HealthLine, September 16, 2010 by Loveland Reporter Herald

Ask a friend.

85 percent of patients say they would “definitely” recommend Medical Center of the Rockies. That’s higher than any other hospital in Loveland and Greeley, according to a government survey. Is it the world-class care, the dedicated and compassionate staff, or the state-of-the-art facility? Simple. All of the above. But don’t take our word for it. Ask a friend about Medical Center of the Rockies. Source: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

2500 Rocky Mountain Avenue Loveland, CO

I-25 and Highway 34

pvhs.org

970.624.2500

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 3

5 Crandoodles by Steve Crandall Health in a Destination: 6 Handbasket 7 Healthy Tai Chi: Martial art practice 14 benefits balance, relieves stress Meditation: Gain health benefits, 17 clarity and peace of mind

Health Line of Northern Colorado is a monthly publication produced by the Loveland Daily ReporterHerald. 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

Also inside Health shorts ............................................................................................. pg. 4 The Healthy Plate: Tomato and Italian Herb Gazpacho............................. pg. 8 Naturally boost your libido ....................................................................... pg. 10 Seniors use stairs as a workout.............................................................. pg. 13 UNC alum, NFL player Reed Doughty experiences hearing loss ............ pg. 21 Uncommon Sense with Lovelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dr. Beth Firestein ........................... pg. 22 Treatment options for atrial fibrillation .................................................... pg. 23 Loveland health briefs ............................................................................. pg. 24 Loveland health calendar ........................................................................ pg. 25 Ask a Health Pro ...................................................................................... pg. 26

For editorial information, contact: Jade Cody, special sections editor: 970-635-3656 jcody@reporterherald.com Jennifer Lehman, special sections reporter: 970-635-3684 jlehman@reporterherald.com

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Vitamin

Up to 50 percent of the population has some degree of vitamin D deficiency, according to Dr. Amit Khera, Director of the Preventive Cardiology Program at University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center. Some studies indicate that people with higher levels of vitamin D have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, along with fewer risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Vitamin D is produced by sun exposure or, more healthfully, through supplements or a diet of fatty fish, eggs and fortified milk.

Tweak your

taste buds

Alison Johnson McClatchey Tribune It really is possible to develop a taste for healthy foods you’ve avoided for years, nutritionists say. Here are some tips. • Go slow. Make one small change at a time over a period of weeks. As your taste buds adapt, gradually add in more vegetables, fruit and seafood. • Stay away from plain. Don’t start off with a plate of raw broccoli. Instead, mix pureed or diced vegetables into foods you already like. • Use flavoring. Vegetables can taste much better with some herbs and spices, Cajun seasoning or simply grilled with a little salt, pepper and garlic. • Experiment with cooking time. You may remember your childhood vegetables as a mushy heap. Texture can matter as much as taste: if the same food is firmer or cut into smaller pieces, it may be much more appealing. • Be adventurous. Every time you go to the grocery store, buy one fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried before. You’re likely to stumble on a new favorite. • Give fish a chance. Different types of fish don’t taste the same. Milder forms include tilapia, cod and flounder. Ask your store’s seafood department for recommendations. • Be patient. Children often won’t accept a new food until they’ve tried it eight or nine times, and the same may be true of grown-ups.

Stay

healthy

while traveling

Lindsay Minnema The Washington Post

hether you’re a frequent flyer who travels regularly for work or just an occasional vacationer, you don’t have to give up on all your health and fitness goals when you are on the road. Rebecca Johnson and Bill Tulin, the authors of “Travel Fitness,” a guide to diet and exercise while traveling, offer these tips: • Before boarding your plane, drink two 8ounce glasses of water. Keep drinking water on the plane to avoid dehydration. • Plan to arrive at your destination during the day so that when you get there you can take advantage of remaining daylight to do something active outside. • Set a goal of exercising at least every third day to keep your energy level up, performing at least a third of your typical aerobic routine. Complete your strength training routine at least once a week. • To help yourself pick healthier meals when eating out, decide on what you want before you even look at the menu, such as steamed veggies or fish, and just order it.

5months

Average time men go before changing their toothbrush

A nationwide survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older found that women say they change their toothbrush every three to four months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an average of five months. The ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes every three-to-four months or when the bristles become frayed since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning effectiveness. Among women and men in the survey, 86 percent of women brush their teeth twice or more a day, yet only 66 percent of men do so. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say they floss their teeth once a day or more often. And one out of three people surveyed think a little blood in the sink after brushing their teeth is normal, yet it’s not — it could signal gum disease or another health problem. — Source: American Dental Association

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 5

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Pit Boss

Health in a Handbasket

Three home remedies for sweaty armpits Jade Cody Special Sections Editor

Sadly, this one didn’t do it for me — at least, not right away. The next morning I ’m a sweater. Not like a sweated like any other day. wool Cosby sweater or a It might have worked better fashionable turtleneck, if I were to apply it over but the drippy kind — most- consecutive days or on my ly in my arm pits. actual arm pit instead of just My case of the sweats is creating ornaments. pretty mild, but it’s still a nui- Pit Boss Rating: One dry sance, so why not try to con- armpit quer it? Since this is our alternative health month with Health Line, I decided to for- VINEGAR go medical advancements My second attempt at besuch as surgery, common coming my own pit boss sense or prescription anwas called the apple vinegar tiperspirants. For this, I’ll on- remedy. This one works by ly use potions, black magic applying apple vinegar to and home remedies. And as my pits at night. Supposedly always, this experiment is it saturates sweat pores and highly scientific and should neutralizes any bacteria that most definitely be considmay be present. ered for research purposes After applying the vinegar, in medical journals. I debated whether the smell of vinegar or the smell of BAKING SODA According to the folklore, sweat is worse, and I’m still not sure. But after 20 minthe baking soda remedy works because it is an alka- utes I rinsed it off and covered it with scented deodorline and sweat is an acid, which, when mixed, creates ant, and the vinegar smell was gone. gas ... so sweat is quickly Eight hours through the and magically evaporated into the universe before it has next day, it was still holding a chance to make a pit stop. strong. I found a winner. Pit Boss Rating: Five dry To apply, I had to mix a generous amount of baking armpits soda with water until I had a thick paste. Then I buttered up my pits and let it sit for 25 STRAIGHT UP VOODOO minutes. I recently visited New OrWell, since I refuse to leans, which, from my expeshave my armpit hair, I rience, is the sweat capital of quickly had large lumps of the entire world. The humidbaking soda paste hanging ity there was hovering under my arms like Christaround 100 million percent mas ornaments. That was and the temperature held just hilarious. So for this to steady in the mid-billions. work, you probably do need Pretty much everyone who was outdoors was sporting to shave.

