Health

March 1, 2011

HealthCare The Examiner

• TRACEY SHAFFER

Sweet potatoes are good for you all year | Page 4

Amanda Greive, Chrissie Weber, Katie Weber – three of the five daughters of Debbie and Larry Weber – have all suffered from ACL injuries while playing competitive basketball. photo by Justin L. Fowler/GHNS

for

knees How to prevent ACL injuries n Plyometrics is a rapid, powerful movement that first lengthens a muscle

(eccentric phase) then shortens it (concentric phase). The length-shortening cycle increases muscular power. An example would be an athlete jumping off a small box and immediately jumping back into the air after contact with the floor. n Balance training commonly involves the use of wobble or balance boards.

On-field balance exercises may include throwing a ball with a partner while balancing on one leg. n To improve single-leg core strength and stability, athletes perform exer-

cises such as jumping and landing on one leg with the knee flexed and then momentarily holding that position.

• LARRY JONES Nutrition Month | Page 3

• NUTRITION 3-4 • WELLNESS 6 • CALENDAR 7

cover story

Page 2 Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Quality Orthopedic Care Providers

Risk of ACL injury higher in girls

By Dean Olsen GateHouse News Service

D

ebbie and Larry Weber’s five daughters started playing competitive basketball in Taylorville, Ill. Four of them suffered a type of serious knee injury that plagues many female athletes.

They each tore their ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, which is a part of the knee that helps stabilize the joint during twisting maneuvers and changes in direction that are common in sports like basketball and soccer.

Biology, hormones and neuromuscular differences make female athletes more likely than males to tear their ACLs, but doctors say research is helping point out specific risk factors and refine techniques that can almost totally eliminate the disparity.

“While we perform very successful surgery and can get the athlete back to high-level competition, it is better to prevent the injury in the first place,” said Dr. Diane Hillard-Sembell, an orthopedic surgeon at Springfield Clinic in Illinois who has conducted extensive research on ACL injuries and hopes to begin publishing the results in medical journals this year.

Emerging research Hillard-Sembell and her colleagues found the relatively weaker hamstrings in females put them at increased risk of knee injuries.

“The hamstrings are a protector of the ACL,” Hillard-Sembell said.

In males, the quadriceps, muscles at the front of the thigh, typically are stronger than the hamstrings, at the back of the thigh, by a ratio of 3 to 2. But in females, the quads may be twice as strong as hamstrings, she said.

But her research uncovered something new, which has since been confirmed by other researchers: the importance of muscles at the side of the hips. If those muscles are weak, the pelvis will collapse inward, making it more likely for the thigh to angle inward.

Back Row (L-R): Ernest Neighbor, MD

Seated (L-R): Craig Satterlee, MD

Knees & Hips Trauma, Total Joint Replacement

Subspecialty Shoulder

Robert M. Drisko, II, MD

Alexandra Strong, MD

Sports Medicine, Knees, Shoulders

Paul Nassab, MD

Subspecialty Hand, Upper Extremity, Shoulder & Elbow

Raymond Rizzi, DPM

Podiatry, Foot & Ankle Surgery

Subspecialty Spine, Total Joint Replacement

Not Shown: Ann Lee, MD

Physical Medicine & Rehab

Christopher Wise, MD Subspecialty Trauma, Acetabular Hip Fracture

816-303-2400 19550 E. 39th Street, Ste. 410 Independence, Missouri 64057

816-561-3003 2790 Clay Edwards Dr., Ste 600 North Kansas City, Missouri 64116

nutrition

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Page 3

Getting a healthy start for babies With parenting comes so many decisions to be made. What to name the baby? What to buy? etc. But a question that should be considered before the baby arrives is whether to breast or bottle feed. Mother’s milk is the food least likely to cause allergic reactions; it helps build immunity; it’s inexpensive and readily available – and always at the right temperature.

Health officials support breastfeeding babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics says breast milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, with rare exceptions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says breastfeeding is one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself. The CDC also says that while 75 percent of babies start out being breastfed, only 13 percent are exclusively breastfed 6 months later.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there,” says Jessica Mattingly, a board-certified lactation consultant in The Birthing Center at St. Mary’s. “Whether to breast or bottle feed is a personal choice. While most women believe breastfeeding is good for their babies, it can be challenging.”

