In Good Health: WNY #86 - December 2021 by In Good Health: WNY's Healthcare Newspaper

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DECEMBER 2021 • ISSUE 86

Why You Should Absolutely

TAKE A BREAK RIGHT NOW Life is busy. You work all day, eat lunch at your desk, come home to care for your partner and children, and tackle the endless responsibilities that come with being an adult. Read about why you should take a ”mental break” right now. P. 14

ALSO INSIDE: STRESS-FREE HOLIDAYS With a little planning, you can survive the holidays this year. P. 10

50 YEARS ON, REAL PROGRESS IN WAR AGAINST CANCER Death rates for all cancers combined have declined since passage of the National Cancer Act of 1971, a time when the U.S. government made defeating cancer a goal. P. 5

BE HAPPIER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: SAY ‘YES’

THE ART OF SHOVELING YES, IT’S ALREADY SNOWING OUTSIDE… WE TELL YOU THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF SNOW SHOVELING. P. 7

Kidney Grown in Pig Successfully Transplanted in Human A kidney grown in a genetically altered pig functioned normally after being attached to a human patient during a groundbreaking procedure performed by U.S. doctors. If the technique proves generally successful it could revolutionize organ transplant, greatly expanding the pool of available organs. The surgery was conducted in September at NYU Langone Health in New York City and involved a patient who was brain-dead and being kept alive on a ventilator, The New York Times reported.

The kidney came from a pig genetically engineered to grow an organ with a low risk of being rejected by the human body. After being attached to the blood vessels in the upper leg outside of the patient’s abdomen, the kidney quickly started functioning normally, said physician Robert Montgomery, the director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute who performed the procedure, the Times reported. The results strongly suggest that this type of organ will work in the human body, according to Montgomery.

“It was better than I think we even expected,” he told the Times. “It just looked like any transplant I’ve ever done from a living donor. A lot of kidneys from deceased people don’t work right away, and take days or weeks to start. This worked immediately.” The patient was followed for only 54 hours and the research hasn’t been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, but it hints at a new source of desperately needed transplant organs. Many questions remain, but experts called the procedure a mile-

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT

stone. “There’s no question this is a tour de force, in that it’s hard to do and you have to jump through a lot of hoops,” physician Jay Fishman, associate director of the transplantation center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told the Times. “Whether this particular study advances the field will depend on what data they collected and whether they share it, or whether it is a step just to show they can do it.” “We need to know more about the longevity of the organ,” but this “is a huge breakthrough. It’s a big, big deal,” physician Dorry Segev, a professor of transplant surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told the Times. There are more than 100,000 Americans on transplant waiting lists, including more than 90,000 who need a kidney. Each day, 12 people on the waiting lists die, the Times reported. Pig-grown organs such as kidneys, hearts, lungs and livers that can be transplanted into people has been something researchers have long been trying to achieve. “This is really cutting-edge translational surgery and transplantation that is on the brink of being able to do it in living human beings,” physician Amy Friedman, a former transplant surgeon and chief medical officer of the organ procurement organization LiveOnNY, told the Times. The group played a role in finding the brain-dead patient involved in the procedure. The patient was a registered organ donor, but the organs were not suitable for transplantation, so the family agreed to the experimental kidney procedure.

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Page 2 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

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9/7/21 11:33 AM

Meet

Your Doctor

By Christopher Motola

Jessica Martinolich, M.D Nurses think about suicide more than other workers

ayo Clinic researchers report that nurses in the U.S. experience suicidal ideation in greater numbers than other general workers and those who do are less likely to tell anyone about it. The findings appear in the American Journal of Nursing. More than 7,000 nurses responded to a national survey on well-being, with questions ranging from burnout to depression. More than 400 nurses reported having suicidal ideation within the past year. That’s 5½% of the respondents, which is nearly 1% higher than the general workforce sample at 4.3%. Those who reported suicidal ideation also said they were less likely than other respondents to seek professional help for their emotional issues. More than one-third of the nurses had at least one symptom of burnout and 40% screened positive for symptoms of depression. The researchers say their findings indicate that the situation needs urgent attention, and systems- and practice-based interventions need to be developed and implemented to address burnout and suicidal ideation. It’s important to note that this survey was conducted, beginning in late 2017, with data collection in 2018, before any of these nurses were confronted with effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “While the findings of our study are serious enough, we recognize the impact of the current pandemic has dramatically compounded the situation,” says physician Liselotte Dyrbye, a Mayo Clinic internist and the senior author. “The need for system-level interventions to improve the work lives of nurses and other members of the health care team is greater than ever before.” The questionnaire was sent in November 2017 to 86,858 nurses and a sample of 5,198 general workforce members.

New colorectal surgeon at Kaleida Health talks about risk factors for colon cancer, surgical intervention and the need for colon screening at age 45 instead of 50 Q: You’re new to the area, correct? A: I’m new to Buffalo. I did my colorectal fellowship training in Chicago and generally surgery training in Albany. My husband did his residency in Albany and is from Buffalo, so that’s what brought us here. Q: What conditions do you treat as a colorectal surgeon? A: We treat colon, rectal and anal cancers. We treat diverticulitis and the complications related to that. We treat inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We do screening colonoscopies as well as surveillance and diagnostic for people with known conditions. Any problems related to proctology — hemorrhoids, fistulae, rectal prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction. Q: What got you interested in your specialty? A: I think a few things. My residency training was really wonderful and diverse and colorectal surgery drew my attention. It has all the great things that come with general surgery. You’re operating in the belly, often fixing problems that are very detrimental to a patient’s health and well-being. They can be painful things like hemorrhoids or fissures that people don’t like to talk about. In regards to cancer management, colorectal cancer is the No. 3 most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. When it’s diagnosed early and you treat it surgically, it has really great out-

comes. So it’s really amazing to be a part of such an effective treatment. Q: It seems like there’s been greater awareness of colorectal cancer in the last decade or so. What kind of impact is that having on your work? A: Yeah, there is actually an increase in colorectal cancer screening across all races, which is great because we’re able to detect pre-cancerous lesions earlier. What we have noted amongst the decrease in patients dying of colorectal cancer is an increase in the detection of it amongst younger patients. There’s been a recommendation that we start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45 instead of 50. Q: Is that due to an increase in prevalence of colorectal cancer, or have we just gotten better at detecting it? A: It’s an increase in prevalence for some reason that’s not really understood at the moment. Q: What are the risk factors of colorectal cancer? A: Several things. One is hereditary factors, so if you have family members who have had colorectal cancer, you should be screened more frequently. There are also some foods that have been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer. Red meat and alcohol in particular. Smoking is also a risk factor. Inflammatory bowel diseases also increase risk.

Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

Q: How responsive are these cancers to surgical intervention? A: It depends on the stage of the cancer. If it’s caught early and is just local to the bowel, and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, it has a cure rate of about 85% – 90%. Unfortunately that goes down as the cancer progresses. Q: How long is the procedure? What’s the recovery like? A: Most patients these days are able to get laparoscopic or robotic procedures. In those patients we’re usually talking about a two- to four-day hos-

pital stay. You’ll be out of work for a couple weeks thereafter. But you’re usually back to your normal activities by around six weeks. The minimally invasive approach certainly has improved outcomes both in regards to pain management and post-operative restrictions, and in decreasing readmission. So it’s a big improvement all around. We’ve also implemented ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols which have helped decrease complications and length of stay. Basically it involves pain management and decreasing narcotic use, early advancement to a diet. We’ve found that very beneficial to full patient recovery. Q: How did a systemic autoimmune disease like Crohn’s come to be so heavily associated with colorectal surgery? A: Yeah, it is. It affects the whole GI tract from mouth to anus, but the area in which it’s most likely to cause disease is the terminal ileum, which is at the end of the small bowel, where it meets the colon. I’m not sure, historically, how colorectal surgeons came to manage it, but it is a part of our training. It works well because we work with gastroenterologists quite regularly, so we collaborate on managing it. Q: How well are you able to manage that disease? A: It depends on the severity and disease processes. Fistulae can be a problem around the anus. A lot of patients are managing very well with medication and may not need surgery ever. If they do need surgery, a minimally invasive approach is usually adequate. Unfortunately, because of the nature of Crohn’s disease, there’s always a chance it will re-occur in another part of the GI tract. But the medications have improved outcomes quite a bit. Q: How well are you able to get to know your patients before operating on them? A: Ideally as well as possible. It’s a big deal, trusting someone with your body while you’re on the operating table. I think making the patients and their families as comfortable as possible is really important in ensuring good outcomes. Often, we’re operating on patients we’ve met in the hospital and have followed up with them in clinics before making the decision to proceed with surgery, and have given them the time to ask questions.

Lifelines

Name: Jessica Martinolich, M.D Position: Clinical assistant professor of surgery at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Hometown: Huntington, New York Education: Medical degree from Albany Medical College (2014); residency in general surgery at Albany Medical Center (2019); fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at John H. Stroger Cook County Hospital in Chicago (2020) Afﬁliations: Kaleida Health System; Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital; Buffalo General Organizations: American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons; Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Family: Husband; one 3-month old; one husky Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, skiing

50 Years On, Real Progress in War Against Cancer

ince 1971, when the U.S. government made defeating cancer a goal and put major funding behind it, death rates for many cancers have plummeted, but some are increasing, according to a new American Cancer Society report. Death rates for all cancers combined have declined since passage of the National Cancer Act of 1971, according to the report. For example, in 2019, deaths from lung cancer were down 44% from the 1993 peak. But death rates were higher than in 1971 for cancers of the pancreas, esophagus and brain. “We are making progress because of increased investment in cancer prevention, in early detection and also improved treatments, but there are still gaps in reducing [death rates],” said senior author, physician Ahmedin Jemal, a senior vice president at the American Cancer Society. ln addition to differences by types of cancer, deaths also differed by geographic region. Notably, cancer deaths in the southern United States were higher than in other parts of the country. Explaining the disparity, Jemal noted that many people in the South are poor and lack access to quality care. They also may have trouble finding doctors who take Medicaid, he added. One factor contributing to the declining death rates overall is smoking cessation, according to the report. In 1965, 42% of Americans smoked, compared to 14% in 2018. Declines in deaths from breast, cervical, colon and prostate cancers owe in part to screening and early detection.