ThinkStock photo

worked for me in the past: • Keeping anxiety at bay by taking deep breaths and concentrating on past Charles in Charge episodes. • Periodically swapping out antiperspirants. • Keeping alcohol intake in check. • Wearing five shirts at a time. • Rolling down the window while driving and creatOTHER METHODS Do you have any methods ing an air tunnel down my sleeve for the wind to pass of your own to stay dry? through. Here are some that have some type of back sweat. Anyway, I did bring back a voodoo doll, and I tried sticking a pin in both of its armpits and wishing evil on my sweat glands. While this method was probably the most satisfying, and I’m pretty sure I really scared my sweat glands, it didn’t work. Pit Boss Rating: Zero dry armpits

Health in a Handbasket is a monthly feature in which I try a health-related adventure and write about it. If you have an idea for a new adventure, write to me at jcody@reporter-herald.com.

Health in a Handbasket

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 7

Destination: Healthy

Choose your challenges Amanda Wicker Destination: Heathy

ne of my favorite weight loss sayings is “It is hard to be overweight, it is hard to lose weight, and it is hard to maintain your weight. You just have to pick your hard!” I love it because it really sums up the truth. When it comes to losing weight, getting healthy and staying healthy is not easy. There may be moments when it is not as hard, but changing your lifestyle comes with many new choices. This is how I look at it. It is hard to see the scale go up, but it is also hard to journal my food. I could choose not to do anything and as we know, the scale would still climb, and my health would deteriorate. Neither choice is fun or easy, but I choose to track my food because that is the “hard” I am

willing to live with rather than the scale going up. How many times have you thought about a situation or healthy habits, “This is just too hard!” Life really is full of many hard choices, but picking the right hard lifestyle or simply a different hard lifestyle than

what you have chosen in the past, can lead you down a healthier path. • Write out the things you feel are too hard. See if you discover a different perspective once the list is on paper, making the right hard choice an obvious one.

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. She also hosts Destination Healthy, a segment on NOCO 5 News every Monday Night at 10 p.m. 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 September 16, 2010

The Healthy Plate

Cooked or raw, tomatoes pack nutritional punch

way. TOMATO AND Traditionally, gazpacho is ITALIAN HERB a fresh, pureed tomato soup onventional wisdom of Spanish origin. It typically GAZPACHO Start to finish: 1 hour 35 minsays that cooking is made with lots of garlic, utes (20 minutes active) vegetables tends to onions, bell peppers and cuServings: 6 to 8 diminish their nutritional cumbers. prowess. And while there is Ingredients: This Italian-style take on 5 cups cored and diced tomasome truth to this, it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t althe refreshing soup is seatoes (about 4 large) ways the case. 1 large English cucumber, Cooking tomatoes does di- soned with fresh basil and peeled and diced (about 2 cups) oregano along with a liberal minish their stores of vitamin 1 medium red bell pepper, shot of balsamic vinegar. The C, but it also concentrates cored, seeded and coarsely addition of some fresh mozother nutrients, such as lychopped 1 medium red onion, chopped copene (found in red toma- zarella cheese adds the pro1 tein and substance to turn /3 cup balsamic vinegar toes), a powerful antioxi1 the soup into a satisfying /4 cup extra-virgin olive oil dant. 1 /3 cup chopped fresh basil lunch or light supper. Serve Cooking tomatoes also is 2 tablespoons chopped fresh with grilled slabs of crusty great from a culinary standoregano whole-grain bread to compoint. Heat intensifies their 3 cloves garlic, minced plete the meal. 1 flavor and brings out their /2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste For a cooked version of rich sweetness by caramelizGround black pepper, to taste ing the natural sugars. This is this recipe, spread the diced 6 ounces very small fresh an especially good techtomatoes on a rimmed bakmozzarella balls nique when working with ing sheet and roast at 400 Directions: out-of-season tomatoes. degrees until they start to In a large bowl, combine With this recipe for gazpa- brown. Let them cool, then the tomatoes, cucumber, cho, you can have it either proceed with the recipe.

Jim Romanoff The Associated Press

bell pepper, onion, vinegar, oil, basil, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Let the mixture rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Using a food processor or blender and working in batches, process the tomato mixture until it is chunky smooth, about 10 to 15 pulses in a processor. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. To serve, divide gazpacho among bowls and top with mozzarella. Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 169 calories; 110 calories from fat; 12 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 17 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 2 g fiber; 141 mg sodium.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 9 ....

A holistic approach to family medicine. Welcome Dr. Kevin Felix.

General and preventative family medicine for newborns to geriatrics. Now accepting patients. To make an appointment, call 970.669.5717. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy family medicine because it gives me the opportunity to build relationships with an entire family throughout their lives, facilitating not only their medical and emotional health, but assisting them in maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle.â&#x20AC;? Kevin Felix, D.O. Loveland Family Practice

3850 North Grant Ave., Suite 100 | Loveland, CO 80538 970.669.5717 www.pvhs.org

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Naturally

Boost

Your Libido Metro Creative Services

s there such a thing as a magic love potion? Many men believe the way to put the spark back in their love lives comes in pill form. However, there may be more natural ways to rev-up libido without a prescription.

2. EAT OYSTERS This aphrodisiac may be rooted in fact instead of fiction. Oysters are naturally high in zinc, a mineral central to fertility.

3. HAVE A DRINK One or two drinks can loosen-up a person and calm performance anxiety. Alcohol also can thin the blood, which may help with arousal problems. Just be sure not to overdo it, as over-consumption of alcohol can cause a host of problems you probably don't want.

1. QUIT SMOKING Who wants to kiss an ashtray? Also, smoking narrows blood vessels, which can result in problems with arousal. HL-317484

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 11

4. EXERCISE Exercise gets the blood pumping to sexual organs and can help trigger the release of testosterone. Plus, exercise helps you to feel good about yourself, which can be a boon in the bedroom.

5. EAT WELL Boost your intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. Foods that are good for your body will help your overall health, and thus your sexual function. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to perform amorously if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling under the weather.

6. GINGKO BILOBA This herbal remedy not only boosts memory function, it is thought to improve blood flow to the brain and sexual organs. Others say it increases sexual excitement and desire.

7. EXPLORE AROMATHERAPY Certain scents can put people in the mood for love. Here are some of the top romantic scents. * vanilla * cinnamon * lavender * jasmine * ylang ylang

8. GET A MASSAGE The stress-reducing effects of a massage can help prepare the body for intimacy. Stress is a mood-buster and can impair performance in many ways. Less stress is definitely better for amorous activities.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 13

