IGH - WNY, #83 SEPTEMBER 2021

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BFOHEALTH.COM

SEPTEMBER 2021 • ISSUE 83

Teaching Students to Grow a Garden Kristin Goss, a teacher at Erie Community College and a cancer survivor, started a class that teaches ECC students to grow flowers, vegetables and to eat healthy foods.

P. 9

Special Needs Issue SLEEP DISORDERS AMONG KIDS Physician Amanda B. Hassinger is part of the team that establishing the UBMD Pediatric Sleep Medicine Center the only of its type in WNY. She talks about how the center can help young people. P. 4

Meet the Fantastic Friends of Western New York Why are there more children with disabilities?

‘Special Needs’ vs.

‘Disabled’: A Search for Respectful Verbiage

EXPERTS: DROP DETOX PEARLS

Disability Raises Depression Risk

CELEBRITIES IN THE NEWS

Christina Applegate Announces She Has Multiple Sclerosis

Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Small’ Heart Attack? Doctors Say All Are a Big Deal

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mmy award-winning actress Christina Applegate recently revealed she is battling multiple sclerosis.

She is perhaps best known for her starring roles in “Married With Children,” “Dead to Me” and “Samantha Who?” “A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS,” Applegate tweeted.

“It’s been a strange journey... It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”

“As one of my friends that has MS said, 'we wake up and take the indicated action,'” Applegate continued. “And that’s what I do.

So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing.”

The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown, but research has suggested that both environmental and genetic factors may be at play. More than 2.3 million people have MS worldwide, including several other celebrities, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).

“Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system,” explained physician Asaff Harel, who directs the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“This condition can cause a variety of symptoms and affects each indi-

vidual differently, depending on the severity and the location of injuries to the nervous system. MS is a spectrum, affecting some more severely than others.”

Those diagnosed with MS typically have one of four types of the disease, according to the NMSS. The four types range in severity and progression, but there is no way to predict how the disease will unfold in a particular person.

Applegate has not said which type of MS she has.

This is not Applegate’s first health scare: In 2008, she had both of her breasts removed after a breast cancer diagnosis, CNN reported.

hen actor Bob Odenkirk collapsed on the set of “Better Call Saul” recently in New Mexico, fans held their breath — and obsessively checked for updates on social media — until word came that he was expected to be OK. “I had a small heart attack,” he tweeted, thanking the doctors who “knew how to fix the blockage without surgery.”

Few other details about his health were available, but a small heart attack is still a big deal, said physician Donald Lloyd-Jones, president of the American Heart Association.

“All heart attacks are important and have the potential to be big and possibly fatal,” he said. “So, we don›t mess around. It's not a small heart attack until we turn it into a small heart attack by appropriate treatment.”

Lloyd-Jones, a cardiologist, epidemiologist and chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, was not involved in Odenkirk’s treatment. But he said the mechanism of all heart attacks is basically the same: An artery is blocked and that cuts blood flow to the heart muscle. If the blockage goes on long enough, heart muscle cells start to die.

The scope of the damage depends on the location of the blockage. “If there’s a big blockage in a big artery early in its course, there’s more heart muscle at risk,” he said.

“If there’s a blockage in a small side branch, far downstream, there’s less heart muscle at risk.”

Typical symptoms of a heart attack include heavy pressure in the chest, often accompanied by shortness of breath, sometimes with sweating or with pain that radiates into the neck, jaw or arm, Lloyd-Jones said. “But sometimes it can be more subtle, such as suddenly feeling lightheaded or significantly fatigued.”

For Lloyd-Jones, the term “small heart attack” suggests Odenkirk was fortunate to have been quickly taken to a hospital with a cardiologist who could treat the blockage, probably by running a catheter through an artery in the wrist up to the heart.

Addiction: Drug Overdose Deaths Jumped 30% Last Year in U.S.

2020 has highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period

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s America went into lockdown and treatment centers closed their doors, drug overdose deaths in the United States jumped by nearly a third last year, new data show.

The estimated 93,331 drug overdose deaths recorded during 2020 are a sharp increase — a 29.4% rise — over the 72,151 deaths estimated in 2019, according to preliminary data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The NCHS is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Physician Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the new numbers “chilling.” “”This is the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, and the largest increase since at least 1999,” she said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic created a devastating collision of health crises in America.”

The new NCHS data also show that overdose deaths from opioids, specifically, spiked from 50,963 in 2019 to 69,710 in 2020, about a 27% rise.

Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine also rose from 2019

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to 2020, the report found. There were also increases in deaths from semi-synthetic opioids such as prescription pain medications and from cocaine.

Volkow, who wasn’t involved in the new report, said the sharp and tragic rise in overdoses stems from a combination of factors.

“This has been an incredibly uncertain and stressful time for many

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

people and we are seeing an increase in drug consumption, difficulty in accessing lifesaving treatments for substance use disorders, and a tragic rise in overdose deaths,” she said.

Physician Teresa Murray Amato has seen cases of overdose firsthand in her role as chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, in New York City.

Two locations...

One group of expert emergency physicians.

Will COVID-19 Ever Be Eradicated?

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ould COVID-19 one day go the way of smallpox and polio?

New research suggests it might be possible to beat the coronavirus with high vaccination rates and rapid responses to immunity-evading variants, the study authors said.

“While our analysis is a preliminary effort, with various subjective components, it does seem to put COVID-19 eradicability into the realms of being possible, especially in terms of technical feasibility,” according to Michael Baker, professor in the department of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, in New Zealand, and colleagues.

To assess the feasibility of eliminating COVID-19, the researchers used 17 factors to compare it with two other vaccine-preventable viral diseases — smallpox and polio.

Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 and two out of the three serotypes of poliovirus have been eradicated worldwide.

The factors used for analysis included: vaccine availability; lifelong immunity; impact of public health measures; effective infection control messaging; political and public concern about the economic and social impacts of the diseases; and public acceptance of infection control measures.

The investigators used a threepoint scoring system for each of the 17 factors and concluded that the feasibility of eradication was higher for COVID-19 than for polio, but lower than for smallpox.

The average scores in the anal-

ysis were 2.7 (43/48) for smallpox, 1.6 (28/51) for COVID-19, and 1.5 (26/51) for polio, according to the study published online Aug. 9 in the journal BMJ Global Health.

Compared to smallpox and polio, the challenges of eradicating COVID-19 include low vaccine acceptance and the emergence of more highly transmissible variants that might evade immunity, the authors noted.

“Nevertheless, there are of course limits to viral evolution, so we can expect the virus to eventually reach peak fitness, and new vaccines can be formulated,” Baker and colleagues suggested in a journal news release.

“Other challenges would be the high upfront costs (for vaccination and upgrading health systems), and achieving the necessary international cooperation in the face of ‘vaccine nationalism’ and government-mediated ‘antiscience aggression,’” the team noted.

But they added that there is worldwide will to combat COVID-19, because the staggering health, social and economic impacts of the virus have triggered “unprecedented global interest in disease control and massive investment in vaccination against the pandemic.”

This is preliminary research and more extensive in-depth investigation is needed, and the World Health Organization would need to formally review the feasibility and desirability of trying to eradicate COVID-19, the researchers explained.

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September 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Sleep Apnea Doubles Odds for Sudden Death

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leep apnea may double your risk for sudden death, according to a new study.

The condition — in which a person’s airway is repeatedly blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing — may also increase the risk for high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, new research shows.

“This [study] adds to the growing body of evidence that highlights the importance of screening, diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea,” said physician Kannan Ramar, immediate past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

Ramar, who reviewed the findings, said they underscore the importance of recognizing a widespread and often underdiagnosed condition that has become a growing public health concern.

For the study, a team at Penn State University reviewed 22 studies that included more than 42,000 patients worldwide.

Their review revealed that people with obstructive sleep apnea had a greater risk of dying suddenly and the risk rose as patients aged.

“Our research shows this condition can be life-threatening,” principal investigator Anna Ssentongo said in a university news release. She’s an assistant professor and epidemiologist at Penn State.

The repeated lapses in breathing in sleep apnea cut off oxygen supply to cells, which can result in an imbalance of antioxidants in the body.

This imbalance harms cells and may speed up the aging process, leading to many health problems, the researchers said.

The study authors said the findings underscore the urgency of treating sleep apnea.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for moderate to severe apnea, according to the AASM. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask worn during sleep. The airflow keeps the airway open, preventing pauses in breathing while restoring normal oxygen levels.

Other options include oral appliances designed to keep the airway open and, in some cases, surgery to remove tissue from the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, adenoids or tongue.

Losing weight also benefits many people with sleep apnea, as does sleeping on one’s side.

Generally, over-the-counter nasal strips, internal nasal dilators, and lubricant sprays reduce snoring, but AASM says there is no evidence that they help treat sleep apnea.

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Christopher Motola

Amanda B. Hassinger, M.D.

Physician is part of the team charged with establishing the new UBMD Pediatric Sleep Medicine Center and Lab at Oishei Children’s Hospital, the only one of its type in WNY Q: I didn’t know we had pediatric sleep labs. Are they common?

A: Most major children’s hospitals have a pediatric sleep lab, but the closest one to us that was pediatric-only was in Rochester.

Pittsburgh has one as well. So it’s not uncommon in the larger children’s hospitals. We’ve been lucky enough in Western New York to have a few adult sleep providers willing and able to do pediatric sleep studies in their labs, but there had been no dedicated pediatric sleep center in Buffalo, even though we’re much larger than Rochester.

Q: What does a dedicated pediatric sleep lab provide that a standard one can’t?

A: For one, you need pediatric-sized equipment to accommodate birth- all the way to adult-sized equipment. We also need to have technicians who are both family-centered and very patient, because our younger patients who have a high rate of sleep apnea can be extremely anxious. Stranger anxiety is a normal thing in a 2-year old, but it makes it very difficult to place the 20 to 30 different monitors we need to place on them before they fall asleep in a very strange place.

We also provide several more modalities of monitoring than we do in an adult sleep lab. We do continuous monitoring so we can catch things like sleepwalking or sleep talking or night terrors. We also monitor CO2 levels in children, which is not something that’s routinely done with adults in the sleep lab.

We also have

specialty equipment that allows us to manage patients with complex medical needs, like children who need a ventilator to breathe or who have seizures.

Q: What role did you play in getting the pediatric sleep lab off the ground?

A: Obviously I’m part of a huge team that’s made this possible. I was an attending at PICU [pediatric intensive care unit] back in 2019 and was on a phone call at 2 a.m. with the pediatric pulmonologist here who had been wanting to build this center. She’d been trying to get the sleep center going, but couldn’t find anyone to do it. So we talked about it and ended up collaborating. The sleep center is really a joint venture with UBMD Pediatrics and Kaleida and a company called Sleep & Wellness. We all worked together to figure out how to make it happen at Oishei Children’s Hospital. After being an attending in the ICU for a decade, I went back into training for sleep medicine. My husband was like, “Really?” I was then in all the planning meetings and on the frontlines when it came to getting things going. I started July 1, 2020, and the lab opened July 9. So we’ve been open a little over a year.

