Sept. 2011 Health Line

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September 15, 2011

HealthLine Of Northern Colorado

In the

bag

PVHS launches program to ensure healthy sack lunches for children

With a growing neurology team, we’re here for you.

With new providers in Fort Collins and Loveland, Neurology Associates of Northern Colorado offers diagnoses, treatment and management of nervous system disorders, injuries and disease.

Call us today to find out how you can become a patient.

Dr. Lawrence A. Meredith Loveland

• • • • •

Dr. Sheri Friedman Loveland

Alzheimer’s disease Headaches Epilepsy Multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease

Dr. Scott Strader Fort Collins

• • • • •

Prospect Medical Plaza 1106 E. Prospect, Suite 100 Fort Collins 970.482.4373

Movement disorders Neuromuscular diseases Neuropathy Stroke Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Dr. Paramijt Kaur Fort Collins

Dr. Gerald McIntosh Fort Collins

• Traumatic brain injury • Neuro-rehabilitation • Myasthenia gravis

Medical Center of the Rockies North Medical Office Building 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., Suite 2200 Loveland 970.667.7664

970.482.4373 pvhs.org/clinics

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 3

It’s a Wash

contents

Loveland psychologist answers question on mentalism, hypnotism

Eating the Ukrainian Way RH columnist Jessica Benes eats the way her Ukrainian friend does

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For advertising information, contact:

In the Bag PVHS launches program to help parents pack health and nutrition into sack lunches

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Bruise Cruise Shaky waters, delicious food spoil Jade’s healthy intentions on vacation

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Out Cold Lovelander finds remedy for pesky cold sores

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Health Line of Northern Colorado is a monthly publication produced by the Loveland Daily ReporterHerald. The information provided in this publication is intended for personal, noncommercial, informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company, product, procedure or activity. You should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

also inside Healthy Plate .............................................. pg. 14 When to buy organic .................................. pg. 15 Ask Dr. H .................................................... pg. 21 Loveland health briefs ............................... pg. 24 Loveland health calendar .......................... pg. 26

Linda Story, advertising director: 970-635-3614

For editorial information, contact: Jade Cody, special sections associate editor: 970-635-3656 jcody@reporter-herald.com Summer Stair, specialty publications editor: 720-494-5429 sstair@times-call.com

Pushing Through a Plateau

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

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Jess No Less

Jessica Benes is a newsroom assistant and writer for the Loveland Reporter-Herald. This column is meant to encourage people struggling with healthy eating and weight loss by offering advice from experts and sharing her own progress. Contact Benes at jbenes@reporter-herald.com.

Eating the

Ukrainian Way Jessica Benes Reporter-Herald

I

was in Ukraine for two weeks last month. I worked in that world for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, and it was a little like a homecoming to go back.

I visited friends and was served potatoes, malincey (meat-filled crepes), pork, borsch (beet and cabbaged-based soup), varenekiy (ravioli) and vodka.

The great thing about Ukrainian food is that everything is organic and probably picked that morning.

The problem is that Ukrainians serve a lot of carbohydrates and everything is cooked in oil.

Also, when you’re on the move, you can’t drink a lot of water or you’ll end up 1) without a toilet at all or 2) in some dirty piece-of-board-over-a-pit outhouse behind the train station.

I traveled with my former host sister on a tour around Europe and got up close and personal with her views on my eating habits.

• I shouldn’t drink water with meals because the food will sit in my stomach and won’t digest properly. She read an article on it.

• At the supermarket, I should choose the small dinkylooking apples with wormy holes instead of the lush large tasty-looking ones because those were probably chemically-enhanced to look so gorgeous.

• I should eat more soup and less dry foods. Ukrainians have soup at least once, if not twice, a day.

• If I have a sore throat, I should drink hot tea with honey. I should not, under any circumstances, drink or eat anything cold.

• Ukrainians fry or pickle pig fat and eat it. Oksana frowned when I separated the fat from the meat. She stated that salo (fat) won’t make me fat; it’s good for me. I stated that it will too, and refused to eat it.

I asked Kim Trifronera, nutrition consultant at Orchards Athletic Center, what she thought about these theories.

Jess No Less

FRUIT: IT DEPENDS “When you go to King Soopers you’ll find big apples in the organic section. It depends on how they’re harvested,” she said. “With organically grown vegetables, the soils hasn’t ever been fertilized around the trees and pesticides haven’t been used.

Yes, some of ours have been grown with pesticides, but you can go get organic apples that are huge, but still flavorful.”

SOUP VERSUS DRY FOODS: FALSE Trifronera said that the main things a body needs are protein, vegetables and fruits. As long as you’re getting in the nutrients and vitamins, you’ll be fine, no matter what form that takes.

SORE THROAT: TRUE “Cold irritates the throat more, and honey is one of the best cure for sore throats,” she said. “Honey should be local from your area for allergy reasons.”

She added that sore throats in Colorado are often because of allergies, not colds.

ANIMAL FAT: FALSE WATER WITH THE MEAL: PROBABLY FALSE Trifronera advises clients to drink a glass of water before you eat, because it keeps you fuller and helps you eat less. “But I don’t think it has anything to do with your digestion,” she said. “I think that’s more of an opinion.”

Trifronera said that our body needs good, natural fat from omega-3s such as fish, avocado and peanuts. Fried food cooked in olive oil in moderation, is acceptable, “But animal fat is a bad artery-clogging fat. Your body does need good fat, but I wouldn’t consider eating it off steak or pig,” she said.

Trifronera said that every culture is different and how people choose to burn off fat. “Our bodies are different.

That’s how (Ukrainians) were raised. And in village life, they don’t have pesticides, everything is 100-percent organic. That has messed up our bodies because we eat meat with hormones, and hormones are stored in fat.”

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 5

Search for it, Share it, Like it, Pack it New PVHS program offers parents healthy lunch ideas Summer Stair Reporter-Herald

T

here are many reasons why eating a healthy lunch is important. One of the biggest reasons is having fuel to get through the day. This is especially important for students who are constantly learning and developing.

For many parents packing a healthy lunch that is exciting can be overwhelming. Keeping ideas different and out-of-the ordinary can be hard.

Because of these many reasons, Poudre Valley Health Systems decided to take what they had already been doing for years, which is providing healthy recipes and nutrition tips through their employee wellness programs, cafeterias and community events, and adapt it for parents. “Our goal is to help our community get and stay healthy,” noted the program organizers in an email. “We know parents are busy and are often looking for something quick and healthy to include in their child’s lunch.”

Through their website, Facebook page and Twitter, PVHS has started posting healthy sack lunch ideas for parents. “We knew parents would have easy access to these fun and nutritious lunch ideas.”

