Working to decrease effects of stroke, increase awareness Stroke victim Stan Gutkowsi and John Dolan DO pose together for a photograph at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford. Read the story on page 4.
York County
HEALTH &
Social worker helps client's issues
Veggies are nutrition powerhouses
Relieve migraines with acupressure
Healthy habits bite insurance premiums
Deprive mosquitos
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What's not a TV script
Check your medical records
2 York County Health & Wellness
York County
Sunday, April 24, 2016
HEALTH & WELLNESS 457 Alfred Street, Biddeford, ME 04005 Phone (207) 282-1535 • Fax (207) 282-3138 Email: jtcommunity@journaltribune.com Available online at:
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Graphic Design & Composing: Michelle Cote - Art Director Shelley Richard, Claire Smith York County Health & Wellness is Southern Maine’s monthly resource for health news and information distributed throughout the region in Journal Tribune Sunday and various locations throughout York County. This magazine and its contents are for general consumer educational use only. Nothing contained in this magazine is or should be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed medical practitioner.
Welcome With warmer weather here, finally, there is greater opportunity to get outside and get some exercise. Exercise is important for heart health, and heart health is important for stroke prevention. Learning about strokes and stroke prevention is something especially timely as May is Stroke Awareness Month. Depending on the severity of a stroke and the timeliness of when it is diagnosed and treated, the condition could leave virtually no lasting effects – or be fatal. According to the American Stroke Association, most Americans don’t think strokes are a major health concern. However, that is not the case. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke, according to the ASA; one of six people will have a stroke during their lifetime: strokes are the leading cause of disability in the U.S.; and strokes are the fifth highest cause of death in the country. As part of Stroke Awareness Month, the ASA, together with the American Heart Association, feel it’s vital that people learn the F.A.S.T stroke warning signs. Only one in three people can identify all four of the signs; according to the American Stroke Association, but knowing the signs, could make
the difference between life and death. The signs include: F – Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S – Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? T – Time to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. But before a stroke even occurs, there are a number of things we can do to prevent one from taking place. Those who have medical risks, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, diabetes or circulation problems should be treated for their condition. Living a healthy lifestyle, with good eating habits, getting physical activity, not smoking and drinking only in moderation are things everyone can do. And getting out, enjoying the outdoors is one more way to keep your heart and spirit healthy. Be well,
Dina Mendros Associate Editor
York County Health & Wellness 3
Sunday, April 24, 2016
York County
HEALTH &
WELLNESS Relieve migraines with acupressure Page 9
Stroke Awareness can lower effect Page 4
Social worker helps client's issues Page 4
Veggies are nutrition powerhouses Page 6
Deprive mosquitos
The heart screening to do now Page 9
Healthy habits bite insurance premiums Page 10
Check medical record
Page 11
Page 11
Take care of your veins
Page 8
Page 8
MS shouldn't What's not a TV script hold you back Page 12
4 York County Health & Wellness
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Stroke awareness can lower its effect By KRYSTEANA SCRIBNER Special to the Journal Tribune
BIDDEFORD — Imagine this: You get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and lose your balance, falling into the tub. Confused by your sudden fall but not seriously injured, you shrug it off and head back to bed,
hoping you’ll feel better in the morning. Yet when you awake, your leg still feels numb, and when you attempt to walk, you are still unable to balance yourself. After seeking medical attention, your doctor diagnoses the unthinkable – you’ve had a stroke overnight.
