PRICELESS
‘Significant Advances in Cardiac Care Cardiologist Brian J. Riegel says people in the past had to leave Buffalo and go to Cleveland or Rochester for complex conditions. That’s not the case anymore, he says
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personal items you probably should replace today
Medicare for All
A recent survey of 10,000 people shows a divided opinion: 30% are in support of the proposal made by some presidential candidates while 28% oppose it
CBD OIL
BFOHEALTH.COM
SEPTEMBER 2019 • ISSUE 59
Back to School n This is usually challenging time for those with the autism spectrum. Find out why n Medical groups recommend that middle and high schools should start 8:30 a.m. or later n Seven myths about children’s eyes n Asthma, allergies: New school year can bring flare-ups n Stories start on p.15
Excessive Video Game Playing Now Considered a Disorder P. 14
A new study shows that a person taking the medicinal cannabis derivative cannabidiol (CBD) won’t fail a drug test for marijuana
Are Too Many Kids Prescribed Antihistamines? Drugs such as Benadryl provide little benefit to kids with cold
Please Give Me My Zuchini ‘I’m genuinely elated when zucchini season rolls around. I adore this versatile summer squash! It’s as nutritious as it is delicious. See SmartBites. P. 13
More Workers Testing Positive for Drugs P. 2
More People Testing Positive for Drugs in the Workplace Workforce drug testing positivity climbs to highest since 2004 — marijuana leads the way
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he rate of workforce drug positivity hit a 14-year high in 2018, according to a new analysis released in July by Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services. Positivity rates in the combined U.S. workforce increased nearly 5% in urine drug tests (4.2% in 2017 versus 4.4% in 2018), climbing to the highest level since 2004 (4.5%) and are now more than 25% higher than the 30-year low of 3.5% recorded between 2010 and 2012. The new findings of the Quest Diagnostics drug testing index were unveiled recently at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) annual conference in Chicago. “Our in-depth analysis shows that marijuana is not only present in our workforce, but use continues to increase,” said Barry Sample, Ph.D., senior director, science and technology, Quest Diagnostics. “As marijuana policy changes, and employers consider strategies to protect their employees, customers and general
public, employers should weigh the risks that drug use, including marijuana, poses to their business.”
Marijuana dominates Marijuana continues to top the list of the most commonly detected illicit substances across all workforce categories. The rate of marijuana positivity increased in nearly all workforce categories. In the general U.S. workforce, marijuana positivity increased nearly 8% in urine testing (2.6% in 2017 versus 2.8% in 2018) and almost 17% since 2014 (2.4%). For the federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce, which utilizes only urine testing, marijuana positivity grew nearly 5% between 2017 (0.84%) and 2018 (0.88%) and nearly 24% since 2014 (0.71%).
Positivity rate declines for opioids, heroin and cocaine In the general U.S. workforce, the positivity rate for opiates in urine drug testing declined across all
opiate categories. Among the gendeclined 6% (0.033% in 2017 vereral workforce screening for opiates sus 0.031% in 2018) and more than (mostly codeine and morphine), pos16% since its peak in 2015 and 2016 itivity declined nearly 21% between (0.037%). Cocaine positivity declined 2017 and 2018 (0.39% versus 0.31%), nearly 7% in urine and more than the largest drop in three years and 19% in oral fluid testing, but innearly 37% decrease since the peak in creased slightly year-over-year (6.3%) 2015 (0.49%). in hair testing. Positivity rates for both heroin Changes to federal rules for and cocaine declined in general and drug testing the federally mandated, federally mandated safety-sensitive safety-sensitive workforce went into U.S. workforce testing effect in January 2018. The addiUrine drug test results for the tion of four semi-synthetic opiates general U.S. workforce for heroin, contributed to the large increases indicated by the presence of the in year-over-year positivity among 6-acetylmorphine metabolite, workers. KH-RET-22843 2019 In(6-AM) Good Health GVI Cardiac Printthose Ad | 4.7917”w x 6.6944”h | CMYK
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U.S. Fertility Rate at AllTime Low
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he U.S. fertility rate continued to fall last year and reached an all-time low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The general fertility rate fell 2% between 2017 and 2018 among girls and women aged 1544, according to a report released in July by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. By race, fertility rates fell 2% for white and black women, and 3% for Hispanic women. Births among teens aged 15-19 fell 7%, with decreases of 4% among black teens and 8% among white and Hispanic teens. The rate of preterm births rose from 9.93% to 10.02% and the rate of early-term births rose from 26% to 26.53%. The proportion of full-term births fell from 57.49% to 57.24% and post-term births declined from 6.58% to 6.2%. A report released earlier this year by the National Center for Health Statistics said the 2017 U.S. fertility rate continued to fall below what’s needed for the population to replace itself, according to reports.
Drug OD Death Rates Now Higher in Cities Than Rural Areas
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ig cities once again have higher drug overdose death rates than rural areas of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Such deaths had been concentrated in rural areas for more than a dozen years, the Associated Press reported. A CDC report released early August said that in 2016 and 2017, overdose death rates in cities were higher than in rural areas. In 2017, the urban rate was 22 overdose deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 20 per 100,000 in rural areas. Rates for 2018 and 2019 are not yet available, but experts believe the urban rate is likely to remain higher in the near future, the AP reported. The U.S. is facing its deadliest drug overdose epidemic ever, and there were about 68,000 overdose deaths last year, according to preliminary CDC data released last month.
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New Vending Machines Offer Fresh Food Choices Partnership with local entity provides healthy options
By Daniel Meyer
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hen most people think of vending machines, the typical junk food and highsugar drink selections usually come to mind. Candy bars. Cookies. Potato chips. Soda pop. But employees and visitors of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and two other locations in Western New York now have access to numerous healthy food and beverage options, wholesome choices that include breakfast, lunch and snack items and numerous drink selections. Working with Farmers & Artisans Market in Snyder to keep the vending machines stocked, the growing concept of workplace wellness has been enhanced thanks to the creation of a healthy vending machine pilot program that has evolved into a regular meal option for many local residents. “You cannot be at your best and be able to take care of others if you yourself aren’t making sure you are healthy and functioning at your highest level,” said Beth Machina, healthy communities catalyst for Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc. “Workplace wellness is getting a lot of attention and rightfully so. It’s because of that focus that overall employee wellness programs are constantly being scrutinized and revamped, so the idea of easier access to healthy and wholesome food items and beverages is something that is being embraced.” According to research from the American Health Association, diseases affecting working adults account for approximately two-thirds of health care costs nationwide, which is why companies from various industries have established workplace wellness programs and continue to develop and tweak them. Feedback from employee surveys from companies in the public and private sectors have found that lack of access during the workday to affordable nutrition choices is a concern, leading to efforts by employers to encourage healthier behaviors, especially when employees take meal breaks. Refrigerated vending machines that offer healthy meals to-go are now located inside the Innovation Center on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the Liberty Building on Main Street in downtown Buffalo and a local law firm. They will be soon introduced to the Dent Neurology on Sheridan Drive in Amherst. “We have developed our ‘graband-go’ health dining options and the idea of a vending machine that conveniently provides fresh healthy food,” said Julie Blackman, owner of Farmers & Artisans Market. “These products represent the next level of food service that combines conve-
Refrigerated vending machines that offer healthy meals to-go are now located at several places in downtown Buffalo. Options include Chicken Buddha Bowls, fresh vegetable salads, Bootleg Bucha, granola bars, iced tea and cold press juices.
nience, freshness and state-of-the-art technology. “Prices for most food items and beverages roughly range between $3 to $10. The options include Chicken Buddha Bowls, fresh vegetable salads, Bootleg Bucha, granola bars, iced tea and cold press juices. “We’re always taking suggestions and want to hear from people on what they want made available to them,” said Blackman. “I love interacting with the doctors, the nurses and support staff and learning what they like and just as importantly what they might not care for.” Blackman regularly visits the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to host what she calls “demonstration days” that include samples of food items and beverages that she offers to employees to help gather ideas for future vending machine options. The vending machines, which are restocked roughly every other day, are tracked by an instant computerized inventory system. The machines accept credit cards and also offer the customer-friendly option of having all purchase receipts archived via email. Machina, the healthy communities catalyst for Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, said the close
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
relationship with Blackman and her team at Farmers & Artisans Market has allowed for healthier behaviors to be easily encouraged among the thousands of employees from various medical facilities on the 120-acre campus, including Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. “The fast and quick options that are affordable, wholesome and locally sourced are being received with great enthusiasm,” said Machina. “The entire model that we now follow is what we seeking all along.” Blackman said following the installation of the vending machine at Dent Neurology she will continue to explore the possibility of additional “smart fridges” being located in other office spaces throughout Western New York. “If there is a need and a demand I definitely want to hear from employers who are seeking more information about ‘grab-and-go’ health vending and healthy meal planning options,” said Blackman. “The development of what started in early 2018 as a pilot program has developed into something that proves that it is worth investing in your employees’ health and overall well being,” said Machina.
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new study shows that a person taking the medicinal cannabis derivative cannabidiol (CBD) won’t fail a drug test for marijuana — but a person taking the emerging sleep aid cannabinol (CBN) will. These findings were presented in July at the 71st AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, and could prevent people from being unfairly penalized for using CBN. CBD and CBN are both cannabis derivatives that have been gaining attention for their ability to confer potential health benefits without causing intoxication. The wellness industry has exploded with CBDbased products that claim to help conditions ranging from anxiety to acne, and last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first CBD-based drug for the treatment of severe epilepsy. Though CBN is not as well known yet as CBD, more people are also starting to use it as a sleep aid. According to a news release issued by the AACC, with the popu-
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larity of these compounds rising, it is vital for healthcare providers to understand how CBD and CBN interact with screening tests for drug abuse. As just one example of why this is important, certain healthcare institutes do not allow patients to use marijuana if they are taking opioids for pain management. If these patients test falsely positive for marijuana use due to CBD or CBN, they could be unfairly denied their prescriptions as a result. “These findings will help with interpreting drug screening immunoassay results,” said Grace Kroner, Ph.D., of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City. “If physicians and laboratorians know a patient is taking CBN, they can consider that if they get a positive from an immunoassay. On the flip side, providers can also be more certain when they get a positive marijuana result that it’s not due to pure CBD oil alone. These results are always assay-dependent, though, so the field needs to keep this in mind.”
Serving Western New York A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 32,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high traffic locations in the region In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2019 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. 3380 Sheridan Dr., # 251 • P.O. Box 550, Amherst NY 14226 Phone: 716-332-0640 • Fax: 716-332-0779 • Email: editor@bfohealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Jenna Schifferle, Daniel Meyer, Jana Eisenberg, Julie Halm Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano, Karen Weaver Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office Manager: Nancy Niet
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Brian J. Riegel, M.D.
Cardiologist talks about ‘exciting field” of cardiology and ‘significant advances’ in patient care in WNY Q: What can you tell us about practicing cardiology in Western New York? Are there regional issues? A: Cardiology is a very exciting field. There’s been a tremendous amount of innovation, even just since I came out of training in 2003. How we do things is a lot different. There have been significant advances in care in terms of medical therapies, device therapies, minimally invasive surgeries, catheter-based interventions to replace heart valves and things like that. So, the good thing about being in Western New York is that the quality of care is great. I’m affiliated with the Kaleida system, and the Gates Vascular Institute has some incredible innovators and thought-leaders who are really providing cutting edge care. In the past, people had to leave Buffalo for more complex
conditions and go to Cleveland or Rochester. Now we can handle most conditions with some rare exceptions. Q: How bad is the incidence of heart problems in the region? A: Western New York has a high rate of heart disease. New York state overall has the 17th highest rate of deaths heart disease of the 50 states, and within New York state, Western New York is a big part of that. So, we have a lot of challenges here in terms of risk factors. It’s my job as a cardiologist to treat heart disease, but I have a special interest in prevention and getting there before the first heart attack. Q: What are some of the risk factors that are common in Western New York? A: A big one is cigarette smoking. The statistics are improving, but still around 16% of adults are still smoking. Obesity rates are alarming —37, 38% of adults nationwide are technically obese. That number might be slightly higher in New York state. The youth obesity rate is 18, 19%. As far as high cholesterol, about a third of U.S. adults have elevated LDL cholesterol. Forty-five percent have hypertension. Diabetes
‘It's my job as a cardiologist to treat heart disease, but I have a special interest in prevention and getting there before the first heart attack.’ is about 9 or 10%, with another 3 to 4% who aren’t diagnosed. Around 30% of adults aren’t engaged in any kind of substantial physical activity. So what goes into heart disease is all of those. The numbers are pretty alarming. So on the one hand, we’ve made huge medical advances: the death rate from cardiovascular disease has decreased by 31.8%, which is amazing. However, the risk factors are all still there, and they’re getting worse. People are surviving their heart disease and getting older than they would have been able to in the past, but they’re also getting sicker. Q: Since most of these are behavioral issues, how do you, as a doctor, try to modify people’s behavior? A: That is the challenge. It really should start at a younger age. Prevention starts as early as possible. The recommendation would be to get established with a primary care provider you trust so you know what your blood pressure is, what your cholesterol is. The focus should be on getting some of these healthy lifestyles adapted earlier rather than later. The American diet? There’s a lot wrong there. The processed foods, abundance of starches, high fat content. It’s often expensive to eat healthy. So how do you change that? Efforts at prevention have always been challenging, but once you get them, you can work with them in terms of attacking all of these things. So, I’d like to see more support from the local insurance companies as far as supporting prevention efforts and work with dietitians. It’s easy for me as a doctor to tell people to eat better, but a lot of people need help with that. Q: I believe you recently traveled to Greece. Do they follow a better diet? Q: I just got back from Greece and it was really eye opening. My wife has family there. They have smaller refrigerators, they buy their food usually for the day rather than the week. It might be different in the bigger cities, but there isn’t much fast food. Everything is fresh, freshly made. People walk more. It’s just a healthier lifestyle in general. So that was interesting to see how they do things a little differently. Q: I understand you’re pretty active yourself. You participate in the Tough Mudder endurance competition. So in training for that, do you feel like it puts you in a position to dispense more useful advice in terms of giving exercise advice? A: Yeah, exactly. You just kind of practice what you preach. I think the official recommendations of
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
the American Heart Association is 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week, or 75 minutes of more vigorous activity. I fall short of that too. We do the best we can. I try to tell patients some of the stuff I do and sometimes it inspires them. Q: What are some warning signs of heart disease? A: There are symptoms that are brought on with physical exertion. So if someone’s experiencing tightness or pressure in their chest, jaw or arm, and it’s brought on with physical activity or emotional stress and it’s relieved with rest, that will always get our attention. There’s increased awareness now of women with heart disease, and they can often present in different ways. They may not have the chest pain. It may just be shortness of breath, which unfortunately can be attributed to any number of things. It might be shoulder blade pain. In general, though, [if there are] exertional symptoms, especially ones that are lasting longer, there may be an issue. Q: What should people be keeping an eye on? A: It comes back to having a good primary care provider. They should know what their blood pressure is, what their cholesterol levels are. Get your blood sugar checked once a year to make sure you’re not diabetic. Q: What’s it like working with the Great Lakes Cardiovascular group? A: It’s exciting. It’s a multispecialty group, so there are a growing number of primary care providers and specialists. It’s nice having all of the patients’ information in one place and not having to go search with multiple different electronic records, which avoids a lot of delays and errors. It’s nice having that all under one umbrella. Currently I’m on a committee to help design the newest EMR. It’ll be a combined inpatient and outpatient EMR, so we’ll know exactly what’s going on, if medications were changed during an inpatient stay.
