Voice News July 8 2010 Section 3
Transcription
Voice News July 8 2010 Section 3
SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Page 25 VOICE NEWS Health &Beauty Special Section For easy reference for our readers and advertisers, check out our special sections online at www.voicenewsnebraska.com Krejci fights Tularemia a little known disease compliments of infection from ticks and flies By Machaela Beltzer Tularemia. Tula-what? WebMD defines it as “a rare infectious disease that most often affects small mammals such as rabbits, rodents and hares. It is highly infectious and is most often transmitted to humans by handling an infected animal or being bit by an infected tick or fly.” It sounds innocuous enough. We live in Nebraska after all and ticks are a very common and unwelcome sight. They seem particularly bad this year. They were a most unwelcome visitor in Tami Krejci’s life. During the last few days of April, Tami took the Krejci family dog, Bentley, for her routine walk near their rural Hickman home. Their customary path includes a passage near the property line. Tami and Bentley returned home energized and refreshed. Later that evening, she found two ticks embedded in her scalp. One of the ticks was the regular, garden variety and one was a deer tick. She removed the annoying pests and promptly flushed them down the toilet. By April 30th, one of Tami’s lymph nodes was swollen to the size of a pea and was painful to the touch. Within a short 24 hour period, the lymph was marble-sized. By Sunday, May 2nd, it had ballooned to the size of a peach pit and Tami was getting scared. She was feverish and her vision was blurry and hazy. She called her usual walking partner who is an RN. Her friend advised her to head directly to an urgent care facility. After drawing blood samples to send to the Mayo clinic, the initial diagnosis was an infection of some sort and antibiotics were prescribed. The test results would not be available for three days and Tami went home. Additional symptoms of headaches, severe body aches, continued, fever and severe fatigue followed in short order. Having received no relief from the initial round of antibiotics, Tami next sought the help of her general practitioner physician. Her doctor suspected either Lyme’s disease or Dengue fever since Tami and her husband Jeff had just returned from vacationing in Mexico and she was presenting all the symptoms of having been infected with malaria. The physician drew more blood for testing. Please understand these blood draws are not just finger pricks. They are taken from the arm and are by no means small. Tami, her family and her physician tried to patiently endure the one week turnaround time required to obtain the results of the blood work. A mere 12 days passed since the initial onset of the symptoms and now Tami was shaking uncontrollably in addition to continuing to suffer from the original symptoms. She said Jeff had to nearly place her in a body-hold at night to get the shaking to cease long enough for Tami to get some much-needed rest. May 12th, the GP’s office called with the results of the blood work. All tests were negative. Unable to give relief to his patient, Tami’s physician referred her to Consultants Infectious Disease office located in the Bryan Medical Plaza on May 14th. Dr. Steven Rademacher was the right man for the job. Tami states with great admiration, “He found the needle in the haystack.” Dr. Rademacher strongly suspected that Tami was suffering from tularemia, drew more vials of blood and prescribed the correct antibiotic, doxycycline. Doxycyline provided Tami with some relief and she became hopeful. Sadly, two days later she begins to present new symptoms including lesions on her arms and legs. The results of the blood work were not back yet. On May 19th, Tami began to get really frightened. She had extreme difficulty breathing. She and Jeff packed her bags because they are adamant that she be admitted to the hospital or they were leaving that day to make the drive to the Mayo clinic. Dr. Rademacher admitted Tami to the hospital and scheduled surgery for the next morning. It was then determined that the tularemia had progressed to a systemic infection (an infection throughout her body) and was coming through her skin in the form of lesions. The surgery was initially planned to remove one of Tami’s lymph glands for testing. When she awoke from anesthesia, Tami had three surgical sites from her scalp line down to her shoulder. The first two lymph glands removed were unusable for testing because they had been completely eaten by the bacteria infecting her body. I r o n i c a l l y, while Tami was recovering from surgery, the blood work results from Dr. Rademacher’s office were returned. All tests are negative. Even the test for tularemia is nega- Medical photos found on the upmc biosecurity website of patients with tuleremia tive. Monday, May 24th is the day that Tami Krejci and her family finally had an answer to her illness. The second round of testing on Tami’s blood for tularemia came back positive. These days, Tami’s almost back to her old self. She has some numbness in her right arm resulting from the removal of the third lymph gland. It has yet to be determined whether the damage is temporary or permanent. “The good news is I can never get it again!” Tami quips. This, thanks to the antibodies her body has developed as a result of the tularemia. Hindsight is always 20-20. Had she kept the confounded pest that infected her, testing could have been done and would have immediately proved that tularemia was the culprit. If a person Googles the term, they are prompted to specify whether they want the information on bio-terrorism or the bacterial infection. According to the Center for Biosecurity, 50 kilograms of tularemia released in a populated area of five million people would cause 250,000 casualties and 19,000 deaths. Tularemia is number five on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of bio-terrorism agents and diseases. It follows the more familiar but no less frightening diseases of anthrax, botulism, plague and smallpox. Tami is determined to put this all behind her and get on with her life. There were some days, however, when this usually active gal could not even get out of bed. “I did keep up on the laundry, though! People were just wonderful. They brought me smoothies, casseroles and prayed. There were times when those prayers alone got me through the day.” It may seem a bit peculiar to include a story about a rare disease in a Health and Beauty section. Tami Krejci's beauty comes from the most important place. It comes from within. Tami's faith and belief in the goodness of her fellow beings has been reaffirmed. And that is beauty in its truest form. Jeff and Tami Krejci had a lot to celebrate at their son Jared’s wedding on June 26th. Page 26 - SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 Five ways to deal with sibling rivalry By Jane Isay The bane of many parents’ existence is the rivalry that exists among their children when they are young and when they are adults. There seems no end to it. Children count the number of potato chips on every plate, and adults keep track of the value of gifts their siblings receive. Being evenhanded and fair with a pack of kids takes more energy and patience than most of us have, and we hope they will grow out of their competition. Understanding the root of rivalry—which is a small child’s belief that there isn’t enough food, or sweets, or love to go around—may make it easier to think through the situations as they come up. Here are some tips for downplaying sibling rivalry. 1. If you didn’t see it happen, you can’t decide who did it. Staying out of your kids’ fights is a powerful tool in helping them resolve their conflicts on their own, even though things may get out of hand regularly. Encourage them to settle disputes among themselves, and intercede only to avoid physical harm. Stay neutral whenever possible. Always telling the older child, for instance, to give in to the baby isn’t fair, and they both know it. It’s better to make them both sit in a big old chair until they’ve made up. It may take more patience to do this than to side with one of the kids, so don’t blame yourself when you lose it. Kids know your limits and they can’t expect more from you. 2. Steer clear of favorites. Every child wants to be the favorite, and if there is a favorite, all the others are jealous of him or her. They feel that they’ll never get enough of your time and attention, and they often blame the favorite for the rest of their lives. It’s natural for a mom or a dad to feel a greater kinship with one of the kids. He or she may look like you, or resemble somebody you love. Or you may share temperaments or ways of thinking. That’s natural, but there are plenty of ways you can make the others feel special. Also, beware the favoritism of relatives. That can make the competition more serious. Explain- ing to an aunt that the un-favorite is feeling bad can usually do the trick. 3. Be flexible about how you characterize your kids. If one child is “the smart one,” and another “the pretty one,” or somebody is the bad child and another the perfect child, kids feel pushed to fit that role, and that makes for mutual hostility. Since the pretty one may be smarter than you think, and the quiet one may grow a good social intelligence, let those stereotypes float away. The kids who get along best in their families are the ones who don’t feel boxed in. 4. Encourage your kids’ differences, and don’t compare them. This helps to downplay rivalry. If they all want to play musical instruments, help them to choose different ones, and the same goes for sports. Of course if you have two tennis stars, that’s great (how could we live without the Williams sisters?), but you can praise their strengths in different areas, too. Spending alone time regularly with each of the kids will go a long way to helping them deal with their competition over your time and attention. 