For 72-year-old Stan Gutkowski, this series of events became a reality he never imagined possible. In November 2010, he awoke in the middle of the night with a series of stroke symptoms, including blurred vision, weakness in his limbs and lack of balance. Bringing his phone to bed with him, he tried to
sleep it off, but awoke the next morning to a persistent numbness and lack of balance on his left leg. “He had two strokes within a 36hour period. They kept him in the hospital for a day and half, and then he went to a nursing home,” stated his • See Stroke Awareness, Page 5
Social worker mitigates client’s mental issues Research recently conducted by faculty at the University of New England School of Social Work suggests that coping and recovery for people living with mental illness benefit greatly from building and sustaining positive working alliances. While this seems like a nobrainer, over the past decade, the study of mental illness has focused heavily on treatment and intervention strategies rather than on factors that influence relationships between clients and workers. Perhaps this is due to widespread misunderstanding of people with chronic mental health problems. Or it may be a result of thinking about relationship in narrow ways. In social work speak we call relationship building “meeting the client where they are at,”
which implies that every relationship is unique; a meeting of the minds between distinctive individuals. Meeting someone “where they are at” requires willingness to engage with and talk to a person whose choices and circumstances may be quite unfamiliar. How clients perceive the genuineness of this relational connection is viewed as pivotal to good outcomes. There is an age-old adage that talk is cheap, and perhaps that is true; but the process of talking, the give and take of a conversation, acknowledging another’s feelings, creates a context where clients feel respected. Feeling respected may not be a common experience of people living with mental illness or substance disorders – and particularly
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for those who find themselves homeless or living in marginalized situations. Yet paying attention to the quality of conversation and reaching beyond stereotypes are critical cornerstones to successful adaptation and recovery. Over time, respect gradually translates to feelings of worthiness and belonging; factors known to contribute to human resilience, personal growth, coping and, ultimately, productive change. How does relationship happen? What are the secrets to building authentic, enduring relationships and, by extension, developing empathy for someone perhaps very different from ourselves that is both firm and affirming? Good questions and ones we’ve been exploring of late. The secret of relational success seems to be flexibility. Clients that do well managing mental illness and maintaining their recovery report that while
being listened to and understood is important, they also want social workers to be curious and ask questions and even challenge them when they hear contradictions and conflicts. This process of give and take helps people develop tolerance and internal coping strategies even when the times get tough. One person interviewed who struggles with both substance abuse issues and mental illness described this process well: “You know, she (social worker) isn’t judgy but she doesn’t just sit there and not say anything. I’ve had a worker who didn’t say anything and just seemed to zone out. With her it’s been different. Sometimes, I say that things that I know aren’t exactly true. I remember one time I said, ‘I am going to go to my daughter’s house this weekend,’ which wasn’t true. She stopped me and said, ‘You haven’t seen your daughter in a long time. Is that something you want to do?’ That was a great conversation.” Clients know the difference between true conversation and being talked to, and they value the former. Offering platitudes and false hope may ease the moment but it doesn’t build the future. People with mental illness seek purpose, meaning and quality of life just like anyone else. This requires commitment on the part of those serving people with mental illness to work with clients and not for them. An example of successful engagement was
shared by another interviewee: “When I got the call that there was an apartment for me, I freaked out. I mean, I didn’t know if I could actually live on my own. I talked with her (social worker) about it. We talked through what I was afraid of and what I thought was going to happen living alone. Then we talked about my wanting to have an apartment of my own. When we talked about both what I was afraid of and then what great things I could do in my new apartment, I got excited. She said it was going to be hard but it was great. I’ve been in my apartment for a year now, and she has been a great support. I think back on that conversation now and laugh. I think I was just afraid of change.” The process of building rapport and respect takes time, patience, endurance and practice on the parts of both workers and clients. Mutual commitment, authentic engagement, respect and tenacity are key ingredients to achieve positive outcomes. In this world of quick fixes and easy judgments, science brings us back to old truths. Relationships matter, and for people with mental illness, relationships strengthen the foundation upon which recovery can begin. — Thomas Chalmers McLaughlin, Ph.D., is a professor at the School of Social Work for the Biddeford-based University of New England.
York County Health & Wellness 5
Sunday, April 24, 2016 • Stroke Awareness, From Page 4
wife, Alex Gutkowski, further explaining that the first stroke had left no obvious sign of physical damage. “I saw him that morning, and I was going to leave when I noticed a slight slurring, so little only I could tell. As soon as I got home, I received a phone call telling me he had suffered another stroke.” John Dolan, doctor of orthopedic medicine at Southern Maine Healthcare in Biddeford, explained that most strokes lead to similar symptoms, with sudden onset of neurological damage – loss of vision, weakness on one side of body, drooping face, inability to talk properly, numbness in the face, legs or arms, and/or lack of balance. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Pressure Institute, if brain cells die or are damaged because of a stroke, symptoms can occur in parts of the body that these brain cells control. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability or even death. “Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke to suffer from, but someone may also suffer from an embolic stroke, meaning there is a clot formation that stops the blood flow to the brain,” stated Dr. Dolan. “When your heart beats, 20 percent of that flow is bound for the brain, so when there is buildup in the way of that, it causes a disruption downstream, and results in this specific kind of stroke.” He further explained that strokes are either wet or dry – meaning they either bleed or don’t bleed. The second type of stroke, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, occurs when there is actual bleeding into the brain itself. This occurs if an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. He also made note of a third, lesser-known form of a stroke that falls under the category of Ischemic, known as TIA or Transient Ischemic Attacks. These “mini-strokes” come and go in “crescendo-
Stroke vicitim Stan Gutkowski and his wife Alex pose for a photograph at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford.