Lifelines
Name: Brian J. Riegel, M.D. Position: Great Lakes Cardiovascular, a General Physician, PC practice. He sees patients in Williamsville and Orchard Park Hometown: Amherst Education: University at Buffalo, medical degree; internal medicine internship (chief residency) at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center of Boston, affiliated with Tufts University; cardiology fellowship at University at Buffalo; Canisius College (undergraduate degree) Affiliations: Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital Organizations: American College of Cardiology; Medical Society of the State of New York; American Medical Association; American Society of Nuclear Cardiology; American Society of Echocardiography Family: Wife, Nina, and two daughters: Demi, 16, and Ava, 12 Hobbies: Exercise, travel
4 Personal Items You Probably Should Replace Today
I
s your toothbrush more than four months old? And how about your contact lens case? These and other everyday essentials need regular replacing, no matter how comfortable you are with them. At the top of the list is your toothbrush. To benefit oral health, your toothbrush needs to be in tiptop form. The American Dental Association suggests replacing it as soon as bristles start to fray, usually every three to four months.
If you wear contact lenses, you should replace your contact lens case every three months, sooner if you see any cracks, which can harbor bacteria. For proper care, after putting your lenses in your eyes, rinse the
by your eye care professional. If you’re like many Americans, you probably don’t use as much sunscreen as you should. That could mean leftover product once summer ends, season after season. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires sunscreens, like other nonprescription drugs, to have an expiration date unless testing conducted by the manufacturer has shown that the product will remain stable for at least three years. So don’t use sun-
screens after their expiration date or, if there’s no date, if purchased more than three years ago. The hardest item to let go of could be in your bedroom — your pillow. There are no hard and fast rules about when to toss an old pillow, but the National Sleep
Foundation suggests every one to two years, especially if it hasn’t been protected from dust mites with a zippered cover. (Consider getting one for your next pillow.) Washing helps, but check label instructions before tossing a pillow into the washing machine — some won’t survive the spin action.
case with fresh lens solution, shake out excess liquid, and leave the empty case open to air dry. P.S.: Don’t keep contacts in your eyes for longer than they’re designed to be worn, and always replace them according to the schedule prescribed
Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman
Medicare for All: 30% Support it, 28% Oppose it
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ith a national election next year, the subject of healthcare dominates debates, news and talk shows. Medicare for All, universal coverage and single-payer models are being touted. The Urban Institute recently surveyed close to 10,000 people about their thoughts on healthcare. When asked about a “single payer” system, 41% responded they neither supported nor opposed the concept. But when asked about “Medicare
Best states for Healthcare WalletHub has ranked the five states and DC, from best to worse, for healthcare. Rankings were based on a variety of factors including availability, access, cost and outcomes. The top five states beginning with No. 1 are: Minnesota, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, and Vermont. The bottom five states beginning with No. 47 are: Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina and Alaska. New York ranked in the middle at No. 24. Notably, four of the top five states are in the northeast, while four of the five worst states for healthcare are in the southeast.
Telehealth growing slowly
According to a survey by J.D. Power, patient usage/acceptance of telehealth services is growing slower than envisioned. Just under 10% of those surveyed said they used telehealth in lieu of an onsite visit to a physician, urgent care center or emergency room. J.D. Power, known for rating cars, is going to set benchmarks for patient satisfaction later this year so they can measure consumer satisfaction with telehealth.
for All,” 30% were in support and 28% opposed. (Medicare for All is a single payer system.) Forty-five percent of the respondents said they do not support or oppose a “public health option.” while 32% would support it and 21% would oppose it. The obvious problem here is healthcare is very complicated and often confusing. Consequently, the majority of Americans are ambivalent about the various models of care and are understandably fearful of change. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they would be more inclined to use telemedicine if there was some sort of ranking or satisfaction measurements. Most of those surveyed weren’t sure whether or not their insurance covered telehealth. Only 17% were sure either way. Most insurers cover telehealth, but are reluctant to “sell” it fearing over utilization of medical services. The survey produced six key findings. 1. Almost half of the respondents thought the quality of care would be diminished via telehealth. 2. Lack of awareness is most pronounced in rural areas (72%) where telehealth makes the most sense. 3. None (0%) of the patients indicating they are in poor health used telehealth. People in good or better health are more likely to use telehealth. 4. Consumers aren’t sure what it costs. 5. Consumers are split on whether telehealth is more or less as personal than an onsite visit with a provider. 6. Telehealth is used more out West (11%) than here in the East (6%).
Opioid deaths decline
For the first time in 30 years, deaths due to opioid abuse actually fell about 5% from approximately
72,000 in 2017 to approximately 68,000 in 2018. A decline in prescriptions for opioids was an obvious factor in the recent decline in deaths. Despite the decline, the number of 68,000 unnecessary deaths is still unacceptable. The CDC contributed to the decline in deaths by clarifying opioid prescribing guidelines for providers. Success varies by state. Sixteen states had more deaths in 2018 versus 2017. Two states with the worst drug problems fared far differently from each other. Missouri opioid overdoses increased 16% while New Hampshire experienced a 7% decrease in deaths.
Best NYS Hospitals
Per U.S. News and World Report, three of the top six are in New York City: Presbyterian-Columbia, Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill. Two are on long Island: St. Francis and NYU Winthrop. The sixth is Strong Memorial in Rochester.
Most common medical conditions
If you have been to your doctor’s office lately, your chief medical complaint or condition was probably from the top 10. They are in no particular order: skin disorders, stiff joints, bad back, high cholesterol, upper respiratory infection, anxiety/ depression, chronic neurological disorder, high blood pressure, headaches and diabetes.
Climate Anxiety/Grief
The clinical term is “solastalgia”. Unfortunately, it is on a precipitous increase worldwide. It is defined as the distress or anxiety produced by environmental change impacting people while they are directly connected to their home environment. The American Psychiatric Association has produced a climate change guide to help physicians and mental
September 2019 •
health providers diagnosis and treat. Rising temperatures have actually led to more suicides. It is estimated that climate change contributes to 250,000 deaths per year worldwide.
Gun violence prevention
Medical professionals are speaking out, again. In the aftermath of several mass shootings, several physician associations co-authored an article in the Annals of Internal Medicine calling for immediate action to prevent gun violence. Gun violence is now acknowledged as a public health risk. The article was sponsored and written by the heads of: American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and the American Public Health Association. Some of the recommendations include: enactment of “red alert” laws which allow judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals at risk to do harm to others or themselves; requiring comprehensive criminal background checks; encourage research into the causes of gun violence and recommendations to reduce; improving access to mental health care; supporting physicians on how to advise families and at risk patients about potential gun violence and how to mitigate the risk. George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Live Alone & Thrive
inside you? Set it free! Treating yourself well builds self-esteem. Prepare and enjoy healthy meals at home. Get enough sleep. Walk, move or exercise every day. Stay engaged with others and your community. Pamper yourself. You’re worth it. Do it! Living alone takes practice. Know that there is always someone you can call or something you can do to improve your situation. Getting out of your comfort zone is worth the discomfort. Try something new — pick up a musical instrument, take a memoir-writing class, learn a new language, start a book club, explore a plant-based diet — whatever piques your interest. It’s a great way to stretch yourself and meet others along the way. Isolating on holidays, birthdays, Sundays, etc. is for the birds. Solitary confinement is punishment for criminals, not single people. Make plans. Comb your hair. Lose the baggy sweatpants. Put a smile on your face. It’s important to create your own positive feedback. Caring about your appearance says a lot about how you value yourself. Traveling solo can lead to self-discovery and grow your self-reliance. Whether it’s Paris or Peoria, striking out on your own will expand your horizons, build self-awareness and increase your appreciation for diversity. You will become a more interesting person, not only to yourself, but to others as well. There’s no shame in asking for help. It’s not a sign of weakness. On the contrary. Asking for help shows confidence and resourcefulness. If feelings of fear, vulnerability or self-doubt overcome you; a little quiet time, meditation, and/ or prayer can be an answer. Embrace your spiritual side, however that
manifests itself in you. Your dream house can be yours. Whether it’s a cozy apartment or cottage in the country, you can — at long last! — make your home your own. Expanding your definition of love beyond “romantic love” will stand you in good stead. Embrace “passionate friendships” — those relationships in which you can be yourself and feel completely comfortable. It’s all yours — the good, the bad, the chores, the bills. Living alone, like married life, is not Shangri-La. It’s real life. And that’s a beautiful thing. Embrace it. Still in your PJ’s at noon? No one needs to know.
11.
19.
This We Know: 25 Things Living 12. Alone Has Taught Us
20.
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
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his September marks the 14th anniversary of my solo trip to Paris to celebrate turning 50. It also marks the anniversary of a decision I made that changed my life. It was in the “City of Light” that I decided to create a workshop designed to help women live on their own with more confidence and joy. Since launching the workshop in 2005, I have met and been inspired by countless courageous and resourceful women (and men, too) who are now living alone with success. They reinforce what I practice every day and what I “preach” in this column and my “Alone and Content” workshops — that the relationship with ourselves is the most enduring of all and worth nurturing. While many of the women and men I’ve met have encountered some very real and painful obstacles, they now embrace their independence and are busy leading interesting, full lives. They are making it on their own. These independent pioneers have discovered, as have I, that marriage is not the only state in which we can be truly happy, fulfilled, secure and complete. Whether divorced, widowed or “confirmed” bachelors or bachelorettes, they are not spending their time bemoaning their fate. They have taken their lives into their own hands and have come to appreciate the choices and opportunities that living alone has to offer.
This we know:
existing friendships, make new and interesting connections and spend quality time with family members. Loneliness is not a state of being reserved for single people. Did you ever feel lonely or neglected while being married or in a committed relationship? With time alone, spent with intention, you can re-awaken your true self and identify those things that bring you joy. When that happens, living alone can become a profound adventure of the spirit. The stereotypical image of single women and men as desperate and miserable are exaggerated and just plain untrue. Recent studies on the subject bear this out. Accepting party invitations is worth doing, even if you suspect the party will be mostly couples. Remind yourself that guests often separate into groups of women and men, so singles blend right in. Figuring out how to hire a contractor, buy a car or even replace the flapper valve in your toilet — all by yourself — can be very satisfying! Pursuing a new career, volunteer job or college degree in midlife can be liberating and rewarding. Doing a random act of kindness is a great antidote when you’re feeling alone or sorry for yourself. Despite past hurts, try your best to remain open to others who would like to get to know you. Relationships can add dimension and meaning to your life. That said, responding “yes” to a dinner date does not obligate you to anything. Living alone can release your inner Martha Stewart. Do you have a craft project secretly lurking
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Drugs such as Benadryl provide little benefit to kids with cold
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Hanging out with negative 23. people is a real downer. Put yourself with upbeat people who
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Are Too Many Kids Prescribed Antihistamines?