Having a resource can make all the difference to a new mom. Kylie Friedrich knew she wanted to breast feed when she had her first baby nearly two years ago. “I’d read a lot and knew it was the healthiest choice for me and my baby,” she says. “It’s free and convenient, but it wasn’t easy.” There wasn’t a lactation specialist available to help when she gave birth

Jessica Mattingly GUEST COLUMN To contact Jessica Mattingly, board certified lactation consultant in the Birthing Center at St. Mary’s Medical Center, call 816427-1710.

to her first son although, “The nurses did help and we finally made it work.”

When she delivered Wesley in the Birthing Center at St. Mary’s last week, Kylie got a visit from Mattingly. In fact, Mattingly visits every new mom delivering in The Birthing Center who wants to breast feed, and she really is an expert. Not only is she board certified as a lactation consultant, she breastfed each of her five children, age 3 to 17. “I come from family that is very supportive of breastfeeding,” she says. “The the success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be greatly improved with the support of family, friends and the community. I don’t think we have a very ‘breastfeeding friendly’ culture, particularly when women go back to work.”

There are many myths associated with breastfeeding, according to Mattingly. One of the biggest is that many women can’t breastfeed, but the instances of a mother not being able to breastfeed are pretty rare. Some women feel as if they’re not making enough milk for their babies, but “If the baby is steadily gaining weight and getting enough wet and dirty diapers, the baby is getting enough milk,” says Mattingly.

Another misconception is that if a woman is taking medication or wants to have a drink with dinner, that she shouldn’t breastfeed.

There are very few medicines that a mother cannot take safely while breastfeeding and very little alcohol comes out in the milk.

“Women have been told for years that they can’t do a number of things if they’re breastfeeding, and it makes life unnecessarily restrictive for nursing mothers.”

In addition to the benefits to the baby, research has shown mothers benefit from breastfeeding, too. During pregnancy, the uterus increases to about 20 times its normal size. Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly. Nursing requires an average of 500 extra calories a day, so breastfeeding helps many moms lose weight after the baby is born. And even more evidence, according to a study published in the American Dietetic Association, mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-

Submitted photograph Kylie Friedrich and Wesley. pregnancy weights at one month postpartum when compared with mothers who fed formula exclusively.

“There are literally hundreds of reasons why breastfeeding benefits babies and mothers,” says Mattingly. “Some women choose not to do it – and that’s a personal choice. But my hope is that women make an informed choice and not decide based on myths and misinformation.”

All the latest hearing aids with expert fitting and advice by experienced licensed audiologists

March is National Nutrition Month March is National Nutrition Month. The 2011 theme is “Eat Right With Color.” This refers to both eating a variety of colors of fruits and vegetables as well as an emphasis on “eating all of the colors” of the food pyramid.

The food pyramid consists of orange (grains), green (vegetables), red (fruits), blue (dairy products), purple (meats and beans), and a small bit of yellow (oils).

The major focus of the 2011 theme is eating a variety of healthy foods every day.

American Dietetic Association President Judith C. Rodriguez states the theme, “‘Eat Right With Color,’ offers a great opportunity to focus people’s attention on a universal theme that cuts through the clutter of information and gets back to the principles of a healthful diet.”

Trends are indicating that people want to improve their diets, change to a healthful lifestyle and eat better food. An easy way to do

Larry Jones Larry Jones is director of the Independence Health Department. that is to add a color pallet to your plate. This year’s theme encourages consumers to remember to include a variety of fruits and vegetables on their plate. In fact, half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables. The remaining should be whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy.

Committed to improving the nation’s health, many agencies, including public health,

want the focus on the basics of sound nutrition.

The recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends an increased focus on a plant-based diet. This combined with including lean meats, fish and poultry, and low-fat milk and dairy products creates a rainbow of colors on the plate that serve as the foundation for a healthful eating plan.

Take time to read the new guidelines. I encourage you to keep a journal and really look at your eating patterns. Then you can begin to make small improvements in your eating habits that will add up to significant health benefits. The old adage that we are what we eat is coming back to haunt us.

For more information and great ideas, visit the American Dietetic Association National Nutrition Month website at www.eatright.org/ nnm or call the Independence Health Department at 816-325-7185 to talk to a nutritionist.

Providing comprehensive, compassionate and superior hearing care!

