Wny igh 20 june 16 final

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June 2016 • Issue 20

Meet Animesh A. Sinha, M.D

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Sunbathing

Chairman of dermatology department at UB ( and CEO of UBMD Dermatology) talks about the complexities of autoimmune skin diseases

( ( ( (

) Good for you ) Really good for you ) Bad for you ) Really bad for you

Local experts comment on the latest about sunbathing Page 14

Family Health History New online tools make it easy for families to record family health history

Drone for Dad or Grad?

As number of recreational drones go up, so are accidents

Cycle the Erie Canal An eight-day, 400-mile bike ride through the canal departs July 10 from Buffalo Page 20

CDC: 1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions unnecessary ­

Page 18

The Nutritious Perks of WholeGrain Pasta

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10 Weight Lifting Mistakes Guys Make Many men lift weights to get toned and strong, not get hurt. Yes that’s what normally happens. Find out the most common mistakes to avoid

SmartBite columnist has ditched regular pasta in favor of wholegrain pasta. Find out why June 2016 •

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in good Child Safety

May 2016 • Issue 19

With 4.5 million dog bites occuring annually in the US, parents with young kids are advised to be careful before bringing a dog in their home

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Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

STROKE Things You

4

Drinking

Teenage girls now try alcohol before boys do, says study

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Need to Know Now

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WHAT’S THE SKINNY ON APPLE CIDER VINEGAR?

Going on Vacation?

A week’s vacation may leave many adults with a heavier midsection — extra weight that can hang around even six weeks post-vacation.

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April 2016 • Issue 18

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Online Breast Milk There has been an explosion of websites that buy and sell breast milk and traffic in those sites has continued to rise. Transactions have more than doubled in the past three years. And it’s not just moms buying it. But how Page 14 safe is buying breast milk online?

One Year, No Domestic Line Infections Violence

Beloved Buffalo Sabres broadcaster and throat cancer survivor Rick Jeanneret helping promote Relay to Life. See inside

The Revenge of Bedbugs They’ve grown thicker skin, which helps protect against pesticides and may explain why population is growing worldwide, scientists suggest

A Former Ballet Dancer Making a Difference Dancer Cynthia Pegado has performed in Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal. Now she is devoted to helping patients with Parkinson’s disease in Buffalo

Living Alone: Create Your Own Perfect Day!

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Why You Should Fall for Mangoes

NYS Hospital Mergers Driving Up Prices A study by the conservative think tank, the Manhattan Institute, concludes that the 100-plus hospital mergers in NYS have served to only increase costs and decrease competition with no perceptible increase in quality. See “Health in a Minute” on page 5

Q&A with Christopher Kerr, M.D.

Mangoes, the world’s most popular fruit (who knew?), bring a wealth of powerful nutrients.

One in four women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while one in seven men have experienced the same. Why this is still a problem and how local groups are trying to tackle it

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May 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Reasons to Do Aquatic Therapy

Autism: Are Girls Being Overlooked for Screening?

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Farrell family from Tonawanda with their newborn at the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo’s NICU. The unit recently celebrated one year without any central line infections.

The Surprising Benefits of Portobellos

Tai chi and other traditional Chinese exercises might reduce depression, improve quality of life for heart patients

Founder and managing partner of OB-GYN Associates of Western NY talks about growing a single-specialty group focused on women’s health April 2016 •

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Tai Chi Could Be a Healthy Move for Your Heart

Q&A with Carlos A. Santos, M.D.

This mushroom possesses such a unique and vast array of nutrients, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Hospice Buffalo chief medical director talks about the end-of-life experience and why we have the thoughts we do when we’re in final hours

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THE COMMISH March 2016 • Issue 17

No Reading Glasses Ephraim Atwal is one of the first eye doctors in NYS to use camera inlay to eliminate need for reading glasses. He shares his technique

MEN’S SPECIAL ISSUE

• More options to fight prostate cancer • Fat Dads = Fat Children

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The Long Road to Get a New Kidney Paul Bloser is one of 100,791 people waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant in the U.S. The median wait time to get the organ is 3.6 years. The 58-yearold shares his story

Yes, Women Make Less in Healthcare Industry, Too

Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

New Hope for Cancer Patients

At 91, former President Jimmy Carter is the most famous cancer patient to benefit from a groundbreaking new treatment — immunotherapy

See story inside Page 9

Roswell doc: Therapy a ‘game-changer’

Page 5

Winter Gardening

First-Time Moms Are Getting Older in US

Frozen spheres developed by Connie Oswald Stofko, a local gardening expert. She talks about making your garden prettier — in the winter

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Women’s pay lacks parity with men’s, according to experts

Twenty-eight percent of consumers in the U.S. are preparing ethnic foods more frequently than five years ago. Bowl of Thai is just an example. See story inside

Tax Filing for Retirees

Fat Dads = Fat Children

Living Alone: Making Choosing a Hospice the Best of 2016 Care Program

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February 2016 • Issue 16

The Commish

Erie County Health Commissioner Gale Burstein: Happy to have opted for career in public health. Her major challenge: decrease opioidrelated deaths locally

11 Food Trends

A recent study indicates that maternal health isn’t the only influence on childhood obesity. Having a father who is obese may increase the child’s chances of becoming obese as well Page 14

Oh Boy, Is Bok Choy Nutritious!

Water Quality: Buffalo is No Flint

But officials say lead in paint still poses a problem, especially in older houses

For the past year, care providers at Sisters of Charity Hospitals have been treating patients in a new way — with smiling, tail wagging, certified therapy dogs. They count on 12 dogs that are ready to help March 2016 •

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Telehealth Expected to Living Making Grow Alone: Exponentially

the Best 2016 “Healthcare in a of Minute” on p. 5

Beyond Genes–Keys to Healthful Aging URMC prof says in many ways we’re not growing older healthfully

Oysters

Pet Therapy

And it is loaded with an impressive array of nutrients, so loaded that the wellregarded World Health Organization considers bok choy to be one of their highest nutritionally ranked vegetables.

Maple Syrup Season Coming

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Is there any truth to their libidoboosting power?

Read “SmartBites” column inside

Page 1

CDC: 1 in 3 antibiotic prescriptions unnecessary

Half of Those with Glaucoma Don’t Know They Have it — Are You at Risk?

February 2016 •

Special Olympics Project Unify has athletes who have disabilities competing alongside high school students who have no disabilities

New Guidelines New U.S. Dietary Guidelines: Boost Fruit and Veggie Intake, Limit Sugar and Salt

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New CDC data show large percentage of antibiotics misused in outpatient settings

A

t least 30 percent of antibiotics prescribed in the United States are unnecessary, according to new data published early May in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with Pew Charitable Trusts and other public health and medical experts.

The study analyzed antibiotic use in doctors’ offices and emergency departments throughout the United States. CDC researchers found that most of these unnecessary antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory conditions caused by viruses — including common colds, viral sore throats, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections — which do not respond to antibiotics. These 47 million excess prescriptions each year put patients at needless risk for allergic reactions or the sometimes deadly diarrhea, Clostridium difficile.

The researchers also estimated the rate of inappropriate antibiotic use in adults and children by age and diagnosis. These data will help inform efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing over the next five years.

“Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs, and if we continue down the road of inappropriate use we’ll lose the most powerful tool we have to fight life-threatening infections,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, a physician. “Losing these antibiotics would undermine our ability to treat patients with deadly infections, cancer, provide organ transplants, and save

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victims of burns and trauma.”

The fight to stop antibiotic resistance In 2015, the White House released The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), which set a goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by at least half by 2020.

This means that 15 percent of antibiotic prescriptions (or half of the 30 percent that are unnecessary) must be eliminated by 2020 to meet the CARB goal.

As part of the effort to achieve the national goal, CDC researchers analyzed the 2010–2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) to determine the number of outpatient visits resulting in antibiotic prescriptions by age, region, and diagnosis in the United States from 2010-2011. They found that: Of the estimated 154 million prescriptions for antibiotics written in doctor’s offices and emergency departments each year, 30 percent are unnecessary. This finding creates a benchmark for improving outpatient antibiotic prescribing and use.

Serving Western New York in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health Buffalo–WNY Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 32,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high traffic locations in the region

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2016 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

3380 Sheridan Dr., # 251 • P.O. Box 550, Amherst NY 14226 Phone: 716-332-0640 • Fax: 716-332-0779 • Email: editor@bfohealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Publisher: Jamie Sandidge • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Tim Fenster, Jana Eisenberg, Nancy Cardillo Advertising: Jamie Sandidge (585-317-1671), Donna Kimbrell (716-332-0640) • Layout & Design: Eric J. Stevens • Officer Manager: Alice Davis 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.

Friends of Night People Shed Light

Finally.

Closure to my leg pain and varicose veins.

Group provides life-saving resources to the less fortunate in Buffalo area

By Tim Fenster

F

or thousands of homeless and destitute people who call Buffalo home, organizations like Friends of Night People in the Allentown neighborhood are more than just a place for a free meal.

They are a service that’s crucial to survival.

Located at its longtime home at Hudson and Wadsworth streets, Friends of Night People provides dinner to Buffalo’s impoverished and homeless seven evenings a week, 365 days a year. It also offers lunches twice a week, and partners with other local charitable organizations to host a weekly food pantry from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Food pantry participants may visit a pantry once per month, and are required to present ID and proof of income and residence.

But Friends of Night People’s services go well beyond simply feeding the poor, homeless and destitute. It offers a variety of services, including medical care, podiatry, free clothing, substance abuse counseling in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, housing assistance and a caseworker to help Buffalo’s most vulnerable people apply for public benefits.

“They basically try to help you as much as possible,” said frequent visitor Brian Bull. “You can get a lot out of here.”

Resident Charles McCarthy, who says he visits Friends five times a week, said a lot of people owe their lives to organizations like Friends, and without them there would be higher rates of crime and other problems in the city.

“A lot of people wouldn’t be existing if it wasn’t for places like these,” McCarthy said.

He said clothing and medical services help break people out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

“If you’re in pain, you can’t do anything. If you don’t have clothes, you can’t go to work,” he said.

It also works with the Food Bank of WNY and various neighborhood associations to bring a food truck to both the east and west sides of Buffalo to deliver food to those who need it most.

The east side truck comes to Gerard Place the first Thursday of every month; the west side truck stops at the Kleinhans Music Hall parking lot the second Monday of every month.

“I don’t think anybody can do it alone. There’s a big value in collaborations and partnerships. You get individuals, skills, as well as leveraging your resources and cost savings. When you put all those things together, you kind of have a sustainable model,” Heary said.

“Finding the right partners is really key,” he added.

But the most important asset to Friends’ success is support from the community. A privately funded organization, it relies on monetary donations as well as donations of food to keep its operation going. Even more important than donations, however, is to have volunteers who are interested in helping their community.

“Our volunteers are really the heart and soul of what we do,” Heary said.

One volunteer, Alicia Pena, praised Friends for offering more services than many similar organizations, and said if anyone she knew was in need, she would direct them there.

“It offers a lot to the community,” she said. “It really helps a lot of people who are in need.”

For more information on Friends of Night People, to donate food or funds, or to volunteer, visit www. friendsofnightpeople.org.

There is a solution to the discomfort, swelling and appearance of varicose veins.

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Daniel J. Patterson D.O., F.A.C.O.S.