Q: Do children have similar sleep disorders to adults?

A: Yes, but as you can imagine they’re a little bit different in that they have a significant impact on what the child can achieve in terms of their neuro-cognitive potential. So sleep disorders can have a much more serious impact on their lives, especially if they have sleep apnea. It can create issues with how the child grows and develops. If they’re not sleeping, it really impacts the way their brain grows and their ability to learn. Children tend to outgrow sleep apnea, but the damage to their brain development is usually irreversible.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

Q: Are the symptoms similar to those of adults with sleep disorders?

A: They’re actually completely

paradoxical. Adults will be tired, they know their sleep is bad, they know they’re waking up, they know they’re snoring. Children don’t have the same vocabulary or understanding to explain what they’re feeling. A tired child is extremely hyperactive, refuses sleep and has trouble sitting still. To this day, I still don’t understand biologically why the human body does this. I don’t know why a tired child doesn’t want to sleep. So kids present very differently. It needs early diagnosis and treatment.

Q: How do you manage sleep apnea in a very young child?

A: It depends where the obstruction is. In early childhood it’s typically because the tonsils or adenoids have grown abnormally quickly and are taking up too much valuable real estate. So we then refer those children for surgery. If they don’t have that issue, then we have to try other things. If it’s mild, we can use medication to help with nasal swelling, or we can watch it. Often children will outgrow it. If it’s severe, though, we need to focus on surgery or have them use a CPAP machine to create continuous airway pressure while they’re sleeping.

Q: What age groups do you mainly see with sleep disorders?

A: It’s actually pretty evenly divided between young children and adolescents. There is a large group of school-aged children who are having trouble with the pandemic and insomnia. Many have increased their screen time, which has in turn affected their sleep. There are probably more toddlers, and we try to do outreach to identify sleep disorders in that age group so we can intervene before it turns into ADHD in a few years.

Q: So are sleep disorders a major cause of ADHD? A: Yeah, very common. There have been a number of studies that have found that many children with ADHD are getting poor sleep. If you correct that, they don’t need stimulants. That’s always been something that has been perplexing to me. Why would a hyperactive child who can’t sit still need a stimulant? But it’s actually because they’re tired.

Q: Since children, especially very young ones, may not be able to communicate their sleep issues, what should parents look out for?

A: Around 18 months or 2 years of age, if they start noticing that their sleep is interrupted, more fragmented, if they are sundowning similar to the way some elderly people do, where they become very hyperactive near bedtime. That usually means they’re overtired. Sometimes bedwetting can be a sign of sleep apnea, especially if they previously were dry.

Lifelines

Name: Amanda B. Hassinger, M.D. Position: Attending physician (pulmonology and sleep medicine) at Oishei Children’s Hospital Hometown: Buffalo Education: University at Buffalo Affiliations: UBMD, Kaleida; Oishei Children’s Hospital Organizations: American Board of Pediatrics; American Association of Sleep Medicine; Society of Critical Care Medicine; Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network (PALISI) Family: Husband, twin daughters, son Hobbies: Cooking, camping, hiking, gardening

Jenna Schifferle is a writer from Tonawanda. She’s running toward her goal of 2,021 miles this year, with a mission to do 30 miles for her 30th birthday.

Writer on the Run

By Jenna Schifferle

jenna.schifferle@gmail.com

My New Fitness Routine: I Have to Say, It Is Uncomfortable T he digital artist Michael John Bobak once said, “All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” Few sentiments prove to be as true as this one — in life and in fitness.

Recently, I stepped outside my comfort zone and began a strength routine, a departure from my usual miles of cardio and weekly yoga.

Three days a week, I hit the gym before work, rotating through leg, arm and core exercises. And I have to say, it is uncomfortable.

I’m using muscles I haven’t used in years and moving in ways that are completely new. Despite the sore muscles, it feels refreshing to be changing up my routine, and I know it will help my wellbeing in the long run.

Strength training isn’t just about building muscle mass; it comes with a whole host of benefits that improve

your mental and physical health.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, sedentary adults lose 3% to 8% of their muscle mass per decade, resulting in a slower metabolism and a higher body mass index (BMI). This can lead to a whole host of complications like bone loss, heart disease, and diabetes. Strength training can help combat this by preventing muscle loss and promoting a healthy BMI and metabolism. It can also make you feel better.

For me, strength training has made me feel more tone and less hunched over (a symptom of sitting at a desk all day). I also feel stronger overall, which boosts the feel-good chemicals in my brain and leaves me feeling more clear-headed and calm all day.

For many people, starting a strength routine can be intimidating.

Daily Half-Hour Walk Can Greatly Boost Survival After Stroke

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fter a stroke, survivors can greatly increase their odds for many more years of life through activities as easy as a half-

hour’s stroll each day, new research shows.

The nearly five-year-long Canadian study found that stroke survi-

Gyms are often filled with seasoned weight lifters who can bench a lot.

But they’re also filled with people like you and me who are just looking to be healthy. While it can be hard to avoid the trap of comparison, remembering that even low-weight strength training can help your body and can be motivation enough to get you through your nerves.

Many gyms also offer designated areas to work out apart from serious weight lifters. Planet Fitness, for instance, proudly lauds itself for being a judgment-free zone, while the Buffalo Athletic Club offers a gym exclusively for women.

And if you’re absolutely not comfortable strength training in front of people, try doing it at home. Buy some lightweight dumbbells, use resistance bands, or just rely on your bodyweight to move your muscles.

There are a ton of videos online that vors who walked or gardened at least three to four hours a week (about 30 minutes a day), cycled at least two to three hours per week, or got an equivalent amount of exercise had a 54% lower risk of death from any cause.

The benefits were highest among younger stroke survivors. Those younger than 75 who did at least that much physical activity had an 80% lower risk of death, according to the study published online Aug. 11 in the journal Neurology.

“We should particularly emphasize [physical activity] to stroke survivors who are younger in age, as they may gain the greatest health benefits from walking just 30 minutes each day,” study author physician Raed Joundi, of the University of Calgary, said in a journal news release.

One U.S. expert in stroke care said more needs to be done to help people who survive a stroke get active.

“It is important that stroke neurologists enroll their patients in exercise programs, because encouraging exercise/physical activity may not be sufficient,” noted physician Andrew Rogove, who wasn’t involved in the new research. He directs stroke care at Northwell Health’s South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, on Long Island.

The new study included nearly 900 stroke survivors, average age

can show you how to get started.

I’ve included two of my favorites below.

• Stephanie Mansour’s 30-day strength training routine: https:// nbcnews.to/3gdYp7S • New York Time’s 9-Minute Strength Workout: https://nyti. ms/3AUjPi3 Of course, you should always consult your physician before starting any fitness routine to make sure your routine is right for you. From there, I encourage you to take that first step out of your comfort zone.

Let me know how it goes at jenna.schifferle@gmail.com.

72, and more than 97,800 people, average age 63, who had never had a stroke. All of the participants were followed for an average of about 4.5 years.

After accounting for other factors that could influence the risk of death (such as age and smoking), the researchers found that 25% of the stroke survivors and 6% of those who’d never had a stroke died from any cause during follow-up.

Among the stroke survivors, 15% of the people who exercised at least the equivalent of three to four hours of walking each week died, compared to 33% of those who didn’t get at least that much exercise, Joundi’s group reported.

The bottom line: “Our results suggest that getting a minimum amount of physical activity may reduce long-term mortality from any cause in stroke survivors,” Joundi said.

“Our results are exciting, because just three to four hours a week of walking was associated with big reductions in mortality, and that may be attainable for many community members with prior stroke,” he said. “In addition, we found people achieved even greater benefit with walking six to seven hours per week.

These results might have implications for guidelines for stroke survivors in the future.”

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

The monthly Healthcare in a Minute column will return in October when author George W. Chapman returns from vacation.

September 2021 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Don’t Let This Past Year Define You

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ell, so much for that longed-for carefree summer.

Just as we were getting a taste of normalcy, a fourth wave of coronavirus infections began to sweep across the U.S. And as I write this, we are seeing an uptick in cases.

While many medical experts and the CDC warn things may get worse before they get better, they also say this can be turned around by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and continuing to practice social distancing.

I’m all in. And hope you are, too.

In the past, I’ve shared lots of “do’s” to help people live alone with more success. Here are a few “don’ts” — some lighthearted — that may also help you on your journey toward contentment in what continues to be changing and challenging times.

• Don’t make isolation a habit. This is a tricky one, because the times we’re in have called for social distancing. Problem is, social isolation can slowly, subtly morph into social anxiety, which can lead to feelings of disconnection or, worse, depression.

What started out as an essential mandate to keep ourselves and others safe has, for some, turned into an unhealthy habit.

There’s no one solution to breaking the cycle of social isolation, but there are a few tips I can share:

• Take a look at your situation and notice if you’ve stopped reaching out; and likewise, if people have stopped reaching out to you.

• Decide to ease back in slowly and suggest get-togethers (ideally outdoors) that feel safe to you.

• Try to accept invitations when they do come your way, even if you don’t feel like it.

• Ask for help, if you need it, by letting others know that you fear you are becoming a hermit.

We humans are social animals; we’re meant to be with others. Solitary confinement is for criminals, not for people who live alone. Stay connected!

• Don’t make Fruit Loops your main course for dinner.

Well ... maybe on occasion. But as a general rule? No. Create a nice place setting, fill your plate with something healthy, light a candle, select a beverage of choice, and enjoy some well-deserved time to yourself.

A favorite magazine, book or crossword puzzle can make for a nice dining companion. Bon appetit!

• Don’t go on an online shopping spree to fill an emotional void. Your savings account will thank you.

• Don’t put too much stock in that dreamcatcher. If you find yourself wide awake in the middle of night worrying about COVID-19 or fighting demons, you

U.S. Kids Are Eating More ‘Ultraprocessed’ Foods

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rozen burgers, pizza pockets and toaster strudel. Energy drinks and sugary sodas.

Fruit leather and potato chips. Cookies and cereal bars. Fish sticks and chicken strips.

These sorts of quick-pick manufactured foods are considered “ultraprocessed,” and dietitians believe they could be at the root of America’s obesity epidemic.

A new study has found that two-thirds of the calories consumed

by U.S. children and teens come from ultraprocessed foods, an eating pattern that could be driving children toward obesity.