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s d i K Corner
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Living alone doesn’t mean being 10. 1. alone. In fact, it can offer more time and opportunities to deepen
any U.S. doctors are much less likely to recommend cough and cold medicines for young children ever since experts advised against it in 2008, new research shows. That’s the good news. The bad news? Physicians are still more likely
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to recommend antihistamines for children under age 12 with colds, despite the fact that they provide little known benefit, the researchers from Rutgers University in New Jersey said. “Sedating antihistamines such as diphenhydramine [Benadryl] may have a small effect on some cold
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symptoms in adults,” said study lead author Daniel Horton. He is a physician and assistant professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “However, there is little evidence that antihistamines actually help children with colds feel better or recover faster. We do know that these medicines can make kids sleepy and some kids quite hyper,” Horton said in a university news release. Just over a decade ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended against cough and cold medicines for children under age 2 due to safety concerns and uncertain benefits. The American Academy of Pediatrics later advised against cough and cold medicines in children under age 6. “Families often treat their children’s respiratory infections with cough and cold medicines, some of which include opioid ingredients, such as codeine or hydrocodone. However, there is little proof that these medications effectively ease the symptoms in young children,” Horton explained. “Also, many cough and cold medicines have multiple ingredients, which increases the chance of serious
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
make you feel good about yourself and about life. Mac and cheese may be just what the doctor ordered. There’s no harm in occasionally indulging in your favorite comfort food and tear-jerky movie. “The Way We Were” is my three-hankie movie of choice. Finding your home in your heart can deliver peace as well as power. Harness that potential and your contentment will know no bounds. Don’t we know it!
Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of “Alone & Content” empowerment boot camps for women held throughout the year in Mendon. She is the author of “Alone and Content: Inspiring, empowering essays to help divorced and widowed women feel whole and complete on their own.” For information about her boot camp, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak call 585-624-7887, email gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com, or visit www.aloneandcontent.com accidental overdose when combined with another product,” he added. In the study, the researchers analyzed more than 3 billion visits by children to U.S. clinics and emergency departments from 2002 to 2015. They found that physicians ordered a total of about 95.7 million cough and cold medications, 12% of which contained opioids. After the FDA’s advisory, there was a 56% drop in physician recommendations for non-opioid cough and cold medicines in children under 2 and a 68% decrease in recommendations for opioid-containing medicines in children under 6. Yet the researchers also found a 25% increase in doctor recommendations for antihistamines to treat respiratory infections in children under 12. “It is nice to see physicians are heeding the advice to avoid cough and cold medications for children, but switching them to antihistamines is not necessarily an improvement,” said study co-author Dr. Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. The study was published July 29 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
Diversity Marks Spiritual Care at Roswell Clergy of nearly 40 faith leaders — Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, Muslim — help comfort patients at Roswell Park By Jana Eisenberg
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oswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center recently announced that it’s changed the name of its traditional pastoral care program to “spiritual care.” Beth Lenegan has been the director of the program since 1999. She has shepherded its growth to include a variety of services, as well as department expansions that now include four additional chaplains, a secretary, a Life Recorded coordinator, over 50 volunteers, and community clergy of nearly 40 faith leaders from different cultural and religious traditions. The primary mission is patient visits — on the center’s hospital floors and in its clinics, as well as Roswell’s satellite locations in the suburbs. Patients’ interactions with the RPCCC spiritual care department start early and services are offered to both inpatients and outpatients. “When patients first come in, we talk with them and do an assessment,” said Lenegan. “It’s rare that people say they don’t want any services; it’s a difficult time in life and people are seeking. It doesn’t matter what the diagnosis is — you’re facing mortality at some level. While some prefer to speak to people of their own faith group, most are happy to pray with any member of any faith.” “I think we all have a spiritual nature,” she added. “One way of de“Writer on the Run” is a monthly column written by Jenna Schifferle of Cheektowaga. She chronicles her experience training for the Chicago Marathon in October.
scribing it is as the human response to some of life’s big questions, like, ‘why do we suffer?’ ‘how did we get here?’ and ‘is there an afterlife?’ Some may seek those answers in a ‘higher power,’ whether it’s religion, nature, music or meditation. “When meeting with patients and caregivers, our team of community clergy does not evangelize — it’s not the time for that,” she said. “They are trained to minister to people and help work through their mysteries and any questions they have.” Spiritual care can be of comfort to patients who come from outside the WNY area and find themselves without consistent support. “It can be difficult for caregivers to drive back and forth from Pennsylvania or other parts of New York,” said Lenegan. “Patients are away from their church and social communities, so we support them as much as we can and as much as they’d like. The type and frequency of visits is based on patients’ assessments.”
Recording one’s travels Lenegan broadened the understanding of spiritual care in a health care setting over the years. She’s introduced patient-caregiver retreats, giving people the opportunity to be outside a medical setting to gain perspective or just relax. She’s also launched
another potentially healing program, Life Recorded. Inspired by National Public Radio’s “Story Corps,” patients are invited to record their stories for themselves and their loved ones. “Patients can include a caregiver or family member in their recording, and they can talk about any aspect of their life — it doesn’t have to be their cancer journey,” said Lenegan. “They are not defined by their cancer; they are also mothers, fathers, gardeners, woodworkers.” Staff training is an important part of delivering effective spiritual care. “Diversity is key,” said Lenegan. “We invite patients of different faiths to speak to the team, to offer different perspectives, whether it’s Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Native American, or Muslim. We recognize that we are a team of diverse individuals, and that people from the community are diverse as well.” Lenegan said an aspect of the job she didn’t expect is how
patients impact her and her staff’s lives. “I’m inspired by patients,” she said. “A lot of them are so strong and positive; they and their families are also grateful, and want to give back to Roswell by volunteering.” Another unexpected element? “We have a lot of joys —things like marriages and baptisms,” she said. “We can be part of those intimate moments. I feel appreciative for my team, for our patients and their families. We are fortunate to have the support that Roswell has given to spiritual care.”
Beth Lenegan has directed spiritual care at Roswell Park since 1999.
Writer on the Run By Jenna Schifferle
jenna.schifferle@gmail.com
Running to Help Ronald McDonald House Charities
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ntrance into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is usually contingent upon a lottery. As part of its long-standing commitment to the community, the marathon also grants runners automatic entrance into the race if they commit to raising a set amount of money for one of its approved charities. In my case, this option was a no-brainer. If you’re going to set a goal for yourself, you might as well make that goal benefit others, right? Ronald McDonald House Charities is an organization that I hold dear to my heart. A few years ago, I started volunteering at the local chapter on West Ferry Street in Buffalo after seeing a bulletin at Fisher-Price. At the time, the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital was being constructed, and Ronald McDonald House Charities planned to open a lounge for families who needed a respite and space to breathe. Fisher-Price donated a
special cart for the lounge that could be used to bring coffee and other refreshments directly to the rooms in the hospital. Enthusiastically dubbed the “Happy Wheels Cart,” this initiative seemed too good to turn down. I signed up to help out and have been volunteering there ever since. The lounge itself is small yet cozy and always filled with complimentary food. The fireplace adds ambiance, and volunteers greet everyone with a smile and open heart. There are toys for kids to keep, with the hope it brings them play and happiness, even if only for a moment. Above all, though, I strongly believe the interactions that happen in the lounge are what make me so passionate about this charity. We all know a family that’s going through difficult times. This lounge brings together countless families whose struggles are unparalleled. It is a place where stories are shared, but it’s also a place where words aren’t always needed. Sometimes, a cup of coffee and
company remind people that they’re not alone. When I decided to run the Chicago Marathon, I committed to playing a larger role in this organization’s mission. I’ve surpassed my goal of raising $1,250, and I am forever grateful to the people who have sponsored me and helped fund the amazing work done by Ronald McDonald House Charities. I’m also glad that I decided to run for this particular cause, especially following my injury. While training for a marathon, it’s easy to experience a setback like mine and postpone your admission until the following year. Sometimes, it’s even necessary. I am now several weeks behind on training, and I’ve been going to physical therapy to strengthen the hip weakness that caused my leg injury in the first place. I haven’t been able to run, and I’ve argued with myself countless times about whether or not I should actually postpone until 2020. In the
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end, I’ve decided to run the race this year and accept that it’s going to be even more difficult and much, much slower than originally anticipated. I’m honored to be running for Ronald McDonald House Charities, and for that reason, I am going to see this thing through until the bittersweet end. If you’re interested in learning more about the work done by Ronald McDonald House Charities, check out their website at http://rmhcwny. org/ or read more on my page at https://bit.ly/33rgcA9 .
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Deal Between Local Doctor and Somali Refugees Flourishing
Group of Somali refugees cultivating the land in East Aurora. They grow cut flowers, tomatoes, onions, red potatoes, white potatoes, carrots, sweet peppers, hot peppers and many other vegetables.
Somboli Bantu refugees grow vegetables, flowers on East Aurora farm lent by doctor By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ometimes, your problem can become another person’s solution as physician Christopher Kerr learned some time ago. A group of Somboli Bantu refugees in Buffalo’s Westside wanted to farm as they did in their former homeland, Somalia. Kerr, the CEO of the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, didn’t have time to do as much as he would like with his farmland in East Aurora. “Then this came up,” Kerr said simply. He heard about the refugees’ need to farm through a friend who was teaching English to the group. More than anything, the refugees wanted to farm. Living in Buffalo did not offer them any opportunity to do so. The Somali Bantu Community Organization of WNY, Providence Farm and the East Aurora Huddle collaborated to form the Somali Bantu Community Farm with acres Kerr lent. For the past three years, Kerr’s former horse paddocks serve as a community farming space that provides hundreds of Somboli Bantu refugees with an area to plant vegetables and raise flowers. This provides fresh foods for their families and a source of income through selling excess produce and the flowers. The project has grown to include six acres on Kerr’s property. Kerr has owned the 30 acres of land for 20 years and with his daughter Bobbi operated a horse boarding and training business. Since she’s been traveling more in recent years as a professional rider, Kerr felt he Page 10
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needed to scale back on horses and use the land differently. He views his partnership with the Somali Bantu as the ideal solution. “Their roots are as farmers,” Kerr said of the Somboli Bantu people. “It reconnects them to what they’ve always known and allows them to pass on the skills they have to the next generation. It’s wonderful. It gets them out of the city. We’re going to blow this up.” The group grows cut flowers, tomatoes, onions, red potatoes, white potatoes, carrots, sweet peppers, hot peppers, peas, beans, zucchini, yellow squash, herbs, corn, apples, watermelon, Swiss chard, lettuces, spinach and cucumbers. In addition to the vegetables familiar to many Americans, the Somboli Bantu grow specialty items that are harder to find here, like amaranth. “They’re taken from everything they know,” Kerr said. “As much as it’s hard to assimilate, it’s nice to see them share in something they know. Its profoundly meaningful. It requires so little from me. They need so little land to produce so much.” The group grows produce organically, using the farm’s pond to irrigate the crops. Donations and grants from groups like United Way, Erie County and General Mills have helped the group buy trucks, trailers and equipment. Kerr plans to form a nonprofit and bring other organizations in to fund both expansion and better infrastructure for growing vegetables, such as deer fencing, irrigation systems and plowing equipment. “I think I’m very fortunate to live on a farm and it’s profoundly mean-
Physician Christopher Kerr, CEO of the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, takes some refugees to tour his East Aurora farm. ingful to share it,” Kerr said. “I can’t think of a better use.” He also admires how hard-working the refugees are, as well as their knowledge of vegetable farming, which he lacked. He helps out when he can and supplies plenty of horse manure from the boarding business, but the scores of refugees who show up supply the sweat equity. “It’s a small gift to get them land if they’re willing to work their tails off to make it work,” Kerr said. “It’s a huge joy to watch.” One family includes four genera-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
tions of women who work together. The group sells garlic and cut flowers at the East Aurora Co-Op Market and Roswell Park Farmers Market, and vegetables and African crops at the organization’s Grant Street office throughout the summer. Somali Bantu Community Farm Compost Tea is for sale at Masterson’s Garden Center in East Aurora and Seneca Greenhouse in Elma. Kerr is looking into adding laying hens and has purchased three more acres to expand the project to more groups.