5. Whenever you can, level the playing field. Give your clumsy girl dancing lessons and the one with unruly hair a good haircut. Then you can focus on the strengths that make each child different. At the end of a long day, it’s almost impossible to keep these tips in mind, so try to actively deal with sibling rivalry only when you are fresh and have the energy. Children who feel that they are known and appreciated for themselves are less likely to be so competitive with others. Kids are verysmart, and they know what you’re thinking most of the time. And since you love them all (most of the time), these tips may start coming naturally to you. The energy you spend now will repay you when they grow up. Seeing your grown kids like each other and get along is one of life’s joys. Jane Isay is the author of “Mom Still Likes You Best: The Unfinished Business Between Siblings.” You can find her online at janeisay.com. Tea Topics The next time you drink to your health, you may want to grab a cup of tea. It is a healthful and refreshing drink and green tea in particular provides antioxidants. Studies performed on these antioxidants indicate that they may be beneficial in contributing to the prevention of certain cancers, assist in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and possibly fighting off the flu. Bottled vs. Brewed There are different ways to enjoy green tea; however, some may be better for you than others. Compared to equal servings of bottled tea, freshly brewed tea made from tea bags provides higher levels of Ditch your bottled tea for the real thing: Freshly brewed tea antioxidants, helps protect the en- may be better for your health, your wealth and the planet. There are nearly 138 billion bevvironment by reducing the num- gen and can be destroyed during the erage containers that end up in landprocessing, transportation and storber of single-use beverage containers that go into landfills, and age of bottled teas. Also, bottled fills each year. It has been estimated costs up to five times less than an teas are often loaded with sweeten- by the Container Recycling Instiequal-size serving of bottled tea. ers and other additives that can tute that the average American eliminate antioxidants and add un- wastes 425 plastic bottles per year, Better for the Body According to the U.S. Depart- wanted calories. Compared to fla- resulting in increased energy conment of Agriculture, depending on vored bottled teas that have more sumption, greenhouse gas emisthe type of tea and bag weight, than 100 calories per bottle, freshly sions and littering. Better for the Wallet freshly brewed tea made with tea brewed tea, including flavored tea Bottled teas tend to retail for bags can contain up to 95 percent such as Salada’s Pomegranate Berry higher levels of the antioxidant Green Tea or Strawberry Green Tea, more than a dollar; freshly brewed EGCG compared to bottled teas. is typically a zero-calorie, sugar-free iced tea made with tea bags can cost under 50 cents for a 16-ounce Tea’s naturally occurring antioxi- beverage. serving. Better for the Planet dants are sensitive to heat and oxy- Helping boomers to get and stay fit online There’s good news for those who find it gets harder to lose weight as they get older: A new online community has been designed to offer tips and encouragement to boomers fighting the “battle of the bulge.” According to a new report produced by AARP, the American Medical Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 are finding it hard to shed unwanted pounds: 32 percent of adults in this age group are obese and 27 percent have not been physically active in the past month. In response, AARP has joined forces with Carole Carson, a weightloss success story who lost 62 pounds at the age of 60. The author of “From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself Into a Weapon of Mass Reduction,” she is credited with helping more than a thousand of her Nevada neighbors and friends lose nearly four tons of weight in eight weeks. As part of the “Fat2Fit” online community, she provides virtual support to thousands of people trying to be healthy in the middle of leading very busy lives. Fat2Fit online community participants team up with other people--no matter what their age or where they live--who face similar challenges to give and receive More than 4,000 people have joined together to lose more than a ton of weight by participating in an online community. support in their fitness adventure. They also receive cooking tips and advice from experts to help them stay on track, and eating and exercise routines so new healthy habits can be developed and sustained. “We’re having fun gaining friends and losing weight,” Carson said. “Instead of relying on willpower alone, we’re relying on people power. Sur- Advantages of using our dental office: Digital X-Rays Our environment contains natural radiation and the dental x-rays produce a low level of radiation that the public and professional community considers safe. Many precautions are taken to ensure their safety including using lead aprons, shields, and a fast process which limits exposure. Using digital x-rays there is no need for film, processing chemicals, and the dentist gets the image in about 3 seconds. Paperless office = helping our office be more “green” We do all insurance processing as a courtesy for our patients Family 1st Dental Dr. Tom Martin (402) 792-3000 650 Chestnut St.•Hickman | www.familyfirst dental.com before • Optional Dining • Van Transportation • Under Building Parking • Abundant Safety Features • 1 or 2 Bedroom Apts. • 7 Floor Plans •Wellness Program • Country Store • Beauty Salon after EYEBROWS EYELINER LIP COLOR Temporary Price Reduction Elegant Face Permanent Cosmetics Vicki Hauschild, CPCP Certified Permanent Makeup Artist Permanent Makeup Artist Lincoln’s Premier Technician Since 1991 7005 Shamrock Rd. • Lincoln • 484-5113 [email protected] • www.carriageglenoflincoln.com 123 So. 84th St., Suite E Lincoln | 488.3050 rounding ourselves with support from like-minded teammates makes all the difference.” To date, more than 4,000 people have joined together to lose more than a ton of weight by participating in the community. AARP’s president, Jennie Chin Hansen, also decided to join. “I find myself at that stage of life where the weight has slowly crept up over the years. Like many baby boomers, I’m balancing a busy schedule. I spend a lot of time volunteering at AARP as the president and thus have the added challenge of fitting activity into my daily routine,” Chin Hansen said. Fat2Fit is free, open to all ages and welcomes AARP members and nonmembers alike. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/Fat2Fit. Narconon drug rehab philosophy When a family has a member addicted to drugs or alcohol or one is looking for a drug rehab facility, arguing over philosophic methods is hardly appropriate. However, results are. Will my son or daughter get results and be able to live drug free? This question is more to the point. One organization provides stellar results and has a new philosophy proving to be more workable than older ones. Scientists and the medical and chemical dependency community have argued for years over whether drug or alcohol addiction is a genetically or bio-chemically predisposed condition. One school of thought embraces the “disease concept”, the idea that addiction is a genetic disease and the individual is permanently ill at a genetic level. However, the Narconon program presents a new philosophy into this scene, and this one is backed up by drug rehab results of permanent recovery from addiction. There is a philosophy called the Life Cycle of Addiction. In this case, it is viewed that a person has a problem, discomfort or some form of emotional or physical pain they are experiencing. They find this difficulty very hard to deal with. In fact, they have no solution. This is something we have all had to deal with at one time or another in our lives, a difficult or traumatic situation that we had no solution for. The difference with a person that becomes an addict is that at the time of this traumatic experience they are subjected to a drug or alcohol influence that then, due to the painkilling effects, provides a temporary relief from the negative feelings associated with the problem. Once the drug or alcohol is used as a solution, SECTION 3 • VOICE and provides relief, the person is liable to use it again and again as the pain returns when the drug or intoxicated feeling wears off. This leads to addiction. To solve addiction, the mental and physical factors connected with it must be addressed. The Narconon drug rehabilitation program that has been in use for over 40 years addresses these factors and returns to the addict their selfdeterminism over drugs and alcohol enabling them to live a drug-free life. The Narconon program uses the philosophy of the life cycle of addiction and as such achieves a 70% success rate on average. Traditional philosophies have about a 16-20% recovery rate. Truly understanding addiction can make all the difference. If you would like to find out more about the Narconon program or know of someone struggling with addiction contact Narconon at 877-237-3307. NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Page 27 Skin Cancer Prevention Guidelines for summer Tips to Use All Summer Long Let Advanced Aesthetics pamper you after some fun in the sun by Carrie Didrichsons, Licensed Esthetic Instructor at Advanced Aesthetics With summer here, I am sure we are all conscious about the practice of enjoying the sun safely. Stores are stocked with shelves of lotions that contain broad spectrum sunscreens to ensure everyone can enjoy the sun unharmed. In addition to protecting our skin, our skin needs to be pampered as well during these warm months. With temperatures rising causing us to