like” episodes and may go undetected by the individual. However, they have just as serious implications if they go unnoticed by a medical professional. “I’ve had individuals come in to get a CAT scan and we can see from these images they have had a stroke. When I ask how many of these strokes they remember having, they couldn’t recollect a single one,” he stated. “Any stroke is another warning that you are going to have another one.” Gutkowski, who suffered two back-to-back Ischemic strokes, suffered more physical symptoms with his second episode, in which he lost a lot of strength in his arms. “I found out that picking up a 5-pound bag of sugar was a tremendous task for me and it never used to be, I could always pick up a 6-pound bag,” he explained, further stating that daily activities have become difficult obstacles. “It’s difficult doing the exercises to build my muscles back up.” According to Dolan, there are certain risk factors we can modify, and others we cannot. He stated that age, race and gender play a large role, explaining that men are at a higher risk for a stroke, but women have more strokes than men because they often outlive
men. He said this occurrence is important simply because age is the greatest equalizer of all. “Let’s say you have a stroke – and you don’t seek out medical care,” explained Dolan. “Almost 20 percent of people who have a stroke or TIA inside of a year will have another bigger stroke or TIA within that time period, or will die. About half of that risk occurs within the first 30 days after having a stroke.” While strokes typically affect people 40 and older, with
60 years and older being the more common age, Dolan stated that this occurrence doesn’t discriminate with age – it can happen to anyone at any time. Those at a higher risk include those with a history of diabetes, hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) and high cholesterol, and who smoke. All of these outside factors can triple one’s risk of suffering a stroke. “Once you have been diagnosed to have suffered a stroke,
KRYSTEANA SCRIBNER/Journal Tribune
doctors put a lot of focus on secondary prevention, looking at ways in which they can prevent a second or third occurrence from taking place,” he said. “This is done through risk-factor modification, meaning we take a look at their medical history and take steps for prevention at that point.” For more information regarding symptoms and treatment of strokes, visit www. stroke.org.
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6 York County Health & Wellness
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Serving the Area for the Last 4 Years
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Backyard bounty:
S EACOAST PHYSICAL THERAPY
Veggies are nature's original nutritional powerhouse
(BPT) — You’ve probably heard the chatter around how a handful of unusual foods are must-eat nutritional powerhouses – and wondered how you’ll ever get your kids to try kale or chia seeds. But you don’t have to stress over how to incorporate the latest health food fads into your family’s diet in order to get powerful nutrition.
The truth is, those headline-grabbers aren’t the only nutritional powerhouses. Most vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, so quit worrying about how to pronounce acai or where to find seaweed in the supermarket. Instead, improve your family’s diet and save some money by growing nutrition-packed vegetables right in your own back-
yard. Keep these tips in mind: • Growing squash is easier than finding chia seeds. Many vegetables are easy to grow in any home environment, whether it’s a large garden plot or pots on your patio. Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, arugula and kale are full of nutrients and simple to grow, even for beginners. Transplants, like those offered by Bonnie Plants, make it even easier by helping you bypass the work of starting from seed. Plus, you’ll harvest six weeks sooner. • See Backyard Bounty, Page 7
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York County Health & Wellness 7
• Backyard Bounty, From Page 6
nutritional giant delivers vitamins C, A and K (associated with bone health), folate and sulforaphane that helps stimulate the body’s detoxifying enzymes. • Tomatoes – Provide vitamins A, C and B, potassium and lycopene – an important phytonutrient thought to help fight various cancers and lower cholesterol. • Spinach – Contains more than a dozen phytonutrients, and twice the daily recommended allowance of vitamin K. These nutrients contribute to cardiovascular and colon health, better brain function, eyesight and increased energy. • Kale – Contains vitamins A, C and K. A cup of cooked kale gives you more than 1,000 percent of the daily value for vitamin K. It’s also high in manganese, which promotes bone density. • Cauliflower – Low in calories and carbohydrates, cauliflower is packed with a long list of nutrients, including phytonutrients. They say cauliflower is the new kale!
• Healthy benefits go far beyond nutrition. Growing your own vegetables and herbs means you’ll always have a fresh supply of nutrient-rich food at home. But gardening also delivers healthful exercise, time in the fresh air, and it’s a relaxing and satisfying activity. • Gardens are good for Mother Nature. The more food you grow at home, the fewer natural resources will be needed to grow veggies in far off places and ship them to your local supermarket. Your garden is also a great opportunity to recycle household food waste as compost. Plus, when you choose Bonnie Plants in biodegradable pots, you’re saving millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. The pots decompose, add nutrients to the soil and help prevent transplant shock. • Gardening could get your kids excited about veggies – really! When kids participate in gardening, they take ownership of the plants they help grow. And with their hands in
the dirt, they’re not on their cellphones or playing video games. Kids who grow veggies are much more likely to eat them, and make gardening an ongoing, healthy habit. • Save money at the supermarket. Growing your own food means you’ll spend much less money in the produce aisle. Plus, you can grow a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, even expensive, restaurantstyle “foodie” greens you may
not have tried otherwise. The plant pros at Bonnie recommend these nutrient powerhouses to jumpstart your garden: • Strawberries – Just one cup of berries contains 3 grams of fiber and more than a full day’s recommended allowance of vitamin C. Phenols are potent antioxidants that work to protect the heart, fight cancer, block inflammation, and they give strawberries their red
color. • Sweet potatoes – Alpha and beta carotene give sweet potatoes their bright orange color, and your body converts these compounds into vitamin A, which is good for your eyes, bones and immune system. A half cup of sweet potato provides nearly four times the daily recommended allowance of vitamin A, plus vitamins C, B6, potassium and manganese. • Broccoli – This green
8 York County Health & Wellness
Sunday, April 24, 2016S
Eliminate standing water; deprive mosquitoes BPT– Malaria, West Nile virus and heartworms – as if you didn’t already have enough reasons to fear and loathe mosquitoes and the illnesses they spread, now there’s Zika, a virus that is possibly linked to birth defects. Mosquitoes are much more than itchy nuisances; the illnesses they can transmit with their bite kill thousands of humans every year. Keeping mosquitoes away from your home, yard and
family is much more than a matter of convenience; it may help preserve your health. Eliminating standing water from your property is the single most effective thing you can do as a homeowner to minimize the presence of mosquitoes around your property. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water – puddles and standing water in your yard can be a breeding ground. “When warm weather arrives, that low spot in the
backyard where water always collects becomes much more troublesome than just being an eyesore,” says Ryan Larsen, a civil engineer with NDS Inc., a leading manufacturer of water management solutions. “It will attract mosquitoes that will want to lay their eggs in that standing water, but first they need to bite a human or two.” Homeowners may think solving their drainage problems will be difficult and costly, or that they’ll end up with an ugly drainage ditch on their property. But Larsen says it is possible to eliminate standing water cost-effectively and attractively. He suggests homeowners take these five simple steps: 1. Identify actual or potential trouble spots. Is there a low area in the yard where water collects after rain? Are any downspouts or gutters on your home clogged with debris? Does water linger along a retaining wall, edging, walkway or patio after you’ve irrigated the lawn? Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in very shallow standing water, so anywhere water collects could be a breeding ground.
2. Address the easy fixes first. The gutters, downspouts and minor collection spots are easily addressed by simply clearing away the obstructions. When those issues are resolved, homeowners should concentrate on addressing low areas, Larsen says. “These muddy, wet areas look bad, can kill grass, attract mosquitos and eventually lead to more serious damage to a property.” 3. Determine the scope of the problem. Standing water on a property can occur in multiple spots, from walkways to lawns. NDS offers an online Home Drainage Center to help you identify your problem, possible solutions and whether the resolution is a do-it-yourself project or if you’ll need to hire a professional. 4. Choose and install your solution. French drains, underground drainage and catch basins are typical solutions for many home drainage problems. Placing drainage underground not only minimizes the risk of mosquitoes breeding in standing water, it can preserve the visual appeal of your landscape. For example, for NDS drainage solutions
that involve catch basins, the company offers a wide selection of decorative catch basin grates, so the portion of the system you can’t hide will be visually appealing. Most drainage systems can be installed in just one weekend. 5. Take steps to protect yourself. Mosquitoes have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and they’ve been spreading malaria for that long, too. While eliminating standing water on your property will go a long way toward reducing the number of mosquitoes in your environment, it’s virtually impossible to remove them entirely. The American Mosquito Control Association says some mosquitoes will travel 40 miles or more in search of a meal. When outdoors, wear insect repellant on exposed skin and clothing. Choose repellants with an active ingredient like DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Dark colors attract mosquitoes, so wear lighter colored clothing, and burn citronella candles or run a fan near the ground when you’re enjoying your deck or patio.
Sensible weight loss plan isn’t a TV script
(BPT) — We can watch television programs such as “The Bachelor” or “The Real Housewives,” and recognize that what we are seeing is a contrived “reality.” But with programs like “The Biggest Loser,” “Fit to Fat to Fit” and “Extreme Weight Loss”, the lines become blurred. The contestants are losing weight, so it must be real, right? The “real” reality of weight loss is complex and unique to each individual. And the truth is that safe and sustainable weight loss takes time. But weight loss on “reality” TV would lead you to believe that losing 50 or more pounds in just a few weeks is possible. Eliza Kingsford, a licensed psychotherapist and certified personal trainer, says this skewed perception of what constitutes “successful” weight loss isn’t just wrong; it’s dangerous – especially to people desperate
to lose weight. “I call it ‘The Biggest Loser Effect,’ this idea that unless you’re losing enormous amounts of weight each week, you are failing,” she says. “These programs do a disservice to the public – and especially teens – because they don’t show the full story, and they foster a dangerous expectation.” Kingsford, who has worked with former weight loss reality show participants, says that behind the scenes contestants claim they sweat in saunas, exercise six to eight hours per day and eat severely restricted diets. So while the quick and dramatic weight loss makes for entertaining television, these tactics cannot be sustained for long periods of time. At Wellspring Camps, the nation’s leading provider of health and wellness camps • See Weight Loss Plan, Page 9
York County Health & Wellness 9
Sunday, April 24, 2016 • Weight Loss Plan, From Page 8
for children, teens, young adults and families, the popularity of extreme weight loss television has required the staff to re-educate its campers and their parents about what healthy and realistic weight loss really looks like. Kingsford, who serves as executive director, recommends keeping these three things in mind before starting a weight loss journey as a family: Set expectations early. Gradual and steady weight loss, about 2 pounds per week, leads to greater success, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it’s natural for people to want to lose weight quickly, Kingsford says when you rush it, your efforts will backfire. “The true measure of success is consistently engaging in healthy behaviors over time. This includes a diet of nutrient dense whole foods and incorporating exercise,” she says. “At the very beginning, adjust your thinking that success means sticking to your daily goals for activity and behavior, not a weight goal. Over time, with consistent behavior change those numbers will add up, and you’ll have made long-term, sustainable changes.” Don’t compare one person to another. The biological differences in our bodies – from gender, age, height, genetics and metabolism – all play a significant role in how much weight a person will lose and the rate at which they’ll lose it. That’s why Kingsford says weight loss shouldn’t be a competition, especially if you have children of the opposite sex trying to lose weight at the same time. “While some people enjoy a little healthy competition, when it comes to weight loss, men and women, and boys and girls, are not on a level playing field,” she says. “It’s better to motivate one another through encouragement and support, not by comparing numbers on a scale.” Recognize it’s a process. Kingsford says the key to losing weight is sustainability – finding activities you enjoy that also fit into your life and making healthier eating a part of your everyday routine. That’s not to say there won’t be a few bumps in the road. “Habits are hard to break and, sometimes, you reach for a cookie when you know an apple is a better choice, but that’s OK. Own your decisions, accept them and let them go,” Kingsford says. “Make a commitment to yourself that your next decision will be in line with your goals. When you beat yourself up, it’s easy to throw in the towel and undo all the hard work you’ve already put in, plus it doesn’t get you any closer to your goals.” For additional tips and inspiration for family fitness, visit the Wellspring Camps blog or learn more about Wellspring Camps by calling (877) 796-2130.
Relieve migraines with acupressure wristbands BPT– The throbbing, the pressure, the pain – more than 36 million Americans know these symptoms well. They represent the onset of another migraine headache attack. Migraines are the 19th leading cause of all years lived with a disability, according to the World Health Organization. And for those who live with the condition, there may be no symptom of a migraine more debilitating than nausea. In fact, research shows 80 percent of American migraine sufferers deal with this symptom. Those who suffer from migraines know that eliminating nausea as a symptom can in turn help a patient more easily take their migraine medication. In the past, many nausea sufferers have turned to antiemetic drugs to relieve their symptoms, but new treatments do exist that are helping people find relief. Recognizing the value of these treatments, many Americans are now lessening their
nausea side effects not through medications, but with acupressure. New research from the University of Turin, appearing on Springerlink. com, finds that pressure applied to the acupoint PC6, in the wrist, has been proven to provide relief from nausea symptoms brought on by a migraine headache. The research included 40 female patients suffering from migraines without aura and whose nausea was always a reoccurring symptom. Over the course of the study, the patients were treated with different solutions as they suffered six different migraine attacks. Three of these attacks were treated by the Sea-Band wristband – which is designed to apply continuous pressure to the PC6. The other three treatments did not include this pressure. As the study progressed, patients were asked to grade their nausea levels on a scale of 1-10 over varying time periods of 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes. In every incidence, the
patients reported that their levels of nausea were less during treatments when the wristband was applied as compared to incidents without it. In addition, the number of patients who reported a 50 percent reduction in their nausea when using the was significantly higher during the 30-, 60and 120-minute testing sessions. Finally, patients’ reported consistency of treatment seemed to climb as the time increments increased, moving from 28 percent at 60 minutes to 40 percent at 120 minutes and 59 percent at 240 minutes. Upon reviewing the data, the eight-person research team stated the “results encourage the application of PC6 acupressure for the treatment of migraine-associated nausea.” If you suffer from nausea caused by migraine headaches, visit www. sea-band.com to see if acupressure wristbands are right for you. The wristbands are also available at all major drug stores and Target.
The heart screening you should do now BPT– Did you know a simple test of your legs may be able to tell you if you have a higher risk for heart disease? The test is quick, painless and non-invasive. A health professional
fits pressure cuffs around your ankles and upper arms, and uses a small ultrasound device to measure the systolic blood pressure in your limbs. It is simple and painless. The disease is called peripheral arterial disease or
PAD. Why is this important? Heart disease is the leading killer of Americans of all age groups, races and genders. Detecting heart disease • See Heart Screening, Page 10
10 York County Health & Wellness
Sunday, April 24, 2016
• Heart Screening, From Page 9
risks early is important in order to live an active and healthy life for as long as possible. Yet the general public remains largely unaware of PAD as indicator of heart blockages. A recent study by University of California researchers, published in the journal Circulation Research, found a strong link between PAD and coronary artery disease and stroke. PAD occurs when fatty deposits build up in the small arteries outside the heart, and it usually affects the arteries that supply blood to legs and feet, according to the American Heart Association. The condition can not only cause tissue damage in the affected area, it could be a sign of chronic blockages throughout the arteries in a person’s body. About 8 million Americans have PAD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shockingly, the CDC says that 40 percent of people who have PAD may have no symptoms at all, and so be unaware they have the condition. This is why it is important to get screened. You may not have any idea that you are at risk. Having a screening may give you a hint at what your future holds – in time to do something about it. People who do have symptoms may feel muscle pain in the calves, hips and thighs while doing any kind of exercise that involves leg muscles – such as walking or climbing stairs – or who experience cold legs, wounds that heal poorly or slowly, and burning, tingling or numbness in the legs. Common PAD risk factors include: * Smoking – The AHA says people who smoke may have four times the risk of developing PAD. * Being overweight or obese. * Diabetes. * A sedentary lifestyle. * High cholesterol. * High blood pressure. * Family history. * Age – Approximately 12-20 percent of people older than 60 have PAD, according to the CDC. Because you can have PAD and experience no symptoms, many people may be unaware they have it – and that they’re at greater risk for developing heart disease. While health insurance may cover a PAD test for people who show symptoms of the disease, health experts recommend anyone with certain risk factors should be screened. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription or a trip to the doctor’s office to have the test done; Life Line Screening performs affordable PAD testing in community settings throughout the country. To find out when a screening clinic may be scheduled in your area visit www.lifelinescreening.com/ HeartCheck or call (877) 754-9631.