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In particular, the report noted that colon cancer screening accounted for 50% of the decline in deaths from that cancer between 1975 and 2002. The report dovetails with the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act. With the funding it provides, the National Cancer Institute’s budget increased 25-fold over the period, from $227 million in 1971 to $6 billion in 2019. Physician Anthony D’Amico, a professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, noted that the biggest strides have been made in cancers that doctors screen for, but advances in cancer treatment also play a role. “I think the advances in stomach, leukemia and ovarian cancer are more related to treatment advances, and not all of a decline in lung, breast, prostate and colorectal is just screening, some of it is treatment advances,” D’Amico said. Improvements in surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, precision medicine and combination therapies have helped improve survival, according to the report. “The doctors have done their jobs in terms of coming up with better treatments,” D’Amico said. “But that’s not enough. You still have to make sure that you get screened, whether it’s for lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer or cervix cancer.” He hopes that before long, screening for some other cancers — such as pancreatic cancer — will be available, which might help reduce cancer deaths even more. “The next 10 years, we’ll have advances in the other cancers as well, maybe through liquid biopsies, which will diagnose things earlier, which is the key to success,” D’Amico said. Another likely contributor to the lower death rates: the Affordable Care Act may have improved access to cancer care for many Americans who had been uninsured, the report said. Unfortunately, Jemal said, lifestyle factors like obesity and tobacco use have kept some cancer rates higher than they might be, especially in the South. The findings were published online Nov. 11 in JAMA Oncology.

SERVING WESTERN NEW YORK A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 33,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high-trafﬁc locations. In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2021 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 Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Jenna Schifferle, Amanda Jowsey, Catherine Miller, Brenda Alesii, Jana Eisenberg Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano • Layout & Design: Joey Sweener Office Manager: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Be Happier This Holiday Season: Say ‘YES’ “Thank you so much for thinking of me. I would love to attend but have another commitment. So sorry.” Do you find yourself using this familiar refrain? When feeling overwhelmed with life after my divorce, my first line of defense was to say “no” to invitations and opportunities. This was especially true during the holidays when I was alone and coping with all the decisions and choices and shopping and schlepping. Saying “no” was my way of keeping life simple and more manageable during a hectic time. I thought it would make life easier and, therefore, happier. But it didn’t. Experience taught me that there’s a downside to “no.” Declining invitations, deciding not to throw my annual Christmas party, and discounting the value of holiday traditions and gatherings didn’t make me any happier. In fact, the opposite happened. By not showing up I felt empty and lonelier than ever. One of the world’s longest studies on happiness (conducted by Harvard researchers) revealed that good, close relationships are what keep people happy and healthy throughout their lives. Saying “no” keeps us apart. Saying “yes” brings us together. And it’s the togetherness that contributes to happiness. In the end, doing the things that nurture our relationships is what lifts our spirits because it brings us closer to one another. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the December solstice, the holidays can be a real challenge if you’re newly di-

vorced or widowed. They were for me until I took the reindeer by the horns and decided to say a resounding “YES” to life. Consider the following:

Say YES to slowing down Better, stop what you’re doing altogether. Ask yourself what the holidays really mean to you. Rebirth? Hope? Love and connection? Generosity and goodwill? Revisit your most deeply held beliefs about the season and make a conscious decision to participate in the holiday rituals and activities that align with your values, views, and spiritual beliefs.

Say YES to being realistic For those who live alone, some degree of loneliness can be considered normal during the holidays. It’s a good time to remember that feelings of loneliness aren’t terminal, nor are they a state of being reserved for single people. Loneliness has very little to do with being alone. It has everything to do with your state of mind. Prayer, meditation, mindfulness and communing with nature can remind you of your intrinsic belonging to your inner self, to others, and to all of life. Embrace the felt experience of belonging to an all-encompassing universe.

Say YES to creating a new holiday tradition This is especially important if you are bemoaning the loss of irretrievable traditions of a past life. Consider instituting your very own signature tradition of volunteering to help others. When you give of yourself, you reap two big rewards: First, you’ll develop connections with people who share your spirit of giving and second, you’ll nurture your soul.

Say YES to random acts of kindness If volunteering doesn’t fit into your schedule, bake some holiday goodies for your family and friends. Leave a little something (maybe a pine-scented candle?) on a neighbor’s doorstep. When you are thinking about and doing for others, you get outside of yourself and feel less lonely — more a part of the world and of this season of giving.

Say YES to sending out holiday cards Take this occasion to go old school and say hello by snail mail. I love getting an unexpected card from a long-lost friend, and I delight in tracking down and sending out season’s greetings to those who might be surprised to hear from me. Sure enough, good things come from reaching out to others, and I encourage you to address a few envelopes this season.

Say YES to happiness Let go of the notion that you need to be married or in a romantic relationship to enjoy the holidays. The potential for happiness is all around you. You’ll find it in the personal connections with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, even people you meet in passing. You have a choice. Choose to be with people rather than isolate. Choose to deepen and strengthen your ties with loved ones. Choose to appreciate what you have rather than focus on what you’re missing. Choose to say “yes” and be happier this holiday season!

Say YES to accepting and extending invitations

Say YES to inviting people over

It’s the most wonderful time of year to meet and greet old and new friends. This is a festive time and people at holiday gatherings are

It will give you an incentive to decorate, if you just don’t feel motivated to do it for yourself. No need to do anything elaborate. Inviting a

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

mended dose, take the medicine too often, or take more than one product that contains the same drug. For example, taking both a pain reliever containing acetaminophen and cough and cold medicine containing acetaminophen. Don’t give children medicines that are packaged and made for adults because adult medicines may overdose a child, the FDA said. It also noted that there are no approved homeopathic cough and cold medicines for children, even though they can be found online and in stores. The FDA offered tips for relieving cough and cold symptoms in infants and children. Encourage children to drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated, especially warm drinks to soothe the throat. A cool mist humidifier can make breathing easier by decreasing congestion in nasal passages, and saline nose drops or sprays can keep nasal passages moist and help avoid stuffiness. Nasal suctioning with a bulb

syringe or a similar product works very well for children younger than 1 year old. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to reduce fever, aches and pain. Carefully read and follow the instructions or talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about dosage. Call your doctor if your child has any of the following symptoms: • A fever of 100.4 degrees F. or higher in an infant 2 months or younger. • A fever of 102 degrees F. or higher in children at any age. • Blue lips. • Labored breathing, including nostrils widening with each breath; wheezing; fast breathing; the ribs showing with each breath, or shortness of breath. • Severe headache. • Not eating or drinking, with signs of dehydration (such as decreased urination). • Excessive crankiness or sleepiness. • Persistent ear pain. • If the child is getting worse.

Do Your Kids Really Need Cough & Cold Meds?

hen children have colds, parents may want to hold off on using cough and cold medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests. Most children get better on their own, and cough or cold medicines won’t change the natural course of a cold or make it go away faster. Also, some cough and cold medicines can have serious side effects,

typically in good moods and filled with positive energy. Say “yes” to invitations and show up for your happiness fix! Or you be the initiator. Identify a holiday concert or event you’d like to attend and invite family and friends to join you. Take on the role of social secretary and you’ll gradually feel your holidays, social life, and social circle becoming more active and interesting.

few friends over for brunch or to watch a holiday special on TV can brighten your day (and theirs!). Consider including children in your planning. For years, I hosted a cookie-decorating party for my friends and their kids. The children’s silliness, curiosity and wonder added a magical (and messy!) dimension to the holidays.

such as slowed breathing, which can be life-threatening, especially in infants and young children, the FDA warned. The agency doesn’t recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for cough and cold symptoms in children younger than 2, and the products’ labels advise against giving them to children younger than 4. These products can harm children if they get more than the recom-

Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

The Art of Shoveling Yes, it’s already snowing outside… the do’s and don’ts of snow shoveling (hint: skip the twist) By Jana Eisenberg

any homeowners in Buffalo will be shoveling snow this winter. Depending on your attitude, snow shoveling is a necessary evil or invigorating and rewarding. You start out full of energy and ready to take it on. You may anticipate the satisfaction of clearing a path, making the way safe for yourself, your family, pets and those intrepid delivery people. Experts say that to minimize the likelihood of injury, there are things you can do ahead of time as well as during and after the act. Being fit to begin with is a good one, as well as having the right gear and using proper technique. Hannah Yorks is a chiropractor at Peak Performance Chiropractor and Wellness. “Having a cardiovascular baseline will help anyone,” she said. “Daily walks around the block are good for anyone, of any age. Walking gets your heart going, blood moving—maybe even take one directly before you shovel, if it’s not too slippery. That warms up your legs, which is where a lot of the strength comes from.” Ensuring that you lift correctly in general helps when it comes to snow shoveling, Yorks added. “Make sure that you’re lifting from the ground with your legs, not bending over at the back,” she said. “And, definitely don’t twist your body while lifting something heavy.” Like snow. Diane Kottakis is a physical therapist at UBMD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. She concurred that preparation and technique are crucial, adding that gear can also play a part. “You need the right equipment—

there are so many different shovels,” she said. “Some may say ‘ergonomic’ on the label, but are still heavy, which can strain the back. It’s best to have a lighter-weight one.” Non-slip footwear for traction and dressing in layers to remove as you warm up, are also recommended. Speaking of warming up, Yorks recommends it before heading out. “People of any age need to be careful,” said Yorks. “Perhaps do some basic core exercises in the house, like dead-bugs or bird-dogs (Slowly alternating raising opposing arm and leg, either on your back or on all fours respectively.) to activate those muscles and build some stability. You can use your own body weight to do shallow squats and light hip hinges.” Kottakis also supports stretching out during shoveling: periodically put your shovel down, stand up straight, place your hands on your lower back and arch slightly backwards from the waist to counteract shoveling’s bending forward motion. Both professionals add that most injuries occur when people are simultaneously twisting, lifting and throwing a heavy shovelful. Just don’t do it, they said. “For one thing, try to pick up smaller amounts of snow,” said Yorks. This may take a few minutes longer, but avoiding injury is worth it. “When people try to lift too much, that’s when we see injuries. Create a strong base—feet hip’s width apart. Bend your knees, instead of your back. Then, as you lift, consider scooting the snow off to the side, rather than spinning your body,” she said.

