. You also may be eligible for more subsidies than you’re getting, so it pays to double check.

5

Come tax time, report your insurance status when you file your tax return.

If you get your insurance, whether through your employer, through Medicaid, Medicare or the Marketplace, reporting it is really a matter of checking a few boxes with TurboTax. Using the tax prep software you simply answer a few questions and check a box to confirm you have health insurance when you file your taxes and TurboTax does the rest.

6

Choosing health insurance is without a doubt a big decision, which is why it is important to consider all options before figuring out which is best for you.

If you need a bit more assistance, there are a lot of free resources out there, like TurboTaxHealth.com, which offers helpful tools and answers to common questions.

February 26 , 2015

HL

OUTDOORS

Guided nature hikes in Larimer County

By Misty Kaiser, Healthline Magazine

As March approaches, so do thoughts of spring and hopes for warmer weather.

Whether temperatures cooperate or not, many Coloradoans start itching for a little more time outdoors. For those who find themselves in particular that frame of mind, the Larimer County Naturalists have a program that just might scratch the itch.

According to a recent Larimer County news release, the public is invited to join the naturalists this March for a series of guided nature hikes that combine learning

about the beauty of nature in northern Colorado with easy hikes through various Larimer County Open Space locations.

Tuesday, March 3, 9:15 a.m.

The first meeting, “Tiny Trekkers at the Loveland Library”, will meet at the Loveland Public Library at 300 N. Adams in Loveland.

This programs is geared toward 2 to 5 year-olds and their accompanying parents or guardians. Enjoy crafts, fun facts and time outdoors, weather permitting.

Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.

Meet at Horsetooth Moun-

tain Open Space, located just west of Fort Collins off of CR 38E for “Life in the Cold” — an exploration of how plants and animals make it through the cold winter months.

Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m.

Learn about the “Twigs and Buds of Devil’s Backbone” from ecologist and naturalist Paul Alaback. Meet at the Devil’s Backbone Open Space, west of Loveland just off of Hwy. 34.

Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m.

“Big Birds of River Bluffs Open Space” will teach hikers about the large birds that frequent the areas along the

LOCAL MATTERS!

river in the newest Larimer County Open Space, located west of the I-25/Windsor interchange off of CR32E. The hikes are considered easy, and hikers are asked to wear comfortable footwear, dress appropriately for the weather and bring along their own water and snacks.

All of the above programs are free but registration is required. Please visit larimer. org/NRregistration to sign up.

To learn more about Larimer County’s parks and open spaces, visit larimer.org/ naturalresources.

NORTH SHORE HEALTH & REHAB FACILITY 667-6111 LAKEVIEW COMMONS 278-4000 THE WEXFORD 667-1900

www.columbinehealth.com February 26, 2015

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HEALTHLINE 21

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TECHNOLOGY

HEALTH-CARE FUTURE? High-tech sensors will lead to highly personalized care

By Rene Lynch, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

The future of health looks a lot like the fitness tracker you might already wear on your wrist or your waistband.

But instead of just keeping tabs on your activity level, high-tech sensors embedded throughout your home, your car and maybe even under your skin will keep tabs on your every waking moment.

And your sleeping moments, too.

“A whole new day is coming,” said Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, considered a pioneer in the field of digital medicine.

This near-continuous data dump will revolutionize

22 HEALTHLINE

our healthcare system, Topol predicted, and will lead to micro-personalization of our diets, workouts, homes and even medical treatments.

The upshot, he said, is that this data onslaught puts control of your health back where it belongs: with you.

His new book, “The Patient Will See You Now,” documents the looming power shift, courtesy of our smartphones.

Here’s what it might look like: Light, temperature and movement sensors in your bedroom will help you craft night after night of deep, peaceful sleep, allowing you to wake rested and energized — and without an alarm clock.

A tricked-out bathroom scale might reflect not just

your weight but also the air quality in your home, your stress level and your resting heart rate. An elevated heart rate could suggest a cold is on the way. So you might want to take it easy for the next day or two. (And maybe cozy up to a bowl of chicken soup.)