Collaborative vibe

Executive director Joe Heary said much of what is offered is made possible through partnerships with other nonprofits and medical organizations. It partners with University at Buffalo medical students to offer health care, with the Western Division of the New York State Podiatric Association to provide podiatry care, and with the VA Western New York Healthcare System to help poor and homeless veterans — to name just a few of its dozens of partnerships.

Joe Heary (left) is the executive director of Friends of Night People, a nonprofit in the Allentown neighborhood that provides dinner to Buffalo’s impoverished and homeless people in Buffalo. He is shown with Salvation Army’s Captain Deigo Bedoya (center) and Captain Antonio Bedoya.

June 2016 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

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HEALTH EVENTS

June 7

Hearing loss group discusses Bluetooth Anyone interested in hearing loss is welcome at any or all of Hearing Loss Association of America Rochester Chapter's presentations set for Tuesday, June 7, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Avenue at Westminster Road, across from the George Eastman Museum.

From 10:30 to 11 a.m., at "Hearing Other People's Experiences — HOPE," retired audiologist Joe Kozelsky, a long time hearing aid user, will moderate an informal sharing discussion in the vestry room.

Following social time, refreshments, and the HLAA business meeting from 11 a.m. to noon in the parish hall, Kristen Nolan, explores connecting Bluetooth devices to hearing aids. Nolan is an audiologist with Sounds for Life in Pittsford.

At 8 p.m. Donald Bataille, owner of Hearing Loops Unlimited, will explain and demonstrate the most current loop systems for personal and large venue use.

Hearing Loss Association of America is a nationwide organization dedicated to advocacy, education and support for people with hearing loss. For more information visit www.hlaa-rochester-ny.org or telephone 585-266-7890.

June 14

Oncologist to speak at BCNWNY meeting The Breast Cancer Network will host oncologist Saif Soniwala during its monthly educational meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m., June 14, at Bella Moglie building, 3297 Walden Ave, Depew. Soniwala in 1998 established Soniwala Hematology Oncology Associates, a practice that was acquired by Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 2014. Soniwala will discuss “What is New in Breast Cancer Research”.

All interested individuals are welcome to attend. Light refreshments are served at 6 p.m. followed by the guest speaker at 6:30 p.m. A peer led support group for cancer survivors begins at 8 p.m.

For meeting reservations, contact Breast Cancer Network of WNY at 716-706-0060. For more information, visit www.bcnwny.org or send an email to info@bcnwny.org.

WNY is a grassroots, community based breast cancer organization whose mission is to support individuals with breast cancer, survivors, their families and friends.

July

Summer camp for kids with diabetes Sitting around a campfire, swimming, boating, climbing a rock wall, zip lining — all aspects of a great summer camp. However, each year Page 4

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

the American Diabetes Association holds a camp that’s much more than a typical camp. It’s a place where kids with diabetes meet other kids just like them and feel “normal.” And it all happens under the supervision of a medical staff dedicated to making sure that everyone stays safe both day and night.

The American Diabetes Association holds Camp ASPIRE at the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus in Rush during the month of July.

The camp runs for two one-week sessions. Children aged 13-17 will attend from July 3-8 and children aged 8-14 will attend from July 10-15.

Registration is now open.

Camp ASPIRE is an acronym for “Always Sharing Priceless, Inspirational, Rewarding Experiences.” The goal of Camp ASPIRE is to allow the campers to feel accepted in a community where having diabetes is the rule, not the exception. The campers learn to understand diabetes and the process of self-management under continuous medical supervision.

According to organizers, the children go home feeling more self-confident and self-reliant, having gained the knowledge they need to live successful, full lives with diabetes.

For more information about Camp ASPIRE, visit www.diabetes. org/adacampaspire.

Amherst Center for Senior Services OPEN HOUSE Wed., June 8, 2016 10AM—1PM

Complimentary Refreshments Piano Entertainment by Brian Ask a Social Worker Strawberry Shortcake Treat Performances by Amherst Senior Singers, Senior Center Dancers & Readers Theatre -Tours Available -Open Classes to Observe -Nutrition Lunch at 12 noon -Audubon Café & Gift Shop Open Bring your friends & family !

370 John James Audubon Pkwy.

Amherst NY 14228

636-3055 Ext. 108

Got a Minute?

Get a Good Workout Study found 60 seconds of intense exercise as effective as 45 minutes of moderate exertion

C

ouch potatoes, there are no more excuses.

New research from Canada contends that just one minute of high-intensity exercise can boost your health as much as 45 minutes of a moderate workout. That means you can’t claim that you don’t have enough time to get in shape.

“Most people cite ‘lack of time’ as the main reason for not being active,” said study author Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

“Our study shows that an interval-

based [intense] approach can be more efficient — you can get health and fitness benefits comparable to the traditional approach, in less time.”

The study included 27 inactive men who were randomly assigned to do either intense or moderate workouts three times a week for 12 weeks, or to a control group that did not exercise.

The intense exercise was socalled sprint interval training, which involved three 20-second “all out” sprints on exercise bikes. It also included a two-minute warmup, a

three-minute cool-down, and two minutes of easy cycling for recovery between the intense sprints. Total time: 10 minutes per workout.

The men in the moderate workout group did 45 minutes of continuous cycling at a moderate pace, plus the same warmup and cool-down as those in the sprint interval group.

After 12 weeks, both exercise groups had similar measures of heart/lung fitness and insulin sensitivity, a measure of how the body regulates blood sugar.

Interval-based training “is a very time-efficient workout strategy.

Brief bursts of intense exercise are remarkably effective,” Gibala said in a university news release.

“The basic principles apply to many forms of exercise. Climbing a few flights of stairs on your lunch hour can provide a quick and effective workout. The health benefits are significant,” he added.

The study findings were published online April 27 in the journal PLoS One

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Drug spending continues to soar

Total spending on drugs was $425 billion last year up a staggering 12 percent from 2014. According to the AARP’s Public Policy Institute report, the average retail cost of a year’s supply of typically used prescription drugs by seniors is over $11,000. The average annual cost for specialty drugs, like those treating cancer and hepatitis, was $53,384 three years ago. Overall Medicare spending was up only 1 percent last year to put the 12 percent drug increase into perspective. Drugs now account for 25 percent of overall spending. (Thirty years ago, drugs accounted for less than 5 percent of all healthcare costs.) Currently, hospitals account for about 32 percent and physicians account for about 20 percent of overall spending.

The balance of expenses goes toward skilled nursing facilities, substance abuse and addiction, mental health, durable medical equipment and implants, chiropractic, podiatry, nutrition, etc. Congress establishes Medicare payments to physicians and hospitals but cannot set drug prices.

Reduce your exposure

Seven typical household items rank as most hazardous to your health if not used or maintained properly. They are: step ladders (falls), dryers (fires), lawn mowers (injuries), bed rails (injuries due to poor installation), humidifiers (mold), blenders (lacerations, scalding), toasters (fires).

Insurance mergers

The pending mergers of insurance giants Aetna-Humana and Aetna-Cigna are undergoing increased scrutiny by the Department of Justice and are facing uphill battles. The DOJ is wary of all “super mergers” that may hurt consumers through less competition on service and price. Hospital mergers are in the same boat. This increased scrutiny by the DJ has been happening despite the O’bama administration being relatively passive when it comes to blocking mergers.

ObamaCare premium subsidies The House Ways and Means committee is questioning the Administration’s method of funding premium subsidies for the indigent who are purchasing insurance through ACA exchanges. Anyone with income between 133 percent and 400 percent of federal poverty guidelines qualifies for the subsidy.

(Those under 133 percent qualify for Medicaid.) Subsidies are expected to total $170 billion over the next 10 years. Without taxpayer support, insurers on the exchange could face the prospect of having to cover the subsidies themselves.

Calculating premiums

Determining competitive/fairly priced premiums for new enrollees with uncertain health statuses has been a challenge for commercial carriers. United Health has already announced it is pulling out of most state exchanges next year. As more data becomes available each year, insurers will have more experience that allows them to better assess risk and determine premiums. The

fear, however, is that if premiums are too high, it might drive away the relatively healthy. The only way to combat that potential exodus of the “healthy” is to make penalties for not participating much higher than they are now.

Medical errors

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, medical errors in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming over 250,000 lives annually — or 700 a day.

Head researcher Martin Makary, a physician, summarized: “It boils down to people dying from the care they receive rather than the disease or injury for which they are seeking care.” Only hospital-acquired infections have shown improvement over the years. Many experts believe healthcare has too much tolerance for variability in practice versus other industries. Lack of standardization makes it harder to identify and fix problems.

Oneonta physician creates center for transgender patients

Family physician Carolyn Wolf-Gould offers hormone therapy, counseling, and coordination with other physicians for patients seeking surgery. Wolf-Gould said transgender patients come from as far away as six hours due to short supply of providers offering services.

Opioid addiction

The unfortunate death of pop superstar Prince Nelson

June 2016 •

has brought more attention to the opioid painkillers addiction epidemic in the US. Someone dies from an opioid overdose every 20 minutes. Many addiction experts question the rationale of turning to the pharmaceutical industry for more drugs to combat addiction to drugs. Treatment for the underlying psychological symptoms that can lead to substance abuse should also be part of a provider’s arsenal.

The FDA is considering making it mandatory (currently voluntary) for physicians who prescribe opioids to undergo safety training courses paid for by opioid manufacturers.

Short-term policy

It is a cheaper alternative to policies offered on the exchanges. It is meant to fill gaps in coverage, but for only a few months. However, short-term policies do not meet minimum ACA requirements for coverage and benefits, so buyers will face significant tax penalties.

Thought for the month

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge. An argument is an exchange of ignorance.” Attributed to American journalist and humorist Robert Quillen.

George W. Chapman is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Upstate New York.

To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Got Unused Meds?

Here’s What to Do

Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Animesh A. Sinha, M.D CEO of UBMD Dermatology talks about the complexities of autoimmune skin diseases

Check for local take-back events, or contact the DEA for collection locations

W

hile doing your spring-summer cleaning, don’t just toss out expired or unused prescription medications.

Unwanted drugs need to be properly disposed of to reduce the risk of abuse or accidental use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

Follow disposal instructions on the drug label or patient information that came with the medicine. Don’t put medicines down the sink or flush them down the toilet unless this information specifically says to do so.

Call local law enforcement agencies to find out if your community has a medication take-back program or event. Or, ask your local trash or recycling services about medication disposal services and guidelines, the FDA suggests.

Another option is to deliver unused medicines to collectors registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). These authorized sites may be retail, clinic or hospital pharmacies, and law enforcement offices. Some have mail-back programs or drop boxes.

To find an authorized site in your community, go to the DEA website or call 800-882-9539.

If the drug labeling has no disposal instructions and there is no take-back program in your area, you can throw the medicines in the garbage if you take certain precautions, the FDA said.

For starters, remove the medicines from their original containers and mix them with unpleasant materials — such as used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter — to make the drugs less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to people who may go through your trash looking for drugs.

Then put the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the medicine from leaking or spilling out of the garbage bag.

It’s also a good idea to scratch out all identifying information on the drug label to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and personal health information, explained the FDA’s Ilisa Bernstein.

If you have any questions about proper disposal, ask your pharmacist.

Bernstein added that the same steps can be taken for getting rid of over-the-counter drugs.

Page 6

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Q: Can you give us an overview of your practice and patient base?

A: I chair the department of dermatology at the University of Buffalo, so our mission is for education, clinical service and investigation.