Boomers: Use W Wina Sturgeon McClatchey-Tribune

stairs for a

gym

ThinkStock photo

hether you’re an athletic boomer or prefer sitting around, a set of stairs can be your good friend. For active boomers, you can use stairs to get a quick and efficient muscle-building workout. If you’re more sedentary and don’t feel like going to a commercial gym to work out, stairs can allow you to maintain and build your balance and coordination, so that you’ll move like a much younger person, and lessen your risk of falling as you get older. To begin, wear athletic shoes or rubber-soled shoes that won’t slide. Start at the bottom of the set of stairs. If you’re just starting your efforts to get fit, put one foot on the first stair, and put your hands on the fourth stair up. Keep the other foot on the floor. This will cause your stair leg to bend. Next, keeping as little weight as you can on your hands, straighten your stair leg, still keeping your hands on the stairs above. Your other foot will lift from the floor. Slowly bend your leg until your foot touches the floor again. Repeat 10 times (you may have to work up to it), then switch legs and do 10 more repetitions with the other leg. These are an easy variation of one-legged squats; they will strengthen all the major muscles in your legs, while maintaining the flexibility of your knee. If you’re already fit, put one foot on the second stair up, while keeping the other foot on the floor. This bends your knee more, and works the leg muscles harder, thus building up your muscles, especially

the thigh. Next, keeping both feet on the floor, place your hands on a stair that’s at shoulder level when you lean down on your hands. Standing on your toes, lean down to your hands, then push yourself back up. The first one or two may be easy. The rest won’t be. These are a form of pushups; they build strength in your shoulders, chest and upper back (especially important for boomer-aged women). Athletic boomers can get more of an upperbody workout by placing their hands one stair higher, so the push-up requires more work. Do as many as you can, then try to do more for your next workout. Calf muscles are an important part of balance. Use stairs to strengthen them by standing with only your toes on the bottom stair. Holding onto the railing or wall, stand up on your toes, then come back down with your heels lower than the stair. Quickly stand up on your toes again. Keep repeating until your calves begin to burn. Athletic boomers should do this exercise on one leg at a time. Lifting your body weight with your calves will make them strong and well toned. Next is the skip-a-stair butt builder. This is not about how your butt looks, because it’s more important to have the large glute muscles become strong. They help support the trunk and control the movement of the thighs — again, helping your balance so that you have less risk of falling — and more opportunity to stay athletic. Sitting for long periods of time causes these large muscles to atrophy and get weak — putting you at more risk of injury, whether you’re an athletic or sedentary boomer. Start at the bottom of the stairs. Put one foot two stairs up. You may need to pull yourself up with the railing, but climb up two stairs at a time. If you’re in good shape, climb up three stairs at a time. Work on this exercise until you can climb up several stairs at a time without having to hold on to anything. Wina Sturgeon is a nationally recognized expert in helping boomers stay younger. She’s also an athletic boomer who ski races, ice skates and races BMX.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Let the Energy Flow

with gentle movements popular among seniors in city parks, but it has a gritty history that has inspired the physical benefits of the practice in modern times. There are two factions of tai JENNIFER LEHMAN and a form of breath work chi, Westlake said. The first is SPECIAL SECTIONS REPORTER called Qigong. In the summer, people who practice tai chi Westlake teaches tai chi and primarily as a health art. The other martial arts in Dwayne second is people that recogai chi chuan, better Webster Veterans Park in Love- nize tai chi as a martial art known as tai chi, is an ancient Chinese martial land and then moves the class and a healing art, and are art practiced in modern times to Loveland Dance Academy in deeply into both, he said. Peothe colder months. He also ple in this second camp, Westfor its health benefits. teaches tai chi at Front Range lake said, believe you can’t get Tai chi is beneficial for “flexiCommunity College. health benefits without some bility, balance, bringing the Westlake said the practice understanding of the martial mind into the body,” said has been used in cancer proarts aspect. Jaqui Gee who has taught tai grams and in the treatment of While every sport or endeavchi at the Chilson Senior Cenfibromyalgia and chronic fater for several years and also teaches classes in Hygiene and tigue. The practice of this internal Longmont. According to the Mayo Clin- art also strengthens the legs, Westlake said. ic, the bringing together of “Undoubtedly, a person who body and mind in tai chi can practices tai chi probably will help reduce feelings of tenget strong legs and more limsion, stress and anxiety. ber legs.” Other parts of the “I have a very hectic work body might get stronger as life, said Kathy Maguire, who well, but if your legs aren’t is practicing tai chi for stress relief. Maguire is a student in shaking, you aren’t doing it Gee’s beginner tai chi class at right, he said. The practice of tai chi is Chilson. There are numerous studies about relaxing totally so that the constant energy available showing tai chi helps prevent within the body can be cultiaccidents in seniors, said Alvated, Gee said. Total relaxfred Westlake of Baguachuan ation allows this energy, or chi, in Loveland, an organization to flow through the body withhe founded dedicated to promoting the benefits of various out any obstacles. People often associate tai chi internal arts such as tai chi

The ancient martial art of tai chi is beneficial to the body and mind

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 15 “not by stuffing the emotion but by breathing and letting it Left: Jaqui Gee and members of go.” her continuing level tai chi class “I like the mental discipline,” practice at the Chilson Senior Center. said Sande Gray, a student in Bottom right: James James LetourGee’s beginner class. If we rette and Maggie Burgess practice keep using our minds and keep tai chi movements in their continuworking out problems, we will ing level class at Chilson Senior Cenmaintain our mental capacity ter. for longer, she said. “This is Bottom center: Alfred Westlake and kind of a dancing problem. student, Tim Facer, demonstrate Marriage of the mental and the how the balance and leverage movement.” components of tai chi as a martial art allow fighters to take advantage Marge Swett is working of the opponent. through a grieving process and the beginning tai chi class RH Photos / Jennifer Lehman helps her. “I lost my husband at the end of January. This helps me focus. It helps me feel or has many myths associated in fighting. strong, and it helps me feel Westlake said. stress and all that’s related with it, Westlake said, there is very hopeful.” “They created techniques for like high blood pressure and As a martial art, tai chi is a generally accepted history of not about pitting force against stress reduction in a world heart rate. “I just retired,” said Judith tai chi, even if little historical force, Westlake said, but about that was kill or be killed,” “Once you start to get it you Wadman, a student in the beevidence exists to support it. finding an advantage with po- Westlake said, and needed can really feel your body calm- ginning class. “I’ve been sitting good balance for fighting. sition and leverage. This is a Tai chi is about 2,000 years down for the last 20 odd years. ing down,” he said. “After a old and was started by a mem- benefit for a smaller person Both balance and stress reIt’s time to get up and start dowhile it becomes a tool you fighting someone larger than ber of the Chen Family, Westduction are two tenants of the can access pretty quickly.” ing something with my body them. lake said. One day, Master martial art that draw seniors and putting my mind and body Westlake said he can stay Chen came across a snake and and other participants today. The sparring technique, together.” calm in stressful situations, crane fighting as the crane pushing hands, is not about Lori Pavlo started taking tai tried to eat the snake (in force, but about sensing balchi to improve her balance some versions of this story it ance and strategically yielding and energy level. “So as I age is a monkey and a crane). As to the opponent, Gee said. I’ll be able to do the things I he observed this, Chen had a want to do and the energy of We all know how to punch eureka moment, Westlake course,” she said. and kick already, so pushing said, in regards to the power hands teaches us how to take In her classes, Gee said, the of flowing and yielding the opponent’s balance and defense movements are exmovement and the idea of control, Westlake said. plained so students underbeing soft rather than hard stand their outside use, but “A smaller person needs to out maneuver and maybe even since tai chi is an internal art, the focus is on becoming fause the larger force against miliar enough with the movethe other person,” Westlake ments so the energy can be disaid. rected to the feet, then moved Tai chi Chuan means to the abdomen allowing for “supreme ultimate fist,” said the movement of the entire Westlake, because tai chi body. fighters were feared as the Tai chi can be helpful for the most brutal and incredible fighters. Martial artists of the mind by relieving stress and calming down the body. time lived a scrappy life on their own usually doing body Often times our day-to-day guard work or were thugs who lives activate our body’s symstole from people to survive, pathetic nervous system, Westlake said, not like the putting us into a fight or flight martial arts rock stars pormode that is actually inapprotrayed in Hollywood movies. priate, Westlake said. The practice of tai chi forces The fighters had to stay in top physical condition and be the mind to focus on breath and balance, moving us into a aware of their bodies. They more restful or parasympaknew how to use herbs to thetic state, he said, reducing their benefit and set bones,