About 67% of calories eaten by kids and teens come from ultraprocessed foods, compared with about Page 6

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61% two decades ago, according to data gathered by a top federal health survey.

At the same time, total energy consumed from unprocessed or minimally processed foods decreased from about 29% to 24%, the researchers reported.

Convenience today could be contributing to an unhealthier life for children, said senior researcher, physician Fang Fang Zhang, an associate professor with the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston.

“We are all busy in this modern society. We have less time to cook everything from scratch. But we seem to be relying too much on ultraprocessed foods,” Zhang said.

might try meditation, journaling, or aromatherapy.

When I can’t sleep, I fill my diffuser with lavender oil and do some deep breathing while I repeat the phrase, “Sleep is healing.” If that doesn’t do the trick, I get up and prepare myself “Sleepytime” herbal tea.

I return to bed with fingers crossed and eyes closed. If all else fails, consult your doctor.

• Don’t jump into someone’s arms out of loneliness.

Feelings of desperation can make you easy prey for a suitor with dubious intentions. It’s a risky place to be. Getting good at living alone will build your self-esteem and improve your chances of meeting someone who values and appreciates your strengths, not your weaknesses.

• Don’t be afraid to travel alone. When the time is right, hit the road! Some of my best trips have been taken with my favorite traveling companion: myself. I create my own itinerary, go at my own pace, see incredible places and meet all kinds of interesting people along the way.

Even a small jaunt can boost your confidence. On your own, you’ll discover your own resourcefulness, ability to solve problems, and capacity to spend enjoyable time alone. It can be an enlightening adventure in self-discovery.

• Don’t act your age. You are free, unencumbered and on your own. What better time to spread your wings, be silly and otherwise express your glorious, awesome self.

Put yourself with people who make you laugh. For me, that’s my sister Anne. So, keep your sense humor.

Even in serious times, funny things can happen.

I just read about a study that showed that laughing — even fake laughing — can reduce stress, damp-

en pain, lower your blood pressure, and strengthen your immune system.

Now, that’s no laughing matter!

• Don’t underestimate the power of gratitude. I have found the process of reflecting on and writing down those things for which I’m grateful to be a fulfilling, even healing, exercise.

Think back over your day.

Identify those things or people or places that made an impression on you or that touched your heart.

Great or small, it could be the sound of a breeze through the trees, a new assignment at work, your daughter’s decision to go back to school, or a stranger’s warm hello in passing.

Start every day with an open heart and with a view to see the positive and the possibilities in life. If you bump into an obstacle, try to appreciate the opportunity it presents to overcome it. When you focus on the wonderful things in life, wonderful things begin to happen.

It reminds me of the law of attraction. Your positive thoughts and energy can become a magnet and draw even more positive thoughts and energy in your direction.

• Don’t take these “don’ts” too seriously. You are in the best position to decide what to do or not to do — no shoulds, musts, or other people’s agendas. That’s one of the best benefits of living alone.

Don’t I know it.

“It’s a signal for us to do something about this, given the obesity rate is still very high in U.S. children.”

About one in every five children are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Food processing itself may have an impact on health because processing changes the physical structure and chemical composition of foods,” Zhang explained. “People who eat ultraprocessed foods tend to be fatter and they tend to consume a high amount of calories.”

Ultraprocessed foods are made largely of industrial substances derived from the heavy processing of “whole” foods — examples include high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and soy protein isolate — along with chemicals designed to add color, flavor or shelf life to the product.

Lona Sandon, an associate professor with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s department of clinical nutrition, in Dallas, explained that “ultraprocessed foods are made of ingredients you generally would not find in your kitchen. They are made of ingredients extracted from foods and are typically high in sugar, fat, salt and other additives.”

For this study, Zhang and her colleagues reviewed 20 years of data from the U.S. National Health

and Nutrition Examination Survey, a federal poll that regularly assesses eating patterns among Americans.

The data ran from 1999 through 2018.

The investigators found that children and teens across the board were getting more calories from ultraprocessed foods, regardless of their parents’ education levels or income.

This “suggests that ultraprocessed foods are pervasive in the diet of U.S. youths and supports the need to reduce consumption of ultraprocessed foods among all population subgroups,” the researchers concluded.

It wasn’t all bad news. For example, the targeting of sugar-sweetened beverages as a source of childhood obesity led to total daily calories from these drinks declining from about 11% to about 5% over the past two decades.

Unfortunately, other categories of ultraprocessed foods surged during the same period. Daily calories from ready-to-eat meals increased from 2% to 11% during the same period.

A nutrient profile showed that ultraprocessed foods contain more calories from carbohydrates (55% versus 43%) and added sugars (19% versus 3%) than foods that haven’t been so heavily manufactured.

Ultraprocessed foods also contain lower levels of fiber and less protein (11% versus 21%), the researchers found.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite Voelckers to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com

Experts: Drop Detox Pearls Sure, detox pearls are trendy, but do they work?

Experts recommend women not use them

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

wo generations ago, young women were advised to douche to achieve feminine hygiene.

Today, the trend is detox pearls, also called yoni pearls or gems.

These cloth-covered balls of herbs are inserted into the vagina and are purported to clean the vagina, “detox” the uterus, improve fertility, reduce inflammation, promote circulation, stop odors, clear up cysts and remove dead cells.

Just because something is popular does not necessarily mean it is a good idea. Numerous studies indicate that douche does not offer any health benefits and can cause problems with vaginal health. Yoni pearls are similar in numerous ways.

“A lot of these products are predatory, frankly, on women’s insecurities about vaginal health or cleanliness,” said gynecologist Faye Justicia-Linde, affiliated with UBMD Obstetrics & Gynecology. “It’s not dirty. The vagina self-regulates to have helpful bacteria like those that live on our skin. Anytime you put in things, it can cause problems. Any of these douche products in general aimed towards vaginal health and cleanliness are more for marketing and extracting money from customers.

“They target teens, especially.

Vagisil has a targeted teen product: orange creamsicle-scented products for the vagina. It preys on self-image of young, vulnerable girls and reinforces a cultural idea that vaginas are dirty and sexuality is dirty and you need to do something to make it OK. “Axe body spray says it’s OK and manly to be sweaty after a long day’s work. It’s hyper-masculine and desirable, but women are intrinsically dirty.”

Trying to fix the “problem” with yoni pearls can actually cause problems.

Justicia-Linde, who is also an assistant professor at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, warned about the texture of the mesh cloth, which could irritate the vaginal wall.

Physician Faye Justicia-Linde: “A lot of these products are predatory, frankly, on women’s insecurities about vaginal health or cleanliness.”

Those who sell the pearls claim that the discharge observed after removing the products proves they work. However, Justicia-Linde warned that the foul-smelling discharge could indicate an infection caused by the pearls. Pearls may also cause cramping as the body tries to expel the foreign object.

“The uterus is a sterile environment,” Justicia-Linde said. “If we do cervical procedures, we have to use a cleansing agent on the cervix first to avoid introducing anything from the vagina to the uterus. You would have to get past the cervix. You would cause more harm than good to push something upwards. It’s not a place we want bacteria present.”

Using douche or pearls “disturbs the balance of the cervix and vagina,” said Manju Ceylony, gynecologist and women’s health medical director at VA Medical Center in Buffalo. “Nature has a good way of protecting women.

Inside the cervix and vagina are protected by local bacteria. It’s

Manju Ceylony, gynecologist and women’s health medical director at VA Medical Center in Buffalo: Using douche or pearls “disturbs the balance of the cervix and vagina,” she says. very much like hydrogen peroxide to keep the vagina clean. Anything that reduces that protective barrier increases risk of infection. It can cause bacteria to lodge there. These bacteria can travel upward to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, and other infections. The vagina and cervix keep themselves healthy.”

Tampons should not remain in the body for more than eight hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome. However, yoni pearl producers advocate leaving their product in the vagina for 24 to 72 hours, which allows more time for bacteria to build up on the pearls.

“Anything we put in can irritate the surfaces and the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus to the vagina,” Ceylony said. “Using douche has shown it increases risk of ectopic pregnancy as much as three times.”

Ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes or elsewhere and cannot be carried to term.

While manufacturers may claim that yoni pearls’ herbs mean that they are natural, inserting herbs into a body cavity is much different from ingesting them and does not necessarily mean they are safe used in that way.

“There are lots of natural things that aren’t good for you, like foxglove,” Justicia-Linde said. “You can take herbs and poison people just as easy as you can cure them. There’s not necessarily an equivalent between something natural and something that’s safe and healthy.”

As with any other supplement, the pearls have not been FDA-approved for use, so it is unclear what they contain.

Justicia-Linde said that a small amount of clear to white vaginal discharge is normal.

“There shouldn’t be odor, pain or itching,” Justicia-Linde said. “If you see green, brown or gray, that could be an issue. Most odors are sweat and trapped gastrointestinal gas, which affects men and women.”

As for cleaning, she reminds patients that “the inside of the mouth and vagina are the same kind of skin.

If you wouldn’t swallow soap, don’t put soap in your vagina.”

Use only mild soap on the outside.

Women concerned about vaginal discharge should seek help from their healthcare provider instead of inserting anything into the vagina.

September 2021 •

More Americans Are Anemic; Changing Diets May Be to Blame

G

rowing numbers of Americans aren’t getting enough iron in their diets most likely due to changes in farming practices and a shift away from red meat, researchers report.

The upshot: Rates of iron-deficiency anemia are on the rise.

“Iron deficiency remains a major public health issue even in a developed country such as the United States,” physicians Ian Griffin and Marta Rogido wrote in an editorial published along with the new research.

They practice at Biomedical Research of New Jersey in Cedar Knolls.

Iron helps make hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Anemia results from a drop in red blood cells. It can cause fatigue, pale skin, dizziness and weakness, and can lead to other health problems, including heart failure, if left untreated, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

For this study, researchers used three large government databases to track trends in anemia rates; the amount of iron found in U.S. food products; and deaths from iron-deficiency anemia between 1999 and 2018.

During that time, iron intake dropped 6.6% in men and 9.5% in women as levels of the nutrient fell in more than 500 food products assessed, including pork, turkey, fruit, vegetables, corn and beans, the researchers reported.

This was most likely due to changes in farming practices, the study authors said. Previous studies have pointed to a push to increase crop yield per acre and irrigation runoff as among those changes.

Another big change? More folks are eating chicken instead of red meat for health purposes, and red meat contains much more iron, said study author Connie Weaver, professor emerita of nutrition science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

“Fortified grains and cereals increase iron intake, but lowcarb diets and switching away from fortified cereal has also decreased iron intake,” she added.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

BestSelf Receives $2 Million to Expand Trauma Treatment Offerings

B Helping Prevent Child Abuse Can Call for Uncomfortable Conversations

Report abuse as soon as possible, so that the healing process can begin

By Julie Halm

C

hild abuse is a real and terrifying threat and one which manifests all too frequently.