So we have a residency program, medical students and post-graduate fellows. We see patients at a number of different sites and clinics. We have a big research effort in basic, translational and clinical research. We do a number of clinical trials to look at new medications and drugs coming through the pipeline, and do a lot of work in understanding skin disease.

My area of interest is autoimmune skin diseases. My role is to head the department and oversee those three areas of our mission.

Q: When we're talking about autoimmune skin diseases, what are we talking about?

A: One of the basic issues with the immune system is how it distinguishes self from non-self. It's an incredibly complex system responsible for defending us from foreign pathogens — bacteria, viruses, parasites, cancer cells. Ideally, it doesn't respond to our own tissues, which we refer to as “self-tolerance.” It's still not clear how that is maintained, but sometimes that mechanism has issues and the immune system ends up attacking its own tissues. It can affect any tissue, including the skin.

Examples include cirrhosis, vitiligo, alopecia areata and a number of blistering disorders.

Q: Are we mostly talking about steroids when it comes to treating these issues?

A: For autoimmunity, yes, since it's mostly an overactive and misdirected immune system. Our therapeutic approach is to knock down the immune system a bit with steroidal immunosuppressant or with non-steroidal immunosuppressant medications, which also help to knock down the immune system. What we're searching for is to understand these diseases and figure out more precise mechanisms and develop more precise drugs that are only targeting the immune responses that are causing these diseases rather than using general immunosuppression.

Q: How dangerous is general immunosuppression? Does it leave the patient at a greater risk of infections and cancers?

A: We're getting better, but we haven't reached the level of fine specificity. Understanding these diseases in more detail is an opportunity to figure out how to target the parts of the immune system that go awry.

Q: What factors put someone at risk of developing autoimmune disor-

ders?

A: That's a good question. These are called complex diseases as there are genetic and environmental factors that cause a dysregulation of the immune system. We don't know most of the genetic elements and we know even less about the environmental ones. We do know that certain genes are key players in normal immune responses that also play a role in autoimmune diseases.

We're still searching for the other genes involved. We know that multiple genes are involved, though, so it's not as simple as targeting a specific gene. So there's this genetic basis, but then there's probably an environmental influence that, in a genetically predisposed person, helps trigger autoimmunity. And we don't know much about those factors.

but treating the patient and all the complications associated with skin disease.

Q: It seems like, in the absence of some of our medical knowledge about these diseases, there're a lot of alternative treatment options bandied about online, particularly based around diets. Is there any validity to these?

A: Many things can affect skin conditions. We don't know the details of the environmental factors that are causative. It's not clear that there's a direct link to any particular diet.

There haven't been enough studies.

In general, a good diet and hydration help skin health, but it's hard to link these things to specific diseases. It's possible that environmental factors like diet can have a modifying effect, but there haven't been any direct links established yet.

Q: How close are we to treating these kinds of diseases with gene therapy?

Is that still the realm of science fiction?

A: I think in the future it may be possible to manipulate our genes to correct potential predispositions, but we still have a long way to go to even identify what those genes are.

In the meantime, we have medications that mitigate the misdirected immune system. We want to get to more precise interventions, though, so we can do better than just suppressing the entire immune system.

Q: Since skin is the most visible part of our bodies, I imagine there's quite a bit of social baggage that comes with these diseases. Does your practice involve more counseling than most?

A: It's woven into our general approach to treating skin issues. Absolutely, the skin is the largest organ in the body.

It has a lot of functions people don't tend to think about, from immune defense, to temperature control, sensory effects, metabolism and, of course, it has a social and psychology function as well. It's our identity. So when the skin is disrupted or perturbed, there can be social and psychological ramifications to that. So losing your pigment, or your hair, or acne, all have social and psychological impacts. So we understand that we're not just treating the disease,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

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Creating Your Family Health History Online tools make it easy to create and mantain family health history

By Nancy Cardillo

D

o you know whether certain diseases, such as breast cancer or chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, run in your family? Did you receive a measles vaccine when you were a child? Did your children?

Maintaining a family health history is important for many at least three reasons.

1 — It organizes all the family’s medical information in one accessible location, so there’s no searching or guessing.

2 — It can be useful in helping to determine whether you are at risk for certain diseases or ailments, as well as provide help in looking for early warning signs of disease.

3 — Most importantly, a family health history can assist your healthcare provider in providing better care for you.

Creating a family health history is easy with the Surgeon General’s secure, online tool, “My Family Health Portrait.” Simply go to https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/ FHH/html/index.html#, fill out the information and create a family history you can download and share with family members and your healthcare providers.

It doesn’t take long to complete “My Family Health Portrait” — 20 minutes or so, depending on the size of your family.

Once you share the completed portrait with family members, they can then easily create their own history, using your portrait as a starting point.

Most likely, you won’t have detailed information about every family member’s health history, but any information you include will be helpful. And if you talk to your first-degree relatives — that is, par-

ents, siblings and children — before preparing your history, they might be able to provide critical information. Second-degree relatives — such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins — might also provide useful information.

Family get-togethers are a great time to talk about family health, though some relatives might want a more private conversation, such as by phone or email.

Your relatives will, of course, wonder why you are asking all this information. Explain that knowing what diseases, illnesses and chronic conditions run in your family can help family members take steps, such as lifestyle changes, medical tests or medication choices, to lower their risk. Let them know you will share the information you gather so they can complete their own family health history.

You can also search public re-

cords, such as birth and death certificates and online obituaries to gather information.

Here’s how to get started on your family health history: • Make a list of relatives you want to contact.

• Prepare a list of questions to ask each, including: – What is your age and/or date of birth; – Do you have any chronic conditions?

– Have you had any serious illnesses? (If you’re aware of specific diseases or illnesses in your family, ask about them as well); – How old were you when you developed these conditions/illnesses?

– Have you or your spouse had any problems with pregnancy or childbirth?

– Are there any birth defects in your immediate family?

For relatives who have died, ask their next closest relative how and when they died and any known illnesses or conditions they had.

Don’t worry if you can’t get complete information on every one of your relatives. Just know that any information you do get will be helpful.

And remember to update the history as new family members are born, develop illnesses or pass away.

Be sure to review your portrait with your healthcare practitioners before making it part of your medical record. You might also choose to review it with your family, so additional information can be added and/or questions can be answered.

With a little time and effort, this legacy can improve your family’s health for generations to come!

June 2016 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Keep it Simple and Do Right by the Earth

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t warms my soul. I just love the sight of laundry on a clothesline, gently fluttering in the breeze on a sunny summer day. It reminds me of times gone by: my happy childhood in Ohio, my mom folding laundry, my dad tending his garden, and all things old-fashioned and wholesome.

On a recent road trip through the Finger Lakes, I was so taken by the colorful clothes decorating the countryside that I returned home with a mission: to install my own backyard clothesline.

For less than $30 I purchased the essentials: rope, pulley, hooks, and cleat. For a few dollars more, I equipped myself with wooden clothespins and a canvas drawstring bag. The installation between two mature oaks took less than an hour.

I couldn’t wait to do a load of laundry! I eagerly anticipated the simple bliss of hanging my pillowcases, towels, and T-shirts on the line and watching them sway in the sunlight.

Beyond the nostalgia, I could also appreciate that air-drying my laundry was good for the earth.

In a small way, I would be reducing my household carbon footprint and that idea sat well with me and my conscience.

The experience reminded me of the value of simple living and how easy it is to get back to the basics — something that’s even easier for those of us who live alone and can make all our own decisions.

I’m committed to leading a simpler life, a more natural existence. Would you like to join me?

Below are a few things we can all do: Accumulate less stuff. If I don’t absolutely need it or love it, I don’t buy it. That’s my new M.O. I live in a small home and I’ve discovered that “stuff” needs to be stored, sorted, dusted and otherwise dealt with.

Some of it needs to be insured. Other stuff needs to be repaired. Almost all of it requires some investment of time and money, both of which I want to use more wisely.

KIDS Corner Nearly 1 Million More Kids Have Health Coverage After Obamacare Study shows 91 percent of Medicaid-eligible children are now enrolled

N

early 1 million U.S. children gained health insurance the first year after the Affordable Care Act — also called Obamacare — was fully implemented, a new report shows.

The number of uninsured children fell from 5.4 million in 2013 to 4.5 million one year later, according to the study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“The importance of coverage for all kids is perhaps the single most widely accepted position in the Page 8

•

Let go of more stuff. VOA, Goodwill, Savers and the Vietnam Veterans of America are my new “best friends.” I’m clearing out the clutter and sharing my gently used clothing and household goods with people in need or who enjoy a bargain. I’ve come to learn that these organizations are so much more than their storefronts. They use their profits for so much good: for housing, for humanitarian causes, for disaster relief and to help people all over the globe become more self-sufficient. Every donation made has the potential to make a positive difference in someone’s life.

Repair, re-use, and make do. My old toothbrushes have become cleaning tools, shoeboxes are now storage containers for photos, and old picture frames have become “shabby chic” mirrors. These are just a few examples. I love making something new and beautiful out of something old or discarded.

I have been guilty of wasteful ways, and I’m now very focused on using up what’s “on the shelf” or “in the tube.” I am also very determined to make do with what I already own.

I feel proud when I act responsibly and make good decisions that lead to fewer purchases.

Enjoy the real thing: I grow my own tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, beans and herbs. My dad was my gardening guru. Following in the footsteps of his own father, my dad taught me what to plant, when to plant and how to maintain a garden.

Beyond the cost-saving benefits of gardening, I feel healthier and more alive when I’m tending plants.

the Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the study found.

Across the country, 91 percent of kids eligible for Medicaid/CHIP were enrolled as of 2014. In 2013, 88.7 percent of eligible youngsters were enrolled. In 2008, enrollment was at 81.7 percent, the report showed.

Today, more than half of states have Medicaid/CHIP participation rates of more than 90 percent. States that expanded Medicaid for adults had the largest gains in Medicaid/CHIP participation, the researchers noted.

The researchers suggested that parents who received new coverage under Medicaid may have learned more about the op-

highly politicized world of health reform,” said Kathy Hempstead, who directs work on coverage issues at the foundation.

“We should be proud of the progress that we have made in recent years, and redouble our efforts to extend these protections to the several million children who are still without them,” Hempstead said in a news release from the nonprofit organization.

Health care reform increased the percentage of kids eligible for

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

There is something incredibly therapeutic about kneeling next to my raised garden beds and cultivating the soil at day’s end when the sun is setting.

Away from my computer, I enjoy the peace and quiet of gardening and find deep satisfaction working with my hands.

Be clear about what matters. My “keep it simple” goal has inspired me to look inward and really think about what I value and what I want my life to be about. I want to simplify things because by doing so, I’ll open up time and resources for spending quality time with my family, my friends, and myself.

When life is simpler, I can keep these priorities front and center.

Instead of shopping or trouble-shooting or worrying about my “stuff,” I can embrace what matters and live a life that reflects what I care about most: being with those I love.

Keeping it simple can bring us more joy, more harmony and more peace of mind.

And that can lead to deeper contentment and happiness. It’s as simple as that.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call her at 585624-7887, email her at gvoelckers@ rochester.rr.com.

tions available to their children.

Of the remaining 4.5 million uninsured children in the United States, more than 60 percent were eligible for Medicaid/CHIP in 2014, the researchers said.

In states that expanded Medicaid, about 5 percent of eligible children were uninsured in 2014. In states that didn’t expand coverage, about 8 percent of children were uninsured.