“Instead of twisting, pivot on your feet, actually move them, point them somewhere else to put the snow down,” agreed Kottakis. She also drills deeper into the “lift with your legs” technique: “I know people hear that all the time, but most don’t do it properly,” she explained. “The mechanics call for shifting your hips back, as though sitting in a chair. It’s what we call a ‘hip hinge.’ You are lowering your whole body with the motion: bend your knees, push your hips, butt back and don’t bend your back.” If a lot of snow is predicted, consider shoveling intermittently, rather than waiting for it all to gather. If it’s already very deep, try taking it off in thinner layers, rather than scooping the whole, heavy lot. Common sense also plays a part. Use yours and don’t shovel for six hours at a time. Yorks said, “It’s not good to be lifting for too long a period. Break it up—create a section for the driveway and decide when you reach a certain point, walk around a little, go in, rest for a minute.” The same goes for a cool-down or if you do start to feel pain, either gradually or suddenly. “At the first feeling of any kind of pain, stop. Don’t try to push through,” said Kottakis. “Walk around a bit. Don’t instantly go in and sit down in a soft seat. Ice it if there is acute pain. Rest it. If you have a history of back pain or sciatica, if there’s pain into the leg or if it doesn’t ease up, call the doctor and get checked out.” All great advice. Or, you can hire that kid from next door to do it for you. They’ve got youth on their side, after all.

Hannah Yorks is a chiropractor at Peak Performance Chiropractor and Wellness. “Make sure that you’re lifting from the ground with your legs, not bending over at the back,” she says. “And, deﬁnitely don’t twist your body while lifting something heavy.”

Diane Kottakis is a physical therapist at UBMD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. “You need the right equipment—there are so many different shovels,” she says. “Some may say ‘ergonomic’ on the label, but are still heavy, which can strain the back. It’s best to have a lighter-weight one.”

December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 7

Zinc Might Help Shorten Your Cold or Flu, Study Finds

any people pop a zinc supplement at the first sign of a cold, and there’s new evidence supporting the habit. Australian researchers found that the supplements appear to help shorten respiratory tract infections, such as colds, flu, sinusitis and pneumonia. Many over-the-counter cold and cough remedies offer

only “marginal benefits,” the researchers noted, making “zinc a viable ‘natural’ alternative for the self-management of non-specific [respiratory tract infections].” The study was led by Jennifer Hunter, associate professor at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University in Penrith, New South Wales. Her team published the findings Nov. 2 in

the BMJ Open. According to Hunter’s team, zinc as a nutrient has gained attention from researchers because it’s known to play an important role in immunity, inflammation, tissue injury, blood pressure and in tissue responses to any lack of oxygen. To learn more about zinc’s potential, the investigators reviewed more than two dozen clinical trials that included more than 5,400 adults. All were published in 17 English and Chinese research databases up to August 2020. None of them specifically examined the use of zinc for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Lozenges were the most common form of zinc intake, followed by nasal sprays and gels, the research team said. Doses varied substantially, depending on the formulation and whether zinc was used for prevention or treatment. Compared with placebo, zinc lozenges or nasal spray were estimated to prevent about five new respiratory tract infections in 100 people per month, and the effects were strongest for reducing the risk of more severe symptoms, such as fever and flulike illness. However, these findings

are based on only three studies, the team noted. On average, symptoms cleared up two days earlier with the use of either a zinc spray or liquid formulation taken under the tongue (sublingual), compared with a placebo, the data showed. Patients who used nasal spray or sublingual zinc were nearly twice as likely to recover during the first week of illness as those who used a placebo, the study authors noted in a journal news release. And 19 more patients out of every 100 were likely to still have symptoms a week later if they didn’t use zinc supplements. Zinc was not associated with reduced average daily symptom severity, but it was associated with a clinically significant reduction in symptom severity on the third day of illness, Hunter’s team found. No serious side effects were reported among zinc users. All in all, zinc may be offered as a treatment option by doctors to patients “who are desperate for faster recovery times and might be seeking an unnecessary antibiotic prescription,” the researchers suggested.

offering new products that literally require your first visit (non-emergent) to be a virtual one. Most of these products also require you to select an “online provider” (in addition to your regular network physicians) who would then be authorized to “treat” and refer you to one of your regular providers for follow up if needed. These products are offered at lower premiums and there are no co-pays for the virtual visits. Skeptics are quick to point out the downsides. You have no idea who or where your “online provider” is. The provider could be in another state. Something may be missed on the virtual visit that could have been picked up during an in-person visit with your regular primary provider. Studies estimate about two-thirds of initial visits require in-person contact. While certainly not for everyone, this new product could be a viable option for relatively healthy consumers looking to reduce their medical expenses.

weakens.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Walmart About to Change the Healthcare Industry

f you want to see the future of healthcare, (good or bad), in at least primary care, watch what the retail giant is doing. With more than 5,000 locations throughout the U.S., including rural areas where providers are in scarce supply, Walmart is uniquely positioned (and financed) to have huge impacts on the healthcare costs, delivery and outcomes. Plans include expanding in-store walk-in clinics, telemedicine, discounted drugs and supplies, a universal electronic medical record and a new venture with self-insured businesses. Walmart is leveraging its massive purchasing power to get

discounts from both drug and supply manufacturers. (So, drug companies do negotiate discounts. But it literally takes an act of Congress to allow Medicare, with its huge purchasing power, to negotiate discounts. Maybe Medicare should buy its drugs through Walmart? Sorry.,I digress.) Walmart employs community healthcare workers like nurse practitioners, nurses, care coordinators, dietitians and medical assistants knowing that 70% of health outcomes depend on our personal habits and behaviors and social determinants like decent housing, access to care, transportation, income, ethnicity and diet.

Finally!?

Federal Vaccine Mandate

We may be, finally, somewhat closer to relief on exorbitant drug prices, which are often the root cause of personal bankruptcy. For decades, the ubiquitous drug lobby has fought to prevent any price concessions. Medicare’s “permission” to deploy its massive 160 million people purchasing power, a la Walmart, to merely negotiate with drug manufacturers is included in the much ballyhooed human infrastructure bill that as of this writing is expected to be voted on by Congress. The bill gives Medicare permission to negotiate only a couple dozen drugs. Medicare will not attempt to throw its weight around on drugs that enjoy market exclusivity. Despite the recent flood of grossly misleading ads run by the drug manufacturers association intended to scare seniors, Medicare is not “setting” prices (like it unfairly does for hospitals and physicians). The price is “set” once it is mutually agreed upon by both parties in their negotiations.

New York state has already mandated vaccines for healthcare workers. While it has resulted in some staff resignations, the overall impact has been negligible. Now the federal government has issued a vaccine mandate for all facilities, providers and healthcare support workers receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding. Virtually all healthcare facilities receive those funds. Facilities and workers have until Jan. 4 to comply. The federal mandate covers about 76,000 providers and 17 million support workers in more than 5,000 hospitals, 15,000+ nursing homes, clinics and private practices. Vaccines are critical to protecting those who are battling the virus for us on the front lines.

Virtual Visit First? The pandemic has significantly increased the utilization of, acceptance of, and even the preference for, virtual visits or telemedicine. Banking on this trend, some insurers are

Hospitals Need to Change. Hospital administrators and industry observers agree: the pandemic has forever altered hospitals' operations and those slow to adapt will perish. A survey of 73 hospital executives was conducted by consulting firm Kaufman Hall. Hospitals must pay more attention to revenue cycle management, access to care, staff recruitment and retention, increasing supply costs, artificial intelligence and decreasing demand post pandemic. Ninety percent of respondents have already significantly raised staff compensation to attract and retain staff. An interesting caveat to decreasing demand is the surge in non-COVID related emergency room visits. The negative and consequential results of postponing or delaying care are now presenting in emergency rooms. Heart and respiratory problems, blood infections, organ failures and drug overdoses are once again filling ICUs as the pandemic

Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

Lab professionals. We need to take the following into consideration when impatient for COVID-19 test results. The healthcare industry was already facing staffing shortages prior to the pandemic. COVID-19 has exacerbated staff shortages leaving many positions unfilled. Behind the scene healthcare workers, like lab techs, are feeling the crunch just as is nursing. This impacts the immediacy of test results. Work in the clinical laboratory can be exciting, rewarding, and intellectually stimulating for those who enjoy science and its application toward patient care. However, the shortage of staff resources combined with increased pressure to provide COVID-19 test results quickly, all while trying to meet the day to day expectations for critical laboratory results, has created the perfect storm for clinical laboratory staff burn out. Burn out has increased retirements and resignations. Let’s appreciate the behind the scene healthcare workers who help providers diagnose the infected and inform the uninfected. We need to continue promoting these laboratory professions which is such a vital part of our healthcare along with the resources need to return to proper staffing levels.

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.

director of GLYS WNY.

Q A &

with Robert Roush

Executive director of GLYS WNY discusses LGBTQ+ issues and the organization’s mission; says he hopes nonprofit would be out of business By Brenda Alesii

hen you see the acronym LGBTQ+, do you wonder what the initials mean and why the term has evolved over the years? It’s a common question and one that is addressed through education and organizations like Buffalo-based GLYS WNY (Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support Western New York) that address community training and awareness. That education

Jenna Schifferle is a writer from Tonawanda. She runs to stay healthy, challenge herself, and collect new stories to write about.

includes learning important terms like what the acronym means: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; plus is a symbol that represents members of the community who identify with a sexual orientation or gender identity that isn’t included within the acronym. A product of the Williamsville school system and graduate of the University at Buffalo, Robert DiGangi Roush, Ph.D., is the executive

Q. How long has GLYS been in existence and who do you serve? A. For the last 38 years, GLYS WNY has made it our mission to support LGBTQ+ youth and offer that community training. Our program serves youngsters from 5 to 21 years of age. GLYS is two generations old; our goal is to build affirming cultures for youth of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Q. How does GLYS speciﬁcally help youth? A. Our advocacy efforts include services to families and to schools. Even elementary and middle schools are recognizing gender issues. We have 74 gender sexuality alliances (GSA) through Western New York, which includes training for faculty and staff and restorative practices. We can often be called when there is a bullying situation. We’ve had kids told that they are going to hell because they are gay. We will go in, sit with students, talk with the parents, and with the school administrators. We offer assistance to families and districts throughout the GSA areas. Additionally, we just hired a social worker to provide more mental health services, and linkages to care for transgender youth. Q. The terms and the “alphabet soup” can be confusing to people. For instance, what’s the difference between gender identity and gender expression? A. Gender expression refers to a person’s behaviors, likes, appearance associated with a particular gender or non-binary identity. Gender expression is how you choose to express your gender identity through your name, pronouns, clothing, hair style, behavior, voice or body features. Gender identity may be the same as the sex you were assigned at birth (cisgender) or not (transgender). Gender queer, as I identify, is sometimes feminine, sometimes masculine. Q. What was it like for you when you were a child? A. I loved Barbie Dolls. I remember how an adult saw me with a doll and grabbed it out of my hand. He said that boys don’t play with dolls. Now, research at the Mayo Clinic indicates that youth have a firm idea of how they identify by ages 2 to 4.