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Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Reversible? By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ype 2 diabetes affects nearly one in 10 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although most people who have Type 2 diabetes are over age 45, the CDC states that diabetes is on the rise among younger people. The CDC explains how Type 2 diabetes is caused on its website: “Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy. If you have Type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.” Once someone has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, can lifestyle changes in diet and exercise reverse it — even cure it? The experts say no, but lifestyle changes can prevent Type 2 diabetes and, for those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, reduce dependence upon medication and the risk of complications that can accompany Type 2 diabetes: heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. “It’s really important to learn how to manage the condition; it is manageable,” said Nikki Kmicinski, registered dietitian and director of
Donald lost 186 pounds in 10 months!
business development at Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, Inc. in Buffalo. The organization operates Choose Healthy Diabetes Self-Management, an evidence-based program through period group meetings teaches participants how to manage their disease to reduce its risks. “They learn what questions to ask and why it’s important to manage medication,” Kmicinski said. Participants meet weekly for 16 weeks and then monthly for the yearlong program. “The outcomes really show people learn how to change those habits,” she said. Although the lifestyle changes may reduce medication needs (under physician supervision) and risk of complications, “once they have diabetes confirmed by blood work, and their blood sugars are up in a certain range, that’s irreversible,” Kmicinski said. “It causes damage to the body.” Reverting to their previous diet and sedentary lifestyle will undo any progress they’ve made. “They can reduce symptoms and long-term complications by taking this seriously and making healthy changes,” Kmicinski said. Some people with diabetes may not receive as much help with managing their disease from their doctor upon diagnosis because providers often have limited time to discuss the ramifications of diabetes and the interventions that can best help patients manage it. That’s why Kmicinski recommends seeing a certified
diabetes educator. “We set goals each week and go over topics to make healthy changes,” she said. Debra Stacey, psychiatric nurse practitioner affiliated with WNY Medical, PC in Buffalo, has also practiced as a diabetes educator. She said that one of the biggest changes many diabetics can make right away is to cut out soda. “Some have two to three servings a day,” she said. “Whether diet or regular, they have health implications. In most cases, the replacements for sugar are less healthy than the actual sugar.” She also said that many people don’t understand that it’s carbohydrates — not specifically sugar — that raise blood glucose levels dangerously high for diabetics. Foods like rolls, bread and pasta can also spike blood sugar. For controlling blood sugar and weight, portion control also makes a difference. Stacey said that many people don’t accurately estimate portions and eat far too much of each food. For example, filling a common cereal bowl is likely several servings of cereal, not the 8-oz. standard serving that doesn’t even fill half the bowl. “We were all taught we should eat what’s on our plate,” she added. Too often, the plates hold nutrient-void calories that are too high in simple carbohydrates such as French fries, white bread, rolls or fried foods. These are also foods high in calories. As a result, many eat far too many calories for their body’s needs.
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Since many people have become emotional eaters, screening for mental health issues is also vital to reducing the effects of Type 2 diabetes. Stacy said that many diabetics have mental health issues that require addressing to help them solve their eating problems. Therapy or medication may help treat those problems that are related to diet and exercise. “It’s difficult to make those changes and make them stick,” she said. “We join a gym but don’t stick with it. I’ve had the most success treating diabetic patients from a mental health standpoint. It’s difficult as you get older to lose weight and change habits. We have a lot of medications that can help people.” She said that although many diabetics realize they should exercise, they don’t understand the correlation between what they eat and what they do. A leisurely stroll to the mailbox or down the block won’t torch the double latte. That’s likely more a three-hour walk. It’s also important to increase the difficulty of exercise once the body becomes accustomed to that level and begins hoarding calories. “No matter what it is, the body likes homeostasis,” Stacey said. “If you walk 30 minutes every day for a while, eventually it won’t make as much of difference.” Of course, it’s better than nothing, but for weight loss, the body adapts to that level of exercise and tends to stubbornly hold onto fat stores. With lifelong changes to diet and activity, “you can absolutely get off medication,” Stacey said. “And for prevention, with weight loss, healthy eating and exercise, I’ve seen about 60% or more in a reduction of the incidences of diabetes.”
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Men’s Health
Sperm Banking Helps Men Protect Fertility By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hile many men can become parents much later in life compared with most women, sperm banking may provide a means for men to preserve their fertility for a variety of reasons. Physician Rob Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility, said that although men’s fertility doesn’t decline as much as women’s, other factors have in general caused male fertility to decrease. “Men more and more are being exposed to environmental factors, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancers that affect fertility even before they have a chance to bank sperm,” Kiltz said. “It may be more reasonable to bank sperm in their early to mid-20s before these things happen.” Kiltz operates fertility office that treat men and women in Buffalo and other Upstate areas. He explained that over the past 20 years, the quality of sperm has been changing, along with the shift of couples delaying children until their later 30s. As a result, more men find it difficult to father children. “Many of the sperm abnormalities are related to morphology and function and DNA fragmentation
and it’s only picked up on because the guy is infertile,” Kiltz said. “It might be that we don’t even notice these things because no one is trying to get pregnant up to that point. These things may be factors that if you had preserved your sperm in your early 20s, you maybe could have avoided.” Other factors may prompt men to consider sperm banking as young men. Some couples want permanent contraception and choose vasectomy; however, reversing vasectomy should they change their minds can be difficult and not always successful. Reversal also costs quite a bit of money — $5,000 to $20,000, according to several online sources — and isn’t covered by insurance. “More and more men should consider it because of the issues they encounter that can affect their sperm,” Kiltz said. “Banking is more affordable than people think.” He said that sperm banking costs a few hundred dollars initially and about $3,000 to store for 10 years. “If a man is considering a vasectomy or permanent form of contraception, freezing sperm may give him the opportunities to have
children without a reversal or IVF,” Kiltz said. “A lot of men and women think they won’t want children when they’re young and want a form of contraception that won’t fail but if they change their mind in the future, they can use banked sperm rather than have a reversal.” Employment or medical issues that expose men to toxic chemicals, radiation or physical damage to the testicles should also consider sperm preservation. Kiltz said that the success rate of conception is “very high” with sperm saved through cryopreservation. Boys who experience cancer therapy before puberty can still preserve
Overweight Men May Feel Stigmatized, Too
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t’s not only women who agonize over their excess pounds. Stigma about being overweight can cause physical and emotional harm to men, too. “It’s often assumed that conversations about weight loss, poor body Page 12
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image, and dieting are more salient for women. Men are frequently overlooked, but that does not necessarily mean that men are less affected by weight stigma or less likely to internalize negative biases,” said Mary Himmelstein, lead author of a new
study from the University of Connecticut, in Hartford. As many as 40% of men report weight-related stigma, meaning they’re discriminated against or stereotyped because of their size. But there’s been less research on how
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
their chances of fatherhood. Kiltz said surgeons can remove testicular material and after their cancer treatment, it can be implanted again to allow them the opportunity to generate sperm. In general, men can improve their chances of healthy sperm by avoiding drugs — including marijuana — alcohol, and smoking. Kiltz said that for diet, he promotes a “keto/paleo diet.” He also believes it’s important for men to slow down. “Enjoy more easy living and less treating your body like you live in a carnival,” he said. “Treat it like a temple.” it affects their health compared to women, according to the researchers. For the study, the investigators surveyed more than 1,750 men across the United States. The researchers found that weight-related stigma (both internalized and from other people) was associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms and dieting. Men who experienced weight stigma were more likely to binge eat, and men who internalized weight stigma had lower self-rated health, the findings showed. The study was published online July 31 in the journal Obesity. The findings show the need for researchers and health care providers to pay more attention to weight stigma and health in men, Himmelstein and colleagues said in a university news release. For example, asking men about weight stigma may help doctors identify those who may be at risk for depression or eating disorders — conditions that are underdiagnosed in men. “Our study shows that weight stigma is not a gendered issue. It can affect men’s health in the same damaging ways in which we already know that it harms women’s health, and neglecting these issues in men, either in research or clinical practice, may put them at a serious disadvantage in treatment,” Himmelstein explained. Supportive interventions should be available for men, women, and people whose gender is not male or female to help them cope with weight stigma in less harmful ways, she concluded.
SmartBites
By Anne Palumbo
The skinny on healthy eating
Lose Weight, Improve Skin with Zucchini Y ears ago, when gardening friends left baskets of zucchini on my front porch, I used to get so rattled. Blind to its taste, ignorant of its nutrition, I’d fret over what to do with the unwelcome lot. But now that I’ve become zucchini-savvy, I’m genuinely elated when zucchini season rolls around. I adore this versatile summer squash! It’s as nutritious as it is delicious. Similar to watermelon, zucchini’s most bountiful nutrient is water: 95%. This all-important nutrient helps to regulate temperature, promote healthy digestion and curb constipation by producing softer stools. And while zucchini doesn’t have the fiber content of, say, peas or broccoli, it’s got enough to help move things along by producing bulkier stools. Zucchini teems with vitamin C, with one small zucchini providing close to 40% of our daily needs. A powerful antioxidant and immune-booster, vitamin C is certifiably our skin’s best friend: it helps keep skin strong and firm by triggering the production of collagen; it helps prevent sun damage by neutralizing
damaging free radicals; and it promotes wound healing. Some say you can even use zucchini to treat puffy eyes by placing raw slices over your eyes for 10 minutes. Feeling blah? Reach for some zucchini! Because zucchini provides healthy doses of many B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, it can help boost energy production and reduce fatigue. What’s more, vitamin B6, which is involved in the production of mood-elevating serotonin, may also help regulate sleep and lift spirits. And, like most plant-based foods, zucchini is packed with antioxidants, those magical molecules that minimize cell damage that may lead to heart disease, cancer, macular degeneration, and other age-related diseases. Research indicates the highest levels are found in the zucchini’s skin and that yellow zucchinis may contain slightly higher levels than green ones. Finally, regular consumption of zucchini may help you lose weight. Rich in water and fiber and yet low in calories (only 40 per small zuc-
chini), zucchini may help you feel full longer and reduce hunger—potentially leading to weight loss over time.
Zucchini “Noodles” with Sesame-Peanut Sauce
Adapted from Fat-Free Vegan Kitchen
3 small zucchini (or, one package of fresh zucchini noodles) 1 red bell pepper, julienned 2 tablespoons peanut butter 2 tablespoons water 1 tablespoon cider or rice vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 – 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ - 1 teaspoon Sriracha or hot sauce 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger Salt and pepper to taste Wash zucchini; trim ends. Use a spiralizer to turn zucchini into “noodles.” Line a large bowl with paper
Helpful tips:
Select small- to medium-sized zucchini with shiny, unblemished skin; it should feel firm and heavy for its size. Smaller zucchini tend to taste better. Don’t cut up or wash zucchini until ready to use. Store it in a loosely closed plastic bag for up to one week. Leave the rind on whenever possible: it’s loaded with nutrients! towels; place zucchini noodles in the bowl along with the julienned red bell pepper. Let rest 10 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk the peanut butter with the water until well combined; then mix in all the remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove the towels from under the zucchini. Add the sauce and stir well to coat the noodles completely. Serve immediately, garnishing it with fresh basil if desired. (Optional: Add a legume such as edamame or black beans to make it more filling.)
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.
Meet Your Provider The Ideal You Weight Loss Center The Ideal You has helped over 6,000 Western New Yorkers lose over 220,000 Pounds! The Ideal You Weight Loss Center was established in Clarence in 2013. There are now three locations: Clarence, West Seneca and Tonawanda. The Ideal You offers private one-on-one weekly weight loss counseling to their clients and sells more than 80 varieties of lowcalorie protein-based products. On the program, women can expect to lose two to four pounds per week and men can expect to lose three to five, without additional exercise. To date, The Ideal You Weight Loss Center has helped more than 6,000 Western New Yorkers lose over 220,000 pounds!
What is the cost of the program?
There is a one-time Initial consultation fee of $225, however, there are many discounts available: $125 off the consultation fee if you have BlueCross BlueShield or Independent Health; $25 off the consultation fee if you start with a friend; $50 off the consultation fee if you are military personal or a veteran; and two free boxes of food every time you refer a new dieter. Foods average $4.50 per meal for
your breakfast, lunch and your snack, and the supplements average about $85 per month. You will prepare your own dinner plus veggies.
What supplements do I have to take?
You will take a multi vitamin, potassium, calcium-magnesium, and omega 3. There are no drugs, appetite suppressants or stimulants. All of the supplements are pharmaceutical grade.
How and why does this diet work?
This program is a ketogenic diet that forces your body to burn your reserved fat while preserving your lean tissue and muscle mass. It is a rapid weight loss program that burns your stored fat 24 hours a day!
How often do I have to come in?
You will have a quick 15 minute appointment every week at The Ideal You Weight Loss Center. You will have better results by being held accountable. Your weight loss coach has many tips and tricks and the answers to the questions you’ll have along the way.
How long does the program last?
It is a four-phase diet. Phase 1 is rapid weight loss. You stay on Phase 1 until you reach your weight loss goal. You proceed to Phase 2 for two weeks, Phase 3 for two weeks, and then lifetime maintenance. Once in maintenance, you are eating all of your own food.
Will I gain weight back?
No, you should not. You should come in monthly during Phase 4 (maintenance) to be weighed and measured to ensure your long-term success!
Are diabetics allowed to go on the program?
Yes, diabetics do great! Both Type 1 and Type 2 can go on the program. There is a modified program for Type 1 diabetics.
Can children go on the program?
Children over 17 can go on the program with their doctor’s and parent’s consent.
How do I learn more?
Anyone interested is encouraged to attend a free informational open house
prior to joining. They are held every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at all three Ideal You Weight Loss Center locations. Open houses are by preregistration only and you can register online at IdealYou.com. There is no cost or obligation associated with the open house.
How do I get started?
In order to actually get started, we will need you to complete a health profile form and have your doctor sign our doctor’s permission form. Both forms can be found on The Get Started tab on our website IdealYou.com. The Health Profile can be filled out and submitted entirely online! Once we receive both of these forms, one of our Nurses will review your paperwork and we will call you to schedule your initial consultation. Call 716-631-THIN and Start your weight loss journey today!