While some forms of physical abuse will leave visible indicators, such as bruising, not all abuse does.

According to the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf in Buffalo, one out of every 10 children will be sexually abused before they turn 18.

Parents, guardians and any individual with children in their lives are not powerless against this, however.

According to Rebecca Stevens, director of the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf, there are several steps that parents and guardians can take to help children stay safe preemptively, as well as warning signs that can be looked for, in order to intervene if a child is experiencing abuse.

“One of the things that we often talk about is giving the children the language that they need,” said Stevens. “This includes calling body parts by their actual names.”

Stevens noted that although it may be uncomfortable for some adults to hear young children using the anatomically correct names for their body parts, there is nothing wrong with it and it can be important should a child ever be abused.

“We don’t have a problem teaching a child to call a nose a nose,” she said.

She said that in an instance that a child is being abused they might speak about it in a setting such as their daycare or at school, but such conversations might go unnoticed if the child is using nicknames for body parts. Stevens also said having open conversations with young children about boundaries and what are appropriate ways for adults to interact with them can be an important preventative measure. For example, Stevens said that teaching children that while it is all right for Mommy or Daddy to help them during a bath, nobody else should be touching them in their “bathing suit area.”

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At the Child Advocacy Center, it is also taught that children should be able to identify five people in their world they can go to and feel safe speaking with if something is wrong.

“It’s tough conversations to have, but it’s preventative and proactive and it eliminates some of the secrecy and shame,” she said, adding that those factors too often keep young individuals from reporting their abuse.

The median age for reporting child abuse is 54 years old, according to Stevens.

“By that time there are a host of negative side effects that could have been prevented,” she said.

In the event that abuse is already taking place, Stevens said that there are several warning signs that adults should be on the lookout for that may not intuitively seem correlated, particularly if a child is being sexually abused.

“The warning signs are often a lot more emotional in nature or behavioral,” she said. “For example, if you had a very active kid and now they’re afraid to leave their room.”

Stevens also said that changes in wardrobe, such as suddenly wearing baggy outfits, regressions in hygiene or potty training and bed wetting regressions in younger children can all be signs that abuse is taking place.

“These can be reflective of how they’re feeling about themselves or their safety,” she said.

In the worst case scenario, that an adult learns that a child is being abused, Stevens said that they should not begin to ask them further questions once the child discloses their abuse. She noted that children will often have to tell their story to authorities, sometimes repeatedly, and that it is best not to have them tell their stories more than is necessary, as it can cause further trauma.

She also noted that if the abuse is current or recent, adults should seek medical care, such as from a pediatri-

cian or emergency room immediately.

The next step is to call CPS or law enforcement to file a report and the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf is also a local resource that can help immensely during a challenging time.

The center offers a variety of services, bringing together, in one location, Child Protective Services caseworkers, law enforcement, district attorneys, victim advocates and medical and mental health professionals.

Among the benefits of having these services working in tandem under one roof is minimizing the number of times children need to verbally re-hash their trauma.

“Before our CAC existed, the ‘system’ was doing more harm than good to victims of child abuse,” according to the organization’s website. “Children repeated their stories over and over again. They were questioned in ERs, police stations, schools, doctors’ offices and being re-traumatized each time they had to repeat the stories of the trauma they experienced.”

While this abuse is traumatic for children, it can also take a real toll on those who love them. Therapy, importantly, is offered not only to children who have been abused, but to their families.

With the help of the Child Advocacy Center, children who have become victims can begin down the road to recovery from their experiences.

“The thing is to report abuse as soon as possible, so that the healing process can begin,” said Stevens.

How to Contact For more information on the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf, visit https://cacbuffalo.org.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

estSelf Behavioral Health will be able to expand the accessibility and availability of trauma treatment throughout several counties, thanks to $2 million in recently announced federal funding through the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

According to Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) the funding will benefit children in Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties by funding BestSelf, and specifically the Child Advocacy Center at BestSelf, which provides support for children who have suffered physical or sexual abuse.

“The best way to help children who have lived through unthinkable situations is to provide support quickly and compassionately,” said Higgins. “This funding supports the efforts of BestSelf and its community partners to rapidly reach more families through this comprehensive and collaborative approach.”

The center takes a multi-disciplinary approaching, coordinating care and resources including medical and mental health professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors as well as child protective service agencies. This funding will provide additional services to children affected by trauma through a mobile outreach team and expanding the number of clinicians who receive this specialized training, according to Higgins.

“On behalf of our entire BestSelf team and the children and families we serve, thank you Congressman Higgins and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for funding these needed services,” said Elizabeth Woike-Ganga, president and chief executive officer of BestSelf Behavioral Health. “The Child Advocacy Center can now offer expanded services via mobile units to underserved communities where significant health care gaps exist. Mobile treatment units are ideal as care can be provided at home, at pediatric offices or even at police stations to help provide urgent and ongoing care of children affected by trauma.”

The funding will also allow for the organization to increase the number of therapists and victim advocates trained in treatment particularly geared toward children, adolescents and families who have survived traumatic events.

Above: Produce grown at the Learning Garden.

Left: Situated in downtown Buffalo at the corner of Main and Scott streets in the shadow of the Marriott Hotel, the Learning Garden is often overlooked by passers-by. Photo courtesy of Tom Wolf Imaging

ECC Students Are Learning and Growing Growing and utilizing locally sourced food products has become more important than ever

By Catherine Miller

A

s many students head back into the classroom this fall, one group of students is completing its summer studies from a sunshine riddled setting. They have spent the heat-driven months lakeside in the heart of Canalside.

Learning to grow asparagus, zucchini and everything in between, the students in Erie Community College’s “Working in a Learning Garden” class began their sessions by growing plants from seeds. They ended the summer semester by harvesting purple tomatoes, cucumbers and various peppers as well as edible flowers and herbs.

Meant to be more than just a session on growing vegetables, the Learning Garden class teaches lessons on sustainability, what “farm to table” looks like in a real-world setting, the importance of using locally grown products for both health and financial benefits in the food industry and how to grow a successful garden without the need for pesticides and herbicides.

Initiated by Kristin Goss, department chairwoman at ECC’s culinary arts program, she says she was motivated to start the class as she is a cancer survivor who wanted to promote healthful eating habits.

“There are ways to grow vegetation successfully without the need for chemicals,” Goss said. “We use companion planting to deter pests, attract pollinators, and improve soil fertility. We educate the students on good bugs versus bad bugs and that there are times you have to sacrifice one plant to allow another plant to flourish.”

Situated in downtown Buffalo at the corner of Main and Scott streets in the shadow of the Marriott Hotel, the Learning Garden is often overlooked by passers-by. But it’s a welcome respite for those that notice the benches and wish to surround themselves in natural beauty amidst flowers and vegetation. The summer students work in the garden each Thursday to weed, cultivate and harvest the garden. The items they

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harvest are brought back to school for use in the culinary arts curriculum.

While some vegetables and herbs are used at the time of the harvest the students also use preservation techniques to allow utilization of the crops throughout the coming semesters.

“The students truly enjoy being out here,” Goss said. “Many of them have never gardened before. Every week we harvest something from the garden to use at school, even if it’s just herbs to make a compound butter to freeze for future classes.

Each year, we dry seeds for use in the following summer’s class to demonstrate the full circle of the gardening experience.”

In addition to the hands-on education, the students realize the importance of using local ingredients to minimize food-labor costs and the importance of developing menus to include “in season” items in restaurants. With current produce pricing becoming volatile due to shipping

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issues, droughts and other weather-related issues, growing and utilizing locally sourced food products has become more important than ever.

At the onset of the semester the students analyze and plan their garden and determine what the 2,000-square-foot garden will look like, planning the space needed for each of their companion planting areas. They evaluate what plants have reseeded on their own and decide which of the perennial plants, such as lavender and various flowers, will be left to attract pollinators and which will be moved.

Throughout the session the students chart and notate what works well in the garden as well as what doesn’t, and learn how temperature, rain amounts and even wind produce varying results. These lessons will be taken with them to the restaurants that employ them in the future.

The ECC Learning Garden course goes beyond teaching the fundamentals of gardening. It emphasizes the importance of garden to plate sustainability for both financial and health factors and teaches the need for food preservation so that locally grown produce can be enjoyed year-round. Erie Community College is planting the seeds for our up-andcoming regional chefs to understand the importance of bringing healthy, locally grown foods to our plates.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

During the pandemic last year, African Heritage Food Co-op was able to supply food to hundreds of thousands of people in Erie, Niagara, and Cattaraugus counties.

Alex Wright, founder of African Heritage Food Co-op, distributes food in Niagara Falls in April, 2020. Photo by Ahrian Stevens/ Ahrie Photography

Food Co-op Plans for the Future While Feeding 200,000 During Pandemic

Co-op will nourish individuals and be an economic hub for community, farmers, growers

By Jana Eisenberg

A

lexander J. Wright founded the African Heritage Food Coop in Buffalo in 2016.

He had multiple goals: one was to provide fresh, affordable food in communities where resources are traditionally hampered. Some call them “food deserts.”

He began by bringing together like-minded people, and creating a community supported agriculture share program. Many CSAs require advance payment for a seasonal share, but for the AFHC iteration, people could pay as they went.

“We advertised the buy-in, people signed up and paid; we went to a farm, and bought as much food as we could,” explained Wright. “We divvied it up and announced share pickups at convenient neighborhood spots.”

Wright is determined to demonstrate the power of community serving community, rather than outsiders—either government or corporations—trying to “fix it.” His motto, and his underlying philosophy is: “Anything less than ownership is unacceptable.”

The efforts quickly gained attention, and with it, partnerships with Kaleida Health, Erie County Medical Center, and the Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network.

“With our partners, we started doing mobile and pop-up food markets in high traffic areas, offering staples like onions, potatoes, and peppers on a ‘pay-as-you-can’ basis,” said Wright.

“In 2018, with funding from General Mills and the United Way, we opened a store in the Niagara Frontier Food Terminal on Buffalo’s east side,” said Wright. “By 2019, a private donor gifted us a building on Carlton Street. While we started

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African Heritage Food Co-op participates in a farmers market during the pandemic.

Photo by Ahrian Stevens/Ahrie Photography work on the building, we went to a delivery-only model. At the same time, the city of Niagara Falls granted us $160,000; with that we purchased a building and opened a store there.”

But the pandemic wreaked havoc on their progress, also hammering home the fact that people desperately need the goods and services AFHC provides.

“The effects of the pandemic were manifold,” said Wright. “One, it severely delayed our fundraising to build the stores. During a pandemic, people are losing jobs, struggling; also, they aren’t as eager to invest in something they can’t see or walk through.”