sweat, our pores can become clogged much easier than in the dry winter months. So what services should you be looking for this summer? Well, to start out with, there are countless facials to choose from. Facials typically include a deep cleansing and exfoliation. The esthetician may also perform extractions to manually extract debris (sweat and dead skin) from your pores. This will help in reducing the appearance of blackheads as well as cleaning out the pores. Pores that are clogged appear larger than normal, so receiving a deep cleansing will help the pore return to its normal size. Back facials are also in high demand during the summer months. Our backs are probably the most neglected area of skin because it is the hardest to reach. Most women will choose to put on summer dresses, tanks and swimsuits. A back that is suffering from break outs will leave a majority of women feeling self conscious about wearing these fun outfits. Men will also experience breakouts from the ing of the entire body is performed first to exfoliate the skin and stimulate circulation. An application of body oil is next, followed by a sprinkling of Chinese herb granules. The esthetician will lightly heat by participating in sporting activities or just by producing more sweat than usual, leaving their backs to endure clogged pores. A back facial is exactly what it sounds like; a facial for your back. An esthetician can customize a facial that targets breakouts by using products and machines to improve the skin. Body treatments are also a great way to get your skin glowing for summer. The Herbology Retexturizing Body Treatment is a favorite for summer. A dry brush- massage the granules onto the skin for additional exfoliation, concentrating on any dry areas you may have. You can look forward to being wrapped for approximately 20 minutes while enjoying a scalp massage or other add on service. (You can also request a facial while you are wrapped up for extra pampering!!) After the wrap is removed, the esthetician will hydrate your skin with a moisturizing lotion leaving your skin looking polished and radiant!! All of these services are offered at Advanced Aesthetics Elite Education and Day Spa and are performed by esthetic students who are overseen by licensed esthetic instructors. Advanced Aesthetics Elite Education and Day Spa is located at 5600 South 48th Street, Suite 101 in Lincoln. To make an appointment, stop in or call 402420-7346! Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 3.5 million cases in over two million people diagnosed annually. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following prevention tips: 1. Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest. An extra rule of thumb is the “shadow rule.” If your shadow is shorter than you are, ultraviolet (UV) exposure is high; if your shadow is longer, the UV exposure is lower. 2. Do not burn. Sunburns are serious and should be avoided at all costs. A person’s risk for skin cancer doubles if he or she had had five or more sunburns at any point in life. Not only can they significantly increase your chances of getting skin cancer, but severe burns can make you ill. For severe burns you should see your doctor. 3. Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. Ultraviolet radiation from tanning machines is cancer-causing to humans. Indoor UV tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors. Additionally, the more time a person has spent tanning indoors, the higher the risk. 4. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For proper UVB protection The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using SPF 30 when spending extended time outdoors. For effective UVA protection, select products that also contain some combination of avobenzone, oxybenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. 5. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to all exposed areas, 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. This means that a six ounce bottle of sunscreen offers two full days of sun protection for prolonged out- door activity. 6. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UVblocking sunglasses. Clothing can be your most effective form of sun protection, so make the most of it with densely woven and bright- or darkcolored fabrics, which offers the best defense. The more skin you cover, the better, so choose long sleeves and long pants whenever possible. 7. Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months. Children are extremely vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Just one severe sunburn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life. 8. Examine your skin from head-to-toe every month. While selfexams shouldn’t replace the important annual skin exam performed by a physician, they offer the best chance of detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer. If you notice any change in an existing mole or discover a new one that looks suspicious, see a physician immediately. To find out more about how to spot a skin cancer and for information on self-exams, visit w w w. S k i n C a n c e r. o r g / selfexamination. 9. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam. You can also check www.SkinCancer.org/tour to see if The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour is coming to your area. The Tour, presented by Aveeno(R) and Rite Aid, provides Free, full-body skin exams by local dermatologists. The Skin Cancer Foundation is committed to educating the public and medical professionals about sun safety. As leaders in the fight against skin cancer, the Foundation is the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer. For more information, visit www.skincancer.org. Cool tips for warm weather foot care If you’re like most people, you take 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. Here are 12 more steps you can take to keep your feet in good shape, especially during the warmer months: 1. Sunny days and warm nights may encourage wearing flip-flops, but it’s a good idea to get the kind made of high-quality, soft leather to minimize the potential for blisters. Make sure your foot doesn’t hang over the edge and beware of irritation where the toe thong fits. It can lead to blisters and infections. Don’t wear flipflops to play sports, do yard work or walk long distances. 2. Keep your feet healthy with a waterproof, oil-free sunscreen every time you wear sandals outdoors. 3. Dr. Kathleen Stone, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, says, “Pampering and grooming your feet promotes good foot hygiene and should be done frequently to contribute not only to your foot health in warmer weather but also to your body’s overall health.” Try soaking your feet for at least five minutes in a bucket of cool water. 4. Use a foot file or pumice stone to gently smooth the skin around the heel and the balls and sides of your feet. 5. Gently push back cuticles with a cuticle pusher or manicure stick. Cuticles provide a protective barrier against infection and should never be cut. 6. To prevent fungal infections and viruses that cause warts, wash your feet daily with soap and water, drying carefully, especially between the toes. 7. Change your shoes regularly. 8. Avoid walking barefoot, particularly in public showers and locker rooms. Bare feet are exposed to plan- tar warts and athlete’s foot. 9. To prevent hot, sweaty feet and foot odor, rub cornstarch or roll-on antiperspirant directly on the soles of your feet. 10. Use a nail clipper to cut toenails straight across. Then, use an emery board to smooth the nail edges by filing in one direction without drastically rounding the edges. When toenail edges are rounded, it increases the chances for painful ingrown toenails. 11. Consult a podiatrist if you have any foot pain or other problems affecting your feet. Podiatrists, explains Dr. Stone, are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat conditions of the foot and ankle. 12. For more information about foot care or to find a podiatrist near you, visit www.apma.org. Page 28 - SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 Making the most of medication Scientists are taking a new look at some old health problems and that is good news for women. At the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for example, they’ve discovered that women who suffer from heart disease--the leading cause of death in the United States--may experience very different symptoms than men. Also, conditions such as osteoarthritis, obesity and depression can be more common among women than men. Health scientists and doctors are now more aware than ever before of how treating women effectively differs from treating men. In addition, according to studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association, there is growing awareness among health care professionals that women sometimes neglect their own health and instead focus on that of their partners or their children. Fortunately, help is on the way for millions of women suffering from a wide spectrum of diseases and health problems. America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are now developing and testing nearly 1,000 new medicines to fight diseases and health conditions that disproportionately affect women. These medicines are either in the development pipeline or are awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These new treatments include: • 163 for female-specific cancers, including 123 for breast cancer, 62 for ovarian cancer and 14 for cervical cancer; • 131 for arthritis/musculoskeletal disorders. Arthritis affects nearly 41 million women, who account for 70 percent of all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers and nearly 59 percent of Americans with osteoarthritis; and • 86 for obstetric and gynecological conditions. “The more scientists understand about basic biology,” says Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), “the more they understand how diseases affect men and women differently and how to create medicines better able to respond to those differences. Medicines now being tested will give women and their doctors more options when it comes to finding the best treatments for each case.” For more information about women’s health, visit the National Library of Medicine at the NIH, www.nih.gov, and the National Women’s Health Information Center at www.womenshealth.gov. For more about new medicines being developed to fight diseases and health conditions that disproportionately affect women, visit www.PhRMA.org. Fibromyalgia explained: A conversation with Dr. Philip Mease An estimated six to 12 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a chronic and debilitating condition marked by widespread pain and decreased physical functioning. What’s worse, many people who are living with fibromyalgia aren’t getting the help they need. Dr. Philip Mease, Director of Rheumatology Research at the Swedish Medical Center and Clinical Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington, addresses some common questions about fibromyalgia, including the telltale signs and where you can turn if you have recently been diagnosed or think you may have fibromyalgia. How do I know if I have fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia patients usually experience an array of symptoms, such as chronic widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and trouble keeping physically active. For those who suffer from fibromyalgia, these symptoms can come and go and move about the body. Because there are no specific tests to make a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and the symptoms overlap with many other conditions, your doctor may have difficulty recognizing it. It is believed that the problem is in the way that your central nervous system processes pain and other sensations, so it is not amenable to standard testing. The diagnosis is made based on your symptoms and a physical exam. If you think you might be experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, it’s important to describe what you’re feeling to your doctor in detail so he or she can diagnose your condition and help you get better. I’m having a hard time discussing my symptoms with my doctor. What should I do? If you suspect that you have fibromyalgia but you’re having a hard time explaining what you’re going through, be as descriptive as possible when talking to your doctor. Expressing your needs clearly and asking the right questions can help you get the best care possible. Try to be prepared by keeping notes of what you are experiencing and by writing down any questions you may have before your visit to the doctor ’s office. Bring a pen and paper to your appointment in case you think of more questions during your visit. Re- member to bring up even the issues that seem trivial to you because every detail might be a step closer to an accurate diagnosis. Make sure you understand what your healthcare provider says and try to answer questions clearly, briefly, and completely. Finally, as difficult as this process can be, try to be patient with yourself. A diagnosis and finding the right treatment program can take time and your doctor will want to rule out other potential conditions. It’s difficult to explain what I’m g o i n g t h r o u g h t o m y f a m i l y, friends, and coworkers. How can I help them understand my struggle and where can I find support? Fibromyalgia can be difficult for people to understand, so your friends and loved ones may be as confused as you once were. In a kind way, tell your loved ones what help you need and why, and make it clear what you can and can’t do. Talk about your pain, how it feels, and what makes it worse. With a little help, you and your loved ones can better understand, connect with, and care for each other. Resources are available on the Internet that might help provide you and those around you with support and information about the condition. Try www.FibroTogether.com, a site that includes helpful tips from other fibromyalgia patients and facts about the condition. Giving the people who care about you a website link or pamphlet can go a long way in helping them understand what you’re going through. How do I reclaim my life once I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia? Learning that you have a chronic condition like fibromyalgia can be scary. For some, the news can actually bring relief, marking an end to weeks, months, and even years of uncertainty. Surround yourself with people who understand what you’re going through, especially other fibromyalgia patients. Talking together about fibromyalgia will make a difference-for you and those you love. Supportive friends and family can make the process less intimidating. Look into local support groups and websites like www.FibroTogether.com. Finally, your doctor might tell you about recently approved medications for the management of fibromyalgia. Be sure to talk to your doctor and find out if medication might be an appropriate part of managing your condition. Life as it was meant to be! Enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle in our secure, spacious apartments. • 55+ Mature Independent Living Community • Adjacent to Holmes Lake • Affordable, Spacious Apartments • Security Access • Underground Parking • Large Party Room with Kitchen • Social Activities & Coffees • Yoga & Fitness Classes 6201 Normal Blvd. Lincoln • 486-4165 Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Key to good health: Snack early and often SECTION 3 • VOICE Signs and symptoms of gout Five tips for boosting metabolism, losing weight and staying energized One of the easiest ways to dramatically change your diet and improve your health is to rethink what you’re munching on between meals. That’s the philosophy of nationally acclaimed dietitian Keri Glassman, creator of A Nutritious Life, nutrition expert for “The Early Show” on CBS and beauty and skin care expert for WebMD. Keri takes the guesswork out of dieting. She specializes in creating diets that integrate nutrientpacked foods and indicate the best times of day to eat, including regular snacking. With her new book, “The O2 Diet” (Rodale, December 2009), Keri translates complex scientific research on antioxidants into news that’s easy to use. As Keri points out in her book, most have heard about the powerful antioxidants found in green tea, but few know that the green nut-pistachios--contains numerous health-boosting antioxidants as well. Keri has teamed up with The GreenNut.org to offer these five tips for healthy eating in 2010: • Don’t skip meals. It slows your metabolism. Think of your body as a fire that needs wood to keep burning. Begin with breakfast within an hour and a half of rising. Try six ounces of nonfat, plain yogurt topped with a small handful of pistachios and one cup of blueberries. • Eat consistently throughout the day. You’ll feel better all around, and making this change will aid in weight loss, too. Small meals every two to four hours help to stabilize blood sugar levels and provide more sustained energy. • Don’t forget to snack. The perfect snack will have about 120 to 160 calories and provide some fiber and/ or some protein and/or healthy fat. Try an apple and a stick of reducedfat string cheese or homemade trail mix composed of two dried apricots and 18 pistachios. • Plan ahead. You will save time, money and calories-guaranteed. Always keep a variety of nuts and seeds on hand, wash and cut fresh vegetables right when you return from the store, portion out hummus and hard boiled eggs. • Be creative and experiment with different seasonings. Herbs and spices Chiropractors Offer Tips to Keep Your Young Athlete Healthy and Fit Submitted by Brian Garton Complete Chiropractic - Hickman Article by The American Chiropractic Association In today’s age of health and fitness, more and more kids are involved in sporting activities. Although being part of a football, soccer or Little League team is an important rite of passage for many kids, parents and their children could be overlooking the importance of proper nutrition and body conditioning needed for preventing injuries on and off the playing field. “The majority, if not all, sports are good, provided that the child prepares appropriately,” says Dr. Carl Heigl, president of the American Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness. “Without proper preparation, playing any sport can turn into a bad experience. There are structural and physical developmental issues that need to be taken into consideration before children undertake certain sports.” Highly competitive sports such as football, gymnastics and wrestling follow rigorous training schedules that can be potentially dangerous to an adolescent or teenager. The best advice for parents who have young athletes in the family is to help them prepare their bodies and to learn to protect themselves from sports-related injuries before they happen. “Proper warm up, stretching and weight-lifting exercises are essential for kids involved in sports, but many kids learn improper stretching or weight-lifting techniques, making them more susceptible to injury,” says Dr. Steve Horwitz, an ACA member from Silver Spring, Maryland, and former member of the U.S. Summer Olympics medical team. “Parents need to work with their kids and make sure they receive the proper sports training.” “Young athletes should begin with a slow jog to warm up the legs and arms and stretch all the major muscle groups,” says Dr. Horwitz. “Kids involved in football, baseball, gymnastics and swimming should develop a routine that includes strengthening exercises for the abdomen, the low-back muscles, arms and shoulders.” Proper nutrition and hydration are also extremely vital. “A student athlete may need to drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water for proper absorption. Breakfast should be the most important meal of the day. Also, eating a healthy meal before and after practice or a game allows for proper replenishment and refuels the body,” adds Dr. Horwitz. Young athletes today often think they are invincible. The following tips can help ensure your child does not miss a step when it comes to proper fitness, stretching, training and rest that the body needs to engage in sporting activities. Encourage your child to: —Wear the proper equipment. Certain contact sports, such as football and hockey, can be dangerous if the equipment is not properly fitted. Make sure all equipment, including helmets, pads, and shoes, fit your child or adolescent. Talk to your child’s coach or trainer if the equipment is damaged. —Eat healthy meals. Make sure your young athlete is eating a wellbalanced diet and doesn’t skip meals. —Avoid high-fat foods, such as candy bars and fast food. At home, provide fruit rather than cookies, and vegetables rather than potato chips. —Maintain a healthy weight. Certain sports, such as gymnastics, wrestling and figure skating, require your young athlete to follow strict dietary rules. Be sure your child does not feel pressured into being too thin and that he/she understands proper nutrition and caloric intake is needed for optimal performance and endurance. —Drink water. Hydration is a key element to optimal fitness. Teenage athletes should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Younger athletes should drink five to eight 8-ounce glasses of water. —Drink milk. Make sure your child has enough calcium included in his/her diet. ACA recommends A par tment L i ving on 1 L e v el in Hickman now available to seniors, 62 years or over, or disabled/handicapped 18 years or over. Rent is based on income, all utilities paid. FENCEROCK APARTMENTS 489-2333 “This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider, & Employer.” NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Page 29 one percent or skim milk for children over two years old rather than whole milk because of its high fat content. The calcium in milk is essential for healthy bones and reduces the risk of joint-and musclerelated injuries. Avoid sugar-loaded, caffeinated and carbonated drinks. Sports drinks are a good source of replenishment for those kids engaged in long-duration sports, such as track and field. —Follow a warm-up routine. Be sure your child or his/her coach includes a warm-up and stretching session before every practice, game or meet. A slow jog, jumping rope and/or lifting small weights reduces the risk of torn or ripped muscles. Flexibility becomes a preventive key when pushing to score that extra goal or make that critical play. —Take vitamins daily. A multivitamin and Vitamin C are good choices for the young athlete. Vitamin B and amino acids may help reduce the pain from contact sports. Thiamine can help promote healing. Also consider Vitamin A to strengthen scar tissue. —Avoid trendy supplements. Kids under the age of 18 should avoid the use of performance-enhanced supplements, such as creatine. Instead, they should ask their coach or trainer to include weekly weight-training and body-conditioning sessions in their workout. —Get plenty of rest. Eight hours of sleep is ideal for the young athlete. Lack of sleep and rest can catch up with the athlete and decrease performance. —Sluggishness, irritability and loss of interest could indicate that your child is fatigued. Chiropractic Care Can Help... Doctors of chiropractic are trained and licensed to treat the entire neuromusculoskeletal system and can provide advice on sports training, nutrition and injury prevention to young athletes. Chiropractors can also perform sports physicals and use a more functional approach when looking at the body and the biomechanics specific to each sport. Gout is a type of arthritis that affects an estimated 3 to 5 million Americans and is characterized by periods of intense joint pain or “flares,” occurring most often in the big toe. Gout can cause damage to joints, tendons and other tissues over time. It is more common in men over age 40 and in postmenopausal women. The good news is that gout pain is highly treatable and there are ways to reduce the risk of gout recurrence. What Are The Symptoms Of Gout? You may be experiencing joint pain from time to time but are uncertain if you have gout. The only way to be sure is to see your doctor, who can provide a diagnosis and design an appropriate treatment plan. Symptoms of gout are almost always acute, occurring suddenly-often at night-and without warning and may include the following: • Intense joint pain. While gout often initially affects the large joint of the big toe, it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. • Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become hot, swollen, red and extremely tender. • Fever. Increased body temperature has been reported among some gout sufferers during an attack. The pain of gout flares can often be excruciating and debilitating, often affecting a patient’s ability to work and participate in social activities. Causes And Risk Factors Gout is caused by the buildup of uric acid in the blood, a condition known as hyperuricemia. Sustained hyperuricemia can lead to the body storing excess uric acid in the form of crystals, which accumulate in the joints, causing large deposits known as tophi. Risk factors for developing gout include genetic predisposition, alcohol consumption and a diet rich in high-purine foods. Purines are natural substances found in many foods, but certain foods such as meat and shellfish are high in purine. Other gout risk factors include obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Gout Treatments Doctors may prescribe prescription drugs to treat gout. One of these drugs, colchicine, has been used for many years but, until recently, had never been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now, the FDA has approved COLCRYS(r) as the only single-ingredient colchicine product for the prevention and treatment of gout flares. COLCRYS, when dosed as indicated, has been shown to be effective at relieving acute gout flares within a 24-hour period with significantly fewer side effects than unapproved colchicine. Other treatments, such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, may also be prescribed for pain and swelling associated with gout. Drugs such as allopurinol, febuxostat and probenecid, which alter the levels of uric acid in the blood, may also be prescribed. Keep in mind that no treatments are without side effects. Does the word PERM make your hair stand on end? Today's perms and color don't have to be harsh and frizzy. Carolyn is schooled in the latest techniques about color and perms including both on the same day. Full ha ir cca a re ffo or hair t he w ho a mily who hole le ffa Hair Salon 208 East 1st St. Hickman Call 792-2711 for appt. Page 30 - SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 Local bikers to hold Fun Run to benefit kids Simple tips to enjoy your summer safely Summer is a great time for family fun, and there are simple guidelines to follow to make it safe, according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joann Schaefer, from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Summer Food Safety For many people, summer means that it’s time to roll out the grill, get the picnic baskets ready and plan the barbecues. It’s also time to observe some basic rules in order to avoid food poisoning, like salmonella, E.coli O157:H7, and norovirus. To prevent foodborne illnesses: •Wash up. Using soap and water will help keep hands clean and keep food safe. •Use your refrigerator or a cool water bath to thaw meat. Avoid the counter because temperatures are too high. •Make it hot and keep it hot. Hamburger should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F and chicken to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F. Once you cook it, try to keep it above 140 degrees F. •If it’s cold, keep it that way. Cold foods need to stay below 40 degrees F and out of direct sunlight. •Don’t reuse utensils or dishes. Use a mixture of ¾ cup of bleach and one gallon of water to clean surfaces like cutting boards or countertops before using them again. •Don’t use the same platter for raw and cooked meats. Also, transport raw meat separately from other foods and double-wrap it to keep it from dripping. •When you’re done eating, put away foods as soon as possible after they’re served. Leaving perishable foods unrefrigerated encourages the bacteria to grow. Watch Out for Sunburn Plan ahead for activities on sunny days. Sunburn is caused by overexposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. While the symptoms are usually temporary (such as red skin that is painful to the touch), the skin damage is often permanent and can have serious consequences. Unprotected sun exposure can cause blisters, as well as first and second degree burns, and can lead to skin cancer. “Infants and children are especially sensitive to the burning ef- fects of the sun,” Dr. Schaefer said. •Avoid sun exposure during hours of peak sun ray intensity. •Apply generous amounts of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Pay special attention to your face, nose, ears, and shoulders. •Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure to allow penetration. Re-apply after swimming and every 2 hours while you are outdoors. •Wear sun hats. •Wear sunglasses with UV protection. •Use a lip balm with sunscreen. Avoid Heat-related Illness High temperatures and high humidity can be a deadly combination. Temperatures of 90-plus degrees and humidity levels of 40 percent or more put people in the danger zone for heat-related illness, which happens when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. “Infants and the elderly are the most at risk from high temperatures,” Dr. Schaefer said. “Check on elderly neighbors and friends to see if they are keeping cool.” Other people who are at increased risk are the obese, chronically ill (including heart disease, high blood pressure and asthma), and people who take certain medicines, Avandia® Side Effects The diabetes drug Avandia® has been linked to an increased risk of serious and potentially fatal injuries. If you or a loved one took Avandia® and had a Heart Attack, Stroke, Heart Failure or Death, please contact us for a free consultation. Hollis Law Firm, P.A. Attorneys at Law Toll Free 1-800-701-3672 Need to make some changes in your life? Family Practice Family Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner •Psych Medication Management •NutraMetrix Health Supplements •Transitions Weight Loss •Lab/Drug Testing •Primary Care/Behavioral Health 402-228-6446 such as antidepressants and tranquilizers, that interfere with the body’s temperature regulation. Tips to stay cool and avoid heatrelated illness: •Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink; •Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine; •Wear loose, light-colored clothing; •If outdoors, slow your pace and take frequent rest breaks to cool off; •Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours; •If you have no air conditioning, seek out cool places like libraries and other public buildings where you can cool off. Avoid Insect-related Illnesses People outdoors may potentially come into contact with ticks and mosquitoes. Ticks can cause erlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and Lyme disease, all potentially serious diseases. To avoid insect-related illnesses, take precautions. “A good way to avoid both ticks and mosquitoes is to wear insect repellent,” Dr. Schaefer said. FDA-approved insect repellents are: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535. “Also, it’s a good idea to wear solid shoes and socks, long pants and longsleeved shirts. To avoid ticks, tuck your pants into your socks,” she said. An additional Gage County Immunization Clinic is being planned for July to assist families with their vacation and backto-school schedules. The clinic will be held from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Monday, July 19. This is the afternoon of the regularly scheduled morning clinic day. Immunization Clinic officials in Beatrice/Gage County want to remind parents to check the start date of their children’s schools to make sure they get their children’s immunizations in time. Immunizations are required when starting kindergarten, and additional immunizations are required when starting seventh grade and college. Because of state laws, a child may be prohibited from attending classes on the first day of school without the required immunizations, according to Norma-Lou Cook, Immunization Clinic organizer. All vaccinations will be available for children ages 6 weeks to 19 during the July Immunization Clinics. Clinics are held on the third Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of the month. The July clinic schedule is as follows: 15 • 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, July • 9 a.m.-noon, Monday, July 19 • 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday, July 19 • 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 20 All clinics are held at Parkview Conference Center, 1216 S. Eighth St. in Beatrice. Monthly Immunization Clinic dates are also posted on the h o s p i t a l ’s We b site at www.beatricecommunityhospital.com . The clinic process normally takes 30-45 minutes. Appointments are encouraged and may be made by calling 402-228-8513 or 402-2288503. Donations are welcome but not required. The child’s immunization record must be brought to each clinic. Cook, a registered nurse and health promotion coordinator for Beatrice Community Hospital and H e a l t h C e n t e r, o r g a n i z e s t h e monthly Gage County Immunization Clinic with help from hospital employees, Gage County Extension Club members, trained lay volunteers and professional nurse volunteers. Walking away from varicose veins Clearing up some popular misconceptions about a common condition could be good for your health. Varicose veins--which generally appear as twisting, bulging, ropelike cords on the legs--affect an estimated 40 percent of women and 25 percent of men in the U.S., according to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. While many consider the veins to be solely a cosmetic problem, doctors say they could lead to serious health issues. Indeed, many people with varicose veins experience leg symptoms such as pain, heaviness or tiredness, burning or tingling sensations, swelling, throbbing and tenderness. If symptoms are left untreated, they may progress toward complications including: • Inflammation (known as phlebitis) • Blood clots • Ankle sores or skin ulcers • Bleeding. People who experience the above symptoms or complications are advised to see a doctor, who may provide treatments. Here’s a closer look at the often-misunderstood disease that causes varicose veins: Possible Causes Arteries carry blood from the heart to the extremities, delivering oxygen deep into the tissue. Veins then return the “deoxygenated” blood back to the heart to be recirculated. To return this blood to the heart, leg veins must work against gravity. Small, one-way valves in the veins open to allow blood to flow upward, toward the heart, and then close to prevent it from flowing backward. Varicose veins occur when the valves in superficial leg veins malfunction. When this occurs, the valve may be unable to close, allowing blood that should be moving toward the heart to flow backward (called venous reflux). Blood then collects in the lower veins, causing them to enlarge and become varicose. Factors leading to varicose veins include heredity, gender, pregnancy and age. But other factors, such as prolonged standing or sitting, obesity, hormone levels and physical trauma, may speed up the development of the disease and make the veins worse. Grand opening August 28th Specializing in yoga therapy. For the relief of temporary or chronic illnesses, conditions, or injuries. Offering pre/post natal, kids/youth, athletes, senior, meditation/stress relief, and beginning classes ss st l a 1 c E! FRE Janet M. Bock, MSN, APRN, BC ner of Highway 77 and Saltillo Road. Registration is from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Awards at 3 p.m. Bikers will ride to Homestead National Monument where they will answer an observation questionnaire before heading back to Rod’s through Wilber, stopping at the Crete Dairy Queen, and the park in Denton. Lunch is included in the $10.00 registration fee and prizes will be awarded to whoever has the highest score. If riders prefer to start out at the Homestead National Monument, registration forms will be available at the Education Center after 10:00 a.m. Local brain tumor patients and their families are invited to ride along. They will be our guest of honor at the July 17 event. For more information, contact Ronny or Carol Aden at 402 3103312 or [email protected]. You can visit www.rodspowersports to learn more about the Prairie Red Riders. Extra children’s immunization clinic planned Gage County in July Now open! New Beginnings Health Care Center 829 W Court St., Suite 4 • Beatrice Motorcyclists are invited to join the Prairie Red Riders for their 2nd annual Fun Run “For the Kids” Saturday, July 17. All proceeds will be taken to Kansas City the following weekend and given to the Ride for Kids® program. The Ride for Kids program supports the efforts of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to find the cause and cure for childhood brain tumors. They host rides in dozens of major cities across the country each year. HRCA has been the presenting sponsor for the Ride for Kids since 1991. Each year the program raises millions of dollars for pediatric brain tumor research. The PBTF is the official charity of the Honda Rider’s Club of America (HRCA). Prairie Red Riders are affiliated with the HRCA and participate in the Kansas City Ride for Kids each year. The ride will leave from Rod’s Power Sports at the Northwest cor- Lincoln Yoga Center Linking and centering you 2127 Winthrop Rd. www.LincolnYogaCenter.com 570-1114 • Shelia Palmquist, R.Y.T. An Ounce Of Prevention Certain measures may help relieve discomfort from existing varicose veins and prevent other varicose veins from developing. They include: • Exercising regularly (walking is ideal) • Wearing graduated compression stockings •Avoiding standing for long periods of time •Avoiding sitting for long periods of time • Controlling weight. Finding Treatment It’s important to speak with a physician about varicose veins. Doctors often first attempt to treat the disease with simple approaches, such as graduated compression stockings, but if veins do not respond, a more active treatment may be required. For instance, a fast, safe and effective procedure called VenaCure EVLT(tm) (endovenous laser treatment) can nearly eliminate varicose veins in less than an hour and without a hospital stay. It uses a targeted laser energy to seal unhealthy veins shut, providing nearly immediate relief of symptoms. The procedure, which can be performed in a doctor’s office without general anesthesia, produces few to no scars and has a 95 percent success rate, and patients can quickly resume their normal activities once treatment is complete. You can learn more by visiting www.venacure-evlt.com, a Web site dedicated to informing and educating patients about venous disease. The Web site also features a physician finder tool to help patients locate area doctors who are trained in the latest techniques to treat varicose veins. SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 - Page 31 New resource to help patients managing high blood pressure You could save your life by knowing your numbers- your blood pressure numbers, that is. Many people with high blood pressure may not know they have it because they feel fine and look normal. That is why it is known as a “silent killer.” High blood pressure is one of the most common conditions in the U.S., affecting roughly 1 in 3 adults. In fact, as people age, the potential for their blood pressure to rise increases, so even those with normal blood pressure at age 55 have a 90 percent chance of having high blood pressure later in life. To help educate Americans about high blood pressure, the American College of Physicians (ACP), in partnership with the New Jersey based pharmaceutical company, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. has created an informational guidebook and DVD called “Know Your Numbers: A Guide to Managing High Blood Pressure.” You can pick up the guidebook and DVD at a doctor’s office or download the guidebook at the ACP Web site at www.acponline.org/ numbers. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause permanent changes to blood vessels and the heart that may create serious problems elsewhere in the body.4 According to the National Institutes of Health, a blood pressure lower than 140/90 mm Hg or lower than 130/80 mm Hg for certain high-risk groups is considered to be under control. “Measuring your blood pressure takes only a moment and is completely painless,” said Dr. Patrick C. Alguire, FACP, ACP’s director of education. “Everyone should know their numbers and get regular blood pressure checkups. Knowing your blood pressure could save your life.” ACP member physicians can order the free guidebook by calling (800) 5231546, extension 2600 or through ACP’s Web site at acponline.org. “As a leader in cardiovascular health, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is committed to offering up-to-date, comprehensive educational resources for people who are at increased risk for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease,” said Jonathan Jaffe, M.D., FACC, Senior Medical Director, Hypertension-Therapeutic Area Head, Medical Research and Strategy at Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. “Helping patients manage chronic diseases more effectively will benefit both patients and physicians.” The guidebook’s tips include: • Losing weight • Eating a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt • Being physically active, and • Quitting smoking. In addition, many people with high blood pressure need at least two types of medicine to lower their blood pressure. Such medicines can delay the problems linked to hypertension. Patients should discuss a treatment regimen that includes diet, exercise and, if necessary, the proper medication. “As the guidebook and DVD show, there are many ways to effectively treat high blood pressure,” said Dr. Alguire. “Almost everyone with hypertension can bring their numbers down with lifestyle changes, medicines or both.” Insider’s guide to updating your wardrobe on a budget Even though cutting costs is top of mind, you still need to dress to impress, especially at the office. No matter what your personal style, office culture or shopping preferences are, you can save time and create a polished look by putting some savvy shopping and style strategies into action. • Broaden your horizons beyond department and specialty stores. Check out off-price retailers such as Ross Dress for Less that carry the same current styles and name brands as department and specialty stores at significant savings. • No matter where you shop, a good rule of thumb is that the new merchandise (at full price) will be front and center when you enter the store, but there’s always a sale or clearance rack. Keep your eyes open for these markdownsthey are often located toward the back of the store. • Remember that it pays to make friends. Befriend the sales associate and discover shopping secrets, including delivery schedules, the typical markdown cycle, and specific seasonal merchandise. • Keeping your closet organized, knowing what you already have that you can build on-this season and next-is also a smart shopping strategy. • Often the best deals are found by buying clothes early or late in the season. --As a general rule, when retailers are preparing for another season’s inventory, they generally put old merchandise on sale to make room for new shipments. Take advantage of these deals by shopping at the end of the season. --Always look ahead when mapping your shopping strategy, as off-price stores will often stock merchandise in advance of the season (e.g., you may find coats in August and swimsuits in March). Weighing the benefits and risks of Hormone Therapy To take hormones or not to take hormones? Many menopausal women ponder this question. There is no doubt that hormones can help relieve menopausal symptoms, but recent studies have highlighted the potential risks of hormone therapy (HT). In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) found that prolonged use of HT with estrogen plus progestin caused a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. A few years later, a new look at the study suggested that certain younger women taking estrogen might actually have a slightly lowered risk of heart disease. “Since the results of the WHI were first released in 2002, the public has been bombarded with conflicting information on how to interpret the findings,” said Nanette Santoro, M.D., Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “This is a complex issue and patients should participate in continuous open dialogue with their physicians to arrive at treatment decisions best for their individual needs.” Based on the latest research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that hormone therapy (estrogen plus progestin) be used to relieve the symptoms of menopause at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest amount of time needed to relieve symptoms. Each woman is a unique individual, so it’s important that she discuss the benefits and risks of hormone therapy with her doctor as they apply to her particular situation. When seeing your doctor, here are five tips to make the most of your visit. 1. Make a list of your symptoms and prioritize them, including how often you have them and how severe they are. 2. Learn about hormone therapy ahead of time. 3. Think about your own comfort level with the benefits and risks of hormone therapy before seeing the doctor. 4. Prepare a list of questions for your doctor. 5. Document your family health history. Work with your doctor to reevaluate your treatment choices periodically so that you can confidently make the best decisions to navigate this period of change in your life. For more information about menopause, visit www.hormone.org. General & Surgical Dermatology Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery We treat all skin problems: eczema - mole checks - rashes - acne - warts skin cancer - laser hair removal Lincoln 600 North Cotner Blvd., Suite 311 3901 Pine Lake Rd., Suite 440 Clinics held twice a month at: Nebraska City Medical Clinic Fillmore County Hospital - Geneva Tips for better sleep trips to the toilet. By Mayo Clinic staff • Avoid nicotine, caffeine and Feeling crabby lately? It could be you aren’t getting enough sleep. Work, alcohol in the evening. These are household responsibilities and child care stimulants that can keep you awake. can make sleep difficult to come by. Smokers often experience withFactor in other unexpected challenges, drawal symptoms at night, and smoksuch as financial worries, layoffs, rela- ing in bed is dangerous. Avoid caftionship issues or an illness, and quality feine for eight hours before your planned bedtime. Your body doesn’t sleep may be even more elusive. You may not be able to control or store caffeine, but it takes many hours eliminate all of the factors that interfere to eliminate the stimulant and its efwith your sleep, but you can create an fects. And although often believed to environment and adopt habits that en- be a sedative, alcohol actually discourage a more restful night. Try these rupts sleep. • Exercise regularly. Regular suggestions if you have trouble falling physical activity, especially aeroasleep or staying asleep: • Go to bed and get up at about bic exercise, can help you fall the same time every day, even on asleep faster and make your sleep the weekends. Sticking to a sched- more restful. However, for some ule helps reinforce your body’s people, exercising right before bed sleep-wake cycle and can help you may make getting to sleep more difficult. fall asleep more easily at night. • Make your bedroom cool, • Don’t eat or drink large amounts before bedtime. Eat a dark, quiet and comfortable. Crelight dinner at least two hours ate a room that’s ideal for sleeping. before sleeping. If you’re prone Adjust the lighting, temperature, huto heartburn, avoid spicy or fatty midity and noise level to your preffoods, which can make your erences. Use blackout curtains, eye heartburn flare and prevent a rest- covers, earplugs, extra blankets, a ful sleep. Also, limit how much fan or white-noise generator, a huyou drink before bed. Too much midifier or other devices to create liquid can cause you to wake up an environment that suits your repeatedly during the night for needs. 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234567890123456789012 Your Health Matters Shocking statistics show 62% of Americans are overweight. Want to lose that weight? Want to improve your health? Call 402-429-3655 to learn about these amazing world class products designed with your health in mind. Come see us in our new location in Downtown Adams! FREE PRESCRIPTION DELIVERY TO Adams • Firth • Sterling Prescription Mailing Service Also Available Serving the Community for over 25 years Lake Crest Pharmacy on Mainstreet, downtown Adams, NE 988-7145 or 477-1462 www.gatewayderm.com Anita Ruse & Floyd Van Engen Pharmacists, David A. Bigler, M.D. Christine Trombino, PA - C Board Certified Dermatologist Board Certified Physician Assistant M-F 9-6, Sat., 9-Noon Page 32 - SECTION 3 • VOICE NEWS, Thursday, July 8, 2010 Rural Cortland couple battle cancer, Alzheimer’s to keep a promise made in 1943 By Gerry Baksys …For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do us part. It’s a promise every married couple makes on their special day. Many have heard the words before at other weddings; most are too nervous, excited, happy, crying or all of the above emotions mixed together to pay much attention to whatever the pastor is saying. But for Betty Lou Parde, it was a promise. On a beautiful April day in 1943 at the Lutheran Church in Adams 67 years ago, she spoke those words and meant every single one. In 2007, Betty Lou took Heye into Beatrice to get his annual blood work done when doctors discovered he had colon cancer. “They told us he needed four pints of blood right away,” she said. “Then we took him to Lincoln and he needed another four pints. They discovered he had a malignant tumor.” The tumor was safely removed after two major surgeries and Heye’s cancer is now in remission, but that was only the start of the 92-year-old farmer’s problems. The he was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. “He doesn’t remember anybody accept our son Raymond,” Betty Lou said. “He will smile and shake their hand, but after they leave he asks me he who they were.” Rather than moving him to a nursing home or assisted living facility, Betty Lou has decided to take care of Heye at their rural Cortland farmstead where they have lived for the last 64 years. “I cleanup after him, give him a bath and feed him three meals a day,” Betty Lou said. “This is our home and he feels more comfortable here. But some days it’s harder than others.” That’s because at 84, there are the physical demands of helping her husband as well as her own health problems including asthma, Cruise away your caregiving worries If you or someone you know is a devoted family caregiver, you understand the stress that comes with caring for a senior loved one each day. What better way to relax than to cruise your cares away? The Home Instead Senior Care® network is sponsoring a free, five-day cruise January 3-8, 2011 for one lucky caregiving hero. Or, if you nominate a friend or family member for this relaxing getaway, you could be eligible to win a laptop and camcorder. http:// Just go to cruise.caregiverstress.com/ before the August 15, 2010, deadline to learn more about the contest and to nominate yourself or someone else for the drawing, which will be conducted August 16, 2010. In addition to the cruise, valued at up to $4,200, the winning recipient and guest will receive 40 hours of free care from a Home Instead Senior Care professional CAREGiverSM for their senior loved one while they are away. and allergies and a bad heart. In 1991, Betty Lou was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. “I had two major surgeries and it was hard,” Betty Lou admitted. “But I was determined to see it through because Heye needed me and Ryan, our blind grandson needed me. I have a lot of faith and it has seen me through.” Ryan Agena, of Crete, spent three years living with Heye and Betty Lou after he graduated from high school at the School for the Blind in Nebraska City and started a job in Crete. Betty Lou recalled how Ryan loved to sing polka music, even if he didn’t understand the words. “He had such a beautiful voice and every Sunday we liked to go to the Blue River Lodge in Crete,” she said. “We also taught him how to dance and people admired him on the dance floor.” Eventually, Ryan found a place to live in Crete and began his independent life. That left Heye and Betty Lou alone on the farm again, as their three children, Raymond, Cathy and Harold had all long since married and moved out to start their own families. The couple also has seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Still, the rural Cortland couple stayed busy. Besides working on the farm, Heye drove a maintainer (a large machine that smooths out gravel roads) for 35 years from 1965 to 2000, Betty Lou said. “There were several times during the winter where he plowed the snow and got the mailman unstuck,” she said. “Then he would find a letter in our mailbox with a gold star on it. There was also one time the milk man needed to gain access to Leon Bauman’s farm, but couldn’t get his truck in the driveway. So Heye told Leon to walk in front of him so he could see where the driveway was and plow it. They started off and soon Heye couldn’t see Leon anymore. He was scared that he had run Leon over, but Leon had got caught up in the snow, and was bouncing along on top of the snow pile.” Betty Lou worked several different jobs, including five years at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln and five years at Lakeview Care Center in Firth. She also cleaned homes for awhile. But in 2000, the couple got out of the farm business almost completely. They sold off their animals, and rented their 152 acres to local farmers. Betty Lou and Heye’s golden years truly were golden. They would ride Amtrak to Grand Junction, Colorado for vacations. “You never saw anything more beautiful in your life,” Betty Lou said. “Going through the mountains on a train, looking at the snow and the skiers.” On their way home they would stop in Denver to visit Betty Lou’s sister, Alberta and her husband Vern. It was on one such visit they were forced to take their first airplane ride. “We got into Denver,” she said, “but there was a lot of high water back home, so Amtrak wouldn’t drop us off here. We had to fly into Lincoln. That was on our 50th anniversary.” The couple also celebrated their anniversary every five years with a major party for friends and family. “We would rent out the Eagle Club in Beatrice and have a polka band,” she said. “Sometimes we would have upwards of 300 people at the parties.” But the 35-year streak of big polka parties ended in 2008. “We spent our 65th anniversary in Gold Crest in Adams,” Betty Lou said. “I had gotten up one morning at 5:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom and then I collapsed in the kitchen. Heye at this point had Alzheimer’s and didn’t know any better. My sister called at 7:30 a.m. to wish me a happy birthday, and Heye told her, ‘She can’t come to the phone right now, she’s sleeping on the kitchen floor.’” The sister contacted Betty Lou and Heye’s family living in the area who in turn called 911. She was rushed to the hospital in Lincoln. She had bone-marrow cancer. “I was unconscious for three days,” Betty Lou said. “I had to spend 35 days in the hospital, and two and a half months recuperating at Gold Crest.” Their children wanted them to stay in Gold Crest, but Betty Lou was stubborn. “This is our home,” she said of the family farmstead. “I take each day one at a time. When the time comes and I can’t take care of Heye anymore, I will move him to a facility in Beatrice. Sometimes it is a lot of work, but 67 years ago I made a promise. And I’m keeping that promise.” OPEN HOUS E HOUSE Sat. July 10, 1-5 p.m. •40% off all BioElements & Colorscience skin care products •Drawings for Facials & Microdermabrasion/Chemical Packages •Scholarship Drawings- $500•$1,000 • $2,000 will be awarded •Tours of facility-meet esthetic instructors & current students •Free skin analysis Advanced Aesthetics Elite Education & Day Spa 5600 S 48th St. Suite 112 • Lincoln • 420-7346 www.advancedaestheticsschool.com All services provided by students and overseen by licensed instructors Creating a culture of wellness – for our children, for ourselves By Dr. Joann Schaefer, Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer As Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer, I am always happy to see Public Health Month make its appearance. Focusing on creating a culture of wellness can draw attention to and bring awareness of things that can make our health better. We can change the future for our children and increase the quality of our lives. For wellness in the home, it’s simply a reminder of all the things that people and families can do to keep themselves and their kids active and their food choices healthy. Being active on a regular basis is important. Communities across this state have continued to look at options and work with local health departments and other organizations to increase outdoor activities. Bike trails, walking trails, events to get families outside and active are things communities can do to help create wellness. Wear a pedometer and make sure you take 10,000 steps a day. The benefits of exercise are obvious. Heart and lung health improve, in addition to the wonderful mental health benefits you get from it. Exercise can also enhance the quality of your sleep and reduce your stress level. Spring has sprung, so get outdoors and make the most of it with the physical activity of your choice. Besides the importance of physical activity to wellness, there’s the need for good nutrition. Part of good nutrition is getting enough fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables is a practice that is developed at a young age, and kids learn what they live. There are very few life-long eating behaviors that pay off as well as the development of a taste and zest for fruits and vegetables, so start them young! Fruits and vegetables are nearly magical in the vitamins, photochemicals, and fiber they provide us with each serving. This single eating habit can combat many cancers, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes over one’s lifetime. And finally, make sure you get those all-important screenings—breast, cervical, colon, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Not only could they save your life, they can also give you peace of mind. The message is clear, wellness works, and together we can create a culture of wellness throughout the state. Health and Human Services Web site, www.dhhs.ne.gov, is a great resource.