Q. How is the LGBTQ+ resistance expressed nowadays? What about conversion therapy, a discredited practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity? A. Many of us were born at a time when being gay was considered a mental issue and shock therapy was considered a good treatment. Some states, even today, still allow conversion therapy. The rationale used for conversion therapy is often attributed to religious and cultural arguments. It is, however, illegal in New York and many other states. Things have changed, though, even terms like “queer,” which used to be viewed as derogatory. We have re-adopted that term. On the other hand, “fag” is a triggering term, similar to the N-word. Now we know that we cannot always change minds and beliefs, but we can show love and support for these young people. Success for these kids is more likely when they stay in a family situation, rather than when they are placed in foster care settings. We try to introduce a broader way of looking at things. Some people get angry and rebel against it, while others are very receptive. You get more cooperation with honey than vinegar. Q. Are you optimistic about the future? Are we evolving in acceptance? A. I think there is good evidence of that. And it is not just in LGBTQ+ acceptance — it is an issue for our entire society and how we view gender. When I was born, there were not more than one to two female doctors, now you see a definite shift. Many medical schools have more women than men in their programs. All top positions used to be held by men, but today we are seeing identity and gender expressions very differently and more women in positions of influence and authority. Our hope at GLYS is the same as many other nonprofits: to go out of business. Realistically it is two steps forward and one step back, though. We will keep moving forward; even in a pandemic, we were able to engage with youth using virtual drop-in centers and make the community aware that we can be of help. For more information on GLYS of Western New York, Inc., call 716-8550221 or send an email to executive@ glyswny.org.

Writer on the Run By Jenna Schifferle

jenna.schifferle@gmail.com

Writer on the Run: 2021 in Review W ith the first snowfall of the season behind us and the holidays ahead, 2021 is officially history. Next month, the year will be in our rearview mirror as we flip our calendars and begin anew. For me, the year has been filled with setbacks and small victories. I started 2021 with the intention of running 30 miles for my 30th birthday and hitting 2,021 total miles. I crushed the first goal and missed the second by several hundred miles. In between those two targets, I have also managed to develop

a strength routine and dabble in different types of yoga. To be honest, though, I’ve also overeaten and sat for hours at a time without moving — all while working with a nutritionist to improve my diet. My health journey isn’t linear, and it never has been. It’s been messy and filled with frustration. I’ve gained weight and lost weight, hit and missed goals. Somehow, amidst it all, I still find joy in trying to be the best version of myself while loving the most chaotic versions of myself (including the one that misses the mark and eats too

much pizza). After all, that person is the same one who crossed the finish line at the Chicago Marathon. Next month, I’ll take out my notebook on Jan. 1 and begin to sketch out a new vision for the year. That might include running more half marathons or doing something new with yoga. It might include a diet reset or simply working on being more present-minded. Instead of dwelling on what I haven’t done, I’ll set my sights on what’s to come and what I will accomplish. Of course, you don’t have to wait for the new year to start crushing

your goals. Start today if you can. If not, begin tomorrow. Regardless, remember to appreciate the version of yourself that you are right now. Until the next mile, Jenna

December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9

HAPPY

Holidays 4 Ways to Handle Holiday Parties As you attend holiday celebrations, you can plan to make better choices.

ichele Memmo, registered dietitian at Nickel City Nutrition in Buffalo, offered a few strategies for attending holiday celebrations. 1. Eat before you go. “One thing I encourage people to do is if they’re worried about overeating, ask what time the party is and plan ahead. People might think that not eating the whole day is the best thing to do but it’s the worst thing. If the party is at 4, have a normal breakfast and lunch and snacks. Try to eat during the day before you go. You’ll be satisfied with a smaller plate.

From Buffets to Parties to Food Gifts How can you enjoy the holidays guilt-free (it’s easier than you may think) By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you are watching your diet and trying to eat healthfully, the holiday season can seem a minefield of culinary hazards, from buffets to parties to food gifts. But it does not have to be. While you may enjoy a few more treats than normal — no one wants to eat like the Grinch all season. Mary Jo Parker, registered dietitian in private practice in Williamsville, recommends focusing on more whole, plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables and whole grains to increase nutrition and support good health. Fruits readily available in winter, like oranges, apples, bananas and grapes and vegetables can provide vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. “Serve flash-frozen vegetables steamed or in broth-based soups, for example,” Parker said. “Use fresh vegetables raw, steamed or roasted with olive oil, herbs and spices.” She is also a fan of yams, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, winter squashes and cruciferous vegetables, baked, roasted, in soups and stews and in casseroles. Offering a few choices at the family gathering can help you more readily fill your plate half full of these nutritious dishes. Fill a quarter of the plate with a lean source of protein. Fish like shrimp, salmon, tuna or white fish offer omega-3 fatty acids that support good brain and heart health and reduce inflammation. Parker also suggested preparing lean cuts of poultry and beef. Turkey or chicken breast, loin or round cuts of beef or game meat like bison or venison are naturally lower in fat and provide protein. One-quarter of the plate can include carbohydrate sources. Whole grains provide more fiber and nutri-

2. Avoid sitting near the food table. “If you know you’ll have sugary choices, make sure you’re not standing near the food table. Try to avoid being seated near or stand near the food table or hanging around the kitchen. 3. Practice mindfulness. “I don’t tell people to avoid cookies because we’ll be tempted to overeat. Practice mindfulness. If you want one or two cookies, have them. If you want them later, take them and have them at another meal. Know that you enjoy the two cookies you had and another two another times. 4. It’s OK to say ‘no.’ “If someone made a food gift for you or brought a treat for you, it’s OK to express your feelings. It’s OK to say, ‘No.’ or ‘I’ll pass.’ Or, ‘I will take it home with me.’ Reach out later and say how you tried their dessert and how good it was and why you’re not eating it at this time, like, ‘I’m trying to lose weight’ or ‘I’m trying to have better eating habits.’ Let people know you didn’t just put their hard work to the wayside. It shows you care during the holidays.”

Michele Memmo is a registered dietitian at Nickel City Nutrition in Buffalo. She recommends homemade cranberry sauce and diluted drinks to help calorie-counters stay on task during holiday meals. ents. “Start by introducing one-third to one-half the amount of flour as a whole grain flour and the rest unbleached wheat flour or check for healthier recipe options,” Parker said. She likes Healthy America’s Test Kitchen healthy recipes, Cooking Light and Eating Well. Among the appetizers, low-fat cheese can provide protein and calcium as well. Eaten in moderation, a little fat can help you feel satisfied. “Serve hummus, low-fat or nonfat dips made from plain yogurt or low-fat sour cream, salsa, guacamole with whole grain or black bean tor-

tilla chips or whole wheat or whole grain crackers,” Parker said. Unsalted nuts and seeds are good sources of minerals, healthful fats and protein. “Dark chocolate—70%-plus cacao—is a source of antioxidants,” Parker said. Preparing chocolate truffles with it or melting it for dipping fresh or dried fruit can offer a more healthful treat for dessert. Or layer fruit with yogurt for a refreshing parfait. Yogurt contains probiotics for a healthier gut biome and calcium. Michele Memmo, registered dietitian at Nickel City Nutrition in

Page 10 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

Buffalo, encourages clients to make homemade cranberry sauce instead of relying on the canned product, which adds loads of sugar to an otherwise very healthful fruit. “If they’re fresh and you want to add less sugar, you can add less and it’s more healthful,” Memmo said. “Cranberries have fiber and antioxidants like vitamins A and C.” Sugar also adds empty calories to eggnog, which is otherwise a source of protein and calcium. Again, making it yourself using pasteurized eggs, and reducing the sugar or purchasing sugar-free is more healthful. Imbibing during the holidays does not have to crash your healthful eating plan. Memmo said that diluting drinks with sparkling water, juice drinks or Crystal Light can lower the amount of calories. “Keep in mind that if there’s nothing to portion your alcohol, ask for tablespoons or shot glasses,” she added. “Alcohol typically comes in ounces to an ounce and a half you don’t know what you’re getting if it’s poured into a glass.”

SmartBites By Anne Palumbo

Rosemary Roasted Almonds

The skinny on healthy eating

Great Reasons to Eat More Almonds

very day, I eat a handful of almonds. While I’m certainly crazy about this nut’s yum-factor, I confess to being absolutely nuts about its impressive array of nutrients. Almonds abound with vitamin E, a powerhouse nutrient that acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells. You know how rust can crop up on your car or bike? Well, a similar oxidation process and accelerated aging occurs in your body when cells are exposed to molecules called free radicals. These toxic molecules weaken and break down healthy cells, and may also contribute to chronic health issues such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and more. Although free radicals occur naturally in the body, lifestyle factors can accelerate their production, causing an unhealthy balance known as oxidative stress. Smoking, alcohol, fried foods and exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, have all been linked to an uptick in free radicals. An ounce of free-radical-bustin’ almonds—that’s 24 nuts—provides nearly half of our daily needs for vitamin E. Almonds are a boon for bones.

That one-ounce serving packs as much calcium as a quarter-cup of milk. On top of that, almonds are loaded with two minerals that also keep your bones healthy and strong: manganese and phosphorous. Worried that almonds are fattening? Research has shown that eating almonds reduces hunger, lowering your overall calorie intake. High in both protein and fiber—two nutrients that take longer to digest—almonds increase feelings of fullness and satiety. A study of overweight women found that those consuming almonds lost more weight than those on a nutfree diet. Twenty-four almonds have 160 calories. And while almonds do have 14 grams of fat, it’s mostly monounsaturated fat—the good fat that helps protect your heart by maintaining levels of “good” HDL cholesterol while reducing levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol. Show your ticker some love: eat almonds! Another great reason to reach for almonds: They’re remarkably high in magnesium, an essential mineral that may help lower blood pressure levels, assist with blood sugar control, and possibly reduce symptoms of depression.

Helpful tips Buy raw or roasted almonds in their purest form possible: no salt, no oil, no other added ingredients. If buying in bulk, take a sniff: they should smell sweet and nutty, not sharp or bitter (a sign of rancidity). Store almonds in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place. Freezing or refrigerating almonds extends their shelf life by several months.

Adapted from sweetandsavourypursuits.com 2 cups raw almonds 1½ tablespoons maple syrup 1½ tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons dried rosemary ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon Kosher salt pinch of cayenne (optional) — Preheat oven to 325 F; place rack in middle of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. — In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, olive oil, and spices. Add almonds and mix until well coated with the spice mixture. Spread almonds onto the baking sheet in one even layer. — Bake in the oven for 10 minutes; then stir and bake for about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let cool on sheet. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

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.