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Let the Energy Flow

The ancient martial art of tai chi is beneficial to the body and mind

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 ThinkStock photo

Green Tea: Companies issued warning Matthew Perrone The Associated Press

such as carbonated beverages.” Furthermore, the agency states that the soft drink does not meet federal requireederal health regulators have isments to carry the claim that the drink is sued warnings to the makers of “enhanced with 200 mg of antioxidants Canada Dry ginger ale and Lipton from green tea and vitamin C.” Accordtea for making unsubstantiated nutriing to FDA regulations, the ingredients tional claims about their green tea-flain Canada Dry’s product “are not nutrivored beverages. ents with recognized antioxidant activiIn a warning letter issued Aug. 30, the ty.” Food and Drug Administration takes isThe FDA letter to Unilever takes issue sue with the labeling of Canada Dry with a company website that mentions Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale. The four studies that showed a cholesterolagency issued a similar letter Aug. 23 to lowering effect with tea. According to Unilever Inc., over website and product the agency, the labeling is misleading labeling for its Lipton Green Tea. because it suggests Lipton tea is deFood processors increasingly have signed to treat or prevent disease. The been adding vitamins and nutrients to agency also cites antioxidant labeling their products to make them more apclaims on the company’s Lipton Green pealing to health-conscious consumers. Tea, which do not follow federal guideBut the FDA letter to Dr. Pepper Snaplines. ple Group, which makes Canada Dry, The agency asks executives from states that the agency “does not considboth companies to respond to the citaer it appropriate to fortify snack foods

tions within 15 days and to outline their plans for addressing the problems. A spokesman for Plano, Texas-based Dr. Pepper Snapple Group said in a statement the company looks “forward to working with the FDA and addressing the issues raised.”

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 17

Mind

Use your

Meditative practices offer health benefits, clarity and peace of mind Jennifer Lehman Special Sections Reporter

editation is the act of emptying the mind or using the mind to focus on one thing to assist in contemplation or relaxation. Meditation can be used to relieve stress associated with a host of health problems. The act of meditation takes many forms and many names, said Naturopathic Doctor, Kathryn Plummer of Sage Holistic Health Clinic in Loveland. “It’s meditation, it’s prayer, it’s conscious thinking, its chanting. I think every major religion that I am aware of anyway uses some sort of meditation in their practice, and all the cultures have their own meditation.” “There’s a lot of different kinds of meditation, so we try and be careful how we word it,” said Plummer, whose clinic incorporates meditation or prayer into the individual treatment plans of her patients. Some patients prefer the term prayer over meditation and vice versa. “(Meditation is) to familiarize our mind with a virtuous object; a virtuous thought or determination or feeling,” said Kelsang Rinzin of Heruka Buddhist Center in Fort Collins. Rinzin has been a resident teacher at the center for five years and an ordained monk for over six. “(Meditation) can be familiarizing ourselves with the feeling of love towards others, towards patience, towards determination to do something. “People sort of meditate all of the time.” We come across a realization and decide that from now on we are going to think or behave differently. Holding this determination in our mind for a while is meditation, he said. “(Meditation is) just getting our minds familiar with being positive and peaceful, and anybody can do that.” Rinzin said. Focused breathing or meditative breathing can have the same effects. “Most people do a simple breathing

meditation,” Rinzin said. “Focusing on the breath is just very neutral, at the same time they are holding the attention to make their mind more peaceful. Without even knowing it they are meditating, a Buddhist meditation has been slipped in.” “The health benefits are many,” Plummer said. Meditation helps reduce blood pressure, balance blood sugars, reduce inflammation and improve memory, Plummer said. Plummer has seen the power of relaxation that can come about through meditation or focused breathing. She regularly measures patients’ blood pressure before and after short deep breathing exercises and once witnessed a 20 point drop in a patient’s blood pressure after just a minute of deep breathing. One of Rinzin’s students at the Heruka Buddhist Center is an uptight engineer at HP who used to get sick a lot. He kept excellent records of his health and began to eat a healthy diet to see if his immune system would improve. He saw no change and began adding in regular exercise. There was still no change and “finally his wife told him, you need to work with your mind,” Rinzin said. His health improved. The chronically elevated stress levels that some people experience can be a factor behind a variety of health problems including digestive issues, insomnia, muscle pain, and it can set the body up for early signs of diabetes because of the constantly high levels of cortisol and blood sugar, Plummer said. “Higher blood sugar, higher insulin, that creates syndrome X first, and then it goes into possibly diabetes if you don’t address it. So, its a stress thing first,” Plummer said. Everyday stressors like work deadlines can activate our sympathetic nervous system or the fight or flight response mode, Plummer said. When the sympathetic nervous sys-

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tem is activated, the body is functioning as if it is running from tigers, Plummer said. The body is stressed, elevating the hormone cortisol and blood sugars to keep the body on the go. If we were running away from tigers, the body’s elevated state would be fine and good, helping us to survive, Plummer said. “But we’re not running away from tigers, we just have deadlines. But it’s the same thing, your body does not know the difference. “When you’re running away from tigers and in a sympathetic state, why would you be worried about fighting off a cold? You shouldn’t be. Why should you be worried about digesting food? You shouldn’t be. If you stop and worry about picking up a banana to eat, well you’re going to be food for the tiger,” she said. “If you’re running away from tigers all the time you’re not going to have a great immune system. You’re not going to have a great digestive system. You’re not going to be cleaning up. Your custodians are going to be like ‘hey, we’re chilling out until the chaos is done so that we can mop the floors.’ That’s essentially what happens.” The body’s other nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, is generally speaking the body’s rest and digest mode, Plummer said. “In the parasympathetic state, you are more relaxed so the blood flow does go back into your digestive system and your energy does go into your immune I See Meditation/Page 19