The second effect hit home more obviously, as many small businesses the co-op worked with struggled or shut down, and resources became scarce. “It was a nightmare,” he said.

“We closed the stores, and as far as

getting food for people, we had to be creative; go to different sources and just see what people had.”

He was committed to distributing food, and in 2020, with pandemic-specific funding from the federal government and grants from organizations including Univera Healthcare, Independent Health, the Tower Foundation, the Community Foundation of WNY, and the Buffalo Food Equity Network, AFHC supplied food to hundreds of thousands of people in Erie, Niagara, and Cattaraugus counties.

“As a grocery store, we were deemed an essential business,” said Wright. “We were able to do direct deliveries and ‘pay-as-you-can’ farmers’ markets. We didn’t want anyone to be hungry.”

At the onset of the pandemic, Kinzer Pointer, pastor of the Agape Fellowship Baptist Church in Buffalo, formed a coalition of 25 churches

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

to help feed people. They partnered with the AFHC. “We partnered with Alex during the pandemic because he could deliver fresh fruit and vegetables to people in their homes with no contact,” said Pointer. “Even when some of the funding ended, Alex continued to deliver food. We served over 200,000 people; some had been on the verge of food insecurity, and with the effects of the pandemic, they became food insecure.”

Pointer agrees with Wright that ownership is key to be able to make decisions for any business and for the community it serves. “We can’t depend on either corporate America or the government; we have to be able to take care of ourselves,” he added.

“Many people in Buffalo don’t have a car, and the city has a limited number of large grocery stores. An entity like AHFC becomes a lifeline; a partner to tens of thousands of people who can’t get to the supermarket, or if they can, might not have the means to pay for food.”

Wright’s plans include continuing as a source of healthier, more affordable food, helping people regain control of their diets and health, as well as an empowering economic driver: an employment, training, and education hub. He also plans on presenting events, like community health fairs.

“Impatience is the biggest challenge right now,” said Wright. “We all want the pandemic to be over— especially because, in the communities we work in, people have been promised all sorts of things. AFHC is different because we live here, we are accountable; we’re not going home to a suburb. People within the communities are understanding—seeing that we are doing markets and deliveries, but they also want us to come through on what we promised.”

Wright is grateful to funders and businesses with whom the co-op has relationships. “The people who partner with us are taking brave steps to work with people in the community.

As a large institution, it can be difficult to truly support people in the community…but it’s the only way we will have real change,” he said.

How to Contact For more information on the African Heritage Food Co-op, visit myahfc. com or call 716-573-1844.

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Your Stomach’s Best Friend? Fennel!

S

addled with a finicky stomach since forever, I’m always on the lookout for foods that aid digestion. Probiotic-rich yogurt, high-fiber whole grains, nausea-busting ginger, constipation-relieving apples: all have easily found their way into my weekly diet.

My newest addition? Fennel.

Sweet, crunchy, refreshing fennel.

While I’m no stranger to fennel and have always enjoyed its licorice-like flavor, I’ve never really eaten it on a consistent basis.

But these days, I now consume this bulbous vegetable with the feathery fronds several times a week — for the digestive benefits and so much more.

How exactly does fennel keep our digestion humming? Fennel contains a unique antispasmodic agent that relaxes the smooth muscles in our digestive tract—a soothing action that helps to reduce bloating, cramping, and flatulence. In the early 20th century, fennel was actually listed as an official drug for digestion in the U.S. National Standard Dispensatory.

And limited research suggests that fennel oil may reduce colic in infants.

Maybe this explains why Indian restaurants offer a bowl of candy-coated fennel seeds to customers.

Fennel also rocks with fiber: 11% of our daily needs in one cup of raw slices. Fiber-rich foods support healthy digestion by adding bulk to our stools and by helping food move through our system more easily and quickly. In other words, less constipation! High fiber intake has also been linked to a lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes due to its ability to help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.

And contrary to its pale color, fennel boasts a good amount of vitamin C.

Adapted from Cooking Light Serves 4

2 fennel bulbs 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon chopped fronds 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cups chopped tomatoes 4 garlic cloves, sliced 2 tablespoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) 4 tablespoons crumbled feta

Hearts love this essential vitamin for its cell-protecting antioxidant benefits; skin loves it for its wrinkle prevention; immune systems love it for its overall boost; and eyes love it because it may delay the onset of developing cataracts, as well as slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

A versatile vegetable that’s as enjoyable raw as it is cooked, fennel is naturally low in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories (only 30 per sliced cup) and a good source of potassium.

Try These 3 Tips to Lose Those Pandemic Pounds

I

f you’re like many people, your waistline has expanded during the pandemic.

“The world shut down,” said Heather Tressler, a registered dietitian at the Penn State Celiac Clinic at Penn State Health’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Maybe you didn’t change what you ate, but you became less active.”

Lately, Tressler says she’s seeing patients — adults and children — who have gained 20 to 40 pounds during the pandemic.

A study published this spring in the journal JAMA Network Open found that among 270 mid-

Fennel, Tomato and Feta Skillet Bake

dle-aged men and women, they had gained an average of 1.5 pounds per month between February and June 2020.

Now may feel like the right time to shed that extra pants size, but it’s important to approach it in a healthy way.

Tressler offered three tips to safely get started: 1) forget the fads, 2) don’t become too obsessed with calories, and 3) exercise alone is not enough.

Though fad diets might sound appealing and bring you shortterm weight loss, they’re not sustainable, Tressler explained. Some are

Helpful tips Look for large, tight bulbs that are white or pale green, minus signs of splitting, bruising or spotting. The root bottom should have little browning. To store: trim fronds (if still on) to two inches above the bulb, wrap loosely in a plastic bag, and place in fridge for up to 5 days. In season now, fennel can be found at local farmer’s markets.

even risky. A diet that emphasizes a high fat intake, for example, could lead to spikes in cholesterol.

Don’t be entirely focused on weight. “A scale really only measures the Earth’s gravitational pull on your body,” Tressler said in a Penn State news release.

It’s more important to know your numbers — cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, she said.

They’ll give you a better picture of your health and the safest ways to lose weight.

Losing weight is basic subtraction and requires eating less than you need to maintain your weight. Age, gender and activity levels also make a difference in the number of calories you need to maintain or lose weight.

App stores and websites offer calculators to help you keep track.

Tressler suggested the Harris-Benedict equation, which can calculate how many calories your body would

September 2021 •

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Trim coarse bulb bottom; then cut bulbs vertically into 8 wedges each, separating wedges along the way.

Sprinkle with coriander, cumin, and a pinch of salt. Chop fennel fronds to equal 1 tablespoon; set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Add fennel wedges; cook 6 minutes until lightly browned, stirring throughout.

Add garlic slices and cook 1 minute more. Add chopped tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Gently mix; then place entire skillet in oven for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle with crumbled feta and garnish with fronds.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

need if it rested for 24 hours. Just don’t become too numbers-focused, she said.

“It can become very restrictive,” Tressler said, and can lead to eating disorders.

Tressler recommends “intuitive eating” based on lifestyle needs.

“There are no bad foods,” she said, “only bad portions.”

The vast majority of weight loss can be controlled by what you eat, Tressler said. Some websites and articles say losing weight is the result of 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Exercise also is good for heart health, muscles and well-being. Tressler suggests 30 minutes per day, five days a week, of something you like such as dancing or walking, and then pairing that with a healthy, sensible eating plan.

“Maintain a balance,” Tressler said.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Disabilities

More Children with Disabilities?

Various factors may have skewed the statistics, expert says

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows more children today have been identified as having disabilities. The figures rose from 16.2% in 2009-2011 to 17.8% in 2015-2017, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities.

All of these can affect children’s ability to learn.

While it may appear that the number of children with develop-

mental disabilities is rising, other factors may have skewed the statistics.

“There are more services available now and more agencies offering supports,” said Nicole Forgione, assistant director of marketing and communications People, Inc. in Buffalo and Rochester. “The medical professionals are more aware and there are more studies. When a child is having a challenge, it’s more recognizable and parents are bringing it to

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

Pandemic Not a Factor In Death by Suicide Rates

Experts say early data shows no changes in rates of people who die by suicide

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 47,511 Americans died by suicide in 2019. The CDC’s most recent statewide statistics from 2017 indicate that suicide is the second leading cause of death for New York state residents aged 15 to 34. From 2016 to 2018, death by suicide increased in Upstate by 3.2% among all age groups with the average age at death 47.3 years, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Although little data has been gathered about the pandemic’s influence on suicide, area experts report that it appears that rates of death by suicide have not increased because of COVID-19.

“Early indications have shown from some reporting states that there’s no change or else declines from previous years,” said Missy Stolfi, master’s in education and area director for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Her area covers Buffalo to Utica. “Suicidal ideation has increased during COVID, but we’ve also seen people reaching out to get help whether calling crisis lines, telehealth options for mental health.”

She said that telehealth has Page 12

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helped break down mental healthcare barriers, including stigma, transportation, childcare, scheduling conflicts and mobility. That has helped mitigate the negative factors the pandemic has brought, such as isolation, lack of regular coping mechanisms and normality and anxiety about finances, the future and becoming ill.

“One thing that’s important to keep in mind whether pre-pandemic or not, is suicide risk is complex,” Stolfi said. “It’s easy to point to one thing to say, ‘That brought about someone’s death by suicide.’ There are a lot of things we can do to mitigate risk.”

One of the key things is to talk about and normalize mental health.

The pandemic has promoted mental health as an important topic. Many people have become more active in checking in with one another and have demonstrated more understanding about others’ mental state.

Self-care has also become more widely accepted.

“More people checking in created a sense of connection,” Stolfi said. “People were more in touch with family and friends because they were not running around. People

the attention of a medical professional instead of waiting.”

She added that educators are more knowledgeable about learning disabilities and can more readily identify children exhibiting traits identified with them.

Year-round, fir trees grow in a variety of places: parks, landscapes and personal properties. Yet only in December do people who celebrate Christmas notice all the “Christmas trees” on their daily commute. In a similar sense, understanding the characteristics of developmental and learning disabilities helps professionals and, to an extent, parents become aware to the point that they recognize when a child exhibits these traits that could indicate a disability.

The availability of screening and services normally begins in urban areas and takes time—even several years—to eventually extend to more rural areas. The increased numbers could reflect this rollout.

“The testing rates are much higher for us in our area, which is why we see more students needing speech language, physical therapy or occupational therapy,” said Brandon Jerla, director of staff development and learning at Empower in Niagara Falls. “It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Children who in the past wouldn’t have speech therapy are now receiving it.”

The definition of disabilities can also increase the numbers. When the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders came out in 2014, it redefined diagnoses to make many more specific.