FDA Issues New Salt Guidelines for Processed Foods

he U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in October that it is lowering the recommended levels of sodium in processed, packaged and prepared foods. The goal of the new, voluntary guideline is to help reduce Americans’ average sodium intake from 3,400 milligrams (mg) to 3,000 mg per day — roughly a 12% reduction — over the next 2.5 years. “It’s really a pivotal day for the health of our nation as the FDA is announcing a critical step in our efforts to reduce the burden of diet-related chronic disease and advance health equity,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said during a media briefing announcing the new guideline. “We as a nation face a growing epidemic of diet-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, which disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority groups,” Woodcock added. “As a result, thousands of lives are lost and billions of dollars spent in health care costs each year for these preventable illnesses. We also know that limiting certain nutrients such as sodium in our diet can play a huge role in helping to prevent diseases such as hypertension [high blood pressure], cardiovascular disease and renal [kidney] disease,” Woodcock said. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said the new

guideline, although not mandatory, should help all Americans become more healthy. “These new recommendations and target by the FDA take this a step closer to improving health outcomes for all Americans,” he said during the media briefing. “It keeps Americans on track to stay healthier as we move forward. [The] human and economic costs [of] diet-related diseases are staggering. And hundreds of thou-

sands of Americans are learning that the hard way, as they contract these chronic diseases, and they face the consequences of poor nutrition. So, it’s time for us to do much better.” Despite the lowering of recommended sodium levels in processed and packaged products, it still does not meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommended limit of 2,300 mg per day for those aged 14 and older, the FDA noted.

US Ranks World No. 2 for Salt Content of Processed Meat and Fish Products The salt (sodium) content of processed meat and fish products is so high in the US that it ranks second in the world, finds a five-country study published in October in the online journal BMJ Open. China comes first, while the UK comes last in the overall rankings. But salt levels within and between the countries studied varied widely, depending on the product and brand, the findings show. High dietary salt intake is a major cause of high blood pressure and the associated risks of cardio-

vascular and kidney diseases and death. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a maximum salt intake of 2000 mg/day. But the average global salt intake in 2010 was around twice that. The WHO has set a target of a 30% global reduction in salt intake by 2025, and to gauge progress against this, focused on the salt content of processed meat and fish products in three developed and two developing countries: the UK; USA; Australia; China; and South Africa. The 2017 UK salt reduction

targets were used to assess the percentage of products reaching the levels across the five countries. The five nations included in this study each have their own strategies to reduce dietary salt intake and are part of The International Network for Food and Obesity/noncommunicable diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS), which aims to collate and track the nutritional content of processed foods worldwide.

December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11

HAPPY

Holidays

Stress-Free, Festive Get-Togethers With a little planning, you can survive the holidays By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

oes it seem like every celebration this season centers around food and stress? Those extra calories consumed during the numerous events can add up to tough-to-lose pounds in January. Those aggravating discussions about politics, religion and personal choices can raise stress levels among otherwise level-headed family members (“Aren’t you going to ever settle down?” “When are you two having a baby?”). Plus, there are the conflicting ideas about how to keep everyone safe from COVID-19. By planning events to enjoy with loved ones, you can eat less and stress less during the holidays since

you can focus on the activity. We’ve asked four local providers for stress-free suggestions for the holidays. Here’s what they had to say. ——— • “During the holidays, a large percent of the population focuses on the stressful aspects of the season and loses the focus of the season: togetherness with family and friends. • “Take nature hikes. We have been doing this for years and my kids appreciate the time of togetherness, and the peacefulness of our beautiful natural surroundings. This is made even easier by a group that

Gifts for Fitness Buffs From gift certificates to equipment there is a lot to choose from

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you have a few fitness buffs on your gift list, you have plenty of options that will encourage them in their wellness goals. Suggestions from Kevin Phengthavone, head of strength and conditioning UBMD Orthopedics & Sports Medicine’s Impact Sports Performance facility: • “Consider giving some recovery products like percussion guns, heat and ice modalities for recovery. • “Give introductory packages to fitness facilities in the area. That can help the recipient to try something different. When people are into fitness for a while, they may get into a routine and things can get stagnant. A week or month trial can spark their

interest in different things they can do for fitness: a different fitness activity. It could be classes for boxing, karate or things like that. Most places have a package where you can try for a weekly class for five weeks. • “PowerBlock sells adjustable dumbbells that are reliable. The bar can be attached to kettlebells and dumbbells of different weights and used for cardio and strength training exercises. They also do not take up much space. • “Look into fitness watches that track heart rate. Garmin has a few good options. FitBit has good ones and there are the Apple watches, too. These can help people stay on track and know their workouts are helping them meet their goals. • “Peloton, Nike and Apple all

was formed in the past few years, Outside Chronicles. This group was started by Mike Radomski and inspires individuals to enjoy and advocate outdoor recreation. He is also the creator of WNY Hiking Challenge, a seasonal hiking challenge (with varied degrees of difficulty) that includes trail maps, education and inspiration. • “Our focus during the holidays is not the food set on the table or the amount of gifts around the tree, but our focus is the activities that bring us together. — Kim Fenter, doctor of naturopathic medicine, Audubon Women’s Medical Associates, P.C., Williamsville • “I encourage bringing a change of clothes or shoes to a get-together. You never know what the weather will be like. It’s a great time to not just sit around but after a meal, have a walk, get outside and enjoy the sunshine. • “You could get together to play games, share recipes or do an activity together. • “If you are physically active, do something before you go to your dinner but don’t think you have to overdo it just to eat more, like doing a 5K to eat more ham. That’s not always a healthy outlook.” — Michele Memmo registered dietitian, Nickel City Nutrition, Buffalo • “Family stressors can be very difficult. When we deal with families, we regress to childhood. People will even sit in the same seating arrangement as when they were children. In some ways, one of the difficult things is to in some ways not get yourself caught up in some of the manipulations. When you find yourself workhave apps with fitness classes on them. They are no more than $10 a month and you can get access to HIIT, cardio, minimal weights, yoga, spinning and more. Peloton was a big fad through the quarantine with everyone working out at home, though you don’t need a Peloton to access and use those. • “For fitness, it’s about consistency and building the habit of staying into fitness. Any type of gift to help build that habit of working out a few times a week last over the long run over things like a medicine ball or another piece of equipment. Anything to help keep them accountable will help them stay consistent and help them reach their fitness and health goals.” Suggestions from Kim Fenter, doctor of naturopathic medicine, L.E.A.N Expectations Health Coach at Audubon Women’s Medical Associates, P.C. in Williamsville: • “This may sound a little like a sales pitch, but my first gift idea is the gift of health: a gift certificate to work with a health coach. Even the most knowledgeable of individuals will benefit from the accountability and educational aspects of

Page 12 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

ing too hard to engage someone, you’re getting caught up emotionally. A lot of families are expert at engaging people in that way. • “If you present your boundaries about what you feel comfortable discussing and approach someone in a sensitive but assertive way, they may not respond in kind. A lot of people may not respect those boundaries or get upset. If you realize that in some ways, it’s important that you act the way that you feel good about yourself, regardless of the consequences. We feel good about ourselves when we are assertive and set good boundaries. • “COVID guidelines is one of the number one concerns couples bring to me. This creates so much tension when you’re invited to a party and you’re the only one with a mask on. There’s a lot of pressure for you to engage with your mask off. Essentially, the big issue is not to get into an argument. It goes nowhere. People who are anti-vaxxers or are against masks, you’re not going to convince them otherwise by quoting research. They will quote alternative research. It will be a constant debate. As a family, you’ll have to decide what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not. I am constantly weighing what the situation is. There’s an increasing number of breakthrough cases where I live so I’m being extra cautious about wearing masks. I’m not attending some restaurants where three weeks ago I was. Families cannot deal with that inconsistency at some times but convey what we’re comfortable with right now. It’s a constant work in progress.” — Thomas Brent, licensed clinical social worker in private practice at Buffalo Therapy, Buffalo working with a health coach. • “A good pair of athletic shoes. Go to a specialty athletic shoe store and let them personally fit your athletic shoe to the person. This is an important aspect of structural health that is often forgotten. A good athletic shoe, that is fitted to the specific needs and body structure, is priceless. • An exercise and stability ball. This inexpensive piece of exercise equipment will benefit the newbie fitness buff and the experienced fitness buff. It is a great tool to help improve your strength, cardio endurance and balance at an affordable price.”

HAPPY

Holidays

Healthy Gifting for the Holidays

Above, left: Oil and balsamic vinegar are some of the items available at Prima Oliva in Hamburg. The store also has gift baskets and other healthy options. Right: Body butters and fresheners from The Vintage House Soap Factory in West Seneca. The store features an array of homemade soaps, shower bombs and more that are all natural and free from ﬁllers and harmful chemicals.

By Catherine Miller

‘T

is the season of gifting — to loved ones, co-workers, and those service people that make life a bit easier. If you struggle, like many, for that perfect gift idea why not give the gift of wellness this holiday season and make the new year a bit brighter and healthier for those you care about. There are many local businesses that offer items that help to relax, destress, and improve the health and well-being of your gift recipients, and many vendors are right around your corner.

The Gift of Relaxation The Vintage House Soap Factory in West Seneca features an array of homemade soaps, body butters, shower bombs and more that are all natural and free from fillers and harmful chemicals. And did I mention they smell and feel fabulous? Another great local option for is Zandra Beauty. These teen beauty products can be purchased at Target or online and are created by a Buffalo teen with a vision. Zandra offers scented exfoliating sugar scrubs, vegan body washes and more designed with young ladies in mind. If you’re looking for books for your loved ones check out Dog Ears Bookstore in South Buffalo or Talking Leaves in the Elmwood Village. The local stores offer gift certificates to allow your receiver to spend an afternoon browsing the shelves and

picking out just the right cover to curl up with on a wintery afternoon.

The Gift of Flavor For that culinary lover of yours there is nothing healthier than extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars to add to their pantry arsenal. Prima Oliva in Hamburg has gift baskets galore already set to give and chock full of healthy options. “We offer the highest quality, freshest selection of specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world,” said Liz Sgroi, owner of Prima Oliva, “One of our most popular gift sets is our popcorn kit which includes locally sourced popcorn kernels and flavored olive oils for popping on the stove. It’s a healthy, delicious and fun gift.” If you have a tea lover, head over to Spices and Teas by Milly in the Southgate Plaza and find a plethora of rooibos, green, herbal and chia teas. To round out your gift basket add spices, marinades, salsas and dehydrated vegetables that can be used for wonderful winter soups.