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

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Meditation From Page 17

system and all the maintenance type of systems.” Regular deep breathing or regular meditative practices can help the body get to this state despite the stress of daily life and work. Plummer recommends starting with a deep breath before each meal and when stuck at red lights for her patients. People tend to get angry at being stopped in traffic, she said. “You just take a couple of deep breaths and it’s amazing how short that red light really is,” Plummer said. “Even that one deep breath sends a feedback message to your brain that you’re relaxed. One deep breath,” she said. Once the body realizes it is relaxed, signs of stress like neck tension or knots in the belly will begin to subside. Focusing on deep breathing during other activities including exercising will make the act a less stressful for the body and mind while helping you recover faster, move more, and maybe lose more weight if that’s your goal, she said. A few deep breaths throughout the day are the easiest, then people can move up to a five minute meditation or prayer in morning. Even just going for a walk and focusing on the sounds going on around you, such as the sound of birds, rather than what’s going on in your head, is helpful, Plummer said. “A simple breathing meditation, it’s like a shot in the arm for people,” Rinzin said. “They get a peaceful half hour and it makes their life better actually, just to let go of stress for a while. It doesn’t necessarily last that long so if they can do more focusing on virtuous determinations or a positive way of seeing things it will have a much bigger impact on their life.” Some people use television or books to help them relax and relieve stress, but these typically quiet activities do not have the same effect. “When you’re watching TV or reading a book or even exercising, you’re running away from yourself essentially and meditation brings you back into your body. So that’s the main difference,” Plummer said. When working with patients, Plummer tries to incorporate meditation into

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the each person’s lifestyle. “I love to help people incorporate it into their own individual faith. Whether that’s a Buddhist faith, Hindu faith, Christian faith, Jewish faith. If they can incorporate it into their faith then that seems easier because then its not an additional thing. It’s just a change up or an addition to what’s already there, so that’s really nice.” Meditation, prayer and conscious thinking are all part of many religious practices, but it can also just be part of your own health practice if you do not identify with a specific religion, Plummer said. “I try and get people to incorporate their meditation into whatever they’re

doing. So if they are driving a lot you do the driving exercise, if they’re sitting a lot, running a lot ... you always try and tailor it to each individual person.” “An elder may not be able to sit in the lotus position and they may not be able to go for a walk, so they do sitting meditation or sitting breathing exercises,” Plummer said. Meditation can improve health by diminishing stress, but it can also change the way we relate to the world. One reason people seek meditative practices is to effect an inner change in themselves, Rinzin said, and learn more positive ways to relate to the I See Medtiation/Page 20

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

For example, if someone boring approaches us and speaks to us, Rinzin said, we might get agitated or impatient. If we think to ourselves, this person is From Page 19 important, their happiness is important, then we are mediating. “We are positive world. and we react to them much more posi“The purpose of meditation is to make tively,” he said. our mind calm and peaceful, focusing on Plummer recommends using deep something neutral (such as breathing) or breathing as part of an exercise of paussomething more positive which has ing, breathing and acting as opposed to more lasting benefits,” Rinzin said. simply reacting in times of stress. “For some people it means striving to One of Plummer’s patients suffered obtain enlightenment, and for people in from insomnia because of tension with other religions it might mean something employees at her small business. She else,” Rinzin. practiced the method of pausing, breathGetting to that positive state of mind ing and acting rather than just reacting can happen in many different places. when dealing with the conflicts and she You can even meditate in a La-Z-Boy, began to sleep better, Plummer said. It Rinzin said, just don’t tilt it back too only takes three seconds to breath, she much. In general, situations that are simi- said. lar to sleep or can induce sleep are not Meditation is most beneficial when great for meditation, he said. practiced daily, Plummer said. If people “We don’t just have to be sitting still. want to take their meditative practice to We can be working, talking with people. the next step or learn more about it, she Keeping that positive state of mind is so recommends trying yoga, a meditative beneficial. Its almost like a mantra that health practice or taking a meditation or you can say to yourself,” Rinzin said. mindful breathing class.

Meditation

....

“It’s really good to come to a class once a week,” Rinzin said. An explanation of positive thinking and guided meditation can be a helpful for beginners and help them to hold those positive feelings or determinations through the week. “It’s very helpful to know what we’re doing when we meditate. Anyone can do a breathing mediation and with a little help can do other meditation,” Renzin said. Guided meditation can help strengthen mindfulness, the mental factor that functions to hold the object or feeling the mind is focused on, and helps us to avoid everyday distractions like doing the laundry or grabbing a pizza, Rinzin said. “I know people struggle because in the beginning our mindfulness probably isn’t strong enough to do it on our own,” Rinzin said. This is why guided meditation for beginners can be helpful. “ Essentially someone else is acting as our mindfulness.” “We don’t exercise that mindfullness muscle very much and that’s where practice helps,” Rinzin said.

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UNC Alum, Doughty, deals with hearing loss Joseph White The Associated Press ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — “Reed!” ’’Reed!” ’’REEEEEEED!“ Jim Haslett kept yelling Reed Doughty’s name, trying to get the safety’s attention at a Washington Redskins practice this week. Doughty didn’t respond because Doughty couldn’t hear. Finally, several teammates went over and tapped him on his shoulder, making him aware that he was wanted by the defensive coordinator. “The communication between us is not great,” Haslett said. “Because when I yell, I get louder — and he still doesn’t hear.” Beginning his fifth season in the NFL, Doughty is one of the great survivor stories of pro football, having overcome several gut-wrenching physical and psychological setbacks — any one of which might have caused a weaker athlete to throw in the towel. Yet the 27-yearold with the boyish face is still plugging away, and he is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday night when the Redskins open the season against the Dallas Cowboys. “Perseverance is one of his strongest traits,” safeties coach Steve Jackson said. “You can’t knock a good man down, and he’s a good man. He’s had a lot of things try to knock him down.” Consider the hurdles listed in the Reed Doughty bio: • He was a sixth-round pick from Northern Colorado, a Football Championship Subdivision school that averages about two

draftees per decade. • He’s had hearing loss his entire life, inherited from his father. It gets worse as he gets older. It stumped the coaches when he was a rookie in 2006. “For a guy to be so smart, he used to always make a lot of mistakes. And no one knew why. You look at him, and every time you say something, he’s really looking at you at your face and everything. And you’re like, ’Gah, he really pays attention. Why doesn’t he know anything? He must be a dumb son of a ...,’” said Jackson, his voice trailing off into a laugh. “But he was looking at you,” Jackson continued, “to read your lips.” Jackson realized he should no longer talk while writing on the whiteboard during meetings — because his back was turned to Doughty. Jackson therefore developed a whole new different rhythm: Write something, turn to speak, write something, turn to speak. “His play picked up,” said Jackson, snapping his fingers, “like that.” • Also in 2006, Doughty’s son Micah was born six weeks prematurely and had chronic kidney failure. After long days of practice and meetings at Redskins Park, Doughty would go home and help his wife hook up their son to a dialysis machine. When Micah was 19 months old, he had finally grown enough to accept a kidney transplant. The donor was Doughty’s wife, Katie. Micah turned 4 last week. Doughty beamed with pride at the mention of the milestone.