Some also point to an increased in the number of older parents’ age as one of the possible reasons. More people have delayed starting a family than ever to pursue educational and career opportunities. Advanced parental age is widely known to increase the risk of numerous disabilities in children.

“There are more kids born these days that wouldn’t have been alive 20 or 30 years ago,” said physician Dennis Z. Kuo, associate professor at University at Buffalo and chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at UBMD Pediatrics and University at Buffalo. “You’re going to see some chronic conditions because these kids wouldn’t have been alive.”

Kuo also said that greater recognition of disability within certain populations may also increase numbers.

“There’s prevalence in data that there are increasing rates in African American and Hispanic children but it may be more widespread awareness and screening,” Kuo said.

“Historically, white non-Hispanic children were more likely to be identified.

“To me, the higher number of diagnoses is an issue but the real issue is making sure all kids get what they need. Many of our services require diagnoses. It’s an issue because you need to get the specific administrator to get that diagnosis.”

He views the increase in numbers as a positive trend, as it indicates that more children are receiving needed services.

slowed down, reassessed and found new ways to connect. The patterns of taking care of ourselves shifted and they continue to.”

She hopes these trends of connectedness continue long-term.

As people begin to return to workplaces and normal activities, new anxieties are arising such as worries about returning to work, new virus variants arising and what other unknowns the future may hold.

Corey Leindenfrost, Ph.D., and unit chief of transitions with UB, said that some minority groups saw an increase in the rate early in the pandemic.

“Between March and May 2020 in Maryland, African Americans had twice the rate of suicide compare with pre-pandemic numbers while Caucasians had half as many for the same time period,” Leindenfrost said.

Age and gender also seemed factors. When looking at a CDC study that looked at suspected attempts, adolescent girls showed 30% to 50% elevated presentation compared with the same period in 2019, while the numbers remained constant for adults and boys.

“It seems for suicide attempts and completed, it affects different groups in different ways,” Leindenfrost said.

He thinks it is possible that poor access to healthcare could explain the higher rate among African Americans and COVID-related isolation for the adolescent girls. He said that these factors among others caused by the pandemic, exacerbated risk factors present long-term, along with a lack of normal coping mechanisms.

He foresees the mental health fallout from the pandemic will continue for years.

“We need to devote as much resources to mental healthcare as we

do to medical care,” Leindenfrost said. “It’s about continuing to talk about it in the media and focusing on it and letting people know that there’s help out there.”

Katie Coric, suicide prevention coordinator at VA Western New York Healthcare System, also highlighted the pandemic’s “silver lining” of increased awareness to mental health.

“Though we’re not seeing an increase in suicide risk, we’re seeing an increase in the Veteran Crisis Line,” Coric said. “That’s a good thing; that people are realizing that something in their life isn’t feeling right. We can send the local suicide prevention team and get them set up with treatment or they need some financial assistance.

“Some anticipate they’re losing housing or want to get connected with a mental health counselor. So many people are saying, ‘This is tough for all of us.’”

Because of telehealth, more people can access services to help them.

“Increased focus on mental health and easier access are huge factors as far as decreasing suicide rate and helping people feel supported,” Coric said. “People are rallying together. We’re all experiencing this in real time and different stressors based upon what our life is like. I’m hoping that this shows a decrease in mental health stigma. No one is immune. We can have compassion for ourselves, coworkers and neighbors. At some time, all of us will need help.”

Anyone struggling should contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. The Veterans Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or contact the text line at 838255.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

Disabilities

The Fantastic Friends Rock the Runway, where individuals with disabilities get to become models for the evening, is a major event for Fantastic Friends of Western New York, a local nonprofit. The new edition of the event will be held Sept. 24 at Aloft Buffalo Downtown.

Meet the Fantastic Friends of Western New York A place where people can simply come, be themselves and benefit from relaxed social interaction with their peers

By Julie Halm

W

hen a child has an intellectual or developmental disability, there are a number of things which might come to mind when it comes to maintaining their best health. There are doctors’ appointments and a variety of therapies from physical to occupational to speech therapy.

In that array, sometimes, the health benefits of social interaction can be overlooked, however. That is precisely where Fantastic Friends of Western New York comes in.

The nonprofit, volunteer-based agency, located at 1284 French Road in Depew, is a social organization for individuals of all ages with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

The center itself is a place for people to simply come and socialize.

“It’s a place of no judgment and total acceptance,” said Debbie Cordone, founder and president of the organization who also has a son on the autism spectrum. “This is basically a community center, but it’s their community center and while everyone is welcome, it’s their space.”

Cordone said that sometimes social skills and interaction can fall into a “black hole” when caregivers are juggling all of the needs of a person with disabilities. Fantastic Friends does not aim to offer therapy of any kind, but rather a place where people can simply come and be themselves and benefit from relaxed social interaction with their peers.

“They need a social outlet, because their lives can be filled with school and therapies,” she said.

And while Fantastic Friends makes no claims of being a therapy center, Cordone said that the benefits for those who gather there and attend their special events are immense.

“It’s very important to their mental health and their self esteem, that’s a big one,” she said. “And, also their confidence. We have so many people who will come to us very, very shy and just keep to themselves and over time, not a very long period of time, they just come out of their shell and they’re a very different person.”

The center itself is primarily geared towards individuals in their teens and older, but monthly special events have participants ranging from toddlers to people in their 80s.

The “Fantastic Friends Rock the Runway” event, where individuals with disabilities get to become models for the evening, is a particularly well-loved event. Slated to be held Sept. 24 at Aloft Buffalo Downtown, 500 Pearl St., this year, Cordone said that this event is just one example of how impactful social outlets can be.

“We didn’t realize initially what it meant to them to get up on that stage and have people cheering for them. We didn’t realize what it would do for them,” she said. “It’s not your typical fashion show by any means. They get up there, some of them dance, some of them walk like models; they do their thing. They don’t conform to our world, we conform to theirs.”

Last year’s show, like so many things in 2020, never happened.

When the pandemic struck, according to Cordone, the importance of

Debbie Cordone is the founder and president of the Fantastic Friends of Western New York. Next to her is James, her son

the center was thrown into sharp contrast, as they had to temporarily shut down. When attendees came back, the founder said that the setbacks they had experienced without the social outlet were immediately apparent. The center endeavored to change programming to outdoor, socially distanced formatting as soon as possible in order to continue to provide some interaction for those who they serve.

September 2021 •

And the interaction isn’t just good for the patrons, but for their parents and caregivers as well.

“We have parents who will actually sit there with tears in their eyes,” she said. “Watching their child interact and be happy, they sit there with tears in their eyes and it’s just a beautiful sight.”

For more information on Fantastic Friends of Western New York, visit www.fantasticfriendswny.org/

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Disabilities

‘Special Needs’ vs.

‘Disabled’: A Search for Respectful Verbiage

Experts: avoiding the term ‘disabled’ only leads to stigmatization

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

P

robably arising from the push for additional education supports for persons with disabilities, the term “special needs” has been used for years but is beginning to fall out of favor with some groups.

“Most experts and advocates vehemently oppose the term ‘special needs’ and believe we need to eliminate it from our vernacular,” David Oliver said in a June 11, article in USA Today. “Furthermore, they say avoiding the term ‘disabled’ only leads to stigmatization.”

The term “special needs” is not a legal or medical term and was likely coined to describe the support needed beyond what people who are non-disabled need. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use was in 1899. But these days, it is falling out of favor.

Like many other similar organizations, the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities in Albany, uses “person-first

language” for the people it supports.

“We agree that words or negative references can influence how the general public view people with disabilities and can also be damaging to a person’s mental health and wellbeing,” said Jennifer O’Sullivan, director of communications.

“We’re going away from ‘person with special needs’ and ‘handicapped’ but use ‘sir’ and ‘ma’am,’” said Brandon Jerla, director of staff development and learning at Empower in Niagara Falls. Empower operates 10 certified group homes throughout Niagara County supporting people with developmental disabilities and provides day services, employment services, and day school special education beginning at age 4.

The organization also uses “children or adult with special needs” or when speaking specifically, “she has autism” or “he has Down syndrome”’ or “she has a learning disability.”

Physician Dennis Z. Kuo is chief of the division of general pediatrics, UBMD Pediatrics and University at Buffalo and associate professor, University at Buffalo.

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Previously, it was “my people” which the organization has deemed as degrading since each person is an individual. The organization is also moving away from “consumer” and “client,” which connotate an impersonal transaction.

“We teach employees to say, ‘people I support,’” Jerla said. “A lot of times when someone isn’t used to being around someone with developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities, they’re not sure what to say. We never want to label someone based on their disability, like ‘non-verbal.’”

Yet at times when mentioning the challenge or diagnosis is necessary, using straightforward and person-first language is the best policy.

Jerla believes that keeping the members of the organization on the same page can indicate due respect and that it can “trickle out to the community. It can start to break down the stigma.”

Physician Dennis Z. Kuo, chief of the division of general pediatrics, UBMD Pediatrics and University at Buffalo and associate professor, University at Buffalo, said that “special needs” may be considered potentially stigmatizing based up on the context.

“Grammatically, the reason the medical world has used ‘special needs’ without diagnosis,” Kuo said.

“It’s to say that certain children need additional services. We as a field really try to move away from basing services and support on diagnosis because you can have ongoing needs without a diagnosis. ‘Special needs’ is helpful in that regard.”

It can also be helpful as a shorthand for a group of people with varying types of and levels of needs.

But “special needs” may also sound demanding—as if the needs themselves are above what other people need and not the means to obtaining what they need.

Kuo said the term “disability” is based upon function and society— that someone cannot do without accommodation something essential for daily living most people can do.

For example, those who cannot run a four-minute mile aren’t “disabled,” as only elite runners can perform at this level. Also, running that fast is not an essential skill for daily living or that contributes to basic quality of life. An “accommodation” like reading glasses is not related to a disability both because of the ubiquitous use of reading glasses and the relative ease of overcoming the “disability.”

“It’s also how we construct the world around them,” Kuo said. “That begins to clarify stigmatizing. People who have disabilities are people like anyone else. We look at typical functioning in the pediatric world.

What would be considered typical development. It’s relative to someone who’s typical can broadly do.”

It is also important to recognize what distinguishes a person from another. While that may include a disability in some contexts—statistics and research, for example--that should not be the main characteristic.

That is why person-first language is important.

“People Inc. and other groups that provide services for people with developmental disabilities put the person first,” said Nicole Forgione, assistant director of marketing and

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

Nicole Forgione is assistant director of marketing and communications for People, Inc. in Buffalo.

communications for People, Inc. in Buffalo. “‘Handicapped’ has been seen as a negative label. Ideally, you wouldn’t want to say ‘handicapped’ or ‘disabled’ but ‘a person with a disability.’”