Annual Physical Exams: Necessity or Waste of Time?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

ow that most people have health care, it can be tougher to get seen for urgent health issues. Are routine, annual physicals really necessary or do they just sap resources further? Area providers weighed in.

"The annual physical is important and recommended to many patients," said physician Judith Feld, medical director at Independent Health in Williamsville.

But it's not a blanket statement that every single patient must have an annual.

"That recommendation is based on the patient's age, medical history and specific health needs," Feld said.

"Many people will need an annual physical because it's a great opportunity to make sure medications you take or chronic illness are in good control and also an opportunity to check in with your doctor to talk about your quality of life and all aspects of your health are being looked after."

Q&A

She said that younger, healthy people may not need a physical if they're proactive about their health screening needs. She views the annual physical as more of a health maintenance visit for people with health concerns.

For this reason, young, healthy people could check in less often to confirm they're on schedule for vaccinations and screenings, and plan for long-term health.

The experts' advice on some screenings changes as new research sheds light on their usefulness, so if you're unsure about when to start mammograms, for example, discussing it with your physician can help because you're unique.

"It's a very good idea to check with your primary to get his/her guidance as to the frequency of visits," Feld said. "They're in the best position to make those determinations. The primary care doctor is the quarterback of your health."

Benchmarking your vital num-

bers, such as cholesterol, blood pressure and weight, can help physicians know what's normal for you when you're healthy. But doing this every year may not be necessary.

Physician David Pawloski, medical director at Highgate Medical Group, PC in Buffalo, sees value in the annual physical for young, healthy people, since new research may affect a patient's health.

"How would you know about it?," he asked. "There's always something about exercise or medication or new guidelines. It's our job to give patients ideas about wellness and where evidence-based protocols are going. There's always value. With younger people, it tends to be about high-risk behavior."

He also wants patients to benchmark their vital statistics and become familiar with their physician so that when something more urgent crops up, their health history has already been established.

Typically, a physical includes the

physician asking about the patient's body's systems, family medical history, surgical history and any other medical history. Lifestyle issues, such as smoking, alcohol, drug use, sleep patterns and obesity help physicians predict potential for health problems in the patient's future. Brian Herbst, doctor of osteopathy at Buffalo Medical Group P.C. in Buffalo, looks at the annual physical as a preventive care service.

"It gives us an opportunity to address different concerns or routine things that might have come up through the year if they're not here for a chronic condition," Herbst said. "The main goal with the annual physical is to help with reducing the overall burden of preventable diseases. It allows us to look at and avoid different disease states."

Addressing screenings, immunizations and lifestyle issues now can help prevent more problematic health issues in the future.

"I like to look at the annual from that standpoint because everyone you see doesn't have diabetes or another chronic condition," Herbst said.

"If it is just once a year they come in, it gives us a chance to talk with and see that patient for that time period to address what we can and also just help counsel and promote healthy living and preventive disease counseling."

with Rita Hubbard-Robinson

By Jana Eisenberg

The founder of the Farmer’s Market at Grider and a host of the Millennium Health Matters radio show, she was recently honored as community’s ‘Difference Maker’

R

ita Hubbard-Robinson works with Millennium Collaborative Care, a New York state Medicaid reform project with offices at the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC).

The New York City native remembers wanting to help people from an early age.

One of her general methods is identifying the social determinants of health and improving upon people’s and communities’ chances of being healthier.

A self-described “urban girl,” she’s worked on policy-related urban revitalization projects throughout her career.

Formerly director of institutional advancement at the ECMC Foundation, she founded the Farmer’s Market at Grider, which brings fresh fruits and vegetables and wellness activities to the Delavan-Grider community around ECMC. She is the host of the Millennium Health Matters radio show, which airs Wednesdays from 8:25–8:55 a.m. on WUFO 1080AM. It’s also accessible at www. wufoam.com.

Q.: What do social determinants of health mean?

A.: There are studies and statistics and common sense that demonstrate what determines how healthy you are, or can be.

A huge part, obviously, is socio-economic: Do you have a car, an education or even access to those

things? Are you too worried about poverty on a basic level to even connect the dots? Part of it is environmental: If you live in a neighborhood with broken sidewalks, no proper grocery stores, a lot of noise and crime, those are negatives. In addition, there are negative health behaviors, like smoking, risky sexual behavior, not eating the right foods in the right amounts, and not exercising that contribute to being unhealthy.

In Erie County, people living in ZIP codes including 14204, 14206, 14211, and 14212 — all around the hospital — have a lower life expectancy.

In the United States, economic success equals health. When people become more economically self-sufficient, and are earning more, they can afford a car. They can then get to the store and buy better food than is available in their neighborhood.

Transportation, wealth and health — they all go together.

Q.: What do you do now?

A.: “Patient activation.” Collaborating with Western New York community-based organizations, I connect individuals who aren’t using their Medicaid benefits to healthcare and wellness services, so that they can become more involved in their own health care. They’re overwhelmed; it’s hard to be poor. Going to the doctor might not be your top priority. We encourage people to see

their doctor more regularly — if they have chronic disease, to go for checkups. We want to prevent teen pregnancy. Some of the sickest zip codes are also high in teen pregnancy.

Q: What are some of your proudest accomplishments so far?

A: In 2008, I started a culturally diverse summer youth incubator program at ECMC. It’s a two-year cycle that exposes kids to opportunity and career options. We’ve “graduated” 400 to 450 kids — half from the city, half from other areas. Some of them have come back, and are actually working at the hospital.

Q.: What makes community programs successful?

A.: An educational component.

With the Farmer’s Market, they didn’t just come. We visited block clubs and community centers. We talked about understanding food — the fat, sugar and salt — and different ways to think about processed food and its impact on your body.

Sometimes the only food that’s accessible is at the corner store; the closest thing to “fruit” might be Fruit Loops and Starburst; the closest thing to a “vegetable” might be potato chips.

There’s no education around any of this. TV ads and all this horrible food with toys for children as incentives are probably the hardest to overcome. Of course they’re appeal-

June 2016 •

ing: They’re inexpensive and easily available. How do you compete with the “dollar menu” when someone is trying to survive on a low fixed income?

Q.: Food and education seem to be a big part of this. How are the two connected?

A.: Someone has to speak up and I’m about the loudest mouth right now. I argue that we are not genetically predisposed to sickness; it can change with knowledge. Once people start to get knowledge, they need the opportunity to improve their behaviors. Doctors need to communicate more clearly and help people understand. If a doctor says you have high blood pressure and need to reduce sodium, explain and teach how.

Q.: How do you stay hopeful?

A.: Somebody has to care. If not me, who? Knowledge is power — a lot of people don’t have that. If you have knowledge and access, then you can have hope. I want to see it to the end, which would be a healthier community, with happy children. I believe in urban greatness. And there is no place for sickness in my vision.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

The Nutritious Perks of Whole-Grain Pasta

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ast month, my husband and I took the plunge and went cold turkey on refined pasta.

For about a year, we’d been making half-and-half portions of refined and unrefined pasta to “ease” into the taste and texture of whole-grain pasta. But, finally, we both agreed: no more. Pasta made from unrefined whole grains is simply too nutritious to water down with regular pasta.

What makes whole-grain pasta better for you?

In a word, whole-grain pasta is made from grains that have the bran, germ and endosperm all intact, whereas regular pasta is made from refined grains that have been stripped of their bran and germ. While processors do add back some vitamins and minerals to enrich refined grains — so, indeed, these grains still contribute valuable nutrients — whole grains remain the healthier choice, providing more fiber, more disease-busting phytonutrients, and many important vitamins and minerals.

The bran portion of the grain provides good doses of fiber and phytonutrients, neither of which processors add back to refined pasta. Fiber keeps us regular, helps with weight control by promoting a full feeling, stabilizes blood sugars and ferries cholesterol-containing

bile out of bodies. All good things that may contribute to a longer life!

Antioxidant-rich phytonutrients, whose consumption, according to the USDA, seems to be an “effective strategy” for reducing cancer and heart disease, promote good health by slowing or preventing free-radical cell damage and by quelling inflammation.

Many B vitamins, some protein, minerals and healthy fats are found in the grain’s germ portion. Wholegrain pasta is particularly high in both manganese and selenium.

Sometimes called the “brain mineral,” manganese is important for mental function, energy production, bone growth and collagen formation.

A powerhouse antioxidant, selenium helps make special proteins that play a role in preventing cell damage.

Lastly, the two of us have said “pasta la vista” to refined white pasta because of the nature of its carbs: they’re simple (just like those in processed breads, cookies, cakes, etc.), which means they get digested lickety-split — an assault that can send blood sugar soaring and increase risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The complex carbs that make up wholegrain pasta, on the other hand, take longer to digest, which keeps blood sugars and energy levels on a more even keel. According to the Harvard

10 TOP

T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there is convincing evidence that diets rich in whole grains protect against diabetes. Go, whole grains!

Helpful tips

Most supermarkets stock wholegrain pasta options — just be sure to take a close look at the nutrition labels. True whole-grain pasta will list the whole grain as the first ingredient, whether it’s whole-grain durum wheat flour, whole-grain oat flour or another whole grain. Also check the front of the package for “100 percent whole grain” or the orange “Whole Grain” stamp.

Adapted from Rachel Ray

Prepare pasta according to box directions; drain and let cool.

Coarsely chop baby spinach. In large bowl, combine spinach with artichoke pieces, red pepper and red onion.

In small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients: garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil and spices. Add pasta, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and olives (if using) to the salad in large bowl. Add dressing and gently toss. Serve or refrigerate.

¾-1 box whole-wheat pasta of choice ½ pound fresh baby spinach 1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped or cut into thin strips ½ small red onion, chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lemon, zested 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, 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.

Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad with Spinach and Artichokes

Foods With Health Benefits

Fuel your body with foods to prevent life-threatening diseases

Page 10

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¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon dried thyme or basil salt and coarse black pepper to taste 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cup crumbled feta cheese ¼ cup kalamata olives, sliced (optional)

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

O

pen your fridge and what do you see? A way to fight cancer? A way to boost memory retention?

Day in and day out, we put food in our bodies, but might be unaware of the benefits to our health. With media and fad diets constantly advising us on what to eat, it’s difficult to sort out the good from the bad. If you’re unsure of how to fuel your body, these 10 foods with health benefits will be a game-changer for your healthy lifestyle.

Almonds

Go nuts with this healthy snack. Adding a handful of this antioxidant to your daily diet can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. A study in the Nutrition Research Journal suggests that diet quality improves when eating the tearshaped nuts on a consistent basis.

Men’sHealth

10

Weight Lifting Mistakes Guys Make

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

4 5

any men lift weights to get toned and strong, not get hurt. Yet many become injured by making some of these top mistakes that can cause injury or prove ineffective.

. Imbalanced training "Men, in general, should spend more time training their lower body.

They have big chests and arms, but little stick legs."

. Poor form "When looking at form, the wrist should be in a neutral position, back straight, not rounded, and the shoulders should not be rounded.

Some sacrifice form to lift more weight. Form is everything."

. Blindly supplementing "A lot of people rely far too heavily on supplements without analyzing the whole foods they're eating. They take supplements without knowing what's in them."

1

2

. Letting weights drop "Some go too fast or they just don't know how to properly lower a weight. They move the weight instead of contracting the muscles and engaging the abdominals."

3

. Using the wrong information "A lot of people take a training program out of a body-building magazine and train certain groups on certain days. You should train every area with a rest day in between.

Splitting into different body parts makes sense for advanced lifters, but not beginners and novices."