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Charles E. Hare, M.S., CCC/A Roberta Beile, M.A., CCC/A Tawna Noftzger, Receptionist

www.JacksonCountyAudiology.com

816-373-7900

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Page 4 Tuesday, March 1, 2011

health

Enjoy sweet potatoes Traditionally, sweet potatoes are served at the holidays, but why not enjoy them all winter long? Not only do they taste like dessert, but they provide some surprising health benefits.

Sweet potatoes are bursting with more beta-carotene than carrots. They are filled with greater amounts of vitamins and minerals than a typical white potato, and provide a unique combination of being low-fat and rich in hearthealthy vitamin E. Choose sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have any cracks, bruises or soft spots. They should be stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated space - like a pantry - where they will keep fresh for up to 10 days.

Try these five simple methods for cooking sweet potatoes.

Boil. Simply peel the sweet potato and cut into chunks. Boil until tender – about 25 to 30 minutes.

Roast. Cut unpeeled sweet potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil and herbs and roast at 375 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes, until tender.

Bake. Pierce the skin of each sweet potato in several places with a fork, and then bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees F, followed by 45 to 60 minutes more at 375 degrees F. They should be placed on a baking tray since sticky syrup is often produced while baking.

Microwave. To cook, pierce the skin in several places and bake the whole potato on HIGH for 5 to 9 minutes.

Grill. Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them lengthwise into _-inch-thick slices. Grill until browned, about 4 minutes on each side.

Quick serving ideas Sweet potatoes can be substituted for regular potatoes in many delicious side dishes, such as potato salad, or served as French fries or roasted, boiled, mashed and baked potatoes. Good flavors for seasoning sweet potatoes include orange, pineapple, apples, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and maple syrup. n Mash boiled sweet potatoes with a small amount of butter or orange juice for extra flavor and top with brown sugar, cinnamon or nutmeg. n Layer sweet potato slices with slices of apple. Top with brown sugar and butter and bake in a covered casserole dish at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes. n Instead of using pumpkin in pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread, substitute pureed, boiled sweet potatoes. n Finely dice sweet potatoes and brown them in a pan on the stove. Serve as hash browns for a morning meal. n Puree cooked sweet potatoes with bananas,

Tracey Shaffer Food for Thought Tracey Shaffer, RD, LD, is a Hy-Vee dietitian at the Blue Springs location The information provided should not be construed as professional medical advice. E-mail her at 1033dietitian@hy-vee.com. maple syrup and cinnamon and top with chopped walnuts. n Steam cubed sweet potatoes, tofu and broccoli. Mix in raisins and serve hot or cold with a curried vinaigrette dressing.

Chile-Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes 4 servings, about 3⁄4 cup each.

Give ordinary roasted sweet potatoes a big flavor boost with this quick, Asian-inspired seasoning mix.

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil 1 tablespoon chile-garlic sauce (see Note) 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce 1⁄8 teaspoon ground white pepper 11⁄2 pounds sweet potatoes, scrubbed (and peeled, if desired), cut into 1-inch wedges or pieces 1. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. 2. Combine oil, chile-garlic sauce, soy sauce and white pepper in a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes; toss to coat with the seasoning mixture.

3. Spread the sweet potatoes evenly on a rimmed baking sheet.

4. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the sweet potatoes are tender and browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

Per serving: 177 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 4 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 31 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 5 g fiber; 348 mg sodium; 586 mg potassium.

Nutrition facts: Vitamin A (160% daily value), Vitamin C (40% dv), Potassium (17% dv).

NOTE: Chile-garlic sauce (also labeled chiligarlic sauce, or paste) is a blend of ground chiles, garlic and vinegar. It can be found in the Asian section of large supermarkets and will keep for up to 1 year in the refrigerator.

Recipe adapted from Eating Well, Inc.

Page 6 Tuesday, March 1, 2011

wellness

There’s no easy answer to chronic pain Chronic pain afflicts more than 60 million Americans and costs $100 billion annually.

Chronic low back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability.

This major public health issue, chronic pain, what do you know, T or F? 1. 10 percent of Americans lose at least 20 hours of sleep monthly because of pain.

2. Most chronic pain is from arthritis.

3. Low back pain is the most common site of chronic pain.

The cause of acute pain is usually easily identified and explained. When there is an injury, specialized nerve cells send signals to the brain for processing and interpretation. As the injury heals, pain signals subside.