While she acknowledged that “special needs” can provide a simple, vague shorthand for a variety of disabilities, it is generally better to state the specific disability when doing so is necessary.

Forgione views euphemisms like “differently abled” as condescending.

The term may sound upbeat; however, it may also lend a connotation that the individual possesses savant qualities not present. “Differently abled” may also gloss over the real struggles facing a person challenged by activities of daily living—a person who may need some accommodation or help to get through the day and to live as desired.

“It’s important to focus on a person’s abilities rather than weaknesses if they need help to improve their quality of life,” Forgione said.

“Everyone has strengths or weaknesses whether they have a disability or not.”

Some people embracing their disability as a part of who they are and how their experiences have helped shaped their character simply prefer “disabled,” “autistic” or another term, sometimes used before their name.

“More and more people are thinking along those terms,” Forgione said. “They are very proud of who they are.”

Over her 20 years of working for People, Inc., she has seen the verbiage move from “client” to “consumer” to “individual,” or “individual with developmental disabilities.”

When speaking with or about a specific person, Forgione encourages asking if one is not sure what word to use.

“That can be uncomfortable for some but the person on the other hand may be more willing to share and appreciative of that,” she said.

“People just want to feel included in their lives weather at school or work or socially. Inclusion is so important and what it means to others is important. It can be different for one person to the next.”

Disabilities

Missy Stolfi is the area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Physician Steven Dubovsky is the president of UBMD Psychiatry and chairman at the department at UB.

Disability Raises Depression Risk Seeking outside help and support when feeling depressive symptoms may head off a bout of depression

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

P

eople with disabilities are more up to three times more likely to experience depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although limitations because of their disability may be part of the reason they experience depression, many other factors play a role.

“The disabled community has some of their own challenges and risks,” said Missy Stolfi, area director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which serves the area between Buffalo and Utica.

“Access of mental healthcare is part of that.”

Although the law requires accessibility in public facilities, it is still more difficult to navigate with a disability that hampers movement than without one. For someone with communication challenges, finding a therapist who can easily communicate with them or a translator to facilitate sessions can also present barriers to care.

Considering the pandemic, some may not want to venture out as much because of the risk of catching the virus.

“Many people who live with disabilities, their disability can affect their immune system,” Stolfi said.

“And that can influence their ability to seek mental healthcare and contribute to isolation. Many live day

to day with their particular barriers to care.”

The physical factors that cause their disability may also increase risk of depression, according to physician Steven Dubovsky, president of UBMD Psychiatry and chairman at the department at UB. “Parkinson’s is largely likely to cause depression as the changes in the brain are contributory to mood,” he offered as an example. “The same degree of limb disability like paralysis or sensory loss if it’s caused by a stroke has higher rate of depression than if it’s caused by an orthopedic injury. Stroke causes depression in about 50% of cases whether the person has physical limitations or not.”

That factor may speak to the brain changes stroke can cause.

He also said that people who have experienced depression in the past are more likely to become depressed again if they become disabled.

“If you factor that out, your average person with no vulnerability suffers a loss of function due to a disability, what contributes to that depression is a sense of loss, helplessness and anger,” Dubovsky said.

He indicated that some medications can contribute to depression.

People who are born with a disability are generally able to adapt better but are not immune to depression.

“To the ability you’re able to work on those feelings and not feel helpless, you can deal with the loss of function in the same way you deal with the loss of a person,” he added.

“You can form attachment to another way of functioning. People who have a disability because of an injury, they can have anger.”

While it may affect some life experiences, a disability does not predispose someone to depression.

Focusing on what one can do can help reduce risk of depression.

Dubovsky said that a person’s thoughts, beliefs and expectations about the disability can also affect risk of depression, such as hanging self-worth on what one can or cannot do. Or, persisting in overly negative thoughts.

“For people who are physically disabled, it depends upon when it happened, who it occurs in and whether they’re very reliant on their physical prowess,” Dubovsky said.

Those heavily reliant on their physical prowess for self-identity and self-worth will find it more difficult than someone who relies more upon mental activity to derive meaning from life. For a planned disability, such as an amputation, it can help to formulate a plan as to how to compensate for lost functions.

“Find things that you can still do,” Dubovsky said. “There’s always something you can still do.”

September 2021 •

He also recommends that people focus on the bigger picture: that their struggle is not meaningless. Dubovsky references the book of Job in the Bible, which relates a patriarch who lost all his possessions, health and family, with the exception of his wife who told him to curse God and die. Undeterred from his faith, Job did not follow her advice.

“The lesson is God doesn’t cause human suffering,” Dubovsky said.

“He watches to see how you’ll do if you’ll make Him proud. Knowing someone is looking over your shoulder can help people realize life dealt you a bad hand but there’s still plenty you can accomplish rather than dwelling on what had has happened. You can inspire others and be productive.”

Seeking outside help and support from family, friends and providers when feeling depressive symptoms may head off a bout of depression. A provider may also offer treatments like psychotherapy and/or prescription medication for depression.

“Change is hard for all of us,” said Katie Coric, suicide prevention coordinator at VA Western New York Healthcare System. “If you have an injury that leads to disability, it changes how you go about life. It can be hard to make that shift mentally and practically. A good therapist who talks not just about the grief of what you lost and the opportunities about what is ahead can go a long way to reducing the chances of depression.”

While it may be easy to say remaining stoic is the best course, grieving the loss related to a disabling injury of illness represents a healthy way to move forward.

“There’s a place to explore what the next chapter of your life will look like,” Coric said. “It will be an adventure you hadn’t imagined.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Ask The Social

Men’s Health

Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Retirement Planning Tips for Women

O Blue Pills in the Mail: Should You Trust ED Drugs Sold Online?

You may not always get what you think when you order online

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

B

eginning with Viagra in 1998, erectile dysfunction medication has offered men relief from impotence just popping a little blue pill. Viagra (sildenafil) is an FDA-approved medication that requires a prescription. But the cost, along with the stigma of needing help to achieve erections, has caused men in recent years to seek ED medication online.

Online pharmacies are nothing new. Many insurance companies have covered doctor’s prescriptions filled by online pharmacies for years.

Some brick-and-mortar stores also provide online options for customers’ convenience. While these can be reputable means of discretely obtaining prescription medication, solely online sellers can be difficult to evaluate because the source of their pills is unknown, according to Oussama Darwish, urologist with VA Medical Center in Buffalo.

“Anything made in Canada or the US should be a good source,” Darwish said. Anything outside Canada and the US can have less of the active ingredient than the correct dose.”

Entities selling ED treatments which are from other countries lack the same scrutiny and regulations as in the United States. Even those shipping from a US address may source from countries without the same laws as the US. Untrustworthy sites may sell preparations that do not match their labels.

“Some of these medications available are given by physicians but some are not beneficial,” Darwish said. “Some have an herbal component and will not improve ED function.”

He added that while eating a healthful diet rich in flavonoids can decrease the risk for ED in younger men, supplements and herbs have

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not been proven as beneficial. He also expressed hesitation about some online sources which do not fill doctor’s prescriptions but simply offer a questionnaire for buyers to complete.

“Patients are not fully medically evaluated for other medical comorbidities, which will cause them to have major side effects from the medications like heart disease,” Darwish said. “If a patient is taking nitrates, this can lead to severe complications that can lead to myocardial complications.”

This also means that patients will not receive the same kind of briefing that a physician would provide, such as side effects and what to do if they occur.

“Patients should always consult with their primary care provider,” Darwish said.

Treating erectile dysfunction without a prescription may overlook other health issues causing the problem.

Khaled Suleiman, pharmacist at Madina Pharmacy in Buffalo, said that men should see a primary care provider to rule out other issues; high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low testosterone or other things.

“Usually, doctors check testosterone and prostate levels,” Suleiman said. “If that’s normal, that’s when doctors prescribe it. They also need to check if they’re taking medication with nitrates. They should not get a script without an exam.”

Even taking these precautions and choosing a legitimate pharmacy may not be enough. Buyers should also be aware that some fraudsters spoof legitimate websites to bilk unsuspecting customers. Patients should avoid following links provided in advertisements. It is safer to directly search for websites by entering the web address.

ne day in 1939, Ida May Fuller stopped by the local Social Security office in her hometown of Rutland, Vermont, to inquire about Social Security benefits. She knew she had been paying into Social Security, and wanted to learn more.

The following year, she received the very first Social Security benefit payment — $22.54 — arriving as check number 00-000-001. Fuller’s story still holds lessons for women today — and it started with her getting the information she needed.

Today, signing up for a personal My Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount can help you get information tailored for you to plan for your retirement. It’s never too late to start planning. Fuller was 65 years old when she started receiving benefit payments, but she lived well beyond her life expectancy of 65 years, 4 months. In fact, Fuller lived to be 100 years old, and received Social Security benefit payments for 35 years.

It’s important to create your personal My Social Security account as soon as possible. With your account, you can view estimates of future

Q&A

Q: I have medical coverage through my employer. Do I have to take Medicare Part B? A: You are not required to take Medicare Part B if you are covered by a group healthcare plan based on either your employment or the employment of a spouse. When your coverage ends, you may contact Social Security to request a special enrollment for Medicare Part B. We will need to verify your coverage through your employer in order for you to be eligible for a special enrollment.

For more information, visit www. medicare.gov.

Q: My uncle states that he is considered to be 70% disabled through the VA. Does Social Security rate my disability on a percentage scale?

A: Social Security does not rate individuals on a percentage scale for disability benefits. For Social Security purposes, a disability is defined as: • A medical condition(s) that must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year or ends in death.

• The condition must prevent you from performing substantial work.

For more information regarding disability benefits, please visit www. ssa.gov/benefits/disability.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

benefits, verify your earnings and view the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. Verifying earnings is important because your future benefit is based on your earnings history.

Your Social Security benefit payments will provide only a portion of your pre-retirement income.

You may have to save more to have adequate income for your desired lifestyle in retirement.

Savings need to be an active part of your plan to take care of yourself and your family’s financial future.

Fuller never married. She supported herself. However, you may find yourself widowed or divorced — and having to provide for yourself for several more years. Unlike in Fuller’s day, you can go online to see if you’re eligible at www.ssa.gov/retirement to receive a current, deceased, or former spouse’s benefits. It might make financial sense to claim those benefits instead of your own — since the payments could be higher based on the individual’s own earnings history.

We encourage you to follow Ida’s example and plan for your financial future. Please share this information with your friends and family — and help us spread the word on social media.

Q: I have two minor children at home and I plan to retire this fall. Will my children be eligible for monthly Social Security benefits after I retire?

A: Monthly Social Security payments may be made to your children if one of the following applies: • They are unmarried and under age 18.