Apples

While eating an apple a day doesn’t keep the doctor away on its own, they are a good source of dietary fiber for your diet. One study found that compounds from apples can help slow aging and extends the length of your life. Additionally, eating the white fruit more often can protect against stroke.

Avocados

This creamy, green fruit launched into popularity over the past few years and for good reason. Avocados are a great source of fat that lowers cholesterol and reduce heart disease if substituted in place of other dietary fats.

Beans

Beans are truly the “magical fruit.” Providing health benefits for over 10,000 years, beans are a common part of diets around the world. Beans contain protein, fiber and many vitamins and minerals that help reduce

9 10

. Working out lopsided "Many neglect opposing muscle groups. If you work muscles in the front, work muscles in the back of the body, too."

6 7 8

. Abbreviating movements "I see people not using a full range of motion."

. Thoughtlessly training "Make sure you're aware of what muscle you're working so you can feel it contract and create a muscle/ mind connection." . Working out cold "The No. 1 thing I see is skipping the warm-ups, just going in and putting the weight on the bar with no range of motion or warming up the muscles and cardiovascular system."

the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Scientists recommend eating half a cup of beans per day to take advantage of their nutrients.

Blueberries

Blueberries are abundant in anthocyanins, which give the fruit a blue pigment and are filled with antioxidants. Studies show that these anthocyanins help reduce and prevent chronic inflammation. Additionally, it’s recently been suggested that increasing intake of blueberries can help with erectile dysfunction in men and short-term memory in children and elderly.

Broccoli

Add another scoopful of broccoli to your dinner plate tonight. This powerhouse vegetable contains many health benefits; it’s high in vitamin C and folic acid, as well as a good source of fiber and potassium.

One compound in the green giant called sulforaphane can fight and treat cancers and reduce inflammation in chronic diseases like heart disease. In order to get the most out

. Working out using the wrong routine "Their routine needs to match their goals. Let's say their goal is to lose weight and tone up. They may come in not doing enough cardio or too much cardio.

Doing three sets and taking a break won't get them toned. Search for the training that will help you tone up and lose weight. Always switch it up and change the routine.”

If you need more help, follow this tip by Chris Sutton, a personal trainer in Rochester: "What you do at the gym needs to translate to what you do at home, work and play. I always advise people to ask for a free session with a trainer if they're at a gym. Good instruction translates to a better experience."

Always consult a health care professional before undertaking a change in your health routines.

of your broccoli, avoid freezing or boiling the vegetable.

Cranberries

Like broccoli, cranberries have a wealth of health benefits.

While active ingredients in cranberries are well known for treating urinary tract infections, these same ingredients can prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Additionally, cranberries can also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and various types of cancer.

Leafy greens

Spinach, kale and cabbage, often referred to as leafy greens, can pack a punch of health benefits if added to your diet. Filled with vitamins C, K and E, folate, carotenoids and fiber, studies show that leafy greens may help prevent cancer. For adults, the USDA recommends eating three to four cups of leafy greens weekly.

June 2016 •

Sources: • Chris Sutton, certified personal trainer with Wergo, Inc. Personal Training, Rochester (1, 2) • Michael McIntyre, personal trainer with Knockout Fitness, Rochester (3, 4, 5, 6) • Garrett Bacher, certified personal trainer, master's-trained in exercise science and nutrition, owner of ATR Fitness, Webster (7) • Denise Mitchell, certified fitness personal trainer with Chili Fitness Center, Chili (8,9) • Steve Wheeler, certified personal trainer with Anytime Fitness, Macedon (10)

Oily fish

Oily fish is a great source of protein, low in fat and abundant in omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, lower blood pressure and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. The American Heart Association recommends eating 3.5 ounces of oily fish twice a week.

Sweet potatoes

While you might find this creamy orange vegetable on your dessert table at Thanksgiving, sweet potatoes have high nutritional value. Nutrients in the spud provide anti-cancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Even more, the leaves of sweet potatoes can be treated like leafy greens and help reduce malnutrition.

Editor’s note: This article was provided by experts at Texas A&M Health Science Center.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Men’sHealth

Drone for Dad or Grad? Fly it Safely As number of recreational drones go up, so are accidents

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

n recent years, hobbyists have embraced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly called drones.

If you receive a UAV as a gift (or purchase one for yourself), realize that the fun comes paired with responsibility. UAVs may look like toys, but they're not.

Consider the injuries you could sustain from a few pounds’ worth of UAV crashing on your head. Those props may not feel sharp when stationary, but in motion can cause severe lacerations.

Just ask Elson Shields, professor of entomology with Cornell University, who has flown UAVs as part of his research since 1996. Despite his countless hours piloting UAVs

and offering talks statewide on the topic, he suffered cuts to his hand five years ago from a moving UAV propeller. The lacerations required a hand surgeon to repair.

"Sometimes accidents happen because people are distracted," Shields said. "Whirling props are a risk. I stuck my hand in a prop five years ago, and I had a number of stitches on the backside of my right hand. They had to bring in a hand surgeon."

Before your UAV takes flight, the law requires registration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which costs $5. Every UAV you own may bear the same number.

The law exempts small aircraft flown

only inside.

Shields encourages UAV pilots to join the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The $75 annual membership provides $2,500,000 personal liability insurance coverage, $25,000 medical coverage and more.

"It's a great deal," he said.

Once you've taken care of these basics, you need to learn the rules.

Shields likes the Academy of Model Aeronautics site (www.modelaircraft. org), and also the Federal Aviation Association website (www.faa.gov) for their listing of where you may fly and the safety guidelines.

The AMA lists clubs on its site, which Shields advocates for helping newbies learn the hobby.

Greg Arnone, a clerk at Field’s Hobby Center in Buffalo, also advises people new to drones to join the AMA. "Read all their guidelines," Arnone said, "and if you follow the FFA guidelines about not flying over 400 feet or near people or near the airport, you'll be fine. Use common sense."

Flying a UAV in the rain or through sprinklers can cause it to short out and fall, so only fly in dry conditions.

The craft's propellers and propensity for crashing aren't the only hazards.

If pilots don't properly use batteries, they can cause fires if improperly charged or short circuited.

Always use the charger that came with the equipment and don't alter it.

Carefully follow the UAV's directions for charging.

Only fly in a wide-open space that's permitted by the FAA. Area clubs listed on the AMA site host regular flying events, for example.

As you learn how to fly a UAV, keep the craft close to the ground and at a distance so the inevitable crashes stay safe for both you and your UAV. Because of their lightweight components, their parts snap fairly easily.

Bill Shaflucas, owner of East End Entertainment and Drone Buffalo in Buffalo. “People see these helicopters in the mall that are safe to the touch, but some are extremely dangerous and heavy.

They can hurt the user or others if not treated carefully.”

Keep pets away, as animals may view the UAV as prey or may inadvertently collide with it.

UAVs attract children because they look very much like toys.

"That's part of the problem," said Bill Shaflucas, owner of East End Entertainment and Drone Buffalo in Buffalo. Shaflucas uses UAVs for his aerial video business. "People see these helicopters in the mall that are safe to the touch, but some are extremely dangerous and heavy. They can hurt the user or others if not treated carefully. When the blades are not spinning, they are not sharp, but when they're spinning that quickly, it won't make a difference."

Keep yours away from children.

A small child can become maimed or blinded by attempting to fly a UAV. By taking a few precautions, you can prevent a serious injury to yourself and loved ones.

Tough Men Avoid Needed Health Care Gender stereotypes can have dangerous consequences, research suggests

M

acho men are less likely than women to visit a doctor, and more likely to request male physicians when they do make an appointment, researchers say.

But these "tough guys" tend to downplay their symptoms in front of male doctors because of a perceived need to keep up a strong front when interacting with men, according to three recent studies.

The results can be dangerous.

"These studies highlight one theory about why masculinity is, generally, linked to poor health outcomes for men," said Mary Himmelstein.

She is co-author of three recent studies on gender and medicine and a doctoral candidate in the department of psychology at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. "Men who really buy into this cultural script that they need to be

Page 12

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tough and brave — that if they don't act in a certain way they could lose their masculinity 'man-card' status — are less likely to seek preventative care, and delay care in the face of illness and injury," Himmelstein added.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men born in 2009 will live five years less than women born the same year, a spread not fully explained by physical differences, the researchers noted.

To see whether the male psyche drives some men to undermine their own health, Himmelstein and co-author Diana Sanchez asked roughly 250 men to complete an online survey on gender perceptions and doctor preferences. The answers revealed that those with more masculine leanings were more likely to choose a male doctor. Another 250 men — all undergraduate students

— participated in a staged medical exam conducted by male and female pre-med and nursing students. The upshot: The more macho the patients, the less honest they were with their male caregiver.

Those two trials were reported recently in the journal Preventive Medicine. A prior study conducted

by Himmelstein and Sanchez — published in the Journal of Health Psychology — involved gender-role interviews with nearly 500 males and females. It found that guys with traditional masculine ideals were less likely to seek health care, more likely to downplay symptoms, and had worse overall health compared with women and less masculine men.

The research team also found that women who viewed themselves as "brave" or "self-reliant" were also less likely to seek care or be honest

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

about their health status with doctors than women who didn't strongly embrace such characteristics.

But Himmelstein said she wouldn't expect women to behave exactly the same as tough men across the board because "women don't lose status or respect by displaying vulnerability or weakness."

Timothy Smith, a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, said these findings reflect long-standing social forces.

"Cultural beliefs, such as toughness, develop for a reason," he said.

"Decades ago, when our economy depended predominantly on manual labor, the ability to continue working despite (problematic) physical conditions benefited families dependent on that labor."

Men’sHealth

New Website Highlights DIY Tools for People with Disabilities

Guys’ Eating Habits?

Oh, My!

Expert: site is a source for teachers and students to get ideas on new ways to think about technology and innovation in relation to disability

T

That beer, burgers, pizzas and chips take a toll on many men, according to experts

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

ost guys in their teens and early 20s can get away with wolfing down copious amounts of pizza, gulping soda and devouring bags of chips without any visible consequences. Around age 30, that chowhound habit begins to more visibly affect their weight. By 40, the pounds have really begun to pile up, and by 50, many serious health complications surface with symptoms they can't ignore.

"It comes down to portion control and understanding their needs on a daily basis," said Frank Giardina, registered dietitian and owner of SMART Nutrition by Frank in Williamsville. "Most people don't track their foods and just mindlessly eat."

In addition to monitoring portion size, men can improve their diet by avoiding the dietary pitfalls to which men are prone. Juggling work, family life and chores can lead to grabbing whatever's handy to eat.

"Lots of that grab-and-go food is loaded with excess sugar," Giardina said. "Those that are low in fat are loaded with sugar to compensate. It accumulates over time. It can only process so much over time without storing it."

He advises guys to track what they're eating, and figure out their nutritional needs through online tools, apps and the help of a registered dietitian, whose services may be covered by health insurance.

"Over time, as you're eating better, you'll have a good effect on your health as your lipid levels improve," Giardina said. "You'll lose weight and start feeling good. You also need to incorporate exercise, choosing activities appropriate to your lifestyle and abilities."

Dropping bad habits can help men eat better. Men who don't cook, for example, may rely upon more

convenience foods or dining out; however, Katie Manis, registered dietitian with Kaleida Health, encourages men to pick up the mixing spoon.

"We can control all the ingredients and added sources of calories and fat," she said. "When eating out, we usually don’t see the food being prepared and it is usually prepared with more than needed fat sources."