AP photo/NICK WASS

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson is upended by Washington Redskins linebacker Perry Riley, left, and safety Reed Doughty, right, on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010. “He’s doing phenomenal,” Doughty said. • In 2008, Doughty had a serious nerve problem in his back. It spread, causing numbness in one foot. He was placed on injured reserve in early October and had surgery. Not too many people were expecting him back in 2009. “It was scary,” Doughty said. “There were a lot of doctors saying this was something you may never come back from, but the surgeon that did it told me I think this is something you’ll come back from and do quite well. So I just trusted God that no matter what happened I’d be healthy just so I could play with my kids. And if I could play football on top of it, that would be awesome. And I just worked hard in rehab, and it worked out.” Doughty is returning the favors as much as he can. It takes nearly a full column in the media guide to list his volunteer work with groups such as the National Kidney Foundation and the Spinal Research Foundation. While Micah is doing well and the back injury is firmly

in the rearview mirror, Doughty and his teammates and coaches still have the daily challenge of dealing with his hearing loss. He now wears a hearing aid in meetings, but it doesn’t work on the field because it can’t filter out all of the background noise from the crowd. When Doughty is in the game, he often stands near middle linebacker London Fletcher to hear the defensive call, then relays a separate call to the rest of the secondary. The Redskins can trust Doughty with that role because he’s studious and knows the play book well. Doughty and fellow safety LaRon Landry have also become adapt at using hand signals to communicate, but messages don’t always get through. Landry says there have been times he’s tried to alert Doughty to change in plans before the snap — but to no avail. “I try to call him and he’s over there — he’s in tune (to the play) — so I just let him play that side and just I See DOUGHTY/Page 23

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

Uncommon Sense

Unemployed be weary of money schemes

uestion: Dr. Firestein, my husband has been out of work for over 9 months after being laid off from his job. He has been looking non-stop but still hasn’t found a new job. In the past few months, he seems to be spending more and more time looking at “get rich quick” sales schemes and multi-level marketing opportunities. I’m concerned. Should I be? Answer: You should be concerned. While there is such a thing as legal MultiLevel Marketing businesses (MLMs), the vast majority are legally questionable pyramid or Ponzi type schemes. Originally, such businesses came into being to distribute goods and products in rural or remote areas where distribution of such products was practically non-existent. The emphasis was on selling quality products at fair prices to people who would not ordinarily be able to buy them. With the advent of mass distribution centers for products and the internet, the emphasis of most MLMs has changed from product quality to recruitment of distributors, most of whom lose money on their sales efforts. (you might visit www.consumerfraud reporting.org/MLM.php ). Psychologically, MLMs are most commonly marketed to those who are desperate or economically strained. It is natural for your husband to be tempted by opportunities to make lots of money by selling a worthwhile product to others. Unfortunately, people like your

husband can ill-afford to make the initial investment in products usually required to get the business started, and most of the individuals recruited don’t end up making the money promised in the recruiting seminars. Business opportunities of this type can also strain relationships because new distributors are encouraged to market the opportunity to distribute to friends and family, since this is the only real way to make significant money in the business. Naturally the other problem with this type of business opportunity is the lack of a base salary, health insurance or retirement benefits as well as the taxes owed on goods sold. These are significant disadvantages to a family struggling to survive economically. Without a doubt these are tough times and jobs are hard to find. Just keep in mind that there are no real “get rich quick” schemes and encourage your husband to do his research and be very, very careful if he continues to actively consider these opportunities. You can offer your husband emotional support in his job search, but you both need to keep the real needs of your family in mind as you explore employment opportunities. uestion: My job is physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. Because I work in emergency care at a hospital, my priorities often have to shift to work with the first ring of a cell phone when I am on call. I have a supportive husband and son,

but I am starting to feel guilty about the time I don’t get to spend with them. At the same time, nursing is one of my greatest passions and something that makes me come alive. What would be the healthiest route to achieve balance in my life? Answer: You are very fortunate to have found a meaningful career that you are passionate about that also allows you help others so directly. It sounds like you are struggling with the demands of your work setting and not the overall nature of your work or career path. In that respect, you are one of the fortunate few. Still, the demands of your emergency-oriented position clearly detract from the quality of your family life in some ways. There are no easy answers to this dilemma, but I can share a few ideas. Many health-care professions are highly demanding and the level of stress and demand is strongly correlated with the type of setting and the types of patients or clients you are serving. Some people find a professional “home” in the area of emergency medicine, and this is their path for life.

Many others find that they enjoy and thrive on highstress, high-demand positions during one phase of their career, but are eager to shift settings or jobs when the emotional, physical and family “costs” of these positions begin to outweigh the position’s benefits. Even though your husband and son are supportive, it sounds like you as an individual might be longing for more uninterrupted time with your family. Guilt is not the answer, but it is a useful communication from yourself that it may be time to consider a change in employment within your profession. Achieving a healthy life balance is a matter of listening to yourself and be willing to embrace change. There are many other positions in nursing and some might be better suited to your personal life and family needs. I suggest giving yourself plenty of time to explore alternative career options in your field and to make the changes in a planned and systematic way. Using this approach you are most likely to find the job fit that allows for greater life balance.

Uncommon Sense with Beth Firestein Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist. She has 24 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for over 14 years. She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116, via e-mail at firewom@webaccess.net, or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 23

Treatment options for atrial fibrillation Arnold Pfahnl, M.D., PhD. RH paid advertorial

number of elderly people increases, the number of people living with atrial fibrillauestion: How do tion will increase because you restore a northe likelihood of developing mal heart rhythm in the condition increases with someone who exage. Other risk factors inperiences atrial fibrillation? clude: • A history of heart disAnswer: Atrial fibrillation ease, heart at— an irregular tack, heart heartbeat — is surgery or not usually life valve problems threatening on its own. How• High blood ever, it can lead pressure to serious com• Thyroid plications inproblems, cluding stroke, sleep apnea congestive and other heart failure chronic mediand chronic facal conditions tigue. • Gender – men are slightAtrial fibrillaly more likely tion occurs Arnold Pfahnl, to develop atriwhen the upM.D., PhD. al fibrillation per chambers than women. of the heart beat in an uncoordinated or Women who are diagnosed disorganized way like quiv- carry an increased long-term risk of premature death. ering or beating fast rather than beating effectively. • Smoking Blood doesn’t pump com• Excessive amounts of alpletely out of those chamcohol consumption or use of bers, and it can pool or clot. stimulant drugs including If a clot forms, it can travel caffeine. from the heart to the brain, People who have atrial fiband the person may have a rillation may experience fastroke. tigue, overall weakness, palAbout 2.2 million Ameripitations (the sensation of a cans live with atrial fibrillaracing, fluttering or irregular tion according to the Ameri- heartbeat) in the chest or can Heart Association. As the neck, shortness of breath,

dizziness, chest pain or discomfort or heart failure. When a physician plans a course of treatment for atrial fibrillation, they focus on three main goals: control the heart rate, restore and maintain normal heart rhythm if symptoms persist despite controlling heart rate, and prevent strokes. Treatment plans vary based on the patient’s medical history and what other health problems are present. Atrial fibrillation can be a very frustrating health problem because there are no quick fixes. The physician must evaluate what causes the irregular heartbeat. Sometimes, a normal rhythm can be restored with lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors — weight loss, a heart healthy, low-sodium diet, exercise or smoking cessation. Medications also may be used. They are separated into two classes: those that aim to control heart rate while in atrial fibrillation and those that aim to maintain the normal rhythm and keep atrial fibrillation from happening. Other therapies may include treatment of sleep apnea (abnormal breathing at night) or fixing a leaky heart valve. For someone who continuously experiences atrial fib-

