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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 3

Inside

HELAiLT H ne

February, 2010

Heart Health Eat for a healthier heart.........Page 4 Find your ideal heart rate zone when working out...................Page 8

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, non-commercial, 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:

For editorial information, contact:

Linda Story — 635-3614

Jade Cody: 635-3656 jcody@reporter-herald.com

Your Heart: a user’s guide...Page 18

Parasite threatens man’s vision Page 14

Rhema reviews workout DVD’s Page 22

also inside Crandoodles by Steve Crandall ........................................................ pg. 11 Uncommon Sense with Loveland’s Dr. Beth Firestein .................... pg. 13 Destination: Healthy with Amanda Wicker ....................................... pg. 16 The Healthy Plate .............................................................................. pg. 17 Is stretching really necessary?......................................................... pg. 20 Loveland health briefs ...................................................................... pg. 23 Health in the news ............................................................................ pg. 25 Loveland health calendar ................................................................. pg. 26

Health in a Handbasket Jade gets fishy

Page 6

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Hearty Appetite Story/graphic by U.S . Food and Drug Administration

aking healthy food choices is one of many lifestyle changes that can help reduce your risk for getting heart disease — the No. 1 killer in the United States. The Nutrition Facts found on most foods and health claims allowed on some foods can help you choose wisely.

TO HELP WARD OFF HEART DISEASE, CHOOSE FOODS WITH • less fat • less sodium (salt) • less cholesterol • fewer calories • more fiber “Making better food choices for your health doesn’t mean you will need to exclude favorite foods,” said Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., director of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements. “You can use one of the most valuable tools people have — the food label — to make dietary trade-offs. For example, if you eat a food that is high in saturated fat, you can make other choices during the day that are low in saturated fat to keep your total daily intake in balance by using the part of the food label called Nutrition Facts.” FDA regulations require nutrition information to appear on packaging for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts and drinks. Nutrition labeling for raw produce (fruits and vegetables) and fish is voluntary.

FOOD LABEL AND NUTRITION FACTS “The food label gives people the power to compare foods quickly and easily so they can judge which products best fit into a heart-healthy diet or meet other dietary needs,” Schneeman said. For example, people concerned about their blood pressure who want to limit how much salt (sodium) they eat may be faced with five different types of tomato soup on the shelf, Schneeman said. You can compare the sodium content of each product by looking at Nutrition Facts to choose the one with the lowest sodium content.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 5 NUTRIENT HIGHS AND LOWS Most of the nutrients that must be declared under Nutrition Facts on the food label are listed with a “percent Daily Value” (percent DV), which shows the percent of the recommended daily intake that’s in a serving of that product. Consumers can use the percent DVs to create a balanced diet. With a glance, they can see if a product has a high or low amount of a nutrient. The rule of thumb is 20 percent DV or more is high and 5 percent DV or less is low. Health experts recommend keeping the intake of nutrients that may increase your risk for heart disease as low as possible. These nutrients are • saturated fat • trans fat • cholesterol There is no percent DV for trans fat, but you can use the label to find out whether the saturated fat and cholesterol are high or low. When comparing products, look at the total amount of saturated fat plus trans fat to find the one lowest in both of these types of fat. You can also use the percent DV to choose products that contain higher amounts of heart-healthy nutrients, such as fiber. Eating fiber from fruits, vegetables and grains may help lower your chances of getting heart disease. Be sure to check the serving size on the Nutrition Facts part of the food label. If the serving size is 1 cup, and you eat 2 cups, you are eating double the calories and nutrients listed. HEALTH CLAIMS Some food products carry health claims — statements that the product may help reduce the risk of developing a certain disease or condition. FDA authorizes some health claims based on “significant scientific agreement,” which means that the claim is supported by strong, scientific evidence based on studies in people and that the claim is unlikely to be reversed by new studies. Only foods that meet the criteria for a claim are

(unless your health care professional has told you to restrict the amount of potassium you eat). Potassium counteracts some of the effects of salt on blood pressure. • Choose foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list to make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. (Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. Metro Creative photos Those in the largest amounts are listed first.) allowed to carry the claim on their la- Some names for added sugars include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn bels. syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and HERE ARE CLAIMS RELATED TO fructose. HEART DISEASE THAT YOU MAY SEE • Pick foods that provide dietary ON SOME FOODS fiber, like fruits, beans, vegetables, • While many factors affect heart and whole grains. disease, diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of this disease. • Diets low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure, a disease associated with many factors. • Soluble fiber, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING • Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. • In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed. • Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Most of the fats you eat should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils. • Look for foods high in potassium

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Health in a Handbasket

Journey of a Pool Boy Jade takes the plunge for fitness Jade Cody Special Sections Editor

here is a group of crazy people in Loveland. They wake up before 5 a.m., put on swimsuits and drive in the cold dark morning to the Loveland Masters swim class. From 5:30 to 7 a.m., they do laps. I’ve always thought of swimming as fun and laid back — what with the underwater tea parties, belly flops, cannon balls and of course the ever popular submarine-Jaws-reenactment-legbite (best if not performed on strangers). But this is different. This is serious business. Swimming is a fantastic way be in good health. I think I’m in moderate to good shape overall, and these ladies and gentlefish swam laps around me. When I first saw the workout that our instructor, Maria Strait, devised for the class, it looked like an algebra equation. Once deciphered, it still looked like algebra, but more like a month’s worth of algebra, not an hour and a half worth. Broken down, it was roughly seven million thousand laps of swimming. I did not finish. I did swim for the entire duration of the class, but I probably only completed half the list, at best. I’m still not positive the other swimmers didn’t have secret fins somewhere or perhaps hidden blowholes. At several points during the class, Strait took me aside and gave me friendly pointers. She taught me to blow bubbles out of my nose and mouth when I swam, going up for a breath before I ran out of air. She said that holding your breath will cause a side ache. It took a bit for me to get used to, but I got it eventually and it

I mastered three things ... I learned a lot during my first visit to the Loveland Masters swim class. Here’s what I am a master at so far: • Doing a breast stroke so poorly that it makes people grit their teeth, put their hands over their squinted eyes and watch through thinly spread fingers. Kind of like watching a seventh grade version of me dance to the fast songs or seeing a car wreck involving a police squad car and a mobile medical marijuana distribution Winnebago. Both, not pretty. • Swallowing enough pool water that a puff of green smoke now comes out when I sneeze. • Not being able to do a backstroke without imagining I am a sailboat and that there are a bunch of miniature people sailing me to the other side of the pool. Then getting mentally attacked by miniature pirates on another human boat and having to fire the cannons (you don’t want to know).

Olympic swimmer present, which I did help with my breathing. The next thing Strait taught me was have decided to use as proof that I the correct form with my breast stroke. once competed in the summer Because I learn about as fast as a sloth Olympics. Same difference. peels potatoes, this didn’t happen right So overall, I give the class 10 stars away. Or at all. I think with some for intensity, nine stars for being flipguidance and a lot more practice, I per-compatible, and eight stars for fun might be able to get it. (the part where I died resulted in negSo about half way through the class, ative two stars). my life flashed, I saw images of when The Loveland Masters class meets I went to the zoo at age seven, playing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday catch with my dad at age nine, and the mornings from 5:30-7:30 a.m. at time I bowled a 227 in my college Mountain View High School in Lovebowling/beer drinking class. Apparland. For more information, call ently those are my life highlights. I’m 970-613-7800 or visit www.fortnet so lucky. .org/lvld-mstrs/index.htm. But just as I rose toward the light, I buckled down and finished out the class in a very slow motion, floppy kind of way. Health in a Handbasket My fellow swimmers is a monthly feature in which were very helpful throughI try a health-related advenout, checking my vitals ture and write about it. If you from time to time, and helphave an idea for a new ing me figure out which adventure, write to me at limbs to kick and which jcody@reporter-herald.com. ones to paddle. There were several former college swimmers and even one Health in a Handbasket

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 7

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Heart rate zone training Calculate exercise zones to maximize heart health icant damage,” Cauthorn said. “The exercising makes the body so sufficient it can ardiac rehab is not compensate for a weak the ideal place to be- heart. You’ve got more gin a workout roublood and oxygen circulattine. Congestive heart failure ing and more fuel.” starts when the heart beNot exercising can create comes stiff and does not high blood pressure, weight pump efficiently. Blocked gain and even diabetes. Cauheart valves, coronary arter- thorn and Wickersham exies and pressured heart plained that exercising for chambers can also cause the heart does not require a heart strain, according to trainer or technical moves. clinical exercise physiologist The key to better heart Ted Wickersham and regis- health is moving at a modertered nurse Lori Cauthorn of ate pace for a minimum of Poudre Valley Hospital. 150 minutes a week. ModerBoth Wickersham and ate movement is different for Cauthorn work recovery each person, calculated at 40 miracles by teaching patients to 60 percent of a person’s to allow their resilient hearts maximum heart rate, or 13 to beat freely again. They to 14 on a perceived exerutilize heart rate training tion scale ranking from six to methods and exertion scales 20. to help patients exercise, “When people talk about scales that should be used how they play golf three by everyone to keep hearts times a week, they walk at a comfortably rhythmic, not slow strolling pace but don’t just those close to cardiac ar- get the benefits that the rest. body needs in order to reThe rehab center uses ex- duce these risk factors,” Cauercise to help people heal, thorn said. and they often watch draAlthough people benefit matic results unfold. from doing any activity, they are not always increasing “People can regain what heart strength. they have lost or surpass it even if there has been signif“Unless you are doing 30

Rhema Muncy Special Sections Reporter

minutes of exercise and getting your heart rate into your personal range, then your heart isn’t getting enough of a benefit to prevent cardio vascular disease,” said McKee Medical Center exercise physiologist Linda Hepperle. “A lot of people say they are very active but it is intermittent, but their heart is not receiving the benefit and so they find themselves in cardiac arrest.” To achieve this moderate heart healthy exertion, think of how many words can be said between breaths while moving. “You can say a couple of sentences with out being short of breath, but you can’t sing them,” Cauthorn said when describing what moderate exercise should feel

like. To more accurately calculate heart rate training zones, Hepperle uses a person’s resting heart rate and maximum heart rate to calculate individualized training zones. “The trouble a lot of people have in finding their heart zones is they think they can just go off a chart on the gym wall,” Hepperle said. Exercise machines calculate generic heart rate maximums by subtracting age from 220. A more accurate way to calculate training zones is to take 220 and then subtract age and resting heart rate. Next, multiply the difference by the percentages desired for heart training. Then add back in the

Metro Creative Services photos

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 9 DO THE HEART RATE ZONE MATH For a 23-year-old, here is how to calculate a general fat burning zone: 220-23 (age) -75 (resting heart rate) = 122; 122x(.60)=73.2; 122x(.70)= 85.4. Add 75 back to both numbers to determine the right zone to train in, or 148-160 beets per minute.

resting heart rate. To train between 75-85 percent, a heart conditioning zone, do the equation two times to find the range needed to keep the heart pumping, Hepperle said. To burn fat, train between 60 and 70 percent of maximum heart rate. “You have to go longer, or at least 40 minutes, at this [fat burning] rate,” McKee Medical Center exercise physiologist Shanda McGuire said. “Once you start exercising, you have to get into your target heart rate zone before you can start that time.” Another simple way to measure exertion is to exercise at a level doing slightly more than what is comfortable. “Once our body has adapted to that level of exertion, we may need to go into vigorous amounts of activity,” Wickersham said. “The more physically fit we become, the higher overall intensity we can work at and the time commitments go down as far as how much time you need to devote to exercise to maintain minimum values.” Pushing a little harder than what is comfortable will create health benefits. “A lot of people don’t realize how much they can do,” Hepperle said. “You do have to get into what your range would be or work somewhat hard, keep

Training for the big run “To train muscles is one Rhema Muncy Special Sections Reporter thing, but to not train the muscle that provides the grew up in Boulder, blood and the oxygen Colo. where every that you need to function person stays for properly for a long time is Memorial Day weekend the key ingredient ,” to run the Bolder-BoulKline said. der. In 1997, my 10 yearHe trains athletes in a old self skipped, jogged, low heart rate zone over and chugged the free a longer period of time, a Gatorade during the 5K method that improves race. For a long time now athleticism with out placI have had a desire to ing stress on the heart. train to run this race and “You can increase your take my previous time speed and endurance at head-on. I might even the same time by running throw in some skips just slower,” Kline said. “This for tradition’s sake. is a wild concept, but it However, let me honreduces injury and it estly confess something makes running much — I hate to run. My cheeks turn the brightest more fun. Your fat burning zones are your lower red known to mankind, heart rate zones. Fat is the and I quickly get out of breath. In college I had to most efficient source of fuel your body has. So pass a two-mile running test every semester, a per- when you teach your sonal torture rack of sorts. body to burn fat more efficiently, you become I have heard of all the benefits of running, such much stronger.” Last week my training as better heart health, stronger muscle tone and started, and it actually isn’t too bad. Four times a experiencing endorphin highs. I think I am finally week I run in Zone two, ready to get over my mis- keeping my heart beconceptions and give it a tween 140-150 beats. Then three times a week shot. I recently spoke with Jeff Kline, a triathlon I strength train at Cross Fit Loveland. I also bike for trainer at PRS Fitness in one day and have a day Loveland, and he convinced me that come the of rest. Currently I have to end of May, he will have walk a lot during my runme ready to take on the ning time to keep my race with confidence. heart rate down, but I have already noticed an The secret to finally getting me to run is train- increase in my endurance. Soon I will be ing in heart rate zones. registering for the race, so My heart education began with a little insight on there are no more excusthe organ itself. es allowed for me.

I Metro Creative Services photo

it up for a duration of time and keep it up most days a week to really benefit your heart. Any activity will benefit your muscles and your health in general, but it is important to know why you should work in a heart range for a certain time.” The goal with heart exercise is creating lasting habits. “We want to be able to have folks do this for the next 10-20 years,” McGuire said. “A lot of people have that attitude that if they can’t push themselves to the limit, then it isn’t doing any good. That’s not true. If you are working in that moderate heart rate zone, you are getting the benefit of the exercise for your heart and lungs.” Cauthorn encourages people to step out the door and exercise now, no matter their ability level. “When you include even small changes, that creates a whole cascade of positive effects with cholesterol, with blood glucose, with blood pressure, with body composition and cardiovascular health.”

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 13

Uncommon Sense

Singles awareness day Beth Firestein, Uncommon Sense

uestion: I was alone on Valentine's for the third year in a row this year. I have great friends and family, but I'm just not good at meeting people. How does a single girl find love in Loveland? Answer: Well that is the $64,000 dollar question. We have control over many aspects of our lives, but love doesn’t seem to be one of them. Valentine’s Day just happens to be a day that is symbolic of romantic love to many people. In real life, most Valentine’s Days don’t live up to people’s expectations. People’s boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers and spouses seldom live up to one another’s expectations, even in basically happy relationships. In less healthy relationships, Valentine’s Day has actually been known to be deadly. This one holiday probably accounts for a disproportionate number of breakups. You have been lonely on the past several Valentine’s Days, but you are far from alone. An online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, reveals some interesting historical facts about Valentine’s Day and devotes considerable space to describing some of its irreverent alternatives. First, there is antivalentinism, a loosely defined move-

ment of people who oppose the consumerist approach to the day of love and those who object to the requirement that romantic love be expressed in a certain way on a certain day. Other antivalentinists object to Valentine’s Day because it causes distress to romantically unattached people, bringing greater attention to the fact that they are single and making them feel worse about their singleness. Fortunately, Wikipedia also suggests alternatives for the disenfranchised. You can get together with friends — both single and coupled — and celebrate Singles Awareness Day, an increasingly popular alternative holiday also celebrated on February 14th. Probably the most powerful thing we can do is redefine the Valentine festival in a more inclusive and expanded way. I know many, many people who celebrate by sending notes of appreciation and chocolate to many of the people they care about: grandparents, best friends, sisters and brothers, teachers, nephews and nieces and even their favorite postal carrier. Brightening the day for others also brightens your day by helping you focus on those whose lives help you feel whole. As for the problem of love, I’ll save that for another column — maybe in March.

Uncommon Sense with Beth Firestein Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 23 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for over 12 years. She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116 or via e-mail at firewom@webaccess.net. Question: I am in a busy season of life, and I feel like I’m spinning out of control. My responsibilities and family put heavy demands on my time, and I feel like I am barely keeping up. How can I find balance again? Can I replenish my emotional and physical energy? Answer: You must be an accountant or a tax preparer. Everyone I know in those professions routinely have lives that spin out of control from January through April 15th, but whether that is or isn’t your profession, your question applies to almost everyone at some season in their lives. There are several ways to approach the dilemma of overwhelm and each approach has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, if this is truly a finite period of time, like tax season, you may want to ask your family for reduced responsibilities and a lot of goodwill and patience and just press through as best you can. As a backup plan, if you are about to have a nervous breakdown, call 911. Joking aside, with this approach you reserve time after your busy season is going to end (a definite date is imperative) to schedule a vacation with your family, down time relaxing at home, a spa day, a trip to the mountains, or a golf tour, depending on your preference and your budget. Try posting pictures from maga-

zines of your reward-to-be on the wall of your office during the busy season. Another strategy is to schedule meetings that are actually meetings with yourself. A two hour meeting might include a nap and reading a novel for an hour with your phones off and your office door closed. Do this, or something like this, several times a week. Or consider taking an extra 45 minutes between work and home to stop at a coffee shop and read the paper, go for a brisk walk or stop at a park and listen to some of your favorite music before going home. Take time to shift gears when moving from one set of demands to another. Probably the most difficult strategy (and the most effective in the long-run) is to work toward making your life more manageable. Specifically, this includes learning to say no to work or personal commitments that add on to whatever you are already doing, prioritizing your current obligations, and accepting that some of these just might not get done — at least not on the timeline of others’ expectations. Gradually work in regular commitments to time for yourself: for example, exercise or taking a class of personal interest. This approach may take a year or two, but it is possible to create a more manageable life.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Parasite slowly steals vision Loveland man combats aggressive amoeba found in common tap water Rhema Muncy Special Sections Reporter

Photo special to the RH

This free-living water born parasite, the Acanthamoeba, causes Acanthamoeba keritis in two out of every one million people. The amoeba is commonly found in tap water but does not usually successfully thrive a human host.

unbearable,” Carder said. “At night if I would open my phone the light would be too bright and make my eyes hurt. I just got to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore.” During finals week, Carder saw Dr. John Kirk of Kirk Eye Center in Loveland. Kirk didn’t initially offer a different diagnosis, tweaked Carder’s drops and asked him to come back the next day if nothing had changed. “He didn’t mention anything, but I think Dr. Kirk was realizing from Michael’s symptoms what he had,” said Shirley Choury, Carder’s mother. “Michael is a motocross racer and ... he has broken almost every bone in his body, and so when he is telling me he would rather have broken bones than this pain in his eye, I knew it was pretty bad.” The next day Carder saw another physician who wanted to change his prescription completely. Carder and Choury felt confused about what to do. Then Kirk called and asked Carder to come back to his ofPhotos courtesy of Michael Carder fice as soon as possible. Carder competes competitively in motocross on a professional “He told me he really believed level in Colorado. Contracting Acanthamoeba keritis risked his Michael had Acanthamoeba kervision and way of life. atitis,” Choury said. tor in Fort Collins. Carder was told he had a scratched cornea and was sent home with highwo weeks before his fall powered drops. finals at Colorado State A few days later while he was University, Loveland residriving to school, it was so dent Michael Carder felt a bright outside that he had to strange itching pain under his right eye contact. It went on for close his right eye in order to a couple of days, so Carder’s fa- see. “The sun was really bright and ther took him to see an eye doc-

According to Animal Discovery, Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that causes infections in humans. It is a water borne organism that effects only one or two people out of every million, even though it is present in most water sources. “It is common in tap water, especially where there is a lot of scale or lime in the water, so we don’t get it,” Kirk said. “Our typical disinfection techniques don’t eradicate it, but generally it doesn’t cause many problems for us.” Acanthamoeba karatitis develops with the amoeba gets inside the eye through water exposure and begins to secrete proteins that dissolve the surface of the cornea. The amoeba eventually makes its way into the cornea and feeds on the bacteria living in the eye as well as the cornea cells themselves. The parasite creates symptoms similar to bacterial and virus infections, making diagnosis difficult, and early diagnosis is required to successfully treat the parasite. Carder experienced extreme pain, a feeling he described as throbbing constant sharp sensations accompanied by something eating at his eye. “They say the pain is actually

100 times worse than what they eye looks like,” Choury said. To conduct tests, Kirk scraped Carder’s eye several times and then sent samples and Carder’s contacts with the case to different labs. He examined Carder’s cornea and found a white ring around it. “The ring is just a subtle finding,” Kirk said. “When you are wearing contacts, it could be a normal thing, but it is also characteristic of the organism. You have to suspect the problem before you start looking for it.” After researching for the entire afternoon, Kirk found a pharmacy in Littleton that was able to create one of the drops needed to fight the amoebas, called PHMB, used in a swimming pool cleaning agent. The second part of the treatment was Brolene, a commercial medicine ordered from the United Kingdom. These drops combine and then multiply their individual effects in treating the eye, Kirk said. The process of fighting the amoebas could take anywhere from three to 12 months, and Carder must use the drops three times a day, take anti-fungal pills and apply an ointment to his eyelids at night. According to Kirk, this aggressive bombardment of medicine is the only way to kill the organisms because the amoebae are in differ-

“I woul upon a even m enemy

— Mich

ent stages at cluding an im shell reprod “If you co tive living or that would b are always m hatch,” Kirk are not as fo and he is pro with this for out of the w Carder is b to graduate vision is hea tor that soon the trail, kee sional motoc tire family w possibility o sight, but the ing. The onl the amoeba Carder did n known riske “When I r putting myse but wearing everyday thi wouldn’t wi ever, not eve my.”

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 15

Reduce parasite risk

“I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone, not even my worst enemy.” — Michael Carder, Loveland ent stages at different times, including an impenetrable hard shell reproductive stage. “If you could kill all of the active living organisms at once, that would be great, but there are always more waiting to hatch,” Kirk said. “Some people are not as fortunate as Michael, and he is probably going to deal with this for months. He is not out of the woods yet.” Carder is back at CSU, ready to graduate this spring, and his vision is healing, a good indicator that soon he will be back on the trail, keeping up his professional motocross status. The entire family was faced with the possibility of Carder losing his sight, but the treatment is working. The only mystery is where the amoeba came from, as Carder did not engage in any known risked behaviors. “When I ride, I know I am putting myself at risk to get hurt, but wearing my contacts is an everyday thing,” Carder said. “I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone ever, not even my worst enemy.”

he most common cause of Acanthamoeba keritis is improper contact hygiene. Because traditional disinfection methods don’t eradicate the parasite, Dr. Kirk of Kirk Eye Center stressed the importance of not exposing contact lenses to tap water. This means no hot tubbing, going to a pool or showering with lenses in place. Also, don’t wash the lenses or lens case in tap water and don’t wear the lenses past their expiration date to keep the eyes safe from all unwelcome creatures. Even safe actions place eyes at risk. “Follow the solution and disinfection routine you have been given,” Kirk said. “All of the corners have already been cut for you, so don’t try to cut more corners or save money on lenses or solution. Likely you will get away with it, but not necessarily. You can get away with crossing the street most times, but sometimes you will get hit by a car.”

To prevent the parasite from growing, Animal Discovery recommends reducing exposure by: • Washing hands with soap and water before handling lenses • Cleaning lenses according to manufacturers' guidelines • Using fresh disinfecting solution each time lenses are cleaned and stored; never reuse or topping off old solution • Rinsing storage cases with sterile solution )and leaving them open to dry • Replace storage cases once every three months To promote eye health, the American Optometric Association offers these lens care tips: • Do not sleep in contact lenses unless prescribed by your doctor and never after swimming. • Never swap lenses with someone else. • Never put contact lenses in your mouth. • If you experience redness, secretions, visual blurring or pain, return to the optometrist.

More information

hen Carder first started his battle with Acanthamoeba, he and his mother Shirley were watching animal planet and a feature called “Monsters Inside Me” came on Animal Discovery. The show was about the parasite

Acanthamoeba and a young girl’s battle with the bug. At one point, the show became very detailed about the amoeba and how it functions and Choury asked her son if he wanted to stop watching. “I am living this,” Carder said.

For more information, visit http://www. animal.discover y.com/tv/monsters-inside-me.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Destination Healthy

Defeat exercise blahs head-on Amanda Wicker Destination: Healthy

TIPS FOR COMBATING THE BLAHS • Change up your workout routine. Try a new class or get a workout partner to help keep you going • Go on a recipe hunt for new exciting healthy recipes. • Take a healthy cooking class • Talk to a friend about how you feel and what you are going to do to change things up. • Come to Destination: Healthy — my free weight loss support group to meet new people with the same goals in mind. You will leave encouraged.

ts official … my kids have winter boredom. You know the syndrome where every three minutes they ask what else they can do? Ugh, is it Spring yet? While boredom can take a toll on a 3, 5 and 6 year old, it can really wreak havoc on a diet and exercise routine. It’s the time when none of your favorite Healthy foods seem appealing any longer and the workout routine you loved no longer holds your attention. I like to refer to this condition as the blahs. When I got my first case of the blahs, I was quite concerned. I thought, ‘this is it, I am going to lose everything I have worked so hard for.’ Thank goodness my trainer reassured me that most everyone who has done a diet and exercise routine for a consistent length of time experience this. The most important part is what you do about it. You can give in to the blahs and let it take a toll on your health, or you can treat them by changing up things in your routine for a fresh sense of energy. You have come too far to let the blahs rob you of your next goal along the way.

Amanda Wicker is a Loveland native and the founder of Destination: Healthy, a free weight loss support group held at Message of Life Ministries on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Amanda has lost a total of 130 pounds using diet and exercise. She can be reached at destinationhealthy@gmail.com.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 17

Healthy Plate

Delicious winter salad Francine Schafer, graduate student The Nutrition Center @ CSU

alads are often considered a summertime meal or side dish due to the growing season of vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. This recipe is perfect for winter, however, and makes use of squash which are plentiful and affordable at the time of year. Pumpkin can also be substituted in the early winter months. February is American Heart Month, and this recipe can be part of a heart healthy diet. It is low in sodium, total fat, and saturated fat, but is a good source of healthy unsaturated fat. The salad is also high in fiber, which is beneficial for lowering cholesterol. Although the dish is low in fat, goat cheese is not a low-fat cheese. It contributes a rich, creamy flavor to the recipe, and a little bit goes a long way, so enjoy it in moderation.

Butternut Squash, Lentil, and Goat Cheese Salad Number of servings: 8 Serving size: 1 ½ cups Start to finish: 50 minutes Adapted from a recipe by Ross Dobson as seen in Bon Appetit magazine Ingredients: ¾ cup green lentils 6 cups peeled, seeded butternut squash, cut into ½ inch cubes 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon sea salt 8 cups mixed salad greens ½ cup soft goat cheese, crumbled ¼ cup mint leaves, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Drain lentils, rinse under cold water, then drain again. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place butternut squash in a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and spices. Arrange squash in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast 15 minutes. Turn squash over, and roast another 10-15 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool. Combine lentils and butternut squash the remaining ingredients and olive oil. Nutrient information per serving — 157 calories; 7 g fat (2 g saturated fat, Directions: Place lentils in a small 4 g monounsaturated fat, 1 g polyunbowl. Cover them with cold water, saturated fat, 0 g trans fat); 3 mg soak for 10 minutes, then drain. Cook lentils in boiling salted water until ten- cholesterol; 22 g carbohydrate; 5 g proder but firm, approximately 30 minutes. tein; 8 g fiber; 141 mg sodium

Cook with a chicken canvass Jim Romanoff Associated Press

oneless, skinless chicken breasts may be great nutritionally speaking, but they can fall pretty flat when it comes to flavor. Consider that a plus, a healthy blank canvas on which other flavors can shine. First, cook them quickly and then use the cooking process to create a flavorful pan sauce.

Island Chicken Servings: 4 Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 /4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 /2 teaspoon ground black

Photo special to the RH

pepper 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 12-ounce package fresh pineapple chunks 1 /2 cup orange juice 1 /2 teaspoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 jalapeno chilies, seeded and minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Directions: Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer on a work surface and cover with plastic wrap. Using a heavy skillet or a rolling pin, pound them until flattened to about 1/2-inch thick. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt and pep-

stove over medium-low. Add the drained pineapple and brown sugar. Cook, stirper. Dredge both sides of each breast in the seasoned ring constantly, until the pineapple begins to brown, flour. 3 to 4 minutes. Add the In a large nonstick skillet chilies and garlic and stir over medium-high, heat the until the garlic is beginning oil and butter. Add the to color, 1 to 2 minutes. chicken breasts and cook Stir in the reserved juice. until they are well browned Bring the sauce to a simmer on both sides and no longer and cook until thickened pink at the center, about 4 and reduced slightly, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer minutes. Stir in the cilantro, them to a plate and cover then serve, spooned over with foil to keep warm. Do the chicken breasts. not clean the skillet. Nutrition information per While the chicken breasts serving (values are rounded are cooking, drain the juice to the nearest whole numfrom the pineapple into a ber): 268 calories; 70 calomeasuring cup. Add enough ries from fat; 8 g fat (3 g satorange juice to total 3/4 cup. urated; 0 g trans fats); 76 Stir in the cornstarch, then mg cholesterol; 19 g carboset aside. hydrate; 28 g protein; 1 g Return the skillet to the fiber; 133 mg sodium.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Your Heart: 101 McKee Medical Center RH paid advertorial

strong, hollow muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. It is only about o you know what a the size of a clenched fist healthy heart is? Do and weighs about a pound. you the basics of Every part of the body — how a heart operates? As even the heart muscle — health care organizations needs oxygen and share heart health and disnutrients. ease information during Na• Blood carries oxygen tional Heart Month, the staff and nutrients to every part from the CardioVascular Inof the body. stitute of North Colorado • Blood vessels direct the wants to help you understand heart health basics so flow of blood throughout you can understand every- the body. Healthy blood thing else just a little bit bet- vessels are flexible and smooth. ter. • Blood vessels that carry A healthy heart is a

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oxygen-rich blood to every part of the body are arteries. • Blood vessels that carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart are veins. • The heart is the pump that keeps blood circulating throughout the body. Each time the heart contracts, it forces blood through arteries. The heart is a two-sided pump. The right side of the heart receives blood from the body that is low in oxygen and pumps it to the lungs. As it flows through the lungs, blood picks up oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood returns to the left side of the heart. The left side pumps this oxygen-rich

blood to every part of the body. The heart has four chambers. Chambers in the upper part of the heart (the right atrium and the left atrium) receive blood and pump it into the lower chambers. The lower chambers (right and left ventricles) pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. Valves keep blood moving in the right direction. The valves that separate each of the chambers open with every heart beat and close between beats. They open in only one direction, so that blood flows in one direction and cannot back up.

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CORONARY ARTERIES Coronary arteries carry oxygenrich blood to the heart muscle itself like every other muscle in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to keep it healthy. The blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle are called coronary arteries. • Coronary arteries are located on the outside of the heart. • Blockages in these arteries can limit blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. The heart has its own electrical system. During each heartbeat, the heart muscle contracts and forces blood through blood vessels. Then it relaxes so the heart can fill with blood again. The heart’s electrical system sends impulses that cause the muscle to contract. • The sinus node is the heart’s “natural pacemaker.” It begins each impulse which causes the upper chambers (atria) to contract.

• From the sinus node, the impulse travels through the AV node, down the bundle branches and to the lower chambers (ventricles), causing these muscles to contract. • A healthy heart usually beats about 60 to 100 times a minute. During exercise or when you are excited or stressed, the sinus node sends out faster impulses which cause the heart to pump blood faster. Once you relax, your heart rate should return to about 60 to 100 beats a minute. • You can feel your heartbeat at specific “pulse points” throughout your body. Counting your pulse lets you know how fast your heart is beating. BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is the force it takes to push blood through the body. Each time the heart contracts, the blood flow puts pressure on artery walls.

Everyone’s blood pressure varies somewhat from day to day and with exercise or stress. By measuring the amount of pressure in the arteries during and between heartbeats, a gauge can show whether your blood pressure is normal. In general, normal blood pressure is about 120/70, and some evidence shows that less is better. • The upper number (systolic pressure) is the amount of pressure against your artery walls during a heartbeat. • The bottom number (diastolic pressure) is the amount of pressure against your artery walls when your heart is relaxing between beats. Now you should have a basic understanding of how a healthy heart works. To learn more about the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado and the services this group provided in Northern Colorado, visit www.bannerhealth .com/CVI.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

The BIG

Stretch

Is stretching before a workout beneficial, or is that a reach?

may be the most thorough look at the research on stretching. Before you go out and tear a cold hamstring, let’s back up. Research and anecdotal information attribute many benefits to stretching: reduced muscle tension, improved circulation, pain reduction and management. Perhaps Lenny Bernstein most important, stretching helps us The Washington Post maintain range of motion as we age, allowing older people to continue with t’s been a long, hard day at the ofthe activities of daily living. fice, and you need a good workout The question is whether “static to blow off all that stress. But bestretching” — the most common type, fore you hit the free weights, the stawhich involves holding a muscle in tionary bike or the elliptical machine, one position for a defined period of you spend 10 minutes carefully stretch- time — has been misinterpreted, or ing all those stiff muscles, just as every oversold, as a preventive for what ails coach, trainer and physical therapist you. has advised for as long as you can re“People believe all kinds of amazing member. things, and it changes every 10 or 15 The question is why. years,” said William Meller, a physician There’s no evidence that you’ll preand associate professor of evolutionary vent injury. In fact, some people bemedicine at the University of California lieve you’re more likely to cause one. at Santa Barbara, who sees even less You won’t stave off muscle soreness. value in stretching than the CDC does. You won’t perform better, except The merits of stretching are “not based possibly if you’re going to do gymnas- on any science. It’s based on word of tics or ice-skate. There’s some reason to mouth. It’s spread by coaches, spread believe you’ll do worse than if you by trainers, (by) all kinds of differhadn’t stretched. ent people who have an interest “There is not sufficient evidence to in pretending to be experts.” endorse or discontinue routine stretchAccording to Julie ing before or after exercise to prevent Gilchrist, a medical injury among competitive or recreational athletes,” concluded the National Center for Injury Prevention Control, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a 2004 study that

epidemiologist who helped conduct the CDC study, “it’s probably important that we maintain some norm of flexibility throughout our life spans, but I don’t think anyone has really defined what that norm is. “Our belief is there are probably people who would benefit from stretching. But then the question is who should stretch, when to stretch, how much to stretch and, most important, what benefits can be expected.” There was no argument about those benefits recently in a darkened dance studio at the D.C. Jewish Community Center, where instructor Lisa Glassman led 13 people in their 50s, 60s and 70s through an hour-long stretching and strengthening class. Harvey Block, 78, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, said stretching helps with his balance. Sally Berk, 64,

Jupiter Images

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 21 said daily stretching relieves some symptoms of her fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that produces widespread inflammation of muscles, ligaments and tendons. Joan McKinney, 76, said she hates aerobic exercise and stretching has cleared up her knee problems. Even for the elderly, “we don’t have the kinds of controlled intervention studies that we need to make a definitive statement about the benefits of doing flexibility exercises,” said Chhanda Dutta, chief of the clinical gerontology branch at the National Institute on Aging. “We’re not able to tell the elderly exactly the ways it can help them.” Similarly, coaches across the country wouldn’t dream of putting athletes on a field, even for practice, without a battery of stretches that help them take the pounding and awkward landings of contact sports. “As a coach, if I didn’t do that and somebody got hurt, I would probably have a tough time sleeping at night,” said Paul Foringer, the varsity boys’ basketball and junior varsity football coach at a high school in Gaithersburg, Md. Foringer’s athletes do a light

warm-up, then spend 15 to 20 minutes stretching before each practice. “The more flexible the athlete is, the less susceptible to injury he becomes,” Foringer said. “It’s kind of common sense. If you take something that’s taut and tough and you yank it, you’re going to tear it.” But that’s not what studies show. “Stretching was not significantly associated with a reduction in total injuries,” according to the CDC study, “and similar findings were seen in the subgroup analyses.” In static stretching, “you’re taking the

muscle to the point where it naturally wants to go, and then you’re taking it a little bit farther,” Meller said. That produces microscopic tears of muscle fibers and does nothing to prevent injury, he said. It also may weaken the muscle slightly, increase the possibility of injury and inhibit performance, according to him and the CDC study. For those who want to stretch, it should be done after a warm-up or at the end of an exercise routine because warm muscles are more pliable. Research indicates that warming up before exercise is more valuable than stretching. Specifically, Meller said, you should spend three to five minutes gently putting your body through the actions you’re about to perform, slowly increasing the intensity. If you’re going to play tennis, he said, swing forehands, backhands and serves, and run forward, backward and laterally before you hit the first ball. The CDC reports that a warm-up that raises your heart rate and body temperature gets your blood flowing, nerves firing and metabolism increasing to improve performance and prevent injury.

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Living room

Trainers Try workout moves from around the world in the comfort of home • Story by Rhema Muncy • Photo by Paul Litman

rozen Colorado wind blasts have kept me inside lately, but they haven’t stopped my work out frenzy. I decided to get out my stack of work-out DVDs to see if they would really help me bust a move. I strapped on my heart rate monitor and found that these movies got my heart pumping just as much as going to the gym. We even started a workout group at work. Every day we take the first half hour of lunch to dance around the break room. Working out with the girls has kept me on track. Don’t feel compelled to do the whole DVD each day. Get out some stretchy pants, tennies and sweat bands to try these sweat-inducing, muscle-toning grooves.

HEMALAYAA BOLLYWOOD DANCE Dancing to the bhangra beat is a great way to get out of the normal routine. This three-pack DVD features heart thumping music and plenty of campy dance moves. This one became a group favorite as it worked our muscles and helped us release stress through freeing dance moves. The Burn portion of the DVD made us very sore the next day.

DANCE WITH THE STARS Learn sultry salsa moves and break a sweat with this saucy DVD. The instruction is thorough and easy to follow, and each time I did the dances, I learned smoother hip moves and increased my calf muscle sizes. Wear heels and a flowing skirt to twirl in.

LIVING ROOM BOOT CAMP Jillian Michaels sure knows how to kick laziness in the rear end. This workout sets a vigorous schedule of six-daya-week workouts with Michaels breathing down the neck with every push-up. These workouts are perfect for ‘Biggest Loser” fans.

FIVE DOLLAR GRAB BAG I found this DVD in the five dollar bin at Walmart, and it was surprisingly good. My heart rate was pumping right away with high intensity aerobics, weight lifting and bouncing. Some camera shots were shaky and oddly placed, but easily worked around.

SAFE PILATES FOR EVERYONE Focus on muscles and then, “burn, baby, burn.” The Stott pilates method teaches people awareness of their particular body needs. This DVD helped me focus on technique as an important base to learn the toning moves. These routines are challenging.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 23

Health news briefs

PVHS FOUNDATION RECEIVES GRANT A one-year, $46,000 grant was awarded by the Colorado Health Foundation (TCHF) to a new community health program, Healthy Harbors — A Medical Home for Foster Families, to support a patient navigator that will aid foster families through any medical process. Healthy Harbors is a collaboration among key healthcare and foster care agencies, including the Larimer County Department of Human Services (DHS), PVHS Family Medicine Center (FMC), and the PVHS community health department. With the assistance of the patient navigator, DHS case workers will identify children who would benefit from a medical home and refer them to Healthy Harbors. The patient navigator will link the child and/or family with a medical home provider at FMC and work in partnership with health care providers, case workers at DHS, children in foster care, and birth and/or foster parents to identify and access all the medical and non-medical services children and their families need to thrive. The patient navigator is the crucial link for coordinating care, monitoring progress, eliminating duplication of services, improving efficiency, and reducing costs in the health care and foster care systems. For more information, call 970-237-7405.

Poudre Valley Hospital has received for the third year in a row the association’s top award for consistently achieving outstanding patient outcomes that are tied directly to high quality nursing care. This is the third year in a row that PVH received the national honor. The Fort Collins hospital was the first and only recipient of the award in 2008, the first year it was presented. This year, five other hospitals also received the award in various categories. More than 1,500 U.S. hospitals were eligible. The ANA presented the awards during its annual conference on National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) in New Orleans. Craig Luzinski, PVH’s chief nursing officer, said the award reflects the personal commitment of the hospital’s nurses and support staff members to provide worldclass care. PVH employs about 1,000 registered nurses. For more information, call 970-495-7427.

MCKEE MEDICAL CENTER ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS McKee Medical Center is now accepting applications for adult learner scholarships from individuals interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry. All adult learners who reside in the Loveland/Berthoud area are eligible to apply. To qualify, individuals must have a high school PVHS PRESENTED TOP AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING diploma or equivalent and plan to enter an approved NURSING QUALITY AND CARE health care field of study at The American Nurses As- an accredited institution. Adsociation announced that ditionally, individuals must

demonstrate scholastic ability and financial need. Information and application forms are available in the Administration office at McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave. Forms must be completed and returned to the Administration office by Friday, March 26. Scholarship winners will be announced in May. For more information, contact Carol Salter at 970-635-4000. ANNUAL MCKEE COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARD TO BE PRESENTED AT MCKEE THANKS EVENT Formerly known as the Thank You Loveland Luncheon, McKee Thanks will continue in the same tradition of recognizing and thanking the Loveland community for its support of Mc-

08-308560

Kee Medical Center. McKee Thanks will take place Tuesday, March 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the McKee Conference and Wellness Center. Donor generosity, staff compassion and the strength of caring all provide excellent patient care at Loveland’s community hospital. Inspiring stories of caring, compassion and life-changing experiences will be shared and the annual McKee Community Health Award, presented by the McKee Medical Center Foundation, will be presented. The McKee Community Health Award will honor one individual that has contributed to the overall health I See BRIEFS/Page 24

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

orado was held Feb. 12 at Marina Health Campus, which is under construction From Page 23 in Water Valley, a premier resort-lifestyle residential community in Windsor. and wellness of the LoveAt 18,727 square feet, land community either Poudre Valley Medical Fitthrough direct care or volness, owned and operated unteer service in the Loveby Poudre Valley Health land health care field. A System, will be the major complete nomination and anchor tenant in the 66,392informational form is availsquare-foot Marina Health able at McKeeFoundation Campus, under develop.com. Deadline for nomina- ment by Water Valley Land tions was Feb. 12. Company and Dohn Construction. The Marina Health Tickets for the luncheon Campus will be the location are $10 and available by calling 970-593-6038 or by e- for physician offices, physical fitness providers and mailing cheri.lohnes@ other healthcare services. bannerhealth.com. Rulon Stacey, PVHS presiGROUNDBREAKING FOR dent and CEO, said Poudre POUDRE VALLEY MEDICAL Valley Medical Fitness will FITNESS HELD FEB. 12 continue the health system’s A groundbreaking ceretradition of high quality, inmony for the first-of-its-kind, novative health care. “We’ll state-of-the-art medical fitoffer a continuum of care — ness center in northern Col- from prevention to diagno-

BRIEFS

sis and from treatment to rehabilitation — in Water Valley’s beautiful setting,” he said. Martin Lind, president of Water Valley Land Company, said he applauds PVHS for its commitment to foster health and wellness in Water Valley, Windsor and the region. Poudre Valley Medical Fitness will be a medically supervised health and fitness center, housing such PVHS services as pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, wellness services, and radiology services. The center will offer personal training, warm-water therapy pool, lap pool, steam room, group exercise classes, computerized fitness tracking, free weights, aerobics, cardio equipment, child care, and wellness and lifestyle classes provided by

such PVHS services as the Aspen Club, an organization for older citizens. The center will be available to PVHS patients and members of the public who purchase memberships. Stacey said the center will vary widely from the traditional public concept of such commercial health operations as health clubs and gyms. Those typically do not offer medical supervision or have an overriding medical focus on prevention and treatment. The Marina Health Campus will be constructed as a “green” building with environmentally sensitive features that will allow it to be submitted for LEED certified rating through the United States Green Building Council. For more information, call 970-495-7427.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010 25

Health in the News

CAT TESTS POSITIVE FOR H1N1 A 13-year-old cat in Iowa recently tested positive for the H1N1 virus, â&#x20AC;&#x153;marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza,â&#x20AC;? the American Veterinary Medical Association said in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have caught the virus from someone in the household who was sick with H1N1,â&#x20AC;? the statement said. State health officials said two of the three people who own it had suffered influenzalike illness before the cat got sick. They recovered, too. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rob Stein, The Washington Post CANCER LINKED TO EXCESS BODY FAT Newly compiled data suggest â&#x20AC;&#x153;excess body fat alone is responsible for more than 100,000 cancer cases in the U.S.â&#x20AC;? The report comes from the American Institute for Cancer Research, which said its data included cases of endometrial, esophageal, pancreatic, kidney, gallbladder, breast and colorectal cancer. It isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t known how body fat might increase cancer risk. Researcher Laurence Kolonel explained that fat isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just sitting around waiting to be drawn on when your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starving. In fact, he said, there are â&#x20AC;&#x153;all kinds of things going on in fat tissue,â&#x20AC;? including production of estrogen and other cancer-promoting hormones. Fat tissue also contributes to inflammation, an established cancer precursor, he said.

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5) Private rooms available. 6) Spacious and updated rehabilitation gym. 7) Therapists perform home evaluations to assess safety and to make recommendations for proper home modifications. 8) Therapists, case managers, and nursing staff work with patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and their families to develop a safe discharge plan, including discharge to home, assisted living, and adult family homes. With a great success rate of patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; returning to the community. 9) Voted best in Longmont 2009 Readers Choice. 10) 4 STAR rating with www.Medicare.Gov

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1) Comprehensive inpatient and outpatient therapy services. 2) Therapy services offered 7 days a week, providing individualized treatment programs by physical, occupational and speech therapists. 3) Certified wound nurse on staff offering mist therapy. 4) Post surgical care, orthopedics, and stroke recovery.

F O X T R A I L FA M I LY M E D I C I N E POUDRE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado February 18, 2010

Calendar

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS Poudre Valley Health System offers free Bright Beginnings materials for all families in Larimer County with children birth to 36 months of age. Registration is required. Call 495-7528 for more information. March classes: • Program A for infants: March 15 at MMC • Program B for toddlers: March 8 — 9:15 a.m. at the Loveland Library • Program C for 2-3 yrs: March 8 — 10:15 a.m. at the Loveland Library

with the management of COPD. Anyone who has COPD, emphysema or bronchitis is encouraged to attend along with family and/or significant others. Cost: No charge Contact: 970-635-4138 Location: McKee Conference and Wellness Center When: Classes meet Tuesday from 12:30-3 p.m. Session begins Feb. 23

DIABETES INFORMATION GROUP An informational/educational meeting for anyone touched by diabetes who MCKEE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS wants to learn and share. Cost: No charge. No regisBring your baby and learn tration needed. how nurturing interactions, a Contact: 970-203-6550 for healthy/safe environment and playing games together more information and topics. Location: McKee Confersupports brain development ence and Wellness Center and emotional health. Bright Beginnings is designed to HEART FAILURE celebrate the birth of new EDUCATIONAL SERIES 2010 babies and provide families The goal of the Heart Failwith health, safety, develop- ure Educational Series is to ment, play and community offer people with Heart Failresource information. ure (and their family and When: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 friends) information, rep.m. March 8 sources and support. Where: 3rd Floor, Family Cost: No charge. Birth Center Conference When: Second Tuesday of Room, McKee Medical Cen- every month from 3:30-5 ter p.m. Fee: Free. Pre-registration Contact: 970-635-4138. is required. Where: McKee Wellness Contact: 970-495-7528 to and Conference Center. register for a class or schedCAREGIVER’S SUPPORT ule a home visit. GROUP-FOR CAREGIVERS OF CANCER PATIENTS COPD (CHRONIC When: Call for times and OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE) locations. This education series helps Contact: 970-635-4129

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: Second Thursday of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby. Contact: 970-622-1961 SOULPLAY ART THERAPY People whose lives are touched by cancer experience the benefits of expressing themselves through art. No art experience needed. When: Wednesdays, 9:4511:45 a.m. Where: McKee Cancer Center Conference Room Contact: 635-4129 MAN TO MAN PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Contact: 970-622-1961 for more information.

or friends is available. Contact: 970-669-7069 Where: First Christian Church, 2000 N. Lincoln Ave. When: Feb. 18 and March 18, 10 a.m.-noon BREAST FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP When: 10-11 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays Cost: Free Contact: 970-669-9355 THE SEASONS CLUB The Seasons Club at McKee Medical Center strives to enhance the quality of life for mature adults through health promotion, education and recreation. To learn more about Seasons Club activities, call 970-635-4097 or visit www.bannerhealth.com Keyword: McKee Seasons Club.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING Have your blood pressure CAREGIVERS SUPPORT checked by a Wellsness speFor caregivers of elderly cialist. adults. The group focuses on When: Monday through providing support and eduThursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. cation about community reand Friday 8 a.m.-noon. sources and behavior issues, Cost: No charge particularly for people with Contact: 970-635-4056 Alzheimer’s and memory impairment. Where: McKee Wellness Services, 1805 E. 18th Street, Cost: No charge. Care of elderly adult family members Ste. 6, Loveland.

Gynecological surgery technology this advanced means less recuperation time and more family time.

McKee Medical Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s da VinciÂŽ robotic surgery is minimally invasive and offers women maximum benefits.

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www.BannerHealth.com/McKee For more information please call (970) 203-2089 Job opportunities: 866-377-5627 (EOE/AA) or www.BannerHealth.com f

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