Saturated fat has been linked to heart disease. That doesn't mean guys have to avoid all their favorite foods. Merely exchanging most of the red meat in a burrito or chili for more beans can reduce the saturated fat content. Or choosing meat more wisely, and adding a side salad can help, too.

Buffalo, venison and grass-fed beef are also generally leaner than grain-fed beef. And sticking with 97-percent lean and loin cuts of beef also greatly reduces the saturated fat content. Skinless poultry, pork loin and seafood also offer great protein sources.

Skipping meals because of busyness can harm health.

"Eating often helps keep your blood sugars in a more consistent state which can help our metabolism," Manis said. "It is not correct thinking that skipping meals will help with weight loss."

Skipping also encourages overeating or poor eating later.

Manis suggested an egg white sandwich on whole grain bread with a piece of fruit for a healthful breakfast.

Swinging into the drive-through lane provides an easy dinner; however, it's just as easy to plan ahead for more wholesome eating. Grilled fish or chicken can offer both convenience and nutrients.

"Choose foods with color," Manis

said. "It’s important to eat a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. This will provide us with a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Men tend to focus on protein, which although is important, the typical western diet exceeds our daily need for protein."

It's also important to improve your beverage choices. There's a reason they call it a "beer" belly: alcohol packs a wallop of calories. So do sweetened drinks, such as soda, sports drinks and energy drinks.

Though juice offers nutrients, it is high in naturally occurring sugars.

"Oftentimes, calories found in liquids are empty calories, meaning they do not provide any vitamin, minerals or other nutritional benefit," Manis said. "These calories add up quickly and can contribute to expanding waistlines."

For guys who drink a lot of milk, switching to skim or 1 percent to reduces overall fat intake. Instead of sports drinks (unless you're engaging in hours of exercise) replenish with low-fat chocolate milk.

"It is a great post-exercise drink," Manis said. "There's no need for expensive recovery drinks."

Making dietary changes may sound like "going on a diet" but that phrase describes short-term changes.

Giardina encourages clients to make lifestyle changes.

"If you work within your nutrient intake or calorie or portion budget, you can strike a balance between that and exercise," he said. "I try to set people on the right course, like GPS. Take small steps. You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run.

"See if your health insurance covers visiting a dietitian."

June 2016 •

wo Olin College professors have launched a website focused on making DIY tools accessible to help people with disabilities perform daily tasks and, along the way, offer a more expansive view of the maker movement.

The site can be found at http://engineeringathome.org/.

Since its launch the site has touched a chord among educators and the adaptive technology community, resulting in more than 7,000 visitors — and many more thousands of page views — in just the first few weeks.

Inspired by Cindy, a Massachusetts woman who lost both of her legs and varying amounts of each of her fingers following a catastrophic heart attack, the site is a resource created by Assistant Professor of Design Sara Hendren and Professor of Anthropology Caitrin Lynch, together with help from Olin College students William Lu, Mary Martin and Toni Saylor.

“We hope Engineering at Home will be a source for teachers and students to get ideas on new ways to think about technology and innovation in relation to disability, and it can also help people with disabilities to feel empowered to solve their own daily challenges,” says Lynch.

In order to perform everyday tasks, Cindy “Macgyvered” workarounds to common problems she encountered every day: opening a jar, selecting medication from a pill bottle, eating a sandwich. There are dozens of adaptations on the site, gathered under action-word headings such as hold, grasp, and squeeze. The just-a-click-away solutions range from adhesive wall hooks to help opening jars, a carabiner handle to carry a purse, to a small soft grip tube that helps Cindy apply make-up. Visitors to Engineering at Home are encouraged to create and adapt their own workarounds as they see fit.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 13

Sunbathing For Longer Life? Experts Say No

New research says sunbathing increases life expectancy; local experts dispute findings and urge people to stay out of sun

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

recently released study of nearly 30,000 women claims sunbathing increases life expectancy.

The observational study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, followed Swedish women for 20 years and researchers speculated that subjects’ exposure to sunlight helped raise their vitamin D levels. Sun exposure causes the body to generate vitamin D, a pre-hormone that supports many functions of the body.

The study contradicts the sun shunning promoted by dermatologists.

“The conclusion that sunbathers live longer than non-sunbathers is merely an observation,” said physician Ilene L. Rothman, an associate professor of oncology and interim chairwoman at Roswell

Park’s department of dermatology.

“As the authors themselves note, an observation does not imply cause and effect.”

Factors not considered in the Swedish study include the participants’ genetic profile, environment, diet, activity level, tobacco and alcohol use, and stress levels, all of which can influence longevity.

The women with little sun exposure could have experienced shorter longevity because of numerous lifestyle factors left unaccounted in the study. Since the study wasn’t controlled for other factors, its conclusion is highly speculative.

“In regards to vitamin D, I stand with the American Academy of Dermatology in recommending that vitamin D be obtained through

sources other than the sun,” Rothman said. “We know that ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from tanning beds causes skin cancer. vitamin D can be safely obtained from supplements and diet.”

Supplementing 600 to 800 international units (IU) daily offers what most people need; however, a blood test can determine one’s vitamin D level.

Protecting skin from sun exposure includes applying sunscreen every two to three hours and after swimming. Products containing titanium and zinc oxide as their active ingredients block out all UVA and UV rays. Sunscreen with nano-particles last longer and don’t appear as chalky on the skin. Use plenty; most people don’t use nearly enough, according to experts. Choose a high SPF. Shaded areas provide about 70 percent protection, unless it’s near a reflective area such as a poolside umbrella. The water can actually magnify the sun’s effects.

Linda Anne Taylor, board certified adult nurse practitioner and owner of Invision Health in Williamsville, has studied alternative and complementary medicine for 40 years.

While she concedes that “a little sun is good,” she warns that sunburn is dangerous and that supplementation is necessary.

“We’re too far from the equator

Liver Tumors

Treatment improves survival time and provides new hope to patients with metastatic liver tumors

N

o one wants to hear the word “cancer” and much less the phrase “metastatic cancer,” which means that the disease has spread beyond the original tumor site.

Unfortunately, that was the difficult news 36-year-old Jason Terry of West Seneca received when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in February 2014.

Terry had been experiencing what felt like the flu for several weeks.

Finally he went to see a doctor and an MRI was ordered which identified a perforated bowel. It was during the process of managing this issue that the primary cancer and metastatic tumors on Terry’s liver were identified.

Immediately after diagnosis, Terry was referred to Roswell Park Cancer Institute where he saw oncologist Patrick Boland and the liver directed therapy team.

Boland immediately started him on chemotherapy and recommended that he consult with Dr. Michael Petroziello, an interventional Page 14

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radiologist at Roswell Park, to discuss having a Y-90 resin microspheres treatment as a therapy to directly target the liver tumors as a supplement to his chemotherapy.

SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are microscopic radioactive spheres that are delivered by the millions directly into the tumor site through a tiny catheter advanced to the liver.

While chemotherapy does its very important job of managing systemic disease, Y-90 microspheres specifically target the liver and are often done in combination with chemotherapy. Y-90 is sometimes referred to as “selective internal radiation therapy” or SIRT. This selective approach to treating liver tumors minimizes damage to healthy liver tissue.

Renuka Iyer, another medical oncologist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, said: “During my 12 years of practice, I have seen an increasing role for localized therapies such as Y-90 spheres, as we now have better

to get a decent amount of D from exposure alone,” Taylor said. “In 11 years of practice, I’ve had only two patients who had sufficient D levels without supplements. You need it monitored. People who randomly take vitamin D without knowing where their level is, that is not the best idea. It can be toxic if they take too much.”

It’s also important to take vitamin D3, not D2.

“A lot of people from Western medicine try to get people’s D level up,” Taylor said. “They’re trying to understand the importance of it, but write a prescription for 50,000 units for a few weeks, but pharmacies usually give D-2. Taking that high dose of D-2 in one dose depletes magnesium.”

She added that vitamin B-12 aids in absorption of vitamin D3 supplements.

Purchasing good quality supplements can help ensure you get your money’s worth.

“Make sure what you’re taking is Good Manufacturing Practice Certified, not ‘According to GMP Standards,’” she said. “Always choose a good, reputable company.”

Taylor recommends mineralbased sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the active ingredients over chemical sunscreens, which she calls toxic.

A view of the liver.

With Y-90 treatment, millions of tiny radioactive spheres surround and penetrate the liver tumor selectively irradiating it, according to experts.

systemic therapies to control disease outside the liver. This has led to better quality of life for patients, as it often gives them a chance to have time without chemotherapy, not just for colon, but also other cancers such as neuroendocrine cancer.”

According to the American Cancer Society, at least 60 percent of the nearly 140,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year will see their cancer spread to the liver. The liver is the most important organ to protect in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with a very high percentage of patients dying from liver failure.

Microspheres therapy has emerged as a treatment option for patients with cancer that has spread to the liver.

“SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are a powerful weapon against one of the deadliest forms of cancer,” says Dr. Nikhil Patel, interventional radiologist at Millard Fillmore Suburban hospital in Williamsville, NY who also performs the Y-90 procedure. “Y-90 therapy has been proven to extend patient survival and, just as importantly, the treatment allows patients to maintain

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

a good quality of life.”

Jason Terry says that he would highly recommend this procedure to anyone and that the benefits outweighed the side effects he experienced. The downtime was similar to chemotherapy, about three days. Terry experienced a slight loss in appetite and felt mild flu-like symptoms for a few days. He feels very fortunate that this therapy was available and offered to him and he is hopeful that in sharing his positive experience and story with other patients they will be more aware of this treatment option and discuss the possibilities with their treating medical oncologists.

For more information on SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres and local programs contact: • Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital: Dr. Nikhil Patel 716877-0053.

• Roswell Park Cancer Institute: Liver and Pancreas Tumor Center 716-845-4799.

Submitted copy.

Senior Apartments for 55+ STOP IN FOR A TOUR

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By Jim Miller

Protect Yourself from Melanoma Skin Cancer Dear Savvy Senior,

Does skin cancer run in families? My 63-year-old brother died of melanoma last year, and I’m wondering about my risks of getting this. What can you tell me?

Younger Sibling

Dear Sibling, While long-term sun exposure and sunburns are the biggest risk factors for melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — having a sibling or parent with melanoma does indeed increase your risk of getting it two to three times.

Each year, about 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, and around 10,000 people will die from it. While anyone can get it, those most often diagnosed are Caucasians, age 50 and older. And those with the highest risk are people with red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, fair skin, freckles, moles, a family history of skin cancer and those who had blistering sunburns in their youth.

Skin Exams

The best way you can guard against melanoma and other skin cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinomas) is to protect yourself from the sun, and if you’re over age 50, get a full-body skin exam done by a dermatologist every year, especially if you’re high risk.

Self-examinations done every month or so is also a smart way to detect early problems. Using mirrors, check the front and backside of your entire body, including the tops and undersides of your arms and hands, between your toes and the soles of your feet, your neck, scalp and buttocks. Be on the lookout for new growths, moles that have changed, or sores that don’t heal. Follow the ABCDE rule when examining suspicious moles.

• Asymmetry: One half of a mole doesn’t match the other.

• Border: The border is blurred or ragged.

• Color: The mole has uneven colors, often shades of brown, tan or black, with patches of pink, red, white or blue.

• Diameter: The lesion is new or at least a quarter-inch in diameter.

• Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape or color.