Healthy habits bite insurance premiums BPT– We are bombarded with messages about the importance of making healthy choices every single day. While the latest exercise and nutrition trends can be complex and often contradictory, we all know the basics: eat right, stay active. Still, it can be difficult to make healthy choices in the moment. The stakes of our choices are high. Poor eating habits, overconsumption of unhealthy calories and lack of physical activity can directly contribute to chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. And yet, knowing the basics for staying healthy and the possible consequences of unhealthy habits, why do we choose cupcakes over carrots or skip the gym in favor of “just one more” Netflix episode on the couch? It turns out there is science behind this phenomenon. Behavioral economics and evidence tell us that when making decisions, people are biased toward the present rather than the future. Immediate rewards and benefits often override the potential long-term consequences of our behaviors, such as weight gain or future health problems. The satisfaction of the candy bar today can outweigh the possible effects of an
unhealthy diet down the road. While we can turn to trainers, nutrition experts and medical professionals for valuable advice and resources on how to be healthy, new motivation is coming from an unlikely source: a financial services company. John Hancock has teamed up with Vitality, the leader in global wellness programs, to offer life insurance that rewards policyholders for their healthy habits. Think of the program as a safe driver discount for a life insurance policy – the more healthy activities policyholders complete, the more savings and rewards they earn. Plus, to offset those naturally human unhealthy impulses, John Hancock adds an extra nudge to help consumers make healthy choices today. By taking small steps with long-term health benefits – such as heading to the gym or getting an annual checkup – policyholders can earn immediate rewards in the form of Starbucks or REI gift cards, hotel and travel discounts, plus up to 15 percent off annual premiums. They’ll even get a free Fitbit to help track their progress. And in its second year, the program has added a HealthyFood component. This new
feature means policyholders can earn up to $600 in annual savings on grocery bills by purchasing healthy foods. This added benefit is especially helpful given that healthy foods often cost more than less healthy choices. One 2013 BMJ Open study found that on average, healthier diets cost about $1.50 more per day, per person, than less nutritious diets, a number that can add up and lead well-intentioned people to settle for unhealthy purchases at the grocery store. In addition to rewards and savings, the program helps cut through the cluttered health and nutrition landscape. Individuals can find more than 15,000 qualifying foods at more than 16,000 participating grocery store locations. And with access to nutritional information and guidance from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, as well as smartphone apps, online resources and even a user-friendly shopping list tool, it’s easy for policyholders to make healthy choices. To learn more about John Hancock life insurance with Vitality, visit www.jhrewardslife.com.
York County Health & Wellness 11
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Taking care of your veins How veins work
It’s your medical record:
Make sure it’s always
about you
BPT– There’s only one you. But sometimes your name or some of your personal information is so similar to someone else’s that doctors’ offices or hospitals can have a hard time identifying your records correctly. It’s a dangerous and costly problem that can lead to missed diagnoses, inappropriate treatments or unnecessary tests, as well as making it difficult for your doctor to share information with your other health care providers. A solution? A patient identifier that makes sure your unique health records accurately represent you. That’s why the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the national organization of health information management professionals, has started an online petition asking for a voluntary patient safety identifier. A voluntary patient safety identifier is something you could create and would allow medical systems to recognize you quickly and accurately when accessing your information. It will help ensure all your health information is kept together and is complete, all the while remaining under your control. The petition will encourage our leaders in the federal government to engage with experts in the private sector who have experience in accurately identifying people, as they do in banking and other financial businesses, along with security experts.