Most acute pain is from an injury involving skin, muscle, tendon, ligament or bone. As human beings, we experience varying degrees of acute pain daily. Its duration is limited and there is complete resolution within a few days or weeks.

Chronic pain, by definition, lingers longer than three months. A most unwelcome intruder. According to the National Institutes of Neurological Diseases (NINDS www.ninds.

Lori Boyajian O'Neill Sports and wellness Dr. Lori Boyajian-O’Neill can be contacted at lori.boyajian-oneill@hcahealthcare.com. nih.gov) common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself) and psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system).

Acute pain can be pinpointed to a specific

area. “It hurts right here.” Chronic pain most often is diffused and not easily pinpointed.

The pain signals are complicated, emanating from a wider area bombarding the brain with information. Chronic pain is headquartered in the brain, where nerve signals are perceived and processed in three or four distinct areas.

There is altered perception and hypersensitivity to pain. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, irritable bowel disease and other conditions often accompany chronic pain.

Therapies for chronic pain vary from counseling to medicines to surgery and everything in between. Analgesics, anti-depressants, antiseizure drugs (even though the patient may not have seizures) muscle relaxers and opioid narcotics are commonly prescribed. Epidural steroid injections target spinal nerve pain.

Skin and indwelling electrical stimulation devices are designed to alter or confuse nerve signals, thereby decreasing pain frequency and intensity.

Counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy targets pain perception and psychologic aspects of pain. Acupuncture has been shown to alter the areas of the brain which interpret

pain signals. Manual manipulation offered by osteopathic physicians and chiropractors may be beneficial.

There is no single best method of treatment. Rather, chronic pain is often treated using a team of health-care professionals.

Turning down or turning off pain signals is key to long-term management and the focus of current research at NINDS. New methods of stopping signals from reaching the brain are in development. Medicines and micro-surgical procedures that target and even kill pain-relaying cells are in our future.

In 1931, the French medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote, “Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself.”

NINDS believes that the goals of pain management are to improve function, enabling individuals to work, attend school or participate in other day-to-day activities. For the millions who suffer from chronic pain, newer approaches and technologies cannot be available soon enough.

Answers: 1. F 33 percent 2. T

3. T

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Page 7

health

healthCALENDAR Items for the Health Calendar may be e-mailed to jill.ritchie@examiner.net or mailed to: The Examiner, P.O. Box 459, Independence, Mo. 64051, attention Jill Ritchie. The following items are for March 2 through 8, unless otherwise stated.

Spotlights

Blue Springs STRETCH-N-GROW – for ages 2 to 5, 11:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, March 2 through April 6, Vesper Hall, 400 N.W. Vesper St. Cost, $38. Call 816-228-0137 to register.

TAI CHI, advanced classes from 8:05 to 9:05 p.m.

Tuesdays March 8-April 26; beginner classes from 8:05 to 9:05 p.m. Thursdays March 10-April 28, Vesper Hall. Cost for either class, $49. Call to register.

The following fitness classes are offered through Blue Springs Parks and Recreation at Club 7 Fitness, 1241 S. Missouri 7. All classes are $40. To register, call 816-228-0137.

BODYPUMP, 5:35 to 6:35 p.m. Tuesdays March 8April 26; 6:35 to 7:35 p.m. Thursdays March 10-April 28.

BODYVIVE, 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesdays March 9-April 27; 9:05 to 10 a.m. Saturdays March 21-April 30.

YOGA FLOW, 6:35 to 7:50 p.m. Mondays March 7April 25; 7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays March 9-April 27.

ZUMBA DANCE, 5:45 to 6:35 p.m. Mondays March 7-April 25; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays March 8-April 26.

Independence JEWELRY AND MORE fundraiser, sponsored

by Centerpoint Medical Center Auxiliary, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 9; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 10, outside the hospital’s cafeteria, 39th Street and Jackson Drive. Items include designer watches ($12-$15), a wide variety of pictures and more. Most items are $6. Proceeds are used to provide scholarships to students pursuing a medical career and to charities in Eastern Jackson County.

sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. several times throughout the year, Vesper Hall. To register, 655-5490.

Other Infant loss group, sponsored by Carondelet Health. 655-5582.

Miscellaneous

Independence MATERNITY UNIT TOURS, Centerpoint Medical Center. Call 751-3000 for dates and to register.

Food handler/manager permit training classes, food handler classes, 3:30 p.m. Thursdays at Truman Memorial Building, 1 and 3:30 p.m.

Wednesdays, Independence Health Department. There is a fee. To register, 325-7803.

Blue Springs Break Time Club, sponsored by Shepherd Center of Blue Springs, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Timothy Lutheran Church. For older adults with some physical and/or mental limitations. A donation of $10 to the cost of the program is suggested. 228-5300.

Prenatal/Infant/Child programs

Independence/Blue Springs WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or gave birth less than six months ago, 404-6460 or 257-2335 in Independence, or 220-1007 in Blue Springs.

Moms & Moms-to-be prenatal and postnatal class, 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, Family YMCA. 224-

Yourtake

9620.

Screenings/Immunizations

Independence Evening immunization clinics, 1:30 to 7 p.m.

Monday, Jackson County Health Department, 313 S. Liberty St. 404-6415.

HEALTH SCREENINGS for those 50 years and older, 10 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Palmer Center.

Screenings for blood sugar, blood pressure and diabetic foot screenings. Free. 325-6200.

Blue Springs DIABETIC FOOT SCREENINGS, sponsored by St. Mary’s Medical Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Vesper Hall. Free.

228-0181.

Do you think social networking sites, including Facebook, are good for one's overall health?

Why or why not?

Support groups

Independence Domestic violence group for men, 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Family Conservancy of Eastern Jackson County. 373-7577.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Villages of Jackson Creek-Memory Care. Free and open to the public. Call Monica Benson, 478-5689.

Multiple Sclerosis, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Red Lobster. 833-4151.

Moms Off Meth, 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, First Christian Church, Room 206. Free. Terri, 210-9574.

Kaitlyn Hadfield, Blue Springs I would say that it’s not. I guess they’re good because you can keep in touch with people, but a lot of kids say they get addicted to it.

– Jillayne Ritchie

Addiction groups

Independence Straight Talk, Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, First Baptist Church.

Narcotics Anonymous Help Line: 531-2250.

Living Free – Al Anon meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 1723 Appleton Ave. 461-0039.

Community Substance Abuse Committee, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Independence Police Building.

Blue Springs ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, meetings available daily, most sessions are closed, and there are beginner meetings also, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

There is a total of 29 meetings per week. For times, call 228-7921.

CHAPEL HILL AL-ANON, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9 a.m. Saturday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

BLUE SPRINGS ALATEEN, 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, 1428-B W. U.S. 40 (behind Betty’s Diner).

Bereavement groups

Blue Springs Widowed Persons support group, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Annex A. 2240677 or 229-8093.

Independents Singles Ministry grief support group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, First United Methodist Church. 228-3788.

Adult Bereavement support group,

Brady Phillips, Blue Springs I don’t think they are. From my experience, it interrupted me from the things that I should have been doing, like running or studying.

Alex Anderson I think they are good because you can reunite with other friends.

– Jeff Martin

Renew

at Carmel Hills A truly innovative concept in post-acute care, designed especially for women, doesn’t just meet the needs of those recovering from an acute illness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process.

Renew also offers services to refresh your mind and rejuvenate your spirit with a facial or massage in our Spa. Renew is located in a separate area with a private entrance, and equipped with state of the art equipment and furnishings that are geared towards enhancing each step of your recovery.

Carmel Hills

Sunset Place

Our long term care services are designed for individuals who need 24 hour nursing care. Theses residents may be chronically ill, frail, or experiencing a very slow recovery from an illness or injury. Our long term care units offer private and semiprivate rooms including room furnishings, multiple common areas and dining lounges. We offer respite care or vacation care that allows families an opportunity to take a brief break from the demands of round- theclock care giving.

The dedicated Alzheimer’s Unit offers dedicated, caring and compassionate staff well trained to assist residents in living their lives to the fullest. We offer structured activities designed to maximize interaction with each resident. Personalized behavioral management designed to encourage participation in a calm environment. We provide semi private and private rooms, complimentary cable television, nutritionally balanced meals and rehabilitation services.

Long Term Care at Carmel Hills For those seeking short term medical and or rehabilitative services, we focus our efforts on working closely with patient and family and strive to achieve the most successful functional outcomes. Our nursing team is support by licensed therapists who provide physical, occupational, and speech therapies. This dedicated team works together to design individualized care plans tailored to each patients specific needs.

We believe our best results are achieved when we work together

810 E. Walnut • Independence, MO

816.461.9600