With the help of not only the community but CanDo, a community coalition that is coordinated by staff at the Community Health and Foundation Development department at PVHS, recipes that promote packing a nutritious lunch are constantly being posted.

According to program organizers, since the site was launched on Aug. 22, there have been more than 5,400 hits to the recipes at pvhs.org and several people have helped share the recipes through their own social network connections. So far, the Strawberry Cream Cheese Sandwich and the Pizza Roll-Up have been among the most popular.

Not only does the program aim to help parents keep kids fit and provide them with fuel to learn better, but program organizers hope the community forum can grow beyond sack lunches.

“We first want to develop a good base of healthy sack lunches and then we may move on to other categories such as quick and easy dinners.”

The kid-friendly, great-tasting recipes are aimed toward making sure each lunch has a balance of whole grains, lean proteins, a variety of fruits and vegetables, and calcium-rich foods.

While there is currently no name associated with the program, those in the community can find these great recipe and snack ideas in the “Healthy Recipes” section of the Community tab at pvhs.org.

Share, submit recipe ideas Submit your own recipe ideas online at http://pvhs.org/healthy-recipes, or post them on PVHS’s Facebook page after you “like” them.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

Elevated Health William Hageman McClatchy-Tribune

Why Coloradans are healthier than the rest of the US

Colorado. But there are several other states — California, Oregon, Washington — where an outdoors lifestyle is prevalent and where people are active, and those states are losing ground in the battle magine a place where you can be thinner, where your risk of of the bulge. heart and lung disease is less, where you’d be just all-around What Colorado has that those other states don’t is altitude. With healthier. There is such a place. an average altitude of 6,800 feet above sea level, it’s the highest Let’s call it Colorado. Or Nepal. Or Peru. Anyplace with state in the U.S. mountains.

A study published this year in the Journal of Epidemiology and Recent studies have indicated that there are definite health Community Health found that living at higher altitude may have a benefits to living at altitude. protective effect on ischemic heart disease. Researchers note that Start with obesity.

Colorado has the nation’s lowest death rate from heart disease “We’ve known since the 1920s (that) if you go to really high and has lower rates of lung and colon cancer. altitudes you will lose weight,” said Robert Roach, director of the The findings echoed a study published in the journal in 2004.

Altitude Research Center in Aurora, Colo., which studies how Researchers studied villages in Greece and found total and hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, affects health and performance. “It was coronary mortality were lower for residents of a mountainous one of the major concerns when the British were trying to figure village in comparison with residents of two lowland villages. out how to climb Mount Everest and get enough calories to “If you look at people who live at high altitude around the survive. There’s been no exception to this finding. Every world, incidents of most types of heart disease and stroke are expedition that’s gone to high altitude, people have lost weight.” much less,” Roach said.

Even when test subjects were placed in an altitude chamber for Altitude is not a panacea, of course. The risk of skin cancer is 40 days and allowed to eat whatever they wanted, they lost higher because ultraviolet intensity is greater at higher elevations. significant weight.

And the lung disease statistics may be skewed by the fact that Because obesity can lead to a host of other problems — diabetes, heart and lung issues — keeping the weight off can only people with lung issues may leave the state because of the thin air, which makes breathing more difficult. help.

But there’s something there, and ongoing research could beneColorado is a good example.

A report released in July by the Robert Wood Johnson Founda- fit those even at sea level. tion, a nonprofit group that focuses on health issues, found that “By studying healthy people and how they adjust (to hypoxia), Colorado had the lowest obesity rate (19.8 percent) in the U.S. It we might be able to come up with drugs that will help (people was the only state under 20 percent. It’s also a healthy state, with with heart, lung and blood diseases) use oxygen more efficiently, lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. to use less of it,” Roach said. “We learn about how people at high altitude live, but we may learn things that will help others in the Roach says there are two schools of thought. Perhaps, purely future. It’s very exciting.” by chance, a lot of active, healthy people have settled in

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 7

HL

Health in a Handbasket

Warming up to

Cold Sores Jade Cody Reporter-Herald

I

n January’s Health Line, I wrote my 2011 health resolutions, as I do each year. One of those resolutions was to stop getting huge embarrassing cold sores right before every wedding and company photo.

A couple months ago, a sweet Loveland lady named Muriel wrote me an email, offering to let me try some of her secret cold sore elixir. I told her I’d love to try it, and she mailed me a little plastic baggy of cream in the mail.

Sounds scary, right? Not for me. It’s my policy to try basically anything that is mailed to me. Especially if is liquid, in a plastic bag and from a sweet Loveland lady named Muriel.

Anyway, right on schedule, a cold sore appeared a couple weeks ago. I was expecting it, because it I was to be a groomsman in a wedding and was going on a vacation.

So I pulled out the baggy of mystery cream and faithfully applied it several times a day.

The cream is from New Zealand, and Muriel discovered it while on a tour there.

It’s called Royal Jelly Cream and can be purchased from a company called New Zealand Gifts. One of the ingredients in it is manuka honey, which is from bees who feed on the flowers of the Manuka bush.

I, for one, have never seen a bee or a Manuka bush with a cold sore before a wedding.

So there is that.

I started applying the cream at early onset. After the first day, when my cold sores usually turn into a large bubble on my lip or the skin around

my mouth, the sore remained small. After the second, there was no change. And after a week, the sore started to go away — without the nasty scabbing, bleeding and obnoxiousness I usually experience with my cold sores.

Verdict: This cream is legit. As if bees weren’t magical enough, they invented a cure for my cold sores.

And as for Muriel? She has a special place in my heart now and I have since named her my honorary grandma. Not only was I smiling wide for my wedding and vacation photos, but I’ll be using this for future sores, as well.

Thanks Muriel.

Health in a Handbasket is a monthly feature in which I try a health-related adventure and write about it. If you have an idea for a new adventure, write to me at jcody@reporter-herald.com.

Health in a Handbasket

Our Mission is to Serve Others. Serving is our Highest Calling.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

The Squat: Supercharged BACK SQUAT Best for ... Functional lower-body strength Decades of sports science has correlated squat strength with speed, power, and athletic performance. With the back squat, you generate a lot of force through your leg muscles — so with practice, you’ll be able to squat a lot of weight.

Avoid if ... You’ve had back pain or injury.

The bar on your shoulders compresses your disks.

WIDE-STANCE SQUAT Best for ... Pure strength, and lower-body muscle development The wide stance brings your inner-thigh muscles into the exercise, allowing you to lift heavier weights and build muscle more quickly.

Avoid if ... You have back or shoulder problems.

The extra weight means extra challenge for the joints that have to support the weight.

FRONT SQUAT Best for ... Core strength and lower-body muscle development By placing the bar on the front of your shoulders, you force your torso to stay upright. This requires and builds both core strength and stability.

Avoid if ... you have hip or abdominal injuries.

With the bar balanced directly above those areas, you’ll be putting a lot of pressure on them.

— McClatchy-Tribune

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 9

“It’s not the length of time you are spending in the gym, it’s more about the quality.”

— Chad Bryant

Don’t stop! Work through a plateau Keep the body guessing, working by changing up exercises Summer Stair Reporter-Herald

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hen you hit the gym or start working out on a regular basis, it is generally to lose weight and get toned. It just so happens that another benefit is a healthier lifestyle, too.

But what happens when all that weight you are losing stops and suddenly you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere?

“It’s a mind set,” said Chad Bryant, a fitness professional at Miramont Lifestyle Fitness in Loveland. “You have to be willing to change it up to get results.”

Hitting a plateau in your weight loss can be frustrating, but one of the worst things you can do is stop.

According to Bryant it takes 90 days or three months to really change the mechanics of your body. “ People are way too obsessed with the scale when it

comes to weight loss,” he said. “You should always go more off of how you look and feel.”

Bryant says people often forget that muscle weighs more than fat, and that you must gain muscle to lose fat. “You can be losing inches and still weigh the same or more,” he said. “The goal is to get toned and not be flabby.”

To keep your fitness on track and to reach your goals, Bryant said it is important to understand how the body works and to first and foremost make sure you are keeping your workout fun and exciting.

“It needs to stay fun, and in order to do that, it needs to continuously change and adapt,” Bryant said. “It’s incredibly valuable to add a little bit of everything and the simplest way is to change up your workout routine.”

By changing your workout routine from cardio to weights and weights to cardio, you will ensure that you are constantly improving and not just maintaining a certain body weight.

Bryant explained that there are two types of ways to work out, there is

aerobic and anaerobic exercises. While most people are familiar with aerobic, if your goal is to burn fat and get toned anaerobic exercises may be what you are looking for. This is especially true if you find yourself plateauing.

Anaerobic exercises use resistance so that you will also be building muscle and burning fat as an added benefit. Anaerobic exercises, such as sprinting or weight lifting, use the body’s main energy source ATP. “If you can get your body to always be using ATP, your body is going to burn through stored fat,” Bryant said. “For the average person anaerobic is much more beneficial.”

According to Bryant, studies have shown that a nice hard 30 minute workout is much better than 60 minutes of moderate exercise. “It’s not the length of time you are spending in the gym, it’s more about the quality.”

So next time you find yourself maintaining a certain weight or no longer gaining muscle, stop and consider your workout routine. A small change or addition can make all the difference.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

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Uncommon Sense

It’s a

WASH Firestein: No need to be afraid of mentalism Dr. Beth Firestein Licensed Psychologist

Q

uestion: Dr. Beth, Recently, my kids have been watching a show called “Deception.” This show depicts a hypnotist who says that he can place hypnotic suggestions on unsuspecting people to get them to act in ways he wants them to act. This has made me concerned about using meditation or hypnosis CDs, even though I have found them helpful in the past. Is it possible for someone to plant a suggestion that I am unaware of? Should I be concerned that CDs I purchase online could be dangerous to my mental health?

Answer: The show “Deception” features Keith Barry, who is a magician and a mentalist. Mentalism is not the same as hypnosis, but may involve elements of hypnosis. One internet definition describes mentalism in this way: “Mentalism is a field of magic that involves feats of the mind.

Common mentalism effects include mindreading; predicting the future; telekinesis, being able to move or alter objects without touching them; and being able to discern what objects are owned by a particular person and more.”

Critics of the show “Deception” have expressed concern that magic tricks are being

presented as science and as though they are the same things as clinical hypnosis.

There is no need to be afraid. While many programs on the Discovery channel are completely scientific, this program is amazing and fun to watch, but according to critics, it is entertainment, not science.

Although I do not understand magic or its sub-category of mentalism enough to explain it, I can offer you some information about hypnosis. According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, hypnosis is “a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention.” Concentration and focus increase the effectiveness and potential for using the mind in helpful ways. The main uses for hypnosis are, 1) to encourage imagination and the ability to use mental imagery to help accomplish your goals; 2) as a state of consciousness for enhancing the effectiveness of suggestions (e.g. to stop smoking), and 3) for unconscious exploration — gaining insight into one’s motivations and the personal meaning of events. Hypnosis allows us to do this in ways that are more in-depth than what our conscious minds might permit.

Like any tool, hypnosis can no doubt be used in positive and negative ways, so if

By and large, however,

hypnosis cannot make a person engage in behavior that they would normally find

morally objectionable.

you wish to experience or use hypnosis as a healing tool you should definitely seek a credentialed and ethical professional. By and large, however, hypnosis cannot make a person engage in behavior that they would normally find morally objectionable.

Meditation and hypnosis CDs are, by their nature, general in scope. It is always sensible to find stores or public libraries that contain a variety of these types of CDs and ask staff members for recommendations about which of these they have found most useful.

If you wish to learn more, the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) is a legitimate professional organization for certified hypnotists and hypnotherapists (www.asch.net). The public section of their website contains a wide range of educational articles that explain what hypnosis is and how it is used in medicine and psychotherapy. They also have articles that debunk common myths about hypnosis.

Your questions and concerns are quite legitimate; fortunately the answers are reassuring. And if you explore this fascinating tool using a bit of common sense, you and your children have nothing to fear.

Uncommon Sense with Beth Firestein Dr. Beth Firestein is a licensed psychologist.

She has 24 years of therapy experience and has practiced in Loveland for over 14 years.

She may be reached by calling her office at 970-635-9116, via e-mail at firewom@webaccess.net, or by visiting www.bethfirestein.com.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 11

Just one more reason to take care of yourself Preventative screenings and annual exams help detect or stop illnesses before they become a serious problem. Keep good health and live life enjoying the things you love most.

Immediate appointments may be available at the following primary care clinics in Loveland.

Loveland Family Practice 3850 N. Grant Ave. Suite 100 Loveland, Colo 970.624.5170

Foxtrail Family Medicine *Partnership of Poudre Valley Health System and Associates in Family Medicine

Loveland, Colo.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

Fitness-friendly MP3 players

B

eing active and getting in shape isn’t just about looking good, it’s also about being healthy. Luckily, you needn’t suffer through workouts in silent boredom; some upbeat music can provide the perfect motivation to get moving. Better yet, plenty of MP3 players available today offer some great workout-worthy extras, such as built-in belt clips, pedometers and calorie counters.

— McClatchy-Tribune

SANDISK SANSA CLIP+ (4GB) CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) The good: The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ is very inexpensive; it has a solid, pocket-friendly design with dedicated volume controls and a builtin belt-clip; it’s easy to use; and it offers a plethora of handy features, including a MicroSD card slot, Rhapsody DNA, a voice recorder, an FM tuner and support for FLAC, Ogg, Audible and podcasts.

The bad: The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ could stand to have better battery life and support for AAC; the monochrome display is small and may be hard for some to read.

The cost: $39.95 to $49.99 The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ is an excellent successor to the line, offering a fitness-friendly design with a built-in belt-clip, a simple interface, solid sound quality and plenty of handy features — all for an ultra-low price. It’s an unbeatable value.

APPLE IPOD SHUFFLE 2010 (2GB) CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very Good) The good: The iPod Shuffle returns to its big-button glory days, only this time around it offers support for playlists, audiobooks, podcasts, Genius Mixes and a multilingual VoiceOver feature that announces track information, battery status, and menu navigation.

The bad: The 2GB capacity can’t hold much; there’s no headphone remote nor radio; the track controls tend to get pinched when clipping the iPod to your clothes; and the chances of you accidentally running it through the washing machine are quite high.

The cost: $46 to $49.99 The bottom line: The iPod Shuffle’s buttons are back, and the lightest, smallest MP3 player on the planet is now better than ever.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 13

SONY W-SERIES WALKMAN (2GB) CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very Good) The good: The Sony W-Series Walkman offers an innovative, ultracompact design that incorporates an MP3 player into a pair of earbuds. It’s easy to use and Sony includes a unique feature for browsing songs.

The bad: The Sony W-Series Walkman does not have a screen and will not be comfortable for all users.

The cost: $62.79 to $69 The bottom line: If you’re looking for a sweatresistant, all-in-one solution for rocking out at the gym, the Sony W-Series Walkman will provide just that.

HAIER AMERICA TRAINER (2GB) CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very Good) The good: The Haier America Trainer is ultracompact and light and includes a built-in clip. The player features an FM tuner as well as several handy fitness-friendly extras such as a heart rate monitor, a pedometer and a stop watch. It comes with useful fitness-tracking software.

The bad: The Trainer doesn’t support playlists and the pedometer is not always accurate. The fitness software is Windows only.

The cost: $47.59 The bottom line: The Haier America Trainer is a suitable option for fitness fanatics who want to kill multiple birds with one stone, as it’s an MP3 player, a pedometer, a heart rate monitor and has fitness-tracking software in one handy package.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

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The Healthy Plate

Pasta Pomodoro Rocco DiSpirito The Associated Press

Y

ou say tomato, they say pomodoro.

And when they say it, they mean it. That’s because Italians are champions of simple, delicious ways of using fresh tomatoes. And they should be; they’ve been cultivating them for hundreds of years.

One of the many basic ways they prepare garden-fresh tomatoes is in a pomodoro sauce made with basil and garlic tossed with pasta. This pasta is just that, noodles and tomatoes, a dish that embodies the core philosophy of Italian food — letting a few perfectly ripe ingredients shine.

Garlic for the pomodoro sauce has to be sliced. The sliced garlic, sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil to almost dark brown but not burned, imparts a taste explosion in your mouth that you just can’t get from the usual ways of preparing and tossing garlic into a dish.

Take the time to find fresh tomatoes, ripe ones, like from the vine. Now is the perfect time to go out and search for them.

Any variety of tomato works in this recipe so long as they are very ripe.

You may prefer small tomatoes, such as cherry, pear or grape, because they can be tossed right in, skins and all. For larger tomatoes, peel them first, then chop them. This recipe takes no more than 30 minutes to get on the table.

TIPS • Don’t stir or toss the pasta with tongs as they tend to break the noodles.

• If the noodles are not cooked enough to your liking, simply add a little more pasta water and cook longer in the pan with the sauce.

• If you can’t find kamut spaghetti, use any shape of kamut pasta. And if you can’t find kamut pasta, brown rice or whole wheat varieties are fine.

PASTA POMODORO Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4

Directions: In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt.

Ingredients: Salt 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced Pinch red pepper flakes (peperoncino) 16 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces, divided 2 pints very ripe grape tomatoes (about 80 grape tomatoes) 8 ounces dry kamut spaghetti Ground black pepper, to taste 1 ounce ParmigianoReggiano cheese, freshly grated, divided

In a large non-stick skillet over mediumlow, heat a half-tablespoon of the oil. Add the garlic slices and toast, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Watch closely so garlic doesn’t burn. Increase the heat to medium, add the red pepper flakes and half of the basil leaves. Cook for 30 seconds, then add the grape tomatoes.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to package directions, usually about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, toss the grape tomatoes in the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, or until they start to blister and the skins pop.

Mash the tomatoes gently with a potato masher or fork to make a pulp, then turn

off the heat. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the drained pasta and reserved pasta water to the tomato mixture.

Increase the heat to medium-high. Add half of the cheese. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until the sauce begins to cling to the noodles, using a heat resistant rubber spatula to toss the pasta to coat evenly.

Add the remaining basil and olive oil and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide the pasta among 4 plates and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 281 calories; 6 g fat (19 percent of total calories, 2 g saturated); 6 mg cholesterol; 46 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 6 g fiber; 260 mg sodium.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 15

When buying

organic

doesn’t make sense McClatchy-Tribune

S

tep into any health food store, and you may feel as though you’ve stepped into an alternate universe: On those earthycrunchy shelves, you’re likely to find an organic version of just about everything, including cotton candy and chewing gum.

While it’s true that organic “junk foods” are better for the planet (possibly due to less packaging or more environmentally sound manufacturing processes), they generally aren’t better for you.

Similarly, certain fruits and vegetables that are available in organic varieties may be just fine in their conventional form. A shopping guide created by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) includes a list of the “clean 15” the conventional produce selections that are lowest in pesticides and therefore OK to purchase.

The bottom line is that you needn’t go organic across the board. Here are some items that you can confidently buy in conventional form:

SODA A six-pack of organic soda can cost more than conventional soda. Yes, it’s made without high-fructose corn syrup, but each can contains 160 calories (20 more than 12 ounces of Coca-Cola Classic) and zero nutrients.

LOW CALORIE OR SUGAR-FREE ITEMS If organic sugar-free cookies sound too good to be true, they probably are. Check the label for artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. If you’re trying to keep it natural, you’re better off choosing a non-organic baked treat that’s free of fake sugars.

SEAFOOD Whether caught in the wild or farmed, fish can legally be labeled organic, even though it may contain contaminants such as mercury and PCBs, according to the Consumer Union. That’s because the USDA has not yet developed organic certification standards for seafood.

ONIONS These underground wonders rank lowest on the EWG’s pesticide-load list. Stock up with conventional onions at the supermarket, and store them in a cool, dry place such as a pantry closet or low-humidity refrigerator door.

FROZEN SWEET CORN So much easier to prepare and enjoy than shucking niblets from the cob, and readily available year-round, conventional frozen corn is considered extremely low in pesticides. Use it in soups or cornbread mix.

TOMATOES More than half of the tomatoes screened by the EWG contained no detectible pesticides, though they were most likely to have evidence of more than one kind of pesticide.

WATERMELON Just over one-quarter of the EWG’s samples showed evidence of pesticides. Ripe watermelons usually are a uniform color inside and shiny outside.

16

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

Study links diet soda to larger waistlines Jane J. Lee McClatchy-Tribune

Health Science Center San Antonio, and one of the study’s investigators.

Part of the reason could be psychological, Hazuda said. Some people splurge on o good deed goes unpunished, and that seems to include people calories in their food because they’re saving on calories in their drinks. Think Big who virtuously reach for diet sodas instead of the calorie-laden good stuff. Macs and super-sized fries and diet Cokes.

Another factor Hazuda thinks plays a Before guzzling that artificially sweetened beverage in a haze of guilt-free role in expanding waistlines is something called taste dysfunction. Because artificial carbonation, bear in mind that your diet soda may only be adding to your bottom sweeteners taste hundreds to thousands line — or your waistline. At least that’s the of times sweeter than regular sugar, your body comes to expect sugary foods to be conclusion of a recently completed extremely sweet. So you start to seek out 12-year study. more sugar-laden options.

The study looked at 474 people, ages A third explanation is that your body is 65 to 74, and found that, on average, smarter than you think. When you suck those who drank diet sodas ended up down sweet things, your body registers with waistlines that increased three times the sugary taste and waits for the accommore than those who avoided them.

People who consumed more than two panying calories, said Lillian Castillo, a public health dietitian with the Santa Clara diet sodas a day had waistlines that in(Calif.) County Public Health Department. creased five times more than the nondiet But with artificial sweeteners, your soda drinkers, which included people who drank water, juices and even regular body doesn’t get the calories it expects, so sodas, said Helen Hazuda, chief of clinical you start to crave foods high in fat and sugar. epidemiology at the University of Texas

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 17

HL

Health in a Handbasket

Cruising for a Bruising Jade Cody Reporter-Herald

G

oing on a cruise has health disaster written all over it.

Especially when a hurricane is chasing the ship.

This was the scene for me and my family earlier this month. We cruised out of New York a few hours ahead of Hurricane Irene, which at that time was a category one hurricane (it later reduced to a tropical storm). I had planned to write this Health in a Handbasket column about staying healthy and fit while on vacation, but it became more about staying alive when cruising with a hurricane.

The alive part prevailed, however, and we enjoyed ourselves on the cruise. This was my first time cruising, and the stories I had heard about the massive amounts of delicious food had me scared about staying on track with my fitness goals.

Once on the ship, I was no longer frightened. I forgot about fitness completely. Eating right suddenly meant ordering two entrees instead of one at each meal. I consumed more steak and pizza than any human in the history of the world.

There was a gym on the ship, but with the swaying and rocking, running on the treadmill became a deadly concept. I tried, and after getting my foot caught on the side of the treadmill, I thought better of it. I instead did a few reps of strength training, but all I could think about was how I needed to be lounging in a chair playing the cloud shape game (I did, and I saw a duck. True story).

So even though I failed miserably on my own health plan, I came back with advice for vacationers not wanting to get off track with their health: Don’t go.

Yeah, you could watch your calories when eating, skip those drinks during bingo and exercise every day. But how is that vacation?

Here are some realistic (for me) tips on doing what you can to stay fit on a cruise.

feat, because ships have a whole bunch of stairs.

Also, be sure to get lost in New York if possible. I was using a navigation app on my phone one night after getting off the subway to walk to our hotel, and the app helped us walk far beyond where we needed to be. Yes, there’s an app for that.

My dad tried asking strangers for directions to our hotel, but for some reason nobody felt like helping. On the plus side, we did not get mugged (although running from a mugger is a fantastic way to burn calories ... I smell a workout video idea).

STAY UPRIGHT IN THE SHOWER Sounds easy, right? Wait until you close your eyes during the shampoo part. Irene was having some fun with me. Also, it’s best to do the shampoo part before cocktail hour.

BRING THE GIRLFRIEND If you are going on vacation with your significant other, encourage her to bring every item that is in her closet (just in case, cause you never know if you’ll need that eighth pair of pumps).

Then, when you’re stopped at the touristy port shops, have her buy one of everything.

After that, wrestle it all in her suitcase, half of her stuff now in your suitcase, and lug it around. Apologize to bell hops and airport personnel for their future chiropractic appointments.

For the record, I have no idea what pumps are.

LIE TO YOURSELF

I found that it is best to tell yourself lies when cruising.

Suggestions? Sure. Try these out: • It is normal to want to lie down at the dinner table.

• Tomorrow I’m going to (insert fitness activity), so everything I’m CARRY A TWO-YEAR-OLD doing right now is fine. Even the chicken dance.

If possible, carry small children wherever you go. My little • Steak has protein, and that’s just plain good for me. niece came along, and whenever she would allow it, I toted her like a football. She’s only a 25-pounder, but after awhile that gets • Pizza slices are supposed to be bigger than my plate. heavy, too. Especially if she squirms. And she squirms.

• That fat roll really brings out the color of my eyes.

Be careful about trying to carry other people’s two-year-olds, So, even though I didn’t gain any weight during vacation, I’m though. That’s illegal. Puppies and buckets of Corona can be subabsolutely positive that I am in worse physical condition now stituted if you don’t have toddler access. than before I left. I apologize for not offering any real advice on STAIR MASTER staying fit while traveling, but I’m not sorry for enjoying myself on The best thing that I found was to walk mostly everywhere and the cruise. Now that I’m back, I am ready to get back to regular take the stairs as much as possible on the ship. And that’s no small workouts and not eating like a pre-hibernation bear.

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

Need help paying for drugs?

Suzanne Hoholik McClatchy-Tribune

I

f you’re a Medicare beneficiary and you can’t afford your prescriptions, the government may be able to help.

The low-income subsidy program, aka “extra help,” can will mean no premiums for drug plans and bring down the costs of generics to $2.50 and $6.30 for brand name medicines.

Getting this assistance isn’t as difficult as applying for Medicaid or other assistance, it’s a simple form.

“The eligibility requirements are more flexible than they were a couple of years ago, ‘Extra Help’ can be lifesaving for someone who needs prescription drugs and needs help with the cost,” Dr. Don Berwick, Medicare administrator, said in a press release.

To qualify, Medicare beneficiaries’ incomes must be less than $16,335 a year (or $22,065 for married couples) and have resources limited to $12,640 (or $25,260 for married couples).

Resources include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but do not include a beneficiary’s house, car or life insurance policy.

To find out more and apply, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/.

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Caring For People ofAllAges Quality medicine. Lasting relationships.

Compassionate care.

General and preventative family medicine for newborns to geriatrics. Now accepting patients. appointmen To make an appointment, call 970.624.5170.

Alzheimer’s damage may begin at a young age Shari Roan McClatchy-Tribune

A

lzheimer’s disease research has shifted to looking for the earliest signs and symptoms of the disease process. A new study has found evidence of early brain damage in some young people at increased risk for the disease.

Researchers led by Dr. Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, conducted brain scans on 398 young, healthy people ages 20 to 30. Those participants who carried a particular gene mutation that is known to raise the risk of Alzheimer’s — linked to the CLU gene — had unique characteristics in white matter (the bundles of nerve cells) in multiple brain regions, including in some areas known to become damaged in Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings suggest that changes in myelin, the substance that protects nerve cells, may be a sign of increased risk of developing the disease later in life.

“Alzheimer’s has traditionally been considered a disease marked by neuronal cell loss and widespread gray matter atrophy,” Thompson said in a news release. “But degeneration of myelin in white matter fiber pathways is more and more being considered a key disease component and another possible pathway to the disease, and this discovery supports that.”

People who have this particular mutation in the CLU — which is common — aren’t doomed to develop Alzheimer’s disease, the authors noted. And young people who have these changes in white matter are not cognitively impaired. But knowledge about this genetic risk could be used to help prevent the disease later in life, the authors said.

The study was published online in the Journal of Neuroscience.

“Alzheimer’s has traditionally been considered a disease marked by neuronal cell loss and widespread gray matter atrophy. But degeneration of myelin in white matter fiber pathways is more and more being considered a key disease component and another possible pathway to the disease, and this discovery supports that.”

Dr. Kevin Felix Victor Palomares, PA-C

3850 North Grant Ave., Suite 200 | Loveland, CO 80538 970.624.5170

www.pvhs.org

20 Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 Paid Advertisement

Prevent

carbon monoxide poisoning

Install a detector in the home to ensure safety McKee Medical Center

A

s the leaves turn and the temperature drops, homeowners across the nation will be ready to switch on their home heating systems. If you are a homeowner whose heating system utilizes natural gas, you may want to consider having your system checked before the season begins. Why? To ensure your family’s safety from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that kills more than 500 Americans accidently every year and sends over 40,000 people to the emergency department, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced any time a fossil fuel is burned. Many lives could be saved and disability prevented by recognizing and preventing the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Common sources of carbon monoxide are gas furnaces, gas water heaters, car exhaust, engine fumes, gas fireplaces, kerosene space heaters, gas and diesel fueled generators and camping cook stoves.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can produce numerous symptoms that may differ from person to person. In general, carbon monoxide poisoning tends to stimulate a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms. Common symptoms include flushing, vomiting, racing heart, nausea, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, weakness and feeling confused.

Other reported symptoms include lips turning cherry red or parts of the body turning blue from a lack of oxygen.

If you suspect carbon monoxide

A common source of carbon monoxide in the home is gas stoves.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that kills more than 500 Americans accidently every year and sends over 40,000 people to the emergency department.

poisoning, first and foremost you should move to a well ventilated area and then seek medical attention immediately. People who suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning often need a steady flow of oxygen that can only be delivered by trained medical personnel.

They also need to be evaluated by medical professionals to ensure there isn’t any hidden heart or brain damage.

Generally speaking, most people who seek medical attention for carbon monoxide poisoning recover completely; however, some are left with

long-term neurological impairment.

A simple way to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and ensure proper ventilation around common sources. In addition, you can: • Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician yearly.

• Avoid using a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoalburning device inside your home, basement, garage, or near a window.

• Do not run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.

• Do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn't vented.

• Do not heat your house with a gas oven.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 21

Ask Dr. H Lose weight safely and slowly Dr. Mitchell Hecht McClatchy-Tribune Question: Would you please explain weight loss resistance? I am referring to people like me who are exercising daily and restricting calories to 1,200 calories per day or less. Despite my efforts, I am losing only one-half to one pound a week. — S.N., Cumming, Ga. Answer: Before we tackle the issue of “weight loss resistance,” let me first say that losing one-half to one pound a week is pretty good. That translates to a weekly caloric reduction of between 1,750 and 3,500 calories a week.

At that pace, you’ll lose between 26 and 52 pounds in a year. I think it’s best to think of the approach to weight loss like running a marathon, rather than running a sprint.

Large amounts of weight lost in a brief period rarely stay off for long.

The next thing I’ll address is the

“1,200-calorie diet.” Most folks who are frustrated that their 1,200 calorie diet is failing them are consuming more than 1,200 calories. It has been shown that if you admit such a person to a supervised research facility and place him or her on exactly 1,200 calories per day, weight will always come off. Most folks have a poor ability to estimate the calorie content of foods.

Another factor that contributes to weight loss resistance is your medication list. Ex-

amples of medications that may contribute to weight gain include antidepressants; beta blocker blood pressure drugs; steroids; diabetic medication; anti-seizure drugs; and hormonal-replacement therapy. A slow thyroid or elevated insulin level also contributes to weight gain and resistance to weight loss. So too does a chronically high stress state.

A great web resource that might help you when calorie counting is www.nutritiondata.self.com

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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 Question: I’ve noticed that ears seem to get bigger with age. Is that true, and if so, why might that be so? — G.F., Huntsville, Ala. Answer: It’s not your imagination. Ears do get bigger with age. Not only does the cartilage in the ear continue to grow lengthwise (but not with increasing width) throughout our lifetime, but the earlobe elongates and sags due to years of gravity. A British study published in the Dec. 23, 1995, issue of the British Medical Journal studied 206 patients over time and found that our ears elongate by 0.22 mm per year. Another study determined that the average ear length is 2.04 inches at birth, and 3.07 inches in length in men at age 70 and 2.83 inches in length in women at age 70. In fact, detailed stats on ear sizes have been used by forensic researchers to determine an unknown person’s approximate age. Nobody really knows the exact reason why ear cartilage continues to grow throughout our lifetime.

Another odd fact is that your nose also gets longer with advancing age due to the effects of gravity. Sagging is an inevitable, annoying part of aging.

Ears

elongate by

0.22 mm per year.

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011 23

Ask the Expert:

Heart Surgery

What do I need to know about valve problems?

When the heart beats, its valves act like one-way doors. This keeps blood moving forward through the heart’s chambers and to the body.

Stenosis occurs when a valve doesn’t open all the way. The heart muscle has to work harder to push the blood through a smaller opening and not enough blood gets sent out to the body. This can lead to heart failure.

Symptoms include:

through the valve back into the heart chamber.

Problem valves can be treated. Surgeons prefer to repair the valve when possible. If repair is not possible, they can replace it with a mechanical valve or a tissue valve.

Where

Experts Work Best.

Maurice Lyons, D.O. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon Greeley, Loveland Appointments – (970) 378-4593

www.BannerHealth.com/CVI

Connect with us:

24

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

HL

Health Briefs

RULON STACEY, PVHS, AMONG 100 MOST INFLUENTIALS

this week and are now welcoming new patients.

Rulon Stacey, president and CEO of With specialties ranging from neurology Poudre Valley Health System, has been to urgent care, the seven physicians to join named one of the 100 most influential peo- the system this week represent Poudre Valple in health care in ley Medical Group’s commitment to offer2011 by Modern ing the most comprehensive medical care in Healthcare, the innorthern Colorado. dustry’s leading jour• Dr. Scott Strader joined the Fort Collins nal. Stacey joined office of Neurology Associates of Northern such other influential Colorado, Prospect Medical Plaza, 1106 E. leaders on the list as Prospect Road, Ste. 100. Strader received his President Obama; medical degree, was a resident and comU.S. representative pleted a fellowship in clinical neurophysiolPaul Ryan (R-Wisc.) ogy at the University of Iowa. He has speand Kathleen Sebecial interests in neuro-rehabilitation, movelius, Department of ment disorders, neuropathy, stroke and othRulon Stacey Health and Human er general neurological conditions.

Services secretary.

• Dr. Lars Widdel joined Poudre Valley Stacey is known by peers throughout the Medical Group Brain and Spine Surgery at nation and PVHS staff members for his pasMedical Clinic at Centerra North Medical sion about innovation and delivering worldOffice Building on the Medical Center of the class health care.

Rockies campus, 2500 Rocky Mountain Announced Aug. 22, the annual 100 Ave., Loveland. Widdel attended medical Most Influential People in Healthcare school in Santiago, Chile, and completed his honor recognizes the men and women residency in neurosurgery at the University considered among the most influential of Colorado, where he received an award throughout the industry, as chosen by for being the most outstanding neuroModern Healthcare’s readers and senior surgery resident. His neurosurgical interests editors. include neuro-oncology (brain, spine and In addition to his leadership role with peripheral nerve tumors), complex spine PVHS, Stacey is the current chairman of the surgery and neuro-trauma. Widdel speaks American College of Healthcare Executives, English, German and Spanish. an international professional society of • Dr. Julie Dunn joined Surgical Special38,000 healthcare executives who lead hosists of the Rockies, 2315 E. Harmony Road, pitals, health systems and other healthcare Ste. 130, Fort Collins. She received her organizations. His ACHE chairmanship is a medical degree, was a resident and comvoluntary position.

Stacy is a native of Provo, Utah. He holds pleted a fellowship in surgical research from James H. Quillen College of Medicine in a bachelor of science in economics and a Tennessee. Her special interests include master’s degree in health administration from Brigham Young University and a doc- trauma and surgical critical care. In addition to her duties as a general surgeon with Surtor of philosophy in health policy from the gical Specialists of the Rockies, Dunn will University of Colorado. conduct trauma research and serve as the SEVEN PHYSICIANS JOIN PVHS medical director of PVHS research and education for the trauma/acute care surgical A record number of new physicians services. joined the Poudre Valley Health System

The Best Value in Retirement Living!

ALL INCLUSIVE • • • • •

Healthy Dental Cleaning Oral Evaluation Oral Cancer Screening Periodontal Evaluation Flexible Scheduling

• Dr. Deric McIntosh joined Foxtrail Family Medicine, 1625 Foxtrail Drive, Loveland. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania and completed his residency at Fort Collins Family Medicine. He has a strong interest in general family medicine, obstetrics, sports medicine and osteopathic manipulation.

• Dr. Sharon Montes joined Loveland Urgent Care, 3850 N. Grant Ave., Ste. 100.

She has relocated to northern Colorado from Maryland where she practiced as an urgent care physician. She received her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her residency at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.

• Dr. Emily Anderson joined Windsor Medical Clinic, 1455 Main St., Ste. 100. She is a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Neb., and completed her residency in Greeley at North Colorado Family Medicine. She is a Colorado native and has special interests in general family medicine, pediatrics, women’s health and preventive medicine.

• Dr. Tracey Stefanon joined Occupational Health Services, 4674 Snow Mesa Dr, Fort Collins. She received her M.D. from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at University of Colorado Health Science Center.

These physicians are among the nine physicians who joined Poudre Valley Medical Group in August. Earlier in August, Dr. Megan Haldy, a physician who recently completed her residency at Fort Collins Family Medicine Center, joined Family Health Care of the Rockies, 3000 College Ave., Ste. 210, Fort Collins. In addition, Dr. Jennifer Reeve joined Poudre Valley Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1136 E. Stuart St., Ste. 2100, Fort Collins.

For more information about any of these physicians or clinics, go to www.pvhs.org/clinics.

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HL

Health Briefs

PVHS NAMED ONE OF 2011’S BEST PLACES TO WORK IN HEALTHCARE Modern Healthcare has named Poudre Valley Health System one of America’s 100 best places to work in health care for the fourth straight year. PVHS is the only Colorado, Nebraska or Wyoming hospital or health system on the 2011 list, which was released on Aug. 22, without specific rankings. Modern Healthcare will release rankings for the top 100 on Oct. 18 at an awards gala in Chicago.

ThreeGreatReasons ToLiveAt MacKenziePlace:

BANNER HEALTH WINS ‘TOP LEADERSHIP TEAMS IN HEALTHCARE’ AWARD Banner Health has received the 2011 “Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare” award by the national trade publication HealthLeaders.

Banner Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, won the Top Leadership Teams award in the “large hospitals and health systems” category. The award program is designed to celebrate the outstanding teamwork that occurs in health care organizations each day, to share what makes top leadership teams successful, and to encourage other health care leaders to learn more from the best practices of top leadership teams. The winning organizations will be profiled in the October issue of HealthLeaders magazine. For more information about the winners, go to www.healthleadersmedia.com.