• Age 18 or 19 and still in high school.

• Age 18 or older, became disabled before age 22, and continue to be disabled.

Children who may qualify include a biological child, adopted child, or dependent stepchild. (In some cases, your grandchild also could be eligible for benefits on your record if you are supporting them.) For more information, see our online publication, Benefits For Children, at www.ssa.gov/pubs.

Q: If I get Social Security disability benefits and I reach full retirement age, will I then receive retirement benefits?

A: Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries reach full retirement age. In most cases, the payment amount does not change. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits simultaneously on one earnings record. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov.

Senior Living Community

By Jim Miller

How to Replace Important Documents That Are Lost or Missing Dear Savvy Senior, Can you tell me what I need to do to replace a variety of important documents? Our house burned down a few months ago, and we lost everything including our home property deed, car titles, old tax returns, Social Security, Medicare and COVID-19 vaccine cards, birth certificates, marriage license and passports.

Stressed Seniors

Dear Stressed, I’m very sorry for your loss, but you’ll be relieved to know that replacing important documents that are destroyed, lost or stolen is pretty easy once you know where to turn.

Here are the replacement resources for each document you mentioned.

• Birth certificates: If you were born in the United States, contact the vital records office in the state where you were born (see CDC.gov/nchs/ w2w/index.htm for contact information). This office will give you specific instructions on what you need to do to order a certified copy and what it will cost you — usually between $10 and $30.

• Car titles: Most states offer replacements through a local department of motor vehicles office. You’ll need to complete a replacement title application form and pay the application fee, which varies by state. You’ll also need to show ID and proof that you own the car, such as your vehicle registration or your license-plate number and VIN (vehicle identification number). To get an application, go to DMV.org, pick your state, and print it or fill it out on the site.

• Property deed: To access your house deed, contact your county clerk’s office, where deeds are usually recorded — you may be charged a small fee to get a copy.

• Marriage certificate: Contact the vital records office of the state you were married in to order a copy (see CDC.gov/nchs/w2w/index. htm). You’ll need to provide full names for you and your spouse, the date of your wedding, and the city or town where the wedding was performed. Fees range from $10 to $30.

• Social Security cards: In most states (except in Alabama, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and West Virginia),

you can request a replacement Social Security card online for free at SSA. gov/myaccount.

If you live in a state that the online service is not available, you’ll need to fill out form SS-5 (see SSA. gov/forms/ss-5.pdf to print a copy) and take it in or mail it to your nearby Social Security office along with a number of evidence documents that are listed on this form. For more information or to locate the Social Security office that serves your area, call 800-772-1213 or see SSA.gov/ locator.

• Medicare cards: If you are enrolled in original Medicare, you can replace a lost or damaged Medicare card by calling Medicare at 800-6334227, or by logging into your MyMedicare.gov account. If, however, you get Medicare health or drug benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan, such as an HMO, PPO, or PDP, you’ll need to call your plan to get your card replaced.

• COVID-19 vaccination card: Your first step is to go back to your vaccination site and see if they’ll give you a replacement. Bring an ID and try to recall the date you were vaccinated. If that’s not feasible, contact your state health department immunization information system (see CDC.gov/vaccines/programs/ iis/contacts-locate-records.html) where you should be able to print out a replacement sheet.

• Tax returns: To get copies of old tax returns start with your tax preparer, who usually keeps copies of your returns on file. You can also get copies of federal returns directly from the Internal Revenue Service.

You’ll need to fill out and mail in IRS form 4506. To download this form IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf or call 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a copy. The cost is $43 for each return requested.

• Passports: You can apply for a replacement passport at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility.

Many post offices, public libraries and local government offices serve as such facilities. You can search for the nearest authorized facility at iafdb. travel.state.gov. The fee is $145.

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Health News CPA Todd Maier named Roswell Park’s VP of finance Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center recently announced the promotion of Todd Maier, CPA, to vice president of finance.

Maier joined the Roswell Park staff in 2014 and has previously served as manager of finance transformation Todd Maier and, more recently, director of financial analytics and planning, overseeing budgeting and business intelligence functions within the finance department.

In his new role, Maier will play a pivotal role in the management of the center’s resources, analyzing new initiatives and supporting effective communication with key stakeholders and partners.

“Todd continues to be a key member of Roswell Park’s financial leadership team,” says Ryan Grady, chief financial officer. “We’re honored to support the operations of our whole cancer center, and Todd’s work helps our colleagues in clinical care, education and research to be as effective and impactful for our community as possible.”

Maier earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University at Buffalo. Outside Roswell Park, he is active in the Western New York

community, holding positions with the Clarence Youth Lacrosse Association and Amherst Youth Hockey.

Evergreen Health Partners with Aspire of WNY Evergreen Health recently announced its partnership with Aspire of WNY and the acquisition of Aspire of WNY’s Article 28 Primary Care clinic. Under this agreement, Aspire will cease operations of its Primary Care clinic located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga due to unsustainable reimbursement rates. Evergreen will begin providing primary care and podiatry services to patients at that location in the first quarter of 2022. This is the second announcement of its kind for Evergreen in 2021.

“I am excited to be partnering with another great Western New York organization this year,” said Raymond Ganoe, president and CEO, Evergreen Health. “Aspire of WNY has a long history of providing critical services to the people in our community who need them the most.

I am confident that our new patients will receive the same high-quality care they have come to trust and rely on at Aspire. We are committed to providing judgment-free, affirming care and I’m thrilled to be welcoming another new group of patients to the Evergreen family.”

Leadership from Evergreen and Aspire of WNY mutually came to this agreement with the well-being of patients as the main goal. For Evergreen, this is the second growth opportunity of its kind this year, further expanding its services under the

enhanced reimbursement rates it receives as a federally qualified health center look-alike entity and ensuring patients receive top quality care. The first announcement was a similar partnership and acquisition of the People Inc. Article 28 Primary Care clinic. In both instances, the partnerships have been strengthened by the collaboration between like-minded and mission-driven organizations.

Evergreen will start providing primary care and podiatry services at Aspire’s Health Care Center at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga.

Once the transition occurs, Evergreen will add 1,000 patients to its current patient population, with new patients that include people with developmental and similar disabilities.

“Finding a partner that we knew our patients could trust and that shared the same values as Aspire was very important to us,” said Renee Filip, president and CEO, Aspire of WNY. “We are pleased to have found that trusted partner in Evergreen and our patients will be happy knowing they will receive the same quality care from the same providers. The sustainability of services and improving patient outcomes were driving factors in this partnership and it’s a great example of the healthcare community coming together to do what’s right for patients.”

Lineage Group appoints new chief financial officer The Lineage Group has named Steven Chizuk to the position of chief financial officer. The Lineage Group is a recently formed strategic alliance

between two Western New York nonprofit senior care providers — Niagara Lutheran Health System and Schofield Care.

Both organizations operate skilled nursing facilities that are highly rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and provide the highest standard of care to the elderly and infirm.

A graduate of Canisius Steven Chizuk College with BS and MBA degrees, Chizuk most recently served as director of budget for Erie County Medical Center Corporation for the past 12 years, where he managed all aspects of an annual budget exceeding $500 million. Previous health care posts included accounting manager at Erie County Medical Center Corporation, practice administrator with Niagara Frontier Psychiatric Associates, and senior accountant at Niagara Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

In his new role, Chizuk will oversee budget, accounting and strategic planning functions for Niagara Lutheran’s affiliate The GreenFields Continuing Care Community in Lancaster and Schofield Care in Kenmore. Chizuk has served the Healthcare Financial Management Association as president and ereasurer of its board of directors. He resides in Lancaster.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Employees Collect 6,000 Pounds of Food for FeedMore WNY Employees participated in Second Annual Food Drive to Support Community and Help End Hunger in WNY Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York employees lined up at the company’s downtown headquarters for its second annual drive-through food drive to benefit FeedMore WNY. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield employees filled two trucks with nearly 6,000 pounds of donated items from the organization’s healthy food wish list. Employees also donated $2,943 to the organization.

“If there is an opportunity to support our community, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York employees are the first ones there,” said physician Michael Edbauer, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. “We’re proud to support FeedMore WNY and do our part in helping to end hunger in Western New York.”

In 2020, FeedMore WNY’s food bank program distributed more than 17 million pounds of nutritious fresh and shelf-stable foods to nearly 300

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pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other hunger-relief agencies throughout Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

“FeedMore WNY deeply appreciates the generosity of Highmark and its employees. The food collected through this event will help nourish our neighbors of all ages, particularly as our community continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to Highmark for joining us in the fight against hunger in Western New York,” said Tara A. Ellis, President and CEO, FeedMore WNY Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield employees have a long legacy of paying it forward. Most recently, the health plan’s employees collected and donated more than 1,000 school supplies for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo. Employees also donated $80,000 to local organizations and sent thousands of healthy snackpacks and meals to those serving on the frontlines of the pandemic.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2021

SPECIAL ISSUE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH To advertise in the next edition of In Good Health, please send an email to editor@BFOhealth.com or call your ad representative

Health News Help Mike Hughes Raise $50,000 for the 11 Day Power Play, the World’s Longest Hockey Game!

By Mike Hughes

HELP — I need your support!

A

s you may already know, I have been chosen as one of 40 players to play in the world’s longest hockey game. That’s right — 11 straight days (252 hours of hockey) outside in the elements, all to support the fight against cancer!

Proceeds of the event, which begins in November, will support cutting-edge cancer research and wellness programs at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Make-A-Wish Western New York and Camp Good Days.

I ask you to take a moment and think how much that you have been impacted by cancer. Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers — you name it. I know I certainly have.

Sue Hughes, Andrew Hughes, Lori

Pohrte, Owen Chase, Michelle Bliss, Lorraine Woltz, Diane Schunke, Don Pagliaccio, Jim Cheman — unfortunately the list goes on and on. And it is much too long.

But, together, we can make a difference!

When I first started my fundraising earlier this year, I had an initial goal of $15,000. But I quickly moved it to $25,000, then $30,000 thanks to the generosity of friends, family and colleagues. My goal is now $50,000.

Difficult? Sure. But not nearly as difficult as what cancer patients go through during their battles.

I hope you will consider making a donation on my behalf and help me reach that stretch goal. Please check out my website — https://communi-

Michael P. Hughes is senior vice president and chief of staff at Kaleida Health. tyshift.11daypowerplay.com/MikeHughes

Prefer to write a check? Call me and I can make arrangements to pick up.

Checks can be made payable to:

The 11 Day Power Play.

PO. Box 4 Buffalo, NY 14223

Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer! #PutCancerOnIce #Frozen40

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3 AUTISM: Back to scho ol spectrum brings challeng for kids on the autism es

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