The Gift of Well-Being Help your loved ones relieve tension and reduce stress with a gift certificate for massage services. You don’t need to be an athlete or experience chronic pain to enjoy the benefits of massage. The holistic approach to rejuvenation of the muscles and soft tissue areas of the body, massage therapy allows your recipient to walk out of their massage feeling renewed

and transformed. A variety of local massage therapists can be found online and by searching the Groupon site. Specialized practices like Notaro Chiropractic offer chiropractic care, nutritional services and massage therapy for a holistic approach to health. Notaro offers several locations throughout the Western New York area. If you have a yoga enthusiast on your list — or someone that would want to try yoga, the options are endless in our area. Whether you buy a gift certificate for the ever-popular East Meets West Yoga on Elmwood Avenue or one of the others you can find online, it’s sure to be a gift favorite. Each studio is as unique as its clientele. Buff And Flo Yoga and Fitness in Orchard Park offers a variety of fitness classes and just a bit more. Your giftee can try vinyasa, a dynamic yoga that incorporates balance, breathing and posture to align and energize the students in the class. Other options include heated fire flow yoga and barre classes. Contact the studios directly to discuss certificate options.

The Gift of Fun We can’t forget about the little ones on your list, and there are plenty of ways to keep youngsters active despite the cold weather. Consider a family gift pass to one of the many family-friendly venues in and around Buffalo. The Buffalo Zoo or The Niagara Falls Aquarium are perfect for your little animal lovers. Explore and More Children’s Museum at Canalside and the Buffalo Science Museum offer year-round fun interactive activities for all ages. Rolly Pollies, an indoor gym geared toward your youngest loved ones, offers gift certificates at a variety of locations in the area that will surely help the little ones to get moving over the holiday season. We all could use a bit of self-care this year and the above gift ideas are sure to make your loved ones feel more relaxed and invigorated. Many of the local vendors offer pre-made gift baskets. Or opt for a cute stocking to slip one or two gift certificates in and you have the perfect gift that will keep your loved ones happy and healthy in the new year.

Happy Shopping!

December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 13

HAPPY

Holidays

Keep Your Mental Health Top of Mind This Holiday Season

ith many people separated from loved ones last holiday season due to the coronavirus pandemic, families and friends across Western New York are planning to restore their holiday traditions this year. The mental health counselors with Catholic Charities of Buffalo are sharing tips and coping strategies to help ease stress and feeling overwhelmed amidst the festivities. “The holiday season can be a trying time for many of us, but after missing out on celebrations last year and the pandemic still lingering, that can bring an added layer of stress this year,” said Michelle Abraham, assistant director of clinical services, Catholic Charities. “While it’s a time of giving to others, we can’t lose sight of the importance of our own mental health and wellness.” This holiday, consider incorporating some of these tips from Catholic Charities’ mental health counselors: • From ingredients for special meals to gift giving and trips to the store, plan ahead to avoid both procrastination and stress. • Refrain from over-indulging in both spending and food to avoid feelings of regret after the holidays. • Use meditation and mindfulness to deal with stressful holiday gatherings. If you start to feel overwhelmed, take deep breaths, step outside for a few minutes if needed, and ask others for help. • Participate in activities that bring you joy during the holiday season. Pick a couple of activities or special traditions to enjoy rather than trying to do all the holiday things. Overextending can cause undue stress. • Engage in self-care activities and take advantage of any time off you may have during the holidays. A new year is right around the corner, so try to recharge by doing something restorative and rejuvenating. • Maintain a normal routine to the best of your ability. Eating regular, nutritious meals and getting enough sleep will help with your overall mood. • Be kind. Everyone is dealing with their own challenges, so be considerate of others’ feelings. Engage in simple acts of kindness. From saying thank you to a store employee to donating a toy to a child who may go without, think of an easy way you can bring joy to yourself and to others this giving season. Catholic Charities’ team of professional and highly trained counseling experts are available to assist families, children, adults, and seniors with day-to-day troubles and serious concerns throughout Western New York. For more information on these or any of Catholic Charities’ programs visit, ccwny.org. Submitted by Catholic Charities of Buffalo.

You Should Absolutely Take a Break Right Now You can’t pour from an empty cup By Barbara Pierce

ife is busy. You work all day, eat lunch at your desk, get home to care for your partner and children, tackle the endless responsibilities that come with being an adult. Unfortunately, powering through without a pause can do you more harm than good, psychologists say. It’s important to sneak in some “mental health breaks” throughout the day. Nourishing yourself first, to ensure that you’re not “pouring from an empty cup,” is a priority that will help you take care of everyone who counts on you, said wellness coach Lisa Marie Chirico, founder of Care Planet, a website focusing on health and wellness. Taking the time to work mental health breaks into your day is a part of this. Your brain can’t focus all the time. If you try to force it into the focus mode for too long, it loses its ability to do that. “After I’ve worked steadily for several hours, I lose it,” said office manager Christine Mason of Pearson, Florida. “I try to Google something and I can’t even remember what I was looking for. When I take a break and do something else for a few minutes, the juices come flowing again.” Simply put, a mental health break is anything that allows you to step back, relax, and recharge your brain, so the juices coming flowing again. Mental health breaks can look different for everyone. Some mental health breaks may only last a few minutes. Others may include a weeklong vacation. Ideal is a mixture of the two, smaller breaks to keep you going throughout the week, along with longer breaks to help perform a deeper reset. “No activity is too trivial or

small,” suggested Chirico, who has written two self-help style books . These small moments can help you ground yourself, boost your mood, improve focus, improve productivity and decision making, and make you happier in your job. You may have a good idea of what a mental health break would look like for you, but here are a few ideas of how to spend that break time. • Walk outside with work mates, or by yourself, during your lunch hour, advised Chirico. “Research proves that time spent in nature nourishes our bodies and minds on several levels,” she said. Walking with others increases the chemicals in your brain, the key to feelings of well-being. Also, the movement caused by walking increase circulation, makes you more alert, and helps to decrease tension in your body. • Stretch: If you are like many who sit behind a desk for hours, get out of your chair at least once an hour to walk around and stretch your arms and legs. Sneak in a few stretches, that can be as simple as gently rotating your neck, doing shoulder or ankle rolls, lifting your hands above your head or bending down to touch your toes. • Take screen breaks throughout the day. Five minutes in every hour should be spent away from the screen. It’s also important to make sure you change posture regularly. For your eyes, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look up from your screen at something about 20 feet away for about 20 seconds, to give the muscles in your eyes a chance to relax. • Connect with friends and family: Improve your mood throughout

Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

the day by checking in with those you care about. Connecting with others raises the level of the chemicals in your brain which produces feelings of well-being and helps alleviate stress. “Contact an old friend that you haven’t spoken to in a long time, phone your parents during your commute to work,” suggested Chirico. Or make a coffee or lunch date with your partner or with work mates. How do you know when you need a break? Listen to your body. Do your eyes hurt from looking into the computer screen? Are your legs stiff from sitting in the same position for too long? Are you yawning every 90 seconds? These are just a few of the signals your body is sending to tell you it’s time for a break. Too often, though, we ignore these signals because we think that a break will cut into our productivity. But, actually, a few minutes away from your work will enhance your capacity. Our bodies go through cycles each day where energy peaks and then subsides. Most of us have more energy in the morning, but get tired in the middle of the afternoon. Plan a break during this natural down cycle when your body is tired and needs a recharge. The bottom line is: a mental health break can be anything you want it to be. Whatever it is, just make sure it’s something that leaves you feeling relaxed and recharged. “In the middle of our busy lives, we need to remember that, just like plants, we need air, water and love to thrive,” Chirico said. Chirico can be reached at lisa@ careplanet.co. Or see https://careplanet.co/

A Big Celebration … Then the Next Day a Heart Attack A woman who survived a heart attack seeks to increase awareness By Amanda Jowsey

n the day Bev Timura Pohlit celebrated her 55th birthday, she and her kids joined friends for lunch. The following night, she experienced what felt like acid reflux. Not normally having acid reflux, she found that strange. “Because of my job, it being very demanding, I didn’t go to the doctor the next day when [the pain] got worse,” Pohlit said. She felt horrible and tried to sleep. Her husband came in shortly after. She woke up, flung her arm over, hitting him in the chest. “I feel like there is muriatic acid inside my chest. I feel like I am burning up alive!” she said. That’s when her husband rushed her to the hospital. Pohlit was taken to the heart catheterization lab. Her right coronary artery was 95% blocked. She’d been having a heart attack for five days. “I gotta tell you the funny part about it,” she laughed. “All of our mothers always told us to change your underwear and brush your teeth and everything before you go to the hospital. Well, I did.” A nurse told her that she was having a heart attack and to remain very calm. Prior to this day, she hiked and biked 50 miles a week with her husband. She grew an organic garden, ate organic food, canned organic. Pohlit was in disbelief. One of the nurses had to remove Pohlit’s clothes. “By the way,” she told the medical team, “I just want you all to know that I brushed my teeth and those are clean underwear.” She laughed again as she recounted the ordeal. She overheard the nurses’ admiration of her spitfire spirit. Normally, they are trying to keep the patients going. With Pohlit, it was the other way around. “But I was scared. I can’t say I wasn’t,” she admitted. She had two stents put in her heart and was lucky enough not to suffer any permanent damage.

Surviving and sharing After surviving her heart attack

and coming to terms with it, she needed to share her story. She wanted to raise awareness about the No. 1 killer of women above all cancers combined-- heart disease. She co-founded Heart Sisters Heart Attack and Disease Survivors, a support group located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, as well as online. The group “provides hope, information, understanding, compassion, encouragement, comfort and emotional support to women diagnosed with any type of heart disease.” Women who have suffered from a heart attack or who have any type of heart disease, often lack the resources they need to talk to someone about the life-changing experience. They feel alone, even embarrassed. Pohlit, like many women, faulted herself. “I believed because there was nothing out there telling women that women had heart attacks, that they were a man’s disease. And that I did something so terribly wrong that I caused my body to have a heart attack,” Pohlit said.

Heart attacks in women increasing A 2019 study published by the American Heart Association shows the percentage of women (ages 3554) who are having heart attacks is increasing, more than in young men. What caused this increase? Cardiologist JoAnne L. Cobler of Buffalo Medical Group believes it’s a combination of factors. Obesity, psychosocial factors, smoking, a lack of physical activity, and poor diets that lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Misconceptions about women and heart disease also play a role. Cobler believes an imbalance exists between men and women in treating the risks of heart disease. “In the past, it was felt that heart disease was not a disease of women,” Cobler said. “It was mostly men. Then we started doing more studies and realized that it was more prominent in women as a leading cause of death.” “Women tend not to be treated

as aggressively for their blood pressure and cholesterol, even after a heart attack,” Cobler added. “I do think there’s that mindset that it’s not as important for women as it is for men.” For most women, heart disease tends to occur later in life, during and after menopause due to changes in estrogen levels. “Now, we have a lot of younger people who are experiencing this, but with them it’s a lifestyle thing,” Cobler said.