I’m going to make good tackles, make good decisions and execute the game plan.” From Page 21 Doughty also offered this wellgrounded assessment of his hearing adapt,” Landry said. loss and hair loss, both genetic and inBut it usually works out because of evitable. Doughty’s smarts and toughness — not “I’m bald. I’m going to be deaf,” he to mention a strong faith that has seen said in a matter-of-fact tone. “And I’ve him through all his trials, plus enough humbleness for him to realize his role. got a great family with two great kids, so I’m not worried about it.” “The coaches trust me,” Doughty said. “I may not be a flashy player, but Doughty has started 16 of his 45

DOUGHTY

rillation, the physician may use cardioversion. Cardioversion is the use of an electric shock to restore the normal heart rhythm. Another treatment option being used more often is radiofrequency ablation, which is a procedure that conducts a burst of radiofrequency energy through a catheter to destroy the tissues that trigger the abnormal rhythm. The energy bursts are actually a few hundred strategically placed burns on the tissue. For the procedure, the patient is under general anesthesia. It takes about three to four hours to complete and is performed by a cardiologist who specializes in the electrical system of the heart (cardiac electrophysiologist). The procedure also may be done in conjunction with open heart surgery to repair other heart problems. Not all electrophysiologists perform radiofrequency ablation, and not all patients are candidates for the procedure. You should consult your physician to get an accurate diagnosis for an irregular heart rhythm and plan the best option for treatment. Arnold Pfahnl, M.D., PhD., is an electrophysiologist with the CaridoVascular Institute of North Colorado.

games over four seasons. A natural strong safety, he is now working with the first team at free safety only because Kareem Moore is out with a sprained right knee. Yet, considering all that he’s been through, Doughty has accomplished quite a bit. After all, how many players can sum up their career like this? “Stuff happens, and they trust me to play,” Doughty said. “And I’m still here because of that.”

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

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Health Briefs

DR. CAROL VANETTI RECEIVES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD Carol Vanetti, M.D., chief medical officer for Banner Health’s Western Region, has received the National Association of Medical Staff Services Leadership Award. Dr. Vanetti was nominated for the award by medical staff services offices across Banner Health. Healthcare leaders each year are nominated by members of the 6,600-plus NAMSS organization. Dr. Vanetti will be formally recognized by the NAMSS at its annual convention and exhibition Oct. 5 in Orlando, Fla.

Runner’s Roost, at Harmony and Ziegler in Fort Collins 4) or register the day of the race starting at 6:30 a.m. Register prior to September 24 for $20, kids 12 and under for $10. Race fees are $25 for adults and $13 for kids 12 and under doing the 5K until November 25. After November 25, race fees are $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under doing the 5K. Team registrations of 3 or more are $20 each before November 25 and $30 after. The Kids Gobbler Trek is free. All participants will receive a t-shirt. Prizes will go to the top overall male and female and male and female Masters EARLY REGISTRATION OPEN runners along with the top FOR LOVELAND TURKEY three in each age group. TROT, NOVEMBER 25TH Prizes for Largest Team and The 9th Annual Loveland Best Team Time will also be Turkey Trot will be held on awarded. Door prizes donatThanksgiving morning — a ed by area businesses will be great way to start the given away during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The awards ceremony. race begins on Hoffman 100 percent of race fees Drive just north of McKee and sponsorship contribuMedical Center and proceeds tions benefit the Stepping north to 37th Street to the Stones Adult Day Program at bike path at Boyd Lake. It McKee Medical Center. The then turns south and heads Stepping Stones Adult Day back to 18th Street where it Program provides particifinishes at McKee Medical pants an opportunity to soCenter. This route is wide cialize, build friendships, and open and beautiful, offering enjoy stimulating activities in a great run for more than a safe, caring environment. 1,200 Loveland residents By tailoring activities to meet who value fitness and family individual’s specific needs, time before the big feast. The Stepping Stones becomes a Turkey Trot is a 3.1-mile place where dignity, confirun/walk, and is the perfect dence, security and indepenway to spend time with famidence are assured, giving ly and friends. participants new levels of The 5K race begins at 8:30 freedom and enhancing their a.m., and individuals may quality of life. register for the Turkey Trot in one of four ways: 1) regis- STANDARD & POOR’S UPGRADES PVHS BOND ter online at Active.com 2) printout a registration form at RATING TO SOLID A Standard & Poor’s Ratings McKeeFoundation.com and mail it in 3) register in person Services has announced that at Foot of the Rockies, 150 E. it upgraded the bond rating for Poudre Valley Health SysHarmony in Fort Collins or

tem from an A- to an A rating, noting “marked improvements to an already sound balance sheet” and strong business position as evidenced by further growth in market share. S&P’s issuing report recognized that PVHS has continued to build its financial profile, posting excellent financial results and generating robust cash flow. Factors supporting the A rating include the locally-owned health system’s operating results; continued profitability and maturation of Medical Center of the Rockies (the PVHS acute care hospital located in Loveland, Colorado, which opened in 2007); excellent liquidity with 270 days cash on hand; strong coverage of maximum annual debt service; solid and growing business position in northern Colorado; and a sound, stable and forwardlooking management team. Stacey said the news from Standard & Poor’s comes at a time when the national health care system awaits the unknowns of health reform. In its report, S&P notes an expectation that PVHS will continue to produce strong margins and cash flow, as well as balance capital spending with available resources. The report also highlights PVHS’s long-term strategy of fostering relationships with other regional providers, including its recent affiliation with 115 physicians across multiple cities; its joint venture relationship with Longmont United Hospital to develop a health campus in Frederick, Colorado; and Poudre Valley Medical Fitness, scheduled to open in Windsor, Colorado in December.

POUDRE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM AGAIN NAMED BEST PLACE TO WORK Modern Healthcare has named Poudre Valley Health System one of America’s 100 best places to work in health care for the third straight year. The journal is the healthcare industry’s leading publication. PVHS has been on the Best Places to Work in Healthcare list each of the three years since the magazine created it. PVHS is the only Colorado, Nebraska or Wyoming hospital or health system on the list. Modern Healthcare will release rankings for the top 100 on Oct. 18. The health system uses surveys to listen and respond to employee feedback; works to create a culture of appreciation and recognition; and fosters a team culture in which employees link their individual work goals to the system’s vision to provide world-class health care. PVHS’s voluntary turnover rate currently outperforms the national top 10 percent, according to the American Society for Healthcare Human Resource Administration. PVHS ranks in the 97th percentile nationally for employee engagement, according to Management Science Associates. Modern Healthcare and Best Companies Group asked 400 PVHS employees an in-depth set of questions in eight core areas: the workplace’s culture and communications; working environment; role satisfaction, leadership and planning; relationships with supervisors; training and development; pay and benefits; and overall satisfaction.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010 25 ....