4244 Delaware Ave., Tonawanda | 8241 Sheridan Dr., Clarence | 1066 Union Road, West Seneca
IdealYou.com • Phone: 716-631-THIN September 2019 •
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Excessive Video Game Playing Now Considered a Disorder By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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he World Health Organization has classified excessive video gaming as a disorder, and the American Psychiatric Association has included “internet gaming disorder” as a diagnosis. What is so captivating about excessive gaming that players can, essentially, become dependent on it? Isn’t it just another fun pastime for children and teens? Timothy William Logsdon, licensed mental health counselor with Inner Quest Counseling Services in Amherst and Tonawanda, said that gaming possesses addictive quality that other hobbies don’t. “They’re made to be that way,” he said. “Game designers have taken advantage of all the bells and whistles, following the lead of the gambling industry. They’ve spent a lot of time and money to see what draws people in and what keeps them there. They bombard the sense with sound and sight and it’s so intertwined.” While children 35 years ago had to haul quarters to the mall’s arcade or visit their one friend lucky enough
to own a home game system, today’s children have 24-7 access on laptops, tablets and phones. The gaming world also allows users to connect with others with similar interests in real time as they vicariously live in imaginary worlds as a break from the mundane real world and a self image they may not like. “Life is hard and people want a distraction, whether teenagers dealing with all the normal hormonal and sociological and social media issues that are current these days or adults dealing with a slew of adults responsibilities,” said Nicole S. Urdang, licensed mental health counselor and holistic psychotherapist in private practice in Buffalo. “Everyone wants an escape.” Urdang said that because of the readily availability of video games — just punch a few buttons and it’s always ready — video games offer an easy and constantly available escape. “It’s mesmerizing,” she added. “It involves hooking you visually with constantly changing images,
hooking you intellectually with various and increasingly difficult challenges, and hooking you emotionally, especially if you a have an avatar in a role-playing game.” The pleasure center craves more and more stimuli to remain satisfied. When this phenomenon occurs, many gamers lose awareness of what they’re doing or the passing of time. And that “zoned out” feeling enhances the experience for gamers who want to escape their lives. They become dependent upon gaming as a coping mechanism. Some gamers may feel frustrated by their inability to succeed in their daily lives; however, while playing games they can save the day, win the race or beat the bad guys. But spending too much time gaming and talking about gaming constantly can indicate a problem. “If someone of any age is neglecting basic things in life, like hygiene, essential self care, eating, exercising, homework responsibilities, then, clearly, they have a problem,” Urdang said. Obsessive video gaming looks on many levels like addictive behavior. “You can see personality changes while gaming, like hyperactivity and/or the opposite: no ambition or initiative outside of gaming,” said Shawn Marie Cichowski, professional coach and owner of WNY Life Coaching Center in Williamsville and East Aurora. “When it gets to a point that it’s extreme, that they lose track of eating and sleeping, it’s a problem.” Cichowski said that addressing this issue can be difficult for some parents; however, they must limit gaming, along with providing wholesome activities and seeking professional help to address any underlying issues. “Give them experiences outside technology,” she said. “Go outdoors. There’s something powerful in that. Connect with nature and engage them with activities that can get them
active again.” Instead of scheduling numerous activities to keep children occupied, she said that just the opposite can be helpful when they’re younger: let them get bored, so they use their imagination to find something healthful to do. They may make a few real-life friends along the way, too. Kristi P. Smith, licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Williamsville, said that she’s treated teens who developed social anxiety because they became so wrapped up in the online gaming world. She feels that their gaming disrupted their normal social development. Smith said that forcing a child or teen to quit cold turkey won’t work, but gradually decreasing the amount of time gaming and replacing it with an enjoyable activity. Making gaming a reward or its removal a punishment makes gaming more precious to teens; however, she also said that helps to prioritize other activities first. “Make it more a down part of their day,” she added. “Do gaming after their homework. Make sure they realize that this isn’t healthy and you want them to improve. But don’t dismiss it as unimportant to them. Kids feel they’re not heard. To this generation, it’s their whole world.” In the meantime, the child may form real world friendships as they participate in a sport, club or activity with others. If these measures don’t work, Smith suggested meeting with a therapist. Surprisingly, children and teens will open up to a therapist even if they won’t to their parents. Other helpful resources include Online Gamers Anonymous (www. olganon.org), Smart Recovery (www. smartrecovery.org) and Celebrate Recovery (www.celebraterecovery.com).
Vaping Juices Represent Poisoning Risk for Children Erie County warns adults to keep fruit-flavored nicotine liquids and other drugs up and away from children’s reach Submitted by the Erie County Health Department
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he rapid rise in vaping and e-cigarette use has heightened the need for vaping users to store their devices and nicotine liquids securely, well out of the reach of children and pets. “Regardless how they are advertised, nicotine juices pose a serious risk to children and pets, if ingested,” said Erie County Commissioner of Health Gale Burstein. “The flavors and packaging can be extremely attractive to children, with names that sound like a candy or dessert.” The Erie County Department of Health strongly advises teenagers and adults who vape to store their equipment and supplies in a secure area out of the reach of children. The American Association of Poison Control Centers began tracking calls about liquid nicotine in 2011, and 2018 cases were up more than 100% over 2013 numbers. Page 14
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“Young children may mistake the juice bottle, with its bright colors and familiar shape, for something they see in the candy aisle of a grocery store,” Burstein said. “Despite claims that the packaging is child-resistant, nicotine is a poison, and drinking or touching it can cause serious harm, and in rare cases, hospitalization or death.” Liquid nicotine juice is sold in bottles that range from 10 milliliters to 120 milliliters (about a half-cup). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one teaspoon of concentrated liquid nicotine can be fatal for an average 26-pound toddler. E-cigarettes were introduced as an alternative for adults who smoke regular cigarettes or other tobacco products, with some potential benefit when used as a complete substitute for smoking. For youth, pregnant women and adults who do
not currently use tobacco products, e-cigarettes are not safe. Nicotine is toxic, addictive and exposure harms the brain. Pregnant women who use nicotine have a greater risk of stillbirth and preterm delivery. “There have been cases where a vaping device has exploded, causing burns and broken facial bones,” said Burstein. “Children are curious, and young children explore the world with their senses, including taste. There are substantial risks for injury to children when leaving these devices unattended.” Parents or caregivers who suspect that a child has ingested nicotine juice should call the local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Early
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
phase symptoms of nicotine poisoning include vomiting, rapid heart rate, increased salivation, loss of balance and visual and hearing distortions. Late phase symptoms include diarrhea, shallow breathing or no breathing, slow heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and shock. If a child or adult displays those symptoms after exposure to nicotine, call 9-1-1. You can reach your local poison control center by calling the Poison Help hotline: 1-800-222-1222. To save the number in your mobile phone, text POISON to 797979.
Back to School on the Autism Spectrum
A new academic year is always a challenge for some on the autism spectrum. But parents can take some steps to reduce the problem By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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or some children on the autism spectrum, the change from summertime to school time represents a challenging ordeal. In general, children on the autism spectrum tend to rely upon predictability to feel more comfortable. New teachers, classmates, classrooms, books and more — all at once — can cause a good deal of distress for some. Tracy Panzarella, director of clinical services at Autism Services, Inc. in Amherst, advises parents of children on the spectrum to plan ahead for a smoother transition back to school. “Start establishing a routine prior to going back for either neuro-typical or kids on the spectrum,” Panzarella said. “Begin with a schedule in the evening, some predictability and talking about going back to school.” She said that getting to bed and rising in the morning at the same times as if school were in session can be helpful, so once school does start, they’re already on the right schedule — and well rested.
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It may also help to mark on a calendar a count-down until school starts, which can help children understand what’s happening. They can better visualize the upcoming school year as they mark off one day closer to school. “Social stories can help,” Panzarella said. “Talk about any feelings they may have, discussing coping strategies, using check lists and practicing routines: all these help.” For example, children need to think about what they would do in case of a fire drill, a missed bus or a forgotten lunchbox. Buying all the school supplies and clothing well in advance can take the pressure off the week of school. Plus, children will be able to become more accustomed to their new things before school starts. Panzarella also suggested showing photos from a yearbook, especially of the teachers. Reviewing their classmates’ faces can help remind them of their friends and good times waiting for them at school.
A few times before school begins, it may help to take a tour of the building, walking around to the classrooms, lunchroom, and bus pick-up and drop-off points. Recording the tour can help familiarize children before the first day. Make note of their bus number can help ensure they don’t miss their rides. Meeting new school personnel in advance or obtaining photos of them is also positive. It may also ease the adjustment to avoid planning anything in the evening for the first few weeks of school so children can get more rest. “Give them some sense of what to expect,” said Kristi P. Smith, licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Williamsville. “That is helpful as they like structure.” Springing surprises on children — especially at an already stressful event such as going back to school — can only ramp up their anxiety even
more. Smith added that it can be very difficult for some children and teens on the spectrum to experience the change from set bedtimes and schedules in the school year to no schedule in the summer. “It may help to be in a program throughout the summer and be consistent,” she said. Even if it’s not an academic program but a day camp or other program, it keeps children in similar sleeping patterns and offers structure throughout the day. Parental response to the back-toschool period also matters, so if parents worry about what their children will face, their children can pick up on that anxiety. Remaining calm can help foster a sense of calm in their children, Smith said.
Myths About Children’s Eyes The American Academy of Ophthalmology on common misunderstandings about children’s eye health
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hink you have the facts on your child’s eye care? When is the right time to have their eyes checked? Is too much screen time damaging their eyes? Do they need to wear sunglasses? There are a lot of myths and misinformation out there about children’s eye health. Don’t turn to Dr. Google for answers, ask your ophthalmologist — a physician who specializes in medical and surgical eye care — if you want to set your child up for a lifetime of good vision. Here, the American Academy of Ophthalmology debunks seven common myths about children’s eye health:
Pink eye only happens in young 1. children. While young kids are known for getting pink eye, due to
close contact in day care centers, so can teenagers, college students, and adults — especially those who don’t clean their contacts. The best way to keep pink eye from spreading is to practice good hygiene, including washing your hands, not touching your eyes, and using clean towels and other products around the face.
Antibiotics are necessary to cure 2. your child’s pink eye. Antibiotics are rarely necessary to treat pink eye. There are three types of pink eye:
viral, bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis. Most cases are caused by viral infections or allergies and do not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial conjunctivitis depending on severity. Mild cases of bacterial conjunctivitis usually resolve on their own within 7 to 14 days without treatment.
3.
Sun is bad for your eyes. While it’s true that long-term exposure to the sun without proper protection can increase the risk of eye disease, some studies suggest sun exposure is necessary for normal visual development. Children who have less sun exposure seem to be at higher risk for developing myopia or nearsightedness. Just make sure they’re protected with UV-blocking sunglasses and sunscreen.
at an object at least 20 feet away every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds.
them at risk of developing amblyopia.
Vision loss only happens to adults. 5. The eyes of a child with amblyopia (lazy eye) may look normal,
There is no difference between 7. a vision screening and a vision exam. While it’s true that your child’s
but this eye condition can steal sight if not treated. Amblyopia is when vision in one of the child’s eyes is reduced because the eye and brain are not working together properly. Strabismus (crossed eyes) is another eye condition that can cause vision loss in a child. Strabismus is when the eyes do not line up in the same direction when focusing on an object.
Blue light from screens is damaging All farsighted children need glass4. children’s vision. Contrary to what 6.es. Most children are farsighted you may be reading on the Internet, early in life. It’s actually normal. It blue light is not blinding you or your screen-obsessed kids. While it is true that nearsightedness is becoming more common, blue light isn’t the culprit. In fact, we are exposed to much more blue light naturally from the sun than we are from our screens. The important thing to remember is to take frequent breaks. The Academy recommends a 20-20-20 rule: look
doesn’t necessarily mean your child needs glasses because they use their focusing muscles to provide clear vision for both distance and near vision. Children do need glasses when their farsightedness blurs their vision or leads to strabismus. They will also need glasses if they are significantly more farsighted in one eye compared with the other, a condition that puts
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eyes should be checked regularly, a less invasive vision screening by a pediatrician, family doctor, ophthalmologist, optometrist, orthoptist or person trained in vision assessment of preschool children, is adequate for most children. If the screening detects a problem, the child may need to see an ophthalmologist or other eye care professional. A comprehensive exam involves the use of eye drops to dilate the pupil, enabling a more thorough investigation of the overall health of the eye and visual system. “As the kids head back to school, show them that you’ve done your homework,” said physician Dianna Seldomridge, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Educate yourself so they will have the best chance to preserve their vision for a lifetime.”