Take care of yourself! The AHA warns, “Most heart disease and stroke deaths are preventable.” Exercise. Bev Timura Pohlit survived a heart attack she had after she Follow a low-fat turned 55. Prior to the event, she hiked and biked 50 miles diet. Don’t smoke. Know your family a week with her husband. She grew an organic garden, ate organic food, canned organic. Pohlit was in disbelief. history and make changes accordingly. Take care of your mental and emotional health. “There are a lot of psychosocial factors that are very important: depression, stress, a history of abuse. Things like that affect women as well, especially at a younger age,” Cobler said. Many women wait until it’s too late to seek help. “Listen to your body,” Pohlit said. “If something doesn’t feel right, it’s not right.” As a mother of two boys, a wife and now a grandmother to her two granddaughters, Pohlit always cared for others. “That’s kind of me,” Pohlit said. Cardiologist JoAnne L. Cobler of Buffalo “Take care of everybody else, but I Medical Group: “We started doing more didn’t take care of myself that week.” studies and realized that [heart disease] was more prominent in women as a Get the word out leading cause of death.” Pohlit became so involved in the cause that the AHA asked her to be its national brand ambassador for Shop Heart, the official store of the AHA. Through many campaigns, like Pohlit said she wants to share the Go Red for Women Campaign, hers and other people’s stories to women’s heart disease is getting the help fight misconceptions surroundattention it needs. ing women and heart disease.

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December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15

CLINICAL TRIALS

How Drugs, Treatments Get Approval Clinical trials help researchers identify and refine better treatments By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

very pill, vaccine and therapy prescribed to you by your medical provider once underwent a clinical trial to prove its safety and efficacy. While it is reassuring that the process exists, most people know little about how it works. “Clinical trials are so important. This is how we advance healthcare. This is how we improve the quality of people’s lives. This is how we save lives: by these advancements,” said physician Tim Murphy, SUNY distinguished professor and director of UB’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Researchers must carefully select volunteers who fit a profile of the patients that the new drug or treatment would affect. Other factors of eligi-

bility may include absence of certain conditions, age, gender and more. Murphy said that people lacking good access to healthcare are often those hardest to recruit for trials, such as those underinsured, living in rural areas, older adults, minorities and people economically disadvantaged. Ironically, some of those people are often most benefited by participating in clinical trials. “If you look at people who participate in clinical research, they have better outcomes and cost-effective care compared with those who don’t participate,” Murphy said. “Let’s say someone’s being studied for one disorder and at their regular visits, they have their blood pressure checked. The research coordinator might say to contact their primary care provider.” For some medication not covered by insurance, participants in a trial

for a new medication of that sort would receive free treatment—and even receive a stipend for their time. “Trying to engage people who have traditionally not been engaged with clinical trials is a particular interest of mine,” Murphy said. “If we’re going to introduce new medications and treatments and if we test it only in Caucasians, we won’t know how it works in other ethnic groups. It’s important to know if it works in the national community.” Trials are usually conducted in six steps: approval of the research protocol, screening, informed consent, data collection, study closure and reporting of findings. Brent said that an institutional review board reviews every trial conducted in the US. The board is comprised of experts who look at the risks and benefits of the study to protect those participating. Volunteers are screened for their eligibility. The informed consent ensures that the participants understand the study. As the study ensues, researchers carefully monitor patients. In some cases, they remain at a healthcare facility. In most cases, they participate in a number of visits to the facility so researchers can gather information. When the visits are done, the clinical trial is over. Trials typically research in phases. The earliest phase is in a lab petri dish and then with animals. The first human trials use only a small, healthy group and focus on safety. As the phases continue, more individuals are added to the group and some receive the treatment and others (the control group) do not. This allows researchers to fairly compare the efficacy of what they are testing. As the phases continue, larger groups become involved, which can help prove efficacy among a variety of people. Some groups are difficult to study for ethical reasons, such as pregnant women and babies. “In almost every clinical trial, an exclusion for a new drug is almost always pregnancy,” Brent said. “Things are tested extensively on animals, but pregnant women are excluded on nearly every trial including drugs. Some drugs can have toxicities in

pregnancy that we don’t know about and can be toxic for the fetus. It’s almost a staged process where we know drugs are effective and safe in a non-pregnant population and only after that is it tested in pregnant women.” Older adults are also challenging to study because they may have a long list of medications and health issues that could skew the results if their group size is too small. But it is also important to accurately represent their demographic which statistically does have more health issues than younger people. “The elderly are an important part of our community,” said Adam Larrabee, president of Rochester Clinical Research. “They need to be represented in clinical trials.” He reassures anyone interested in volunteering for a study that “you’re not a guinea pig. Participating in a study is a positive. experience. We’re not a typical doctor’s office. You don’t come in and wait half an hour or an hour to see someone. We realize people are contributing their time to promote science. We realize their time is valuable and we see them right away.” He views participating in studies as an opportunity to receive healthcare as well as experience the satisfaction of contributing to health improvements that will affect generations of people. Medical studies are also highly regulated. “It’s come a long way for safety protocols,” Larrabee said. “Patients are very closely monitored throughout their participation and their primary care providers are kept in formed. We’re not replacing anyone’s doctor but working with them. They’re human beings contributing to the advancement of new medicines. Medications are very, very expensive. And there are a lot of people who are underinsured. It’s expensive to pay for a medication. If you can get that through participating through a study in addition to receiving closer medical surveillance, why not?” Look for clinical trials at www. clinicaltrials.gov.

medical appointments were with a primary care doctor, while 38% were with specialists, according to Barnett’s team. But by 2013, those figures had flipped. That makes the United States different from many other developed health systems in the world, which

put more emphasis on primary care. And, the Harvard researchers said, studies suggest those systems provide better care at lower costs. The new findings — published Nov. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine — are based on claims data from Americans on Medicare between 2000 and 2019.

Almost 1 in 3 U.S. Seniors Now Sees at Least 5 Doctors Per Year Experts debate if trend is good or bad

early one-third of older U.S. adults visit at least five different doctors each year — reflecting the growing role of specialists in Americans’ health care, a new study finds. Over the past 20 years, Americans on Medicare have been increasingly seeing specialists, researchers found, with almost no change in visits with their primary care doctor. On average, beneficiaries saw a 34% increase in the number of specialists they visited each year. And the proportion of patients seeing five or more doctors rose from about 18% in 2000, to 30% in 2019. Is the trend good or bad? “It’s probably both,” said physician Michael Barnett, the lead researcher. On one hand, he noted, medicine has grown by leaps and bounds in recent decades — yielding a deeper knowledge of various health conditions and more options for diagnos-

ing and treating them. “There are a lot more things that a specialist can do now, and that’s good,” said Barnett, a primary care doctor and an assistant professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. However, managing all of those medical appointments, various prescriptions and information from different providers can be “maddening,” Barnett pointed out. “If nothing else,” he said, “transportation to those appointments is a big issue for older adults.” So the broader question of how all this specialist care is affecting older Americans’ quality of life is a complicated one, according to Barnett. What is clear, he said, is that the American health care system is “very specialist-oriented.” Back in 1980, Americans aged 65 and older mostly saw primary care providers. About 62% of their

Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

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How to Help Your Overmedicated Parent

Dear Savvy Senior, My 75-year-old mother is currently taking 16 different prescription and OTC medications and I’m worried she’s taking way too many drugs. Can you suggest any resources that can help us? — Worried Daughter

Dear Worried, Unfortunately, millions of older Americans are taking way too many medications today, which raises their risk of dangerous side effects and drug interactions. According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, people aged 65 to 69 take an average of 15 prescriptions a year, and those aged 80 to 84 take 18 prescriptions a year. And that’s in addition to the myriad of over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals they may take, any of which — alone or in combination — could cause more problems than they cure. Even when older patients are taking only necessary and effective drugs, the dosages need a second look. As patients age, they tend to metabolize drugs more slowly, meaning the dose that was perfect five years ago may now be too high, perhaps causing dizziness and falls. Doses need to be continually adjusted with age, and most of the time that doesn’t happen.

Get a Drug Review If you have concerns or questions about the medications your mother is taking, gather up all her pill bottles, including her prescription and overthe-counter drugs as well as vitamins and supplements, put them in a bag, and take them to her primary physician or pharmacist for a comprehensive drug review. Medicare provides free drug reviews with a doctor during annual “wellness visits,” and many Medicare Part D prescription-drug beneficiaries can get free reviews from

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pharmacists, too. At the drug review, go through each medication and find out if there are any duplicate meds or dangerous combinations your mom is taking, and if there are any drugs she could stop taking or reduce the dosage. Then, make a medication master list and keep it updated so it can be easily be shared whenever your mom sees a doctor. To help with this, AARP offers a free “my personal medication record” form that you can download and print at AARP-medical-record-form.pdffiller.com. Or, if your mom uses a smartphone, she can use a pill tracking app like Medisafe – Pill & Med Reminder (MyMedisafe. com).

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Other Tips If possible, your mom should also use a single pharmacy to fill all her prescriptions. The software that pharmacies use to manage patient prescriptions is designed to cross reference all medications a patient is taking to ensure that there are no drug interactions that could cause harm. Also, the next time your mom’s doctor prescribes a new medication, she should ask about nondrug treatment options that might be safer. If the drug is indeed necessary, she needs to find out how long she’s supposed to take it and the side effects it can cause. Another good resource that can help keep your mom safe is the American Geriatrics Society, which has identified 10 different types of medications that people 65 and older should almost always avoid because of the risk of serious side effects. They include the anti-anxiety drugs diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax), and sleep drugs such as zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta). To see the complete list, visit HealthInAging.org and search “10 medications older adults should avoid.”