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. Materials cover growth and development, health and safety, and information on community resources. These materials can be obtained through a home visit or by attending a class. Registration is required. Call 495-7528 to register or to learn more about the programs Program A for birth to 12 months: • 11:15 a.m. on October 18 at McKee Medical Center • Noon on October 19 at Medical Center of the Rockies Program B for 12-24 months: • 9 a.m. on October 11 at Medical Center of the Rockies Program C for 24-36 months: •10 a.m. on October 11 and 13 at Medical Center of the Rockies

touched by cancer experience the benefits of expressing themselves HEART FAILURE EDUCAthrough art. No art experiTIONAL SERIES 2010 The goal of the Heart Fail- ence needed. When: 9:45-11:45 a.m. on ure Educational Series is to offer people with Heart Fail- Wednesdays Where: McKee Cancer BLOOD PRESSURE SCREEN- ure (and their family and Center Conference Room friends) information, reING Contact: 635-4129 sources and support. We foHave your blood pressure cus on management of checked by a Wellness SpeMAN TO MAN PROSTATE Heart Failure. The series is cialist. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., open to members of the When: 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday community who want to the fourth Thursday of the Where: McKee Wellness learn more about Heart Fail- month ure. There is no need to Services, 1805 E. 18th St. Where: McKee Conferregister. Topics are subject Suite 6, Loveland ence and Wellness Center to change without notice. Cost: No charge Contact: 622-1961 for When: Second Tuesday Contact: 970-635-4056 of every month from 3:30 to more information COPD (CHRONIC OB5 p.m. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT STRUCTIVE PULMONARY Where: McKee Medical For caregivers of elderly DISEASE) Center in the Wellness and adults. The group focuses This seven-session multiConference Center. on providing support and disciplinary education series Cost: No charge. education about community helps with the management Contact: 970-635-4138. resources and behavior isof COPD. The team reviews Upcoming dates: sues, particularly for people the respiratory system, how Oct. 12 Topic: Activity – with Alzheimer's and memit works, what has gone Living an Active life with ory impairment. wrong and how you can Heart Failure Guest Speakconserve energy and deWhen: 1:30-3:30 p.m. on er: Linda Hepperle, Exercise the third Thursday of the crease shortness of breath. Physiologist Anyone who has COPD, month emphysema or bronchitis is GENERAL CANCER SUPWhere: First Christian Church, 2000 N. Lincoln BREAST FEEDING SUPPORT encouraged to attend along PORT GROUP with family and/or signifiWhen: 5:30-7 p.m. Tues- Ave. GROUP cant others. days. When: 10-11 a.m. MonCost: No charge. When: 1-3 p.m. on TuesWhere: McKee Cancer days and Thursdays Contact: 970-669-7069 days, beginning Oct. 26. Center lobby. Cost: Free THE SEASONS CLUB Where: McKee ConferContact: 635-4129 Contact: 970-669-9355 ence and Wellness Center The Seasons Club at McKCAREGIVER’S SUPPORT ASTHMA EDUCATION Cost: No charge ee Medical Center strives to GROUP This four-session multidisContact: 970-635-4138 enhance the quality of life For caregivers of cancer ciplinary educational series for mature adults through patients. DIABETES INFORMATION helps people manage asthhealth promotion, educaGROUP Contact: 635-4129, for ma. The team reviews the tion and recreation. An informational/educa- times and locations respiratory system and how What: Welcome to Mediit works, medications used tional meeting for anyone BREAST CANCER SUPPORT care informational sessions touched by diabetes who to treat asthma and tools GROUP When: 5:30 p.m., Sept. 27 wants to learn and share. that can help you breathe When: 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Where: McKee ConferThere will be a different better and monitor your the second Thursday of ence and Wellness Center subject matter for each asthma. Triggers, early each month meeting. Contact: To learn more warning signs and coping Where: McKee Cancer Where: McKee Conferabout Seasons Club activitechniques are discussed. Center lobby ties, call 970-635-4097 or Anyone who has asthma is ence and Wellness Center Contact: 622-1961 Cost: No charge. No regvisit www.bannerhealth encouraged to attend along SOULPLAY ART THERAPY istration needed. .com Keyword: McKee Seawith family and/or signifiPeople whose lives are Contact: 970-203-6550 sons Club. cant others. When: 6-7:30 p.m. on Mondays. Four-week session. Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: No charge Contact: 970-635-4138

for more information and topics

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 16, 2010

HL Ask a Health Pro Chiropractic serves as preventative care RH PAID ADVERTORIAL

uestion: How can chiropractic help me? Answer: Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. At Dahl Chiropractic Center, our message is that the proactive care of one’s body and wise lifestyle choices are necessary to achieve health. We take a preventive approach to health care: eliminate the cause of disease by locating and correcting subluxations (spinal misalignments), which cause interference to the proper functioning of the nervous system. By restoring the lines of communication within your body , we can begin improving your overall body function, healing potential and well-being.

We’re here for your minor injuries and illnesses. Fast, convenient and friendly urgent care services for life’s unexpected minor injuries and illnesses. No appointment necessary. X-Ray available on-site.

For more information, contact:

Monday – Friday 8 a.m to 6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2885 N. Garfield Ave., Loveland, CO 80538, 970-744-6915

The Loveland Reporter-Herald is the only daily Newspaper printed in Larimer County!

Lee Goacher, MD Board-certified family medicine physician Nurse practitioner Pam Gale, APRN

Same agency,Here new name, commitment We’re Tosame Help You

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3850 North Grant Avenue, Suite 100 Loveland, CO 80538 | 970.624.5150 www.lovelandurgentcare.com

In 1978, a group of nurses came together in Loveland to voluntarily care for a friend in the final months of her life. From these beginnings, you’ve known us as Hospice of Larimer County. Now we are Pathways Hospice, still providing exceptional medical and comfort care, and community-wide grief support and education.

www.pathways-care.org | info@pathways-care.org 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525 | 970.663.3500 1580 Main Street, Suite 2, Windsor CO 80550 | 970.674.9988

Where

Experts Work Best.

Ask the Expert Question:

McKee Medical Center is the only hospital in Colorado that is named an Epicenter for Robotic-Assisted Surgery. As only one of 23 Epicenter surgeons in the nation, can you explain why this is such an important designation?

Answer:

Intuitive Surgical, manufacturer of the da Vinci Surgical System, recently named McKee Medical Center as an Epicenter Teaching Center for roboticassisted gynecological surgery.

The Epicenter designation is a reflection of the expertise of the surgical team we have at McKee. From the operating room staff to our floor nurses, we are dedicated to providing exceptional care for our patients. We perform a variety of benign and advanced pelvic procedures with the robot including: hysterectomies (partial or complete removal of the uterus), myomectomies (removal of uterine fibroids), pelvic prolapse, tubal re-anastamosis (reversal of tubal ligation), lymph node removal and procedures for cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers.

As an epicenter training facility, McKee will host surgeons from around the country who wish to train in robotic surgery.

John T. Crane, M.D. Obstetrician/Gynecologist OB/GYN Associates, Loveland Appointments: (970) 667-2009

Banner Medical Group McKee Medical Center www.BannerHealth.com/COexperts Banner Health has been named as a Top 10 Health System in the U.S. for patient care according to Thomson Reuters. Connect with us:

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Although the content of this ad is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional.