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FEBRUARY 2021 • ISSUE 180
Golden Years
Lori Medeiros Health care leaders: Despite pandemic threat, it’s safe to get preventive health care screenings
Special edition explores key issues impacting today’s senior set
See Page 3
Flu vaccine: Experts say shot can only help See Page 4
Sexual Health Sex therapist: Couples should prioritize sexual health Your blood pressure, stress levels, mood, and sense of passion may be connected to feeling erotic energy for yourself and others.
David L. Podos
Utica man talks about harrowing experience of contracting COVID-19
See Page 20
See Page 5
Surprising Benefits of Rye Bread Rye bread is a go-to source for dietary fiber, which helps prevent major disease. See Page 13 February 2021 •
Time to ditch your doctor?
Feeling comfortable with primary care doctor essential to health See Page 17 IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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COVID-19 causing rise in cancer deaths Patients fearful to get preventive cancer screenings because of global pandemic Megan Plete Postol
C
OVID-19 has inadvertently caused substantial increases in the number of avoidable cancer deaths as a result of diagnostic and treatment delays. “Unfortunately, cancer and other medical conditions have not taken a holiday during the pandemic, and so we must remain vigilant,” said Mitchell Brodey, an internal medicine-infectious disease specialist and the president and CEO of Family Care Medical Group in Syracuse. “In terms of cancer screenings, this is particularly Medeiros critical for high-risk patients because of personal or family history, risk factors such as smoking, symptoms, and length of time since last screening.” People who are in need of health care are avoiding it because of COVID-related concerns, and in some cases, it’s costing them their lives. “We are seeing an increase in deaths nationally unrelated to the SARS CoV-2 virus,” Brodey said. “This unprecedented global pandemic has challenged every part of how we deliver care, but patients and physicians cannot afford to neglect ongoing care needs. Patients should speak with their physicians about what their own health care needs are in terms of cancer screening and make informed decisions together.” Recent data has revealed that the increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate correlates to an increase in mortality from non-coronavirus-related diseases, including cancer. “Health care facilities and doctors’ offices are some of the safest places to be in a pandemic due to strict infection prevention protocols,” said Dr. Lori Medeiros, medical director at Rochester General Breast Center. “Follow the advice that the office gives you when you visit and understand the process may have changed for your safety. We have also used technology to enhance the care we provide in many ways including allowing multiple people into the conversation at once to learn more about their care and treatment plan.” Researchers believe fear of contracting COVID-19 compels patients to stay home instead of seeking treatment or completing treatment. To address this trend, surgical and radiation oncologists at the TARGIT Collaborative Group, a national organization of experts in intra-operative radiotherapy working collaboratively to improve cancer patient care, have developed a procedure called targeted intra-operative radiotherapy, or TARGIT-IORT.
The procedure is for women receiving treatment for breast cancer. Unlike external beam radiation therapy that requires up to 30 visits to the radiotherapist, TARGIT-IORT is one single dose of targeted radiation delivered from inside the breast during surgery immediately following the removal of the tumor while the patient remains asleep.
Technology improves
Medeiros said for eight out of 10 patients having TARGIT-IORT during lumpectomy, no further radiotherapy is needed, reducing the COVID-19 risks due to additional outside trips to the hospital during the pandemic. “There are a lot of advances in breast cancer treatment that have allowed us to provide less invasive care to patients,” Medeiros said. “IORT is one such example. It allows us to administer one dose of radiation treatment at the time of breast surgery for select early stage breast cancer patients. This therapy allows the patient to receive all of their radiation treatment in one dose as opposed to daily treatments for three to four weeks.” It is expected that the medical community will continue to develop treatments like this that apply to different types of cancer, reducing in-person treatment time and potential exposure for compromised individuals. During these stressful times, it’s crucial that people proactively monitor their bodies for any indications of cancer. “The earlier cancer is detected, the better the outcome because treatment is most effective in the early stages,” Medeiros said. “Screening allows cancer to be detected before symptoms start. The longer you wait, the harder it is to treat. Cancer
screenings are intentionally done in specific timed intervals to track potential cancer growth to provide patients the best possible outcome should cancer develop.” Different types of cancers have different symptoms and warning signs. “Patients know their bodies better than anyone else and if something feels or looks different, they should reach out to their physicians,” said Dr. Ben Kornitzer of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “The list of potential cancer-related symptoms can be quite long, but patients should reach out to the providers for concerning symptoms including bleeding unrelated to trauma, such as coughing up blood or blood in urine or stools, new unexplained lumps or bumps, skin lesions, and unintentional and unexplained weight loss.” Doctors stress the importance of maintaining regular preventive
health care and seeking care if symptoms do present. If the public continues the troubling trend of ignoring life-threatening non-COVID-19 conditions such as cancer, it could potentially turn one public health crisis into another. “In many ways we are heading into uncharted waters with growing rates of COVID-19 infections,” Brodey said. “But, with vaccines starting to be rolled out, there is hope on the horizon. Each decision about screening is always personal and COVID-19 has made that process incredibly complicated and scary. Just as any other health care decision, patients should speak to their doctors about risks and benefits and should make choices holistically, based on factors like persona preference, risk factors, age, and where the community is on the COVID-19 curve. The doctor-patient relationship has never been more important and we will get through to the other side together.”
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Should you get flu shot this year? Similarities, dissimilarities between influenza, COVID-19 Megan Plete Postol
T
he social distancing and mask-wearing protocol the public has adopted to thwart the spread of COVID-19 has prompted many to ask whether getting an annual flu shot is necessary this year. Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but different viruses cause them. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARSCoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Bouchard Prevention. Some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, and it can be tricky to know the difference between the two based on symptoms alone. The CDC says COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms and people can be contagious for a longer period of time. “Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu,” said Alexes Bouchard, district leader at CVS Pharmacy in Syracuse. “It’s important to get the flu shot every year because the body’s immune response to the vaccine declines over time. In addition, flu viruses vary from year to year, so a new vaccine formulation is required to provide optimal protection.” Since it takes up to two weeks for immunity to build up after getting a flu shot, the CDC recommends indi-
viduals make plans to get vaccinated as early as possible. However, it is not too late to get the flu shot, as flu season typically peaks in the winter months, Bouchard said.
No causal effect
The flu vaccine does not, and cannot, cause flu in a recipient. “The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so people cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Minor side effects including soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given,
a low-grade fever, and aches may occur,” Bouchard said. “These side effects begin soon after the shot and usually last one to two days. Almost all people who receive the influenza vaccine have no serious problems as a result of receiving it.” COVID-19 is pushing local health care to its limits, so it’s important that citizens do what they can to protect themselves, and receiving a flu vaccine is an easy step. “Getting a flu vaccination can also contribute to the overall health of the community and minimize impact on health care resources,” Bouchard said. To avoid the potential dou-
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ble-whammy of both the flu and COVID-19, health care professionals recommend making an appointment for the flu shot. “To ensure critical health care resources are reserved for those who have tested positive for COVID-19, it is more important than ever to keep yourself protected from contracting the seasonal flu,” Bouchard said. “In addition, individuals who are high-risk for contracting respiratory illnesses such as flu and pneumonia may also have a greater risk of complications if they contract COVID-19. To help protect you, your family and the general public from illness, the flu shot is strongly recommended.”
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In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2021 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com
Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Barbara Pierce, David Podos, Deb Dittner, Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg, Brooke Stacia Demott, Daniel Baldwin, Traci DeLore Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement — not to take the place of — the recommendations of your health provider.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
COVID-19: a first-hand account Utica man contracts virus, recounts experience By David L. Podos
D
oes anyone think they are so able- bodied, fit as a fiddle, unworried that they would never get COVID-19? Well, I think maybe that was me. After all, I did all the right “stuff”. Wore a mask when I was shopping, wore the mask performing my duties as a part time Professional Tutor at Mohawk Valley Community College. Washed my hands for twenty seconds, took my vitamins and drank my herbal teas, did my yoga, my meditation, worked out (in my basement on my Bow flex), ran on my running machine, slept well, avoided those I knew might be sick, COVID or otherwise. Yet in December I started to feel “not right”. Little did I know soon I would be tested for COVID and that the test was to be positive. I am one who does not believe in coincidences. Its just the way I am wired. I see that every thing has a place and purpose- something for us to learn from, even if we don’t always understand why- even when you get COVID-19. My symptoms began benign enough- just a slight headache smack dab over my sinus area with some post nasal drip. I never thought twice about it as anyone who has been brought up and or has lived a few winter seasons as an adult in upstate
Podos New York knows the dreaded Mohawk Valley Sinus Syndrome (coined by the long time residents of the area). While I am sure it is not listed in any medical journal of disease (as far as I know), I can tell you the symptoms are definitely real. It can morph into the worse sinus headache in your life, a raging bull smashing itself against your skull. I suppose I am a bit stubborn
because I just passed it off as another bout with my sinuses. It was not until I started to have some pretty uncomfortable aches and pains, first in my upper body then to my lower body that I figured there was something a bit more than sinusitis going on here. I was still in denial that it could possibly be COVID-19, after all, I had no temperature, and my breathing was fine. It wasn’t until I lost my sense of smell and taste that I knew I must be positive for the virus. Some family members were swept up with incredulity that I could even think I would have the virus and suggested I wait to be tested or not to test at all, but I knew better, so I went for my test, and of course I was right, it came back positive. I was one of the lucky ones. No hospitalization, no ventilator, just more of an annoyance with the body aches, fatigue, and most disturbing was the complete loss of my taste and smell. It took just under a week for me to feel normal again, even my taste and smell came roaring back, thankfully. I was talking to some folks where everyone in the family, husband, wife, and their grown children all got the virus. For the parents there symptoms were much worse than mine, and while they as I did not have to be hospitalized, they spent the good part of a week right in bed, their temperatures spiking up
to 102 degrees. When I last spoke to the wife she mentioned her husband still had no taste and smell, they both were tested positive in late September! “This COVID is a curious creature for sure, who it strikes and how severely “quipped one of my friends and she is absolutely right. So, now my perspective on all this has changed a little. Even though I am out of quarantine, when I do go out I take along an arsenal of disinfectant weapons. Alcohol wipes stuffed into a zip lock bag along with latex gloves, and two kinds of “germ” spray are tightly packed into the little cub.by <http://cub.by> .holes that are on either side of my drivers seat. I am avoiding large crowds so I decided when I need to shop I will go early or late at night when the pedestrian traffic is way down. But here is what I am not going to do- I will not hide away in my home. I will live my life as full as possible. I will do my best to be responsible to take care of my health, and do my best not to infect others, with anything! But most of all I will not be a victim of fear, for the greatest virus of them all is fear, and that is something no medicine, quarantine, or inoculation can ever truly cure. •David L. Podos is a staff writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health newspaper.
Online scammers taking advantage of pandemic Megan Plete Postol
O
nline scamming activity historically spikes during the winter season, and this year scammers are cashing in on victims’ vulnerability due to the pandemic. Criminals have recognized an opportunity due to the isolation in 2020 and are preying on the lonely like never before. A recent study released from SocialCatfish.com analyzed the most recent data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The study, titled “Catfishing: A Growing Epidemic During COVID-19,” revealed that romance scams in particular were on the rise. New York State already had 931 documented victims of romance scams as of press time for the season, with that number projected to skyrocket as the pandemic restrictions continue. Another popular tactic for scammers is to pose as a business. “Scammers are everywhere and they’ve been particularly persistent since the pandemic began, as they’ve seen opportunity to take advantage of people when they’re struggling most,” Blake Hardwick, Marketing
Manager of the New York based law firm Greenberg & Stein, PC, said. “Avoiding scammers isn’t always easy, but knowing what to look out for will ensure that you can spot one before falling victim to their malicious plots. Some of the most common scams at the moment are called ‘phishing scams.’ Basically, these come in the form of emails, messages, etc. whereby a scammer will try to seem like a legitimate
company. The best ways to spot these scams are to look for spelling errors in the messaging, double-check the email address, check any links before clicking on them, and do a simple Google search (if you know the company is popular) then compare the web address to the one you’ve been directed to. If all of the above come back fine, you’re safe. It’s important to stay vigilant and avoid interacting with something until you know for sure it’s legitimate.” Liam Clouds, the Project Manager at MiTRADE and also the on-page SEO-lead at ZEODigital, has some suggestions to avoid falling victim to online scammers. “Do a background check before payments,” he said. “Ask for a signed contract or any form of legal agreement before striking a deal at all. If (a scammer) doesn’t have a proper online digital footprint as a business person such as a website, and neither a physical business location, (that’s a red flag). Check the profile name on a scam-checker site like TMJ4.com.” The he survey’s findings also included a list of warning signs that
February 2021 •
online romance scammers are using during the pandemic. They include: They cannot meet because of COVID: The pandemic gives them a built-in excuse not to meet. Beware. They need money for a COVID emergency: Once they form an emotional connection with lonely victims, they ask for money saying they are sick and need help with treatment, or are low on food, water, and other supplies. These are lies. They are overly sweet and/or confessing love quickly: Be Cautious of someone who says overly sweet things that are too good to be true. They are moving too fast: Scammers are using the extra time at home to chat more often so they can build trust faster. Look Out if the relationship seems to move too fast. They do not want to video chat: This is the oldest excuse in the book. The scammer claims they cannot video chat with you because their video camera is supposedly “broken”, or they do not have the best access to Wi-Fi. These are red flags. The real reason they do not want to video chat is that they are pretending to be someone that they are not.
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Chill out in winter wonderland Boost your mood during this dark winter By Barbara Pierce
W
e’re smacked with a double whammy this winter. Winter is difficult anyway — long, dark and cold days with plenty of snow and ice. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic is stretching into nearly a full year of impacting our daily lives. Despite the dreary weather and social isolation, you can still find ways to enjoy this winter. You can find joy in spite of feeling like you’re in the middle of the movie “Groundhog Day.” Try one of these uplifting strategies to help you unwind, boost your mood and bring some much-needed satisfaction into your life right now. — Enjoy the outdoors: When the temperature is lower than your shoe size, it’s natural to want to hibernate inside. But it’s much better for your mental and physical health to pile on layers of clothing and go outside. Exposure to daylight, even in small amounts, helps in so many ways. It does a great job of lifting your mood by raising your serotonin (feel-good chemical), decreasing your stress hormones, and keeps illnesses at bay by boosting your immune system. — Get outside: Do something that you’ll enjoy so much that you’ll lose track of time. Maybe something you haven’t done in a while,
or something new that you’ve been meaning to try — sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, a snowball fight, making a snowman or a snow angel, or taking a hike. Even a 15-minute walk outside can give you a quick mood boost. A new section of the Empire State Trail in Herkimer County, south of Little Falls, recently opened. “This is a great place for people to refresh,” said director Andy Beers. “The Empire State Trail is a place where people or families can go to get outdoors, walk, and enjoy nature in a socially distancing way,” he added. The new addition helps close gaps in the trail, allowing users to travel between Fort Herkimer Church to Little Falls on one continuous off road path. See https://empiretrail.ny.gov/ for details. The website specifies designated parking areas and how to get on the trail. — Enjoy self-care: Combat the winter blahs by nurturing yourself. Self-care isn’t just about taking care of your body; it’s about nourishing your emotional needs and feeding your senses. Try things like cozying up by a roaring fire, watching the snowfall, lighting candles and enjoying a bubble bath, cuddling up with a blanket and a good book, or spending the day in your pajamas and fuzzy
slippers. Or, indulge in something that smells wonderful, such as a scented candle, or any good smell — a bottle of vanilla, maple syrup, or pumpkin spice. Comfort foods make us feel good — cheesy pasta, oozing puddings, thick brownies. Pamper yourself and your family by simmering a pot of homemade soup, making baked apples, loading up cups of hot chocolate with whipped cream or marshmallows or making a big stack of pancakes.
You’re not alone The physical stress of pregnancy can cause a range of physical conditions, including pain and incontinence. Pelvic floor therapy can help treat these symptoms and improve pelvic health. For more information, call Little Falls Hospital Rehabilitation Department at 315-823-5360 or visit MomPelvicTherapy.org.
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Crank those tunes
— Enjoy your music: You’re driving along, listening to the radio, and a song comes on that energizes you and has you dancing in your seat — immediately you’re in a better mood. Music triggers a release of feel-good dopamine to your brain, boosts happiness and reduces anxiety. Hearing a song from our adolescence brings back a flood of memories. The massive rush of hormones associated with our pubescent years tells our brains that everything is super important, and that includes whatever music we’re listening to at the time. That’s why, when we hear a throwback to our high school days, it’s a powerful thing. Try wintry crafts: Creating is beneficial to us in many ways; crafting eases stress and increases happiness. Build a gingerbread house, cut paper snowflakes, create handmade cards, knit a scarf, or make collages.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
— Do something good for someone else: Giving to others always makes us feel good, and you’ll be helping to brighten someone else’s day, too. Look for ways to help your community, such as blood donations, checking on older people in your neighborhood, or donating supplies or money to local organizations. Helping a cause larger than yourself can give you a sense of purpose, fulfillment and focus your thoughts on the present and things to be grateful for today. When searching for nonprofits to support, consider your interests. Are you passionate about helping children? Supporting cancer patients? Those struggling with mental health? Stray dogs and cats? “Now is the perfect time to make a monetary donation,” said Gina Werczynski of the Herkimer County Humane Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter and safe haven for stray dogs and cats, until their forever homes are found. “If an individual would prefer to donate supplies, we can always use any type of cleaning supplies, bleach, laundry detergent, dish detergent, sponges, non-clumping clay litter, canned dog food (no gravy),” she added. “We’re happy to accept any and all donations.” When you give to others, it activates your brain’s reward system, releasing endorphins, and makes you fell all warm and fuzzy. And those feelings are what we all need this winter.
GoldenYears
The Balanced Body
By Deb Dittner
Can you die from a broken heart?
The answer is yes, and there is clinical proof
F
ebruary is American Heart must take care of yourself through Month and I wanted to take a breathing and relaxation techniques, different approach rather than and stress management. Physical the traditional approach to the care of movement is necessary to improve your overall health and well-beyour heart. ing and manage stress. If you take You may remember a few years anti-anxiety medication, continue to back when Debbie Reynolds (who I do so as prescribed. Do not cope with was named after by the way) passed stress through excessive alcohol use, only one day after the death of her smoking, drug use, or overeating or daughter, Carrie Fisher (daughter of under-eating. These choices may lead Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher). to even greater health issues. It is reported that Ms. Reynolds died As noted in Reynolds’ case, her following a stroke but some believe situation was fatal. In most situathat it was broken heart syndrome tions, if you experience broken heart from the loss of her daughter. syndrome, recovery can occur in What is broken heart syndrome? days or weeks with no permanent The symptoms are quite similar to heart damage or risk of another. that of a heart attack in accordance with a physical or emotional stress Follow-up with your health care prosuch as the death of a loved one (as vider may include an EKG or other in Debbie Reynolds’ case), a divorce testing depending on your specific case. These symptoms are not to be or breakup, after a physically extaken lightly, require appropriate hausting event (marathon, triathlon), testing for proper diagnosis, and an asthma attack, or an extreme hapfollowed-up to make sure your body py surprise (winning the lottery). heals as needed. The symptoms “feel” like a heart attack as chest pain and shortness of breath occur but there are no blocked Propo Deborah Dittner is a MP familyOrder nurse coronary arteries and you will typi- This ad will appear at the classification of: practitioner and cally make a full and speedy recovangiography, chest X-ray, cardiac relaxation techniques as well as stress health consultant. Rome NYin blood work, and ery. This stress-induced cardiomyopbiomarkers management should be included. Her mission is to athy causes dysfunction of the heart cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. On occasion, broken heart synintests Home Datethe05/2014 muscle despite the person having no with transform as many These will provide necessary drome can lead to more serious heart previous heart condition and being information to determine the correct problems: The heartbeat may be as Date: March 17, 2014 Acct# A1ZGFE Sales Rep: GRIMALDI, JENNIFER L individuals Size: HCN6 Ad Id: AM healthy. Typically, women are more diagnosis. faster or slower than normal; damage possible through prone to broken heart syndrome than to heart valves, low blood pressure, Response to stress nutrition and lifestylePropo MP Order men. and possible fluid in the lungs. FolThis ad will appear at the classification of: In broken heart syndrome, a changes. For more The symptoms of broken heart low-up is necessary to make sure you stressful situation will have occurred. information, check Rome NY syndrome include shortness of progress appropriately and develop The EKG may show changes but not out her website at breath, chest pain, the irregular beatno underlying medical condition. w i tthose h i nseen H oin mae D aattack. te 05 /2014 heart Blood ing of the heart, low blood pressure, www.debdittner.com Since there is no key to preventesting will show no damage Date: March 17, 2014other Acct# A1ZGFE Sales GRIMALDI, JENNIFER Size: HCN6 Ad Id: AM and fainting. These symptoms may tion of broken heartRep: syndrome, you or contact her at L 518-596-8565. than pressure being slightly elevated, sound like that of a heart attack and and there will be no blocked arteremergency care should be immediies. Upon entering the emergency ately sought to determine the cause department, your symptoms will be Diabetes? through appropriate testing and looked at the same as a heart attack MP Order Proposal# diagnosis. Always best to err on the ad will appear at the classification of: Flat Feet? Ad no matter what theThis final diagnosis. side of caution. Letter NY The treatment ofRome diagnosed Testing is of utmost importance Plantar Fasciitis? with in will Homeinclude Date 05/2014 broken heart syndrome as this will help determine a heart Date: March 17, 2014 Acct# A1ZGFEYou Sales Rep: GRIMALDI, JENNIFER L Size: HCN6 Ad Id: AMZHMA1 Contract# Diabetes? may be eligible for shoes at little or5544766 no cost! attack versus broken heart syndrome. medications to slow a heart rate, lowThis ad will appear at the classification of: er blood pressure, decrease any fluid Flat Feet? Testing would include a physical medication Plantar Fasciitis? exam, review of past medical history, buildup, and anti-anxiety with in Home Date 05/2014 to manage stress. Also breathing and an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG), You may be eligible for shoes at little or no cost! MP Order
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Page 7
Money Matters Here are some helpful tips to achieve good financial health By Barbara Pierce
By Jim Miller
“
The pandemic amplified just how dire personal finances are in today’s society,” said financial coach Christine Spiak, founder and CEO of Compass Financial Wellness in the Mohawk Valley. Research found nearly 80% of us live paycheck to paycheck; 66% of us would struggle to pay for an emergency that cost $1,000, she added. “These are Spiak staggering statistics! When the pandemic happened, the thread that was barely holding everything together rapidly came undone,” she said. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that things can change suddenly and quickly. Being financially stressed takes a heavy toll on our physical health. Money is the No. 1 stressor in the United States. Being in a perpetual state of unease and anxiety increases the body’s stress hormones and puts you at risk for many health issues. To reduce financial stress, Spiak suggests you consider this approach: • Budget: Immediately get on a budget, she encourages. They do work. Budgets give you a clear picture of your income and your expenses; they’re your roadmap so you can live within your means. Even if your income has been reduced or you’re collecting unemployment, use a budget. When making your budget, first pay for the basics: food, utilities, housing and transportation. In this order, pay for these things. Especially when your income is reduced, you need these essentials. Look through the last two months of your credit and debit card statements to see how much money you’ve been spending and what you’ve been spending it on. “‘I feel like I got a raise!’ is what my clients tell me once they start budgeting,” said Spiak. “It’s amazing how far you can stretch your budget when you know where your money is going.” • Eat the food in your pantry and freezer. Use up what you have on hand before you buy more. Before you shop, make a list and stick to it.
Be careful of using plastic
• Use cash or a debit card: Start using cash or a debit card for all your purchases, not a credit card. You’re likely to spend more when you use a credit card; studies show people spend 83% more when using a credit card. Your credit card, unlike a debit card, is a loan. Though you’re only required to pay the minimum, you’ll pay interest on the remaining amount; interest rates are usually very high. • Eliminate impulse purchases. For every purchase, ask yourself, is Page 8
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What Caregivers Should Know About Medicare Dear Savvy Senior,
this a want or a need? If you’re on the fence about buying something or really want it, sleep on it and go back to the store or website in a day or two. • Cut the cable cord or look into alternatives like Hulu, Sling, Apple TV, etc. Evaluate your subscription services. Are you still using Audible, Sirius XM, Ipsy, etc.? If you no longer use these services, cancel them today. • Pay your bills twice a month. Why? You’ll be less reactive and more proactive about your finances. You’ll feel more in control thus creating healthier money habits. • Ask your utility company to put you on the budget plan. They’ll take the 12-month average of your utility costs and bill that amount for the next 12 months. • Set aside $1,000 in a starter emergency fund. This won’t cover every disaster that comes your way but it will allow you to have cash flow to address certain expenses that pop up so you don’t have to put it on your credit card. This will be difficult if your income has been reduced or if you’re out of work. But, as soon as you can, make this a priority. How important is it to pay down debt? “Extremely important,” recommends Spiak. “Debt keeps you from gaining financial independence, security and stability. It takes away your choices on how to spend your money.” “It may be ‘normal’ to have debt in our society, but it certainly isn’t wise. The pandemic is a perfect situation in which if you have debt, you’re likely in financial trouble,” she said. “You’ve been using your credit card to pay for groceries, gas, co-pay to your doctor, restaurants, etc. You haven’t paid the entire balance each month. The pandemic happens and you lose your job or take a reduction in your income. How will you pay off these bill(s)? If you had used your debit card or paid cash, you’d be in the clear instead of under a mountain of debt.” It isn’t easy to pay off debt, but it’s worth it. The amount of money you’ll save in interest and fees alone is worth cutting up your credit cards. Debt holds you back from achieving financial peace. Creditors offer hardship programs, usually on a case-by-case basis and only when you request help. Contact your creditor as they might offer reduced or deferred payments and fees.
I am the caregiver for my 81-year-old mother, who recently fell and broke her hip, and have a lot of questions about how original Medicare works and what it covers. Where can I get some help understanding this program?
Overwhelmed Caregiver
Dear Caregiver,
Excellent question! Having a working knowledge of Medicare can help you take full advantage of the coverage and services it provides to ensure your mom receives the best care possible. Here’s what you should know.
Medicare Assistance
A good starting point to get familiar with Medicare is the official “Medicare & You” handbook that overviews the program. It’s mailed to all beneficiaries every fall and provides an up-to-date description of all services and benefits. You can also see it online at Medicare.gov/medicare-and-you. If you have a particular question, you can call and visit with a Medicare customer service representative at 800-633-4227. Medicare also works closely with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) to provide free health insurance counseling. To find a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. Caregivers also find Medicare’s secure website — MyMedicare.gov — especially useful. After setting up a personal account for your mom, you can view the details of her coverage, track recent health care claims and keep up to date on the preventive services she qualifies for.
Compare Tools
Medicare can also help you locate the right health care providers for your mother. At Medicare. gov/care-compare you can find and compare doctors, hospitals, home health agencies, dialysis facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in your mom’s area.
What Medicare Covers
Medicare can reduce many outof-pocket medical expenses your mom incurs, but it doesn’t cover everything. Understanding what Medicare does and doesn’t cover can save you time and spare you frustration when navigating the caregiving maze. Here are some key points for caregivers: Besides basic hospital and physician services (which includes telehealth services) and optional
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
prescription drug benefits, Medicare covers home health care too. To qualify, your mom must be homebound, under a physician’s care and in need of part-time skilled nursing care or rehabilitative services like physical therapy. Medicare also helps pay for oxygen, catheters and other medical supplies that a doctor prescribes for home use. The same is true for medically necessary equipment like oxygen machines, wheelchairs and walkers. In addition, Medicare covers skilled care in a nursing home for limited periods — up to 100 days — following hospital stays. But it doesn’t cover long-term stays. Patients who need custodial care (room and board) must pay out of pocket unless they’re eligible for Medicaid or have private long-term care insurance. Medicare pays for hospice care too, for someone with a terminal illness whose doctor expects to live six months or less. The hospice benefit also includes brief periods of respite care at a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home to give the patient’s caregivers an occasional rest. Besides long-term nursing home stays, original Medicare typically doesn’t cover regular dental care or dentures, regular eye exams or eyeglasses, and hearing exams and hearing aids. Likewise, it won’t pay for nonemergency ambulance trips unless a doctor certifies they’re medically necessary. To find out what Medicare covers, visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in the test, item or service you have questions about, or download the Medicare “What’s covered” app in either the App Store or Google Play.
Financial Assistance
If your mom lives on a limited income, you should check whether she qualifies for help with prescription drug costs or with other Medicare-related premiums, deductibles and copayments. For help with drug costs, visit SSA.gov/prescriptionhelp or contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 and ask about the “Extra Help Program.” For help with other Medicare costs, go to Medicare.gov or call 800-6334227 and ask about the “Medicare Savings Programs.” Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
MILK & HONEY By Brooke Stacia DeMott
What is true unity?
‘No doubt, unity is something to be desired, to be striven for, but it cannot be willed by mere declarations.’ — Theodore Bikel
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latitudes are attractive because they simplify deep, complex ideas and put them within intellectual reach. In so doing, idyllic standards become less nebulous and take a more tangible form- and we begin to believe the utopia of the mind can materialize on earth as a permanent structure. The rally cries for unity have risen to the platitudinal architects of American society- the media, the government, and the ministersabove the perfect storm of social rage and political division that have wearied the nation for relentless months. While everyone likes a little drama, this year, the spice has become the meal- and we’re pushing the plate away in disgust. Everyone’s ready for a blander diet. But, we’re skeptical, side-glancing one another with eyes of political partisanship. After years of being cajoled into hating one another by politicians and the media, the powers-that-be urging for a unified nation feels awfully superficial, and loaded with hypocrisy. Still- against all odds- we continue to believe it can be done. There’s a really good reason for that. A desire for unity is deeply woven into the divine nature of man’s original design. Unity is, after all, the
perfect relationship enjoyed by God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A triune God, living in perfect community, created man and invited him into this holy union. This eternal gathering is marked by love, its function is humble service and mutual submission, and its goal is expansive harmony. That was our inheritance- until the serpent beckoned our first parents away with hushed promises of power, and they traded it all for a single bite of fruit. Lured by that initial, seductive promise of ‘more’, Adam invited sin into human history- and it has entangled every generation since. Since then, the story of God and man is truly themed by God’s pursuit to reconcile our lost relationship (ultimately, by the death of Jesus) - and our persistent, self-destructive flight from His advances. But the desire for unity, in some form, remains. We err because we’ve forgotten where it came from. We want to be like God, but without His wisdom, power, mercy, justice or holy nature. That’s why this isn’t working. The best we can produce is a counterfeit unity, forged where powerful people work to subdue those around them. This is a unity of complacency,
and not a unity of conviction. A ‘unity of complacency’ looks like this: - a tense truce urging people to cease discussion of anything contrary to the leaderships’ will -focus on shallow commonalities to hide or smother discord -unmotivated to action, as meeting objectives together lacks a sense of accomplishment -requires constant management and oversight by a purveyor of false peace, who keeps the people quiet, but apathetic -Leaders expend great effort in gaining and sustaining loyalty to themselves and their ideas This kind of unity is maintained by keeping everyone in uneasy silence, where questions are discouraged, and questioning is condemned. It is manufactured, and because of that, ultimately unsustainable. We usually call this tyranny, and though that term widely applies to national governments, it can be found in any gathering- a corporation, a club, or even a church. By contrast, a ‘unity of conviction’ would look dramatically different, marked by: - passionate forward mobility born of deep-rooted, shared beliefs in a meaningful common purpose -an organic fusion of like-minded individuals coming together (and staying together) in universal pursuit of a higher end, not by persuasion or force -genuine enthusiasm and equal participation- instead of making excuses, people make advances. -disagreements are generally over style and preference while the common goal is universally agreed upon -conflicts are managed by open, transparent conversation; everyone can speak freely and come to resolution without fear of rejection This type of unity may seem like a fantasy, but in reality, this is a mark of the spirt of God which emboldens and embodies the church. Unity of the Holy Spirit is self-sustaining, full of joyful purpose, able to bear one another’s burdens, and propelled forward by confidence in the Lord. It is freedom, in its purest form. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Cor 3:17 When Christ died, He took the punishment for all of our sin to the
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grave with him. This incredible act of love made it possible for us to reconcile with God, and be invited back into that perfect community that we were made to enjoy. More than that, Jesus promised to send us a ‘helper,’ the spirit of God Himself, to dwell in the hearts of all believers, knitting them together not only with God, but also, with one another. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Ps 133:1 Tyranny holds people together by force. Unity holds them together by purpose. How much better would it be, if we entered into the bonds of peace that He has prepared for us? Could we truly become ‘one nation, under God, indivisible’? “…walk in a manner worthy of your calling, with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. “ Eph 4:1-6 — Brooke Stacia DeMott is a columnist with In Good Health newspaper. Got a question for Demott? Feel free to email her at brooketo@aol.com. The beliefs and opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this newspaper or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Between You & Me
By Barbara Pierce
Make your New Year’s resolution stick
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icture this drawing: A woman jogging, carrying weights. In the next drawing, she is sitting in a chair working the remote control. In the last picture, she is sitting on the floor stuffing chips and pizza into her mouth. “The evolution of my New Year’s resolution” is the title of this cartoon by Shannon Geary in the Tufts Daily. Pretty good description of how New Year’s resoPierce lutions go for most of us. We firmly resolve to do some good behavior regularly, or stop an undesirable habit. “It’s a new year! I’m going to change!” we declare, with every intention of sticking to our goal of adding a good practice or eliminating a bad practice. The reality is that resolutions are tough to keep, most are set up for inevitable disappointment and eventual burn-out. When our new habit gets challenging or boring, we abandon it for something easier. Or something more fun. Or something that offers more immediate gratification, like something that tastes really good with ketchup. On average, 80% of New Year’s
resolutions fail by the second week of February. So how can you ensure that your determination to get healthier in 2021 sticks around past Valentine’s Day? “We really can do anything we set our minds to,” says Jen Sincero in her book “Badass Habits.” One of the main reasons we fail to stick to new good habits and ditch negative ones, she says, is that we do not embrace this desired habit as a new and valuable part of our identity. “For example, if you decide you’re going to lose 30 pounds, along with filling your fridge with healthy low cal food and working out, you also need to become the person who weights 30 pounds less, who struts round like ‘Yeah, this is my body, these are my excellent eating habits; it’s who I am!’ “If you identify instead as the heavier version of yourself who somehow miraculously dropped 30 pounds, you’ll likely put the weight back on because you’re still identifying as someone with a weight issue.” In AA, along with laying off the booze, you’re also asked to identify yourself at a meeting as: “Hi, I’m Janice and I’m an alcoholic.” By owning the fact you’re an alcoholic and cannot touch a drop of alcohol, you’re much more likely to successfully dump your drinking habit than if you identify yourself as “Hi, I’m
Janice and, even though I wake up hungover and unsure of where I am on a regular basis, I can handle the random cocktail here and there, no problem.” By shifting your identify to align with the habit you’re working to adopt, you prepare yourself for a totally new reality. If you continue to feel like an impostor in this new habit, it probably won’t last, because it’s not really who you are. Another example: If you decide you’re going to quit smoking, you stop hanging out with smokers, you get rid of cigarettes. You do all this, but if you identify yourself as a smoker who’s quitting, it’s very different than if you identify as somebody who doesn’t smoke. If you’re trying to quit but you’re still a smoker, you’re still thinking, “Maybe I’ll just have one puff; that’s okay while I’m quitting.” If you’re a nonsmoker, you don’t really think about smoking. It’s not on your radar. Another reason people fail to keep their resolutions is that they’re not specific enough. For example, resolving to “exercise more” or “lose weight” are easy ways to set yourself up for failure, as they lack ways to mark progress and are unlikely to keep you motivated throughout the year. Pick a specific goal — not just “I’ll get more exercise,” but specifically how much and when. Some-
thing like “I’m going to bike for 30 minutes four days per week.” Instead of saying “I’ll lose weight!” think about how much weight will you lose? How will you measure your progress? What smaller goals can you break this down into? What obstacles could get in your way? Break your goal down into small steps so you will have a feeling of accomplishment after you achieve each step, then reward yourself. We’re wired to respond to rewards. “Your badass habits have the home team advantage,” Sincero adds. “You’ve been participating in them for a long time, and now you’re trying to make a change. So, when you fall off the horse, you gotta get right back on.” When you don’t succeed, consider it as an experiment. What can you learn from why you didn’t succeed? What did work? What didn’t work? For example, if nailing down 30 minutes of exercise never sems to work, could you break it into 10-minute segments two/three times a day? Research shows that it generally takes at least 18 days for a habit to become automatic, usually longer. So, give your resolution a fighting chance. Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When You Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.
Calling 911: What you need to know By Barbara Pierce “911. What is the nature of your emergency?” came the reassuring voice of the 911 operator at 2:15 a.m. My husband was unconscious and having trouble breathing. I’d never called 911 before. I was scared. I’d never dealt with EMTs, with medical emergencies. I had a steep learning curve that night. Hopefully, you’ll never have to call 911 in an emergency. Dealing with a medical emergency is very stressful, but knowing how to effectively call for help can save valuable time---and lives. John J. Raymond Director of Emergency Services, Herkimer County, shared these tips: Know the address/location you’re calling from: The number one thing dispatchers need to know is your address or location, he advises. “If 911 doesn’t know your location, it makes it very difficult to send help.” Many people assume that we can trace their number to their location, he said. That’s true for landline phones, not always for cellphones. We have the capability of GPS location on most cellular 911 calls but there are cases where that may not work. If you’re traveling and not familiar with the area of the emergency, give landmarks or names of business in the area. Knowing the name of the Page 10
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road you are on is important. Even a number on a mailbox is helpful. Be prepared for questions: The 911 dispatcher will ask you a lot of questions, your name, phone number, and pertaining to the type of emergency. Many of these questions are asked for verification purposes. While the questions are being asked, the information is relayed to first responders by another dispatcher. The dispatcher can give you life savings instructions while other dispatchers notify and relay information to first responders, explained Raymond. It may seem like the dispatcher is asking too many questions and it’s taking a long time for responders to arrive, and the dispatcher is asking a lot of questions. But it’s important for you to remain as calm as possible. Don’t hang up until the dispatcher tells you it’s okay. The dispatcher may want to keep communication open, may tell you how to begin caring for the injured/sick person. In my emergency, the dispatcher was very reassuring, talked me through doing CPR, kept me from flying apart as I waited. If you haven’t been given instructions about what to do, use the time to move obstructions such as furniture out of the way to give the responders space to work and gather up the medication the person has
been taking. Knowing the medication the person has taken is essential. It’s a good idea to have the bottles or list easily accessible; this is what I learned. Now I’ve taped up both our lists. Using 911 appropriately: Many medical calls we receive at 911 are not true emergencies that need a trip by ambulance to the ER, but could be handled outside the emergency services system, said information recommended by Edward Stevens, Oneida County Director of Emergency Services. Called “Ask Amy,” this information can be found at https://ocgov. net/e911/askamy. “Precious limited resources are wasted on non-emergencies that can be handled routinely,” says Ask Amy. An emergency is “an unexpected and usually dangerous situation that calls for immediate action.” What if I live alone? Hiding a key outside your home or giving a key to a trusted neighbor allows rescuers to gain entry without damaging property or having to wait for you to respond, suggests Ask Amy. “Having a list with your name, date of birth, medical problems and allergies, and all medications with dosages is helpful to the responders
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
and physicians should you be transported to the hospital. A good place to tack it up is on the refrigerator or someplace that is visible and will be noticed by rescuers.” Calling 911 alone is sufficient; if you cannot speak, the dispatcher will send police to the location of the call. Consider a Medical Alert System if you live alone, so that you can get an emergency response without the need to call 911. Can I text 911? Oneida County residents now have the option to text 911. However, only text when you cannot call. This is only available in limited areas and only for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon users at this time. To initiate a Text-to-911, enter 911 as your contact and write a text message, including the address of the emergency and a brief description of the emergency. When help arrives: Once the EMTs have arrived, don’t crowd them, but make sure one person is available to answer questions. As pets can become aggressive in an emergency, put them in another room, safely out of the way. My emergency ended okay and is now just a memory. If there’s a next time, I’ll be better prepared.
1/26/2021
- Rome Sentinel, 1/24/2021
Ask The Social
Security Office
From the Social Security District Office
Hearings with the Social Security Administration during COVID-19
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n March 2020, we temporarily closed all of our Social Security Hearing Offices due to the coronavirus pandemic and are not offering in-person hearings. During the office closures, we are providing two flexible, safe and secure hearing options: either a telephone hearing or our new option of an online video hearing. Additional information on both of these hearing options is available here: www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_options.html What are “online video hearings”? Online video hearings are a secure way to conduct hearings over the internet, using a free platform called Microsoft Teams. You and your representative, if you have one, can attend the online video hearing safely and securely from any private place with a secure internet connection using a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet or computer. Like our telephone hearings option, the online video hearings option is not mandatory. We will conduct online video hearings the same way we conduct telephone and in-person hearings. During the hearing, the
Q&A Q: I worked for the last 10 years and I now have my 40 credits. Does this mean that I get the maximum Social Security retirement benefit? A: Probably not. The 40 credits are the minimum number you need to qualify for retirement benefits. However, we do not base your benefit amount on those credits; it’s based on your earnings over a lifetime of work. To learn more about how you earn Social Security credits and how they work, read or listen to our publication How You Earn Credits, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Q: I’m expecting a baby this June. What do I need to do to get a Social Security number for my baby? A: Apply for a number at the hospital when you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will share your child’s information with us and we will mail the Social Security card to you. You can learn more about the Social Security number and card by reading our online publication “So-
administrative law judge (ALJ) will swear in all hearing participants and listen to your testimony. You will see the ALJ and representative, if one has been appointed. Other participants, such as vocational or medical experts and interpreters, will join by phone. What are the technology requirements to participate in an online video hearing? You and an appointed representative, if applicable, must have access to email and a personal computer, laptop, Android or Apple tablet or mobile device with a secure and private, high-speed Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. The device must have a camera, microphone, and speakers. If using a mobile device, you must download the free Microsoft Teams application. We will send you a link to a user guide that explains how to access and use Microsoft Teams before the date of an online video hearing. Please read our publication Online Video Hearings at the Social Security Administration at www. ssa.gov/pubs/EN-70-10284.pdf for additional information. A short video about online video hearings is available at www.ssa.gov/appeals/ hearing_video.html.
cial Security Numbers for Children”, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs. Q: Someone stole my Social Security number, and it’s being used repeatedly. Does Social Security issue new Social Security numbers to victims of repeated identity theft? A: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, so you aren’t alone. If you’ve done all you can to identify and fix the problem, including contacting the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), but someone is still using your number, Social Security may assign you a new number. If you decide to apply for a new number, you’ll need to prove your identity, age, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. You’ll also need to provide evidence you’re having ongoing problems because of the misuse of your current Social Security number. You can read more about identity theft at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Rome Medical Practice consolidates sites
digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/RomeSentinel/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=RCS%2F2021%2F01%2F24&entity=ad00
R
ome Medical Practice is consolidating two of its Rome locations temporarily to enable clinical and administrative staff to assist Rome Memorial Hospital with staffing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our practices at 1614 N. James St. will temporarily be relocating to 267 Avery Lane at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park,” said practice administrator Lisa Taurisano. Calls to the 1614 N. James St. location will automatically be forwarded to the new temporary location. Patients of surgeons Alberto Del Pino, Pedro DelPino and Theresa Ruddy will temporarily be seen in
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Suite 300 at 267 Avery Lane. Patients of pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist Mohammad Seedat will temporarily be seen in Suite 100 at 267 Avery Lane. “Consolidating our practices at our Avery Lane location at Griffiss will allow us to provide much needed support to the hospital and its nurses,” Taurisano said.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Incontinence A common issue not commonly discussed By Barbara Pierce
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ave you noticed that you’re often racing to the bathroom, sometimes leak when you laugh, cough or sneeze, or avoid intercourse because it hurts? Do you accept that symptoms such as leaking, pain in the pelvic area, urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, or pelvic organ prolapse are just things to put up with as you age? These are embarrassing problems we’re not comfortable talking about. It can be difficult to even bring it up with your doctor. But don’t ignore these common signs of a pelvic floor disorder (PFD) that affect both men and women. It’s more common in older women; one in four women are dealing with it. “These are very common issues and many patients see quick results,” said Dr. Nicole Hebert of Little Falls Hospital. “You don’t have to live with incontinence or pelvic pain.” It’s not a natural part of aging. Many pelvic floor disorders can be treated through physical therapy and lifestyle changes. You aren’t destined to a life of pads or pills, suffering in silence. Treatment could change your life. Hebert, who has been specially trained in pelvic floor therapy, offers this therapy for men and women
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in the Rehabilitation Department at Little Falls Hospital in Little Falls, a subsidiary of the Bassett Healthcare Network. Pelvic floor therapy is an individualized program that focuses on strengthening or relaxing the pelvic floor of men and women. It is a minimally invasive therapy. “This is such an individual issue, she added. “There’s not a cookie cutter approach to treatment of these issues. The exercises appropriate for one patient maybe completely wrong for another patient. We perform an examination and determine which treatments are appropriate for your specific issue.” “The pelvic floor refers to the numerous muscles that form a hammock in the base of your pelvis,” she explained. “These muscles provide support for our pelvic organs, maintain control of our bladder and bowel function and are responsible for healthy sexual activity.” The pelvis works like a sling to support all the pelvic organs, holding them in place and providing support. As our muscle tone ages, or if it’s damaged or becomes weak, it can lead to pelvic floor disorders that impact bladder and bowel functioning. “These muscles may have become weakened, tightened, or spastic due to many circumstances. We focus
on strengthening or relaxing the pelvic region of men and women.” “My evaluation and treatments are always guided by the comfort level of the patient,” she added. “I provide a thorough explanation of what the evaluation and treatment may entail and why. I find this goes a long way in easing a patient’s apprehension. Knowledge is power and patient education is a major part of what I do.” The treatments include exercises to increase strength in the muscles near the bladder, bladder retraining to assist with holding and releasing urine voluntarily, electrical stimulation to increase muscle strength and decrease symptoms of bladder irritability, manual therapy, home exercise program, education to identify food and beverages that aggravate the bladder, and biofeedback to train the pelvic muscles. “Men who are experiencing pelvic pain and urinary issues may also benefit from an individualized therapy program,” Hebert added. “Urinary incontinence, including stress and urgency, aren’t issues exclusive to women. Some men may experience incontinence issues and/or pain following prostate surgery. Also, the inability to completely empty the bladder is an issue for many patients and can also be addressed through a
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
pelvic floor program.” In addition to pelvic floor therapy, there are medications and surgeries available. Also, sometimes changes in diet or fitness, or bladder training will help. A specially trained therapist can help you decide the best option for you. “I wish more people, men and women alike, knew that there are other, conservative, treatment options out there and you don’t have to live with incontinence or pelvic pain,” she concluded. “Some of my patients had struggled with pelvic floor issues for years, but there was no one in this area that specialized in pelvic floor therapy.” “I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly some of my patients saw results. A significant amount of them got better.” For more information on pelvic floor disorders, contact Little Fall Hospital’s Rehabilitation Department at 315-823-5360, or see their website https://www.bassett.org/ medical/services/rehabilitation/pelvic-floor-therapy. “If you’d like to make an appointment, and you do not have a referral from your primary physician, just call us and we’ll assist you by contacting your primary physician to obtain a referral,” said Hebert.
SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating
Surprising Benefits of Rye Bread
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asteless, white Wonder bread was not the only bread I consumed during my growing years. Our family also ate a lot of rye bread: dark pumpernickel, marbled rye and traditional light rye. My German father insisted on it; and, over time, I grew to love the taste and texture. Since then, and with each pass-
ing year — years marked by disturbingly high cholesterol counts or worrisome digestive issues or tightening waistbands — my fondness for rye has only intensified. Why rye? Earthy, dense, chewy rye? Like other whole grains with the germ, endosperm and bran intact, unprocessed rye rocks with a variety of nutrients and health benefits.
Some Americans Can’t Access Telemedicine, Study Shows
A big “digital divide” has prevented many from using telemedicine care
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elemedicine rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic as people turned to their phones and computers rather than leave their homes for health care. But some groups of people were left behind in the telemedicine boom, a new study reports. Middle-aged and older folks are much less likely to complete their scheduled telemedicine visits, as well as Medicaid recipients and those whose first language is not English, the researchers said. Many groups are also unable to take part in video visits, including middle-aged folks and seniors, women, Black and Hispanic people, and those with a lower household income, according to the study authors. The pandemic has revealed a “digital divide” in telemedicine care, with some people unable to take full advantage of the service because they either lack access to the technology or find it too daunting, said lead researcher physician Srinath Adusumalli. He’s a cardiologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. “Lots of the care we’ve histori-
cally delivered in person can be done via telemedicine, and therefore I do think telemedicine is here to stay,” Adusumalli said. “Our goal now is to start refining that process.” For this study, Adusumalli and his colleagues surveyed records for nearly 150,000 patients who scheduled telemedicine visits with Penn Medicine between mid-March and mid-May, 2020, at the height of the pandemic’s first wave. Only 54% of those who scheduled a telemedicine visit actually followed through and completed it, the researchers found. Further, only about 46% of those who used telemedicine had a visit conducted via video, which is generally considered the best, Adusumalli said. The rest had phone visits. Age played a large part in whether a person would complete a telemedicine visit or use video during their visit: n People aged 55 to 64 were 15% less likely to complete a visit and 21% less likely to use video. nThose aged 65 to 74 were 25% less likely to complete the telemedicine consultation and 22% less likely to use video.
Rye is a terrific source of fiber, ranging from about 2 grams to 6 grams per slice, depending on the kind of rye bread consumed. Many of our health problems — from heart disease to certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes to obesity — stem from too little dietary fiber, which is why leading institutions, like the American Heart Association, recommend we consume at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day. Whole-grain rye bread can help meet that goal. Blood sugar control is important for everyone, especially people with diabetes or at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes; and rye bread — thanks to its unique concentration of fiber, manganese, and phenolics (powerful antioxidants) — aids how we process sugar. Working together, these important nutrients help stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing both the release and absorption of sugar and insulin into the bloodstream. Adding whole grains like rye bread to your diet may reduce the risk of heart disease, according to studies at the Harvard School of Public Health. Multiple factors — from its cholesterol-lowering fiber to its aid in weight control (since whole grains make you feel full longer) to its inflammation-busting plant compounds — all contribute to healthier hearts.
Avocado Rye Toast with Egg, Tomato, and Sriracha Mayo Serves 2
2 slices rye bread 1 avocado 1-2 teaspoons lime or lemon juice salt and pepper to taste 2 eggs 8 thin slices Roma tomato n Seniors aged 75 and older were 33% less likely to successfully participate in telemedicine and 51% less likely to try video. • Non-English speakers were 16% less likely to complete a telemedicine visit, and people on Medicaid were 7% less likely, the results showed. Lower video use was also observed among women (8% less likely), Black people (35%), Hispanics (10%) and low-income families (43% less likely for household income less than $50,000). The findings were published online recently in JAMA Network Open. Video allows doctors to visually examine a patient, check out their surroundings, and look directly at either medications they are taking or the results from self-monitoring devices like blood pressure cuffs or glucometers, Adusumalli said. “The common wisdom is that video is always best, but I think it’s best in certain clinical situations,” Adusumalli said. “Having conducted many home medicine visits myself, I do agree video makes the encounter richer. It allows you to connect more with the patient.” Adusumalli thinks there are several factors that could be contributing to the gap in access to telemedicine. Many people don’t have access to good broadband service, either wired or wireless, or might have a phone or computer that doesn’t support video, he said. Others might lack the technical ability to install a telemedicine pro-
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Sriracha Mayo 2 tablespoons light mayo ¼ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce (or hot sauce of choice) 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice salt and pepper to taste Lightly mash avocado with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Whisk Sriracha mayo ingredients together in small bowl. Cook eggs any way you like. Toast rye bread. Spread Sriracha mayo (if using) over the toast, then top with avocado mash, tomato slices, and cooked egg. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper, if needed.
Helpful tips If possible, seek authentic rye bread from local bakers. If buying from store, read labels carefully: the first ingredient should say rye flour or rye meal, whether you buy light, dark or marbled rye. True pumpernickel, one of the healthier ryes, is made entirely from coarsely ground whole rye grains. For those who prefer a more lightly flavored rye, Pepperidge Farm makes a “Whole Grain Seeded Rye Bread” with a blend of whole wheat and whole grain rye flours.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
gram or app to their device, register it and run it properly. “The systems we use need to be as simple as possible,” he added. Adusumalli noted that his hospital’s video vendor has refined their software to the point that people don’t need to download an app. Instead, they can access telemedicine directly from their computer or phone’s web browser. “That removes another barrier, and we hope that will increase the accessibility of video visits,” Adusumalli said. Telemedicine visits accounted for about 35% of primary care visits between April and June, according to a Johns Hopkins study published in JAMA Network Open in October. “In general, patients do find it convenient,” Adusumalli said. “You don’t have to pay for parking. You don’t have to take off time from work. You don’t have to obtain child care.” But American College of Physicians President Jacqueline Fincher isn’t completely pleased with the shift to telemedicine. “Telehealth is definitely not ideal. It beats nothing, but in terms of trying to really evaluate patients, especially those with chronic health problems, it does make it more difficult,” said Fincher, a primary care provider in rural Georgia. Video does help in a telemedicine assessment, Fincher said, but she added that many folks in rural areas simply don’t have access to either broadband or a device with a good camera.
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Menopause: What to expect By Megan Plete Postol
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lthough menopause is natural, this does not mean it’s easy. Menopause is the gradual (inevitable) process of period cycles ending in a woman’s body. This happens when the ovaries (female reproductive glands responsible for storing eggs and releasing them into the fallopian tubes) stop producing high levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This transition brings an onslaught of changes to a woman’s life and body. “Every woman goes through menopause,” Amber O’Brien of the Mango Clinic said. “If a woman is moving towards her menopause, there are certain things that she must be prepared for. The changes are different for different women. If one woman is experiencing a large range of menopause symptoms, while another may experience less.” The years leading up to menopause are the phase called peri-menopause. This is when women will experience the common indicators such as include period irregularity, hot flashes (the sudden onset of feeling very feeling warm or hot, sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, issues with intercourse, mood swings, bloating, vaginal dryness, and more. Menopause has been achieved once a woman has completed her last period. The usual marker is 12 months past her last cycle. Post-menopause is the time period in
a woman’s life after menopause. This process can, and does, last years. The number of years for each individual woman varies, but symptoms commonly start when a woman is in her forties and can continue into her fifties. The average age for a woman to enter menopause is 51, according to Healthline.
Going through menopause puts women at a higher risk of developing certain health conditions, such as sleep apnea, weight gain, heart disease, and osteoporosis. In a study published by The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the research revealed that women who experience frequent
U.S. Cancer Death Rates I Keep Falling: Report Decline boosted by fewer lung cancer deaths, says study
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mproved lung cancer treatment is a major reason for the 31% decline in cancer death rates in the United States between 1991 and 2018, including a record 2.4% decrease from 2017 to 2018, the American Cancer Society says. How the COVID-19 pandemic will affect this downward trend is unknown, the society noted. “The impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnoses and outcomes at the population level will be unknown for several years because of the time necessary for data collection, compilation, quality control and dissemination,” according to the report’s lead author, Rebecca Siegel. “We anticipate that disruptions in access to cancer care in 2020 will lead to downstream increases in advanced-stage diagnoses that may impede progress in reducing cancer mortality rates in the years to come,” she said in a cancer society news release. The American Cancer Society said about 3.2 million cancer deaths were prevented from 1991 through 2018 due to declines in smoking, earlier detection, and improvements in treatment that led to long-term decreases in deaths from the four leading cancers: lung, breast, colon and prostate. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, causing more deaths than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. While there’s been slow progress against breast, prostate and colon cancers in recent years, declines in lung cancer death rates grew from 2.4% a year during 2009 to 2013 to 5%
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
intense hot flashes are more likely to develop sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous condition characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. These breathing interruptions can last for a few seconds or even minutes. Sleep apnea is linked to a whole host of other health conditions, including irregular heartbeat, stroke, high blood pressure, and dementia. The menopause process is totally personalized, similar to pregnancy – no woman experiences it the same way. Some women have minimal symptoms and no treatment is needed. Others suffer from severe symptoms and choose to pursue relief. This can be found in the form of medications, lifestyle changes, natural remedies, or a combination. Medication options include hormone therapy, estrogen cream, and low-dose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Lifestyle changes can be meditation, prioritizing rest time, dressing in layers (for hot flashes), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and deep breathing exercises. Some popular natural remedies are acupuncture, yoga, and supplements. The best thing to do if a woman is having intense symptoms is to seek advice from her healthcare provider. An honest and in-depth discussion with a doctor can help women to formulate a plan to handle this complicated life transition.
a year during 2014 to 2018. Lung cancer accounted for nearly half (46%) of the overall decline in cancer deaths in the past five years, driving the record single-year drop of 2.4% from 2017 to 2018 for the second year in a row, according to the cancer society’s new report on cancer statistics, which was published Jan. 12 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The report also appears in Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Recent large reductions in lung cancer deaths reflect better treatment for the most common subtype of the disease — non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two-year survival for NSCLC increased from 34% among patients diagnosed in 2009 to 2010 to 42% among those diagnosed in 2015 to 2016, including gains of 5% to 6% for every stage of diagnosis. Two-year survival for small cell lung cancer remained at 14% to 15% over that time period. In 2021, nearly 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States and there will be over 608,000 cancer deaths, the cancer society estimated. However, that prediction is based on 2017-2018 data and doesn’t account for the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also said that cancer is the leading cause of death in Hispanics, Asian Americans and Alaska Natives. In addition, the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined that were diagnosed from 2010 through 2016 was 68% in white patients and 63% in Black patients.
Are you at risk for breast cancer? By Barbara Pierce
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ne in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer over her lifetime. Your individual risk depends on several things: family history, pregnancy history, ethnicity, and age (the younger you are, the lower the risk.) There’s no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But you may be doing things that increase your chances of developing breast cancer. Lower your risk by changing the risk factors that are under your control. Risk factors for breast cancer, from Kim McMahon of the American Cancer Society, (ACS) Northeast Region: Drinking alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Women who have one drink a day have an up to 10% increase in risk; women who have two-three drinks a day have about a 20% higher risk. (A drink is defined as eight ounces of beer, one ounce of hard liquor, a small glass of wine.) Smoking can cause a significant increased risk of breast cancer, especially in women who started smoking during adolescence or who have a family history of the disease. Being overweight or obese after menopause increases breast cancer risk. Before menopause, your ovaries make most of your estrogen, and fat tissue makes only a small part of the total amount. After menopause (when the ovaries stop making estrogen), most of a woman’s estrogen comes from fat tissue. Having more fat tissue after menopause can raise estrogen levels and increase your chance of getting breast cancer. (A body mass index of 25 or above is considered overweight.) Not being physically active: Evidence is growing that regular physical activity reduces breast cancer risk, especially in women past menopause. Some studies have found that even as little as a couple of hours a week might be helpful, although more seems to be better. Not being pregnant: Women who never been pregnant or were first
pregnant after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk overall. Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at an early age reduces breast cancer risk. Birth control: Some birth control methods use hormones, which might increase breast cancer risk. Most studies have found that women using birth control pills have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. Once the pills are stopped, this risk seems to go back to normal within about 10 years. Hormone therapy after menopause: Hormone therapy with estrogen (often combined with progesterone) has been used for many years to help relieve symptoms of menopause. After about four years of use, the use of combined hormone therapy does increase the risk of breast cancer. Studies of the use of estrogen alone after menopause have had mixed results, with some finding a slightly higher risk and some finding no increase. If it does increase the risk, it’s not by much. Assessing your risk: Your health care provider can help you determine your risk of breast cancer; several risk assessment tools are available to help estimate a woman’s breast cancer risk. You can estimate your risk with an online assessment tool. These tools give approximate estimates of breast cancer risk based on different combinations of risk factors. Screening: Whether you have risk factors or not, it’s important to get screening mammograms. The goal of screening is to find the cancer before it causes symptoms (like a lump that can be felt). When found early, breast cancer is easier to treat. Getting regular screenings is the most reliable way to find it early. Recommendations from the ACS for screenings in women who have an average risk for breast cancer: All women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a healthcare provider right away. Women ages 40-44 should have
DRIVERS WANTED We’re looking for dependable people to help us distribute copies of In Good Health, Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper, in offices and other high traffic locations in the Utica-Rome-Clinton region. Great for active retirees or at-home moms in need of some extra cash. Work only one or two days a month during office hours (9 to 5). Compensation: $11.80/h plus 30 cents per mile. It amounts to about $150 per distribution.The paper is usually distributed at the beginning of the month. Drivers pick up the papers (in bundles of 100 copies) in North Utica and leave copies at various locations, following a list of places we provide. No heavy lifting. Drivers are required to have a dependable vehicle, be courteous and reliable. We audit all areas of distribution.
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the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so. Women ages 45-54 should get a mammogram every year. Women ages 55 and older may switch to a mammogram every two years, or continue yearly. Screenings should continue as long as she is in good health. Women who are at high risk for breast cancer should get a breast MRI and a mammogram every year, typically starting at age 30, continuing as long as she is in good health. If you are at increased risk for breast cancer (for instance, because you have a strong family history of breast cancer or have a known gene mutation that increases breast cancer risk) there are things you can do that might help lower your chances of developing breast cancer. Genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer risk (if it hasn’t been done already) Close observation to look for early signs of breast cancer Medicines to lower breast cancer risk Preventive (prophylactic) surgery Discuss with your health care provider which, if any, of these options might be right for you. It’s a myth: Antiperspirants don’t cause breast cancer: Internet and e-mail rumors have suggested that chemicals in underarm antiperspirants are absorbed through the skin, interfere with lymph circulation, and cause toxins to build up in the breast, eventually leading to breast cancer. Studies have found no connection between personal care products and breast cancer. Underwire bras don’t cause cancer: Internet and e-mail rumors and at least one book have suggested that bras cause breast cancer by obstructing lymph flow, leading to a buildup of toxins in your breasts. There is no scientific evidence for this claim. Researchers found no association between wearing a bra with or without underwire and breast cancer. Induced abortion does not cause cancer: Several studies have provided very strong data that induced abortions or spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) do not have an effect on the risk of breast cancer
Vaccines most studied of all Myths surround disease busters
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accine. The word conjures up a host of emotions, from relief and hope to skepticism and even fear. In truth, says physician Patrick Gavigan, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Penn State Children’s Hospital, vaccines are among the most heavily studied of all medical interventions, and the evidence shows they are safe and extremely effective. Many once-daunting diseases, such as measles, meningitis and pneumonia, have been combatted successfully with childhood vaccinations. Most parents readily accept the vaccine schedule and bring their children for well-child visits expecting the vaccines will be given, Gavigan said. Those who hesitate often want clarification on things they have heard about vaccine safety or additives. Doctors understand there is misinformation and are happy to set the record straight. “Most people with reservations about vaccines come to us with pretty good questions and are just looking for advice,” Gavigan said. Here are a few of the most common myths about vaccines and reassuring truths. n Vaccines can make you sick and cause the illness they’re supposed to prevent. The truth: Vaccines contain inactive viruses or components of the virus or bacteria and cannot cause infection in people with normally functioning immune systems. “Common side effects, such as fever or pain at the injection site, that people often mistake for illness are the immune system’s response to the components and actually show the body is building immunity to the virus or bacteria,” Gavigan said. (People
Health in good
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Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman
Meet new secretary of Health and Human Services P
resident-elect Biden has nominated current California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for the post of secretary at Health and Human Services. Becerra will replace former big pharma executive and lobbyist Alex Azar. As California AG, he was a strong champion for consumers. Becerra sued giant Sutter Health System for driving up prices causing Sutter to settle for $575 million. He sued Teva pharmaceutical for a “pay and delay” scheme causing Teva to settle for $70 million. Becerra will inherit a surging pandemic, overwhelmed and financially stressed providers and the mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. He will oversee rule changes for expanded telehealth services, hospital pricing transparency and provider reimbursement that is transitioning away from traditional fee for service to pay for performance and bundled care reimbursement. Industry trade associations like the AMA, AHA and Association of Health Insurance plans (AHIP) have lauded the nomination hoping Becerra hits the ground running. They see him as a much-needed consumer advocate in that position.
Geographic Direct Contracting
The new HHS secretary will oversee the rapidly increasing transition from fee-for-service volume-based reimbursement to more cost-effective models that require coordination and risk assumption among providers in a specific region. The goal is to improve the quality, access, integration and outcomes of medical services delivered to Medicare and Medicaid members while also lowering costs. Physicians and hospitals serving a defined region would coordinate management services, telemedicine, provider recruiting, purchasing and develop a preferred panel of quality providers. The new entity would be paid via capitation, $xx per member per month, based on the area’s historical claims. The entity can keep any savings it creates based on the amount of risk it assumes. The incentive for Medicare members to join the newly formed integrated network is improved care and a reduction in the amount of health premium deducted from their social security check. CMS, which determines physician reimbursement, recently proposed a “budget neutral” fee-forservice schedule. What that means is increases for some services, typi-
cally primary care, will be offset by decreases in other services, typically specialty. While the AMA has registered disappointment, CMS is sending a clear message that fee-for-service reimbursement is being phased out in favor of alternative payment models as herein described.
New CDC Director
Biden has nominated current chief of infectious disease medicine at Massachusetts General, physician Rochelle Walensky, for the post of CDC director. She will replace Robert Redfield. Walensky is also on the faculty at Harvard. Two thirds of us live in areas with limited to no access to an infectious diseases specialist. There has been a critical shortage of I.D. physicians. Thanks to the notoriety of colleague Anthony Fauci and her recent nomination, applications to medical school are up 18%, an all time high. The expectation is many medical students will elect to specialize in infectious diseases. Retail Primary Care
Accelerating
Retail druggist Walgreens has invested $1 billion in primary care provider VillageMD. The partnership plans to expand beyond their Hous-
ton-based pilot market and open up 40 more pharmacy/primary care centers by summer and 500 more over the next five years. The business model intends to increase the involvement of pharmacists in the delivery of effective primary care to its members with emphasis in underserved areas. The entry of these well-financed for-profit retail medicine clinics into the market presents a competitive threat to typically under-financed private practices, federally sponsored clinics and hospital-sponsored practices. Tech oriented primary care startup Carbon Health recently received a $100 million infusion from investors in addition to the initial $28 million infusion in May. The goal is to open 1,500 clinics by 2025 and 100 pop up COVID-19 clinics now. Carbon Health will offer “omnichannel” care via retail clinics, video, phone apps and work place clinics. Traditional providers of care have their reimbursements controlled and set by Medicare and commercial payers which prohibits them from amassing decent profits and building huge cash reserves for expansion. The entry of cash laden for-profit corporations, which have been free of price controls of any kind, creates an unfair playing field.
Vaccine Distribution
“Operation Warp Speed” has accomplished the “easier” part of the mission: development and approval of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020. Several drug manufactures — including Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson — met the challenge. The harder part of the mission will be the efficient distribution and storage of the vaccines in 2021. The plan is to have 100 million of us vaccinated by the end of February, which should cover healthcare workers and nursing home residents. The challenges are: ensuring the second dose of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available and given within the recommended follow-up period; storing the Pfizer vaccine in super sub-zero refrigerators; (Moderna can be stored in regular refrigerators); ensuring providers, typically clinics and physician practices, that give the vaccines are adequately trained and prepared for the onslaught; and determining priorities based on: age, comorbidities, essential, military, school, etc.
ICU Nurses Give Perspective
The Washington Post recently ran interviews with ICU nurses from across the country: Idaho, Mississippi, Iowa, Illinois, Utah and Ohio. Most of us are far removed from the battle zone in hospitals and need to be reminded what it is like for our first defenders and healers. The nurses revealed what it’s like to work in their highly stressful environments. Here is the gist of the interviews. Some people arrive barely short of breath and tell the nurses they feel fine. Within just hours, many of these patients go into rapid oxygen decline and end up on a vent or deceased. Nurses are used to processing death, but they say the pace of death caused by the virus is overwhelming. (As of this writing we are over 3,000 deaths per day.) Nurses and physicians are getting sick, but it’s not from lack of PPE. It’s from community spread. They are angry at people who believe the virus is no big deal or even a hoax and bristle at the mixed messages from our leaders. As the surge in hospitalizations increases, and vents are fully utilized by COVID-19 patients, nurses worry about treating incoming heart attacks and other serious illnesses or injuries requiring an ICU bed. They are pleading with us to do our small part and follow CDC guidelines.
Music can soothe
A survey by music streaming service Pandora, with about 65 million users, revealed 80% of respondents said music has helped them cope with the pandemic. 58% of the respondents said music was their “go to” coping mechanism. The average time spent listening to music was 40 minutes. Experts report music can ward off or mitigate anxiety and depression, improve blood flow and lower stress-related hormones
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
On Waitlist for Liver Transplants, Women Die More Often Than Men
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railty may explain why women awaiting a liver transplant are more likely than men to become too sick for a transplant or die before transplantation, a new study suggests. Exercise and a healthier diet may help narrow that gender gap, researchers say. For the study, researchers followed more than 1,400 patients with cirrhosis awaiting a liver transplant from nine U.S. transplant Page 16
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centers. About 40% were women. The men, aged 49 to 63, were more likely to have chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease. The women, aged 50 to 63, were more likely to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune cholestatic liver disease. Both groups had similar levels of disease severity. However, the women were significantly frailer than the men, the researchers noted. “This is the first time that frail-
ty has been identified and quantified as a risk factor among women with cirrhosis who are waiting for liver transplants,” said lead study author Jennifer Lai, a general and transplant hepatologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “The importance of this finding is that this gender gap can potentially be mitigated through early interventions as basic as providing adequate caloric and protein intake and engaging in regular exercise. Clinicians
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
can advise women on diet and exercise interventions that build strength,” she said in a university news release. Why women were frailer was not explored, but it is generally attributed to physical inactivity, chronic liver failure and poor diet, Lai said. The women had a 36% greater risk of being too sick for a transplant or dying before one was available. In all, frailty accounted for 13% of the gender gap, the researchers said.
Time to ditch your doc?
Contemplating divorcing your health care provider? When and how? By Barbara Pierce “Having a primary care provider with whom you feel comfortable, connected and confident is essential,” said Patricia Salzer, wellbeing engagement consultant, Excellus Blue Cross BlueShield, Utica. “Your PCP is an important partner with you in your health care.” Signs that it may be time to consider changing: — You feel uncomfortable. If your PCP ever makes you feel uncomfortable either physically, emotionally, or sexually, it’s time to find a new one. Trust your gut instinct. Period. — Poor communication. He or she doesn’t listen to you, interrupts while you’re explaining your situation, doesn’t give you the time or opportunity to ask questions, or you feel like you can’t be honest with him or her. — Medical information can be difficult to understand, so you’re bound to need clarification at times. If you’re unable to have a discussion with your physician where you both end up on the same page, it’s not a good fit. — Your PCP doesn’t involve you in decision-making. When patients partner with their provider in decision-making, they tend to make better choices about their care. The PCP should provide clear explanations, answer your questions, and value your input. — Your PCP discourages second opinions. A second or third opinion
can confirm a diagnosis or reveal alternatives. Misdiagnoses do occur 10-to-20% of the time. If it’s not an emergency, a PCP should never discourage you from getting a second opinion. — The office doesn’t follow up on test results or return your calls. You should be able to easily get results, with an explanation of their meaning, as soon as results are available. — Your PCP is “prescription-happy:” Prescriptions aren’t always the right answer. Medications can provide life-changing treatments in many situations, but that doesn’t mean your provider should be reaching for the prescription pad before you finish telling them what’s wrong. Your physician should fully hear you out, thoroughly explain all possible treatment options, and help you arrive at the best possible treatment
s d i K Corner
Youth Vaping Triples Odds for Adult Smoking
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aping may not be a way for kids to avoid the smoking habit, after all. A new study finds that teens who start vaping are three times more likely to smoke cigarettes in adulthood than those who never started with electronic cigarettes. Although the number of teens who start smoking cigarettes in high school has declined, vaping has soared. From 2016 to 2019, the number of cigarette smokers among U.S. high school seniors dropped from 28% to 22%, but e-cigarette use increased from 39% to 46%, the researchers found.
“The rapid rise in e-cigarette experimentation among the youth of our country appears to mean that we will have a whole new generation of cigarette smokers along with all the health consequences that follow,” said lead researcher John Pierce. He’s a professor emeritus in the department of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego. “There is an urgent need to reconsider the policies on e-cigarettes and at least hold them to the same standards as the cigarette companies, such as restricting their right
plan — maybe a prescription, maybe not. — Your PCP is not the expert you need. You may click well with him or her, but they don’t have the expertise to help you with your specific needs. Maybe they can’t answer all of your questions about food allergies the way an allergist could, or they’ve tried several treatments for your persistent migraines and have exhausted their resources. — Misdiagnosis that caused a bad outcome. However, if your PCP made a misdiagnosis, then communicates the situation to you clearly and corrects the mistake, do consider your past experiences with your doctor before making a rash decision to leave. — Your PCP has no respect for your time. If you consistently have a difficult time getting an appointment when you need one, you might consider changing. Long waits in the waiting room can be worth it if you know you’ll get the care and attention you deserve face-to-face with your PCP, but a long wait just for him or her to only half-listen to you before just shoving a prescription your way should have you looking for the exit permanently.
Making the transition
Changing doctors can be challenging. “There are resources that can help you when it’s time to switch,” said Salzer. “Many health insurance plans have a ‘Find a Doctor’ or similar tool on their website that can help
to advertise to our teens,” Pierce said. For the study, the investigators collected data on nearly 16,000 people in the United States, aged 12 to 24. Nearly two-thirds had tried at least one tobacco product, and almost one-third tried five or more tobacco products, of which e-cigarettes and cigarettes were the most popular, the findings showed. Each additional product tried increased the users’ odds of becoming a daily cigarette smoker, as did trying tobacco before age 18, according to the report published online Jan. 11 in the journal Pediatrics. Physician Pamela Ling is interim director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. She said, “This is a problem because the tobacco companies are continuing to produce more new tobacco products every year.”
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you find a new provider. Be sure to note if they are in your network and whether or not they are accepting new patients.” Hospitals and health care systems’ websites can also help, as can recommendations from other providers of medical care whom you know. Ask family, friends, and people you trust for their recommendations. To ensure your care is transferred to your new provider as seamlessly as possible, Salzer recommends the following: — Request a transfer of your medical record to your new provider. It may be helpful to give your former provider your new provider’s phone and fax numbers as soon as you can. — Let your new provider know what medications you’re currently taking and put a plan in effect right away to prevent a lapse in your prescriptions. If you anticipate a delay in getting in to see your new provider, work with your current provider’s office to be sure you have enough refills to get you through to your new appointment. — Inform any specialists you see of the change in your PCP and update any health profiles you may have in which your prior provider is listed. This may include a telemedicine account from which clinical summaries can be sent to your provider. “Your provider is the gatekeeper of your care. It’s important to find one that’s a good fit for you, and to proactively take the necessary steps to make the transition a smooth one,” she added.
E-cigarettes and other new tobacco products gained popularity because people think of them as safer alternatives to cigarettes, explained Ling, who was not involved in the study. But this study shows that in the hands of young people, e-cigarettes lead to harm. “Some young people may think they are decreasing their risk because they smoke a little, vape a little, chew a little, but may not use any single product very much. But this poly-tobacco use behavior increases risk to end up a daily smoker,” Ling said. Pierce noted that there are a number of people who advocate e-cigarettes as a way of reducing the harm caused by cigarettes. These people have assumed that young people who start using e-cigarettes will become dependent on them to get their nicotine.
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The Ways to get Back Pain and the Ways to Avoid It By Daniel Baldwin
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ack pain has become the third most common reason why people are seeing their doctors, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). The association also reported that about 31 million Americans experienced low back pain and up to 80 percent of population will experience this sort of pain at some point in their lives. Over seven million adults cannot perform the most simple-to-difficult daily activities due to this pain, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and 24.7 percent of people with back problems reported limitation over their body movements and physical functions, according to the Medical Expenditure Survey. Dr. Nicholas Qandah is a certified neurosurgeon at CNY Brain and Spine Neurosurgery in New Hartford, and he has met and treated people with this sort of issue everyday. Although Qandah said that back pain is not the most common reason for people visiting the doctors, it is a close second. “I think the sniffles and upper respiratory infections are still number one, and neck and back pain may be a close number two,” Qandah said. “Is it still prominent in our (Mohawk Valley) community and society? Yes. I think the demographics are equivalent across the United States. It falls into the same percentage basis across the country as well as into our area. We treat and meet people with back, neck, and spine problems everyday.” Aymen Rashid, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Slocum Dickson, said that a majority of his patients had pain in their back. Although the growing trend of people, experiencing this sort of pain, was not that much of a surprise to him. “It makes perfect sense,” Rashid said. “People are becoming more active. We have people who are becoming older, and there’s also a trend of obesity rising, so I think a combination of these three puts a lot more stress on the human body.” It is not that much of a problem if people experience back pain for a short amount of time, as Qandah said that it is just a chronic strain in the back muscles that could go away with proper rest. But if this sort of pain does not go away, keeps coming back, or worsens, then it could result in damage to the spine. According to the 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 7.6 million adults with disabilities claimed back and spine pain as the main reason why they are disabled. People who are experiencing these catastrophic levels of pain should visit their doctor and get it treated as soon as possible. “The term back pain is very broad and covers many different types of pathologies,” Qandah said. “Not all back pain comes from the same source, but the main component of this is that there are many joints to the spine. The spine protects, covers, and supports the spinal cord and nerves that run through Page 18
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it. So when the back is degenerated, injured, or you have pain, which usually is a sign or symptom that something is wrong, then those innervations by those nerves are affected and could lead to more permanent damage of the nerve or surrounding structures that could then lead to disability. If something persist or keeps coming back, in those situations it’s better to get that diagnosed early rather than wait until it gets bad enough and you need something more aggressive in terms of treatment.” People could get back pain by constantly lifting and carrying heavy objects at their labor-intensive jobs. Sitting countless hours in an uncomfortable office chair or truck seat could also cause pain towards that region. Even a person’s weight could affect their back. Qandah recently met with one patient who said that his weight gain was putting a ton of pressure on his back and increasing the pain. “He (patient) said ‘listen, I haven’t been this heavy in a while. I can’t walk that much anymore because, I’m in pain in my back, and I’m not able to golf like I was in the past. My nutritional status may not be the best, and I’m gaining weight.’ Having a heavier belly puts more pressure on your back,” Qandah said. Rather than going straight to surgery, Qandah first tried to get the patient’s age, height, and weight, and then the doctor offered dietary plans that would help reduce his weight and most importantly reduce the amount of pressure in that area. “We did that (get his age, height, and weight) with he and his wife,” Qandah said, “and we were able to provide a dietary modality for him that had shown a lot of more success and weight loss, and we’re not talking about 10 pounds a week, which is ridiculous. We’re talking about losing one-maybe two pounds a week at best and really improving that over a year period of time, and in that meantime getting him on the right medications to try to help maximize his function as well as hooking him up with a good physical therapy program, which will help him strengthen his core. He actually came to me because we treated his neighbor, who has seen such great success from this, and he (patient) came in to get that evaluation as well.” People who have cancer, arthritis, or osteoporosis are likely to experience back pain as well. “There’s a lot of different ways people can get back pain,” Rashid said. “People can get them from having weak bones. One of the most common reasons is osteoporosis. Another reason can be loss of different medical comorbidities such as cancer. People can have cancer that could spread to their bones, and that can cause people to have significant pain. Arthritis is another big player. As people age they get arthritis. Just like in their knee and their hips, they can get arthritis in the joints throughout the back, which can cause significant pain.”
Keeping the beat Could you be putting your heart in danger? By Barbara Pierce
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ou don’t have to be a fitness freak or a health nut to dramatically slash your risk of heart attack or stroke. You just need to stop a few things that elevate your risk of heart disease, says Dr. Cynthia Jones of Utica, board member of the Greater Utica American Heart Association. “In times of a pandemic when there’s so much that’s stressful, it’s best to look at the American Heart Association’s ‘Life’s Simple 7,’” she said. “These are seven factors that increase your risk for a heart attack.” — Manage your blood pressure. It’s important to take your medication as prescribed and to maintain a low sodium diet. It’s also important to keep appointments with your primary care provider so that medication adjustments can be made, if necessary, to help you maintain a healthy blood pressure of lower than 120/80. — Control your cholesterol: During the pandemic, when it can be challenging to eat healthy, it’s important to make healthy choices, whether you’re eating out or cooking at home. Reduce saturated fats (found primarily in red meat and dairy products), eliminate trans fats (also known as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil”) used in margarine, cookies, crackers and cakes. If you’re on cholesterol-lowering medication, continue to take it and keep up with appointments to have it checked. Cholesterol medication decreases the cholesterol buildup in arteries that can cause a heart attack. — Control your blood sugar: See your primary care physician annually to ensure that you don’t have pre-diabetes or diabetes, which increases your risk of stroke and heart attack. — Get active: Inactivity can lead to obesity, which increases your risk of heart disease. And muscle loss as you age is a serious problem, and your heart is the most important muscle of all. Although we’re in a pandemic, it’s still important to move---inside or outside the house. It’s simple, just move, get your heart pumping, dance for 30-60 minutes or use a stationary bike. It’s safe to go outside, socially distanced, and take a walk. Walking outside can decrease stress which is also a risk factor for heart attack, while decreasing weight gain. Eat better: A low fat, low salt, and low carbohydrate diet definitely leads to a healthy heart. During the pandemic, many are cooking at home more, which is a great time to experiment with heart healthy recipes. Foods that come in boxes and
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
bags are more likely to make you fat and unhealthy than foods you cook yourself. A healthy eating pattern emphasizes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes. A lot of foods seem healthy but are low in nutritional value. Some culprits: granola bars and smoothies loaded with added sugars. Limit the sugary snacks. For snacks, stir fresh berries into a cup of plain yogurt (instead of eating that sugary “fruit” on the bottom), or scoop hummus with some carrots and celery, rather than processed chips. Try to eat a serving of fruits and vegetables with every meal (including breakfast). Fry some thinly sliced brussels sprouts with your eggs, have a healthy salad or vegetable soup for lunch, make sure there’s a side of broccoli with your salmon. Lose weight: Obesity is one of the deadliest diseases that we face in the U.S. It can be hard to change to a healthy way of eating. It’s important to adopt a lifestyle change, rather than trying to diet to lose the weight. One of the biggest health issues, especially if you’re over 50, is weight creep— gaining a pound or two every year until you tip over into obesity. Meaningful weight loss comes mostly from better eating patterns, rather than from more exercise. The key to loosing weight is to eat the right foods. Stop smoking: Smoking alone increases your risk of heart attack, but, when added to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, the risk increases significantly. It’s important to talk to your primary care provider about the best way for you to quit smoking. Even small doses of nicotine are not safe. There is no threshold below which you’re okay with smoking. That doesn’t exist. By stopping, not only will you decrease your risk of heart attack, but you also decrease your risk of lung disease. The above are all risk factors that put your heart in danger. “Although it may not be possible to change all of these habits at one time, it’s more important to choose one and get started,” concludes Jones. “Every step you take to improve even of one of these areas can lead to a significant decrease in your risk of heart attack.”
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‘Every step was a battle!’ Christine Meyers: story of true determination By Barbara Pierce
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Doctors blew me off for 30 years!” said 63-year-old Christine Meyers of Clinton. “Every step was a battle! I had to fight for everything!” “They said it was Panic Attacks and Depression and prescribed medication, which didn’t help; it probably made it worse.” Suffering for years with an undiagnosed heart issue, Meyers endured this life-long challenge with impressive determination. With consequences like suddenly falling to the floor, flat on her face; her heart pounding so rapidly that she couldn’t speak; passing out at work; weird pounding in her chest. Those are some things she tolerated as she lived with an undiagnosed heart problem. “I never knew I had a problem; I probably always had it,” she said. “I’d get blotches on my skin, break out in sweat, had heart palpitations. I just lived with it.” She’s a person who cares about others so, when co-workers expressed concern when she passed out at work, she reassured them: “There’s nothing wrong with me; I’ll be okay in a minute.” But she wasn’t okay in a minute. She was never okay, not for 30 years. Her hidden heart problems lurked, causing frequent problems. “I saw a cardiologist in Syracuse,” she continued. “He gave me all kinds of tests and concluded: ‘I can’t find anything wrong with you.’” “My family heart history isn’t good,” she added. “My father and brother had heart problems. So I’ve taken good care of myself. I ran the boiler maker, did yoga, exercised regularly.” “Being in good shape had a lot to do with my survival,” she emphasized.
Tale of terror
Meyers story, in her words: A turning point came when, one night at dinner, I felt a weird thumping in her chest. I got up, and fell flat on my face. In the ER, the doctor suggested there might be an electrical problem with my heart. Finally, a clue to what’s been going on with me! Which lead me to a specialist, then two other specialists. One diagnosed Epilepsy, another diag-
nosed Lupus. More medication; more specialists. Another specialist tried to reproduce what happened when I collapsed. That was awful; the worst thing that ever happened to me. I had a Loop Recorder implanted. For a year, nothing happened. But then they noticed my heart would stop for several seconds.
Finally, getting close.
My office work for the Utica School District was stressful. Sitting at my desk, my heart would pause for up to 15 seconds, again and again. “This can’t go on!” said the doctor. I wouldn’t survive when my heart stopped. In 2014, I had a pacemaker implanted. I retired, thinking that anxiety from work caused the problem. Life returned to normal after the pacemaker. I took a part-time job and exercised regularly. But things were about to get worse. I began to feel felt like someone was choking me all the time. It felt like a rope around my neck. My face was puffy and turned purple at times; I had a constant headache. I took three different OTC pain killers; they didn’t work. One doctor said “It’s just depression.” I knew it wasn’t depression. I knew something was really wrong. Another doctor diagnosed sinus infection. I knew he was wrong also. My blood pressure was extremely high---215/98. The cardiologist ignored it and said he didn’t do headaches. I was determined to find out what was wrong. Several more specialists; each with a wrong diagnosis. I was more and more frustrated. I kept getting worse; my arms, neck and boobs were swollen. My face was so swollen, my eyes were just slits. An ENT suggested I could have a serious vein disorder. The vein specialist did a procedure. Immediately, my headache was gone; it was caused by high blood pressure, now normal. “We found the problem, but there’s something further wrong,” the doctor said. Finally, a correct diagnosis: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, very rare. I was referred to the Cleveland
Christine Meyers of Clinton receives recognition at the American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women” luncheon. Clinic; they deal with rare. They found the wires of my pacemaker caused scar tissue. To correct this, I needed an operation they’ve never done in the U.S. “I’m giving you your life back with this surgery,” said the doctor. “You’ll get back to what you were doing, but it will take a year.” They opened me up, cleared out the scar tissue, made a new vein out of a leg vein. If I hadn’t gone to Cleveland Clinic, I wouldn’t be here. During my recovery, I kept telling myself: “Just put one foot in front of the other. You know you can do
it.” It took me two years to feel okay. I also battled my insurance, which refused to pay. Turned out they had the wrong code. Go Red for Women has helped me (American Heart Association’s initiative to raise awareness of heart disease as one of the leading killers of women). I go to share my story. Now I work out in my home gym daily, volunteer with the American Heart Association and my church, and enjoy outdoor activities with my husband and grandchildren. Finally, things are good with me. Fighting every step of the way got me here!
Telehealth Now Mainstream as Insurers, State Expand Access to Care
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omprehensive telehealth legislation was an area of focus in New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 11th State of the State Address. “The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the inequities in our healthcare system and showed that telehealth is a critical tool to expand access and lower costs for low-income communities, especially for behavioral health support,” said Cuomo, as he took executive action to expand access to remote care.
Telehealth is when a patient and a provider communicate by audio, video or text messaging. “The number of telehealth visits soared in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said physician Stephen H. Cohen, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The insurer processed 2.2 million telehealth claims in 2020, compared to 28,529 in 2019. Behavioral health services, including care for mental
health and substance use issues, accounted for 43% of telehealth claims in 2020, compared to 25% in 2019. Most adults in Upstate New York (77%) have heard of telehealth though less than a third have used it, according to a survey commissioned in late 2020 by Excellus BCBS. Of those adults who reported using telehealth, 90% did so since the outbreak of COVID-19. Additional survey findings: The primary reason telehealth is
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currently used: n Required to use because of COVID-19 – 59% n Convenience – 40% n Preferred to use because of COVID-19 – 34% n Cost of visit – 8% The most important features of telehealth: n Ability to obtain prescriptions (79%) n Avoid in-person visits (69%) n Cost of visit (58%)
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Better health means better sex Sexual health function of overall well-being Megan Plete Postol
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ure, sex is fun, but it’s also an important element of an overall healthy body and life. Regular sex sessions can have a flood of positive health effects, such as improving heart health, reducing stress and depression, and improving the quality of sleep. In other words, better sex equate to better health. Numerous studies have been conducted to Pasciucco examine the relationship between sexual health and sexual activity and overall physical health. “As we know, there can be negative impacts of sexual activity on physical health, which can include sexually transmitted infections and unplanned or undesired pregnancies. Yet, there are other studies and numerous individual reports that suggest both masturbation (solo sex) and partnered sex may enhance our well-being by fostering happiness, enhancing immunity and longevity, decreasing pain and thus be a natural pain management activity, and keeping us looking and feeling younger than our counterparts who do not
engage in pleasurable sexual activity,” Amanda Pasciucco, a certified sex therapist. Some studies suggest sexual activity may be associated with reducing the risk of the two leading causes of death in the United States, which are heart disease and cancer.
Be intentional
“Prioritize sexual health,” Pasciucco said. “Be aware that your blood pressure, stress, mood, and sense of passion may be connected to you feeling erotic energy for yourself and or others.” Orgasm is a strong stress reliever, but it can be hard to get in the mood while tense. Try relaxing activities such as massage or a bubble bath
LET’S MOVE FORWARD
before (or as part of) foreplay. Sex activates a variety of neurotransmitters that impact the brain and several other organs throughout the entire body. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that the human brain produces to nudge the body into doing things (such as having sex.) Boost dopamine by engaging in creative activities (such as painting or music), getting plenty of sleep and sunshine, eating healthy foods like avocado, eggs, and fish, exercising, and by spending time with loved ones. Pasciucco suggests some signs and symptoms that could indicate that there is an issue with sexual health. “For those with vulvas, if your body cannot lubricate after 30 minutes, there may be an issue,” she said. “If your clitoral glands or labia are atrophied, there may be an issue. For those with penises, if you do not have morning erections, if you cannot ejaculate in the way you would like, or if you have performance anxiety, there may be an issue. Similarly, be mindful of STIs and check with your doctor after adding new sexual partners.” As people age, a robust sex life is especially important for overall physical wellness. A study with a 10-year follow-up was conducted in Caerphilly, South Wales, to examine the relationship between frequency of orgasm and
SAFELY.
Right now, it’s easy to focus on all the things we can’t do. But what if we all focused on the things we can do? We can learn more about testing and vaccines. We can protect ourselves and others by continuing to wear a mask. We can show support for essential workers and local businesses. We can stay home and safely connect with the people who matter to us. Explore what you can do at
ExcellusBCBS.com/CanDo
A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • February 2021
mortality, Pasciucco shared. From 1979 to 1983, 918 men aged 45-59 were recruited for the study. The men were given a physical examination, including a medical history, and blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and cholesterol screenings. They were also asked about their frequency of orgasm. At the 10-year follow-up, it was found the mortality risk was 50% lower among men who had frequent orgasms (defined in this study as two or more per week) than among men who had orgasms less than once a month. Even when controlling for other factors such as age, social class, and smoking status, a strong and statistically significant inverse relationship was found between orgasm frequency and risk of death. The authors of this study concluded that, “sexual activity seems to have a protective effect on men’s health.” It’s clear that maintaining an active sex life is vital to staying vibrant, and Pasciucco stresses this. “Sexuality and pleasure is a human birth right,” Pasciucco said. “The lens that we are exposed to daily in the media is designed to alienate, control, and hinder the connection with our pleasure and our love of our bodies. Reclaiming our bodies, and our pleasure, specifically in sexuality, is in direct opposition to ‘the system,’ and therefore, an act of resistance!”