But if your heart rate is a beat or two lower, you’ll know that your workout regimen — the one tailored for your precise fitness level, body shape and blood type — is progressing nicely. You’ll polish your pearly whites with an electronic toothbrush that will tell you if you’ve brushed long enough or if you missed a spot, and will compile that information for your next dental visit.

Over the course of the

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day, you’ll eat meals designed for your body type, family health history and fitness goals. (Luckily, you won’t have to bother with dreaded food diaries because sensors in your plate, fork and even food scales and containers will do most of the work.)

You’ll be able to order blood panels and Skype with healthcare professionals halfway around the globe (and for a quarter of the price). And you can continuously monitor yourself — or a loved one, such as an aging parent — for key health markers such as blood pressure, glucose and hydration levels, inflammation, oxygenation and even the quality of your waste.

At this point, you may be thinking, “Why would I want to know all that?”

February 26 , 2015

Devices like the Sensoria Fitness Sports Bra & Heart Rate Monitor will allow you to collect personalized data that will provide you with the biofeedback you’ll need to continually tweak and finesse your way to optimal health. (Sensoria Fitness)

But others wonder, “Why wouldn’t you want to know all that?”

“We’re all very unique, and everybody has a different lifestyle,” said Shawn G. DuBravac, the senior director of research for the Consumer Electronics Assn., which recently wrapped up its annual Las Vegas trade show, where many new gadgets and gizmos were unveiled, including that interactive toothbrush.

“A data stream allows for a customized approach to your health.”

All those personalized data will be seamlessly harvested, synthesized and organized into a personalized dashboard that provides you — and anyone you choose — with the biofeedback you’ll need to continually tweak and finesse your way to optimal health.

“The message from the medical profession used to be, ‘Everyone should eat this’

or ‘Everyone should do that,’” Topol said. “But that was all wrong. We were practicing mass medicine at a dumbeddown level. Today, medicine can be personalized.”

Both men said this “datafied” future will eliminate the gap between the haves and the have-nots when it comes to basic healthcare. As smartphones become widely available, healthcare becomes more widely available.

“It’s really the democratization of medicine,” Topol said.

“Everyone will have access to this knowledge.”

The bigger challenge, he said, will be bridging the gap with the less tech-savvy among us and making sure they aren’t left behind.

In many ways, the datafied future is already here, as much of that data are available but not yet used.

The challenge, DuBravac said, will be to gather information from multiple sources and present it in a way that inspires more healthful activity and doesn’t drive users to hypochondria.

Does your fitness tracker, for instance, motivate you to move 10,000 steps a day over the long run? But what if it alerted you that on days when you get 30 minutes less

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sleep than usual you tend to miss your goal?

“That might motivate you to get more sleep,” DuBravac said.

The day for such an interface is drawing closer, he said, and the segments of the population that might benefit the most are baby boomers and their caretakers.

The potential uses are limitless if you look at the world as one big potential sensor, Topol said.

What if you were able to get an alert that your elderly mother’s blood pressure was lower than usual, based on a wrist sensor? You could call and make sure she takes her medicine before something serious happens. A car’s steering wheel could trigger an insulin warning for diabetics. Nano-sensors released in

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the bloodstream could monitor for heart attacks, autoimmune attacks, cancer and strokes before they happen, Topol said.

A microchip embedded in a pill could help document when someone takes — or fails to take — medication.

“Study after study shows that 50 percent of people of all types don’t take their medicines the way they are prescribed. We can do a lot better if we can track it.”

The ability to monitor vital signs could even allow a stable patient to recuperate at home instead of in a hospital bed.

“I don’t see this as Big Brother,” Topol said. “You can keep all this information to yourself; you don’t have to share it with anyone. You are in the driver’s seat.”

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HEALTHLINE 23

Center When: By appointment, please call 970.635.4097.

Cost: Free

MEMORY SCREENING

Confidential memory screenings to individuals with the objective of early detection and intervention.