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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December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17

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More Americans Are Dying From Parkinson’s Disease: Study

he number of Americans who are dying from Parkinson’s disease has jumped by 63% in the past two decades, new research shows. The fresh analysis also revealed that men face double the risk of dying from the progressive and incurable disease than women. A notably higher death rate was also seen among white people, as compared with peers of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. “The message is straightforward,” said study author, physician Wei Bao. “This study showed that an increasing number of people died from Parkinson’s disease during the past 20 years, and this cannot be simply explained by population aging.” Bao is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health in Iowa City. He and his colleagues published their findings online Oct. 27 in the journal Neurology. According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Parkinson’s affects roughly 1 million Americans and more than 6 million people around the world. To get a handle on trends among

From the Social Security District Office

Social Security Can Help You Start of Return to Work

If you rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and want to start or return to work, we can help. Ticket to Work (ticket) is a program that supports career development for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who want to work and progress toward financial independence. The ticket program is free and voluntary. Learn more about the Ticket to Work program at www.ssa. gov/work or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. In addition to the Ticket to Work program, the Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) program also helps people with disabilities return to work. A PASS allows you to set aside resources and other income besides your SSI for a specified period. With a PASS you can pursue a work goal that will reduce or eliminate your need for SSI or SSDI benefits. How does a PASS help someone return to work? • We base SSI eligibility and payment amounts on income and

Q&A

Q: What should I do if an employee gives me a Social Security number but cannot produce the card? A: Seeing the card is not as important as putting the correct information on the worker’s Form W-2. You can verify employee Social Security numbers by using the Social Security Number Verification Service. Just go to www.ssa.gov/bso. This online service allows registered employers to verify employee Social Security numbers against Social Security records for wage reporting purposes.

Parkinson’s patients, Bao and his colleagues analyzed data collected by the U.S. National Vital Statistics System. The team found that nearly 480,000 Americans died of Parkinson’s between 1999 and 2019. During that time, the risk of dying from Parkinson’s rose year after year by an average of 2.4%, with a significant increased risk seen among both men and women of all ages and ethnicities, and across both urban and rural locales, and in every state Q: When a person who has worked in the nation. and paid Social Security taxes dies, That steady rise translated into are benefits payable on that person’s nearly nine out of every 100,000 record? Americans succumbing to ParkinA: Social Security survivors beneson’s by 2019. That figure is notafits can be paid to: bly up from a little more than five • A widow or widower — unreParkinson’s deaths for every 100,000 duced benefits at full retirement age, Americans just 20 years earlier. or reduced benefits as early as age 60. While risk went up across the • A disabled widow or widower board, men appeared to be much — as early as age 50. more vulnerable than women, the • A widow or widower at any findings showed. age if he or she takes care of the By 2019, the death rate among deceased’s child who is under age men was pegged at double that of 16 or disabled, and receiving Social women. One possible reason why: Security benefits. higher levels of estrogen in women • Unmarried children under 18 may ultimately bolster motor control, or up to age 19 if they are attending the investigators said, and shield high school full time. Under certain women from developing Parkinson’s. circumstances, benefits can be paid

Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021

resources (items of value that the person owns). • PASS lets a person with a disability set aside money and items they own to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal. • The objective of the PASS is to help people with disabilities find employment that reduces or eliminates the need for SSI or SSDI benefits. You can read all about the PASS program at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN05-11017.pdf. The PASS must be in writing and we must approve the plan. To start, contact your local PASS cadre or local Social Security office for an application (Form SSA-545-BK). You can also access the form at www.ssa.gov/ forms/ssa-545.html. Ticket to Work service providers, vocational counselors, or a representative or relative can help you write a PASS. For more information about PASS, read "The Red Book – A Guide to Work Incentives" at www.ssa.gov/ redbook. Your job isn’t just a source of income — it can be a vehicle to independence or the beginning step to fulfilling your dreams. Let our Ticket to Work program or PASS program help you achieve your goals.

to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children. • Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. • Dependent parents aged 62 or older. Even if you are divorced, you still may qualify for survivors benefits. For more information, go to www.ssa.gov. Q: What is the earliest age that I can receive Social Security disability benefits? A: There is no minimum age as long as you meet the Social Security definition of disabled and you have sufficient work to qualify for benefits. To qualify for disability benefits, you must have worked under Social Security long enough to earn the required number of work credits and some of the work must be recent. You can earn up to a maximum of four work credits each year. The number of work credits you need for disability benefits depends on the age you become disabled. For example, if you are under age 24, you may qualify with as little as six credits of coverage. But people disabled at age 31 or older generally need between 20 and 40 credits to qualify, and some of the work must have been recent. For example, you may need to have worked five out of the past 10 years. Learn more at www.ssa.gov/disability.

make things like cancer at much higher risk.” Regular medical care can help mitigate that effect and also keep their HIV stable, along with ensuring patients at risk for basic needs like food and shelter have these needs met. The first drug developed to increase longevity in HIV patients was AZT, which was introduced six years into the epidemic. By the mid-90s, a “drug cocktail” of three medications became the standard protocol. That’s when providers began to see real change. They could also measure the viral load to test how effective the drugs were in individual patients. This strategy began to turn the tide of the war on HIV. Today, newly diagnosed HIV pa-

tients can expect to live close to if not a completely live a normal lifespan. However, that relies up on seeking treatment early and remaining consistent in managing their health, both relating to HIV and their general health. “I finished my fellowship in 2013,” Glasman said. “Many of the people I learned from, who were around during the ‘80s and ‘90s, would then think that colon cancer screenings were not as important because the patients wouldn’t be around.” HIV patients whose infections are well-managed and who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV sexually. In addition, prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents patients from con-

tracting HIV sexually. Glasman said that has helped people at risk reduce their chances of infection. In recent years, injectable drugs have been introduced to free patients from having to remember to take a daily pill. Every one to two months, a healthcare provider administers the injection. That can help people who struggle to not miss a dose. Another new option, still being studied, is an implant that could last for as long as a year, similar to Norplant contraceptive. Registered nurse Mary Goodspeed, president of AIDS Network of WNY in Buffalo, has worked in HIV care for 28 years. “When I first started, there weren’t a lot of medications,” she said. “In the late ‘90s, people were taking 30 to 40 pills a day, which had a lot of side effects, many of which were GI-related. People didn’t want to take them.” Improved medication has helped increase patient compliance. A greater variety of drugs, now numbering around 40, has also helped care providers and patients find the right combination. Developing longer-lasting, injectable medication to fight HIV is not only for patient’s convenience but also because of the nature of the virus. The virus mutates and the supply of numerous different drugs can provide more tools for combating HIV. She said that making HIV testing a routine part of health maintenance has been on the agenda of New York State healthcare providers. Although HIV is spread through sexual contact or shared needles involving someone with an infection, Goodspeed views HIV testing as a part of sexual healthcare. “The posters and brochures have HIV testing with the lipid panel, glucose, etcetera to normalize the test,” she said. “In my experience, a lot of people who think they’re in a monogamous relationship aren’t. Knowing your HIV status is as important as knowing your blood pressure.”

while,” said Huffman, an associate professor at the Duke University Medical Center’s division of rheumatology. “If you add up the amounts of activity that people do and also the duration of activity, neither of those is associated with knee arthritis,” added Huffman, who wasn’t involved in the analysis. Physician Bert Mandelbaum is chief medical officer of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer club and team physician for the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team. He agreed the study “further corroborates the fact that levels of exercise in one’s personal life do not increase the risk, the onset or progression of osteoarthritis.” So where did this misconception come from? Huffman thinks it’s because people mistake exercise-related injuries for the effect that exercise itself has on your joints. “Right now, the clear risks for knee arthritis are genetics, injuries and female sex,” Huffman said. “People who exercise more may be more likely to injure their knee. That’s where I think the myth comes from.” In fact, exercise can help ward off knee arthritis in several ways,

Huffman said: Flexing and extending the knee during exercise promotes the diffusion of fluid into the joint, promoting better nutrition. An elevated metabolism created by exercise helps control inflammation in the knee joint. Weight loss reduces the amount of load placed on the knee. Exercise strengthens the muscles surrounding the knee, stabilizing it and reducing the risk of injury. “I don’t think we’re finding that simple overuse or using your joint is a problem. It’s more an association

with injuries and perhaps in the setting of obesity or high genetic risk,” Huffman said. Your best bet is to choose an exercise that poses the least risk of a knee injury, Huffman said. “If you want to go snow skiing, I don’t think that’s a huge problem but you’re probably going to be more likely to injure yourself downhill skiing than, say, walking in your neighborhood or training for a marathon,” Huffman said. “It’s not soccer or football or skiing itself. It’s just the risk for injury during those activities.”

Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, which aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote understanding of HIV and AIDS.

HIV Care Advances

A diagnosis of HIV is no longer a veritable death sentence By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

diagnosis of HIV has transitioned from a veritable death sentence in the 1980s to an infection that is manageable with regular care in current times. “HIV has changed quite a bit in the last 30 to 40 years,” said Seth Glasman, an internist with UBMD. “Someone with a diagnosis in 2021 we’re anticipating their life expectancy to be like that of someone who’s uninfected. At the beginning, we’d see people die because of lack of access to medication and the risk of secondary infection. Now we see cancer, stroke and heart attack which is of higher prevalence among people with HIV. Even when people have HIV under very good control, there’s a degree of chronic inflammation. Any chronic inflammatory state will

Jog On: Exercise Won’t Raise Your Odds for Arthritic Knees

hysician Kim Huffman, an avid runner, gets a fair amount of guff from friends about the impact that her favorite exercise has on her body. “People all the time tell me, ‘Oh, you wait until you’re 60. Your knees are going to hate you for it’,” Huffman said. “And I’m like, ‘That’s ridiculous’.” Next time the topic comes up, Huffman is well-armed: An extensive British analysis of prior study data has found no link between a person’s amount of exercise and their risk for knee arthritis. The research team combined the results of six clinical trials conducted at different places around the globe, creating a pool of more than 5,000 people who were followed for five to 12 years for signs of knee arthritis. In each clinical trial, researchers tracked participants’ daily activities and estimated the amount of energy they expended in physical exertion. Neither the amount of energy burned during exercise nor the amount of time spent in physical activity had anything to do with knee pain or arthritis symptoms, the researchers concluded. “This helps dispel a myth that I’ve been trying to dispel for quite a

December 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 19

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: WE’RE SWITCHING OUR FOCUS TO THE GUT’S MICROBIOME The GREEN MEMORY Study is researching an investigational medication for people who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The investigational medication is designed to restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. Certain bacteria are thought to cause inflammation in the brain and nerves, possibly contributing to AD. We are looking for people who: • are between 50 and 85 years of age • have been diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. Study participants must have a “study partner” who has known them for at least a year, knows them well, is with them at least 3 days a week, and will go with them to study visits. Want to know more? For more information, please contact:

UBMD Neurology 1001 Main Street Conventus Bldg, 4th Floor Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 323-0549 Page 20 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • December 2021