With 80 percent of doctors and 97 percent of hospitals currently using an electronic health record, having a way to accurately and safely exchange information can make health care more safe and effective. “The voluntary patient safety identifier – created and controlled by patients – will be a complete and positive game-changer in health care in terms of patient safety, quality of care and financial consequences,” says AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon. “We encourage patients, health care professionals and the public to think about patient safety and sign our online petition. We want to make health care safer, more efficient and more effective for everyone.” The challenge of accurate patient identification is illustrated by a study conducted by the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, which found that among 3.5 million patients, there were nearly 70,000 instances where two or more patients shared the same last name, first name and date of birth. Among these were 2,488 different patients named Maria Garcia and 231 of those shared the same birth date. That’s why people from across the country are supporting a petition that asks the Obama administration to join with the private sector to discuss a voluntary patient safety identifier. Please add your name to the list – it’s time.
Healthy veins carry blood from all of the body’s extremities back to the heart. In the legs, blood is usually traveling against gravity, thus the valves in the leg veins perform an important function. Venous insufficiency occurs if the valves in the veins become damaged and allow the backward flow of blood in the legs. This pooling of blood can lead to a feeling of heaviness and can cause skin changes such as “spider veins” or a brown, woody appearance to the lower legs. Left untreated, it can lead to leg pain, swelling and serious health problems. Venous disease is one of the most common health conditions in the United States. Many people have visible varicose veins, while others have no visible signs of the disease. It can affect men and women of all ages and activity levels, and while it has a strong genetic component, venous disease can be aggravated by environmental risks and other factors.
Symptoms to watch for
A few of the typical signs of venous insufficiency are swollen ankles, a heavy, achy, tired feeling in legs
and legs that feel better in the morning, worse in the afternoon.
Other symptoms include:
• Spider veins, the common term for blue- or purple-colored veins which occur under the skin but are close enough to be seen on the surface. • Varicose veins are visible veins in the leg that bulge, often protruding through the skin, as a result of blood that pools in the vein because of a faulty valve. • Pain and discomfort are common symptoms, although symptoms of early stage venous disease are not always painful. Some people experience itchy skin or cramping in the legs, while others experience restless leg syndrome, aching or swelling. • Skin changes can occur during many stages of venous disease. Skin changes include lipodermosclerosis, a disease that causes the skin to thicken, and eczema, which causes the skin to becomes red or scaly. • Venous ulcers in the leg are an indication that venous disease has reached an advanced stage. Left untreated, tissue damage can result in wounds that
are chronic and do not heal and are likely sources of infection.
Advances in vein treatment
For years, patients suffering from the effects of venous reflux had few options for treatment, but today’s treatments are outpatient procedures, minimally invasive, virtually pain free, and can be performed right in a physician’s office. Recovery time is very quick. This is good news for the approximately 80 million people in the U.S. who are affected by venous disease. Healthy veins play a critical role in the body’s circulatory system, so when they are compromised, it can affect one’s overall health and well being. Because of its progressive nature, treating venous disease is never simply cosmetic – and for most people, even debilitating symptoms are completely treatable. — Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen, DO, FACPh, is the founder of the Vein Healthcare Center in South Portland. Certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, she cares for all levels of venous disease, including spider veins, varicose veins and venous ulcers.
12 York County Health & Wellness
Sunday, April 24, 2016
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BPT– Brian Moore-Ward recently climbed to the top of Boston’s tallest building to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis. He has conquered this 60flight climb seven years in a row. While this event would be a challenge for anyone, it’s especially impressive given Brian has lived with MS for nearly 10 years. Brian says this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his spouse Charlie. Brian was recently married and just shy of turning 30 when he was diagnosed with relapsing MS, a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. That’s when his world changed. After being diagnosed, Brian didn’t know where to turn for information and support. Thankfully, Charlie took charge. He identified local support groups and helped Brian connect with others living with MS. “Charlie has been my rock,” says Brian. “He helped me recognize how important it is to have a close-knit community and physical connections to navigate life with MS.” In addition to local support groups,
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