Where: McKee Conference Center When: By appointment, please call 970.635.4097 Cost: Free

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Where: McKee Cancer Center Conference Room B When: 4th Thurs. of each month, 5:30 -7 p.m.

Cost: Free Call: 970.622.1961

SCLERODERMA SUPPORT GROUP

Open to scleroderma patients, family, caregivers, and friends looking for a forum to share feelings, concerns, and information.

When: 4th Sat. of even numbered months, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Medical Center of the Rockies, Poudre Canyon Room

TOTAL JOINT EDUCATION

Physical therapists and occupational therapists prepare patients for surgery. This program is coordinated through your physician’s office as part of the surgery scheduling process.

Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center When: Thursdays, 11 a.m.

Cost: FREE - Registration not required.

Information: 970.635.4172

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

A supportive environment for women to explore the

February 26, 2015

rewards and challenges of aging. Facilitated by Dr. Beth Firestein.

When: 2nd & 4th Tues, monthly, 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

March 10 & 24, April 7 & 21 Where: Perkins Restaurant (W. Eisenhower) in Loveland Cost: FREE Info: visit bethfirestein.com, email firewom@webaccess. net or call 970.635.9116.

YOGA SUPPORT GROUP

For anyone touched by cancer.

Where: McKee Medical Center Cancer Center Lobby When: 1st and 3rd Thurs. every month, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE Call: 970.635.4054 to register.

PARKINSON’S LSVT “BIG” EXERCISE REFRESHER CLASS

Open to anyone with Parkinson’s disease who has completed the LSVT “Big” program with a physical or occupational therapist and wants to practice exercises.

Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center, Boettcher Room When: 3rd Tues. of every month 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE Information: 970. 635.4171

DAY OF DANCE FOR YOUR HEALTH

Not your typical health fair!

Bring your entire family for dance demonstrations and lessons, health information, games and giveaways. Fun for all ages!

When: Sat., April 18, 9 a.m.1 p.m.

Where: Loveland High School, 920 W. 29th St. Cost: Free Information: 970.203.6631

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HEALTHLINE 25

PAID ADVERTORIAL

You Won’t Want to Miss the Loveland Community Day of Dance for Your Health Join us for a fun twist on good health on

Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Loveland High School.

The Loveland Community Day of Dance for Your Health, sponsored by McKee Medical Center and Spirit of Women, is not your typical health fair! It’s an event designed to get you moving for a healthier lifestyle.

Bring your entire family for a time of healthy fun for all ages.

This free community event celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the joy of good health. There will be: • Dance demonstrations and lessons • Health information at hands-on exhibits • Healthy food demos • Health screenings • “Ask-the-Doc” with Banner Health physicians from various specialties • Activities for the kids • “Minute to win it” games and giveaways Loveland High School is located at 920 W. 29th St. The entire event is FREE. For more information, call (970) 203-6631 or visit www.BannerHealth.com/McKeeSpirit for details, dance schedule and more!

OPEN LAB BLOOD TESTS McKee’s Community Wellness department offers low-cost blood screening to community members.

WHERE: McKee Medical Center 2000 N. Boise Ave., Loveland WHEN: First Wednesday of the month starting April 1, 7 a.m.-8:45 a.m.

A variety of screenings are available and results will be mailed to your mailing address within one to two weeks.

The most popular screening is our E24 Health Fair Panel available for $35. It includes a lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, ratio), triglycerides, glucose, thyroid (TSH), iron, liver/kidney/heart function and electrolytes.

For a complete list of available screenings, visit www.BannerHealth. com/McKeeWellness.

NOTE: We are unable to bill Medicare or insurance so payment is required at time of screening. Call 970.350.6633 to schedule an appointment.

26 HEALTHLINE

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February 26 , 2015

Your Best Choice for Local News ‌

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Sheri’s back in

The team at UCHealth Heart Center and Medical Center of the Rockies used the TAVR procedure to repair Sheri’s heart valve. Since 2012 this team has been leading the region with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. Experience matters.

HEART CENTER

Call today: 970.237.4756.

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