CHECK-IN STAY CONNECTED Send letters and story ideas to InHealth Editor Anne McGregor at annem@inhealthnw.com. Join the conversation on the InHealth Facebook page and at InHealthNW.com
ON OUR FACEBOOK
Have you ever helped out someone who was having health problems? NANCY MACDONALD LINDBERG: I cared for my brother when he was dying of AIDS. I knew it was very important for both of us, but mostly for him, to have family there as well a caregivers. I take food to my elderly neighbors who both have health problems and help with little things whenever I see they need doing. It is what I was taught to do and makes everyone feel important and cared for. We must take care of each other.
SUPERFOOD
All About Lentils ATTRIBUTES: Legendary! The lentil is one of the oldest cultivated legumes. Celebrated! The 25th annual National Lentil Festival will be held Aug. 16-17 in Pullman. SUPERPOWERS: Lentils are high in good things — protein, fiber, vitamin B12 and minerals, loaded with complex carbohydrates — and contain hardly any fat. Unlike most other dried legumes, lentils don’t need to be soaked overnight and take only 20 minutes to cook. And they’re available in a dazzling array of colors and subtly different flavors, with newer varieties that are less likely to become mushy when cooked.
ERIKA DEASY: I took care of my dad as he went through the late stages of terminal cancer. Allowing and encouraging his independence was paramount. A lot is lost when one has health issues preventing their full independence and that has a tremendous effect on their self esteem.
ANGEL FALLS-KAINE: I ’ve acquired drugs like antibiotics, painkillers, cannabis and insulin for people who have needed it. I know many people clinging to life, waiting for “Obamacare” so they can see a doctor. In the meantime, we do what we can with what we have.
HOW TO USE THEM: From stews and soups to casseroles, dips and salads, your imagination is the limit when it comes to incorporating lentils in your life. While they’re usually served in savory dishes, Food Network guru Alton Brown uses lentil purée in a spice cookie, and at the National Lentil Festival, the Pullman Lions Club will serve breakfast featuring “scrumptious pancakes full of lentils.” — ANNE McGREGOR
ASK DR. MATT
Where The Wild Things Are
A
Just being there for support and care so that he didn’t have to go it alone. My reason for choosing to care for him is quite obvious — I loved him as both my dad, and as a human being.
JAMES McPHERSON: Whenever I see someone whom I suspect may suffer from diabetes, hypoglycemia, Crohn’s disease, obesity, eating disorders, food allergies, etc., I offer to eat their dessert. Just ‘cuz I’m a nice guy.
WEAKNESSES: Can produce unpleasant, ahem, windy aftereffects.
Matt Thompson is a pediatrician at Spokane’s Kids Clinic.
child screaming and crying as though he’s in pain in the middle of the night is frightening for parents, especially when the child seems to be awake and aware, but isn’t able to say what the problem is. These startling episodes are called night terrors, and they can occur in an otherwise healthy child between the ages of 2 and 12 who has no other obvious source of a problem like fever, earache, or other obvious source of pain. When asked about the events of the previous night, children who are old enough to talk about it typically have no recollection. In fact, sleep terrors are often more disturbing to the observer than they are to the child, and the more you try to find a solution, the more it just frustrates everyone. Although night terrors can occur at any time, even during naps, they typically happen closer to midnight because they are related to slow wave, non-REM sleep, as opposed to nightmares, which usually occur closer to morning, when more REM sleep and accompanying dreams occur, as nightmares are dream-related. If night terrors are happening frequently and predictably enough, you can try waking your child for a few minutes about 15 to 20 minutes before they typically happen. But most of the time they are not frequent enough to warrant disturbing sleep on a regular basis. It is thought that anything that leads to increased slow-wave sleep can bring the episodes on, such as being overtired, sick and not sleeping as well as usual, or taking medicines with antihistamines, such as cold medicines that bring on slow-wave sleep more quickly. — MATT THOMPSON AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 2013
CHECKIN_AUG2013.indd 9
Health 9 7/24/13 4:15 PM