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Why Doctors Want School Bells to Ring Later
Medical groups recommend that middle and high schools should start 8:30 a.m. or later
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ids may be sleeping in to rest up for the upcoming school year, but there are some big questions keeping experts up at night. Is lack of sleep among adolescents paving the way for future health problems? Are school bells ringing too early in the morning? The answer is yes on both counts, according to Marie-Pierre St-Onge, associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University in New York. She is a leading researcher
on the links between sleep and overall health. “Obviously heart disease is not as much of a problem in teenagers,” said St-Onge, who chaired a panel that wrote a 2016 American Heart Association scientific statement on sleep and heart disease. “But we’re becoming more and more knowledgeable about the adverse health effects of inadequate sleep, and we’re setting them up on a bad trajectory.” In the short run, she said, sleep-deprived teens are more prone to risk-taking behaviors ranging from
Are Your Children Getting Enough Sleep? The consensus is that school children could have a few more hours of sleep By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ost parents realize that their children need a good night’s sleep for good health and academic performance, but few children sleep enough. Only one-fifth of children and teens get enough sleep each night, according to a study released in February 2019 by Gregory Knell, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at UT Health School of Public Health in Dallas, Texas. The National Sleep Foundation’s website states that only 15% of teens sleep enough on school nights. “Sleep is such a hot topic during the back-to-school time because many areas are now looking at changing legislation to follow the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding school start times,” said Soda Kuczkowski, diagnostic sleep consultant and owner and founder of Start With Sleep in Buffalo . She said that the academy indicates that there’s “strong evidence that implicates earlier start times as a key contributor to insufficient sleep and circadian rhythm disruption.” Kuczkowski ranks sleep with nutrition and physical activity as important for health and wellbeing. “Getting adequate, quality sleep provides a strong foundation for learning, memory and concentraPage 16
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tion, promotes positive behavior and decision making and aids in health and development,” Kuczkowski said. “While sleep requirements only vary slightly from elementary school to high school one, major biological change is evident, the delay in the hormone melatonin. Understanding this shift in sleep patterns can help students understand themselves and address their individual needs.” She noted that The National Sleep Foundation recommends 10 to 13 hours of sleep for preschoolers (3 to 5 years old); 9 to 12 hours for primary school aged children (6-12 years old); and eight to 10 hours for teens (13 to 17 years old). Children and teens who do not get enough sleep at night can have more problems the next day at school. Meghann Peters, registered polysomnography technician with Sleep and Wellness Centers of Western New York, said that lack of sleep can foster behavior that “mimics attention deficit disorder, but it’s not. It’s lack of sleep. It can affect mood and cognitive ability.” Sleep and Wellness Centers operate offices in several location in Western New York, including Amherst and Niagara Falls. Peters added that the long-term effects of chronic lack of sleep in
careless driving to drug abuse. They also are losing valuable hours of memory consolidation. That is a process in the brain during sleep that is key to learning. Longer term, St-Onge said, teenagers who sleep in on weekends after an exhausting week develop “what we call a social jet lag. Having a two-hour jet lag has been associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes. These poor lifestyle habits are being formed in a critical period of development.” A study published last year in the journal Pediatrics echoed that finding. Researchers tracked 829 adolescents and concluded those with longer and better-quality sleep had lower blood pressure, better cholesterol results and less tendency to be overweight. The study concluded it makes sense to assess how improving sleep quantity and quality can be a strategy to improve the “cardiovascular risk profiles” of teenagers. It’s not just that young people like to stay up late. Their circadian rhythms, the internal body clock that determines whether one is sleepy or alert, are changing. “Young children are always up early,” St-Onge said. “But as you get older your circadian rhythms get delayed. It’s a true biological response.” That has led many medical groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, to recommend that middle and high schools should start no earlier children can include obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Peters said that children and teens need more sleep than adults — 10 to 12 hours, compared with eight for adults — because their growth hormones are released during sleep. Peters recommended several steps for improving sleep: • “Parents need to have children and teens go to bed earlier. They need a set bedtime. • “The parent needs to make sure they set up a controlled environment: a bedroom that’s cool, dark, quiet and comfortable. Turn off the radio. Sleeping to music isn’t helping you. • “Kids should avoid caffeine. Even chocolate has enough to affect sleep. • “Have a set bedtime and don’t deviate from it unless you absolutely have to. • “Especially for younger children, develop a routine like reading for them. Spend 10 to 30 minutes with them before bedtime. • “Do not let your child watch something inappropriate like a scary movie, as that will tend to increase nightmares. • “If the child is still tired and they’re getting 10 to 11 hours of sleep, contact the doctor, as the child may have sleep apnea caused by enlarged tonsils or certain facial features. Soda Kuczkowski of Start With Sleep in Buffalo suggested: • “Two weeks prior to school, move bedtime up by 15 to 30 minutes for little ones so that they are getting on an earlier schedule that allows for the recommended amount of sleep. • “If your child has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep speaking to a sleep specialist as pediatricians and primary care physicians get limited education regarding sleep.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
than 8:30 a.m. “It’s a complicated public policy problem, but the science is really quite clear,” said Terra Ziporyn Snider, executive director of Start School Later, a nonprofit advocacy group whose name makes its goal clear. “We’re really talking about enforced sleep deprivation across an entire society.” Snider estimates only about 15% of the nearly 14,000 school districts in the U.S. meet the 8:30 a.m. guideline for their high schools. While some districts have changed in recent years, late-start advocates have run into a range of objections: the effects on school bus routes; extracurricular activities; accommodating parent work schedules; and not letting teens sleep in. “People have this old-fashioned reaction. ‘You’re coddling your kids; I did chores at 5 a.m.,’” Snider said. “Community life revolves around school times, and the idea of change gets a lot of people very upset.”
• “Avoid the use of the mass-marketed ‘melatonin’ — it is a hormone not a dietary supplement or a sleeping pill. It is a sleep regulator, not initiator, and it is not appropriate for everyone, especially children. • “Montmorency cherry tart juice is a natural source of melatonin and has been shown to help individuals sleep 84 minutes longer versus melatonin supplementation that only has results of 17 minutes longer. • “Create a bedtime routine that includes reading. Reading encourages not only dialogue, fostering the parent-child connection but introduces a narrative to discuss a number of topics and as an anchor to getting ready for much needed sleep.” Julie Starr, director of marketing at Sleep & Wellness Centers in Buffalo, offered a few ideas: • “Limit TV time, tablets, and anything with lights close to bedtime. Parents tend to think watching TV makes them drowsy, but it stimulates their brains. • “Quiet noise like humming of a fan can help. Some noise machines can help, as long as there’s not huge transitions. • “Don’t let them sleep with you if they can’t fall asleep because they won’t get the same type of REM restorative sleep.” Shawn Marie Cichowski, professional coach and owner of WNY Life Coaching Center in Williamsville and East Aurora, provided a few tips: • “At a young age, if we can instill healthy habits to have a routine to settle in before bed, that can help. The more you practice, the more it instills healthy habits. It is a self-care thing you want to maintain a routine. • “We can go so long cutting in on sleep and the body will need to restore or it will make you stop. It breaks down the immune system and forces you to rest.”
Healthful Breakfast Important for School Performance
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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necdotally, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But the old saying holds some merit, especially to children and teens headed back to school. “Breakfast literally ‘breaks the fast’ and allows the brain and body to get a fresh supply of nutrients and glucose, the cells’ fuel,” said Mary Jo Parker, registered dietitian offering nutrition and counseling services in Williamsville. “Young children’s brains use approximately half of the body’s fuel. Studies show breakfast is linked with improved academic performance, improved memory and concentration, better test scores, increased energy level, and healthier body weight.” What children eat is just as important, since a breakfast of simple carbohydrates such as a white flour bagel, sugary breakfast cereal, cereal bar, toaster pastry or white toast
won’t stick with them. “Good breakfasts are based on healthy balance,” Parker said. She recommends whole grain products with fruit and vegetables and nuts or nut butters, a natural source of fiber, along with a lean source of protein “to stabilize blood glucose and supply a variety of nutrients to start the day.” Some examples include: • whole grain toast, English muffin or tortilla with low fat cheese, nut butter, or eggs • cottage cheese and fruit or trail mix • low-fat or non-fat yogurt (lower sugar varieties) with fruit and/or cereal, nuts. • smoothies with low-fat or nonfat milk or yogurt, fruit, nut butters, and vegetables like spinach, kale or carrots • meal supplements like instant
breakfasts - milk and protein powder from whey, soy, nuts and/ or legumes • wholegrain pancakes or waffles with nut butter or fruit or a little real maple syrup. • healthful cereal, milk, and fruit. If you lack time to prepare much on busy school mornings, you have options. Debra Stacey, psychiatric nurse practitioner affiliated with WNY Medical, PC in Buffalo, has also been trained as a diabetes educator. She suggests making an egg in the microwave in a coffee cup. Or have instant oatmeal or granola and yogurt. “Celery and peanut butter or an apple and peanut butter offers a carb and a protein source. That will last them longer.” Try preparing food in advance, like baking egg muffins (see sidebar) to supply the entire week. Or check
Sensory Clothing Meets Kids’ Needs By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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or many families, shopping for back-to-school clothes is more than another errand. It’s a big challenge because their children’s sensory issues make ordinary garments extremely uncomfortable — even painful — to wear. A tickly tag or garment’s seam easily ignored by other children feels very bothersome to a child with sensory differences. Stiff fabric, bumpy textures and hard garment features like zippers, grommets and buttons rule out many garments, as these cause non-stop irritation. Sensory issues are common among people on the autism spectrum, but others may have sensory issues. “Individuals on the spectrum have sensory systems that are different,” said Tracy A. Panzarella, director of clinical services at Autism Services, Inc. in Amherst. “If you have a tag that bothers you, you can remove it. Or if the fabric isn’t soft, you get through the day. For someone with sensory issues, they take the shirt off. Some individuals with limited communication skills can’t communicate their needs to you.” It’s not a simple preference for soft clothing, which neuro-typical people experience. It’s a necessity to feel comfortable and relaxed. Kristi P. Smith, licensed clinical
social worker in private practice in Williamsville, said that what would feel like a pinch to anyone else feels like a bee sting to someone with sensory issues. “It’s painful to have a scratchy tag,” Smith said. “For kids with sensory issues, a tag is a big deal to them.” Children with sensory disorders may have different clothing needs and aversions. Many mainstream manufacturers have opted for printed tags instead of physical tags, which has made finding shirts a little easier. Finding pants is more difficult for children that don’t tolerate stiff fabrics like denim, corduroy or khaki. The current athletic wear/leisure wear trend that favors slip-on pants in soft fabrics helps children that need soft material as well as those who need pants without zippers or buttons. “Athletic compression shirts for kids on the spectrum give them additional sensory input,” Panzarella said. “The fabric is tighter, but breathable. That can meet a sensory need as well. The pressure can be calming and soothing for them.” Since the shirts are made to fit snugly, parents don’t have to go with shirts long since outgrown to achieve the tight fit their children want.
It’s Asthma, Allergies Season “In the fall, allergists see an increase in kids’ visits for allergies and asthma because of a combination of factors,” said physician Todd Mahr, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “And hospitals see what’s known as the ‘September Spike’ because kids who have been off asthma controller medications for the summer start experienc-
ing flare-ups in the fall.” As a new school year begins, kids are exposed to allergens in the classroom, on playing fields and in the cafeteria that many probably haven’t run into all summer, he said in an ACAAI news release. On top of that, it’s ragweed season — a terrible time of year for kids who are allergic. Mahr suggests parents meet with their child’s allergist this month to
Some children have limited fine motor skills, so clothing with hidden Velcro fasteners and shoes that slip on and off make dressing easier. While children with sensory issues usually let their parents know what irritates them. The problem lies in finding clothing that accommodates their children’s needs, looks like their friends’ clothing, and fits within the family budget. While specialty stores and websites sell sensory sensitive clothing, the colors and styles are usually very limited and not stylish. Older children may not want to wear something different from their friends. “As much as they may be different — and schools do a lot of inclusion — they want to be like the other kids,” Smith said. Since “feeling is believing” for many children on the autism specturm, shopping at retailers in-person may spare a family a huge pile of returns to ship back. Clothing from specialty stores also tend to cost more than clothing from mainstream stores in many cases. Panzarella noted that a few mainstream stores are beginning to stock sensory clothing as they become more aware and accepting of children’s needs “They can shop with their brothers and sisters to feel more like a typical kid,” Panzarella said.
create an allergy action plan. Parents should also try to identify potential asthma and allergy triggers that their children may encounter at school. These may include chemical compounds from new carpeting, pollen drifting into classrooms through open windows, or mold in bathrooms. Parents should discuss potential triggers with teachers and school administrators to help ease symptoms.
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your slow cooker’s recipe booklet or online for overnight hot cereal options. Stacey said to portion whole grain breakfast cereal and granola into individual servings, a strategy that helps with portion control and offering healthful grab-and-go options for mornings when sitting at the table for a meal won’t happen. “Eating something wholesome from home will last them longer,” Stacey said. “The problem is we put off eating so by lunch, they’re starving.” That’s when children and teens may make poor choices in lunchroom.
Where to Find Sensory-Friendly Clothing
So where can parents find sensory friendly clothing in mainstream stores? • Target offers numerous sensory friendly selections among their Cat & Jack line and even Halloween costumes. • Kohl’s Jumping Beans, SO and Urban Pipeline clothing also provide sensory conscious features. • Tommy Hilfiger’s Adaptive line includes clothing with features such as magnetic closures for people with fine motor difficulties, pre-washed softness and printed tags. • Many shirts at Old Navy and Under Armor feature printed tags, no silk screens or appliqués and soft fabrics. • Zappos sells many lines of clothing and shoes that meet a variety of needs, such as clothing that can be worn inside out or backwards (Independence Day, 4Ward), zipper-opening shoes (Billy Footwear, Nike), and easy-closure garments (MagnaReady). Stores that specifically target sensory needs include: • www.kozieclothes.com (sensory clothing, including compression) • www.funandfunction.com (sensory clothing, including compression) • www.worldssoftest.com (soft socks) • www.nonetz.com (swim trunks with no net liner)
Children with asthma or allergies should still be able to play any sport as long as they follow their allergist’s advice, according to the ACAAI. While physical activity can cause airways to constrict, if your child’s asthma is under control, he or she should be able to participate. Make sure coaches and physical education teachers know what to do if a problem arises.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Rachael Humphrey-Leonard leads a barre class at Barre Centric’s East Aurora location.
Raising the Barre on Your Fitness Routine B By Julie Halm
arre classes set themselves apart from other fitness routines by having some roots in ballet. For those looking to add something new to their fitness routine or simply to begin one, what higher ideal for a fit and healthy body could there be than a ballerina? I checked out a class at Barre Centric’s East Aurora location recently to see what this kind of fitness was all about. I have a background in Irish dance, but it has been many, many years since I had a pair of dance shoes on and my primary workout routine involves cardio and weightlifting — running around after my toddler and picking him up, that is. We all have seen the image of ballerinas neatly lined up at the barre and I wondered how this would translate into a full workout for those who don’t know their first position from their third. I also wondered how effective such a routine would be for those who aren’t versed in any sort of dance. My hesitation was misplaced, however. “People will say, ‘I’ve never taken a dance class,’ and ‘I’m not flexible at all’,” said Rachael Humphrey-Leonard, an instructor at the East Aurora location. “We try to strive and tell you that it’s a fitness class based around mostly dance vocabulary and less dance steps.” The classes are much more than holding onto a bar and striving to get on your tiptoes. “I think once people come into class, they realize it’s more yoga, it’s Page 18
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more Pilates, its more barre method and less dance class,” said Humphrey-Leonard. The class moved at what felt like a rapid pace for a first-timer, but the moves themselves were not overly difficult to follow. A resistance band, weights and a foam block were all
incorporated and certainly kept the class interesting. While a part of me expected classical tunes and a somber atmosphere, what I instead experienced was upbeat tunes, an enthusiastic instructor and way more sweat than I had anticipated. There were certainly mo-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
ments that I chose a modified move in order to make it through. For me, the best part was that following class and the next day, I knew that I had gotten a workout in, but I didn’t feel overly sore or uncomfortable. “These are incredible classes because they are low impact. We are working with small muscles that we sometimes forget that we have,” said Humphrey-Leonard. “It’s great for people who are getting back into fitness or have never worked out ever.” I also walked away feeling like I had gotten some work in on more or less every part of me, and that is no coincidence. “We are going from head to toe. You’ll never say it’s bicep day or leg day. It’s a full body experience every single class. I’m going to come in and get 55 minutes of my whole entire body,” said Humphrey-Leonard. According to the instructor, the classes are nearly universally helpful, whether someone is looking to lose inches, gearing up for a big fitness goal, or just looking to spend some time taking care of themselves. Barre Centric is locally owned, and Leonard noted that the atmosphere helps people achieve these varying goals. “You’re going to feel like you’re getting a personal training experience in a larger group environment and I think that’s really special to these classes,” said Humphrey-Leonard, adding that small class sizes and attentive teachers make for enjoyable and effective classes.
By Jim Miller
Is Pet Insurance a Good Idea for Seniors on a Budget? Dear Savvy Senior, I own two dogs and a cat that I would do almost anything for, but expensive veterinary bills put a strain on my budget. Is pet insurance a good idea?
Older Pet Owner
Dear Pet Owner, If you’re the kind of pet owner who would do anything for their furry family, including spending thousands of dollars on medical care, pet insurance definitely is an option to consider. Here’s what you should know. Rising Vet Costs The cost of owning a pet has gone up in recent years. New technologies now make it possible for pets to undergo sophisticated medical treatments for many lifethreatening diseases, just like humans. But these treatments don’t come cheap. That’s why pet insurance has gotten more popular in recent years. More than 2 million pets are currently insured in the U.S. and Canada, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. How Pet Plans Works Pet insurance is actually very similar to human health insurance. Pet policies typically come with premiums, deductibles, co-payments and caps that limit how much will be paid out annually. But unlike people coverage, you usually have to pay the vet bills in full and wait for reimbursement from the insurer. Pet policies vary greatly from basic plans that cover only accidents and illness, to comprehensive policies that provide complete noseto-tail protection including annual checkups and vaccinations, spaying or neutering and death benefits. You should also be aware that pet policies typically don’t cover preexisting conditions, and premiums are generally lower when your pet is young and healthy. Costs for pet insurance will also vary by insurer and policy, but premiums typically depend on factors like the cost of veterinary care where you live and the age and breed of the pet. The average annual premium for basic accident and illness coverage was $516 per pet in 2017, while the average claim paid was $278, according to the pet health insurance association.
Shopping Tips Major pet policy providers include the ASPCA, Embrace, Healthy Paws, Nationwide, PetFirst, Petplan and Trupanion. To help you shop and compare coverage and costs from pet insurers, go to PetInsuranceReview.com. If you’re still working, one way to pay lower premiums, and possibly get broader coverage, is to buy pet insurance through your employer, if available. Eleven percent of employers in the U.S. offer pet health insurance benefits, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, and these plans are usually discounted. Alternative Option Many animal advocates think most pet owners are better off forgoing pet insurance and instead putting the money you would have spent on premiums into a dedicated savings account to pay for vet care as needed. Depending on the policy, pet insurance can cost $1,500 to $6,000 over the life of an average pet, and most pet owners will never spend that much for treatment. Ways to Save If you can’t afford pet insurance or choose not to buy it, there are other ways you can save. For example, many local animal shelters offer free or low-cost spaying and neutering programs and vaccinations, and some shelters work with local vets who are willing to provide care at reduced prices for low-income and senior pet owners. There are also a number of organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. To locate these programs, visit HumaneSociety.org/PetFinancialAid. To save on pet medications, get a prescription from your vet (ask for generic is possible) so you can shop for the best price. Medicine purchased at the vet’s office is usually more expensive than you can get from a regular pharmacy or online. Most pharmacies fill prescriptions for pets inexpensively, and many pharmacies offer pet discount savings programs too. You can also save by shopping online at a verified pharmacy like 1800PetMeds. com, DrsFosterSmith.com and PetCareRX.com. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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Is Green Tea a Fad or a Real Health Boost?
reen tea is a popular health trend, with many people sipping in hopes of deriving benefits from the brew. There’s nothing wrong with that, dietitians say — green tea is a healthy drink loaded with antioxidants. But the jury’s still out on many of its purported health benefits. “Clinical trials related to green tea are still in their early stages,» said Nancy Farrell Allen, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Fredericksburg, Virginia. “I say drink it, enjoy it. It’s not going to hurt, and it might have worthy benefits to it. But nutrition is a science, and it takes time for our understanding to evolve.” Green tea’s potential health benefits derive from catechins, which are powerful antioxidant compounds known as flavonoids, said Chelsey Schneider, clinical nutrition supervisor at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Cancer Center in New York City. One catechin in particular, known as EGCG, is found at higher levels in green tea than in either white or black tea, she said. “This compound can be even stronger than vitamin C and E, which are very, very strong antioxidants,» Schneider said. Antioxidants help prevent damage to cells. Green, black and white tea all come from the same plant, said Allen, who is a spokeswoman for the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition. Green tea is made from the leaves of the mature plant, while white tea is made of leaves plucked early in development. Black tea is made from green tea leaves that are laid out and covered with a damp cloth, she said. “They dry and blacken and ferment a little, giving black tea that darker, richer flavor,” Allen said. But this process also reduces levels of catechins in black tea. Weight loss has been associated with green tea, with experts suggesting that its mixture of caffeine and catechins can enhance a person›s metabolism and processing of fat, according to the University of California-Davis Department of Nutrition. But it appears that folks have to drink a lot of green tea to get substantial weight loss benefits and carefully watch the rest of their diet, UC-Davis says. Green tea also has been tied to heart health. Page 20
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For example, green tea was shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol in a 2018 study of more than 80,000 Chinese published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Evidence suggests catechins in green tea also could lower risk of heart attacks, help blood vessels relax and reduce inflammation, UC-Davis says. Green tea even has been associated with a lower risk of some cancers. The American Cancer Society says studies have linked green tea to a reduction in ovarian cancer risk. And UC-Davis said experimental models have shown that green tea might reduce risk of a variety of other cancers. But a 2016 evidence review by the Cochrane Library concluded that there is “insufficient and conflicting evidence to give any firm recommendations regarding green tea consumption for cancer prevention.” Schneider said the research is limited. “Some small studies say green tea can maybe be preventative for certain cancers, like breast, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic and oral cancers, but there aren’t so many conclusive human trials that support that,” she said. Green tea also might help keep your brain younger. A 2014 study in the journal PLOS One found that Japanese who drank more green tea had significantly less decline in brain function, although researchers couldn’t rule out the possibility that these folks might have other healthy habits that helped keep them mentally sharp. One caveat with all of this research is that it tends to take place in Asian countries, where people drink much more green tea. There might be significant differences for Americans. And the way you take your green tea could diminish any potential positive effects, Schneider added. “A lot of people are adding processed white sugar to their green tea, which really makes something beautiful and healthy into something unhealthy,” she said. Adding milk or cream to your tea also might not be a good idea. “There are some studies that say having milk in green tea can actually block the effects of you absorbing the antioxidant,” Schneider said. “If it was me, I’d drink it straight up.”
Security Office
From the Social Security District Office
Changing Your Direct Deposit Information with Social Security
W
ith our busy lives, it’s easy to fall into that cycle of postponing some tasks because of other priorities. This may be true for you when it comes to changing your payment method for Social Security benefits. Unfortunately, forgetting to change your payment method can lead to delayed payments. The most convenient way to change your direct deposit information with Social Security is by creating a my Social Security account online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount. Once you create your account, you can update your bank information without leaving the comfort of your home. Another way to change your direct deposit is by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to make the change over the phone. If you prefer to speak to someone in person, you can visit your local Social Security office with the necessary information. Because we are committed to protecting your personal information, we need some form of identification to verify who you are. If you are online, we verified your identity when you initially created your my Social Security account. All you need to do is log in at www.socialsecurity. gov/myaccount with your secure us-
Q&A Q: I am very happy that I was just approved to receive disability benefits. How long will it be before I get my first payment? A: If you’re eligible for Social Security disability benefits, there is a five-month waiting period before your benefits begin. We’ll pay your first benefit for the sixth full month after the date we find your disability began. For example, if your disability began on June 15, your first benefit would be paid for the month of December, the sixth full month of disability, and you would receive your first benefit payment in January 2020. You can read more about the disability benefits approval process at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/ disability/dapproval.html. Q: I have been collecting disability benefits for a few years, but I’m getting healthy enough to work again. Can I return to work while getting Social Security disability benefits? A: Yes, you can return to work while receiving Social Security disability benefits. We have special rules to help you get back to work without lowering your initial benefits. You
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
ername and password to gain access to your information. If you call Social Security, we will ask identifying questions to ensure we are speaking to the right person. If you visit the office, you will need to bring a driver’s license or some form of ID with you. Once we have identified that you are the correct person and are authorized to make changes on the Social Security record, all we need is the routing number, account number, and type of account established. We don’t ask for a voided check, nor do we obtain verification from the bank. Therefore, you should be sure you are providing accurate information to us. Because you may be unsure if your direct deposit change will affect your next payment, we highly recommend that you do not close the old bank account until you have seen your first Social Security deposit in the new bank account. That way, you can feel secure you will receive your benefits on time, regardless of when the change was reported to Social Security. When you have to report changes to your direct deposit, be sure to visit us online at www.socialsecurity. gov/myaccount. Social Security always strives to put you in control by providing the best experience and service no matter where, when, or how you decide to do business with us.
may be able to have a trial work period for nine months to test whether you can work. If you get disability benefits and your condition improves or you return to work, you must report these changes to us. Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office. You can find your local office by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/ locator. Q: Who is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? A: People who receive SSI are age 65 or older, blind or disabled with limited income and resources. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov for income and resource limits. The general fund of the U. S. Treasury makes SSI payments. They do not come out of the Social Security Trust Fund. Q: I was turned down for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Can I appeal the decision? A: You can appeal a decision made on your SSI claim. Learn more about appealing a decision, including how to submit your appeal online, at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/ disability/appeal.html.
H ealth News Roswell ranked 14th on best hospitals for cancer
A record of outstanding clinical care and services has once again earned Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center recognition as one of the top cancer hospitals in the country. The Buffalo-based cancer center has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the best hospitals in the nation, and number 14 on its list of best hospitals for cancer. U.S. News’ data-driven ranking places Roswell Park among the top 1.5% of cancer hospitals, and as a high-performing center in two subspecialty areas: colon cancer surgery and lung cancer surgery. Roswell Park is the only center in Western and Upstate New York to be included in U.S. News’ ranking of the top 50 cancer hospitals, and one of only two New York state centers to rank in the top 15 on this respected national list. U.S. News made a few key changes to the methodology by which this year’s ratings were calculated, incorporating patient-centered measures such as patient satisfaction and how often patients are discharged directly from the hospital to their home, as well as risk adjustment to account for the level of complexity in treating sicker patients. “We take our responsibility to provide outstanding care and support services for patients in our community so seriously, and to see that effort acknowledged in what the U.S. News team saw when they compared us to other top centers is so rewarding,” says Roswell Park president and CEO Candace S. Johnson, Ph.D. “I have to thank my incredible team of employees for dedicating themselves to providing an outstanding overall experience for our patients, as well as the amazing donors and supporters who make it possible for us to offer the cutting-edge therapies
and tools that enable us to offer care at the level we do.” Roswell Park received the top possible scores in categories including patient survival, patient experience, patients going home after hospitalization and advanced technologies. Among the more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide to be evaluated, the center is one of only 165 to be nationally ranked in even one specialty. “This ranking from U.S. News & World Report, together with
our recently awarded highest-ever funding as a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, underscore that Roswell Park is one of the leading centers for cancer treatment and research in the world,” said physician Stephen Edge, a national expert on healthcare quality measurement who serves as vice president of healthcare outcomes and policy at the cancer center. “At Roswell Park, continuous analysis and improvement are built into our culture, driving our care higher and
Terrace View earns five-star quality rating Achievement marks first ever five-star rating for 390bed long-term care facility on ECMC health campus
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he Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the Department of Health and Human Services has determined that ECMC’s Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility has earned a five-star rating for overall quality. Terrace View, opened in February 2013, is one of only 17 nursing homes in Western New York rated by CMS with five stars for overall quality. The CMS rating for Terrace View is posted as of July 24thon CMS’s Nursing Home Compare website. “We are thrilled that Terrace View received a 5-star rating from CMS. This is the first time in Terrace View’s history to receive this top rating. Terrace View has been on a steady journey since 2014 to increase its star rating, and the entire organization has been focused toward achieving this five-star rating,” said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., ECMC President and CEO. “Thanks to their dedication and commitment to excellence,
this rating reflects the Terrace View caregivers’ collective focus on superior customer service, high quality care, safe resident practices and, most of all, compassionate care for every resident. With very medically complex patients, with an average age of 68, this is a significant achievement. This affirmation of the quality of care at Terrace View is another example of the ECMC Family’s dedication and passion for those we serve.” Terrace View, for which current residents had design input, is 275,500 square feet on five levels. It contains three floors of 96 skilled nursing beds each; one floor containing 66 sub-acute rehab beds; a 20-bed ventilator unit and 16-bed behavioral intervention unit — for a total of 390 beds. The building is connected to the existing hospital and to other facilities on the ECMC campus via a corridor used to transport patients and residents in need of varying degrees of medical care.
higher.”
OB-GYN practice adds doctors, NP
UBMD Obstetrics & Gynecology (UBMD OBGYN) recently announced the addition of two new specialists and a women’s health-certified nurse practitioner, providing general obstetrics and gynecologic care. They are: • Physician Suzanne Griffith, who received her medical degree from and completed her residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. She joins UBMD OBGYN from Emory Saint Joseph’s Women’s Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and was an assistant professor at Emory University. Griffith is a Western New York native, born and raised in Lancaster. • Physician Rachelle St. Onge, who received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University and her Master of Public Health from SUNY Upstate and Syracuse University, completing her residency at the University of Rochester. • Kari Beardsley, a women’s health nurse practitioner, has experience with low-risk and high-risk obstetrics, well-woman care and family planning. Beardsley’s previous experience includes both outpatient and inpatient care, including the labor and delivery unit of a local hospital. She received her Master of Science Degree from the University at Buffalo. Both physicians have appointments as clinical assistant professors in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, teaching medical students and residents. “We are very excited to welcome these practitioners to our faculty and UBMD practice,” said physician Vanessa Barnabei, president and CEO of
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H ealth News UBMD OBGYN and chairwoman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Jacobs School. “They each bring a unique set of talents and experiences that will benefit our patients, students and residents.”
Roswell secures $15.4 million in new funding Research
Raising fun for the Niagara Hospice: Paul Beatty III, Paul Beatty Sr., Adam Burns, and CEO of Niagara Hospice John Lomeo are all smiles at the 20th Annual Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Cruise and Clambake.
Niagara Hospice Holds Fundraising Event
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he 20th annual Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Cruise and Clambake, a popular fundraising event for Niagara Hospice, was held July 12 at the Porter on the Lake Town Park in Youngstown. Proceeds will go toward replacing the sleeper couches in patient rooms at the Niagara Hospice House, ensuring family members and caregivers can stay comfortably with their loved one overnight.. John Kinney, owner and president of Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, donated several jet boats for participants who had registered to ride with their own skipper to ensure
Riders Raise Over $1 Million for Cancer Research at Roswell Park
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articipants of the 2019 Empire State Ride (ESR) in early August crossed their finish line in Niagara Falls, USA, completing their seven-day cycling journey from New York City to one of the natural wonders of the world. In total, 178 riders rode more than 500 miles across the Empire State, raising more than $1 million Page 22
they still had an enjoyable boating experience. For 20 years, members of the Youngstown Yacht Club and skippers around Western New York have donated their boats and time to take attendees up the Niagara River for this signature fundraiser. Attendees enjoyed a cocktail hour, live music by The Junkyard Dogs and the Soul Committee, a clambake and lavish buffet put on by Brickyard Brewing Company and served by the Lions Club. A silent auction with an expansive assortment of donated gifts raised additional funds.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have received more than a dozen recent grant awards totaling more than $15.4 million. These competitive awards from both government agencies and private funders will fuel research to overcome obstacles in treating diseases like prostate, breast, colon and lung cancer, as well as less-common cancers like multiple myeloma and esophageal cancer. They include the first National Institutes of Health funding to study a new electronic tobacco device, plus new state funds from Empire State Development supporting Roswell Park’s role in the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. “The announcement today of more than $15 million in grants and awards to Roswell Park, including from the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health, will help the cancer center continue the effort to make critical advancements in our understanding of the disease and develop new treatments to alleviate suffering and improve life quality,” said Congressman Brian Higgins.
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for cancer research. Their trip began in Staten Island July 28, with a ferry ride to Manhattan before setting off on a 57-mile ride to Stony Point. From there, the ESR journey took them through some of New York state’s most beautiful landscapes, with daily rides ranging from 74 to 92 miles, daily elevation climbs as high as 4,300 feet and
overnight stops in the Hudson Valley, Schenectady, Utica, Syracuse and Rochester. “Every year I am amazed and inspired by these riders and their passion. Because of them, we can continue to develop new treatments, help more patients and save more lives. I’m so grateful to the riders and everyone who made a donation
IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • September 2019
“Roswell Park is at the forefront of cutting-edge medical research and, with New York state support for its role in the Cancer Moonshot effort, will fuel faster development and broader access to life-saving treatments that will prolong and save lives,” says Howard Zemsky, Empire State Development president, CEO and commissioner.
Union wins $15/hr for Kaleida Health workers
More than 7,200 union healthcare workers represented by CWA 1168, IUOE Local 17 and 1199SEIU, United Healthcare Workers East, voted in July to accept a new collective bargaining agreement with Kaleida Health. The three-year agreement includes adjustments to staffing levels, wage increases, and addresses safety concerns brought by employees. The new agreement also includes a $15 per hour minimum wage for all job titles beginning in May 2020, making Kaleida the first large health system in Upstate New York to commit to a living wage. Service workers currently earning $12 per hour say this contract will dramatically change their lives, according to a union news release. “Because of our union contract I will now have the flexibility I need to go to school to study nursing and improve the future for my family,” said Danielle Stefanski, EVS worker at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital. Continued on next page
to support them, and for the record-breaking $1 million they raised for Roswell Park,” said Roswell Park President and CEO Candace Johnson, Ph.D. The ESR began in 2014 with a one-man journey made by event founder and Roswell Park supporter Terry Bourgeois. Bourgeois wanted to create a signature annual event that would draw people from all over, both to ride and to raise funds for cancer research. “We’ve all been affected by cancer somehow, and this is an important way for us to make a difference,” said Bourgeois. Any difficulty we go through on this journey pales in comparison with what it takes to get through cancer treatment, or how terrible it is to lose someone to the disease.” Each full-week rider raised a minimum of $3,500 to participate. Twenty became Excelsior riders by raising more than $10,000. The ESR is fully supported, with riding marshals, a professional cycling trainer and staff to ensure that riders have everything they need — from meals and rest stops to a support vehicle and camping accommodations — for a safe and successful journey across the Empire State. Registration for the 2020 Empire State Ride will open in the fall. You can register by filling out a form on empirestateride.com.
H ealth News Continued from last page All other Kaleida employees will receive a one-time 4% ratification bonus based on hourly rate and a total wage increase of 6% over the life of the contract. Staffing, a priority for union members, was also addressed during
negotiations. Under the new contract Kaleida has agreed to hire 90 full-time equivalent positions across the system, in both nursing and non-nursing positions. Kaleida also plans to create a staffing panel to address staffing disputes. “This staffing plan will move us much closer to achieving the staffing
levels needed to continue to provide quality care to our patients,” said Cori Gambini, CWA Local 1168 president. “As a proud member of CWA and an RN at Buffalo General Hospital for over 30 years, I am very happy and grateful for the new contract. It is comprehensive and includes the
things most important to my colleagues and I, such as pay raises, good health insurance with low premiums, pension improvements and improvements to staffing,” said Linda Sheehan, RN at Buffalo General Hospital.
General Physician PC Opens Primary Care Center on Main Street, Buffalo Quality healthcare begins with accessibility — seven providers offer a host of services that extend beyond primary care By Matt Chandler
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ccessibility. It’s a buzz word tossed around the medical community a lot these days. Improving accessibility is seen as a crucial step toward improving the overall health of our community. Accessibility to quality healthcare can mean vastly different things for different people. In a broad sense, accessibility can include: • Offering flexible scheduling to accommodate patients outside of the traditional 9 to 5 office hours; • Providing multiple services under one roof to cut down on patient appointments; • Locating offices in highly populated areas for patient populations where mobility is an issue; • Locating urban offices in proximity to public transit routes; and • Accommodating the needs of non-English speaking patients Accessibility to quality healthcare is a serious challenge in many urban communities. The best doctors
in the world can’t help a patient who is unable to secure an appointment or get to the office to keep that appointment. Buffalo-based General Physician, PC has addressed the need for greater accessibility to healthcare in the city with its newest primary care center. eneral Physician PC, Primary Care —Buffalo opened Aug. 5. The 17,000-sq.-ft. primary care center houses seven providers and a host of services that extend beyond primary care. “We offer on-site clinical pharmacy services, behavioral health, nutritional counseling, and lab work,” said physician Richard Charles, chief medical officer at General Physician, PC Charles said seeing a decrease in chronic diseases such as diabetes begins with looking at healthcare on a more global scale than ever before. “The vision for this center was
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born out of the understanding that the very nature of healthcare delivery must change if we are going to have a heathier patient population,” he said. “Making healthcare more accessible and convenient increases patient participation, and that leads to a healthier community.” The new office is designed to cut down on wait times when a person calls to make an appointment. One way that is addressed is with early morning appointments (Charles regularly sees patients at 6 a.m.). The center also serves the growing Spanish-speaking population of Buffalo. Physician Maritza Baez says roughly 25%of her patients are Spanish-speaking, a number she expects to rise in the new location. “They want to feel comfortable speaking in their native language so they can express themselves and can understand their own healthcare,” Baez says. Far too many people avoid the
doctor’s office until they are extremely sick. The doctors at General Physician’s new center hope to change that trend. “With the building being right on Main Street, that will attract attention and draw in people who may never have heard of us,” Baez says. “We hope it will encourage those patients to come in and establish a relationship with their primary doctor, before they become sick.” All across Western New York, health care providers are rethinking the way patient care is delivered with a focus on patient accessibility. Charles says it is a model that is paramount to the larger goal of developing a healthier patient population across the region. “For our healthcare system to reach its full potential and deliver the best in care to our citizens,” he says, “it must be fully and unconditionally accessible to all.” To learn more visit: www.gppconline.com Matt Chandler is a public relations specialist at General Physician, PC
ECMC Announces Support For Buffalo Center For African American Health Equity Medical Center to invest seed funds for new entity created to help improve social determinants of health for East Side Residents Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) in August announced it will provide major support for the Buffalo Center for African American Health Equity by allocating $372,000 in funds to support the initial launch of the new entity focusing on health issues affecting residents of Buffalo’s East Side. These dollars also assist in reaching the goals associated with the NYS Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program. “ECMC is proud to partner with the Buffalo Center for African American Health Equity to focus on making real improvements in the lives and health of our neighbors on the East Side of Buffalo,” said ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche
Jr., Ph.D. “This collaboration will work to make a real impact on the social determinates of health which impact our community, and we are grateful to Reverends Nicholas and Pointer for their vision to make this a reality.” Pastor George Nicholas, senior pastor at Lincoln Memorial United Methodist and convener at African American Health Disparities Task Force, said, “ECMC has shown great leadership in making the initial investment for us to create our Center for African American Health Equity. As we move forward, the Center will focus on research, public policy, advocacy and programmatic responses to the social determinants of health.” Kinzer M. Pointer, pastor at
Agape Fellowship Baptist Church and chairman of the board of managers, Millennium Collaborative Care, said, “ECMC is the community hospital that serves most of the people in the problem zip code areas. We are pleased and excited that ECMC Corporation is the first community partner to step forward and earmark significant dollars to this effort. We are grateful to Dr. Quatroche for his visionary leadership.” The announcement was made at Igniting Hope 2019: ‘Building a Culture of Health & Ending African American Health Disparities’ held Saturday, August 17th at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.
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