BIRDIES ON THE GREEN GOLF EVENT RAISES MONEY FOR STEPPING STONES Birdies on the Green, a women-only golfing event designed with the non-golfing woman in mind, was held Aug. 18 at the Olde Course in Loveland. The event featured 18-, 9-, 6- and 3-hole tournaments and included basic golf instruction along with food, drink, and a player goodie bag. Golf professionals were on hand to teach basic golf skills, rules and etiquette. Birdies on the Green raised $6,000 for the Stepping Stones Adult Day Program at McKee Medical Center. Stepping Stones Adult Day Program is a program that provides participants an opportunity to socialize, build friendships, and enjoy stimulating activities in a safe, caring environment.

NEUROLOGY ASSOCIATES OF NORTHERN COLORADO EXPANDS TO LOVELAND Fort Collins-based medical clinic Neurology Associates of Northern Colorado recently expanded its services to Loveland. The clinic recently hired two neurologists to expand their team, Dr. Scott Strader and Dr. Lawrence A. Meredith.

Strader will practice at the Fort Collins location (1106 E. Prospect), joining Dr. Gerald McIntosh and Dr. Paramijt Kaur.

Meredith will join Dr. Sheri Friedman at the new Loveland location located at Medical Center of the Rockies’ north medical office building (2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., Ste. 2200).

Strader received his medical degree, was a resident and completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology at the University of Iowa.

A long-time resident of Loveland, Meredith owned and operated Neurology Center of the Rockies on E. 5th Street prior to joining Poudre Valley Medical Group’s Neurology Associates of Northern Colorado.

Neurology Associates of Northern Colorado was established to provide diagnoses, treatment and management of nervous system disorders, injuries and disease. The clinic joined Poudre Valley Medical Group in 2010 and also provides neurology services in Estes Park and Steamboat Springs. A clinic will open in Laramie, Wyo. in the fall of 2011.

1. It’s run by LeisureCare.

2. It’s a great value.

3. You can brag to your friends.

There are many many more great reasons to live here, of course. But excuse us while we elaborate on those three a bit.

Number 1: Leisure Care has been in the business for over 30 years. They have perfected the art of creating retirement communities that are more “resort” than “retirement.”

Number 2: Services, programs, and amenities straight out of a luxury resort?

And rents starting at just $2,950 per month?

We think you’ll definitely see an amazing value.

Number 3: Actually, no bragging will be necessary. Everyone will see you living it up and having so much fun.Why rub it in?

Call now to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour. And let us show you the other hundred or so reasons you’ll love it here.

Assisted Living services available, too.

Rents Starting From Just $2,950 Per Month!

4750 Pleasant Oak Drive • Fort Collins 970.207.1939 • www.MacKenziePlace.com Independent, Assisted Living & Memory Care Apts

26

Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado September 15, 2011

HL

Health Line Calendar

BREATHE EASIER PULMONARY SUPPORT GROUP We aim to offer family, friends , and people with chronic lung related issues, information, resources, and support. This month will be flu and pneumonia clinic.

When: 10-11 a.m., Oct. 14 Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Contact: 970-635-4053

BREAST-FEEDING SUPPORT GROUP When: 10-11 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except holidays) Cost: Free. No need to register Contact: 970-669-9355

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FOR INFANTS Bright Beginnings is designed to celebrate the birth of new babies and provide families with health, safety, development, play and community resource information.

When: 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Oct. 17 Where: Family Birth Center Conference Room, 3rd Floor Cost: Free Contact: 970-495-7528

DISEASE MANAGEMENT ASTHMA EDUCATION This four-session multidisciplinary educational series helps people manage asthma.

When: 9:30-11 a.m., Wednesdays, four-week session begins Oct. 3.

Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4138

COPD (CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE) This seven-session multidisciplinary education series helps with the management of COPD. When: 1-3 p.m., Tuesdays, upcoming sessions begin Oct. 25.

Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4138

TOTAL JOINT EDUCATION Physical therapists and occupational therapists prepare patients for surgery. This program is coordinated through your physician’s office as part of the surgery scheduling process.

When: 3 p.m., Thursdays Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4172

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 5:30-7 p.m., second Thursday of the month

Where: McKee Cancer Center Lobby Contact: 970-622-1961

LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION

CAREGIVER CANCER SUPPORT GROUP When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., every other Thursday, Sept. 15, Oct. 6 Where: Call for locations Contact: 970-635-4129

CAREGIVERS SUPPORT For caregivers of elderly adults. The group focuses on providing support and education about community resources and behavior issues, particularly for people with Alzheimer’s and memory impairment.

When: 1:30-3:30 p.m., third Thursday of the month Where: First Christian Church, 2000 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland Cost: Free. Care of elderly adult family members or friends is available through Stepping Stones Adult Day Program during meeting times at no charge.

Contact: 970-669-7069

GENERAL CANCER SUPPORT When: 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesdays Where: McKee Cancer Center lobby Contact: 970-635-4129

MAN-TO-MAN: PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

DELIVERED

When: 5:30-7 p.m., fourth Thursday of the month Where: McKee Conference and Wellness Center Contact: 970-622-1961

SOULPLAY ART THERAPY People whose lives are touched by cancer experience the benefits of expressing themselves through art. No art experience needed.

When: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Wednesdays Where: McKee Cancer Center Conference Room Contact: 970-635-4129

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BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING Have your blood pressure checked by a wellness specialist.

When: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday Where: McKee Wellness Services, 1805 E. 18th St. Ste. 6, Loveland Cost: Free Contact: 970-669-9355

m.reporterherald.com

YOGA SUPPORT GROUP For anyone touched by cancer. Thirty minutes of gentle yoga and breathing and 30 minutes of holistic therapy education.

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m., first and third Thursday each month Where: McKee Cancer Center Cost: Free Contact: 970-635-4054 to register

TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE

Missing Teeth?

Unhappy with Your Dentures?

Oral & Facial Surgery of Loveland’s innovative dental implant alternatives can give you a beautiful smile in a matter of hours. Find out more about our revolutionary dental implants. Register for our:

EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR

Presented by Dr. Ralph Reynolds Thursday, September 22, 6:00 PM Loveland Embassy Suites (HOR D’OEUVRES AND BEVERAGES PROVIDED) Call to reserve your seat 877-331-8005

RALPH REYNOLDS, DMD, MD Oral & Facial Surgery of Loveland 3520 East 15th Street, Suite 200 Loveland, CO 80538 970-663-6878 www.reynoldsoralfacial.com

ALL ATTENDEES

RECEIVE

A FREE CONSULTATION

AND 3D SCAN

AT OUR CONVENIENT LOVELAND LOCATION [$435 VALUE]

F R E E Co mp l i me nt ar y

MONTHL Y

Sept ember15,2011

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