For more self-examination tips and actual pictures of what to look

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for, see SkinCancer.org or Melanoma. org.

In the spring and summer, there are a variety of places that offer free skin cancer screenings. Check with the American Academy of Dermatology (888-462-3376, aad.org/ public/spot-skin-cancer), which offers screenings done by hundreds of volunteer dermatologists across the U.S., and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (asds.net/ skincancerscreening.aspx).

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Sun Protection

Even though you can’t change your skin or family history, there are some proven strategies that can help you protect yourself.

For starters, avoid tanning beds, and when you go outside, slather on broad-spectrum SPF 30, water-resistant sunscreen on both sunny and cloudy days. If you don’t like the rub-on lotions, try the continuous spray-on sunscreens which are easier to apply and re-apply and less messy.

Also, seek the shade when rays are most intense — between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

You can also protect your skin by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and long sleeves and pants when possible. The best clothing options are tightly-woven fabric that help prevent the sun’s rays from reaching your skin, or you can wash-in an invisible shield sun protection into your cloths with SunGuard laundry additive (see sunguardsunprotection. com). You can even buy a variety of lightweight clothing and hats that offer maximum UV protection in their fabric. Coolibar.com and SunPrecautions.com are two sites that offer these products.

Treatments

If melanoma is caught and treated early, it’s nearly 100 percent curable. But if it’s not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. Standard treatment for melanoma is surgical removal. In advanced cases however, chemotherapy or radiation may also be used, along with a variety of new drug treatments.

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Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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n 2016, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer around the world. This alarming statistic affects people and families everywhere. On June 5 we observe National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States. In support of this day, Social Security encourages getting checkups to provide early detection, raise awareness through education and recognize the survivors who have gone through this battle or are still living with the disease.

Social Security stands strong in our support of the fight against cancer. We offer services to patients dealing with this disease through our disability program and our compassionate allowances program. compassionate allowances are cases with medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to process the cases quickly with minimal medical information. Many cancers are on our compassionate

Story ideas? Q&A If you’d like to submit a story idea for In Good Health, please send an email to editor@buffalohealthnews.com

Stroke Hospitalization Down for Many in U.S. But higher rates shown for younger adults, blacks

W

hile Americans suffered fewer strokes overall from 2000 to 2010, stroke rates climbed substantially among younger adults and blacks, a new study found.

Hospitalizations for strokes caused by artery blockages dropped 18.4 percent overall during the decade, with greater decreases among the elderly, University of Southern California researchers found.

Within the overall decrease, however, some groups saw an increase in hospitalizations as the burden of stroke shifted to younger adults. For example, although stroke hospitalizations dropped 50 percent for people 65 and older, they increased nearly 49

Page 16

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percent among 25-to-64 year-olds.

Stroke hospitalizations also varied by race — up almost 14 percent among blacks.

Paul Wright, chairman of neurology at North Shore University Hospital, in Manhasset, said, “There are things we can do to help prevent strokes.” Topping the list: living a healthier lifestyle, which can prevent as many as 80 percent of strokes, said Wright, who was not involved with the study.

The study authors said better control of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol probably accounted for the steep decline in strokes among the elderly.

Q: Will my son be eligible to receive benefits on his retired father’s record while going to college?

A: No. At one time, Social Security did pay benefits to eligible college students. But the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below. Normally, benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if children are still full-time students at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits generally can continue until they graduate or until two months after they reach age 19, whichever is first. If your child is still going to be in school at age 19, you’ll want to visit www.socialsecurity.gov/schools.

Q: When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, are benefits payable on that person’s record?

A: Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: • Widow or widower — unreduced benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60; • A disabled widow or widower — as early as age 50; • A widow or widower at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased's child who is under age

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

allowance list.

There’s no special application or form you need to submit for compassionate allowances. Simply apply for disability benefits using the standard Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. Once we identify you as having a compassionate allowances condition, we’ll expedite your disability application.

Social Security establishes new compassionate allowances conditions using information received at public outreach hearings, from the Social Security and disability determination services communities, from medical and scientific experts, and from data based on our research.

For more information about compassionate allowances, including the list of eligible conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ compassionateallowances.

If you think you qualify for disability benefits based on a compassionate allowances condition, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for benefits.

16 or disabled, and receiving Social Security benefits; • Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren or adopted children; • Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled; and • Dependent parents age 62 or older.

Even if you are divorced, you still may qualify for survivors benefits. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

Q: Although I stopped working a few years ago, I had additional seasonal earnings after my retirement. Will my monthly Social Security retirement benefit increase?

A: Possibly. And, you can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time.

Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase their monthly benefit amounts. If an increase is due, we calculate a new benefit amount and pay the increase retroactive to January following the year of earnings.

You can learn more about how work affects your benefits by reading our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs.

This triggered her post-treatment realization that the disease would seriously affect her life.

“I started to sense that things going forward were going to be different,” she recollected. “I was grateful to be around, but I didn’t have peer support. These feelings had nothing to do with my diagnosis and treatment; it had to do with my age. I started to try and find opportunities to meet people.”

Cancerstricken Youth

Support network vital

Getting ‘back to normal’ is harder for adolescent, young adult cancer survivors

By Jana Eisenberg

I

magine the disruption that receiving a cancer diagnosis as an adolescent or young adult would cause — whether you’re in high school, college, grad school, trying to start a family, or just getting into a career.

More nonprofit groups, doctors and patients are coming together to advocate for and support the growing awareness around the unique needs of the adolescent and young adult cancer survivor population.

Ages 15-39, this group has a good survival rate. But, say doctors, researchers and activists, those survival rates haven’t improved as quickly as the rates for children and older populations. In addition, many other issues can affect the lives and livelihood of AYA cancer survivors.

As National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week (April 4-8) commenced, the Young Adult Support Group at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo hosted a wellness retreat featuring Samantha Eisenstein Watson of The Samfund as the keynote speaker.

The Samfund provides direct financial assistance and free online support and education to young adult cancer survivors.

A casual yet structured gathering, the day-long retreat offered patients and survivors as well as a family member, friend or caregiver the opportunity to share experiences, connect with each other, and ask questions. Watson, who founded The Samfund after her own experience as a young adult cancer survivor, spoke movingly, first briefly relating her own history and experience.

Watson was diagnosed in 1999; then, as now, for many doctors treating this age group, and patients

themselves, a cancer diagnosis isn’t always top of mind.

Lynda Kwon Beaupin is assistant professor of oncology in Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Department of Pediatric Oncology and assistant professor of pediatrics at UB’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. After the retreat, she concurred that this thought pattern still exists.

“In the last 12 or 15 years, we’ve

learned that not much attention is being paid to this population,” says Beaupin. “They, and their health care providers, feel like their symptoms couldn’t be cancer because of their age. It’s not at the top of doctors’ lists when it comes to diagnosis. This is one of the ways that the AYA’s disease is a little different.”

In her keynote, Watson discussed how she returned to college and tried to take up where she left off.

Samantha Eisenstein Watson of The Samfund as the keynote speaker during a recent event that gathered experts to discuss adult cancer awareness. The event was hosted at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

June 2016 •

Watson says she was lucky to have supportive family, and a relatively easy transition back to her life in many ways. In her experience connecting with others in similar circumstances, though, she realized that many young adult cancer survivors wind up in serious financial straits. Hence The Samfund’s signature hashtag: #cancerisntfree.

“I had good insurance and when we got a bill for $285,000, my mom had time to go to battle over it,” Watson said. “Like many young adults, I was ‘broke’ But unlike many others, I didn’t have to declare bankruptcy.”

Elizabeth Oddy, who attended the retreat, is a recipient of two grants from The Samfund. She found herself in financial need after diagnosis of and treatment for thyroid cancer at 28.

This excerpt from Oddy’s application essay to the fund describes the situations in which young people can find themselves: “It would be an honor to be selected as a SamFund recipient and join the survivors who’ve been encouraged to find their lives again, a reminder that there are loving people who will support us along the way. This grant would let me focus on life-building goals — not just survival-related goals. Like those fighting cancer and surviving its long-term effects, I know that living at the survival level is not living fully. It is a waste of potential.”

Said Watson bluntly in her talk, “Cancer is a massive interrupter, physically, financially, emotionally, psychologically, professionally, academically — you figure out that your life is not going to happen the way you thought it was; that things aren’t going to be the same as they were, and that it’s OK.” Beaupin said her interest in advocating for AYA cancer survivors is more than professional. “It’s hard to not be empathetic with adolescents and young adults in this experience; in some ways it’s much more disruptive,” she says. “Their families are still affected, and they’re in major life stages when exciting things are happening. I’ve seen this be a complete barrier to my patients in achieving their goals.”

Watson iterates that her organization has broadened from financial assistance to education, in order to help people before they get to a crisis point. “We are reaching out to a broader audience, working to create community, understanding and encouragement,” she said.

To learn more about The Samfund, visit thesamfund.org.

Roswell Park Cancer (roswellpark. org) has information on its website about local AYA cancer survivor and patient support.

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Health News

ECMC achieves high safety rating in survey

Erie County Medical Center announced that The Leapfrog Group, an independent, national nonprofit organization founded more than a decade ago by the nation’s leading employers and private healthcare experts, has rated ECMC’s overall safety score at ‘B’ — a level which places it among 638 other hospitals across the country receiving such a score.

The Leapfrog patient surveys assesses medical errors, accidents, injuries, infections and patient experiences.

“This updated hospital safety ranking, from such a widely respected national organization, is further evidence of the extraordinary work our caregivers perform every day in every facet of patient care,” said Thomas J. Quatroche, Jr., ECMC president and CEO. “ECMC prides itself in providing our patients with the best possible experience and quality service while they are in our care. This important national survey confirms that outside, independent assessors concur that ECMC is succeeding in our effort to provide true care.”

Physician Brian Murray, ECMC chief medical officer, said: “This is a tremendously gratifying recognition of the high quality of care that our excellent caregivers provide to our patients. ECMC’s high standard of care is evident in every service area of the hospital and we take great pride in this type of outside affirmation.”

Of the 2,571 hospitals issued a hospital safety score, 798 earned an A, 639 earned a B, 957 earned a C, 162 earned a D and 15 earned an F.

Vein & Laser offers cellulite treatment Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center (CVLC) of Williamsville is now offering Cellfina, the only FDAcleared permanent cellulite reduction procedure available in the market. According to CVLC, the company is the first medical office in the area to perform the procedure, which they say provides long-lasting cellulite-reduction solutions.

The Cellfina system treats the primary structural cause of cellulite—the connective bands woven throughout fat in the thighs and buttocks, according to dermatologist Daniel Buscaglia, CVLC’s medical director and president. “These tight bands pull down the skin, creating the puckering you see on the surface of the skin. Similar to a rubber band under tension, once released, the treated skin bounces back to smooth itself out in as little as three days.

“Patients typically notice significant improvement in three days, and those results are still evident three years after treatment,” Buscaglia said.

The in-office treatment takes less than an hour, depending on the number of dimples being treated Page 18

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and the patient’s individual needs. It doesn’t involve general anesthesia, so patients are able to go about their day.

Wellness Institute staff recognized for services The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo announced the recent recognition of tow staff members for their service to our community.

• Russ Kingsbury and his youth advantage program received the Milestone Contributor Award on behalf of the Basketball Coaches Association of NY. Youth advantage is a program that is designed to impact the lives of Buffalo’s disadvantaged youth. Kingsbury and his team began youth advantage sport leagues over 16 years ago. Current programs include flag football, basketball leagues and other tournaments and camps. In 2015, over 900 children participated in youth advantage programs. For more information about the Buffalo youth advantage program, visit: www.eteamz.com/youthadvantage .

• Phil Haberstro was recognized as Explore Buffalo’s Partner of the Year. Haberstro has worked closely with Explore Buffalo for over three years. Last year, Explore Buffalo walking tours contributed more tahan 22 million steps to the Wellness Institute’s 2015 step campaign.

This year, the Wellness Institute is striving for the community to reach at least 40 million steps through its own free, guided walking series and other community events.

Kenmore Mercy gets an ‘A’ in Leapfrog report Kenmore Mercy Hospital, a member of Catholic Health, recently received Buffalo area’s only “A” score in the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score report. That’s the top grade in Erie County.

The hospital watchdog group rates how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections. Kenmore Mercy Hospital has maintained its “A” rating since April 2014.

Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters of Charity Hospital each received a “B” rating, while Sisters Hospital’s St. Joseph Campus and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital each received a “C” rating, the average for hospitals in the Buffalo-Niagara region.

“In many cases, there are very small percentage points that separate hospitals from the next highest letter grade, which was the case for Catholic Health,” said John Kane, the health system’s vice president for quality and patient safety. “The efforts of all of our hospitals to focus on patient safety and quality of service is commendable.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent industry watchdog funded by leading companies and purchasers of healthcare, uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data on patient injuries, medical errors and

infection rates to grade more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals from A to F for their overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm.

“Kenmore Mercy Hospital has implemented a number of practices in recent years that impact harm reduction and risk prevention to positively benefit our patients,” said Laura Verbanic, director of quality and patient safety for Kenmore Mercy Hospital. This includes a dedicated 24/7 in-house critical care coverage team in its intensive care unit (ICU), implementation of the move with care safety program to reduce patient falls, and education to reduce infection rates.

dation and its community partners — physician Vivian Lindfield of WNY Breast Health and The National Witness Project — stated that their goal is to make a significant impact in increasing mammography screening and decreasing disparities faced by women in four target counties with significant gaps in breast cancer services and access to care: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie and Wyoming.

Through this effort, culturally-competent, evidence-based breast health education, patient navigation, screening, transportation, interpreter services, and support will be provided for women who are medically underserved and who face disparities in seeking breast health care.

Services will be provided by the mobile mammography coach visiting these areas.

The targets of this effort are: community education, 1,000 women; ECMC Foundation will receive patient navigation and screening sera $71,598 grant from the Susan G. vices, 500 women; further diagnosKomen Foundation to fund additic testing for those with abnormal tional breast cancer education and mammography results, 100 women; screening services, including the transportation assistance as needed, creation of a new video highlighting 250 women; patient navigation and ECMC Foundation’s mobile maminterpreter services for women who mography coach.

“We are very appreciative of this face language barriers, 25 women.

Since ECMC foundation’s mobile important support from the Susan G. mammography coach was launched Komen Foundation, which will help us spread the word further about the in 2012: • 9376 women have been benefits of the mobile mammography screened on the coach coach and our ability to make the • 21 women were found to have vital services provided via the Coach breast cancer available to more and more women • 987 women were identified as throughout Western New York,” said needing additional diagnostic imagJonathan Dandes, ECMC Foundaing and case management after coach tion’s chairman. screening In seeking the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s support, ECMC Foun-

ECMC gets grant to support breast health

ECMC recognized for its stroke care ECMC has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

To receive the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines– Stroke achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month periods and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with five of eight Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality measures.

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. They focus on appropriate use of guideline-based care for stroke patients, including aggressive use of medications such as clot-busting and anti-clotting drugs, blood thinners and cholesterol-reducing drugs, preventive action for deep vein thrombosis and smoking cessa-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

tion counseling.

“This recognition further demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely,” said ECMC Corporation President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr. ”ECMC continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients.

The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”

Physician Paul Heidenreich, national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University said, “The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognize ECMC for its commitment to stroke care. Research has shown there are benefits to patients who are treated at hospitals that have adopted the Get With The Guidelines program.”

On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Health News Leadership Changes at Kaleida Health Kaleida Health early in May announced several leadership changes designed to improve care delivery and further integrate Kaleida Health’s hospitals and affiliations.

They are: • Cheryl Klass was named executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Kaleida Health. In this role, she will have oversight for nursing across the entire organization. Klass joined Kaleida Health in 2004 as president of Klass Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and vice president for Kaleida Health.

In 2011, Klass was appointed senior vice president of operations, Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute as well as HighPointe on Michigan.

She began her career as nurse at Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, working her way up to chief nursing officer (CNO). She also served as CNO at the Children’s Hospital in Chicago (affiliated with Northwestern University) before returning to Buffalo to serve as chief operating officer of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Sisters Hospital of Buffalo, as well as vice president of Women’s Health for the Catholic Health System. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Niagara University and her Master of Business Administration from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Man-

agement at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. • Chris Lane was appointed president of Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute. Lane has led the northtowns for Kaleida Health for the past 10 years, serving as the president of Millard Fillmore Lane Suburban and DeGraff Memorial Hospitals as well as overseeing long-term care.

Lane joined Kaleida Health in 2003, when he was named vice president of Kaleida Health and president of DeGraff Memorial Hospital. In 2007, Lane became president of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and, in 2012, took on the role as president of both facilities.

Before joining Kaleida Health, he served as administrator of Covenant Health Systems in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Lane holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colgate University in Hamilton and received his master’s degree in healthcare administration from D’Youville College in Buffalo.

• Donald Boyd was promoted to executive vice president for business development and affiliations. Boyd has worked on developing and executing partnerships and relationships with outlying hospitals, physician groups and providers across Western New York.

Boyd, who has been with Kaleida Health since its inception in 1998,

previously served as the president at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital and a vice president for Kaleida Health. He also held various other roles as vice president for ambulatory services and business development, director of ambulatory services, manager of quality Boyd improvement and director of Kaleida Health’s ambulatory surgery center in Williamsville. He has a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in corporate finance and healthcare systems management, from the University at Buffalo (UB). He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in community mental health and psychology from UB. • Cletis Earle was recruited to Kaleida Health from St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh/ Cornwall, NY, and will serve as vice president and chief information officer. He will provide leadership for Kaleida Health’s information Earle technology (IT) team, overseeing strategic and tactical planning, plus development and coordination of the IT platform.

Earle previously served as vice president and chief information officer at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital since 2011. He began his IT career as a support manager at Brooklyn Queens Health Care Inc. in Brooklyn, eventually taking on roles as director of technology and vice president, chief information officer and privacy officer within the organization. Earle holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY, and a master’s degree in information systems from Strayer University in Washington, DC. • Rebecca Haslinger was named vice president of finance.

Recruited from HealthNow NY Inc. (BlueCross BlueShield), where she served as director of business finance, enterprise initiatives Haslinger and analytics, Haslinger will be working with the finance team in support of Kaleida Health’s clinical and patient care initiatives.

Haslinger previously held roles as vice president of healthcare real estate at Care Investment Trust Inc., a Healthcare REIT managed by CIT Group Inc. in Orchard Park, as well as senior auditor of assurance and advisory business services at Ernst & Young LLP in Buffalo. A certified public accountant (CPA), she holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Canisius College in Buffalo.

Over 1600 students gather for Bluecross Blueshield’s Healthy Zone Game Show finale at First Niagara Center More than 1,600 Buffalo public school third-graders converged on First Niagara Center May 25 for the finale of BlueCross BlueShield’s Healthy Zone Game Show.

Recently honored as "The Best Program Designed for Children," by the New York State Broadcasters Association, the Healthy Zone Game Show is an interactive television series produced locally by WBBZ-TV in which students test their health and wellness knowledge.

BlueCross BlueShield launched the program in November 2015 in an effort to teach healthy habits in a fun and engaging way.

Students from the program’s four front-running schools competed for a trophy and a $500 health education grant as they were cheered on by their fellow classmates.

BlueCross BlueShield’s Community Relations Team greeted students with blue pom poms and facilitated fun activities throughout the event with Sabretooth and Buster Bison.

June 2016 •

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Summer Outings

Cycle the Erie Canal

An eight-day, 400-mile bike ride through the canal departs July 10 from Buffalo

By Tim Fenster

A

bout 199 years ago this July, ground was broken on the Erie Canal — a roughly 363 mile waterway that drastically changed the demographics and economies of not only Upstate New York, but of the northeastern United States.

And though the famed canal has not been vital to transportation or commerce in generations, it remains an iconic part of Upstate New York’s history and heritage.

Now, a growing number of New Yorkers are looking to experience the canal and all the history it offers through an eight-day, 400 mile bike ride.

The 18th annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour gives participants to chance to bike the entirety of the Erie Canalway Trail, which covers about 80 percent of the canal. The ride departs from Buffalo on Sunday, July 10 and arrives in downtown Albany on Sunday, July 16. Registration is on July 9.

Though the ride averages 50 miles per day, organizers and riders describe it as leisurely and doable for intermediate-level riders. The tour moves at a gentle pace of about eight to 10 miles per hour, and riders break at local villages and historically-significant destinations, such as Lockport and Palmyra.

“It’s a very leisurely ride. We market it to riders of all abilities,” said Gregory Francese, assistant bike tour coordinator.

Francese added that the tour’s participants have included children as young as 2 (though they ride in bicycle trailers), and retirees as old Page 20

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as their early 90s. What’s more, the median age of last year’s tour riders was 58, and most riders are described as baby boomers and early retirees.

“It’s a fairly easy bicycle ride for young people and older people,” said Daniel Millstone, a 70-year-old bicycling enthusiast who has volunteered for the ride every year since 2006. “And because it’s a canal there’s no hills [and] no automobile traffic.”

For an entry price of $725 per adult, riders receive eight prepared breakfasts, six dinners, two daily

refreshment stops and daily camping accommodations with showers, toilet facilities and baggage transportation.

Some 60 volunteers provide help from attending to medical issues to fixing flat tires, and also provide information on the local areas.

The entry fee also includes daily entertainment and attractions, including guided tours of the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, the Fort Stanwix National Monument (where riders camp during their stay in Rome) and a boat tour through the Lockport locks, to name just a few. Riders also have plenty of chances to explore local

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • June 2016

communities, from Seneca Falls to Rome.

“We try and make it so there’s something for everybody along the way,” Francese said.

Prospective riders should keep in mind that the trail is partially paved and crushed stone in other places.

Francese recommends that interested riders use a bike that they are comfortable with — hybrid bikes are the most common — and wear padded bicycle shorts to reduce saddle soreness.

For less experienced riders, there are also two- and four-day options, each of which either start in Buffalo or end in Albany.

“Most people do some riding beforehand so they have an idea of what they’re comfortable with,” Francese said.

But there’s more to the bike tour than simply enjoying the scenery, history and communities of this vital, nearly 200-year-old man-made waterway. Francese said the tour aims to bring awareness to the missing sections of the Erie Canalway Trail, which are mostly concentrated near Weedsport, Syracuse and Utica.

Francese said their goal is to have a plan to complete the unfinished 20 percent — or 72 miles — by the bicentennial celebration of the canal’s ground-breaking in July of 2017.

“We want a plan by 2017 to lay out the groundwork for plans finishing the trail,” Francese said.

Prospective riders should visit www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/ annual-bike-tour for more information.